ArHi FF: If I were you-link to Ch20 pg 145 - Page 66

Heylo! I just started reading your story and consequently read all 9 parts together. I love it! The Payal in your story sounds a bit like Lavanya in the serial. :P But she seems to love her sister...or not.. :/

wow,truly loved it yaar.
U r a awesome writer n ur story is fabulous.
I will surely pm u my email id. Plz add me in ur mailing list.

Wow Payal is such brat

Yaara seriously give me chapter 10 and 11, enough already

Great update as usual, Maxine ji! Even though you termed this update as angsty, I still liked it, because it didn't make Happy-go-lucky sad, and that matters.
And, the last part😆, Arnav sure is cheeky😉
Now, my kostin- When are you updating next?

I read your FF in one go dear... It was amazing!!!

love this ff

love this innocent and cute arnav

and older khushi...

complete opposite of the show

but like it more than the show

Here is chapter 10. Chapter 11 will be up within a day or 2. Also, I no longer PM. If you want notification of an update please pm me an email ID and I will include you in my mailing list.

Chapter 10: Morning Ragas.

"So, what happened last night?" Arnav asked Akash. Akash had been shoveling poha into his mouth and he choked and spat some out at Arnav's question.

"You were there. You saw what happened Bhai," he said, grimacing.

"I did. And she seems like a spoilt, rich brat. So I understand why you wanted to dump her. What I don't understand is, you said you liked her. How could you ever like her? She's a bitch," said Arnav matter-of-factly.

"Arnav! Don't talk like that. What happened last night Akash?" asked Anjali, looking worried. Even Shyam emerged from behind his morning paper to hear Akash's answer. JayPee had abandoned his poha, and was looking at Arnav and Akash with keen interest.

"Stop staring at me. Nothing happened. I broke up with Payal last night, that's all," said Akash, flushing at all the attention he had garnered. Anjali gasped, Shyam frowned and Mamiji who had just entered the room with a platter of hot sooji ka halwa, dropped it with a shriek. Anjali went to help her clear up the mess. Arnav smiled at the thought of the drama that was about to ensue. Shyam sighed and went back to reading his paper. JayPee said nothing and applied himself to the poha again with great interest. Akash closed his eyes. It was going to be a long morning.

Anjali came back after clearig up the mess. Mamiji sat herself down at the table and fixed her son with a glowering stare. "What happened Akash?" asked Anjali in her soft voice.

"Nothing Di. I didn't like her enough to continue dating her. I broke up with her, that's all," said Akash shortly.

"She broke a table, and threw a glass of wine on his face when he told her," said Arnav grinning. Akash threw him a murderous look. As it happens, Arnav had just done him a huge favor. Mamiji had been feeling rather put out that her Son had casually dumped a potential bahu who was everything she wished for, ie, Rich. But Mamiji loved her Son more than she loved money. So righteous indignation washed away anger very quickly.

"She threw a glass of wine on your face! Akash, you must never see her again," said Mamiji angrily. "No respect she has for you. For my Son, Akash. She has lost a gem, a diamond. I will find a prettier, richer and more obedient wife for my son," she muttered, enraged.

"I believe Star Plus has an over-abundance of such bahus," drawled JayPee. "Ask them for a loan. Pretty, rich, obedient, and they make pickle like my grandmother," he said kissing his fingers.

"JayPee, you watch Star Plus?" asked Shyam, eyes twinkling, as he put the newspaer down.

"Whaaat? Of course not!" protested JayPee, turning an interesting shade of pink.

"So, what's your favorite show? Is it the dhokla-thepla one?" asked Shyam, grinning.

"How do you know there is a show based on dhokla-thepla?" asked JayPee, trying to turn the tables.

"I have a wife. My wife watches these soaps. I hear about them by default. Sometimes, I have to watch them. It is a punishment for being married. And if I don't watch them, I don't get any...well, never mind that!" he said, as Anjali frowned heavily at him.

"So, what's your excuse JayPee?" asked Arnav, eyes twinkling. "You're not even married."

"Do you like the Show where the younger sister has cancer and the older one aborts her child so she can donate bone marrow to save her sister?" asked Anjali, eagerly.

"I have no idea what you are talking about Anju!" blustered Jaypee.

"I think he likes the show which masquerades as being against child marriage, but in reality, is just a show about a few love quadrangles," laughed Shyam.

"Actually, that's not true. It dsplays some very interesting insight into the widely pervasive and deep-rooted beliefs and mores in our society, and I don't mean to downplay any..." he trailed off. As he realized the entire table was staring at him with big, wide grins on their faces. They burst into laughter. JayPee's cover was blown.

Shyam clapped Jaypee on the back after he recovered from laughing his head off. "Jaypee what can I say. All these years I thought I knew you. I see with you it really is Rishta wahi, soch nayi today!" he laughed again until tears streamed out of his eyes.

"Well, you know. I am a bachelor. I am alone. Some days I come here and hang out with you guys. Other days it is me and my TV," he sighed.

"JayPee, you need a wife!" said Shyam firmly.

"Loan me yours. I like her," said JayPee winking at Anjali. Anjali smiled back at him.

"You don't want a wife that limps JayPee, believe me, you don't!" she said quietly.

"Di!"

"Anjali bitiya!"

"Anju!"

There was an instant outcry at her statement.

"What! It's true. Nobody wants a lame wife!" she said loudly.

"Err...I did," Shyam pointed out.

"Poor judgement you had! JayPee will do much better," she said smiling at her husband and holding a hand out to him.

"I don't think JayPee could do better if he wanted to!" said JayPee, ruffling Anjali's hair affectionately. "There's only one Anjali and no one makes Poha like her. Alrighty, I'm off. Shyam, you coming?" he asked.

"Yes. Absolutely. Saale saab, you need a ride to work?" asked Shyam, reaching for his laptop bag.

"Yes. Give me 2 minutes. I need to change my clothes," he said. He merged a few minutes later in a pale green formal shirt with dark grey slacks and a Snoopy dog tie.

"Chotey! Not the Snoopy tie!" cried Anjali.

"What? I love it!" said Arnav, looking wounded at his Di's reaction.

"Anju, let him be. I think he enjoys winding Khushi Gupta up," said Shyam, putting an arm around his wife's waist. He kissed his wife's cheek, waited for Arnav to hug the living daylights out of her and they set off.

At Khushi's home:

"Jeeji, I'm sorry about last night," said Payal in a contrite tone. Khushi had been buttering a piece of toast and she set the knife down quietly, before she looked up at Payal. She smiled lightly at her. Before she could respond, Buaji spoke.

"What happened last night?" she asked curiously.

Khushi looked at Payal and turned to Buaji. "Nothing much Buaji. Just some sister stuff. You know how we are!"

"Hmmm. I do know how you are! What did you do last night Payal?" asked Buaji sternly.

"Buaji, she did nothing. Leave her be, please," said Khushi in a placating tone. Buaji took one look at her face and decided to say nothing.

"Have you decided who's going to take over your responsibilites while you are in Hospital recuperating?" asked Buaji.

"Yes. I think Payal might give it a shot. It'll just be for 2 weeks or so," said Khushi sipping her coffee.

"Jeeji! Me! I'm not experienced enough. It's too much responsibility for me!" shrieked Payal, in a voice that held an edge of excitement.

"I think you'll be fine Payal. I'll be available to advice you. I just can't come in to work is all. And I'll ask the Team to guide you through it. It'll be fine. You'll do great," said Khushi, smiling at Payal's excitement.

"Are you sure Khushi bitiya?" asked Buaji frowning. In truth, Khushi was completely unsure. But she knew Payal was upset about what had happened with Akash. She thought it would be a good time to get her to think seriously about work. Take her mind off things, so to speak. And she was sure Payal couldn't do any damage in 2 weeks. She herself was planning to stay in touch with her team from the Hospital. Payal would be a figurehead. It would be a learning experience for her.

"Yes, I'm sure Buaji. I think Payal will do a wonderful job!" smiled Khushi. She gasped as Payal jumped out of her chair and hugged her tightly.

"Thanks Jeeji! I love you! I'll do a good job, I promise," promised Payal fervently.

"From when are you taking time off from work?" asked Buaji.

"Surgery is scheduled for next Friday. Wednesday will be my last day at work. And I'll come back to work 2 weeks later, if all goes well," said Khushi.

"Your Amma or I wil stay with you at the Hospital, of course," said Buaji fondly.

"No need Buaji. I'm sure I'll be well taken care of. You come and visit me every day. That should be fine. Same for Amma. And I'll expect a daily briefing from you Payal, of course!" she looked at her sister.

"Yes yes. 2 daily briefings. As many as you want. Oh Jeeji! I am so excited. You're the best!" said Payal gaily. Then her face fell. "I can't believe I'm so excited about something, when my sister is going to have surgery and that's the reason I am getting this temp job! I'm sorry Jeeji!"

"Don't be sorry Payal. I'll be fine. And you'll do great. Now, ready to leave for work?" asked Khushi. They left together that morning, Payal ecstatic, and Khushi pleased that Payal was thinking about something other than Men.

"Morning Louise! How are you today?" asked Arnavm winking at Sally.

"My name is Sally!" she replied with gritted teeth.

"Is Komolika in?" he asked, ignoring her completely.

"Who?"

"Komolika! You know, the vamp from that show.." before Arnav could finish, Sally was gesticulating wildly, and he turned behind to see.

"I'm here Mr.Raizada. Is my report here?" asked Khushi Gupta, looking thoroughly displeased.

"Err! Yes Ma'am!" he handed her a file with a Popeye sticker on the front.

"What's with the sticker? What is this, 4^th grade?" asked Khushi.

"No Ma'am! That sticker is for you. To remind you to eat lots of spinach. Keep your strength up, so to speak!" he said seriously.

"Thanks Olive! I can see you are nesting tendencies are coming to the fore. I don't need them. But I do need my coffee. Now, where is it?" asked Khushi, frowning.

"Coming right up!" said Arnav, disappearing down the hall.

Khushi stepped into ther office with a smile on her face. "Popeye!" she mumbled. What an idiot he was. But what an endearing, sweet, caring idiot. "Snoopy had done a number on Popeye today", she grinned.

Many things were to happen that day. It was only the beginning after all. Anjali sat at her kitchen table, shelling peas, wondering if she would ever walk without a limp, ever dance with her husband. Mamiji wrote a Matrimonial ad for Akash and put his "profile" up on rishtanayisochwahi.com. Shyam wondered how to find JayPee a wife. JayPee wondered if the Child Bride would be a grown up bride as well. Payal was euphoric and spent the morning actually focusing on work. Arnav wondered how he could find out about Khushi's surgery. Since the direct approach hadn't worked, he decided some duplicity was in order. And Khushi Gupta just smiled. She'd had a nice beginning to her day. Her sister had behaved. Arnav had given her a Popeye sticker. She felt good. Devi Maiyya sighed. Things would work out. She knew they would, since she was in charge. But she was unreasonably upset that JayPee watched the rival show at 8pm!

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