From the Author's desk:
Thanks for those wonderful comments... and I hope you will enjoy this update as usual and if you dont or if this is something that you didnt expect...please practice patience and understand and get along with the flow of the story...
I will be telling you all what happened in these two years and why kushi left, who is Sid and what is Shyam and others doing part by part as the story unflolds. Happy reading and do leave comments! I adore all of your comments😃
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Part 38
Arnav stared at kushi wondering if she was real or if he was halucinating. He took a look at her, she had changed her dressing style.
She was wearing a western formal shirt and pant, A fashionable stole wrapped casually around her slender neck, her left wrist had a fast track watch strapped to it while her right was plain and clutching her handbag that she had hung on her right shoulder. She had put up her hair up into a french twist bun and he couldnt say if she had cut it short or not. The usual bindi that adorned her forehead was missing. Her ear studs were simple but fashionable, her feet were covered with formal shoes beyond which he could see the skin coloured stockings or socks running into her pant. She was as slim and beautiful as she had been ever, but she looked different, as he had never seen her in western formals.
His first instinct was to hug her tight and never to leave her at all lest she disappeared like last time, but then the anger came back with the memory that she had disappeared without informing him and he stared at her as she kept looking at him nervously.
"K..ku" He started to say but then he heard another voice somewhere nearby
"Ok.. I will call you later.. " Arnav turned to look at this Man climbing up the stairs to his door as the man ended his call and put his mobile into his pocket. He didnt seemed to notice Arnav standing at the door. He was carrying two huge gift bags in his left hand.
"Hey Jelebi.. Are you tensed?" The man called out putting his right hand over her shoulder which irked Arnav and to his surprise, he noticed that Kushi was not un-comfortable with the man's hand on her shoulder or did he just call her Jelebi?
"No.. No Sid.. I am not"
"Thats my girl... and are you planning to spend the time standing here outside? you know Decembers are freezing at delhi even if it is only evening.. Get in before you catch cold. I dont want you to get sick..." he bantered playfully earning a smile from Kushi, nevertheless she kept looking at Arnav nervously as she noticed him getting annoyed by the minute. Just then Sid followed Kushi's eyes and noticed Arnav by the door and exclaimed with surprise.
"hmm.. Is this Arnav Singh Raizada?" He asked and slowly took his hand from Kushi's shoulder and extending that hand towards Arnav
"Sidarth Mokashi" He introduced himself. But Arnav didnt respond, as he was irked by this Man's act a few minutes before. Sid raised his eyebrows a little and smiled
"Ok.. hmm so can we come in.. it is not polite to make your guests wait at the door like this" He said as he held kushi by arms and pushed her little forward.
"Get in Kushi"
Kushi tired to get into the door from the other side which was not blocked by Arnav and as she did, her handbag strap got caught in the door handle and she straggered forward a little. Arnav instinctly went to aid her, but Sid was there before him.
"Oh Kushi... I thought I would not have to look out for you today as you are not wearing a saree or salwar suit.. but it seems I assumed too early.. Only you alone can manage to be so clumsy in every situation" He said untangling the strap from the handle
"Thanks Sid" she murmered. At that time, a loud shreik was heard from inside
"Kushi!" Anjali screamed
Everyone in the family looked towards the door and started coming towards her and soon Kushi found herself pulled in and hugged by several heads. And the excitment and noise toned down as quickly as it started as one by one started to notice the stranger who had accompanied Ksushi and right now standing inside the hallway and they all kept looking at the man and then at Arnav who was also staring at him. Kushi noticed all of them staring at Sid and asked what was wrong
"Nothing Kushi.. You forgot your manners to introduce me" Sid told her jokingly
"Oh yeah" Kushi slapped her head "Everyone this is Sid, he is my boss" she said quickly
"Not again Kushi" Sid muttered "Sidarth Mokashi everyone" he introduced himself
"And yeah, Kushi works for me... But our relationship runs far deeper than that..." Sid commented catching Kushi's eyes and smiling at her.
Kushi smiled "and this is " she said pointing to NK standing nearby
"wait wait let me guess..Nk right? " Sid cut in quickly and started naming everyone in the family right from Nani, Anjali, Ashok, Mami, Payal, Akaash and even HP and finished with "and I have met ASR few mins back"
"Bulls eye!" Kushi jumped "Wow man, Now I beleive that you actually listened when I used to blabber stories to you"
Payal volunteered to go in and bring the baby.
"aha.. Now I remember" Ashok said suddenly "I was wondering where I have seen you.. now I know. You were listed in the top ten young and successful business Entrepreneurs on India too.. right? Sidarth Mokashi, MD of Mokashi group of builders from Mumbai.. remember that Article I showed you Anju.. his picture was there in it... right beside Arnav's"
"yeah.. you are right" Sid smiled at him.. While Anjali nodded.
"So you work for him Kushiji?" NK spoke out.
"yeah... See I have worked for two of top ten list now..." Kushi told Nk
"Yeah I am still wondering how we both managed to stay on top after that as well" Sid joked
"Sid.. this is toomuch! " Kushi pouted as Nk laughed
"Nice to meet you Sid" Nk extended his hand.
"Hey Nk" Sid took his hand " by the way I just joked.. She is a wonderful person to work with...and more than that she also happens to be the goddess who blessed me with Love life... My jelebi girl... I dont know what I would do without you Kushi"
"Enough Sid.. Shut up" Kushi blushed and laughed easily shocking everyone in the room and certain one person standing in one corner was ready to strangle Sid with anger.
"Kushi But.." Anjali started nervously looking at Arnav and then back at kushi
"hey here comes the baby..." Kushi screamed out happily and running towards Payal and taking the baby in her hands
"hey sweetie pie... I am your Maasi..." she singsonged to the baby "She is beautiful Jiji"
At the mention of Maasi the family looked sharpely at Arnav
"Hey dont you want to come and have a look sid... she is lovely"
Sid dropped the bags where he was standing and moved towards her
"yeah she is lovely"
"Dont you want to take her?"
"Me? I am not sure.. I dont know how to hold her Kushi"
"No its simple... how would you manage if you get your own baby?"
"you would be around Jelebi" he winked at her...
"shutup.. I am teaching you now... learn it now. You cant escape everytime..." she said slowly easing the baby in his hands and making him hold the baby properly
"comfy now?" she asked
"yeah.." he said and then mimicked her "Hey baby.. I am your mausa" he singsonged as Kushi hit him on his arms
"ok ok..she is cute.. and beautiful... Just like you" Sid told her
"Like me? are you kidding? She is like my JiJi"
"yeah.. maybe.. But I cant call your JiJi cute and beautiful right? Akaash will kick me out of this place" he joked.
"Yeah maybe now I should kick you out" She joined in.
They were so engrosed in their banter that they didnt notice the family growing uneasy with their jokes or the killer instincts raising in Arnav's eyes.
Kushi looked around and then bit her lips.
"hey hold the baby kushi" Sid asked her giving the baby in her arms again "The gifts" he mouthed to her trying to ease the situation
"oh yeah.. I forgot" Kushi excalimed "the white bag is for the parents and the pink one is for the cutie pie" Kushi announced as she gave the baby back to payal.
The family watched as Sid gave the bags to Akaash. Akaash accepted them nevertheless feeling tensed about the situation.
"eh...hmm...If you both could excuse us.. Payal has a appointment with Gynec now for her routine checkup" Akaash announced.
"yeah Kushi.. we will be back soon... we will talk later ok?"
"Oh is it" Kushi asked looking at Sid.
"thats alright Kushi.. If you want, I can postpone our night flight to sometime tomorrow." Sid assured her
"Oh great thanks Sid.. Ok Jiji I will wait"
"What do you mean Kushi.. you are leaving again?"
"hmm... yes Jiji.. I have to " Kushi murmered taking a chance to look at Arnav who seemed to be boiling with anger.
"No you are not going anywhere.. until you talk to me.. I have to go now... But wait until I come back ok?" Payal told her sternly and followed Akaash outside.
To be continued...
Edited by abavi - 12 years ago
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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