Precap: Arnav gives a press conference and clears the air about Khushi and her family. He lies that the person in the staircase wasn't Khushi and even goes on to show that he was still wearing his engagement ring to show he wasn't over her. Khushi falls into a state of misery when she realises that she had probably misunderstood the whole ring fiasco. She feels really upset and ends up lying down on the balcony floor. Arnav finds her hours later, cold and still and tends to her at night, keeping her warm with blankets. The next morning, Khushi wakes up and is surprised to see Arnav with her. They have a talk and finally the MU about the ring is cleared out. Khushi blurts out to him that she had only returned her ring because she thought he had done it first. As Arnav becomes stunned to hear that, Khushi runs out of his room.
CHAPTER 18 Mischief's in the air
Scene 1
Khushi's heart is racing wildly as she runs the length of the corridor and down the winding wooden staircase. She is barefoot not having found the time to run into her room next to Arnav's to find her shoes. Despite being shoeless, footsteps were echoing all around her. She suspects it is not just hers that are making the noise, but she doesn't stop herself neither does she take a glance backwards fearing she'll meet his eyes. Adrenaline is coursing all through her body, pretty much advocating fight or flight; flight in her case. All she knows is that if at all Arnav catches her before she reaches downstairs, he'll make her talk and that is one thing she just wasn't prepared for right now. Panting, she reaches the top of the staircase of the first floor and the big hall comes to her sight. Feeling grateful at seeing the huge dining table at the end of the hall, Khushi quickly rushes down the remaining stairs.
*
She really didn't have anything to fear; Arnav hadn't chased after her after all. Well, only till the door of his room from where he had stood stock still gaping at Khushi's retreating back as she bolted from her as if she had seen a ghost. Arnav slowly walks back inside his room, still absorbing the last words she had said to him before freezing up. Woh to humne isiliye wapis ki thi kyunki humein laga ki aapne apni angoothi utaar di... He feels surprised as he absorbs the implication. She had never meant to return it to him! And everything else that had followed since that day? The days that he had spent holed up in his room feeling completely melancholic with the thought that she had left him for good?
Arnav walks to his cupboard and opens one door revealing the drawer. He pulls it open too and it reveals the familiar looking small wooden box. He picks it up and comes back to sit on the edge of the bed. He slowly opens the lid of the box. Inside, lying next to his mother's payals is a diamond ring; Khushi's ring. He takes it out and holds it between his fingers, studying it closely for a moment. Then he looks towards the bed, when the bedsheet is still crumpled into folds showing someone had disturbed them. He slowly rests his other hand on the spot where Khushi had been sitting not too long ago and closes his eyes feeling the comforting warmth under his fingers. Arnav's lips curve into an indulgent smile.
*
Khushi is now sitting on the dining table between Anjali and Mamiji. She had deliberately chosen this spot as she really didn't want to risk sitting next to Arnav. She suddenly peers towards the staircase. Woh abhi tak neeche kyun nahin aaye? She wonders. Nani notices Khushi's curious looks.
"Kaa hua Khushi bitiya? Aap kisi ko dhoondhat rahe hain kaa?" Nani asks Khushi just as Aakash joins them at the breakfast table. Khushi hastily snaps her eyes away from the staircase and towards Nani.
"N... Nahin Naniji," Khushi stutters. Then she looks across the table at Aakash's smiling face and smiles back. "Hamara matlab, haan!" she suddenly corrects herself. "Nanhe ji nazar nahin aa rahe hain, jeejaji?" Khushi asks Aakash. Even Mamiji speaks up at that very instant.
"Haan Aakash bitwa! NK bitwa ko hum kal afternoon se nahin sees. Woh gone with the wind hui gaya kaa?" Mami asks and then starts laughing at her own joke. Khushi smiles awkwardly at her joke although she couldn't make head or tail of what she had said. Aakash smiles.
"Haan woh NK bhai kal thodi der se ghar wapis aaye the," is all he offers. "Arre lo! Naam liya aur NK Bhai hazir." Aakash suddenly exclaims looking towards the stairs. Everyone turns around to see a bleary eyed NK still in his pyjamas ambling towards them. The poor guy looks exhausted and really sleepy. Anjali lets out a small giggle.
"Arre Nanhe, aap aaj itne jaldi kaise uth gaye?" Naniji asks him as he settles down on the chair next to Aakash. It was quite open news that he rarely ever got up before 10 or 11 in the morning. NK rubs his eyes and yawns for an answer.
"Par baat yii jaanne ki padi," Mami immediately speaks up, "ki tum kal disappears kahan hui gaye the? Bolo bolo, tells us." She asks insistingly. Khushi looks at him curiously too as she remembers what Aakash had told him last night about him going sightseeing.
"Haan mausiji, main kal zara Gomti Nagar choomne gaya tha," NK replies looking somewhat pleased with himself. Anjali chokes on her food immediately and starts coughing. Khushi turns towards her in alarm and starts rubbing her back as Roopmati hastily pours a glass of water for her. Khushi, Mamiji and Naniji are all staring at NK flabbergasted.
"Hain? Choomne? Kisko choomne?" Mamiji asks in a scandalous voice. Aakash bursts into laughter seeing the astonished looks on the ladies sitting in front of him. He turns to NK and slaps him on the back.
"NK Bhai, choomne nahin, ghoomne!" Aakash gasps as he corrects his brother. NK looks sheepishly and tugs at his ear in apology. "Choomna means ... uhm... kissing, NK Bhai," Aakash patiently explains. NK's eyes widen and he suddenly looks stunned. Then he avoids everyone's eyes and starts tinkering with the cutlery placed on the table. Khushi and Anjali start laughing in earnest.
Arnav quietly walks up from behind them and sits down next to NK, exactly across Khushi. As he looks at her laughing, he feels a happy bubble inflating inside him too. What was it about her that just lit up the whole room? Was she always this beautiful? He wonders, looking at her lovingly.
Khushi finally notices him sitting across him as Roopmati starts serving him breakfast and pouring him his morning tea. Her laughter slowly fades away to be replaced by a smile. But she bows her head down, not looking at Arnav. The rest of the members had started talking amongst each other again, Anjali and Mami were teasing NK, while Aakash was being the good brother defending NK. Arnav's eyes didn't move an inch away from Khushi. He kept staring at her, willing her to look up from her plate. Meri taraf dekho Khushi, he ordered in his thoughts.
Just then, Khushi does look up at him, her eyes rising hesistantly as if trying to see what he was doing. Their gazes lock for a minute and time seems to slow down around them. The noises next to Khushi seem to reduce down to a low buzz in the background as his eyes peered at her. She looks at him, frozen in her place, all thoughts slowly losing their grasp on her mind. Then Arnav slowly places both his elbows on the table and rotates the engagement ring on his right hand's ring finger with his left hand, as if reiterating its presence.
And just like that, Khushi is snapped back to reality. The chatter of the breakfast table zooms back into her ears.
"Khushiji? Aap sun rahi hain na?" Aakash is addressing her.
"Huh?" Khushi looks away from Arnav and fixes her attention on her jeejaji. "Kya jeejaji? Humne suna nahin." She says flustered. Arnav smirks.
"Main ye keh raha tha ki hum sab kal subah ki flight se Delhi wapis ja rahe hain. Aap sab ki tickets bhi maine book karwa li hain." Aakash says. Khushi looks embarrassed.
"Jeejaji iski kya zaroorat thi? Humara matlab hum, jeeji aur Amma train mein chale jaate," Khushi murmurs uncomfortably.
"Zaroorat kyun nahin hai Khushiji?" Aakash asks indignantly. "Main aapke family ka daamad hun. Mera itna haq to banta hai," he says smiling at Khushi. Her eyes instantly snap to Arnav.
Arnav too had uttered these words some time ago, when he had insisted on paying Khushi's house's rent. He too had asserted her right over Khushi's family in the same way. A sudden feeling of sadness dawns on her as she remembers the time when she was still married to him, even if it was a hoax of a marriage, he had accepted that he was Gupta family's daamad.
Arnav notices Khushi's look and immediately understands what she must be thinking about. There was no other reason why the look of hurt could switch places with the beautiful smile that had been playing on her lips not moments ago. He feels a yearning rising inside him again, to hold her in his arms and comfort her, like last night. But now that she was awake, there was this huge table between them.
"Theek hai jeejaji. Jaisa aap theek samjhen," Khushi murmurs.
"Agar hum sab kal home sweet home ko wapis jaye rahe, to phir humka aaj shopping karne ke vaste city ko jana hai," Mamiji suddenly declares. "Aur Moti Mahal maa kulfi bhi khaani hai!" she exclaims licking her lips. Anjali instantly cheers up with the plan.
"Ye to bahut achha idea hai!" Anjali exclaims. "Humein bhi kuch sariyan khareedni hain. Khushi ji, aap aur Payal jib hi chaliye na hamare saath?" Arnav looks peeved.
"Di, agar aapko lagta hai, ki iss condition mein, main aapko chalne firne doonga, woh bhi shopping karne ke liye, then you are mistaken," Arnav says sternly knowing how crazy Anjali became with her shopping stints. Anjali looks at her brother sullenly but her face suddenly lights up with an idea.
"Theek hai, to tum humare saath chalo Chotey!" Anjali suddenly exclaims. Arnav looks at her in surprise as does Khushi at this sudden twist of plan.
"Kya?" Arnav and Khushi chorus together in indignation. Anjali looks from Khushi to Arnav bemusedly.
"Haan. Uss tarah tum humare liye tensed bhi nahin rahoge," Anjali says smiling sweetly at her brother. Arnav looks at Khushi, his mind doing some quick thinking. Agar Khushi bhi saath chal rahi hai, to I will actually be able to spend time with her. Who cares about the shopping? He thinks. Anjali notices the long look that her younger brother was giving to Khushi, who was concentrating on her breakfast. Anjali smiles on the inside knowing that she had already won the argument.
"Theek hai, Di. I'll come," Arnav concedes in a mock exasperated tone while his beaming on the inside at his magnificent plan. Anjali's smile widens. Khushi's eyes had snapped up at Arnav when he announced that he will accompany them. She looks doubtfully at Anjali.
"Pata nahin Anjali ji. Hum soch rahe the ki humein ghar jana chahiye." Khushi replies hesistantly.
"Arre to koi baat nahin. Aap abhi ghar ja kar araam kijiye. Hum aur Mamiji lunch ke baad hi nikalenge. Tab aapko aur Payal ji ko Gomti Nagar se pick up kar lenge." Anjali devises the plan as she sees right through Khushi's acting. She knew something had conspired between her brother and Khushiji and the latter was trying to avoid the former. It wasn't rocket science really if one closely observed their reactions to each other. But Anjali was fully intending on playing cupid to the two stubborn souls that afternoon.
"Main bhi chalunga!" NK suddenly speaks up excitedly. "Mera matlab hai, mujhe bhi kulfi khani hai."
Mamiji exclaims in delight, "Arre NK bitwa, hum tumka tells nahin sakte! Woo kulfi tumre mooh mein jaye kari aur tumra poora body dance karne lage ka padi," Mamiji starts shaking her limbs showing how exactly he'll dance after eating the kulfi.
"Accha theek hai Anjali ji. Par abhi humein ghar jana hoga," Khushi requests. Anjali nods in reply.
"Main aapko ghar drop kar dun, Khushiji?" NK asks eagerly much to Khushi's surprise. She was half expecting for Arnav or Aakash to offer. Aakash merely shakes his head amusedly and goes on eating without commenting anything. Arnav looks pissed off.
Ye NK bhi na! Isko abhi apna mooh kholna tha! I wanted to drop Khushi off. Damn it! Arnav seethes.
"Haan theek hai Nanhe ji. Par aapko wahan jane ka raasta pata hai?" Khushi wonders aloud.
"Khushiji, NK Bhai ko Lucknow ka koi aur area pata ho na ho," Aakash says hardly able to suppress the grin on his face, "par yahan se Gomti Nagar aane jane ka raasta to zaroor pata hai." NK glares at him and punches him on his arm but Aakash just laughs loudly. Khushi looks at NK and Aakash cluelessly, wondering what that was all about.
*
Breakfast was over and the entire family had scattered off; Naniji and Mamiji were sitting in the courtyard sipping their teas; Anjali was in her room as Arnav has made her promise to be fully rested if she was serious to go out for shopping that afternoon; Aakash had gone to meet the private investigator; NK was dozing off on the sofa trying to compensate for some sleep before he would go off to drop Khushi home; Arnav was no where to be seen.
Khushi was pacing around in the living hall, shooting glances towards the grand staircase at the end of the hall. She was still barefeet because she hadn't picked up the courage to go back up to her room on the 2nd floor and get her chappals back. Ye sab unki wajah se hua hai, she thinks angrily to herself. Na to woh humse baat karte, na hi humara dimag kharab hota, na hi hum sab sach ugal dete aur na hi woh humare peeche bhaag rahe hote. But she was to leave for home in a short while and how would it look getting into the car with no shoes? She sits down on the chair, bows her head down looking at her feet and starts shaking her legs as she always does when tensed.
*Rabba Ve*
Suddenly a person kneels down on the floor next to her chair. Khushi leans away from him, momentarily shocked at seeing him appear out of thin air. The person looks up from his kneeling position and Khushi realises with a pang that it was Arnav. Ye ab tak kahan the? Khushi wonders as she tentatively meets her eyes, unable to figure out what he was doing on the floor.
Arnav looks up at her, holding her gaze in place. He can tell that her breathing has hiked up despite him not having touched her yet. There was something so endearing in the way she was constantly looking away from him and then sneaking glances only to look away again. He smiles at her, seeing her stubbornness fighting with her yearning. He had been around the whole morning, watching her from the alcove next to the dining table, but away from her prying eyes.
"Tum kuch bhool nahin rahi ho?" Arnav whispers in a low murmur. Khushi finally looks down to meet his eyes, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Kya? She wordlessly asks. Slowly he bows his head and brings his hands forward. His hands were holding something wrapped in a paper. Khushi looks down at it too, her curiosity now rising. Arnav peels off the paper layer by layer and finally she sees her slippers being revealed, the same slippers that she had left upstairs in her room. She gasps out loud seeing them.
"Mujhe laga ghar jane ke liye, tumhe shayad inki zaroorat padegi," Arnav says casually. Khushi looks at him uncertainly. Aap ye sab kyun kar rahe hain? She wonders. He holds one slipper in his hand expectantly under her left foot. He looks up at her waiting. Her gaze lingering at him for just one moment longer, she slides her foot into the waiting slipper. Arnav smiles. He then holds up the other slipper similarly under her right foot. Khushi wears the other slipper as well. Their gazes linger on each other.
*Rabba Ve ends*
With a loud groan, NK gets up from the couch. Arnav and Khushi look towards him distractedly. The moment had been disturbed. NK yawns loudly and starts stretching his arms. Arnav suddenly stands up, crumpling up the paper. He exchanges one last look with Khushi before walking away towards the staircase. Arnav smirks to himself as he hears NK exclaiming to Khushi behind him -
"Uhm Khushiji? Aapne apne joote ulte kyun pehene hue hain?"
ENGLISH VERSION
CHAPTER 18 Scene 1
Khushi's heart is racing wildly as she runs the length of the corridor and down the winding wooden staircase. She is barefoot not having found the time to run into her room next to Arnav's to find her shoes. Despite being shoeless, footsteps were echoing all around her. She suspects it is not just hers that are making the noise, but she doesn't stop herself neither does she take a glance backwards fearing she'll meet his eyes. Adrenaline is coursing all through her body, pretty much advocating fight or flight; flight in her case. All she knows is that if at all Arnav catches her before she reaches downstairs, he'll make her talk and that is one thing she just wasn't prepared for right now. Panting, she reaches the top of the staircase of the first floor and the big hall comes to her sight. Feeling grateful at seeing the huge dining table at the end of the hall, Khushi quickly rushes down the remaining stairs.
*
She really didn't have anything to fear; Arnav hadn't chased after her after all. Well, only till the door of his room from where he had stood stock still gaping at Khushi's retreating back as she bolted from her as if she had seen a ghost. Arnav slowly walks back inside his room, still absorbing the last words she had said to him before freezing up. I returned you my ring only because you had taken off yours first... He feels surprised as he absorbs the implication. She had never meant to return it to him! And everything else that had followed since that day? The days that he had spent holed up in his room feeling completely melancholic with the thought that she had left him for good?
Arnav walks to his cupboard and opens one door revealing the drawer. He pulls it open too and it reveals the familiar looking small wooden box. He picks it up and comes back to sit on the edge of the bed. He slowly opens the lid of the box. Inside, lying next to his mother's payals is a diamond ring; Khushi's ring. He takes it out and holds it between his fingers, studying it closely for a moment. Then he looks towards the bed, when the bedsheet is still crumpled into folds showing someone had disturbed them. He slowly rests his other hand on the spot where Khushi had been sitting not too long ago and closes his eyes feeling the comforting warmth under his fingers. Arnav's lips curve into an indulgent smile.
*
Khushi is now sitting on the dining table between Anjali and Mamiji. She had deliberately chosen this spot as she really didn't want to risk sitting next to Arnav. She suddenly peers towards the staircase. Why hasn't he come downstairs yet? She wonders. Nani notices Khushi's curious looks.
"What happened Khushi bitiya? Are you looking for someone?" Nani asks Khushi just as Aakash joins them at the breakfast table. Khushi hastily snaps her eyes away from the staircase and towards Nani.
"N... No Naniji," Khushi stutters. Then she looks across the table at Aakash's smiling face and smiles back. "I mean, yes!" she suddenly corrects herself. "Where is Nanheji, jeejaji?" Khushi asks Aakash. Even Mamiji speaks up at that very instant.
"Yes Aakash bitwa! I haven't seen NK bitwa since yesterday afternoon. Is he gone with the wind?" Mami asks and then starts laughing at her own joke. Khushi smiles awkwardly at her joke although she couldn't make head or tail of what she had said. Aakash smiles.
"Yeah, NK Bhai had returned home a litte late last night," is all he offers. "And there you go. Think of the devil." Aakash suddenly exclaims looking towards the stairs. Everyone turns around to see a bleary eyed NK still in his pyjamas ambling towards them. The poor guy looks exhausted and really sleepy. Anjali lets out a small giggle.
"Arre Nanhe, how come you are awake so early today?" Naniji asks him as he settles down on the chair next to Aakash. It was quite open news that he rarely ever got up before 10 or 11 in the morning. NK rubs his eyes and yawns for an answer.
"But what needs to be found out is that," Mami immediately speaks up, "where had you disappeared off to last night? Tells us." She asks insistingly. Khushi looks at him curiously too as she remembers what Aakash had told him last night about him going sightseeing.
"Mausiji, I had gone choomne (kissing) to Gomti Nagar," NK replies looking somewhat pleased with himself. Anjali chokes on her food immediately and starts coughing. Khushi turns towards her in alarm and starts rubbing her back as Roopmati hastily pours a glass of water for her. Khushi, Mamiji and Naniji are all staring at NK flabbergasted.
"What? Choomne? Choomne who?" Mamiji asks in a scandalous voice. Aakash bursts into laughter seeing the astonished looks on the ladies sitting in front of him. He turns to NK and slaps him on the back.
"NK Bhai, not choomne, ghoomne (to roam around)!" Aakash gasps as he corrects his brother. NK looks sheepishly and tugs at his ear in apology. "Choomna means ... uhm... kissing, NK Bhai," Aakash patiently explains. NK's eyes widen and he suddenly looks stunned. Then he avoids everyone's eyes and starts tinkering with the cutlery placed on the table. Khushi and Anjali start laughing in earnest.
Arnav quietly walks up from behind them and sits down next to NK, exactly across Khushi. As he looks at her laughing, he feels a happy bubble inflating inside him too. What was it about her that just lit up the whole room? Was she always this beautiful? He wonders, looking at her lovingly.
Khushi finally notices him sitting across him as Roopmati starts serving him breakfast and pouring him his morning tea. Her laughter slowly fades away to be replaced by a smile. But she bows her head down, not looking at Arnav. The rest of the members had started talking amongst each other again, Anjali and Mami were teasing NK, while Aakash was being the good brother defending NK. Arnav's eyes didn't move an inch away from Khushi. He kept staring at her, willing her to look up from her plate. Look at me Khushi, he ordered in his thoughts.
Just then, Khushi does look up at him, her eyes rising hesistantly as if trying to see what he was doing. Their gazes lock for a minute and time seems to slow down around them. The noises next to Khushi seem to reduce down to a low buzz in the background as his eyes peered at her. She looks at him, frozen in her place, all thoughts slowly losing their grasp on her mind. Then Arnav slowly places both his elbows on the table and rotates the engagement ring on his right hand's ring finger with his left hand, as if reiterating its presence.
And just like that, Khushi is snapped back to reality. The chatter of the breakfast table zooms back into her ears.
"Khushiji? You are listening right?" Aakash is addressing her.
"Huh?" Khushi looks away from Arnav and fixes her attention on her jeejaji. "What jeejaji? I didn't hear you." She says flustered. Arnav smirks.
"I was saying that all of us are returning to Delhi by tomorrow morning's flight. And I have booked the flight tickets for you as well." Aakash says. Khushi looks embarrassed.
"Jeejaji what was the need for that? I mean, Amma, Jeeji and I could have very well traveled in the train," Khushi murmurs uncomfortably.
"What do you mean, what is the need Khushiji?" Aakash asks indignantly. "I'm the son-in-law of your family. I think it is my right," he says smiling at Khushi. Her eyes instantly snap to Arnav.
Arnav too had uttered these words some time ago, when he had insisted on paying Khushi's house's rent. He too had asserted her right over Khushi's family in the same way. A sudden feeling of sadness dawns on her as she remembers the time when she was still married to him, even if it was a hoax of a marriage, he had accepted that he was Gupta family's daamad.
Arnav notices Khushi's look and immediately understands what she must be thinking about. There was no other reason why the look of hurt could switch places with the beautiful smile that had been playing on her lips not moments ago. He feels a yearning rising inside him again, to hold her in his arms and comfort her, like last night. But now that she was awake, there was this huge table between them.
"Okay jeejaji. As you wish," Khushi murmurs.
"If we are returning to home sweet home tomorrow, then I want to go to the city for shopping today," Mamiji suddenly declares. "And I want to eat kulfis at Moti Mahal too!" she exclaims licking her lips. Anjali instantly cheers up with the plan.
"That is a fabulous idea!" Anjali exclaims. "I too need to buy some sarees. Khushiji, why don't you and Payalji accompany us?" Arnav looks peeved.
"Di, if you think I'll allow you to walk around in your condition that too for shopping, then you are mistaken," Arnav says sternly knowing how crazy Anjali became with her shopping stints. Anjali looks at her brother sullenly but her face suddenly lights up with an idea.
"Okay, then you too come along with us Chotey!" Anjali suddenly exclaims. Arnav looks at her in surprise as does Khushi at this sudden twist of plan.
"What?" Arnav and Khushi chorus together in indignation. Anjali looks from Khushi to Arnav bemusedly.
"Yeah. That way you won't be tensed about me," Anjali says smiling sweetly at her brother. Arnav looks at Khushi, his mind doing some quick thinking. If Khushi is coming along, then I will actually be able to spend time with her. Who cares about the shopping? He thinks. Anjali notices the long look that her younger brother was giving to Khushi, who was concentrating on her breakfast. Anjali smiles on the inside knowing that she had already won the argument.
"Okay, Di. I'll come," Arnav concedes in a mock exasperated tone while his beaming on the inside at his magnificent plan. Anjali's smile widens. Khushi's eyes had snapped up at Arnav when he announced that he will accompany them. She looks doubtfully at Anjali.
"I don't know, Anjali ji. I was thinking I should head back home." Khushi replies hesistantly.
"Oh not to worry. You go home and rest for now. Mami and I will leave for the city only after lunch. We'll pick you and payalji from Gomti Nagar on our way." Anjali devises the plan as she sees right through Khushi's acting. She knew something had conspired between her brother and Khushiji and the latter was trying to avoid the former. It wasn't rocket science really if one closely observed their reactions to each other. But Anjali was fully intending on playing cupid to the two stubborn souls that afternoon.
"I'll come too!" NK suddenly speaks up excitedly. "I mean, I too want to eat kulfis."
Mamiji exclaims in delight, "Oh NK bitwa, I can't tell you how good they are! Your whole body will start dancing in delight," Mamiji starts shaking her limbs showing how exactly he'll dance after eating the kulfi.
"Okay Anjali ji. But I'll have to go home for now," Khushi requests. Anjali nods in reply.
"Can I drop you home, Khushiji?" NK asks eagerly much to Khushi's surprise. She was half expecting for Arnav or Aakash to offer. Aakash merely shakes his head amusedly and goes on eating without commenting anything. Arnav looks pissed off.
Oh this guy! He had to open his mouth now! I wanted to drop Khushi off. Damn it! Arnav seethes.
"Okay sure Nanhe ji. But do you know the way?" Khushi wonders aloud.
"Khushiji, NK Bhai may not know any other location in Lucknow," Aakash says hardly able to suppress the grin on his face, "But I'm sure he knows the way to and from Gomti Nagar for sure." NK glares at him and punches him on his arm but Aakash just laughs loudly. Khushi looks at NK and Aakash cluelessly, wondering what that was all about.
*
Breakfast was over and the entire family had scattered off; Naniji and Mamiji were sitting in the courtyard sipping their teas; Anjali was in her room as Arnav has made her promise to be fully rested if she was serious to go out for shopping that afternoon; Aakash had gone to meet the private investigator; NK was dozing off on the sofa trying to compensate for some sleep before he would go off to drop Khushi home; Arnav was no where to be seen.
Khushi was pacing around in the living hall, shooting glances towards the grand staircase at the end of the hall. She was still barefeet because she hadn't picked up the courage to go back up to her room on the 2nd floor and get her chappals back. All this has happened because of him, she thinks angrily to herself. Had he not talked to me, my mind wouldn't have messed up, I wouldn't have blurted out anything and he wouldn't have been chasing after me. But she was to leave for home in a short while and how would it look getting into the car with no shoes? She sits down on the chair, bows her head down looking at her feet and starts shaking her legs as she always does when tensed.
*Rabba Ve*
Suddenly a person kneels down on the floor next to her chair. Khushi leans away from him, momentarily shocked at seeing him appear out of thin air. The person looks up from his kneeling position and Khushi realises with a pang that it was Arnav. Where was he all this time? Khushi wonders as she tentatively meets her eyes, unable to figure out what he was doing on the floor.
Arnav looks up at her, holding her gaze in place. He can tell that her breathing has hiked up despite him not having touched her yet. There was something so endearing in the way she was constantly looking away from him and then sneaking glances only to look away again. He smiles at her, seeing her stubbornness fighting with her yearning. He had been around the whole morning, watching her from the alcove next to the dining table, but away from her prying eyes.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Arnav whispers in a low murmur. Khushi finally looks down to meet his eyes, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.Kya? She wordlessly asks. Slowly he bows his head and brings his hands forward. His hands were holding something wrapped in a paper. Khushi looks down at it too, her curiosity now rising. Arnav peels off the paper layer by layer and finally she sees her slippers being revealed, the same slippers that she had left upstairs in her room. She gasps out loud seeing them.
"I thought you'll need this while going home," Arnav says casually. Khushi looks at him uncertainly. Why are you doing all this? She wonders. He holds one slipper in his hand expectantly under her left foot. He looks up at her waiting. Her gaze lingering at him for just one moment longer, she slides her foot into the waiting slipper. Arnav smiles. He then holds up the other slipper similarly under her right foot. Khushi wears the other slipper as well. Their gazes linger on each other.
*Rabba Ve ends*
With a loud groan, NK gets up from the couch. Arnav and Khushi look towards him distractedly. The moment had been disturbed. NK yawns loudly and starts stretching his arms. Arnav suddenly stands up, crumpling up the paper. He exchanges one last look with Khushi before walking away towards the staircase. Arnav smirks to himself as he hears NK exclaiming to Khushi behind him -
"Uhm Khushiji? Why are you wearing your shoes on the wrong feet?"
😉
Edited by smitzy - 12 years ago
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