Smitar's OS:Knowing Khushi Part 9 Page 123 (Mar 4) - Page 67

hats off... its such a refreshing os ...loving it to the core ❤️

Originally posted by: angeldream14

LOVED IT

POOR SOUL

HE IS A TEASE

HARASSING HER SO MEAN

BUT CUTE TO

SHE IS SO NAIVE

Smita,😊

Here is my interpretation for Part 8.

Various questions are being posed and answered in this update. At times it is just simple direct ones, and at times it has been given after a convincing discussion. Hence I call it SOCRATIC METHOD.

What is Socratic Method?

Named after the Greek philosopher Socrates, it is a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to illuminate ideas. It is called by various names but I have opted for a simple one viz. Socratic Method.

Arnav parked the car in front of the temple. He turned his head to look at the excited faces of his Nani & Di, and sighed inwardly. What he was going to set into motion would shake the very foundations of his Di's life, ... but... but.. there was no other way... he couldn't stand by and do nothing while the rascal fooled his sister and tried to marry Khushi.

"What would come, would come...and you would have to meet it, when it did"

~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

"Chotey, Khushi will come at 7, won't she?", Nani asked, her eyes twinkling.

"Haan, Nani." Arnav swallowed hard.

He turned to his sister and said, "Di, did you phone Jiju?"

"No. Why, Chotey?", she asked.

"He might be waiting for you to call him between 7 & 7.30. Why don't you call him now? Once we meet Khushi, you might not remember...", Arnav suggested.

"But the thing about remembering is that you don't forget"

~ Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried

"Haan, Chotey. You are very right." Anjali took her phone out to call her husband.

Nani said, "Anjali Bitiyaa, don't let Damadji know anything about Khushi. Just tell him that we are at the temple. Let it all be a surprise to him when he returns!"

Anjali smiled, nodded, and called Shyam.

Arnav clenched his fists around the steering wheel as the cheat dripped honey all over his Di, calling her Rani Sahiba and what not... the bigamous toad!

"Frankly, I couldn't be more astonished that this guy was involved in something like this than if you came riding through my apartment on a hippopotamus."

~Dan Rather

He watched Akash park his car nearby and lead Mami & NK over to his vehicle.

Finally, Anjali's phone conversation ended, and Arnav followed his family up the steps to the temple.

"What does she look like, Chotey?", Nani asked.

"Err... beautiful...", he stammered.

"We know that, Hello Hi Bye Bye!", laughed Mami.

"Long hair, thin, light eyes, fair...", he managed to say. "She will be waiting near the banyan tree."

"Look beneath the surface; let not the several quality of a thing nor its worth escape thee"

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

"Ijj that her?", Mami asked.

There was silence from Arnav. All turned to look at him, and started giggling. He was standing with his mouth open.

"He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words"

~ Elbert Hubbard

Khushi was wearing a sari. A red sari. The folds of the silk moulded her body with a loving hand. Her skin glowed in the early morning light, showing of its creamy, blemishless expanse, tempting him to touch her, feel the warmth of her plump cheeks, swan-like neck, her long arms, her curvy waist that peeped out from the fall of soft red silk... The rest of his thoughts were not appropriate for a place of worship. Arnav swallowed, with great difficulty.

"We need music the most when we're feeling things really intensely. I think the most intense times in your life are when you're either falling in love or losing it"

~ Taylor Swift

Her hair was unbound, just a few strands gathered lightly together at the back of her head with a tiny clip. The silky strands danced in the light breeze, forming a halo around her.

As he watched her with intense, burning, possessive eyes, she lifted her eyes from her fingers that she had been twisting together, and looked up, straight at him.

"I just want to show you off;

I want to show how cute we are together,

I want to kiss you every chance I get;

I want to be the reason for your smile,

And I just want you"

Khushi saw only Mr. Raizada... Arnavji. He was in black formal clothes, standing straight and tall, looking at her. A smile bloomed on her face. Arnav's lips stretched slightly in response. Her smile widened. A lone man out to save his family from a cheat... his broad shoulders taking on the burden of the secret, working alone, suffering alone... If he had not agreed to stand by her... she would have been doomed...

"A feeling is not bottomless. once felt all the way through, a great peace greets you there"

~ Alanis Morissette

As he watched, her eyes shone with trust and something like... like liking... Arnav swallowed. His family heaved a loud sigh of relief and wonder.

They looked at Arnav's face that revealed his pride in her and hid their smiles. They then looked at Khushi's rapt face, and couldn't help but smile.

"I'm so proud of you that it makes me proud of me. I hope you know that"

~ John Green, Will Grayson

"Nannav, she is so beautiful! Introduce us to Khushi... pleeease... You can stare at her later.", NK pleaded.

"Bhabi...", said Arnav. "She is your Bhabi. Take her name with respect."

"Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners"

~ Laurence Sterne

Mami burst out laughing while NK & Akash looked at him with mouths wide open. Nani & Anjali giggled.

Nani laughed, "Chotey, if all of us call her Khushi Bhabi, will you condescend to introduce her to us?"

Arnav flushed slightly, and led his family up to where Khushi was standing.

The Raizadas drew in sharp breaths. Khushi was more beautiful in close up, her direct gaze and warm smile endearing her to them at first sight.

"Beauty is the virtue of the body as virtue is the beauty of the soul"

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

NK took a step forward to introduce himself to Khushi, but Arnav pulled him back. He then stepped forward, asking, "Khushi, have you been waiting long?"

Khushi opened her mouth to reply. But her mouth remained open with no sound issuing from it as Arnav leaned forward, and gently kissed her right cheek. His warm, hard lips grazed the softness of her cheek for a second & then pressed firmly against the satin soft skin. Her eyes became wide, and wider still in shock.

"How delicious is the winning of a kiss at love's beginning"

~ Thomas Campbell

Arnav whispered in her ear, "Remember, we are baiifriend-girlfriend."

Khushi swallowed and lowered her eyes, her cheeks a rosy red. She clutched her trembling fingers together.

"Blushing is the color of virtue"

~ Diogenes Laertius

"Khushi, this is my Nani, Devyani Raizada." Khushi touched Nani's feet, and Nani blessed and hugged her, cupping her cheeks lovingly.

"Khushi, this is my Di, Anjali Jha." Arnav's eyes met Khushi's for a poignant moment. She greeted Anjali politely, and Anjali hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Khushi, this is my Mami, Manorama Raizada." Khushi touched her feet, and was blessed.

"When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness... all the good things"

~ Maya Angelou

"Do you have any sisters, Hello Hi Bye Bye?", Mami asked her.

"Ji. One elder sister. Payal.", Khushi replied.

"Ijj she married?", asked Mami.

"Ji..No.", replied Khushi.

Mami nudged Arnav. "Arnav Bitwaa, when we go to your Khushi's housewaa to phix (fix) your marrijjj, look at Payal carephully. If she is alright, Akash Bitwaa-Payal mamla bhi phix kar diyo!"

"It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living"

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Arnav smiled, but with a tinge of sorrow. When they finally visited Khushi's house, Akash's marriage would be the last thing on anybody's mind.

"My Mamaji is abroad right now. This is Mami's son, Akash.", he introduced Akash to Khushi.

They greeted each other with folded hands. Akash said seriously, "Welcome to the family, Khushi Bhabi."

Khushi felt her throat choke with regret and pain. What were they doing to this family? Feeding them so many lies to reveal a truth... And when Shyamji was finally caught, this family would be shattered... These smiles would vanish...

"The pieces all fit together. Yet everything was falling apart"

~ Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song

She looked at Arnav. He nodded, comforting her. They were doing the right thing...the only thing they could do...

"Sh..shukriya...", she managed to say.

"This is NK Bhai, our cousin. His family is settled in Sydney. He is on a visit here." Arnav introduced NK.

"Khushi Bhabi...", NK's eyes twinkled and his smile was infectious. "I am so glad to meet you."

Khushi smiled.

"The twinkling of an eye. That is the most wonderful expression. I've thought from time to time it was the best thing in life, that little incandescence you see in people when the charm of a thing strikes them, or the humor of it. 'The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart.' That's a fact"

~ Marilynne Robinson

"Khushi Bhabi, I have been wanting to ask you something...", NK said.

Khushi looked at him.

"How do you put up with Nannav's anger?"

"I just remain calm when Arnavji roars.", she laughed.

"You are the sky. Everything else... it's just the weather"

~ Pema Chodron

"Khushiji, how did you meet Chotey?", Anjali asked.

Khushi paled slightly. Her scared eyes darted to Arnav's calm ones. He caught hold of her hand, slipping his fingers through hers. She shuddered at his touch, & Arnav turned to look at her with intent, deeply satisfied eyes.

"She came to my office with a work proposal. I found it very interesting. We got talking. That's all.", Arnav said.

"Chotey!" Anjali protested. "Nobody can beat you in taking away the last bit of romance from a situation."

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life"

~ Confucius

Nani & Mami nodded.

"Thank God he didn't say that she walked out out his laptopwaa!", Mami quipped.

"Khushi Bhabi, what did you think of Bhai when you first saw him?", Akash asked, smiling.

Khushi smiled thinking of the first moment when she had laid eyes on him. "A lion. In a glass cage. Roaring at everyone."

"I'm like a lion - I roar. If someone betrays me, I won't be a victim. I don't sulk, I get angry. I go immediately into retaliation. But it always comes from insecurity or pain"

~ Lisa Marie Presley

All laughed.

Arnav pressed her fingers, promising retribution.

"Nannav, what did you think of Khushi Bhabi when you first saw her?"

"He Devi Maiyya!", Arnav said. His family looked at him as though he had gone mad.

"When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other"

~ Eric Hoffer

Khushi pinched his fingers that were trying to play with hers. He freed her hand. Khushi heaved a sigh of relief. But it was too soon.

Arnav slid his arm around Khushi, pulling her closer to his side, his fingers playing with the exposed skin of her waist under the cover of her sari.

Khushi jerked, falling against him.

"I thought she must be the most beautiful girl on earth.", Arnav said softly.

"O! she doth teach the torches to burn bright

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear;

Beauty too rich for use,

for earth too dear. ~ Romeo"

~ William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Khushi & the others stared at him, astonished.

The family chatted with Khushi for long, loving her ready sense of humour and cheerful nature. They asked about her engagement. Khushi made it clear that she had no liking for the man her sagai was fixed with and that she knew very little about him.

"Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances that we know to be desperate"

~ G.K. Chesterton

NK asked, "Khushi Bhabi, I know it is a very difficult thing to do, but do you love Nannav?"

Khushi blushed, unused to such directness in matters of the heart, and not wanting to lie.

But apparently her blush was enough. The Raizadas smiled happily.

"We've got everything we need right here, and everything we need is enough"

~ Jack Johnson

All the while, Arnav touched her constantly. Her arms, her hands, her fingers, her waist, her shoulders, her hair... He did not miss a single chance. Khushi became more & more tense, trying to move away from him, her nerves stretched on a rack... But Arnav held her firmly anchored to his side. Her heart thudded louder than a drum & she was short of breath, finding it difficult to draw breath in.

"A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds"

~ Francis Bacon, The Essays

Finally, Mami said, "Let's go in to pray. Hamre Arnav Bitwaa & Khushi Bitiyaa can spend some time with each other, looking into each other's aiijj (eyes)."

All nodded, smiling.

As they left, NK turned back, and said, "Nannav, good luck!"

Arnav looked after him, confused. NK walked away with a jaunty air.

"For those who confuse you, recognize that their confusion is theirs and your clarity is yours"

~ Barbara Marciniak, Family of Light

Arnav turned to look at Khushi, and felt a bubble of laughter rising from his chest.

She was standing there, her hands on her waist, looking furious enough to kill him with her bare hands.

"Mr. Raizada..."

"Arnavji...", he corrected her mildly.

She spit out, "Arnavji!"

"Yes?"

"Just because I was forced to accept you as my baaifriend does not mean that you have the right to touch me.", Khushi bit out.

"Touch you?", asked Arnav, raising an eyebrow.

"If I could touch anything in the world right now, it would be your heart. I want to take that piece of you and keep it with me"

~ Jessica Verday, The Haunted

"Ji. Touch me. Idhar Udhar with your long fingers and big hands. Knowing very well that I couldn't scream at you or push you away when your family members were smiling at me." Khushi pushed her face close to his to give him the full effect of an angry lioness.

"Khushi, baaifriends & girlfriends touch each other. All the time. Why are you complaining about it?", he asked, an innocent look on his face.

"Those who don't jump will never fly"

~ Leena Ahmad Almashat, Harmony Letters

Khushi frowned. "Baaifriends touch girlfriends like that?"

Arnav swallowed his smile. "Yes, Khushi Kumari Gupta. And girlfriends too touch baaifriends like this."

"They do?" Her eyes looked like saucers.

"I've seen what you're going to understand, dear.

It made me patient when confronting your temper"

~ Toba Beta, Master of Stupidity

Arnav had to call on all his self-control not to burst out laughing.

She looked at him, silent for a while. Then she asked, slowly, softly, "How do they breathe when they do this? I felt as though I would die without air, with dhak dhak that was faster than my breath... How do girls and baais live through this?"

This update opens with Arnav looking at the excited faces of his Di and Nani and sigh to himself at the car park in front of the temple. He feels for them. He is reluctant to burst their bubble with the tsunami that is going to awash his Di's life. It would not only be affecting her badly but the entire family too. The very foundation on which her marriage has stood so far would be shaken to the core. The very tenets of marriage that she held sacred would be exposed as profane by the very husband whom she adores. He felt helpless for not being able to spare from pain his sweet, gullible sister and also the innocent, simple Khushi.

"There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.'

No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster"

~ Dalai Lama XIV

When Nani confirmed with him, the timing at which Khushi would come, she was bubbling with enthusiasm. Arnav felt bad to see it. He asked his sister to call Jiju as it was the usual call time and she might forget to do it once she met Khushi. Again it was a two fold plan. First it was to confirm his whereabouts and to keep him occupied until the time to meet Khushi. The other being he not wanting his Di to blurt out about Khushi in her enthusiasm.

"Not the power to remember, but its very opposite, the power to forget, is a necessary condition for our existence"

~ Sholem Asch

When Anjali agreed to call Nani warned her not to disclose the secret. Hearing his Di's ears being filled by sweet nothings and blatant lies by Shyam, Arnav clenched his fist and with utmost difficulty controlled his anger.

"It was like we had known all along that the sky was going to fall and then it fell and we pretended to be surprised."

~ Elin Hilderbrand, The Love Season

While Anjali conversed, Akash too drew alongside with Mami and NK in his car. Once the call was over, all climbed the steps leading to the temple. Nani wanted to know and asked,"What does she look like, Chotey?" Taken aback by this question, he stammered, "Err... beautiful..."When Mami laughed and said, "We know that, Hello Hi Bye Bye!" he started to describe her. "Long hair, thin, light eyes, fair...", and said that she would be waiting under the banyan tree.

"There is more to someone being lovable than the way they look"

~ Cassandra Clare

Sharp eyed Mami saw a girl under the tree and asked him, "Ijj that her?" Getting no reply from him they turned towards him and found him agape. That was a visual treat to the rest! Arnav Singh Raizada, who was never fazed by anything, was in a daze seeing his girlfriend!

"I have never heard a more eloquent silence"

~ Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

Khushi was draped in a red silk saree that moulded on her, glowing fresh like a leaf glistening with the morning due when the first rays of sun fell on it bringing out the myriad of colours in the rainbow. He was so engrossed in her that various thoughts started to stream in his mind. He felt that she was a nymph whom he wanted to touch, hold and cherish. The rest of his thoughts were not appropriate for a place of worship. Seeing her natural beauty enhanced by the saree he was just stumped!

"We feel more than we can express, we see more than we can say"

~ Marty Rubin

She had let her hair down that were dancing in the morning breeze framing her face. He just couldn't lift his eyes from her. He felt intense feelings and his eyes showed possessiveness that was never seen before, astounding his family. As he watched, sensing that she was being observed, she too lifted her eyes from her fingers and looked straight at him.

"Is it really possible to tell someone else what one feels?"

~ Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Amidst the entire family her eyes only saw him,

Khushi saw only Mr. Raizada... Arnavji. He

looked sauve in his black suit. Seeing him, a smile bloomed on her face and he felt that it was like a blessing from the sun. Seeing his response smile, it widened like a beaming sun. She saw him as a lone ranger fighting to save his family from the unsavory deeds of a cheat. Taking all the secrets and the burden on his shoulders, working strategies and suffering all alone, thus safeguarding his family from the undue worries heaped by the scum bag if a Jijaji!. If he had not agreed to be her Knight in the shining armour then she would have been scarred for life!

"Respect is a really powerful magic too, you know."

~ Jefferson Smith, Strange Places

As he watched her eyes, he realized that she had put all her trust in him and he felt he saw 'her like for him' displayed too! Arnav was elated as well as humbled by her gesture. It was beyond his expectation at that point of time from her. Seeing Khushi for the first time, the family was relieved. They had been wondering at his choice as he used to work along with models and it had held them in tenterhooks too. Seeing the way both of them were engrossed in one another and their face telling them the story of how much they cared for each other the rest smiled!

"It is beautiful to talk about beautiful things and even more beautiful to silently gaze at them"

~ Dejan Stojanovic

NK was the first to break the silence. He pleaded,

"Nannav, she is so beautiful! Introduce us to Khushi... pleeease... You can stare at her later." To NK's surprise, "Bhabi... She is your Bhabi. Take her name with respect" came from Arnav in reply!

"Respect is primary"

~ Terry Tempest Williams, When Women Were Birds

Hearing his diktat NK and Akash were agape with surprise, Mami laughed, Anjali and Nani giggled. Nani in jest asked him,"Chotey, if all of us call her Khushi Bhabi, will you condescend to introduce her to us?" Arnav blushed in embarrassment, and led them to Khushi. Raizada's who had found her just beautiful from far, felt she was breathtakingly beautiful in close up. Her smile warmed their hearts at first sight.

"Tell them dear, that if eyes were made for seeing,

Then beauty is its own excuse for being"

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Rhodora

NK who was taking the initiative to introduce himself was pulled back by Arnav. Stepping close to Khushi, he enquired whether she had to wait long for them. Khushi who had opened her mouth to reply, suddenly lost her voice. Arnav had leaned towards her and kissed her on her right cheeks. As he deepened the pressure her eyes flew wide open in shock!

"Each kiss a heart-quake..."

~ Lord Byron, Don Juan

Sensing her reaction he whispered in her ear,

"Remember, we are baiifriend-girlfriend." Khushi who was not used to the kissing culture was left trembling. To hide her emotions, she lowered her eyes but the hue on her cheeks that spread like a sunset glow was a give away. It gave such a demonstration to the family members gathered, that it reinforced what they had gleaned on the feelings of Arnav and Khushi towards each other.

"So sweet the blush of bashfulness,

E'en pity scarce can wish it less!"

~ Lord Byron

Introducing them to one another, he started with the Matriarch of the family. "Khushi, this is my Nani, Devyani Raizada." Khushi sought her blessings by touching her feet. Nani who had waited for a long time to get her Chotey married was pleased with his choice and hugged Khushi. Then he introduced his sister, "Khushi, this is my Di, Anjali Jha." Arnav's eyes held Khushi's conveying his feelings that she was Shyam's wife. Khushi greeted her politely, with a 'Namaste'

"NAMASTE"

"I honour the place in you

in which the entire Universe dwells.

I honour the place in you

which is of love and truth,

of light and of peace.

When you are in that place in you

and I am in that place in me

WE ARE ONE"

Anjali, hugged and kissed her. Then she was introduced to his Mami."Khushi, this is my Mami, Manorama Raizada." Khushi sought her blessings.

"May your troubles be less

Your blessings be more.

And nothing but happiness

Come through your door"

~ Dorien Kelly,

The Last Bride in Ballymuir

When introduced Mami asked her, "Do you have any sisters, Hello Hi Bye Bye?" When Khushi answered, "Ji. One elder sister. Payal" Mami further probed, "Ijj she married?" Khushi's no encouraged Mami and she declared to Arnav,

"Arnav Bitwaa, when we go to your Khushi's housewaa to phix (fix) your marrijjj, look at Payal carephully. If she is alright, Akash Bitwaa-Payal mamla bhi phix kar diyo!"

"Enthusiasm is the electricity of life. How do you get it? You act enthusiastic until you make it a habit"

~ Gordon Parks

Arnav gave a quiet smile tinged with sorrow thinking all the sad things that would be happening during their visit to Khushi's house. Then Akash's wedding would be the last thing that would be on anybody's mind. He told Khushi, "My Mamaji is abroad right now. This is Mami's son, Akash.", while introducing Akash! While greeting each other, Akash said seriously,"Welcome to the family, Khushi Bhabi." Khushi was overwhelmed by emotion. She felt bad that they had to resort to so many lies just to bring out the truth. She couldn't fathom how the family would cope up when Shyam's all lies get exposed! The family that was beaming at her would have their future cast over by a dark cloud!

"Always smile, it makes people think you are upto something"

Arnav who followed her train of thoughts just nodded and comforted her. He indicated to her that whatever they were doing was correct and they were in the right path. At times one has to be cruel to be kind. She thanked Akash for his welcome. Finally, Arnav introduced NK who was extremely eager to meet his Nannav's girl friend!

"This is NK Bhai, our cousin. His family is settled in Sydney. He is on a visit here." After getting introduced, NK who had wanted to meet her told, "Khushi Bhabi, I am so glad to meet you." making Khushi smile at his exhuberance!

"A smile is the only infectious affliction everyone is encouraged to spread" ~ Omar Kiam

N.K. who had been curious to know the girl who tamed his bro Nannav said,"Khushi Bhabi, I have been wanting to ask you something.How do you put up with Nannav's anger?" Listening to his poser, she laughed and simply said, "I just remain calm when Arnavji roars."

"Remain calm, serene, always in command of yourself. You will then find out how easy it is to get along"

~ Paramahansa Yogananda

Next it was Anjali who fired her a volley. "Khushiji, how did you meet Chotey?" This was a bit complicated to answer. She could neither be truthful nor her conscience allowed her to lie. With a wan face her eyes darted towards Arnav's calm ones. He caught hold of her hand and reassured her enmeshing his fingers with hers. As a reaction to his touch she felt a shiver pass through her being. Satisfied by her reaction Arnav said, "She came to my office with a work proposal. I found it very interesting. We got talking. That's all." and pulled Khushi out of her dilemma! Anjali, knowing her brother's ways admonished him! "Chotey! Nobody can beat you in taking away the last bit of romance from a situation."

"I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours"

~ Jerome K. Jerome

This was the perception of the entire family.

Nani and Mami agreed with her. Mami quipped, "Thank God he didn't say that she walked out out his laptopwaa!" The next ball was thrown by Akash. With a smile he asked, "Khushi Bhabi, what did you think of Bhai when you first saw him?" Khushi recalled their first meeting! Arnav Singh Raizada in full ASR mode! She answered knowing fully well it would be well received by his family. When she said, "A lion, in a glass cage, roaring at everyone" all had a hearty laugh. They could visualize Arnav's anger in full force.

"I was not the lion, but it fell to me to give the lion's roar"

~ Winston Churchill

Arnav kept quiet and pressed her fingers with a promise of retribution. So far, all their questions were directed to Khushi. This time NK asked Arnav, "Nannav, what did you think of Khushi Bhabi when you first saw her?" His answer, "He Devi Maiyya!" had everyone of them stumped. Arnav an aethist was swearing using God's name! They just didn't know what to make of it.

"Through others we become ourselves"

~ Lev S. Vygotsky

In the earlier update when Arnav was swearing 'what the' Khushi had told him she had felt the same but had sworn using Devi Maiyya! He was giving back to her in the same coin. Realizing this Khushi pinched the fingers that were trying to play with hers. When he freed her hand, Khushi breathed in relief! The very next moment, he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer in a side hug! He started playing with her skin under the cover of her saree, where he was touching, making her squirm inside but had to pose calmly infront of the rest. While manipulating her, he said in his soft husky voice, "I thought she must be the most beautiful girl on earth."

"Learn the sweet magic of a cheerful face"

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

His admission made all stare in wonder at him including Khushi! Then the family chatted with Khushi and were glad of her witty and cheery disposition. When asked about her engagement she truthfully told them, she didn't like the person and knew very little about him.

"Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product" ~Eleanor Roosevelt

NK the one with an enquiry mind asked her, "Khushi Bhabi, I know it is a very difficult thing to do, but do you love Nannav?" Being posed with such a question directly she was at a loss to answer. Not wanting to lie she resorted to the age old shield of blushing profusely! This they took as her bashfulness to reply and were satisfied resulting in beaming smiles erupting on their face.

"Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes"

~ Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby

Meanwhile Arnav was having a whale of a time touching her wherever he could. He had Khushi's senses heightened to its peak. Holding her firmly in a side hug, he was making her heart speed up its beat both in speed and decibels. It was thundering in her ears and she found it difficult to draw her breath.

"Opportunity never knocks.

It hangs thick in the air all around you.

You breathe it unthinking,

And dissipate it with your sighs"

~ Roy H. Williams

Satisfied with the one Arnav had chosen for himself as his life partner, Mami with a smile, led the rest into the temple saying,"Let's go in to pray. Hamre Arnav Bitwaa & Khushi Bitiyaa can spend some time with each other, looking into each other's aiijj (eyes)." As they turned NK turned back and wished, "Nannav, good luck!" confusing Arnav and walked away with a pep in his step!

"God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites so that you will have two wings to fly, not one"

~ Rumi, Essential Rumi

Arnav who turned to look at Khushi, felt like roaring with laughter. With her hand on her waist, looking ready to make a mince meat of him with her bare hands, she uttered, "Mr. Raizada..."

Immediately the correction was issued, "Arnavji"

She roared back "Arnavji!' and warned him,

"Just because I was forced to accept you as my baaifriend does not mean that you have the right to touch me." Arnav who had listened to her calmly with a twitch in his eyebrow asked, "Touch you?"

"Touch is a freaky thing when you're not used to it. It makes you feel all kinds of things"

~ Neal Shusterman, The Schwa Was Here

She said, "Ji. Touch me. Idhar Udhar with your long fingers and big hands. Knowing very well that I couldn't scream at you or push you away when your family members were smiling at me." Bringing her face close to his in a threatening manner just like a lioness! But Arnav Singh Raizada who had resorted to it both as retribution for her calling him 'lion in a glass cage' as well as personal pleasure was poker faced. With an innocent look, he said, "Khushi, baaifriends & girlfriends touch each other. All the time. Why are you complaining about it?"

"Start with big dreams and make life worth living"

~ Stephen Richards

Innocent Khushi who was not aware of any thing about "baaifriends & girlfriends" was taken for a ride. When she asked, "Baaifriends touch girlfriends like that?" naughty Arnav told her, "Yes, Khushi Kumari Gupta. And girlfriends too touch baaifriends like this." She just couldn't swallow it.

"Simplicity is a bliss that makes oncomprehend"

~ Criss Jami

Arnav was having a very good time teasing her, and tutoring her with such knowledge and playing her mentor!

After thinking for some time as she couldn't deduce, she asked him softly, a bombastic question "How do they breathe when they do this? I felt as though I would die without air, with dhak dhak that was faster than my breath... How do girls and baais live through this?"

"I wonder how girls and boys feel when they're in love.

Do they get butterflies?

Do they have the other in mind 24/7?

Do they wait eagerly to see the other?

Do they smile random times at the thought of the other?

Do they miss the other all the time?

Do they think about smallest things that the other say?"

In the beginning of the update Arnav asked Anjali to call Shyam at the appointed time and maintain her daily routine. He set her agitated mind at rest.

He then, had them meet Khushi, and they fired rapid questions at her and extracted answers to their satisfaction.

Once satisfied they were happy to get to know her and she endeared herself to them with her sweet mannerisms and cheerful disposition.

Later when she objected to Arnav touching her, playing the role of mentor, he answered all her querries, making her accept his explanations even though her views were entirely different!

Her final stumper is yet to be answered.

That's why I called this as SOCRATIC METHOD.

Sorry, but the 'like' button refuses to co-operate with me 😭!

Part 6 — Arnav making use of the opportunities provided by his family overhearing his conversation with Khushi so as to further his plans of exposing Shyam , is sheer genius! The family banter and teasing is really heart-warming, especially NK's kiddish "Nannav has a girlfriend!"… am in splits at Akash's shocked reaction… poor guy can't get his head round the idea that his reserved brother has a girlfriend! Boy, what a family… they leap from girlfriend to marriage in less than a second! Lovely to note that this Arnav doesn't hesitate before accepting that he wants to marry Khushi… NK's 'Jhalli ki Rani' took the cake and Arnav agrees! That Arnav has fallen for Khushi is evident from how his voice softens and a smile adorns his face when he thinks / speaks of her or even listens to her crazy comments… you are a goner, dear boy! Mami is the best for the pertinent questions she asks

Part 7 — loved the manner in which a crafty Arnav is sowing the seeds of doubt in Anjali's mind about Shyam's activities… found Arnav's impatience to get the eagerly awaited call from Khushi quite cute! A beautiful image: his husky voice travelling over the distance to play on her nerves… the way Khushi keeps changing the venue of her phone calls to Arnav, she'll soon run out of places to hide 😆! The Khushi-Arnav phone convo interspersed with Buaji's pithy comments and one-liners is just out of this world… Smita, the things that go on in that oh-so-wonderful mind of yours 🤗! This Arnav really has a good knowledge of how to address one's love in Hindi: 'Jaan', 'Balma', 'Saajan', 'Saiyya', 'Pritam'!