ArYa FF: Dil Jaanta Hai - Thread 1 (chapt 1-10) - Page 63

It was a Saturday when Arti and Zoya waited with Khan Sahab, Zoya's father, at Delhi's Indira Gandhi airport. Yash had clearly stated that he knew Delhi and would find his way to their house; however the Khans' had insisted on picking him up and had also insisted Arti come along – after all she was the only one who knew him.

Arti pointed Yash out as he came out of the security gate. As Khan Sahab went ahead to greet him, Zoya poked Arti with her elbow, "Handsome fellow, isn't he?"

Arti shrugged slightly, she had never thought about it. Zoya looked at her and with a devilish glint that Arti missed, continued, "Tall, dark, handsome – like some hero or something."

At that Arti shook her head at her friend, "For shame Zo! You are about to get married!"

Zoya promptly replied, "So? Ahmed is the most handsome guy in the world for me. That does not mean I will not check out the nazaara in front of me."

When Arti did not reply, she added "You were never a prude Arti. So why act like one now? Don't tell me you never checked out good looking fellows during college days, even when you were with Prashant?"

Arti flushed, "So what if I did? Yashji is here as a professional, to plan your wedding for god's sake. So maybe you shouldn't check him out so openly and embarrass him?"

"Ok ok Masterniji! You check him out instead – raasta saaf hai!" Zoya ended unrepentantly as Yash and Khan Sahab came up to them.

Khan Sahab introduced Zoya and after greeting her, Yash turned to Arti. "Namaste Artiji".

She smiled slightly, "Namaste Yashji. Thank you for coming."

"It's my honour. Thank you for considering us", Yash, ever the suave businessman replied.

They left in the car together. After taking Yash to his hotel so he could check in and leave his luggage, they drove straight to the Khans' residence. If Yash was surprised that Arti accompanied them or that she joined in the meeting, he was too much of a professional to show it.

Yash wanted to use this initial meeting to get to know Zoya's tastes. From his experience he knew well enough that the bride and her mother/sister were the most important people to satisfy. So he spent the next two hours quizzing Zoya on her likes and dislikes.

Arti watched, fascinated. Yash was a consummate master of his profession and it was like watching some one unwrap layer after layer of gift-wrap till they reached the real gift inside. He managed to unravel and discover likes and preferences that not even Zoya knew she had. Arti was impressed and she saw that the Khans' were too – and for some reason she was unable to fathom, it made her unseasonably proud.

The "discovery session" as Arti dubbed it, had taken longer than expected and it was nearly lunch time when Yash proclaimed himself satisfied. Ammi insisted he and Arti stay for lunch. Initially hesitant, Yash agreed when he realized she was in earnest.

Lunch brought another surprise. Khan Sahab informed Yash that a car with driver was at his disposal during his stay in Delhi. As Yash opened his mouth to protest he caught Arti's eye, who was sitting directly across him. Very clearly, she shook her head once. He shut his mouth and frowned slightly in return, but she held his gaze, a warning in her eyes now. The interchange was so brief no one noticed the delay as Yash turned to Khan Sahab and responded, "Thank you Khan Sahab, that is very kind of you." Hoping he had read her message correctly, Yash looked towards Arti – she had a slight smile and nodded as soon as he caught her eye.

Arti had to leave right after lunch as well and Yash insisted he drop her. As they came out towards the car, Arti told him, "I am not going home. You will have to go out of your way to drop me."

Yash replied, "I am in no hurry to go back to the hotel Artiji. Let me drop you – it's the least I can do."

Arti gave the address to the driver and sat in the back seat. Yash got in beside her. As the car started, Yash turned to Arti and asked her sotto-voce "Artiji, why did you ask me not to refuse the car?"

Arti replied, "You saw how hospitable they are Yashji. And you have a special place – Zoya is the youngest daughter in the whole clan and you are planning her wedding. They feel obliged to you. If you had refused, not only would they have been hurt, Khan Sahab would have felt insulted."

Yash looked at her consideringly, absorbing what she said – and all that she implied. After a moment, he said, "Thank you again".

Arti smiled and quickly changed the topic to what she had been waiting to ask since she saw him that morning. "How is Ansh?"

Yash's face softened at the mention of his son's name. "He is good! Crawling now".

Arti's face brightened, "Yes, he is six months old now, isn't he? I bet he is all over the place. He was always such an active baby. Is he eating solids yet?"

He was about to ask her how she knew so much about Ansh when he remembered Vidhi telling him that Arti had taken care of Ansh during their Mumbai vacation. Obviously that had gone further and deeper than Yash had assumed in his self-induced haze. He was also amazed at the change in Arti – as soon as they started discussing Ansh her whole demeanor changed – it was as if she...as if she came alive!

"Does he still like to go out in the evenings?" Arti asked.

"Hmmm? What do you mean?" Yash asked.

"Well, he and I used to go out for a walk every evening for a couple of hours. He loved the outing and would come home ravenous, feed and sleep through the night. Any evening if I didn't take him, he would get so cranky" Arti said, a fond smile on her face as she remembered Ansh and his antics.

A puzzle piece slotted into place. "Really? Did Bhabhi go with you as well?" Yash asked.

Arti shook her head, "No. Most days it was just Ansh and I. We would walk to the beach or the park, I would talk to him about what I saw, what was happening...anything really. He very often fell asleep, but if I went back early, he would wake up and start crying. I absolutely had to stay out till about seven with him" Arti grinned now.

Yash looked at her and said, "Since his return, everyday he starts crying at 5pm and goes on for hours. We have taken him out of the house – in the car. But none of us ever took him for a long walk. You may have just given me the key to his problem."

Arti stared at him in surprise, "Really? He was such a happy baby...crying for hours...oh poor thing!"

Yash filled her in on some of Ansh's recent antics and he could see the joy it brought her. As they talked about Ansh, Yash remembered she had recently lost her baby and remorse gripped him. She would have made a wonderful mother. She remembers everything about Ansh, every little detail...and she was with him for what – 2 weeks, 3 weeks?

As the traffic light changed to red, the car lurched to a stop, pitching Arti towards Yash – and effectively putting a stop to their conversation. Embarrassed, Arti righted herself quickly and fixed her dupatta.

Taking advantage of the break in conversation, Yash said, "Artiji. Bhabhi told me about your loss. I am so sorry. I can only imagine how difficult everything must have been for you."

At his words, Arti felt as if a bucket of cold water has been thrown over her. Her happy mood disappeared and Yash saw the animated Arti fade back into the quiet, somber woman. He understood the transformation only too well this time – after all, he lived through it everyday….

"Thank you" she replied quietly, all traces of joy gone now. She continued, "I heard about Arpitaji. You both loved each other so much - I am sorry Yashji."

Arpita...a laughing image of his lost wife flashed before him and Yash closed his eyes. "Thank you" he whispered.

The happy camaraderie that Ansh had brought disappeared as both were reminded of their loss. They turned towards the window, backs to each other, staring out blankly, lost in their own thoughts.

"Pohonch gaye Sahab" the driver prompted, when after five minutes of the car coming to a stop, neither moved. Startled at the words, Yash looked at him, then Arti and then looked out the window. He saw a pair of rusted iron gates behind which he could just see glimpses of a white building.

"Artiji? Where are we?" he asked.

Arti was getting out of the car, "This is the orphanage where I volunteer Yashji. Thank you for dropping me. Namaste."

And with that, she was gone.