Smitar's OS:Knowing Khushi#2 Part 13 (Last) Pg 63 - Page 45

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Arnav Singh Raizada was a worried man. His sole link to his sanity in the trying times at the tender age of 14, his sister, Anjali was in the throes of personal crisis. She was dealing with the blow dealt by the shattered marriage. He was managing his work from his home and thus ensuring to be around her all the time. He had relegated his work place responsibilities to Akash and Aman, but kept himself in loop. They say time is the best healer and so it was with Anjali. Slowly she started to pick up the pieces.

"Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity" ~ Hippocrates

She started to take her meals along with the family, respond to NK's jokes and when Arnav summoned his legal advisor, she was ready to start the legal proceedings for her divorce.

"Forget what hurt you but never forget what it taught you"

Seeing that his Di was braving through her pain stoically and take interest in her surroundings, Arnav was a relieved man. Nani and Mami had visited the Gupta family to express their solidarity at the betrayal and anguish that befell on both the families. They returned with a box of laddoos, especially made by Buaji and Amma for Anjali that would rejuvenate her. Following their advice, Anjali took one along with her lunch daily.

"When the world says,

'Give up,'

Hope whispers,

'Try it one more time'"

Daily at night, Arnav called Khushi, talked long hours. He who had breathed only his work had relegated it to second in his priority list at the time he had set up to call her. He enjoyed listening to her talk and teasing him. Every night he slept with a smile playing on his lips. He was a relaxed man.

"And enigmatic smile is worth ten pages of dialog."

~ Connie Brockway, The Bridal Season

One night, he told her that since he had taken a week off and would not be going to the office where they usually met, how about him taking her out for a coffee? Khushi replied with a sigh, "Arnavji! This Munni is badnam as it is. Now, if I go out to coffee with you, it will be breaking news that Khushi Kumari Gupta has left the Jija & is chasing the Saala!"

"News travels fast in places where nothing much ever happens"

~ Charles Bukowski, Ham on Rye

Arnav who was wooing her, smiling at her reply asked, "So you won't come out with me for a date?" Not understanding what he meant, she imitated her Buaji and asked, "Date? Oo kaa he, Nandkisore?" Enjoying her naivety he explained, "When a boy and a girl go out together." Her reply, "Go out together? With their family?", brought forth both a smile and a sigh from him. When he said, "No. Alone. Just the boy & the girl" her response, "Just them? How boring! If their family was with them, think how much more fun it would be!" had resounding gales of laughter burst out of Arnav!

"Laughter is a sunbeam of the soul"

~ Thomas Mann, The Magic Mountain

Listening to her talk of collective enjoyment, as the only source of happiness, he couldn't help asking, "Khushi, don't tell me you will take your family along with you on your honeymoon too!", amidst his laughter. She admonished him with, "Sharm kiijiye, Arnav Singh Raizadaji!" She was scandalized that he spoke of such things to her. "For what? What did I do?", asked the smiling but bewildered Arnav. She started to explain, "For talking about... khair chodiye!", she couldn't even put her thoughts into words. She started to blush profusely. Even when he persisted he couldn't get her to complete the sentence. He asked her with a smirk, "Don't tell me Khushi Kumari Gupta is shy!"

"...I'm shy in person... so afraid to confess my love... I need a go-between... our mutual friend, the Moon..."

~ John Geddes, A Familiar Rain

Khushi knowing that she was being teased mercilessly and cornered,ended the call abruptly saying, "Hum phone rakh rahe hein". Arnav chuckled. He was having a rollicking time during his night chats!

Meanwhile at Gupta house, Buaji asked as to whose call it was so late at night! When Khushi told her it was Arnav's call, Buaji's first instinct was to know what prank had the naughty Khushi played this time. "Arnav Babua? Why is he calling daily? Have you done something, Sanka Devi?" Buaji's lack of faith in her of not being involved in any prank had her protest and say, "Buaji! Why do you always assume that I am at fault?" Instead of Buaji, it was Payal who replied, "Maybe because you are? Most of the time...", What Payal said with laughter riled Khushi and made her throw a cushion at her. The retaliation ensued into a pillow fight, filling the house with laughter. It brought in fond looks and smiles from the elders and for time-being they forgot all their worries.

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up to be"

~ Abraham Lincoln

Meanwhile at RM, it was time for Anjali's medication. Arnav who was tending to his sister gave her the medicines and tucked her into bed. She asked him whether she could talk to him. When he replied that she could, she asked him, whether he really liked Khushi. Or was it all an act put on, to lead them to Laxmi Nagar? Arnav's answer with a smile that he liked Khushi, made Anjali probe further by asking, "Enough to marry her?" With a smile, Arnav countered her, "Do you think we would suit? She is a child in a woman's body and I am an old man in a young body." But his sister persisted with another question, "Forget all that. The real question is, can you live without her?"

"And maybe that was love. Being so vulnerable and allowing someone else in so far, they also give you everything"

~ Christine Feehan, Water Bound

Mami's entry with a glass of warm milk for Anjali saved him from answering it.

Continued in the next post. Scroll down

Continued from the previous post...

On Sunday night during his call to Khushi, he found her subdued. She asked out of the blue, "Arnavji, can I have your photo?" A surprised Arnav asked her whether she was asking his picture? Her sarcasm laced comment, "No, Banke Lalji's. Of course, yours!", made him ask her what was the reason to have one. His question irritated her. She said, "I am planning to frame it, put it on my wall, and place a garland around it. And if you are particular, I will light a lamp too." And in the end asked him, "Will you give me a photo?"

"You have not forgotten to remember;

You have remembered to forget.

But people can forget to forget.

That is just as important as

remembering to remember

and generally more practical"

~ Idries Shah, Reflections

Though bewildered he agreed to comply with her request and persisted to know the reason for her asking it. With a deep sigh she told him, "Why do people keep photos? To look at them, right? I need your photo to see you. That's all. I am not going to do any black magic with it." Seeing that he was not getting the answer, with a smile dancing on his face he asked her once again, "Khushi.. Khushi' Why do you need my photo? Anytime you want to see me, you can come to my office. Or call me." But Khushi persisted and asked once again whether he was willing to spare a photograph of his. Her tone made him visualize her probable stance of standing with her hands on her hips. He quickly answered her, "I will. I will. But why can't you come to meet me when you feel like seeing me?" Her reply, "I can't come to Delhi each time I want to see you. And getting into your office, He Devi Maiyya! It is easier to enter a fortress!" gave Arnav an inkling that, something was wrong. Arnav whispered, "Come to Delhi?" She confirmed his suspicion, "Ji. Now that I have roshaned my khandaan's naam in all of Delhi, Buaji was thinking of returning to Lucknow." Arnav was shocked to hear to know that they were moving to Lucknow. When in shock he murmured, "Lucknow?" Khushi was tickled to hear him echo her words. She said, "You sound like Preetho's parrot, Mittu. When Preeto calls "Khushi...", she too calls "Khushi...". When Preetho says, "Shall we have golgappe?", Mittu too says, "Shall we have golgappe?"

"Every man is a borrower and a mimic, life is theatrical and literature a quotation"

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Arnav who was shocked to hear about their plans to shift to Lucknow was feeling that things were spiraling out of control. Hearing her teasing, controlling his temper he bit out, "Parrot ko goli maro! Khushi...!" Khushi, an animal lover was outraged by his words. She objected saying, "Aww! How can you be so cruel to Mittu? She is my friend, and is so intelligent! Aap ko pata he, when Preetho says "I am an idiot.", Mittu says, "You are an idiot?" She doesn't say "I am an idiot."

"I not only use all the brains that I have, but all I can borrow"

~ Woodrow Wilson

Irritated by her inane talk after dropping a bombshell on him, he roared, "Khushi...!" makingher hold her phone at a distance and ask, "Why are you shouting? I can hear. I am not deaf!" With anger that was steaming out of his ears, he said, "You can hear? That is good. Now hear me and give me a straight reply." Khushi not being the one to cower at his roar, grumbled to herself, "Who does he think he is? Laad Governor?" but it clearly carried over to him. Then he asked her why were they returning to Lucknow? While waiting for her answer, the sound of his heart was deafening. It was was beating so loudly like the thundering of the hooves of the wild horses, on a mesa. Knowing that this would take time, Khushi, sat on her bed, and said that whether she was guilty or not, the incident has created a scandal. People have been pointing at the house and been gossiping. It was as though, their persistent viewing would disclose some hidden skeletons through the cracks in the walls!

"In the land of bleating sheep andbraying jackasses, one brave and honest man is bound to create a scandal"

~ Edward Abbey, Postcards from Ed

Hearing her explanation, Arnav fumed. She continued to say that moreover the landlord had given eviction notice to Buaji. He has given a month's time. Arnav was extremely angry hearing that. Khushi continued and said, "He said that he does not want immoral people living in his house. That it would lower the standards of the neighbourhood." Irked beyond control Arnav Singh Raizada growled, "I will show him his standard!"

"The good thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from"

~ Andrew S. Tanenbaum

Khushi , sensing him seethe in anger, laughed and asked him how many battles will he wage? and told him to forget it. But Arnav Singh Raizada was not ready to do so. She insisted on him to cool down and said that they had come to Delhi on a short visit. They had always meant to return. Hence moving back to Lucknow was not a big thing for them. Leaving Buaji, an asthamatic patient alone, was out of question. Their neighbor in Lucknow had taken an appointment with Dr. Mishra, a renowned Ayurvedic doctor, a stroke specialist. They had to go to Lucknow for that anyway. When Arnav tried to talk in between she continued without letting him do so. She said that Buaji was going to hand over the pension papers to a lawyer before they left, to process it, as she thought it would take too long to resolve.

Arnav listening to it was feeling heavy hearted."Khushi...", he whispered. Voicing out her fear and grouse she said, "Leaving Delhi is OK. I am not worried about that. But...", and paused for breath. Arnav felt his throat go dry and with difficulty swallowed. "But... I will never see you again...", Khushi saying so in her voice soft and sad made him shut his eyes in despair. Khushi who was not used to being melancholic soon changed the tenor of her voice. She started to see the brighter side of her stay at Delhi. With a nostalgic sigh she said, "It was fun, wasn't it? Fighting together against Shyam? Like a team? Like we were together, and not alone?" Hearing that Khushi would be going away, Arnav felt a sharp pain searing through his chest. He was filled with intense despair.

"We don't believe in rheumatism and true love until after the first attack"

~ Marie E. Eschenbach

Blinking away the tears that had pooled in her eyes, she asked, "So will you give me your photo?" Arnav agreed and told her in a soft voice, "Yes. Meet me at the office tomorrow at 8, Khushi." Khushi was surprised. She told him that since he was on leave, how will she be able to meet him there? He reiterated what he said and ordered "Meet me tomorrow at my office at 8. Sharp!"

"I can be an arrogant person if I have to,

or when the situation demands me to act so.

It is one way for me to make arrogance useful"

~ Toba Beta, My Ancestor Was an Ancient Astronaut

His order elicited, "Laad Governor kahin ke!", a whisper from her that he heard. Arnav Singh Raizada, known for his sharp decisions taken in split seconds, that made him a top player in his field, staying true to his name has taken a decision that would bring in a lot of positive changes in his life.

"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things"

~ Leonardo da Vinci

The update begins with the recouping of Anjali, from her trauma, under the care of her brother and the family. She is buoyant enough to rise above the murk left by Shyam Manohar Jha. She is tenacious enough to initiate the divorce proceedings.

"And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life" ~ J.K. Rowling

Nani and Mami were adaptable enough to give the Guptas' a visit to express their solidarity and discuss the aftermath of the bitter incident.

For Arnav Singh Raizada his daily call at night to Khushi Kumari Gupta, was the one that kept him in buoyant spirits and gave him springy steps.

For Khushi Kumari Gupta, it was a life-line, from all the talks and gossips surrounding them. It kept her hardy, buoyant and tenacious to face it. Her calls from Arnav brought about gaiety in the house restoring a sense of normalcy.

Anjali questioning Arnav what his real intentions were towards Khushi showed that she is flexible enough to welcome Khushi as her Bhabhi with open arms. She also hints at her brother to decide what he feels for Khushi. When he points out the differences between him and Khushi she asks him a pertinent question to enable him to decide.

When Khushi asks for his snapshot, he heard her reasons with care.

"The world is not ready for some people when they show up, but that shouldn't stop anyone"

~ Ashly Lorenzana

Though bogged down by the enormity of Guptas' decision to return to Lucknow, Arnav Singh Raizada, was resilient enough to recover and springback with a decision he made in split second.

"When something bad happens you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let it destroy you or you can let it strengthen you"

To take this decision, the question asked by his sister, "The real question is, can you live without her?" played a major role.

"Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering"

~ Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

He rebounded and ordered the pliant Khushi "Meet me tomorrow at my office at 8. Sharp!"

That's why it is termed RESILIENT.

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.

Addendum:

What was the laddoo that the Gupta ladies sent for Anjali! Is it the one with nuts and ghee usually eaten by wrestlers???

Oh No 😭

I love this ff

A bit upset that it is complete ... a very clean and sweet story

u know wat ...if u had continued it would have been totally awesum to read dis sanki khushi getting used to arnav ...der dates der talks ..with ur amazingly genius way writing skills ...totally opposite to keeping khushi ...if u wish to write mor on d slot plz keep my request in ur mind ...coz in d show or any where else ...it is very minorly described how de would have appeared in public and how arnav might accostom her to media meetings ..and his high profile life ...keeping her touch intact ...

this was an absolutely beautiful amazing os

Rashmi, a heartfelt thank you for the PMs that ensured I didn't miss any of the updates... a very moving and fitting conclusion to an amazing story... arnav is so focused on the impending loss of khushi that he can't focus on anything his family is asking him... his perturbation is there for all to see... the family's concern is heartwarming to see... it says a lot for the bond between arnav and anjali that, in the midst of her own turmoil, she notices his... loved the imagery: Arnavji was standing in his glass cage, looking down at her.... it was almost like he is kept away from the happiness and hope he can see outside his glass walls, something he yearns to reach out to but can't... arnav's and khushi's thoughts are consumed by the other and how each is going to go on living without the other's presence in his or her life... the poignancy of the sense of loss and incompleteness has been beautifully etched... khushi trying to hide her tears was heart-rending, but it cannot escape arnav's all-seeing eyes! his desperation to know her feelings about him and about their upcoming separation as well as his realisation that, without her, he is all alone sent a pang straight to my heart... these two souls are connected on such an intrinsic level that the question of one forgetting the other doesn't arise!

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it was sooo sweeet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
loved the ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loved it!!!! It was such a cute update...

beautiful prpsl and it was a wonderful update👏
feeling sad you end this very soon😒
update next part ASAP waiting
thanx 4 the pm dear😊