Smitar's: Finding Khushi #7 Part 25(1) Pg125 (7/5) - Page 32

Originally posted by: rulama

Smita,😊

Here is the interpretation to Part 22.

An immaculately dressed lady opening the door for Arnav and Khushi, leading them in with a smile, said that, Ana Madam was waiting for them in the studio. The lady was observing Khushi with professional interest and the ever female curiosity. Khushi looked at her surroundings and found mannequins, dressed in glamourous costumes in rich fabrics with ingenuity. The air oozed with class something that she had never seen, not even in AR Designs. What she saw stunned her and it made her hold her breath still.

Arnav used to the industry and designer clothes was deeply appreciating what he was seeing. One could see Anamika was in a class of her own. He looked at Khushi whose face was a picture worth capturing, of being the one sent to the enchanted fairy world. She was captivated by the clothes, the glamour it displayed and the ambience. In a whisper, Arnav called her, Khushi, and cupping her face told her that, Anamika had a cutting tongue and if she uses it on her and hurts her to call him. She doesn't have to put up with it. Khushi laughed and said, Arnavji, what was the need for Anamikaji to hurt her. Even if she committed a mistake and Anamikaji lost her cool it would be fine as she was elder to her and she was just like her own Jiji. Arnav was flummoxed with her answer and stared with eyes wide open. He thought that she must be the only human being on earth to who would dare to embrace Anamika as a sister. A male voice, drew their attention with, Mr. Raizada, Khushiji, Mama is waiting for you. They turned around to see Gaurav, who had a sheepish smile plastered on, while he was looking at Khushi. Gaurav apologized to Khushi with his flushed cheeks saying that, he was sorry and at the party. He was unable to continue with the pair staring at him. Arnav frowned, but Khushi gaped and asked, whether he was Anamikaji's son? Khushi being Khushi asked him outrightly, unable to withstand her surprise. He with a shame face told her that his Mama had said that he had disturbed her and he regrets it very much. Khushi filled with laughter, recalling the incident, told him that it was not Khushiji but Florence Nightingale. Gaurav looked at Khushi's open face and malice-free laughter and joined her remembering his palaver on the night of the party. Arnav smiled with relief knowing Khushi had a friend in Gaurav.

Gaurav led them to Anamika's studio. When she saw that her guests had arrived, she turned to them from the yards of silks, that she had been touching and feeling it for the texture. She invited them saying, Come in Khushi and ASR. They needed to take measurements. Khushi greeted her with a Namaste Anamikaji and smiled, making Anamika nod and a slight smile appear on her no nonsense face. When Khushi asked whether Gaurav was her son she received just a nod and Arnav's Hi too received the same treatment. She told him that Gaurav would take him to get the measurements done and after that he need not stay back as Khushi would take longer time. Once the job was finished she would drop her to her house. Seeing Arnav nod reluctantly, looking at a smiling Khushi, Anamika assured him with an expressionless face that she would be safe with her. Arnav looked at her for a moment and nodded. He then proceeded to drop a gentle kiss on Khushi's cheeks without a care of the eyes on them, making Khushi's already rosy cheeks turn into crimson. Anamika watched ASR with sharp eyes.

While her assistants were taking the measurements of Khushi, Anamika walked around eyeing her, and asked Khushi to open her hair. Khushi complied trusting Anamika to do the right. Her silky tresses fell around her shoulders. Anamika fingered the silken strands that were flowing upto her waist and said good. Khushi smiled at Anamikaji pleased. Anamika asked her, was she free for the day? When Khushi with a smile replied that yes she was free as Munshiji had given her leave and had to be home only by 3 p.m. Anamika wanting to know who Munshiji was and prompted Munshiji? Her assistants were just unable to believe their ears. Anamika was not given to talking while at work and complete silence was the norm. The employees walked gingerly around her and held their breath lest they disturbed her. And lo! here she was talking to the future Mrs. ASR.

Unaware of all this, Khushi happily talked to her about Munshiji and his radio, the godown, the work she did, her Amma, Babuji and Buaji, her Jiji & Jiju, her Nanheji, her Naniji, her Anjaliji, her Mamiji and Mamaji, her Hari Prakashji and of course Laxmiji, the sweets she made at home and sold in her small shop, the orders for sweets she got from Arnavji's family, friends, and employees. While she spoke the helpers grew goggle-eyed as they learnt more and more about Khushi. What stunned them was, the lack of surprise shown by Anamika at Khushi's revelations. She asked relevant questions and helped the experts to groom Khushi. They worked on her face, body and hair. Khushi was measured even for footwear. Fabrics were were held against her to help them decide on the look she needed to sport.

The only topic that Anamika did not touch was ASR and how had Khushi met him. Khushi did whatever they asked without a complaint, be it to sit or stand or drink and eat whatever offered, chattering nineteen to a dozen. She even scooped up Scooby, Gaurav's puppy that had peeked into the room, placing it on her lap she played with it. Tickling it, scratching behind its ears making it writhe in pleasure.

When things were done satisfactorily, Anamika sent her home in her car along with an assistant, with strict instruction to her driver to drive slowly and carefully.

A few weeks later, when Arnav and Khushi went to Anamika's studio, Gaurav took Arnav to men's changing room while Khushi accompanied Anamika to her room. As Khushi watched Anamika, dressed in a cream tunic and black trousers, moving with grace take a sari from the rows of clothes hanging there and drape it over the divan. It was of midnight blue with a heavy gold border and embroidered with golden threads having sprays of crystals at intervals, contrasting with a rich red blouse that would make the wearer look scintillating.

Anamika with a small smile around her lips looked at Khushi's face, who was stunned to see such a beautiful creation. Finally, Khushi ventured to ask whether she had made it. When Anamika nodded Khushi's eyes pooled up with tears and she asked her with a throat choked with tears, whether she had designed it for her? Anamika's yes, made her confess that she had never seen anything more beautiful. Anamika just replied it was a good thing, and Khushi being Khushi, threw her arms around Anamika and hugged her tight. The assistants who were waiting to help Khushi, awaited with bated breath, for the volcanic eruption, for Anamika hated to be touched. Only Gaurav was an exception. No one was permitted to touch her. Even a handshake was not entertained. As they watched, to their utter astonishment, they found that Anamika lift her arms and slowly tighten it around Khushi and hug her back. Anamika gently admonished her, to stop crying or else she would be having one new saree with stains of tears. Khushi smiling through her tears nodded, and used the tissues from the box Anamika gave, to make herself presentable, while Anamika, went to make sure that all the accessories were ready and laid out.

Anamika who was never questioned was asked why? by the only man who dared to ask her so. It was Ganesh Vidyarthi, a successful freelance fashion photographer, who was the only man she trusted. He was a bearish sort of man sporting a grizzly beard, with kind eyes hidden behind his spectacles. In answer to his why, she told him that she was a gem but Ganesh reminded her that ASR was as stubborn as a mule, making Anamika smile and say that he was improving and she was worth their effort. She asked him to let her know what he thought about her after meeting. Ganesh looked at her for a moment and nodded. He respected her judgement. When Gaurav threw his arms around Ganesh's waist and asked him, whether they could make it a bowling night, Ganesh nodded with his eyes softening behind his specs.

This update is about encouraging and development that can be construed as good and a part of the mentorship. So FOSTER it is.

When Khushi and Arnav were led into the studio of Anamika, they see a very glamourous interior with mannequins, resplendent in gowns and bridal wear of top class that makes both appreciate Anamika's work. They are led to the studio by Anamika's son Gaurav, who apologizes to Khushi for having to put up with his nonsense talk while inebriated. Khushi soon puts him at ease making it as a passing joke that need not be taken to heart. Seeing her laugh with Gaurav, Arnav is relieved and he knows Gaurav has joined the bandwagon of Khushi's friends. Khushi true to her nature and her name spreads happiness. By putting Gaurav at ease she has fostered that spirit and has continued to show Gaurav she cares for him and as a fellow human being she would like him to move forward from that episode. This attitude of hers to let go of unhappy thoughts and incidents, promotes friendship with people.

"If you have good friends, no matter how much life is sucking, they can make you laugh"

~ P.C. Cast

When they meet Anamika, she sends Arnav to men's section, instructing him to carry on to his work place once his measurement was taken care of and she would be taking good care of Khushi and drop her home. When Arnav kisses Khushi on her cheek, Anamika with a hawk eye observes him. She notes the nature of their relation, whether it was a casual gesture or the one with genuine feeling. With Anamika, it is Arnav who is under scanner not Khushi. Khushi she has understood to be simple, naive but extremely good at heart with lots of compassion, truthful but gullible. These are the traits of Khushi that have endeared her to Anamika. Arnav Singh Raizada, she knows him as ASR, and his change to Arnav is perceptible but he is still under her evaluation. She supports Khushi and wants her to be strong, strong enough to be able to face anyone at any given time without batting an eyelid.

"It is better to be looked over than overlooked"

~ Mae West

While the assistants measured Khushi, Anamika evaluated her physical aspects and got an overall make over done for her. While she took all the necessary measurements, she probed and allowed Khushi to talk incessantly anything and everything about her life except ASR and how they met. By doing so Anamika fostered a feeling of ease in Khushi and Khushi in return stimulated Anamika to do things against her norms.

"Every reaction is an opportunity to cultivate a pearl - a beautiful truth that will illuminate the way forwards"

~ Pollyanna Darling

First, Anamika got charmed by Khushi and her talk. Getting to know her background unlike her assistants, Anamika was not surprised. She knew she had the innocence that comes with a solid family background, where the family as a unit itself was quite self-sufficient, in providing the mental strength. This strength is reflected in character too. It is unsullied and pristine pure.

Anamika saw that Khushi's love and compassion extended to animals too. She played with the Gaurav's puppy unfettered by the fact that she was in a Designer's Studio. This showed her that Khushi was a free spirit and cherished every connection be it with humans or animals.

"Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me"

~Albert Schweitzer

Seeing the exquisite saree designed for her by Anamika, Khushi teared up. Anamika saw that her gesture was very much appreciated, and received a novel way of appreciation, with tears. That is what made Anamika hug her back, when hugged by Khushi. By now, Anamika had realized that Khushi's way of appreciation was genuine and uninhibhited.

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. ' ~ The Little Prince"

~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Anamika is asked by her photographer friend, Ganesh Vidhyarthi, the only one who dares to question her, why is she bending her rules even though they know ASR is a stubborn man. Her answer that Khushi is a gem of a person, and only one of a kind, is worth the effort and has changed ASR considerably and to let her know his opinion once he had met her, tells him that, though Khushi is connected to ASR she is cast in a different mould. He has implicit faith in Anamika's judgement.

Anamika's faith in Ganesh is shown with the ease in which Gaurav asks for a nightout at bowling alley, winding his arms around Ganesh's waist and Ganesh agreeing to it. Anamika has faith enough in Ganesh to entrust her son in his care.

They both uphold their friendship and cherish it.

"Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe"

~ Voltaire

Though Anamika is the mentor of Khushi, Khushi too stimulates Anamika to come out of her shell. She makes her break her own rules that are quite unnatural and very cold. She slowly lets warmth seep into Anamika. In a way, Mentor is being mentored!

That is why I said it is FOSTER.

"Instruction does much, but encouragement everything"

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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

Originally posted by: tinsel

Beautiful update👏