Chapter 3
Rabba Ve & Farak Padta Hai Dammit !
Khushi's PC was an best example of arts & craft.It had the red chunari on desktop just like Devi Maiyya.Mousepad
had every color in the word on it.Keybord & mouse too had
multicolored matching covers.Pom poms were hanging on both
sides of PC.Anjali found it cute.She turned the PC on & Barun
Sobti's wallpaper greeted her.She giggled thinking on how Khushi was crazy in every sense.After a while she logged in to
twitter.
Khushi Gupta@KKG
@Ranisahiba your 'Chote' here.Call him.
Anjali Jha@Ranisahiba
@KKG What the!Anyways.Thanks for info Khushiji.
Khushi Gupta@KKG
@Ranisahiba Hahahaha.Brother sister duo have only 'what the' in
common.lol.
Anjali Jha@Ranisahiba
@KKG So true Khushiji.You already know us so much.btw i'll call
Chote first.c u later Khushiji.GN.
Anjali was clueless.It was supposed to be an secret thrilling experience.How come her Chote came into the picture.Devi
Maiyya winked at her Tiger'busa mischievously.Anjali turned the
PC off & turned her phone On to call Arnav.It was almost
9.30pm.Arnav picked up the call.
"What are you doing in Mumbai Chote?''Anjali started with the question.
"Di,first you tell me,why didn't you told me about this
crazyness??''Arnav wasn't less too.
''Relax Chote.Stop treating me like a 5 year old.''Anjali retorted
back.
''I won't.Because you are behaving like an 5 year old & that Khushi Kumari Gupta...I think she never grew up.What you both
were thinking while planning for this crazyness?That too alone,in
a strange city,in a stranger's house?What if something had
happened to you both?Tell me Di,why are you quiet now?''He
retorted back with double intensity.
''Um hmm!!...I see.''Anjali's tone was like she had discovered some secret.
''What?''Arnav got hell confused.
''Nothing Chote.''She sighed.''I thought you were concerned about
just me.But I was wrong.This time someone else stole half of
your concern from me.''Anjali's eyes sparkled with glint of
mischief in them.
''What are you saying Di?''Arnav didn't get what the hell was
wrong with his Di.
"Yes Chote.But who could be
that?...ummm...Yeah...Khushiji !!"Anjali snapped her fingers.
"What...No...I mean...Whatever Di.You take care of youself & please
don't switch off your phone.''Arnav said in final tone.
''You too take care of ...Khushiji & I'm going to switch my phone
off for next 8 days.If you want to contact me,then ask
Khushiji.Bye chote.Good night.''Anjali yelled & giggled in the
phone & kept the call.
''Unbelievable''Exasperated Arnav stared at his phone.
Next day Anjali woke up on hearing chirping of
birds.She came out of the bed & opened the doors of balcony.A
cool breeze touched her cheeks.She closed her eyes in bliss & got
lost in the nature before her.After a while her ears registered an
hip hop number playing smoothely from somewhere close.She
looked here & there.Finally her eyes fell towards the nearby balcony,where Aman was working out on his personal 'under the
sky' gym,shirtless.He had an perfectly chiseled physique.Anjali's
eyes wandered over him & she felt something strange inside
her,warmth & longing.Aman saw her & came near railing of
balcony ,rubbing sweat off his forehead with the towel arround
his neck.
''Hi.Good morning.Had a good night's sleep?''He asked her
looking eye to eye.
''Namaste Amanji.Good morning.Yes I had a really really good
night's sleep.This place is like dreamland to me.Thank to
Khushiji.''Anjali greeted him chirpily.
Aman started his 'staring unblinkingly' at Anjali.She noticed it.Again Devi Maiyya knows why but a cute blush crept on her cheeks.She excused herself on
pretence of ringing phone.She came in,closed the door & leaned
on it hyperventilating.
'What was that?What were you doing?Checking out a man
shamelessly?You are married for god sake.'Anjali slapped herself
mentally & sent a silent prayer to Devi Maiyya for forgiveness.
Devi Maiyya said,''The pleasure is all mine Anjali Bitiya.Bless you.''
Khushi woke up to the ringing alarm at sharp 6.She got ready as fast as she could & came running out of the
room.And...Bang...She collided with a hard body...hard shirtless
body.Two strong arms sneaked arround her waist when she was
about to fall.She closed her eyes tightly & was ready for the
impact of fall which never came.She clutched onto his bare
shoulders & opened her eyes to found an lost Arnav staring unblinkingly at her.Khushi wondered why the hell was HPji
watching Rabba Ve scene that too in full volume?Also she made
an mental note to visit heart specialist because her heart was
beating erratically & competing with the bullet train.
'22 is not an decent age to be a heart patient.'Khushi concluded.
'But 22 is the more than decent age to be in love.'Devi Maiyya
stated.
Sound of nearing footsteps unlocked their eyelocks & Rabba Ve
stopped the same instance.So!It wasn't HPji.
"Can't you see,where you are going?''Arnav said angrily still
holding her by waist.Khushi got startled by his outburst &
became conscious of their proximity.He left her & Khushi adjusted
her dress awkwardly looking here & there.
"I...I...why me?Aap dekh ke nahi chal sakte kya?''She retorted back with same intensity as Arnav.
"Enough!!''Arnav's voice boomed in the hallway.
'Wandering shirtless in house like he is on Juhu beach & giving
me enough.Oolta chor kotwal ko daante.' Khushi muttered under
her breath.She was looking everywhere but at Arnav.
"Excuse me.What you said?''Doubtfull Arnav.
"I said,I wasn't seeing while walking.I thought I was on Juhu
beach.''She answered him sarcastically.
"Whatever.''You cant get anything better than 'whatever' from
Laad Governor on such ocassions.He strode to the guestroom without glancing back at Khushi.
'Shameless Laad Governor.Don't he know a simple word like
'sorry'.She wondered.
After a while Khushi was munching furiously on rusk & literally gulping it down the throat like tiger was behind her & she was running for life.Arnav came to the table for breakfast.Their eyes
met.She choked on her rusk & started coughing.'why the hell he
have to stare at me like that?'Khushi cursed him.Arnav extended glass of water to her worriedly.
"Easy.Breakfast is not running anywhere.''
'Yeh ladki mujhe pagal kar degi.'Arnav rolled his eyes mentally.
"Not breakfast Arnavji but I'm running out of time.''...'And out of
mind.' Khushi too rolled her eyes mentally.
"It's just 7.30.Where are you going this early?''Arnav sat & HP
served him Aaloo Paratha with curd.
"Wo actually I'm going to the sets of IPKKND to meet Barun Sobti
Ji.''She kept the last peice of rusk in her mouth & smiled 1000
watt at Arnav.She couldn't hide her excitement.
"What The!!"Arnav's hands stopped slicing Paratha with fork &
knife.
"Kya hua?Is it too much spicey?''Khushi looked worriedly at
Arnav & then at watch."Hey Devi Maiyya.It's too late.I have to go
Arnavji.''
"Wait,I'll drop you.''Arnav's mind started thinking of '101 ways to
stop Khushi from meeting Barun Sobti.'
"You started pick up & drop in services?But please don't
bother.I'll manage.''Arnav ignored her sarcastic comment.
"No.I mean ...Di told me to take care of you.As you are her friend
& guest...so you are my responsibility...till you are here.And one
more thing.I'm extending my stay till Di comes back.Now let's
go.''Arnav fetched his coat & laptop bag.
"But your breakfast?''Khushi was too flustered by his behavior.
"I'll have it later.''Arnav strode to the door.
"And your medicine?''Khushi wondered from where this came to
her mind.Arnav stopped in his track for a minute.His back
stiffened.He turned arround to look at her.She was uncertain.
''Let's go.''And he went to his SUV parked in the driveway of
bungalow.Khushi followed him hurriedly.
In Delhi...
It was 10 a.m.Anjali was as usual in balcony.She was
working on her canvas.The nature spread all around her inspired
her to take the brush & paint a picture.She always loved to
draw,paint.Nature guided her & the output of which was
breathtaking.It was an painting full of life with green,blue,yellow
& red colors.The colors,symbol of life.It had an grass field,an water fall,lots of butterflies,red,yellow & blue Tulips.Though the
painting was incomplete yet.But it looked almost live.Like
animated movie.She was too engrossed in her painting to listen
doorbell.Suddenly a loud thud on door & Aman's worried 'Anjali'
brought her out of her reverie.She opened the door to find an
worried Aman.
"What happened Amanji?''
"Thank god.''A sense of relief passed through him.''Are you all
right?Why wasn't you opening the door? I was ringing bell for 5
damn minutes.Do you have any idea how worried I was.I
thought...Can't you have some sense of world arround you.What
was so much important that you forgot to pay attention on
ringing doorbell.''Aman scolded her totally forgetting that he was adressing her singularly.
"You sound just like my Chote.''Anjali said in a trance dreamily &
gazing him in aww.
"Now who is this 'Chote'?''Aman was still in his scolding mode.
"Oh,he is my younger brother.You know he scolds me on my
carelessness just like you scolded me some moments back.''Anjali
pouted her lips mockingly.
"Serves you best.''Aman forgot his anger.''I think you need a daily
dose of scolding to erase your carelessness.''
Anjali giggled on it."Anyways,what's the matter Amanji?why
were you here?''She asked him.
"Well I was here to ask...Wait... what is that?''Aman's eyes caught
something colorful in balcony through ajar doors.Anjali turned &
looked in the direction of Aman's pointing finger.Before she could
come up with something Aman was already inside.
"Oh my god!!YOU made this?You are an artist?I can't believe
this.It's fantastic.Great.Oho!So that's the secret.That's the reason.That's why you & KKG ended up in this crazyness.Only artists could
come up with such crazy ideas & thoughts.Right Anjali?I hope
you don't mind me calling you Anjali.''
"Right.Aur thodi der pehale jab aapne hume dant'te huye tum
kaha tab bhi hume bilkul bura nahi laga.I'll be glad if you call me Anjali.Friends?''Anjali stretched her hand to Aman.Their hands
touched & again some current passed through them.Both pulled back their hands & smiled.
"You know ...I was ...going to work...so..I was thinking that if
you want anything then I will get it for you while returning back
from work.''Aman said awkwardly due to the 'current' state.
"No Amanji.Abhi hume kuch nahi chahiye.But thank you for
asking.''Anjali smiled at him.
"Ok then.Bye.See you in evening.''
He left for office.After Aman's departure Anjali busied herself in
her painting.A smile adorning her face.It was a really good start
of the day with 2 encounters with Aman.Anjali was oblivious of
where her thoughts were taking her.But she was happy.Happy
than earlier.
Back in Mumbai...
Khushi flashed her mobile infront of eyes.10
a.m.Arnav literally had her on 'Mumbai Darshan' tour.From past 3
hours they were raoming all over Mumbai,occassionally stopping
at some office or hotel.Khushi was really bored.She was bored of
gazing skyscrapers,rushing traffic & noise in Mumbai,all the while
sitting in the passanger's seat of his SUV like heavens forsaken.She had had enough.Finally she decided to confront him
when the SUV came to halt at signal but her eyes fell on
something of her interest & she forgot everything.
"Gola.''Khushi screamed in excitement & pointed a finger at
roadside Gola hawker like a 3 year old.''I want it Arnavji.''She
squirmed like a kid.
"Unbelievable! I was right.''Arnav exclaimed.
"What?''Khushi stared at him confused.
"Nothing.That thing might be unhygienic.You can't have it.''Arnav said as if matter of factly.
"But I want it want it want it.I'm bored of sitting in your car like
I'm here since my birth.''Khushi pouted her lips cutely.Arnav
couldn't have enough of that pout.But he controlled his emotion
& urge to wipe that pout off her lips with his own.He smiled for a
mili fraction & Khushi caught him.'Did he smiled?coz that could be
breaking news as she never saw this man beside her even doing 's' of smile since she met him.Was smiling that difficult for him?'
"Please Arnavji.''She batted her eyelashes like Barbie doll & Arnav
melted.
"Ok.But only one.''He gave in.
"Promise.''She was really like a kid.'Ajeeb hai ye.'Arnav was
amused by her.He parked his SUV & both went to the gola
hawker.Arnav asked him to make a gola with an unpleasant
face.Khushi added 'cherry wala'.She didn't need anything big to
be excited.A tiny gola or golgappe or jalebis will do.She forgot
about meeting Barun Sobti.Arnav was somehow successful in his mission of 'Not letting Khushi meet Barun Sobti' on pretence of
some important meeting or the other.Khushi's gola came & she
snatched it like some treasure & started gobbling it.Arnav's eyes
were fixed on her.So innocent.How can someone be so adorable
while having gola.He wondered.A brief smile crept on his
lips.Khushi asked him with eyes if he wanted gola to which he nodded negatively.She resumed her task.
Suddenly Arnav's eyes fell on a vehicle coming from the
opposite direction towards Khushi.She looked totally oblivious to
it.Arnav felt a stong jolt inside him.Fear gripped him.Fear to loose
someone.Which he was fighting with till date...But his protective
instinct,which was reserved just for his Di,had better of him.Adranaline rushed down his spines.His frozen expressions
melted within nano seconds.In no time Khushi was in his arms &
both landed on the footpath & the vehicle passed by them in full
speed.People rushed to them & made a circle arround
them.Khushi was on the top of Arnav.He held her protectivly
with one arm arround her shoulder & other on her waist.Khushi's face turned pale due to the fear.Her eyes were tightly shut.Arnav
sighed in relief.Khushi had clutched on to his coat in a strong
grip.Arnav saw people gathering arround them.He helped her
standing.She was still scared & was trembling.Arnav got angry
on the people & shooed them.He turned to Khushi in predatory
manner and eyed her like a pray.She backed off little & Arnav filled the distance in a stride & grabbed her in a steel grip.
"What.the.hell.were.you.thinking?Can't you keep your eyes &
ears open?What if something had happened to you?What if I
wasn't there?''He shook the hell out of Khushi.She felt a burning
sensation where he had grabbed her.Her eyes welled up.
"Enough Arnavji.I'm not some rag doll that you will treat me
however you please.I can take care of myself.You don't need to
worry about me.Agar hume kuch ho bhi jata toh aapko is'se kya?
Aapko kya farak padta hai?''Khushi yelled back controling her
tears.
"Farak padta hai DAMMIT.Because I...''words trailed down.He
couln't complete his sentence.The realisation dawned on Arnav.
Strange reason-Jealousy.
Strange feeling-Possessiveness.
Strange emotion...Love.
Arnav was afraid of giving it a name.A word,an emotion
which he burried deep down his wounded heart,wanted to
resurface.How could he let that happen.The feeling which was
the cause of his pain & fear.Fear of loosing loved one's.Pain of
watching the hurt on loved one's.How could this happen to
him.He never believed in love or rather kept himself away from it.He never felt like this before.But he was sure it can't be
possible.He cant fall in love withing just 2 days.Not possible.Little
did he knew when Devi Maiyya takes any case in her hands she
never leaves any stone unturned to complete her task
successfully.
____________________________
Spoiler for next chapter-
Something Almost with Laad Governor. 😉
Bigg Boss 19
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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