Arnav continued unpacking the suitcase determined to find this book. Now if you or me were in Arnav's shoes we would either empty the bag on the bed or we would rummage through the suitcase not caring about what state the clothes were in.
Arnav Singh Raizada however is wired differently. Although he wanted to find the book, he just could not bring himself to mess up the clothes, so he continued to unpack carefully, making sure none of the clothes lost their ironing.
Khushi knew this, so she decided she may as well shower, I mean she had time right?
So khushi turned on the shower and got in. Arnav heard the shower turn on and smiled.
Excellent. She'll take at least half an hour. I've got loads of time.
Or so he thought.
3, 2, 1...
As if right on cue, Khushis voice floated from the bathroom and Arnav's smile grew wider.
"I, I got a new life
You would hardly recognize me
I'm so glad
How could a person like me count on you?
Why do I bother?
when you're not the one for me
Ooohhh
Is Enough enough ?
I saw the AAAHHH!!!!"
Khushi shrieked. Arnav frowned.
That's not in the song.
AAARRNNNAAAVVVJJJIII!!! Khushi screamed.
That's definitely not in the song.
He spun around just in time to see Khushi wrapped in a towel, hair resembling that of a soapy pinecone, running towards him.
She ran into his arms sobbing.
"Khushi? What happened?" Arnav wrapped his arms around her
Khushi continued to cry and Arnav held onto her waiting for her to calm down all the while trying to ignore that now, not only was his whole shirt soaked, but thanks to Khushi's soapy pinecone hair, he probably had a soapy beard and resembled Santa Claus a bit.
2 minutes later Khushi had calmed down a bit
"There was a sp- sp- sp- a spider" she finally managed to say.
Arnav rolled his eyes.
You have got to be kidding me.
"It was huge!"
"Khushi we have been through this how many times now? I keep telling you, they are more scared of you then you are of them."
"That's what they want you to think. That's how they take over the world"
"Khushi for the last time. Di was only telling you that to scare you."
----------------------------------FLASHBACK--------------------------------------------
A few months ago, on April fool's day Anjali had decided to play a prank on Khushi because no one else in the family was quite as gullible. She just hadn't decided what prank she would pull until she heard a shriek.
"AAAHHH!!!" Followed by a scream
"AAARRRNNNAAAVVVJJJIII"
Arnav had just sat down to eat food, when he heard the scream. He jumped to his feet and ran to his room. He didn't have to run far because by the time he got to the bottom of the stairs, Khushi had already run into him, holding onto him for dear life with tears streaming down her face.
"Khushiji?"
"Khushi are you okay?"
Khushi just continued to cry into Arnav's shirt. When she had calmed down a bit, He helped her walk to the table and made her sit down. The family crowded round her. All except for Payal. Payal had lived through this for most of her life,
Well, now it's Arnav's turn. Payal continued to eat her cereal.
"Why are you eating?! Khushi's in pieces. Don't you care?" Akash whispered to her.
"You wait till you find out why she screamed." Payal whispered back.
Akash frowned.
Meanwhile Khushi had calmed down, and was trying to tell her husband what had happened.
"Arnavji, I saw a-a-a sp-sp-sp-spider."
The family members who were crowded around her, groaned and dispersed. Anjali, Payal and Akash were trying not to laugh.
"You have got to be kidding me." Arnav groaned.
"No, I swear. I was clearing up our room and I saw it right on the bed."
"Khushi, I thought there was a psychotic killer up there or something."
"Why would there be an psychotic killer? Did someone escape from jail again? Great! As if the spider wasn't enough! Now I'm probably going to be murd-"
"Khushi shut up!" Arnav was pissed.
"But-"
"You screamed so loudly for a spider?! A small tiny spider-"
"It was HUGE!" Khushi protested.
Arnav glared at her. Khushi looked down into her lap.
"Well, it was!" She mumbled.
"Khushi, you always say that and it turns out to be really small." Payal said as she got up and started to clear the table away.
"No jeeji, I promise, this time it was really big!"
Arnav, annoyed, pushed his chair back and stood up. Khushi jumped.
"Show me where the spider is." Arnav clenched his fists.
Breathe. He told himself trying not to get angrier.
Khushi saw his fist clench and knew she was in trouble.
"N-n-n-no. I can't. I'm too s-s-scared."
"The spiders not going to do anything to you." Arnav spat out.
"Who said anything about the spider? If I go up with you, I might not live till tomorrow. Who knows what you'll do to me" she muttered.
Unfortunately for Khushi, Arnav had (and still has) the hearing of a ninja.
Khushi was making him angrier. Anjali could see it, payal could see it, akash could see it. Khushi looked up, saw Arnav was about to explode and looked back into her lap again, taking a sudden interest in the design of her salwaar. Luckily Anjali came to the rescue.
"Khushiji, don't worry I'll come with you."
Khushi looked up at her sister-in-law with new found love...
Di was always there when she needed her.
"Awww really Di? You're so n-"
Khushi didn't get to finish her sentence off. Arnav had grabbed her by the hand and was dragging her up to their room. Anjali ran after them.
Arnav stormed into the room still dragging Khushi along. Anjali came in two seconds later.
Normally Khushi would have said something along the lines of "Ow. Arnavji you're hurting me." But she doubted it would make any difference at this point. It didn't usually.
The only thing that would help at this point, as she had learnt long ago, was speak when spoken to. Something she found difficult to do.
"Where is it?!"
"It was on the bed."
Arnav let go of her hand and went to search the bed. He found nothing.
"It's not here."
"What?!? Where is it then?!"
"How am I meant to know?!"
"I didn't mean-AAAHHH!!!"
Arnav jumped.
Khushi ran behind Arnav and clung on for dear life again. Arnav rolled his eyes. Anjali laughed.
"Where is it?"
"B-b-b-b-by the patio..."
Arnav waited for her to let go so he could kill the spider. She didn't let go.
"Khushi how am I going to kill the spider if you cling onto me?"
Khushi thought for a second. He had a point. She ran to Anjali and hid behind her. Arnav got a tissue proceeded to kill the spider. Anjali meanwhile, watched khushi close her eyes tightly as Arnav walked towards the spider and then after 2 seconds open one eye. After she'd seen Arnav kill the spider, she opened the other eye and let out a "phew." Anjali smiled.
"Khushiji, you're too cute" Anjali pinched khushi's cheeks and Khushi smiled.
"She's not cute Di. Don't encourage her!" Arnav retorted.
"I am too!" Khushi pouted.
"No, what you are is crazy. Who screams so loudly for such a small spider?"
"I'm not crazy! The spider was big and scary."
"Khushi they are more scared of you!"
"Why would they be scared of me?"
"If you were 2cm big, and a giant started screaming and running, would you be scared?"
Khushi looked down at the floor.
"I s'pose..."
Arnav went to the bathroom to throw the tissue away and wash his hands. Anjali decided to take this chance.
She nudged Khushi
"That's what they want you to think you know..."
"What?!"
"That they are more scared of you, that way they can plot in peace, without having to worry."
"P-p-p-plot?"
"Don't you know? Spider's are trying to take over the world."
Khushi gasped. "Really Di?"
"Ya... That spider was probably a soldier sent out to investigate."
"Investigate what?"
"Stuff."
Khushi's eyes widened and she began to bite her nails. Anjali watched as Khushi began to pace.
"W-w-w-what kind of stuff?!"
Before Anjali could explain further Maamiji called for her.
"Khushiji I'll be right back."
Anjali left the room, Khushi was too busy pacing to notice.
Arnav came out of the bathroom to find Khushi pacing up and down the room.
Arnav groaned.
What now?!
"Khushi I killed the spider. Relax!"
"What about the others?"
Arnav was confused. Others?
"Khushi there was only one spider."
"that was only a soldier."
"A what?!?"
"A soldier… y'know-" Khushi then proceeded to imitate a soldier. She saluted and started to march.
Arnav was even more confused.
"A soldier? Why?"
"He was sent out to investigate…"
This is not making any sense
"Who told you this?"
"Di."
Now he was even more confused.
Why would Di make such a weird story up? she only- Oh she must be playing a prank. But why would she-? Di only plays pranks on-
Suddenly it made sense.
April fool's day!! DAMNIT!
"DIII!!" Arnav yelled.
Arnav ran downstairs, yelling "DDDIII!!!"
"HEY! DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE WITH THE SPIDER ARMY!" Khushi yelled as she ran after him
He got to the kitchen.
"Di what have you been telling Khushi?"
"What do you mean?" Anjali asked innocently.
"Anjali Singh Raizada, do not lie to me. What did you tell my wife?"
"Nothing!"
Arnav raised an eyebrow and folded his arms waiting. Khushi entered the kitchen a bit out of breath.
"Khushiji, I think Naaniji was looking for you."
If Anjali was going to tell her brother the truth, she needed Khushi out of the room.
"Oh, OK I'll be right back." Khushi left the kitchen to go find Naaniji.
"Spill! Now!" Arnav commanded.
"It's not a big deal, I just told her spiders are trying to take over the world.." Anjali told him.
"Urgh.. Di! Why?"
"It April fools" She reminded him
Arnav groaned.
"Plus I'll tell her the truth in a few hours."
"You better!"
Unfortunately all three of them had forgotten by the end of the day, and Arnav only remembered when Khushi found another spider, three weeks later.
-------------------------------------BACK TO NOW--------------------------------------
"Di wouldn't lie to me."
Arnav sighed. She had so much faith in his sister. It was pointless to argue any further.
"How big was it?"
Khushi made an "o" shape with her hand.
"This big"
"Are you sure?"
Khushi frowned at her hand while she thought. She made the "o" shape a bit smaller.
"Are you sure?" Arnav repeated again.
"Hmmm maybe..."
Arnav sighed.
"Wait here. I'll deal with it. " He walked into the bathroom. Meanwhile Khushi quickly rummaged through the suitcase found the book and slid it under the bed. She paced up and down the room waiting.
3 minutes later Arnav had found the spider (which in reality was only 1cm big, he was expecting one as big as a plughole) and killed it. He flushed it down the toilet. Khushi still pacing, heard this from outside and realised. She stopped in her tracks
"Arnavji don't kill it!" She shouted.
"Too late." Arnav came out drying his hands
Khushi began to pace again biting her nails on one hand and holding her towel with the other.
Arnav watched her for a second.
"You can go back in and finish your shower."
Khushi was still pacing.
"You killed it. Why did you kill it?"
"You-"
"I never said kill it. Now how can I go back in there?"
"Khushi it's dead. It's not coming back."
Khushi was still pacing.
"Yeah, it's dead, now the mummy spider and the daddy spider will come after me. We probably just killed their only spider child-"
"No such thing as an only spider child" Arnav pointed out, before he could stop himself.
"Great. He's probably got an older spider brother who'll come after me. And you flushed it down the toilet. They probably all saw you. Now they'll definitely come after me." Khushi was getting more and more jittery. Arnav watched at his wife pace up and down mouth wide open.
"What nonsense!" He finally managed to blurt out
She stopped pacing and looked at him.
"AAP NONSENSE!" Khushi yelled
That is it.
He had been more than patient.
Arnav glared at her. And started to walk towards her. Khushi realised what she had yelled and started walking backwards. She gripped onto her towel even tighter.
Shit.
She realised she was still only in a towel and he was beginning to unbutton his shirt as well.
Oh Crap.
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