Khushi led Arnav by the arm into her Buaji's house, straight into her bedroom. Buaji was with Babuji, and Amma was in the kitchen.
Khushi made him sit on her bed, and went to the kitchen. She soon returned with cups of ginger tea and a plate of pakoras. She gave him his tea and held out the snack for him to bite into.
Arnav Singh Raizada sat in Khushi Kumari Gupta's house in Laxmi Nagar, in her bedroom, eating from her hands, feeling happier than he had ever been.
"You made the pakoras?" he asked.
"Ji." Khushi smiled.
"Give me your hand." he said.
She held her hand out, wondering at his request.
He caught hold of her hand, and dropped a kiss on her palm. "This is for making the pakoras."
Khushi giggled.
He kissed her fingertips. "And this for feeding me."
Khushi giggled, hugging her tummy.
"If... if this is the way you thank me... for making the pakoras..." she chuckled.
Arnav waited, a smile on his lips.
"You will have to... kiss Amma's hand too. She... she made the t... tea." Khushi rolled on the bed, laughing.
Arnav laughed. "I will pass." he said.
When Khushi struggled to control her chuckles, Arnav said, a mock frown on his face. "Khushi, you must be the most unromantic girl in this universe!"
"Acha?" Khushi asked. "Khadoos, akhdoo, Laad Governar is calling me unromantic?"
Arnav hid his smile with difficulty. "How can I lie?" he asked. "What can I do if you are unromantic?"
Khushi launched herself at him, tickling him to within an inch of his life.
"Who... is unromantic?"
"Khushi... Khushi... let go..."
"Unromantic... and me?"
"Khushi, don't..."
"Let me tell you... Arnav...Singh...Raizada... that I watch... Hindi phillum... How can you call me... unromantic?"
"Khushi, stop... Khushi..."
"Can you sing? Can... you dance? Around a... tree... in the rain...?"
"No, Khushi..."
"Can you... play a guitar and sing? A piano? Atleast a dholak?"
"No..." Arnav laughed out aloud.
"Then how dare you... call me unromantic?" Khushi huffed and puffed as she tickled him mercilessly.
"Khushi... Khushi..."
Buaji looked at Amma. "This Sanka Devi, Nandkisore! She will be the death of our Arnav babua!"
Amma giggled.
Buaji said, "Some girls show their love by writing love letters..."
"Knitting sweaters..." Amma added.
"Saying mitti mitti baatein over the phoone..." continued Buaji.
"Hiding behind the door and peeking at the boy as he walks by in the gali..." Amma smiled.
"And our Titliyya is showing her love by tickling Arnav Bitwaa, Nandkisore?" Buaji asked.
"Are you giving up?" she asked, her fingers tickling him.
"Yes. Yes. Khushi... Let go... stop..." Arnav laughed.
Khushi took her hands off him, and crawled away from his body.
"I... I admit defeat. You... you are the most romantic girl in this universe!" he laughed.
Shiv Shakti
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