IPKKND-ARHI-FF - Gypsy- Chapter 42 - Page 22

i have this feeling that khushi is dressed up as a boy and calls herself aniket.

Nice update. I hope Arnav repents majorly when he learns about what happened to Khushi.

Superb update! Aniket is in fact Khushi!!!!!!!! Aww poor Charan... He and Khushi are a lot alike... They've been both whipped without reason for instance... i think that's why Charan accepts her, more or less..

As for the question marks, I have no idea dear. Sorry...

I love Rajasthani stories! this is awesome :)

Waiting eagerly for next part.

Great update! wonderfully integrated...the introduction of the boy aniket, which i think is khushi was great...that is why arnav was strangely at peace and not disturbed by khushi;s thoughts in that stable..

wowww dear...
its such a beautiful story...
read all da parts in one go...n m speechless...brilliant writing...
feeling so bad 4 khushi n feels like strangling arnav to death...
continue soon n plxxx pm me when u update nxt...

P.S. is aniket khushi??? jst my guess😆...

Great chapter!
Now assuming Aniket is actually Khushi, its saddening how once who ran around is all frail and with a limp..She connected with the whiplashed animal- its understandable..
Shashi came out to be a warm person.

Nice update.So Aniket is Khusi...Poor girl lost her ability to speak and now is limping...

Chapter 18

After a busy day, Shashi Gupta entered his spacious house via the front down. In his long and illustrious as a trainer / equestrian, he had accumulated wealth and prestige. As a poor young boy in Lucknow, he had indeed come a long way but at heart he remained a simple Lucknowi. People from Lucknow were famous for their cuisine and their hospitality. After coming a long way in his life, he had married a simple girl from his home town and for her, he built this beautiful house. They lived happily until she died. After her death he had no desire to settle again so he relied on his housekeeper, Garima to look after his house. She was entrusted with everything in his house and it was she who was responsible for hiring maids to clean the house, shopping for everything and all else.

She was a Rajasthani lady who had never been married. She lived in her fathers house a short distance away. A tall slim lady in her late thirties, she was the height of propriety and discretion and always had her dupatta covering her head and face, never showing herself to anyone. It was entirely plausible if Shashi claimed that in the 8 years since his wife was alive to her death and till now, he had never seen Garimsa face clearly!

As usual the house was clean and tidy, the smell of furniture polish mingling with the scent of flowers arranged in the front hall. He entered just as she came in the front hall. It was almost 5 in the evening; time for her to leave.

Saheb, hum jaa rahe hai. Khana tayyar hai. Bhiku Kaka (Shashis elderly servant) paros dega.

Theek hai Garimaji, aap jayiye.

Garima left and Shashi went to his room for a shower. He emerged a short while later, dressed in a pair of kurta pyjama and moved towards the living room. It was empty; he thought for a moment before walking towards the back of his house, to the small parlour there. This small room faced towards the gardens and then the forest which fell just in that line. The door was ajar and he entered. A small figure sat there, right near the outside door in the parlour. At the sound of Shashis soft footsteps, Aniket looked up, still dressed in the clothes from earlier.

The small features, the hesitant manner, all pulled at Shashis heart strings. Walking further in the room, he handed a package to Aniket. The child took it, staring at Shashi all the while.

Open it, Shashi said.

Slowly Anikets delicate fingers pulled at the strings and unravelled the wrapper to reveal a navy blue hat. It had a wide brim and was similar to the black one that Shashi wore when working with the horses.

Wear it whenever you go out, Shashi said. It will suit you nicely.

Aniket nodded staring at the hat fixedly. Shashi reached out and plucking the hat from Anikets fingers gently sat it on the soft black waves that were Anikets hair. Placing a gentle finger under the childs chin, Shashi raised it. The hat fit nicely while the wide brim cast Anikets face in shadows. Shashi nodded in satisfaction. Yes, the hat would indeed suit very well. He had not missed the glances that his nephew generated whenever he was outside with his almost too pretty for a boy features. But it was the glance that the Maharaja of Devgarh gave the child that led to him buying the hat for Aniket.

Aniket reached up a hand and touched the brim of the hat, tilting his head to see if the hat would fall off. He had no idea why the hat of all things but he had long given up on the whys and hows of peoples thoughts. He had no interest in these things. Satisfied that the hat would stay on his head the way Shashis hat stayed on his, Aniket took the hat off, mussing his wavy hair even more. Shashis eyes stayed on Anikets hair as another image came in his mind. He shook his head to clear the image and instead, said gruffly,

Come, Aniket. Its time for dinner.

A slight nod and placing the hat aside for a moment, Aniket used the door to lever himself up. Pausing to catch his breath as a sharp pain lanced through his body, he bit his lower lip. Cursing under his breath, Shashis hand came up and he slipped it around Anikets narrow shoulders. Grabbing the hat in the other, he led the way to the dining room. He saw Aniket settled there before taking his own seat. Dinner in his house these days was quite jovial as Shashi tried his best to cheer Aniket. He recounted stories about his day and told stories while Aniket remained quiet, listening carefully. Occasionally he would smile but he never laughed. But today, in addition to the jokes and stories, Shashi had something important to tell Aniket:

You know Aniket, today someone very important came to the stables. Do you know who?

Aniket stared at him, a slight question in his soft hazel eyes.

The Maharaja of Devgarh. Shashi imparted this news casually while he studied Anikets face carefully. Sure enough the hazel eyes flickered while the already pale face paled even more.

He will send 3 of his mares to the farm tomorrow. Its a business deal with Thakur Alok. In fact he was out there when you went to see Charan today. Speaking of Charan, it seems he likes you a lot Aniket. And he would definitely miss you if you didnt visit him, you know. But seeing as you are from the colds of Shimla while this is hot Rajasthan, its imperative that you wear your hat, all right.

There was a pause and then Aniket nodded slightly. He received the message clearly. When outdoors, he would always wear the hat.

Satisfied that his message was received, Shashi called for Bhiku Kaka to serve the kheer. Aniket liked kheer very much but today he was not feeling very well. As he sat there with his almost untouched kheer, Shashi called for Bhiku Kaka to fetch warm milk laced with honey for Aniket.

Aniket, has Garima changed your bandages?

Aniket nodded a yes.

Well in that case, its off to bed with you. You are practically asleep at the table. Come on.

Abandoning the kheer, Aniket got up. Shashi helped him upstairs, waiting while the child slipped in the cool night clothes that Garima had laid out already. He waited until Aniket was in bed before he handed the glass of milk over and waited until he had finished it. He ran a hand over Anikets soft hair and left.

He was almost at the door when he heard a soft voice.

Baba?

Hmmm?

Shashi turned around to see Aniket looking at him.

Shukriya.

Koi baat bahi bachche.

Shashi hurriedly left before he started crying. Aniket rarely said anything but when he did, Shashi was awed at the almost childish voice and tone. The littlest of words from Aniket were worth a whole conversation

The next morning Shashi was getting dressed when he heard the sound of Garima coming in. He knew Aniket would be up and about. He met Garima in the hall and explained about the Maharajas visit and business deal before he left so that she could keep an eye on Aniket.

At exactly 10 oclock, the luxurious trailer belonging to the Maharaja of Devgarh arrived bearing the 3 mares. His stable master was also there to oversee the process but the Maharaja himself didnt come. In fact he didnt come for that whole week.

Aniket visited Charan rather apprehensively for the first few days but he relaxed by the end of the week. It was well in to the next week when the Maharaja arrived and that too unexpectedly. Shashi was training Aloks race horse Jeet while all the stable hands and Alok himself watched the sight. Shashi on horseback putting the beautiful grey horse Jeet through his paces was a wonderful sight indeed. Aniket was with Charan feeding him apples when he heard a voice behind him..

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