Arhi FF 'Sandcastle' Th 1. Reposted all the parts - Page 13

Chapter 2

"How is the room, Arnav?" the elder woman asked with a warm smile, "are you comfortable with it?"

Arnav smiled at the woman as he took seat at the farther end of the table, opposite to the head seat where Mr. Yalavarti was seated. "It is great," he replied, returning the friendly smile at the family, "thank you for the arrangements within short notice."

He thanked Bindu when she served his plate with Dosa and coconut chutney. "So," he heard Mr. Yalavarti stating, "you work for Aman Mathur. How long do you know him?"

"Yes," Arnav said, "we met seven years ago, Sir. We joined the firm around same time with me as an intern."

"I was just wondering about your comfortable level with Mathur," Mr. Yalavarti stared at him, as Arnav shifted in his seat uncomfortably for being subjected to such kind of attention. He was wondering as why Mr. Yalavarti allowed a stranger like him stay with them when he had two beautiful grown up daughters. Arnav was not shocked that the man wanted to know about him. It was a natural thing. If such a stranger was going to live in his home, Arnav would have done a background check on him before accepting, with what his sister and her safety. "Kiran never asked for such favors," the man said as a final word, and that did explain Arnav the whole matter. Kiran, Aman's friend since childhood, arranged this place for his stay.

"Where is that white scarf?"Arnav raised his head at the shout and soon enough, the owner of the voice came into the dining area and stood with her hands on her hips, her gaze fixed on Bindu."How many times do I need to tell you not to touch my things, Di?"

Arnav stared at her, while Bindu voice came out in a low yet serious way, "you had that scarf bathe in grease, Khushi. Why do you forget things and then blame me?"

He stared at Khushi dropping her chin, her eyes wide open. "This is not fair, Bindu. Kiran will be here at any time now and I am not even ready, let alone leave with him. God, Papa!" she sat beside Mr. Yalavarti as she complained, "why do we have to keep Bindu with us. I mean, she is 24. Don't you think it is the time for her to send off to her sasural?"

"Khushi!" Mr. Yalavarti sighed at her, "Don't start again, dear. I have a seminar and I need to have a peaceful mind to evaluate my students today. So, leave my mind for the time being, okay."

"You are talking as if I am eating you alive," Khushi shouted at him, "come on Papa. Bindu promised me to clean that scarf and now, she is blaming me. Why don't you do this, instead? Send me off to my sasural."

Arnav rested his chin on his hand and watched the scene unfolding in front of him, while Bindu and Mrs. Yalavarti slapped their heads and sighed defeated. It was their regular fights, Arnav noted with an amused look, watching the father and daughter having a conversation as daughter blaming father for not supporting her and father pleading daughter to let go of the matter, period. "This is funny," he said with a smile to which Mrs. Yalavarti nodded in agreement.

"Don't mind, Arnav," she said apologetically, "her father and Bindu pampered her a lot and made her a spoilt brat. Get used to these fights. Nothing serious, but nothing simple too."

Before he could speak further, he heard Khushi shouting and turned around to find her hugging a man. "Thank god, Kiran. You are here. This Bindu is killing me and Papa, as always, asking me to back off." she looked at the man, "I have no one in this home. Take me away, my love!"

Arnav looked at the man, Kiran, who seemed to be in his mid twenties. "I am ready to take you away Khushi, but there is a small problem," Kiran grinned at Khushi, "I can't risk my life for that, you know. I am sure professor will murder me first, then start searching for a groom for your sister, which I really can't risk right now."

"I will manage Papa," Khushi stated as they walked towards them, with Kiran touching Mr. Yalavarti's feet, "all you have to do is leave Bindu and come to me."

Arnav stood, wanting to leave as soon as possible. "I need to go," he said to Mrs. Yalavarti, "cab is here."

He bid a quick goodbye to the family after exchanging few pleasantries with Kiran. He climbed upstairs, picked up his laptop back and dashed downstairs towards the cab. Just as he reached the last step, he saw Khushi and Kiran walking out of the house. "Come fast, Khushi," he heard Bindu calling from inside, "I just booked tickets for 9PM show for the three of us. You can have your ice creams after the show. And Kiran, make sure she has lunch without fail."And that followed by Kiran's "don't worry darling. I will take care of my saali."

"Crazy family," Arnav muttered under his breath as he hopped in the back seat and instructed the cab driver. "God help me to be alive at the end of this month." He then typed a mail to Aman, threatening him for allotting his stay with a crazy family.

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