Vignettes - 20. Beauty lies in the eyes of....

"Khushi, tum theek toh ho naah?", asked her concerned Jiji. Turning to her, Khushi was about to make her confusio known when her Mamiji leapt in to put her ten cents in. "Arre Payaliya, yeh Khusi ka itni abnormal hain ka, ki jab woh sensibily taalk karti hain toh tum aisi kostins poochti ho?!" , before collapsing in a fit of giggles at her own wit.

Slumping down again in a huff, Khushi started nibbling on her nails when a gentle hand pushed them away. "Kya baat hain, Khushiji? Pareshaan lag rahi hain...", Anjali enquired, sitting down by her favourite sister-in-law's side.

Wringing her hands, Khushi complained, "Dekho naah, Di... sab humari masaakh udha rahe hain. Bus humne kaha ki Salmaan Khanji ke ab pehle jaise achche film nahi aathe aur shuroo ho gaye yeh donon..."

"Aur nahi toh kaa...", Manorama exclaimed,"Anjali bitiya, yeh Khusi alwayjj taalks about Salman Khan yeh doing, woh doing, aur ab ek baar humre Arnav bitwa apan wife ke liye daince kiya aur lo... Salman Khan ek dum cilean baowled ho gaya!"

Still not getting a clear picture of what was going on, Anjali was about to ask her aunt to explain that statement when Khushi exclaimed, "Di, haan, humne kaha ki Salman Khanji ab pehle jaise naach nahi rahe, aur isse achcha humare Arnavji nache the humare sangeet mein...aur dekho yeh donon baat ko kaise badha rahe hain!"

At Payal's wink and smile, Anjali grinned. Finally comprehending what the whole leg-pulling was about, she asked, "Bus itna, Khushiji? Aur kuch bhi hoga jo aapko lagti hain ki Chotte Salman Khan se bhi ache se karte hain?"

"Haan, zaroor. Aur kyun nahi hoga..." Khushi started off, before narrowing her eyes at the laughter that erupted around her. Getting up in a huff and stomping upstairs, she barged into her room and her searching eyes lighting upon his photo immediately, she marched up to the bedside table and promptly grabbed it and settled down on the futon.

Her embarrassment slowly giving way to a shy grin, Khushi thought back of the number of times she had compared her favourite actor's beefed-up bulk to the lanky, muscular frame of her husband, whose build belied his strength. "Kitni aasaani se apne baahon mein uthaate hain woh humein...", she murmured, blushing at the direction in which her thoughts were progressing. And those sinewy arms that could wrap around her like steel bands, claiming her as his own...His perfect features and rare, sweet, slow smile that could melt her very bones...His quick grins and roaring laughter at her antics that made him looks years youngers, like the young, much-in-love man that he was, instead of the mighty ASR...

Nope, Salman Khan couldn't hold a candle to her Arnavji... let anyone try and disprove her!

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A few miles away, Arnav Singh Raizada turned back to gaze dispassionately at the ramp after giving a few crisp commands to the ever-present Aman. His eyes flickling momentarily at the swiftly retreating figure of his assistant, he settled back to evaluate the models for his new winter line as well as make his own personal comments on the designs themselves.

He had once been someone impressed by the sleek figures of models, their poise, confidence and the cool, composedness that they exuded, their detached expressions a perfect balm for his reserved, repressed emotions. But now, he watched them with something akin to pity and even a mild horror at what his taste had been...before...

His eyes gentling as his thoughts flew to the person whose entry in his life had neatly classified his 29 years on the planet into a "before..." and an "after...", Arnav tuned the music, the lights and the models out.

After all, who could hold a candle to that bundle of irrepressible energy who awaited him at home? The sleek, lithe models couldn't match her soft curves...their poise didn't spread grins on his face like his wife's clumsiness did...their calm demeanor didn't light up his fire like Khushi's laughter, temper and naughtiness did...

Nope, the top models of the country couldn't hold a candle to his Khushi... let anyone try and disprove him!