"But NK if the Gliding competition is day after, there is not much time left...how will we reach Darjeeling on time?" Khushi said anxiously.
"Don't worry Khushi, I have arranged for that. We will take a flight to Bagdogra. Then we have to take a car to Darjeeling.
It all sounded so exciting and Khushi was raring to go but she had to clear one thing.
"This trip will be expensive NK! And I don't have..." her voice trailed away.
"Don't worry about money Khushi, the organizers, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, is taking care of that. They have already arranged for our travel and stay!"
"Oh then, that's fine!" Khushi beamed.
NK punched the air in delight! "Great Khushi! I am so happy you have agreed to partner me in the Gliding competition!
Ab humey girney se koi nahi rok sakta! (No one can stop us from falling!)" he grinned.
Khushi giggled, "Girney nahi NK! Udney!" (Not falling NK! Flying! )
Arnav had been listening to this conversation with his temper soaring. Enough is enough, he thought! There was no way he was letting Khushi go anywhere with this clown!
He growled, " For a change I think this joker..I mean NK is absolutely right!I have seen your flying skills Khushi! You are likely to fall than fly!" he taunted her.
The lovely peach colour of her face turned red with anger! "What do you mean Arnav? Have you forgotten! I have parachuted! " she demanded hands on hips.
Really? I haven't forgotten anything! "Arnav smirked referring to their first meeting in the air!
He advanced towards her, his eyes fixed on the beautiful rush of colour on the tip of her nose.
Khushi took a sharp breath in and retreated on reflex.
His proximity had a strange effect on her as always and as always she chose to draw back in her confusion.
She licked her parched lips remembering the day she had met him after so many years...in the blue orange sky...entangled in her parachute...from which he had disentangled her...saved her from crashing to the ground...but he could not prevent her from falling for him!
She looked up at him and her soft hazel eyes locked with his deep brown ones. He was undoubtedly having the same thoughts...his eyes seemed to speak volumes...Khushi lowered her eyelashes quickly, her heart beat racing...
But his words riled her..
"So you remember don't you Khushi how foolish you were parachuting, when you were untrained...and this NK here was equally idiotic to let you..."
NK was quick to defend himself and Khushi. "That was some time ago, Arnav! I am quite capable of looking after Khushi...and her Buaji has given me permission..."
"Permission! What the! Unbelievable! I thought Buaji was a sensible lady...!" Arnav spat at NK.
The very thought that Khushi's family had so much faith in NK to allow him to take her alone with him to Darjeeling was making him sick with jealousy.
"Payal...Payal..." he suddenly roared, making NK and Khushi jump with surprise.
He did not know that at that moment Payal, Aakash, Anjali and Nani were standing just inside the door leading to the garden, their eyes and ears glued to the going ons in the garden!
They winked and grinned at each other and gestured to Payal to respond quickly to Arnav's call. Payal nodded her head and sauntered towards the garden at her own sweet pace.
"What is the matter Arnav?" Payal said casually approaching the trio.
Arnav glared at her and gritted his teeth, "The matter is that your crazy sister and her friend have made a hackeneyed plan to participate in a Gliding competition in Darjeeling..."
"Oh that!" Payal said inspecting her nails nonchalantly, "It is alright Arnav! Bauaji had called me. She has no objection so why should I?" she said putting on a saccharine sweet smile.
Arnav stared at Payal as if she had gone totally crazy! He had expected her to show more concern for her sister's well being.
"Unbelievable!" he muttered under his breath, running his fingers through his hair. He would have to devise another plan to keep Khushi grounded.
Peeping from inside the house Aakash murmured with a glazed look in his eyes, "Payalji is so beautiful, I mean so talented isn't she?"
" Even bhai could not make out that she is acting!" he said with a hint of pride in his voice.
Anjali blinked her eyelashes rapidly at Aakash and nudged Nani, whispering into her ears,
"Nani you wanted a bride for your one of your grandson's , now it seems you might get a bride for your other grandson too! Ek ke saath ek free!(One free with another!)" she guffawed covering her mouth.
Suddenly they saw Arnav swirl around and head towards them like an angry bull! The family ran helter skelter to hide themselves! But they needn't have bothered for Arnav thundered past them without noticing them muttering under his breath, "Who does NK think he is! How can he take Khushi away!"
"Aww Nani! I can't believe this!" Anjali said grinning from ear to ear! Did you see Chhotey? I have never seen him so full of jealous rage!"
Payal came up behind them and asked excitedly, "How was my acting? Will I pass?"
"With flying colours, bitiya," Nani patted her cheek lovingly.
"But how did Madhumati agree to letting her niece accompany NK alone?" Nani wondered.
"She did not Nani. She expected me or someone else to go with Khushi!" Payal said sheepishly.
"Don't worry on that account Payal," Anjali reassured her , " because I am certain Chhotey will not let Khushi go alone with NK !" Anjali winked.
Everyone burst out laughing.
"Hello hi, bye bye!" Manorama mami squinted her eyes as the sound of laughter floated into her room. "What ees happenings in this housewa, hello hi bye bye," she muttered adjusting her heavy gold necklace on her thick neck. Ever since those Gupta sisters had invaded the house, the atmosphere in the house had changed completely, she scowled at her reflection in the mirror!
"Jaldi hi ee Gupta sisters ka kuchh kare ka padi! (I have to deal with the Gupta sisters soon!)"
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True to Anjali's prophecy, early in the morning, when NK and Khushi were saying their goodbyes to everyone, Arnav arrived on the scene with his duffel bag and announced that he was going to Darjeeling too for some urgent work.
"Cool!" NK said hiding his astonishment, "will you be taking the same flight as ours to Bagdogra?" he inquired.
"Well there is just this one flight in the morning, and you don't own the aircraft , do you?" Arnav said rudely.
"No, no..." NK backed off.
But Khushi was furious!
"I am sure he has no work, Jiji," she whispered to Payal, "He is just going there to spoil my fun!"
"Khushi!" Payal hushed her. "Anyway why do you care...don't pay attention to him," she said sweetly draping the warm pashmina shawl she had borrowed from Nani over her sister's shoulder. "You just take care of yourself, okay?"
"Copy cat, killer rat...Laad Governor" Khushi muttered, "Why can't he go to some other place instead of copying our blueprint!"
But then lifting her chin said determinedly, "You are right Jiji, why should I bother about Laad governor! Darjeeling main wo apne raste , hum apne raste!(In Darjeeling, he will go his way, I will go mine!)"
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
In the aircraft NK was flummoxed that his and Khushi's seats were not next to each other. In fact Khushi had been upgraded to the business class. NK scratched his head in bewilderment but Khushi understood that Arnav must have something to do with it and scowled at him!
Arnav just shrugged his shoulders and smiled at her innocently as he took his seat in the business class, few seats before her.
He was tired and decided to take a nap as the flight took off . He had tossed and turned in his bed all night unable to decide whether he should go to Darjeeling. What if Khushi thinks he is following her!
What do I care! I will focus at the work at hand. I have to find out who this Naira Usman of Darjeeling is! Why did Shyam call her? Would he find Shyam in Darjeeling?
He had finally convinced himself that he was going to Darjeeling to find the answers to these questions and not to keep an eye on Khushi!
Yet he couldn't stop himself from glancing back to see if Khushi was comfortable in her seat and was rewarded with a scowl from her again!
What's her problem, he thought oblivious to the air hostesses who were fawning over him.
But Khushi had noticed it and inspite of her resolve to pay no attention to the Laad Governor, she could not help notice how the air hostesses were falling over each other to cater to their handsome passenger.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The flight reached Bagdogra on time. It was three hours to Darjeeling from there
but their pick up hadn't arrived! NK made a quick call and announced in an irritated voice, "Khushi, the organizers have asked us to wait till the others competitors arrive. Then they will send a bus to pick us up!"
"That might be a long wait NK...!" Khushi sighed.
"You guys can come along with me...my vehicle is waiting outside!" a husky voice intervened.
"That will be great! Thanks man!" NK beamed at Arnav.
"No! There is no need! We will go on our own! You are free to leave!" Khushi fumed at Arnav.
"But there is enough space in my car..." he smirked at her.
From the corner of her eyes, Khushi saw the airhostesses eyeing Arnav.
"Then take those girls who are dying to go with you..." she spat at him.
"Excuse me! Whom are you talking about...!" Arnav retorted scrunching his eyes.
"Hey cool it, cool it guys!" NK said spreading his hands in despair.
"Khushi if Arnav has no problem taking us...tab hum uske saath fisal sakte hain na!(...then we can slip with him, can't we!)"
"Fisal nahi nikal,(Not slip with him, but go with him)" Khushi and Arnav corrected NK simultaneously.
"Yes yes, wohi..." said NK sheepishly. "Can we go now? Peace?" he asked looking from one to another.
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The hotel was milling with people, most of whom were participating or had just come to watch the gliders. There was an atmosphere of bonhomie and Khushi smiled happily.
Khushi stretched her arms and legs and took a long breath of the fresh air of the hill station. It had been a lovely journey up the winding mountain roads and now she stared at the lush tea gardens and the tall pine trees in the distance and beyond to the snow capped peaks that shone in the sun.
"Hey Devi Maiyya...This is so beautiful..." she murmured mesmerized, "Its not for nothing that Darjeeling is known as the Queen of Hills'.
NK's voice brought her out of her reverie. He was talking to Arnav.
"Bad luck man! This place is choc a block! I don't think any room is available!"
"But the suite is!" Arnav smirked at NK as the girl at the reception fluttered her eyelashes at him and handed the key to the best suite in the hotel.
"Well money can buy you anything..." Arnav chuckled.
"Pompous ass! Now I have to share a hotel with him too!" Khushi muttered under her breath as she snatched her room key from NK's hand and marched into her room with a huff!
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
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