It was school holiday on account of Raksha Bandhan. Arnav didn't have anything to do in particular and hence when Akash and NK asked him to join them for their ride, he agreed without asking much
To Arnav's surprise they were headed to Ron's house.They were greeted warmly by Shashi and Ron.
Meanwhile Khushi was getting ready to celebrate the most cherished day of the entire year. She had been excited from the day before. Cleaning the house every few minutes, preparing different sweets, getting the rakhi ready. She had changed into a sky blue anarkali suit . She descended the stairs from her room to be greeted by a loud "Happy Raksha Bandhan Sis" from Akash and NK
Arnav just looked on the scene before him. She returned the greeting with as much enthusiasm . He noticed her glancing at the door every few minutes while immersed in conversation with others. After about an hour,she started pacing the room muttering to herself about the car getting stuck in traffic, forgetting about the day etc etc.. Much of it made no sense to Arnav
Suddenly they heard door bell ringing.She literally flew to the door. She was lifted off the floor in a bear grip by a man looking around 20 years, around 6 feet in height,hard lean body and a pair of intense black eyes. A day old stubble adorning his face gave him a rough look. Abhay Singh Zala, eldest brother of Khushi, was home for Raksha Bandhan. Twirling her twice,he put her down .Giving a kiss on her fore head, he wished her "Happy Raksha Bandhan Gudiya" and she returned the kiss on his either cheeks.She had been laughing all the while. The warmth of the welcome was not lost on anyone. No body had a doubt where Khushi stood with Abhay.
She hung on to her arms and dragged him to the sitting room talking a mile a minute "Bhaiya, how are you? Are you tired? Do you want to rest before the ceremony? When did you start?".
Abhay laughed and said "Take a breath Beta.I will answer all your questions. How about starting the rituals now? "
Abhay hugged his father and brother.He got seated on the sopha on the right with Ron following him to the next Sofa. Akshay and NK were seated in the two seater sofa. Arnav stood leaning on a pillar watching the scene and Shashi was seated directly opposite to Abhay. Khushi applied tikka on Abhay and tied the rakhi. She gave him the prasad and broke his fast. She extended her hand for gift which Abhay answered as forgot with a face palm expression. She continued to Ron with a very bright smile after stating to Abhay that she will take it later. Ron ,Akshay and NK were given the same attention and she was showered with gifts.
Abhay walked towards the room and called out to Khushi "Beta, Ask Dipu to get my luggage". Dipu was the resident driver of Zala family.
She ran towards the door to tell Dipu. Khushi never wasted time when instruction came from Abhay. She loved him in place of her mother. She was literally brought up by him. She was more his daughter than a sister. Reaching the door , Khushi screamed and started jumping up and down. Abhay asked her turning back with a naughty glint in his eyes "What happened Gudiya. Why did you scream as if you saw a ghost?"
Khushi hugged him and said "Thank you so much for the best gift ever, Bhaiya". On the door way stood a bright pink ladies bicycle with all the necessary accessories.
Arnav had never seen Khushi being this happy,ever.
Khushi wanted to start riding as soon as possible and expressed her wish to Abhay. Both of them went to the drive way. In another twenty minutes Arnav was ready to start for home. On his way back , he heard Abhay asking him to help Khushi, stating laughingly that she had difficulty walking on her own and now on a bike, she would be a danger to herself. Arnav was taken back. He hadn't ever helped somebody to ride. He saw Khushi looking at the retreating back of Abhay with pouting lips. He went towards her . Standing towards her left, he simply stated "Ride". She look at him bewildered, recalling the foot ball training sessions. She knew he meant what he said. She got on the bike and started pedaling. The first two feet seemed easy enough. "Smooth."she thought to herself completely ignoring Arnav's presence and unconsciously increased the speed. The next thing she knew was the bike tilting towards the right and she closed her eyes preparing for a broken arm and leg. However she felt herself being cushioned by a body on her right. Heaving a sigh of relief she opened her eyes to meet a glaring one. Arnav had a taken a full sprint to prevent her fall . Hoisting the bicycle along with Khushi, Arnav gestured her to continue. For the next ten minutes he didn't leave his hands from the back of bicycle. Assured of her new found ability, he slowly removed his hands . Khushi unaware of him removing the support pedaled forward at a comfortable pace. When he asked her to apply the break, that is when she realized that she had been riding by herself. She stopped her bike, turned around and flashed her 1000 Watt smile ,shouting "Many many thanks! That was my first ride". Arnav couldn't help a ghost of a smile lifting his lips.
Another first for Khushi from Arnav.
It had been three months since her first ride. Khushi was allowed to ride the cycle only on premises of her residence. She had been pestering her father and Ron for their permission to ride the bike to school. All of her friends came by their own bikes, she argued. Knowing her clumsiness and absentmindedness , Shashi put his foot down and declared that she cannot take it to school.
After those three months, today Ron was away in Lucknow attending one of their extended families marriage function. Shashi was going to office. Khushi waited eagerly for her chance. Once she saw her father out, she took her bike and sped out through the front gates. She was riding along the side line enjoying the scenes of the bustling city. She didn't notice the dog which jumped out from the footpath to the middle of the road. Trying to avoid hitting the dog, she twisted the handle to the right completely missing the motor bike coming in the opposite direction. The motor bike screeched to a halt , throwing Khushi down. All she remembered as she lost consciousness was her calling out "Devi Maiya".
To Arnav's surprise they were headed to Ron's house.They were greeted warmly by Shashi and Ron.
Meanwhile Khushi was getting ready to celebrate the most cherished day of the entire year. She had been excited from the day before. Cleaning the house every few minutes, preparing different sweets, getting the rakhi ready. She had changed into a sky blue anarkali suit . She descended the stairs from her room to be greeted by a loud "Happy Raksha Bandhan Sis" from Akash and NK
Arnav just looked on the scene before him. She returned the greeting with as much enthusiasm . He noticed her glancing at the door every few minutes while immersed in conversation with others. After about an hour,she started pacing the room muttering to herself about the car getting stuck in traffic, forgetting about the day etc etc.. Much of it made no sense to Arnav
Suddenly they heard door bell ringing.She literally flew to the door. She was lifted off the floor in a bear grip by a man looking around 20 years, around 6 feet in height,hard lean body and a pair of intense black eyes. A day old stubble adorning his face gave him a rough look. Abhay Singh Zala, eldest brother of Khushi, was home for Raksha Bandhan. Twirling her twice,he put her down .Giving a kiss on her fore head, he wished her "Happy Raksha Bandhan Gudiya" and she returned the kiss on his either cheeks.She had been laughing all the while. The warmth of the welcome was not lost on anyone. No body had a doubt where Khushi stood with Abhay.
She hung on to her arms and dragged him to the sitting room talking a mile a minute "Bhaiya, how are you? Are you tired? Do you want to rest before the ceremony? When did you start?".
Abhay laughed and said "Take a breath Beta.I will answer all your questions. How about starting the rituals now? "
Abhay hugged his father and brother.He got seated on the sopha on the right with Ron following him to the next Sofa. Akshay and NK were seated in the two seater sofa. Arnav stood leaning on a pillar watching the scene and Shashi was seated directly opposite to Abhay. Khushi applied tikka on Abhay and tied the rakhi. She gave him the prasad and broke his fast. She extended her hand for gift which Abhay answered as forgot with a face palm expression. She continued to Ron with a very bright smile after stating to Abhay that she will take it later. Ron ,Akshay and NK were given the same attention and she was showered with gifts.
Abhay walked towards the room and called out to Khushi "Beta, Ask Dipu to get my luggage". Dipu was the resident driver of Zala family.
She ran towards the door to tell Dipu. Khushi never wasted time when instruction came from Abhay. She loved him in place of her mother. She was literally brought up by him. She was more his daughter than a sister. Reaching the door , Khushi screamed and started jumping up and down. Abhay asked her turning back with a naughty glint in his eyes "What happened Gudiya. Why did you scream as if you saw a ghost?"
Khushi hugged him and said "Thank you so much for the best gift ever, Bhaiya". On the door way stood a bright pink ladies bicycle with all the necessary accessories.
Arnav had never seen Khushi being this happy,ever.
Khushi wanted to start riding as soon as possible and expressed her wish to Abhay. Both of them went to the drive way. In another twenty minutes Arnav was ready to start for home. On his way back , he heard Abhay asking him to help Khushi, stating laughingly that she had difficulty walking on her own and now on a bike, she would be a danger to herself. Arnav was taken back. He hadn't ever helped somebody to ride. He saw Khushi looking at the retreating back of Abhay with pouting lips. He went towards her . Standing towards her left, he simply stated "Ride". She look at him bewildered, recalling the foot ball training sessions. She knew he meant what he said. She got on the bike and started pedaling. The first two feet seemed easy enough. "Smooth."she thought to herself completely ignoring Arnav's presence and unconsciously increased the speed. The next thing she knew was the bike tilting towards the right and she closed her eyes preparing for a broken arm and leg. However she felt herself being cushioned by a body on her right. Heaving a sigh of relief she opened her eyes to meet a glaring one. Arnav had a taken a full sprint to prevent her fall . Hoisting the bicycle along with Khushi, Arnav gestured her to continue. For the next ten minutes he didn't leave his hands from the back of bicycle. Assured of her new found ability, he slowly removed his hands . Khushi unaware of him removing the support pedaled forward at a comfortable pace. When he asked her to apply the break, that is when she realized that she had been riding by herself. She stopped her bike, turned around and flashed her 1000 Watt smile ,shouting "Many many thanks! That was my first ride". Arnav couldn't help a ghost of a smile lifting his lips.
Another first for Khushi from Arnav.
It had been three months since her first ride. Khushi was allowed to ride the cycle only on premises of her residence. She had been pestering her father and Ron for their permission to ride the bike to school. All of her friends came by their own bikes, she argued. Knowing her clumsiness and absentmindedness , Shashi put his foot down and declared that she cannot take it to school.
After those three months, today Ron was away in Lucknow attending one of their extended families marriage function. Shashi was going to office. Khushi waited eagerly for her chance. Once she saw her father out, she took her bike and sped out through the front gates. She was riding along the side line enjoying the scenes of the bustling city. She didn't notice the dog which jumped out from the footpath to the middle of the road. Trying to avoid hitting the dog, she twisted the handle to the right completely missing the motor bike coming in the opposite direction. The motor bike screeched to a halt , throwing Khushi down. All she remembered as she lost consciousness was her calling out "Devi Maiya".
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