One day on crossing Arnav's room, Khushi stood at his door and contemplated for a few minutes.
She knocked and asked "May I come in?"
Arnav:"No"
Khushi : "That was courtesy, you are not expected to say no! I am already in"
Arnav: "Then Get Out! I don't like any body in my room"
Khushi: "When you don't care for any body, why should I care for your convenience."
Arnav screamed: "Act your age and just get out!"
Khushi's pitch matched Arnav's: "I am acting my age and YOU ARE NOT!"
Arnav lost count of the number of times he wanted to wrung her neck. His anger and attitude doesn't seem to work on her. Arnav was afraid that he may do her some bodily harm if she didn't leave soon. He wasn't comfortable with sharing his living space even for a brief time. No one came there except Ma even then she too left immediately. Arnav had taken it as his cue to consider it as his own undivided personal space.
Khushi had no intention of leaving. She sat down on his bed while he tried his best to intimidate her by standing up to his full length and shooting death glares at her. She coolly ignored it.
But to say the truth, Khushi was shivering from within. It took her all her mental and physical strength to put up the brave face in front of Arnav. She had been praying "Devi Maiya,Raksha karna! I am doing this for Amma. I need to help them come closer. I am ready to face death but just let them come closer"
Arnav wanted to laugh at the picture she portrayed. In her cute dress of baby doll , sitting with her signature style of both legs folded under her, nibbling her lips and forehead creased with frown , she was trying desperately not to react to him. He had to give it to her, she succeeded.
Suddenly out of the blues Khushi asked "Do you know today we had swiss chocolate for desert. Nirmal aunty had bought it as gift. Here is a piece for you"
Arnav didn't move.
She unwrapped the chocolate and ate it. She then went on to explain her school experiences.
Mid way through the narration, Arnav just held her hand, dragged her out and just closed the doors.
"There is a limit to childishness" thought him angrily
After a while he heard a soft footsteps moving away from the door. He closed his eyes in frustration ."She asked for that. She should know her limits. This would put her at her place"
He didn't see any silhouette at the library balcony that day, not that he looked for it specifically. "Yeah right", said a small voice in his head.
Khushi went straight to her paternal home after school as it was Wednesday.
Arnav didn't care if she came or went. "The girl needs to grow up". He didn't notice why was he acting grumpier than usual. He had shouted at HP on coffee and toast. He could only have half the dinner.
Sunday couldn't come any more late. And so did Khushi. She had been to mandir and had arrived late. By the time the breakfast was done and so had roaring of Arnav at poor HP. Unaware of all the happenings, Khushi's day passed as usual. She learned to cook jalebis from Amma. She had a round of cricket with everyone in Shaanthivan including Nani,house helps and security guards. She completely missed the glaring eyes from the second floor.
"How I hate her" thought Arnav. He couldn't fathom why the unnecessary rage when she was only a kid.
It was night soon. After dinner, Khushi called everybody for the family time. When she came to Arnav's room , she halted. She saw the light and thought "Lion is in the den. Kya kismat payi hai, you need to be the one to tie the bell for Amma. What I wouldn't do for her."
Gathering courage she entered his room. The reaction was immediate "GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"
Khushi stood rooted for 2 mins .Though she had anticipated the rage, she didn't knew it would shake her. Gathering all the courage she could muster, she moved forward.
Khushi came to stand right infront of him,looked straight into his eyes, put her left hand around his stomach hugging his back, she put her right hand on his heart patting it gently and said "Shhh..." in a calming voice
Arnav was blown away. He had expected her to cry or better scream at him. He never expected her to do this. He felt his rage ebb down with her gentle pat. It took him few moments to collect himself. And he again shouted "Don't you dare get cozy with me. You are but a kid."
She replied without moving an inch "Shut up! or else I will gag you with any piece of cloth I can get hold of"
"Here she goes again" thought Arnav.
In few seconds she extricated herself, sat on her signature style like the last day and said "That is how I was comforted by Abhay Bahiya when I cry my heart out".
Without waiting for a response she started to narrate her entire precious days. When she was on her second day adventure, Arnav just walked out to his gym thinking "The girl was impossible. Why can't she take the cue that I don;t like her. She is going to force it out of me in one of these days"
Khushi proceeded to the family gathering in the library as if nothing happened.
The scene repeated next day too. Same Khushi , same posture, same place,same time,same Arnav but agitated to core. He screamed out loud "I HATE YOU HERE! JUST GET OUT ELSE I MAY THROW YOU OUT"
Just like the day before Khushi stood before him put her left hand around his stomach hugging his back, with her right hand slowly patting his heart she said "Shhh..." in a calming voice.
Arnav just lose it. He gave a rather strong push which had Khushi crashing against the table with her hand getting bruised by the glass on the table top. Arnav stormed out without giving a backward glance.
Khushi had her hand bandaged .Her leg was sprained by the impact and she limped slightly. When every one asked alarmed she gave the excuse that she cut her finger while trying to remove the blade in her project tool box.
The next day while serving breakfast ,Arnav noticed a hand with bandage tying together three fingers serving him. He looked up in shock to the smiling face of Khushi. She went about limping around the dining table. He felt somebody stabbed at his heart. He couldn't finish and he just stormed out
That day when Khushi came to him after dinner, he just sat there .letting Khushi blabber what ever she wants.He neither shouted at her nor listened to her.
So unbeknownst to both a schedule fell into place. Khushi would call everyone after dinner. On her way to join the family time she would chat with Arnav. You can't call it chat, it was rather a monologue as only she was talking.
Slowly after a few days, Arnav caught up with life of Khushi, after all it was forced upon him. He had no choice. He knew she had five close friends Anu,Payal,Nisha,Lisa and Farha.
"All girls" he had mused. He didn't have to ask it load. She came back "Guys are too weird to keep friendship. Their conversation never goes beyond bikes and girls"
"How I wish to add to her list what other things guys would like to talk. If I could do that, she may stop coming to my room but being the idiot that she is, she may go and say to Ma." Arnav dropped the idea
He also came to realize that she wasn't as air-headed as other girls. She had some very strong opinion on independence of girls and she genuinely felt for the less fortunate. She had been taking classes for the kids from low income families for a meager sum of 50 Rs per kid per month so that the parents and kids felt responsible for the class.
She had close to 20 kids in her class."Impressive" he thought
Also he had enough citations from her to reinstate the fact that "She definitely had lost few screws in her head. Which girl would bet with a local weightlifting champion on an arm wrestling?" He knew something was amiss when she said she won the contest "Why the hell should a girl learn to disassemble and reassemble a bike? Why is she working in the garage with some Happyji for 300Rs a month? What is she doing in a local fighting club on Saturday evenings?"
Finally he just gave up on finding answers.
Also most days after the family time, Khushi and Saanvika would sit on the library balcony and read. Some days , Khushi would keep her head on Saanvika's lap while reading on the swinging loveseat and promptly fall asleep. Once Arnav looked to balcony and saw Saanvika try to lift up Khushi on her shoulders. Arnav rushed to the library . He walked towards the them and asked Saanvika "Maa, Couldn't you just wake her up?"
"She loves falling asleep feeling that I am singing. I don't want to break the dream she is in" said Saanvika.
Arnav rolled his eyes at his mom, stooped down and lifted Khushi from the swing. She automatically wound her right arm around his back and left arm around his stomach and shifted to cuddle into his side.
He carried her swiftly to her room and deposited her on bed. Khushi left a kiss on his cheek in her sleep.
Saanvika who had followed Arnav saw him blush slightly and whispered trying to hide a chuckle "She thinks its me". Arnav nodded and left.
Arnav made sure every day before bed to check if Khushi was on the swing. If so, he waited and the above episode repeated to a T.
Once when Khushi came to Arnav's room for "status update", as Arnav called it, she found him sitting on his recliner,head thrown back , frowning and rubbing his forehead vigorously.
Khushi asked in concern "Are you ill? Is it a headache?"
Arnav with a deepening frown :"Hmm.."
Khushi replied standing up suddenly "I know the right person to make it vanish"
She came back with Amma. She explained the situation to his mother.
Saanvika took the balm from the nearby medicine cupboard and stood behind the recliner.
Arnav resisted while extending his other hand "Its ok Ma, I will do it"
Saanvika firmly pulled him out of the recliner,made him lie on the bed with his head on her lap.
Khushi encouraged him saying with a beaming smile "You will fall asleep for sure when she does that .So she wants you to lie down"
Saanvika gently massaged his fore head. Arnav closed his eyes. Khushi silently left the scene , leaving the mother-son duo. Khushi later came to find Amma with her hands on his hair and a peacefully sleeping Arnav. She reminded her it is time for bed. Saanvika gave a kiss on his forehead before leaving him. Khushi wanted to dance in joy when she saw the smile on Amma.
Arnav woke up to realize that it felt eons since Ma had held him to sleep.
So every day Khushi would get Amma with her on her status update meeting with Arnav. Amma would insist on having Arnav sit beside her on bed . He had to be forced to lie on her lap and later would fall to sleep while she stroked his hair. As time passed , Arnav would automatically take his place beside his mother as soon as she was seated.
Saanvika cherished those moments with Arnav. She had always known Khushi was her guardian angel.
She knocked and asked "May I come in?"
Arnav:"No"
Khushi : "That was courtesy, you are not expected to say no! I am already in"
Arnav: "Then Get Out! I don't like any body in my room"
Khushi: "When you don't care for any body, why should I care for your convenience."
Arnav screamed: "Act your age and just get out!"
Khushi's pitch matched Arnav's: "I am acting my age and YOU ARE NOT!"
Arnav lost count of the number of times he wanted to wrung her neck. His anger and attitude doesn't seem to work on her. Arnav was afraid that he may do her some bodily harm if she didn't leave soon. He wasn't comfortable with sharing his living space even for a brief time. No one came there except Ma even then she too left immediately. Arnav had taken it as his cue to consider it as his own undivided personal space.
Khushi had no intention of leaving. She sat down on his bed while he tried his best to intimidate her by standing up to his full length and shooting death glares at her. She coolly ignored it.
But to say the truth, Khushi was shivering from within. It took her all her mental and physical strength to put up the brave face in front of Arnav. She had been praying "Devi Maiya,Raksha karna! I am doing this for Amma. I need to help them come closer. I am ready to face death but just let them come closer"
Arnav wanted to laugh at the picture she portrayed. In her cute dress of baby doll , sitting with her signature style of both legs folded under her, nibbling her lips and forehead creased with frown , she was trying desperately not to react to him. He had to give it to her, she succeeded.
Suddenly out of the blues Khushi asked "Do you know today we had swiss chocolate for desert. Nirmal aunty had bought it as gift. Here is a piece for you"
Arnav didn't move.
She unwrapped the chocolate and ate it. She then went on to explain her school experiences.
Mid way through the narration, Arnav just held her hand, dragged her out and just closed the doors.
"There is a limit to childishness" thought him angrily
After a while he heard a soft footsteps moving away from the door. He closed his eyes in frustration ."She asked for that. She should know her limits. This would put her at her place"
He didn't see any silhouette at the library balcony that day, not that he looked for it specifically. "Yeah right", said a small voice in his head.
Khushi went straight to her paternal home after school as it was Wednesday.
Arnav didn't care if she came or went. "The girl needs to grow up". He didn't notice why was he acting grumpier than usual. He had shouted at HP on coffee and toast. He could only have half the dinner.
Sunday couldn't come any more late. And so did Khushi. She had been to mandir and had arrived late. By the time the breakfast was done and so had roaring of Arnav at poor HP. Unaware of all the happenings, Khushi's day passed as usual. She learned to cook jalebis from Amma. She had a round of cricket with everyone in Shaanthivan including Nani,house helps and security guards. She completely missed the glaring eyes from the second floor.
"How I hate her" thought Arnav. He couldn't fathom why the unnecessary rage when she was only a kid.
It was night soon. After dinner, Khushi called everybody for the family time. When she came to Arnav's room , she halted. She saw the light and thought "Lion is in the den. Kya kismat payi hai, you need to be the one to tie the bell for Amma. What I wouldn't do for her."
Gathering courage she entered his room. The reaction was immediate "GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"
Khushi stood rooted for 2 mins .Though she had anticipated the rage, she didn't knew it would shake her. Gathering all the courage she could muster, she moved forward.
Khushi came to stand right infront of him,looked straight into his eyes, put her left hand around his stomach hugging his back, she put her right hand on his heart patting it gently and said "Shhh..." in a calming voice
Arnav was blown away. He had expected her to cry or better scream at him. He never expected her to do this. He felt his rage ebb down with her gentle pat. It took him few moments to collect himself. And he again shouted "Don't you dare get cozy with me. You are but a kid."
She replied without moving an inch "Shut up! or else I will gag you with any piece of cloth I can get hold of"
"Here she goes again" thought Arnav.
In few seconds she extricated herself, sat on her signature style like the last day and said "That is how I was comforted by Abhay Bahiya when I cry my heart out".
Without waiting for a response she started to narrate her entire precious days. When she was on her second day adventure, Arnav just walked out to his gym thinking "The girl was impossible. Why can't she take the cue that I don;t like her. She is going to force it out of me in one of these days"
Khushi proceeded to the family gathering in the library as if nothing happened.
The scene repeated next day too. Same Khushi , same posture, same place,same time,same Arnav but agitated to core. He screamed out loud "I HATE YOU HERE! JUST GET OUT ELSE I MAY THROW YOU OUT"
Just like the day before Khushi stood before him put her left hand around his stomach hugging his back, with her right hand slowly patting his heart she said "Shhh..." in a calming voice.
Arnav just lose it. He gave a rather strong push which had Khushi crashing against the table with her hand getting bruised by the glass on the table top. Arnav stormed out without giving a backward glance.
Khushi had her hand bandaged .Her leg was sprained by the impact and she limped slightly. When every one asked alarmed she gave the excuse that she cut her finger while trying to remove the blade in her project tool box.
The next day while serving breakfast ,Arnav noticed a hand with bandage tying together three fingers serving him. He looked up in shock to the smiling face of Khushi. She went about limping around the dining table. He felt somebody stabbed at his heart. He couldn't finish and he just stormed out
That day when Khushi came to him after dinner, he just sat there .letting Khushi blabber what ever she wants.He neither shouted at her nor listened to her.
So unbeknownst to both a schedule fell into place. Khushi would call everyone after dinner. On her way to join the family time she would chat with Arnav. You can't call it chat, it was rather a monologue as only she was talking.
Slowly after a few days, Arnav caught up with life of Khushi, after all it was forced upon him. He had no choice. He knew she had five close friends Anu,Payal,Nisha,Lisa and Farha.
"All girls" he had mused. He didn't have to ask it load. She came back "Guys are too weird to keep friendship. Their conversation never goes beyond bikes and girls"
"How I wish to add to her list what other things guys would like to talk. If I could do that, she may stop coming to my room but being the idiot that she is, she may go and say to Ma." Arnav dropped the idea
He also came to realize that she wasn't as air-headed as other girls. She had some very strong opinion on independence of girls and she genuinely felt for the less fortunate. She had been taking classes for the kids from low income families for a meager sum of 50 Rs per kid per month so that the parents and kids felt responsible for the class.
She had close to 20 kids in her class."Impressive" he thought
Also he had enough citations from her to reinstate the fact that "She definitely had lost few screws in her head. Which girl would bet with a local weightlifting champion on an arm wrestling?" He knew something was amiss when she said she won the contest "Why the hell should a girl learn to disassemble and reassemble a bike? Why is she working in the garage with some Happyji for 300Rs a month? What is she doing in a local fighting club on Saturday evenings?"
Finally he just gave up on finding answers.
Also most days after the family time, Khushi and Saanvika would sit on the library balcony and read. Some days , Khushi would keep her head on Saanvika's lap while reading on the swinging loveseat and promptly fall asleep. Once Arnav looked to balcony and saw Saanvika try to lift up Khushi on her shoulders. Arnav rushed to the library . He walked towards the them and asked Saanvika "Maa, Couldn't you just wake her up?"
"She loves falling asleep feeling that I am singing. I don't want to break the dream she is in" said Saanvika.
Arnav rolled his eyes at his mom, stooped down and lifted Khushi from the swing. She automatically wound her right arm around his back and left arm around his stomach and shifted to cuddle into his side.
He carried her swiftly to her room and deposited her on bed. Khushi left a kiss on his cheek in her sleep.
Saanvika who had followed Arnav saw him blush slightly and whispered trying to hide a chuckle "She thinks its me". Arnav nodded and left.
Arnav made sure every day before bed to check if Khushi was on the swing. If so, he waited and the above episode repeated to a T.
Once when Khushi came to Arnav's room for "status update", as Arnav called it, she found him sitting on his recliner,head thrown back , frowning and rubbing his forehead vigorously.
Khushi asked in concern "Are you ill? Is it a headache?"
Arnav with a deepening frown :"Hmm.."
Khushi replied standing up suddenly "I know the right person to make it vanish"
She came back with Amma. She explained the situation to his mother.
Saanvika took the balm from the nearby medicine cupboard and stood behind the recliner.
Arnav resisted while extending his other hand "Its ok Ma, I will do it"
Saanvika firmly pulled him out of the recliner,made him lie on the bed with his head on her lap.
Khushi encouraged him saying with a beaming smile "You will fall asleep for sure when she does that .So she wants you to lie down"
Saanvika gently massaged his fore head. Arnav closed his eyes. Khushi silently left the scene , leaving the mother-son duo. Khushi later came to find Amma with her hands on his hair and a peacefully sleeping Arnav. She reminded her it is time for bed. Saanvika gave a kiss on his forehead before leaving him. Khushi wanted to dance in joy when she saw the smile on Amma.
Arnav woke up to realize that it felt eons since Ma had held him to sleep.
So every day Khushi would get Amma with her on her status update meeting with Arnav. Amma would insist on having Arnav sit beside her on bed . He had to be forced to lie on her lap and later would fall to sleep while she stroked his hair. As time passed , Arnav would automatically take his place beside his mother as soon as she was seated.
Saanvika cherished those moments with Arnav. She had always known Khushi was her guardian angel.
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