It had been a week since Khushi had been at Shaanthivan. It seemed she had been there for ever. It was a different matter Saanvika didn't allow her to get up on her own from bed. Once in a day NK and Akash will help their Badi Maa to wheel Khushi from her room (the guest room was now termed her room) to the sitting room. That was the most joyous time at Shaanthivan. Everyone would complete their chores and wait for her by 7:00 pm at the sitting room. Once she is in, they would all ask about her health. Khushi would reply courteously and subtly change the topic and explain her childhood scrapes which would end up with every one roaring with laughter. After all Khushi was a unique piece. Then they would play some games together. By then it is time for dinner. Manohar and Arnav joins them for the dinner. All of them have dinner together with everyone joining in the conversation and laughter except Arnav.
Arnav was not a fool . On the contrary he was a very sharp observer . That is what gave him the edge of knowing and understanding people. He did notice the subtle change in his family members. Previously all of them used to live in their own world with little to contribute in common. Khushi formed that common factor. She had a natural exuberance and innocence which attracted people to her. She had no pretense either to impress nor did she make conscious efforts to win the family. They simply gravitated to her.
His Ma was an entirely different story. She might as well have adopted Khushi.
It was finally time for Khushi to visit the doctor. Arnav watched with a resigned look at the scenes unfolding. His family had a flare for theatrics. They made a show out of her doctor visit. What with the dressing her up, feeding her, making her do pooja, applying tikka and finally loads of tears as if she was leaving the house.
Then it stuck him "Was she? " She had been here long enough Arnav had conveniently forgotten that she could leave. "Not that it mattered to me. I don't think Ma will agree. Ma's interaction with Sashi uncle to get Khushi back would be a scene worth watching."He thought to himself .
Later he had been to school and the thought did cross his mind if she was back. He brushed it aside with little care. Once back home he noticed the house was uncharacteristically silent.He went to his room and from his room gave a discreet glance on the french doors which were protruding on the room at the other end A drawn curtain was all that he could see. Later he came down little early for dinner. "Nothing new,just to see the newspaper" he said himself. He was little surprised to identify the peace encircling him on hearing that laughter . She was back.
Khushi had her leg cast removed but she was restricted from making any quick moves. She had been instructed to visit a physiotherapist until she totally recovered.
Arnav stayed back for few more hours after every one had gone upstairs. On his way he heard sounds coming from library. Just out of curiosity he checked the room . He found NK and Akash learning something seated on the floor while Khushi was reading something from what seemed a curriculum text book seated on a chair with her leg perched up on a low chair.
Khushi looked up to see Arnav but since he didn't acknowledge his presence, Khushi called out "Please do come in".
Arnav walked in while Akash and NK greeted and went back to books with Akash exclaiming "Why isn't that Bhai never seem to study anything and still gets through with brilliant grades?!"
Arnav walked forward to the balcony.He saw Ma seated on the balcony reading something. She looked at him with a very happy smile and patted on the space beside her. He sat but on the opposite side. The act was not missed either by Saanvika or by Khushi. Khushi noticed the smile dim on her Amma's face. She could have punched Arnav right on his jaw though it didn't seem a feasible option now due to his physique compared to her
Arnav left in few minutes with no acknowledgement what so ever to anyone. Khushi really felt bad for both the mother and son. She vouched herself to do something about it. She is Khushi. She simply couldn't stop meddling in other's affairs if she felt she could make them feel better. It didn't matter to Khushi that Arnav's countenance screamed of rudeness and that she could be really hurt if he so intended. As per Khushi, all risk was worth taking if it made her Amma happy. When she loved she loved completely, no holding back,not even her self pride.
Days passed with Khushi attending her physiotherapy session and she was helped by Saanvika to attempt to walk slowly in library balcony.They did the exercise after the dinner when Arnav would be sitting at his balcony listening to music. He never made an attempt to acknowledge he saw them.
Suddenly in a week's time, one day, Arnav noticed that he didn't hear the sound in library nor did he see the mom-khushi duo in the library. He came down early to check the papers the next day. No sound of Khushi. "That is confusing". When he sat down to dinner , he noticed that the table had returned to the previous silent mode. Naniji exclaimed once "Every home should have at least one daughter. They bring life and love to bricks". Mom had smiled sadly to that.
"So does that mean she returned to her house? Good for her!" Arnav thought angrily and left soon after dinner. While sitting down to calm his nerves listening to music, his eyes faltered to the library balcony. He saw no one. After a while he saw his mother sitting on the swinging chair hugging her legs ,with her head placed over it and with a far way sad look on her face. "Did I see her crying? That hurts!! How dare you, Khushi? No one gets away with hurting my mom" thought an angry Arnav. Without a thought he dialed the land line of Khushi's house. There must be a God above because Khushi picked up the phone. If any body else had picked Arnav would have had no clue what to talk.
Khushi said to the receiver "Hello"
Arnav screamed from the other end "How dare you!? How dare you hurt my mother? Hotel samach rakha hai kya mere ghar ko? Aren't you ashamed to have used my mother so and left her to cry. Don't you eve.."
Khushi cut him short "Amma is crying?"
Arnav : "Did you even hear what I said?"
Khushi: "To hell with you, how is my Amma?"
Arnav : "What the!? Find out for yourself"
With that he slam the phone down. "The nerve of the girl"
In another 30 mins, he heard footsteps on the corridor but he ignored it and went to sleep with sad face of his mother in memory.
The next day when he walked out he heard some commotion coming from Khushi's room. "Damn the girl, not Khushi's, guest room"
He went towards the room and knocked. The room was slightly agar hence he opened it to find a frantically running Khushi with her long hair flying around her. She was muttering something akin to "Devi Maiya, raksha karna, Rahul sir late ho jaye. Please help me find my hair band at the earliest"
He then saw his mother rushing past him with food platter in one hand. She tried to pry open Khushi's mouth and stuff a piece of paratha into it . She screamed "Amma! I have a life threatening situation here and you are worried of food. I can't find my hair band"
Manorama mami came rushing holding ten different colors of hair bands. Khushi picked one in black color and gave her a kiss. Somehow miraculously mom had fed her the food and Khushi was flying down the stairs.
Arnav shook his head muttering "Unbelievable" . He saw her being stopped by Nani and pushing her towards mandir for a quick prayer. By the time , mom had been down stairs. She gave a tight hug and kiss to Amma, screamed a good bye to all and was out of the door in a whiff.
Akash and NK stood open mouthed at the stairs . The three ladies sat down ,looked at each other and burst out laughing. "The ecstasy of having a daughter" exclaimed Saanvika while the other two nodded in agreement.
Slowly but unknowingly a schedule fell into place around Khushi in Shaanthivan. Early morning hours till 7:30 am was the school prep time for Khushi with three ladies at her beck and call. Once she has flown off to catch the school bus(Khushi insisted she wanted to go on school bus as it provided the venue to interact with many students), life returned to normal at Shaanthivan. Rest of family had their breakfast in silence after which boys left for school and men left for work. They never stopped to think how come three boys left for school with no commotion but the entire house hold went for a tipsy for one girl to get ready
By evening the ladies waited with doors open for their bitiya to come in. She was dropped home on bicycle either by Ron or NK or Akash as she had been member of too many after school activities. She was learning to sing,paint,play keyboard,ride horse and badminton. She never said any body about the horse riding because she was sure her two overprotective families would bring it to a halt immediately. She had adjusted the timing such that none of her siblings or NK or Akash or Arnav would have their classes coinciding with her's. Smart, isn't she? She wasn't happy of it though. She never kept anything about her from her family. She would tell them in due time, she concluded.
Evenings at Shathivan was a busy affair with Khushi involved in everything. She literally was Saanvika's puppy dog. NK used to joke that Khushi may as well have a belt around her neck with the way she was following Badi maa every where. Once freshened up she would loiter around kitchen helping Amma with preparing dinner, then Saanvika would follow her to Jai's study where they both would sit at a desk with Khushi learning and Saanvika reading magazines. Khushi was a smart student and studious too without being nerd. She completed her studies in an hour or so. Both of them would then go to library at the second floor stopping at every room and calling every one to join them for family time. Khushi called Arnav every day which he would promptly reply with a death glare meaning "Get out!" So he never knew what happened at family time.
But he noticed while reclining near his balcony the silhouette of his mother at the library balcony looking broodingly at the sky . He then saw a figure of a girl tip toe-ing towards her and hugging her from back. His mother's lips broke into an adoring smile. His mother held the hands hugging her waist while Khushi rested her head on crook of his mother's neck. The scene was picture perfect. Arnav , in the fit of the moment, went inside, got his SLR camera and clicked the scene. His first ever picture on Khushi and Ma.
In few weeks' time Arnav noticed that there was a pattern on Khushi's stay. He stumbled upon it by accident. On Sunday morning , he would walk up to a very lively breakfast table alive with jokes and smiles. His insistence for hot food was so famous that HP never bought it before he arrived. But this time , as he seated himself and called for HP, it was Khushi who came running explaining "HP is busy making the paratha. So here is your toast."
Arnav didn't acknowledge her when she kept the toast on the table. She moved on to get parathas for others smiling all the while. Hence unknown to them a system was forged in which as soon as Arnav sat Khushi bought the food on weekends.
But by midweek the house would turn silent again. Khushi won't be there at the breakfast and dinner, no body is seen on library balcony and there are no invitation for the family time. On those days, couple of times he picked up phone at night and said "Hello", the only response he got is "Amma ko phone do." indicating Khushi was calling
Then it dawned on him , Khushi is at Shaanthivan from Sunday to Wednesday morning . Rest of the days she was at her home.
It was a holiday and Abhay was home. So Khushi stayed back to spend some time with her brother. Amma was informed and she had invited Abhay and family for dinner.
Arnav as usual came to Zala mansion to go out with Ron. He was surprised to find that there was a friendly match of football in the locality and Abhay was going to lead the usual home team. Ron went with Abhay requesting Arnav to bring along Khushi
Arnav was literally taken back. "How the hell was he to give her a lift in bicycle?"
Khushi found a lost looking Arnav at the entrance.
She asked "Bhaiyya left?"
Arnav turned about to see a Khushi wearing a blue jeans and a white t-shirt.
Arnav: "Hmm.."
Khushi : "Am I to come with you?"
Arnav :"Hmm.."
Khushi : "But how? "
Arnav glared at her and answered : "That is the bloody thing I am trying to figure out."
Khushi stood thinking for two minute, walked towards his bicycle , gestured with her hands to Arnav to come forward. When she found no response , she shouted "Come here".
Arnav could have murdered her but nevertheless walked towards her trying to find a solution. "Leaving her is not an option , it might be rude to Ron" reasoned Arnav
Arnav stood infront of her.
Khushi exclaimed : "Couldn't you have atleast bought a bicycle with a passenger seat.Sit on the bicycle and hold the right handle. Do not ride"
Arnav: "What the! Why the hell should I do that?"
Khushi: "Just do it, it won't hurt"
Arnav for once did what was told. Khushi moved forward and sat on the top tube connecting the seat and handle. Arnav just lost his sense.
"How am I going to ride this way". He had a point. Arnav's bicycle required him to bend considerably forward to hold the handle. It would be a dangerous way to ride if he concentrated on avoiding touching Khushi.
He knew he didn't have much choice. So they started with Khushi seated on the front top tube and Arnav riding with a single hand. Khushi wasn't making it easy for him.
"The girl couldn't sit straight for a moment. It seems she is contesting for elections by the way she waves at every one", he thought angrily.
When ever he noticed that the traffic was getting crowded, he would bend forward to hold the left handle and Khushi will hold her breath.She was sure that she would die out of asphyxiation. She prayed to her Devi Maiya to let those butterflies in her stomach rest , she will have her lunch soon. She was sure it was because of her never ending hunger she was feeling this restless and butterflies in stomach. Arnav somehow wanted this torture to end. He conveniently forgot the racing heart beat and the sweat breaking on his forehead while his face was so close to her.
"She is after all a child. Don't be a pervert! " Arnav admonished himself
Finally they were at the ground and she rushed forward to the ground whispering "Thank you!"
Arnav found Khushi and Ron talking to Dhruv Singhania, the rival team captain while Dhruv was holding her in a side hug. Arnav was vexed that she seemed comfortable in another guy's arm .
Arnav thought grudgingly: "Doesn't Ron have a problem in Khushi being comfortable with Dhruv?"
Dhruv :"Have you come to cheer for me Gudiya?"
Khushi: "Take a goal and I will cheer, Bhaiya"
That salutation put Arnav's mind at rest
The match had begun and Abhay scored the goal in first 5 minutes. Khushi stood up and whistled her heart out all the while dancing in her unique steps to some known song in her head. Ron and Arnav who were sitting in the front turned to look up. Ron burst out laughing and Dhruv was grinning looking at Khushi. Abhay showed a thumps up to Khushi.
Arnav saw a Khushi surrounded by five or six kids who were of less than 10 years of age. She was whistling and dancing along with them with a popcorn in hand.
Arnav said grinning "Pagal"
He was equally flabbergasted when she repeated the same when Dhruv scored a goal. He stopped trying to understand which team she was on.
Arnav had gone out to city for the rest of the day and on his way back, he got down at Ron's place to give him a CD he had asked. He saw Khushi sitting with Abhay on the floor and trying to catch the channa with her mouth after throwing up it in the air. It seemed Abhay was teaching her. Arnav confirmed his suspicion "She is point blank crazy"
Abhay said with a smile to Arnav "Ron is in bath, do sit Arnav"
Khushi stood up went to kitchen and brought a black coffee for him with very little sugar in it. After all she served him food at Shaanthivan.
She asked Abhay "Bhaiya can you please get me mehendi cone?"
Abhay's expression was worth watching , as if he had seen a ghost but Arnav didn't understand the reason. Abhay tried his best to dissuade Khushi. When Abhay went to attend to his father's call from library, Arnav noticed ,Khushi slowly make way to the phone and dial
He heard Khushi ask "Aunty, Dhruv Baiya hai?". He couldn't hear the response
Khushi: "Bhaiya , can u get me a mehendi cone?"
Khushi: "Thanks Bhaiya"
Arnav was held back by Ron stating that they could all go together as they were having dinner at his house. In another twenty minutes ,the bell rang and a skirt clad dressed up Khushi ran to get the door.
Dhruv's loud voice filled the room. "Gudiya, here it is" said Dhruv , handing out a cone.
Abhay looked at Khushi incredulously and Ron tried to stifle a laugh. Dhruv sat down on a couch with Khushi at his heels .
Dhruv : "Do you have time, Gudiya? Don't you want to go out for dinner?"
Khushi said extending her hand to Dhruv: "I will go a little late. You can drop me later , Dhruv Baiya."
Arnav was astonished to see Dhruv applying mehendi designs on Khushi's palm while she continued to blabber to Dhruv about some Happyji. The scene of an aggressive Dhruv on field flashed on his mind.
Zala family arrived at Shaanthivan by 8:00pm sans Khushi. Arnav knew his family couldn't have enough of her when they looked for Khushi behind them. Khushi was dropped by Dhruv who also joined the dinner. On entering the house Khushi screamed "Amma, look here! look here!" raising both hands full of Mehendi. She hadn't washed it off yet
Saanvika smiled indulgently at Khushi exclaiming that design looked beautiful, steering her subtly to the dining table. Khushi explained that Dhruv applied it. That surprised Saanvika and she looked at slightly blushing Dhruv. She stifled a smile and joined the dining table with rest of family memebers of both families,seating Khushi next to her. She placed food in her plate and start to feed Khushi and herself in the midst of the conversations happening. The gesture was not missed either on Zala family or on Dhruv.
Rathode family didn't blink an eye lid , they had gotten used to the daughter of house taken care royally..
Arnav was not a fool . On the contrary he was a very sharp observer . That is what gave him the edge of knowing and understanding people. He did notice the subtle change in his family members. Previously all of them used to live in their own world with little to contribute in common. Khushi formed that common factor. She had a natural exuberance and innocence which attracted people to her. She had no pretense either to impress nor did she make conscious efforts to win the family. They simply gravitated to her.
His Ma was an entirely different story. She might as well have adopted Khushi.
It was finally time for Khushi to visit the doctor. Arnav watched with a resigned look at the scenes unfolding. His family had a flare for theatrics. They made a show out of her doctor visit. What with the dressing her up, feeding her, making her do pooja, applying tikka and finally loads of tears as if she was leaving the house.
Then it stuck him "Was she? " She had been here long enough Arnav had conveniently forgotten that she could leave. "Not that it mattered to me. I don't think Ma will agree. Ma's interaction with Sashi uncle to get Khushi back would be a scene worth watching."He thought to himself .
Later he had been to school and the thought did cross his mind if she was back. He brushed it aside with little care. Once back home he noticed the house was uncharacteristically silent.He went to his room and from his room gave a discreet glance on the french doors which were protruding on the room at the other end A drawn curtain was all that he could see. Later he came down little early for dinner. "Nothing new,just to see the newspaper" he said himself. He was little surprised to identify the peace encircling him on hearing that laughter . She was back.
Khushi had her leg cast removed but she was restricted from making any quick moves. She had been instructed to visit a physiotherapist until she totally recovered.
Arnav stayed back for few more hours after every one had gone upstairs. On his way he heard sounds coming from library. Just out of curiosity he checked the room . He found NK and Akash learning something seated on the floor while Khushi was reading something from what seemed a curriculum text book seated on a chair with her leg perched up on a low chair.
Khushi looked up to see Arnav but since he didn't acknowledge his presence, Khushi called out "Please do come in".
Arnav walked in while Akash and NK greeted and went back to books with Akash exclaiming "Why isn't that Bhai never seem to study anything and still gets through with brilliant grades?!"
Arnav walked forward to the balcony.He saw Ma seated on the balcony reading something. She looked at him with a very happy smile and patted on the space beside her. He sat but on the opposite side. The act was not missed either by Saanvika or by Khushi. Khushi noticed the smile dim on her Amma's face. She could have punched Arnav right on his jaw though it didn't seem a feasible option now due to his physique compared to her
Arnav left in few minutes with no acknowledgement what so ever to anyone. Khushi really felt bad for both the mother and son. She vouched herself to do something about it. She is Khushi. She simply couldn't stop meddling in other's affairs if she felt she could make them feel better. It didn't matter to Khushi that Arnav's countenance screamed of rudeness and that she could be really hurt if he so intended. As per Khushi, all risk was worth taking if it made her Amma happy. When she loved she loved completely, no holding back,not even her self pride.
Days passed with Khushi attending her physiotherapy session and she was helped by Saanvika to attempt to walk slowly in library balcony.They did the exercise after the dinner when Arnav would be sitting at his balcony listening to music. He never made an attempt to acknowledge he saw them.
Suddenly in a week's time, one day, Arnav noticed that he didn't hear the sound in library nor did he see the mom-khushi duo in the library. He came down early to check the papers the next day. No sound of Khushi. "That is confusing". When he sat down to dinner , he noticed that the table had returned to the previous silent mode. Naniji exclaimed once "Every home should have at least one daughter. They bring life and love to bricks". Mom had smiled sadly to that.
"So does that mean she returned to her house? Good for her!" Arnav thought angrily and left soon after dinner. While sitting down to calm his nerves listening to music, his eyes faltered to the library balcony. He saw no one. After a while he saw his mother sitting on the swinging chair hugging her legs ,with her head placed over it and with a far way sad look on her face. "Did I see her crying? That hurts!! How dare you, Khushi? No one gets away with hurting my mom" thought an angry Arnav. Without a thought he dialed the land line of Khushi's house. There must be a God above because Khushi picked up the phone. If any body else had picked Arnav would have had no clue what to talk.
Khushi said to the receiver "Hello"
Arnav screamed from the other end "How dare you!? How dare you hurt my mother? Hotel samach rakha hai kya mere ghar ko? Aren't you ashamed to have used my mother so and left her to cry. Don't you eve.."
Khushi cut him short "Amma is crying?"
Arnav : "Did you even hear what I said?"
Khushi: "To hell with you, how is my Amma?"
Arnav : "What the!? Find out for yourself"
With that he slam the phone down. "The nerve of the girl"
In another 30 mins, he heard footsteps on the corridor but he ignored it and went to sleep with sad face of his mother in memory.
The next day when he walked out he heard some commotion coming from Khushi's room. "Damn the girl, not Khushi's, guest room"
He went towards the room and knocked. The room was slightly agar hence he opened it to find a frantically running Khushi with her long hair flying around her. She was muttering something akin to "Devi Maiya, raksha karna, Rahul sir late ho jaye. Please help me find my hair band at the earliest"
He then saw his mother rushing past him with food platter in one hand. She tried to pry open Khushi's mouth and stuff a piece of paratha into it . She screamed "Amma! I have a life threatening situation here and you are worried of food. I can't find my hair band"
Manorama mami came rushing holding ten different colors of hair bands. Khushi picked one in black color and gave her a kiss. Somehow miraculously mom had fed her the food and Khushi was flying down the stairs.
Arnav shook his head muttering "Unbelievable" . He saw her being stopped by Nani and pushing her towards mandir for a quick prayer. By the time , mom had been down stairs. She gave a tight hug and kiss to Amma, screamed a good bye to all and was out of the door in a whiff.
Akash and NK stood open mouthed at the stairs . The three ladies sat down ,looked at each other and burst out laughing. "The ecstasy of having a daughter" exclaimed Saanvika while the other two nodded in agreement.
Slowly but unknowingly a schedule fell into place around Khushi in Shaanthivan. Early morning hours till 7:30 am was the school prep time for Khushi with three ladies at her beck and call. Once she has flown off to catch the school bus(Khushi insisted she wanted to go on school bus as it provided the venue to interact with many students), life returned to normal at Shaanthivan. Rest of family had their breakfast in silence after which boys left for school and men left for work. They never stopped to think how come three boys left for school with no commotion but the entire house hold went for a tipsy for one girl to get ready
By evening the ladies waited with doors open for their bitiya to come in. She was dropped home on bicycle either by Ron or NK or Akash as she had been member of too many after school activities. She was learning to sing,paint,play keyboard,ride horse and badminton. She never said any body about the horse riding because she was sure her two overprotective families would bring it to a halt immediately. She had adjusted the timing such that none of her siblings or NK or Akash or Arnav would have their classes coinciding with her's. Smart, isn't she? She wasn't happy of it though. She never kept anything about her from her family. She would tell them in due time, she concluded.
Evenings at Shathivan was a busy affair with Khushi involved in everything. She literally was Saanvika's puppy dog. NK used to joke that Khushi may as well have a belt around her neck with the way she was following Badi maa every where. Once freshened up she would loiter around kitchen helping Amma with preparing dinner, then Saanvika would follow her to Jai's study where they both would sit at a desk with Khushi learning and Saanvika reading magazines. Khushi was a smart student and studious too without being nerd. She completed her studies in an hour or so. Both of them would then go to library at the second floor stopping at every room and calling every one to join them for family time. Khushi called Arnav every day which he would promptly reply with a death glare meaning "Get out!" So he never knew what happened at family time.
But he noticed while reclining near his balcony the silhouette of his mother at the library balcony looking broodingly at the sky . He then saw a figure of a girl tip toe-ing towards her and hugging her from back. His mother's lips broke into an adoring smile. His mother held the hands hugging her waist while Khushi rested her head on crook of his mother's neck. The scene was picture perfect. Arnav , in the fit of the moment, went inside, got his SLR camera and clicked the scene. His first ever picture on Khushi and Ma.
In few weeks' time Arnav noticed that there was a pattern on Khushi's stay. He stumbled upon it by accident. On Sunday morning , he would walk up to a very lively breakfast table alive with jokes and smiles. His insistence for hot food was so famous that HP never bought it before he arrived. But this time , as he seated himself and called for HP, it was Khushi who came running explaining "HP is busy making the paratha. So here is your toast."
Arnav didn't acknowledge her when she kept the toast on the table. She moved on to get parathas for others smiling all the while. Hence unknown to them a system was forged in which as soon as Arnav sat Khushi bought the food on weekends.
But by midweek the house would turn silent again. Khushi won't be there at the breakfast and dinner, no body is seen on library balcony and there are no invitation for the family time. On those days, couple of times he picked up phone at night and said "Hello", the only response he got is "Amma ko phone do." indicating Khushi was calling
Then it dawned on him , Khushi is at Shaanthivan from Sunday to Wednesday morning . Rest of the days she was at her home.
It was a holiday and Abhay was home. So Khushi stayed back to spend some time with her brother. Amma was informed and she had invited Abhay and family for dinner.
Arnav as usual came to Zala mansion to go out with Ron. He was surprised to find that there was a friendly match of football in the locality and Abhay was going to lead the usual home team. Ron went with Abhay requesting Arnav to bring along Khushi
Arnav was literally taken back. "How the hell was he to give her a lift in bicycle?"
Khushi found a lost looking Arnav at the entrance.
She asked "Bhaiyya left?"
Arnav turned about to see a Khushi wearing a blue jeans and a white t-shirt.
Arnav: "Hmm.."
Khushi : "Am I to come with you?"
Arnav :"Hmm.."
Khushi : "But how? "
Arnav glared at her and answered : "That is the bloody thing I am trying to figure out."
Khushi stood thinking for two minute, walked towards his bicycle , gestured with her hands to Arnav to come forward. When she found no response , she shouted "Come here".
Arnav could have murdered her but nevertheless walked towards her trying to find a solution. "Leaving her is not an option , it might be rude to Ron" reasoned Arnav
Arnav stood infront of her.
Khushi exclaimed : "Couldn't you have atleast bought a bicycle with a passenger seat.Sit on the bicycle and hold the right handle. Do not ride"
Arnav: "What the! Why the hell should I do that?"
Khushi: "Just do it, it won't hurt"
Arnav for once did what was told. Khushi moved forward and sat on the top tube connecting the seat and handle. Arnav just lost his sense.
"How am I going to ride this way". He had a point. Arnav's bicycle required him to bend considerably forward to hold the handle. It would be a dangerous way to ride if he concentrated on avoiding touching Khushi.
He knew he didn't have much choice. So they started with Khushi seated on the front top tube and Arnav riding with a single hand. Khushi wasn't making it easy for him.
"The girl couldn't sit straight for a moment. It seems she is contesting for elections by the way she waves at every one", he thought angrily.
When ever he noticed that the traffic was getting crowded, he would bend forward to hold the left handle and Khushi will hold her breath.She was sure that she would die out of asphyxiation. She prayed to her Devi Maiya to let those butterflies in her stomach rest , she will have her lunch soon. She was sure it was because of her never ending hunger she was feeling this restless and butterflies in stomach. Arnav somehow wanted this torture to end. He conveniently forgot the racing heart beat and the sweat breaking on his forehead while his face was so close to her.
"She is after all a child. Don't be a pervert! " Arnav admonished himself
Finally they were at the ground and she rushed forward to the ground whispering "Thank you!"
Arnav found Khushi and Ron talking to Dhruv Singhania, the rival team captain while Dhruv was holding her in a side hug. Arnav was vexed that she seemed comfortable in another guy's arm .
Arnav thought grudgingly: "Doesn't Ron have a problem in Khushi being comfortable with Dhruv?"
Dhruv :"Have you come to cheer for me Gudiya?"
Khushi: "Take a goal and I will cheer, Bhaiya"
That salutation put Arnav's mind at rest
The match had begun and Abhay scored the goal in first 5 minutes. Khushi stood up and whistled her heart out all the while dancing in her unique steps to some known song in her head. Ron and Arnav who were sitting in the front turned to look up. Ron burst out laughing and Dhruv was grinning looking at Khushi. Abhay showed a thumps up to Khushi.
Arnav saw a Khushi surrounded by five or six kids who were of less than 10 years of age. She was whistling and dancing along with them with a popcorn in hand.
Arnav said grinning "Pagal"
He was equally flabbergasted when she repeated the same when Dhruv scored a goal. He stopped trying to understand which team she was on.
Arnav had gone out to city for the rest of the day and on his way back, he got down at Ron's place to give him a CD he had asked. He saw Khushi sitting with Abhay on the floor and trying to catch the channa with her mouth after throwing up it in the air. It seemed Abhay was teaching her. Arnav confirmed his suspicion "She is point blank crazy"
Abhay said with a smile to Arnav "Ron is in bath, do sit Arnav"
Khushi stood up went to kitchen and brought a black coffee for him with very little sugar in it. After all she served him food at Shaanthivan.
She asked Abhay "Bhaiya can you please get me mehendi cone?"
Abhay's expression was worth watching , as if he had seen a ghost but Arnav didn't understand the reason. Abhay tried his best to dissuade Khushi. When Abhay went to attend to his father's call from library, Arnav noticed ,Khushi slowly make way to the phone and dial
He heard Khushi ask "Aunty, Dhruv Baiya hai?". He couldn't hear the response
Khushi: "Bhaiya , can u get me a mehendi cone?"
Khushi: "Thanks Bhaiya"
Arnav was held back by Ron stating that they could all go together as they were having dinner at his house. In another twenty minutes ,the bell rang and a skirt clad dressed up Khushi ran to get the door.
Dhruv's loud voice filled the room. "Gudiya, here it is" said Dhruv , handing out a cone.
Abhay looked at Khushi incredulously and Ron tried to stifle a laugh. Dhruv sat down on a couch with Khushi at his heels .
Dhruv : "Do you have time, Gudiya? Don't you want to go out for dinner?"
Khushi said extending her hand to Dhruv: "I will go a little late. You can drop me later , Dhruv Baiya."
Arnav was astonished to see Dhruv applying mehendi designs on Khushi's palm while she continued to blabber to Dhruv about some Happyji. The scene of an aggressive Dhruv on field flashed on his mind.
Zala family arrived at Shaanthivan by 8:00pm sans Khushi. Arnav knew his family couldn't have enough of her when they looked for Khushi behind them. Khushi was dropped by Dhruv who also joined the dinner. On entering the house Khushi screamed "Amma, look here! look here!" raising both hands full of Mehendi. She hadn't washed it off yet
Saanvika smiled indulgently at Khushi exclaiming that design looked beautiful, steering her subtly to the dining table. Khushi explained that Dhruv applied it. That surprised Saanvika and she looked at slightly blushing Dhruv. She stifled a smile and joined the dining table with rest of family memebers of both families,seating Khushi next to her. She placed food in her plate and start to feed Khushi and herself in the midst of the conversations happening. The gesture was not missed either on Zala family or on Dhruv.
Rathode family didn't blink an eye lid , they had gotten used to the daughter of house taken care royally..
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