187. OS 9: The Diabetic and the Halwai (Parts 6-7)

Darlings,

I finally published my romantic novel, A HOME FOR MEENAKSHI on a self-publishing site. It is an e-book. You can purchase it and read it at your leisure. Here's the link. Enjoy!

Link to e-book

http://pothi.com/pothi/book/ebook-smita-ramachandran-home-meenakshi

Part 6

Arnav came down for dinner, dressed in a white shirt and a pair of dark slacks. All were in the dining room and the kitchen, chatting and laughing.

Khushi was conspicuous by her absence. 

Anjali was regaling both families with her experiences at the temple and Mami was showing them the trinkets she had bought from shops and wayside vendors.

"Amma, Manno has not left any stock in any shop in Lucknow," Mamaji teased his wife.

"Aap to shutappiya hi karlo ji," Mami retorted.

When the laughter died down, Arnav asked, “Buaji, where is Khushi?”

The jhumka in Mami’s hand fell to the ground. Mama stared at Arnav.

Nani who had been sipping a glass of water, choked.

Anjali stared at her Chotey with an open mouth. Had low sugar brought about a personality change in Arnav?

Akash looked at his brother. Why was bhai asking for Khushiji? Did he want one more pizza?

Buaji looked at poor sick bitwaa for a moment in silence. Why was he asking for Khussi? “Woh...bitwaa, she went to her shop,” Buaji explained. “There is a lot of last-minute cleaning and packing every night, Nandkisore.”

Payal placed a huge dish with potato curry on the table. Steam rose from it, filling the room with the fragrance of spices.

“Titliyya will come now,” Buaji chuckled. “She will fly here for her Jiji’s aloo sabji.”

As if she had been called, Khushi walked in. “Jiji, you made aloo...” Her exclamation remained incomplete as she spied the devil in white looking at her and smirking.

He was still alive? And smirking? Khushi grit her teeth. She should have added some dishwashing liquid too to his tea!

All smiled at Khushi’s entrance. The Raizadas looked at Arnav and Khushi with great interest.

“The boys have gone to their shed to rest, Khussi?” Amma asked.

“Yes,” she replied, glaring at Arnav. Had he drunk the tea? No, he couldn’t have. He wouldn’t be alive now if he had. So he must have thrown it out. But how could she be sure? She couldn’t very well ask him!

Arnav lifted a brow to irritate her further.

All sat down for their meal.

Arnav continued to stare at Khushi, challenging her to ask him about the tea. Khushi bit on her tongue to stop herself.

“Khushi, would you like a cup of tea?” Arnav asked, a smile twisting his lips.

All stared at Arnav with wide eyes.

“Tea? Now?” Amma asked in wonder.

“She drinks tea only in the morning and evening, babua,” Buaji informed him.

Khushi grit her teeth.

Anjali looked at Nani and Mami. All three studied Arnav’s marked attentions to Khushi.

“Err...Madhumatiji,” Nani began. “Are you looking for boys for Payal and Khussi?”

Madhumati, Garima and Sasi sighed.

“What is the use of looking for boys, Nandkisore?” Buaji asked. “Payaliyya won’t leave Khussi.”

“And Khussi won’t leave Satwik Mishtaan Bhandar,” Amma concluded.

“I am thinking of packing Satwik Mishtaan Bhandar in a box and giving it to the girls as dowry,” Sasi teased his daughters. “Then they may agree to marry.”

Payal blushed at her father’s teasing.

Khushi grimaced at the jibe.

“Bhy don’t you marry brothers, Hello Hi Bye Bye?” Mami suggested, her round eyes resting on an intent Arnav and an oblivious Akash who was relishing the paneer pieces in a sabzi.

“And you can start a branch of your shop in Delhi...or any other city you move to after marriage,” Anjali suggested.

All looked at the two girls.

Payal flushed and looked at the poori on her plate.

Khushi was too busy battling Arnav with her eyes to worry about her future.

“Only God knows what is in store for them,” Sasi said.

“Let’s see, Sasiji, if we can find boys for them,” Nani said, looking hopefully at Arnav and Akash.

Khushi thought furiously. How could she take revenge for the veg pijja? This Delhiwalla Diabetic had to be taught a lesson!

Talk of marriage went right over her head.

Part 7

It was midnight.

Arnav sat reading in his comfortable room, the table lamp giving him ample light. He looked at the printed page and saw Khushi’s furious face on it.

He smiled softly.

He heard a footfall outside his door. He quickly extinguished the light, dumped the book and lay back on the recliner, his eyes mere slits.

The door opened slightly. Through it slipped a dark, cloaked figure.

His lips twitched in amusement. Khushi was up to something, he thought.

As he watched, the figure came closer to him. It was Khushi with a dark blanket over her head. Only her face was visible. One hand held a torch.

He tried to hide his smile.

Khushi looked at her sleeping adversary with a strong sense of ill-use. “Hey Devi Maiyya! He is in deep sleep at night too? Who is he, Kumbhkarna’s brother?”

Arnav had to struggle not to laugh.

“Now how can I scare him without waking him up? And how can I wake him up without bursting a bomb under his chair?” Khushi asked herself. “Look at him sleeping. Did he come all the way to Lucknow from Delhi to sleep?”

She bent, placed her hand on his shoulder and shook him lightly.

He remained still.

“Khushi Kumari Gupta, you can’t give up at this last minute. Uthao isse,” she told herself. She bent, caught hold of his shoulder and shook him with all her might.

The comatose-appearing Raizada moved with the speed of a striking serpent. Her torch fell to the floor with a clatter; her blanket dropped to the floor.

She lay on his recliner under him, staring at his eyes that were dancing with unholy glee.

She parted her lips to protest but her words remained unsaid as he moved closer still, crowding her, his arms surrounding her, his hard warmth pressing down on her.

“Hey Devi Maiyya!” Khushi whispered.

Part 8