244. OS 13. Laad Governor and Afghan Jalebi (Part 8)

HAPPY DIWALI!

Link to my new short story: Taking Care of You


“I thought I was dreaming when I first saw you," he said.

 “How did you know it was me?” she asked. “I could have been anybody. A thief even.”

He smiled wearily. “I don’t know many thieves who would look at me with anxious eyes and then cry because I was sick,” he mumbled.

Is it possible for love to bloom, sight unseen? Juhi and Abhay are strangers who know each other better than they know themselves. One night changes the equation and the even tenor of their lives and puts all their doubts and fears to rest.

http://pothi.com/pothi/book/ebook-smita-ramachandran-taking-care-you

Link to my first e-novel; A Home for Meenakshi

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

"I love the way you love, Meenu," he whispered, his eyes on hers. "Such loyalty, such passion..."

Meenakshi Sharma, an orphan, lives in Varanasi with her uncle, a chronic bachelor who wants her to become a professional musician. She unwillingly relocates to Delhi to study under a renowned musician for eight months. Staying for rent in the outhouse of the Agrawals, she meets Aditya Agrawal, an attractive young man brooding over the memories of his horrendous past. Pulled between her uncle's expectations of her and Aditya's love for her, Meenakshi struggles with her feelings. How can she disappoint her uncle who had devoted his entire life to her upbringing? How can she pretend to be blind to Aditya's feelings for her? A romance that moves between the alleys of the holy city of Varanasi and the modern city of Delhi.

A blog for my VMs:

http://smitarsvms.blogspot.in/

Dedicated to Supriya Sahasrabuddhe (Sups/ aniyathi). She wanted Mami and Payal to plot to bring A-K together. So here goes,

Part 8

Into this scene came Anamika, her white maternity top covering her baby bulge.

“ASR? You here?” she asked bluntly. “You could have knocked me down with a feather when Koel told me you were gracing us with your presence today. Kya hua?”

“Err...nothing,” he muttered, trying to keep his face expressionless. “Meet my family, Anamika,” he invited. “This is my nani, Devyani Raizada, my mami, Manorama Raizada, my sister, Anjali and cousin NK.”

Anamika greeted them with folded hands.

“This is Payal, Akash’s wife,” ASR introduced her.

“I am very glad to meet you,” Anamika said. “I heard that Akash had gotten married.”

“This is Khushi, Payal’s sister,” ASR nodded towards Khushi.

Anamika greeted her and looked her up and down with the eyes of a designer. Then she turned to ASR to see his molten eyes on Khushi’s averted face and lissome body.

Anamika’s eyes widened. Aisa kya? she thought with glee. She invited, “ASR, what do you think about this lehenga for Khushi? Any improvements?”

Khushi grit her teeth.

Payal went in to change.

NK chewed gum.

 The rest of them watched the scene unfolding before their eyes with bated breath.

ASR strode towards Khushi.

“The blouse needs to be tucked under her bust to emphasise it,” he muttered, his hands moving automatically towards Khushi’s chest.

Khushi stepped back, her face flushed. What was this rude boy doing?

“You are right,” Anamika said. “Anything else?”

“The neckline. A sweetheart might be more attractive. The skirt can be streamlined to emphasize her fuller figure. Fitted at the top and flaring at the bottom. That silhouette will suit her more,” ASR declared.

“Sleeves?” Anamika asked.

“Cap,” he replied. He quickly took his notepad out of his pocket and sketched the lehenga he wanted Khushi to wear.

“Yes,” Anamika said. She summoned Khushi’s attendant and showed her the sketch. “Tara, get Khushiji a sweetheart neckline lehenga, tighter skirt, cap-sleeve choli, please. Bring it to my office.”

“Yes, ma’m,” Tara replied as she led Khushi away.

Anamika turned to look at ASR. His eyes were on Khushi’s bare back.

Her eyes twinkled. What a story it would be to tell Ganesh! She decided to tease the great ASR with an impenetrable heart surrounded by a stone wall.

“Congrats, ASR,” she said.

He looked at her, startled.

“On your engagement. Are you keeping it a secret from the press?” she asked.

“What the!” he exclaimed.

“Secret from us too, saasumma,” mami whispered.

“You are engaged to Khushiji, aren’t you?” Anamika asked, trying for a very innocent look. She even fluttered her eye lashes.

He was speechless with shock and something akin to a strange, unsettling happiness at being known as Khushi’s fiance.

His family waited breathlessly for his reply.

“Err—no,” he mumbled.

Many faces fell.

Anamika didn’t bother to hide her smile even as she apologised. “Sorry, ASR. You and Khushiji look so good together that I misunderstood,” she said softly, trying hard to look sincere.

ASR nodded.

“Waise, if you decide to marry Khushiji, let me know. I would love to design your wedding sherwani and lehenga,” Anamika offered, her eyes twinkling.

The Raizadas expected an ASRish declaration of his anti-marriage views, but ASR just nodded.

Mami looked at Anjali and nani, her eyes wide.

“I—I need to get back to the office,” he told his family as though they had summoned him there.

Nani, Anjali and mami nodded slowly, their saucer-like eyes on his face.

He turned to leave.

“ASR, can I see you for a moment in my office?” Anamika asked, the smile still in her eyes.

He nodded. They left.

                              ***

Khushi tore the lehenga off her body, heat emanating from her body in waves. He and his sweetheart neckline! She would cap him! Coming to tuck the cloth under her breasts! How dare he! That too after insulting her thoroughly in Lucknow and then in Delhi!

If only she could leave Delhi now, she thought. Be back home where all loved her, wanted her, needed her, accepted her warts and all....

Tara brought her a red-maroon lehenga.

Khushi almost fell down in shock. It was covered with elaborate silver and stone work.

It would cost the earth.

She opened her mouth to refuse it, but Tara said firmly, “Anamika ma’m saw it and wants you to try it out.”

Khushi spared a look at the ceiling of the changing room in search of Devi Maiyya who was conspicuous by her absence.

She stood still, letting Tara tie the two doris of her choli at her back. Then the assistant held the lehenga open for her to step in. She pulled it up and fastened it around her waist. She arranged the gorgeous, embellished dupatta over Khushi’s shoulder.

“Please cover my waist,” Khushi requested.

“Are you sure?” Tara asked.

“Ji,” Khushi replied. It was better to be thought a prude than a fast gold digger by one Laad Governor.

Tara quickly slipped matching earrings on her ears, a quaint maang tikka, elaborate necklace and matching bangles on her body.

Khushi blinked. She looked like someone else.

“Let’s show them,” Tara suggested.

Khushi could only nod.

Slowly she walked out to join the Raizadas. Where was that Laad Governor? Had he run away?

The ladies gasped.

NK clutched his heart and pretended to swoon. 

“Khushiji, you are so aafreen, aafreen (alluring),” he sang like Himmesh Reshamiya. He looked at the ladies of his family. “Why are you silent, maasi? Isn’t she a dil machine, as sacred as a bua (aunt)?”

Khushi burst out laughing. Payal who had emerged from the changing room a few minutes back, laughed with her.

Mami hit her head with her hand. “NK bitwaa, dil nasheen (one dwelling in the heart). It is dua (prayer), not bua. This boy will kills me with his Hindi-Urdu, hello hi bye bye!”

“Just as you have been killing us with your English, Manorama,” nani said under her breath.

“Saasumma,” mami protested.

Anjali said, “Khushiji, you have to take this. It looks as though the lehenga has been poured on you.”

“No, Anjaliji,” Khushi said. It would cost an arm and a leg and she was very fond of her limbs.

“Bhy?” mami asked. “Bhy aren’t you taking it?”

“Yes, Khushi,” Payal said. “Why can’t you take it?”

“How much does it cost?” Khushi asked Tara bluntly.

“Only two lakhs,” Tara said with a smile.

Khushi staggered under the weight of the price. By the way, how many zeros did two lakhs have? she wondered.

Anamika entered the room.

“Take it, Khushiji,” Anjali insisted. “It is worth it.”

“Yes, bitiya,” said nani.

“No, Anjaliji, naniji. I don’t want so expensive a dress,” Khushi said.

Anamika said softly, “Khushiji, I am sorry. You have to take it.”

“Ji?” Khushi’s voice was a squeak.

“ASR saw it and loved it. He bought it for you,” Anamika said, her eyes watching Khushi’s reaction closely.

Khushi looked stunned, dazed, knocked for a six. That Shaitan had spent two lakhs buying a dress for her? That too a dress that fit his specifications? Why? Was he trying to apologise to her? Or was he throwing his money at her to show her that he could?

“Arnavji bought it for Khushi?” Payal asked, with wonder in her eyes.

Nani quickly sat down.

Mami took the help of a mannequin to stand straight.

“Ab ASR can’t wear this dress. I don’t think he will fit into it and his business associates may have something to say if he attends a business meeting in it. Isliye aap ko hi pehnna hoga,” Anamika said with a slight smile.

“Arnav bitwaa paid for it? Hamre Arnav bitwaa?” mami asked.

“Yes, your Arnav bitwaa,” Anamika said, trying to control her laughter.

“Saasumma, bhat did I say about Arnav bitwaa and Khussi?” mami asked nani softly. “The whole world knojjs how great Manorama Baand ijj. Only you have no izzat for me.”

Nani nodded, too happy to speak.

“Yes, Khushiji will wear it,” Anjali declared, blinking back her glad tears. Chotey was changing and she was going to speed up the process. “Won’t you, Khushiji?”

Khushi was stuck. “He Devi Maiyya,” she whispered.

Gals, just wanted to tell you something. Please don't use abusive language in the comments. You can disagree or agree with the storyline, like it or dislike it, criticise it or praise it, read it or condemn it to the dustbin. I don't mind. But kindly avoid using foul language. This is a place for friends, for fun, a place to escape to when real life gets difficult. Let's keep it clean.

Rash's Interpretation:

Part 8

The entry of Anamika while he was there was a shot in ASR’s arm… She pulled him out of a sticky situation when he would have fumbled to explain his presence if probed further… Her hawk like eyes that notes details noted his absorption in Khushi… Anamika realized that Arnav needed some help to acknowledge… for acknowledgement is essential to fueling passion making people feel valid and valuable… and invited him to improvise the lehenga Khushi was wearing to his liking… Her idea of appreciation had been…. If you truly appreciate someone don’t just say it… show it… His description had a replica in her repertoire… and she made Khushi try it on… Meanwhile she took him to her office away from his family…

Though Khushi was a silent spectator, she was not glad to be the recipient of Arnav’s attention… She, out of courtesy towards his family who also happen to be her sister’s in-laws stifled her expression… Him designing an outfit for her was unacceptable after his outrageous behavior at Lucknow first and repeated at Delhi… She felt even her friend Devi Maiyya was absconding when she needed her… She wished to be back in Lucknow where she was loved and held in esteem and accepted with her warts and all… The lehenga in red-maroon oozed class… It looked  gorgeous with its silver and stone work displaying the price range it fell under… Under the hands of Anamika’s assistants attending her she was transformed into a belle whom she herself could not recognize! She looked like a dream vision making the other’s catch their breath… At Anjali’s compliment that it looked like the dress was made to order for her did not sway her… She politely negated the offer and at Payal’s insistence to answer why? her query to Tara got to know the staggering price… Though both Anjali and Nani insisted she was adamant but Anamika’s bombshell that it has already been purchased for Khushi and was footed by ASR had all stunned…  It was revelry time for Manorama Band, Nani and Anjali… They realized Manorama had been spot on in her deductions…  Their Arnav Bitwa who was averse to the institution of marriage was not averse to it anymore and he didn’t mind if his name was linked with Khushi’s as they had seen it when Anamika implied…

Khushi was stuck… She neither wanted to hurt the feelings of Raizadas’ by rejecting the gift nor wanted to accept anything from Arnav Singh Raizada… If your head tells you one thing and your heart another, before you do anything decide first whether you have a better head or a better heart…It is a constant oscillation between the sharp horns of dilemma… But, sometimes the hardest things and the right things are the same… Right now Khushi has a choice… A single choice, whatever that choice may be, she has to live with the consequence it brings. That’s all it boils down to… A Choice…  That choice when she has made, will let her know that she has taken the right decision… By picking one though the hardest her heart will be at peace… For no relationship is ever worth sacrificing your dignity or self respect…

Good update Smita…

To Smita and all the readers…

May this Deepawali light up new dreams, fresh hopes, undiscovered avenues, everything bright and beautiful… and fill your days with pleasure, surprises and beautiful moments…  

….HAPPY DEEPAWALI….