52. His Smiling Girl (Parts 31-39)


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Part 31


Arnav set the pot aside, and looked at Khushi. She was walking to and fro in the garden, a book held open in her hands, learning something, muttering to herself. Her serious face made him want to laugh. He bent his head and plunged his hands into the potting mixture.

Six months. It had been six months since they had married. And each day had been special. Special because of her. 

There was more laughter in his house now. Nani was always smiling. Di and Mami loved the company of Khushi and Payal. Akash too seemed content. Mamaji never lost a chance to tease the two new bahuriyaas. NK, as usual, was always busy. He spent all his time calling Mili, texting her, sending her gifts, writing love letters to her... Any free moment he got, he could be found in the kitchen or near Devi Maiyya, having fun with his bhabis who were cooking up a storm or preparing for aarti.

He looked at her. In the leaf green anarkali, she looked as though she belonged in his garden. 

As he watched, he saw her sniffing at one of the red roses he had grown for her because she loved them so, and then kissing its velvety petals. 

Arnav swallowed. Her love was all-encompassing. No one could escape it. Not he, his family, or his plants. He saw her lean against the tree that he had planted ten years back when he had built RM. With her soft cheek against its smooth bark, and an arm around the trunk, she stood with her eyes shut, trying to memorise some information she needed for her exams.

Khushi felt Arnavji's eyes on her, and quickly looked at him. He was watching her with a strange look in his eyes, one of tenderness, love, & amusement. She smiled at him, her heart in her eyes, feeling all her worries evaporate in the warmth of his love. She set the book aside, and strode up to him, throwing her arms around his shoulders, kissing him on his neck. Arnav lifted his arms to hug her, but stopped halfway through. His hands were muddy.

"Khushi, I am all dirty. My hands... The sweat..."

She tightened her arms around him, and licked his neck, loving the salty taste.

Arnav swallowed hard.





Anjali wanted to book tickets for their honeymoon, and asked both couples where they wanted to go.

Akash looked at a blushing Payal, and stammered, "Mauritius, Di. If Bhai does not mind..."

All looked at Arnav. He looked at Khushi, and then said, "Di, book tickets for Akash & Payal. We will go elsewhere. And maybe only for a couple of days. I don't want Khushi to miss too many of her classes."

Later that night, Arnav asked Khushi, "Where do you want to go for a honeymoon, Khushi? Some place that we can visit & return in a weekend?"

Khushi curled into him, breathing in the musky, masculine fragrance of his hot, silky skin.

"Can we go to your farmhouse?", she asked softly.

Arnav looked at her, astonished.

"I want to see the tree that you, Di, & Amma planted. And your garden."

Arnav kissed her sweet, passion-drenched lips. He wished he could absorb her essence, her goodness that knew only to give joy, not take it...



"Arnavji, it is so huge!" She had her arms around the trunk of the tree that he, Di, & his Mama had planted in his childhood.

Arnav smiled to see her joy.

She stood looking around her. The trees, the shrubs, the flowering creepers, the blooming roses! She drew a deep breath of pleasure.

"Arnavji, please promise me that when we have children, we will bring them here during the weekends."

Arnav looked at her, his mouth slightly open.


She spread her arms wide, and the wind ruffled the pleats of her pink and green sari and played with the pallu. 

"Let our children run among these plants, and rest under Amma's tree. They will get to meet their grandmother, and Amma will be able to see them laughing and playing."

Arnav swallowed his tears, his eyes taking on a reddish tinge.

Khushi ran down the steps nimbly, and standing a step above him, hugged him, holding his head against her heart.

"And please teach them to grow plants. Just as Amma taught you. Then they will know and understand their father and their grandmother better."



"Khushi, where are you?"
"I am waiting for the bus, Arnavji. At the bus stop near our college."
"Khushi! Why didn't you ring me up? I would have come to get you."
"Arnavji, you are in your office, working. Why should I disturb you? I will get a bus."
"In this rain? Khushi, why didn't you call home and ask Mohan or NK to bring one of the cars to the college?"
"It is OK, Arnavji... Arnavji, I am cutting the call. I can see the bus."
"Khushi! Wait there, Khushi. I will come now to..."
"No, Arnavji, Please don't leave the office. You will get wet. I will go home by myself."


Arnav called her again after a while, giving her just enough time to get home.
"Khushi?"
He was answered by a loud sneeze.
Arnav picked up his laptop, pushed it into its bag, and walked out of his office.


She was curled up in bed, drinking some nasty concoction that Nani had made for her. He was sure that it would work. It looked & smelt capable of scaring away worse things than cold germs. She smiled when she saw him.


"Khushi! The next time you need help, CALL. Got it? Call me."
She hesitated.
"Promise me, Khushi.", He was serious.
"I don't want to disturb you, Arnavji."
"You are not a disturbance to me, Khushi."
"Arnavji", she tried to explain. "You have such a well-ordered life. I don't want to mess it up like mine. Make it chaotic."
"Khushi, after marriage, you have adjusted to my schedule, haven't you?"
"Ji."
"So it is only natural that I make time for you and things that are important to you. Got it?"

She nodded hesitantly. She parted her lips to speak and then closed them. Then she said, "I... I don't want you to regret marrying me, Arnavji."

He pulled her into his arms, and whispered into her hair, "I will never regret marrying you, Khushi. It is the best thing I ever did."

"Really?", she looked into his eyes to read the truth there.

"Really. You are the lottery I won, Khushi.", he whispered in her ear.



Part 32

Arnav and Akash walked in through the door opened by a smiling Hari Prakash to come to a sudden stop. They could hear loud music and laughter. Arnav and Akash looked at each other, confused. Had they forgotten? Was it some festival or party? But Di hadn't mentioned it in the morning. Nor had she phoned them in the office and nagged them to get home on time.
"HP, what the hell is happening here?" Arnav already had a headache, and the last thing he wanted to do was meet and greet a thousand ladies.
"A party, Arnav Bhaiyya.", HP grinned.
"Party?", Akash rubbed the back of his aching neck.
"Khushi Bhabi got her results, Bhaiyya. She has excellent marks. So we are all celebrating it." HP went away, smiling.
Arnav and Akash walked slowly into the living room. Arnav checked his messages on the way.
Call me, Arnavji! I have the most fabulous news! Pls call me, Arnavji! Arnavji, call me, pls.
There were too many of them. And missed calls.
Arnav closed his eyes. He normally kept in touch with her all day, calling her a hundred times just to hear her voice and feel her smile. But she never called him if she could help it. Because she knew how busy he was. And today had been the pits. He had been stuck in meetings all day, one after the other, his lunch a sandwich eaten while checking data...
He sighed.
He could guess what had happened. Khushi must have come home thrilled, wanting to share the news with him. Overcoming her natural distaste of disturbing him at work, she must have tried his phone. And messaged him without getting a reply. Seeing her unhappy, all the ladies must have decided to cheer her up and make up for his silence and neglect.
Arnav & Akash stopped short.
NK was wearing a yellow dhoti over his trousers, and had a peacock feather stuck in the band tied around his forehead. He was waving a flute and jumping around, pretending to be Lord Krishna.
Panghat pe aake saiyyan marode baiyaan
And everybody crazy on Radha.
Mamaji, Babuji, Amma, & Buaji were laughing at the sight of Nani, Mami, Anjali, Payal, & Khushi dressed in rich clothes, dancing and circling NK who was just loving it.

Chhedde hai humka daiyaan bairi Kanhaiya
NK pulled Payal's hair gently.

And everybody crazy on Radha
Payal tweaked his ear, smiling.

Hoga woh lakhon dil ka chor
Humka toh laage woh
Hua hai aise baawla jo kehta jaaye:


NK sang loudly,
O Radha teri thumri (Chunri)
O Radha tera Jhalla
O Radha teri natkhat nagariya (najariya)
NK pretended to be walking about with a pot of water on his head, and sang,

O Radha tera jhumka
O Radha tera thumka
O peechhe peechhe saari gagariya (nagariya)

Khushi felt her Arnavji's eyes on her, and stopped suddenly in the middle of her dance. Mami who had been dancing behind her, knocked into her, and both toppled to the floor. Arnav & Akash rushed to help them. Arnav helped Khushi up, and before he could ask her if she was OK, she informed him about her performance in the exams, smiling widely. Arnav hugged her close, and whispered in her ear.
"I am sorry, Khushi."
She looked in to his eyes, genuinely perplexed.
"I couldn't answer your calls and messages...I.."
"It doesn't matter, Arnavji. You were busy, weren't you? I am sorry for bugging you. It is just that I wanted to tell you first. I was upset then, but I am OK now." She hugged him thoroughly.
"I am so proud of you, Khushi. So proud!", he whispered.
Khushi beamed.
"Will you dance with us?", she asked hopefully. But before he could answer in the affirmative, she said, "Arnavji, you have a headache, don't you?"
"Khushi!"
"Arnavji, why don't you change your clothes? I will get you a pill and a cup of hot tea. Then you can rest."



Arnav opened the car door, and held his hand out for Khushi. She placed her dainty little hand in his, and alighted.

She looked stunning in a white sari and diamonds, her hair unbound, her lips glossy. He wished they could go back home, but... He placed his hand at her lower back, and gently led her into the posh hotel where the party was to be held.

She looked around. Lots of lights, uniformed wait staff circling the floor with drinks, women in short and non-existent clothes, made-up to kill, their jewels flashing fire, air-kissing each other..., shrill laughter, muted music, the men in black coats, all looking the same... She tightened her hold on Arnavji's hand. Arnav looked at her.

"Kya hua, Khushi?"

"Nothing, Arnavji. I was just thinking that it is easy to get lost here. So many people..."

"I will never lose you, Khushi.", he promised, his eyes intent on her pale face.

True to his promise, he held on to her hand, introducing her to every associate who came to talk to him. Even when he was forced to discuss business, he made sure that she was by his side. Every now and then, he pressed her fingers, ran a light finger across the sensitive skin of her palm, sending her a silent message that he was with her, that she alone was in his mind, that he wished they were alone, that he didn't have to share her with others...

Mr. Singhania offered her a drink. Khushi smiled as she refused it. Slightly less than sober and wishing the whole world to join him in his lack of sobriety, Mr. Singhania tried to press the drink on her.

Arnav smoothly blocked his way to Khushi, and said clearly but softly, "My wife does not drink."

Mr. Singhania looked at them with owlish eyes, smiled in a silly way, and left them alone in his search for more congenial companions.


"You are ASR, aren't you?", came a slightly slurred question. Only a purist would call the tall, thin, well-groomed, stylishly dressed lady in her 30s drunk.

"Yes." His voice was forbidding. Had the lady been in her senses, she would have beat a hasty retreat, but being slightly under the influence, she was braver than normal.

Khushi looked astonished at Arnav. She had never heard him speak in such a cutting tone.

"The most eligible bachelor in Delhi!", the lady tried to purr.

"I am married. This is my wife, Khushi."

The woman squinted at Khushi. All the rich men were either bald or graying. The rare rich young ones were already taken or gay! Her lips twisted in a grimace. And the wife was young! And pretty! Damn! And double damn!

She looked Khushi up and down. What did she have that other women didn't? Many had tried to trap the great ASR, but he had never fallen for anyone's tricks.

"Your wife?", she injected scorn into the words.

"My wife." The words held immense pride and possessiveness. "Now if you will excuse us...".

Arnav stayed with Khushi all throughout the evening, sitting with her while a few models displayed the latest designs, sharing dinner with her, feeding her morsels from his plate, filching what he liked from hers, chuckling at her impressions of the clothes displayed by the models...He enjoyed the evening. She was like a breath of fresh air in a stuffy room.

Later that night, he enjoyed freeing her from the diamonds and her white sari. The short choli did not put up any resistance as he untied the dori, unhooked it, and threw it away. She attacked his clothes with gusto, flinging them away to run her hands over his bare chest and back, caressing the rippling muscles, shuddering with desire.

A long time later, lying with his head against her heart, Arnav murmured, "I am so glad that you are my wife, Khushi."

"Acha? Then why did that Auntyji seem surprised that I was your wife?" 

Arnav choked back a smile.

"Err..., the Auntyji in question was surprised that such a young, sweet girl was married to such a serious businessman who doesn't know how to have fun."

She burst out laughing. "She doesn't know you, Arnavji! If only she could see us now!"

Arnav laughed.

She smiled, and dropped a series of kisses on his hair, silent, content.

Part 33


Nani, Anjali, and Mami celebrated Diwali with great fervour each year, but this year, Diwali was special. It was the first Diwali of Payal & Khushi as Raizada bahus, and the Guptas and the Raizadas were determined to make it a memorable occasion.

The lights, the invited guests, their laughter, all faded to nothing as Arnav watched his wife lighting diyas all around the house. 

She was wearing a red sari with a thick gold border, the crimson colour and the silk material making her look more than usually tempting to him. And he was wearing the golden kurta that she had gifted him.

He moved closer to assist her. She smiled at him, her eyes shining brighter than the diyas.

In silence, they lit lamp after lamp till they were done. Then she went to check on the food to be served while he had to greet acquaintances and the random people that Mami & Di insisted on introducing him to.

Khushi was at the other end of the hall, instructing HP about something to be done. NK joined them and said something very seriously which made Khushi and HP laugh. Arnav closed his eyes for a moment. How he loved to hear her laugh!

He approached her softly.

"Khushi, come up to our room now.", he whispered in her ear, taking the chance to nip the lobe between his gentle teeth.
Khushi jumped, almost dropping the tray of flowers she held. He steadied her, his eyes laughing silently at her.


"Arnavji!", she called as she came into their room. It was dimly lit.
"Khushi, come in and close the door."
She locked the door, and came into the room.
"Khushi, thank you for the kurta."
"You look so good in it, Arnavji! You know, you should always wear kurtas.", she smiled mischievously.
"To the office too?"
"Haan. Then it will be easier for you to do business, Arnavji. Your competitors will be so busy looking at you to worry about terms and conditions."
Arnav chuckled.
"What did the others give you, Khushi?"
"Di gave me this sari. Nani gave me this pair of bangles. Mami gave me an imported make-up set. Mamaji gave me the membership to a library near our college and lots of books. Nanheji gave me a bracelet. Jiju gave me a cheque. Jiji gave me a ring. Amma & Babuji gave me this necklace. Buaji gave me a bottle of chavanprash to keep my energy up."
"Energy up for what?", he asked softly, a small smile playing on his lips.
She frowned cutely. "I don't know, Arnavji. When I asked her, she laughed. And Amma, Naniji, & Mami giggled with her. When I asked her again, she said that it would do married girls a lot of good. Why do you think she said that, Arnavji?"
Arnav chuckled. "I think she doesn't want you to feel tired at night after I have ravished you. And she wants you to have enough energy to ravish me again and again. She doesn't know that you don't need it!"

Khushi blushed all hues of red. Arnav loved red on her.

"Why did you ask me to come up early, Arnavji? I have a lot of work to do downstairs.", she asked, slightly miffed at his teasing.

He held out his gift for her. A small jewellery box. She flipped the box open to find a platinum waist chain in it. She looked at him, her mouth open.

"Wear it for me?", his husky voice melted her insides.

She took the chain out, dropping the box on a table nearby. It lay coiled like a snake on her palm. She walked towards the mirror to stand before it.

She lifted the fall of the sari over her waist slightly, and jerked at his touch. Arnavji's hand was covering the curve of her waist, his incendiary eyes looking into her melting ones through the mirror. He took the chain from her nerveless fingers, and slowly fastened it around her waist, but only after exploring the area with his naughty fingers. Poor Khushi clutched at his muscular arms and shoulders, her nails biting into his body as she fought to control herself. She bit down on her lower lip to prevent herself from moaning. Once he finished fastening the chain, Arnav kneeled in front of her and kissed every inch of the chain and her waist, paying special attention to her navel. Khushi's trembling limbs gave way, and she collapsed against him on the floor, unable to even draw breath properly.

NK knocked on the door.

"Oye, lovebirds! The meherbaan (mehmaan) are starting to ask for you. And Di is thinking of sending out a search party."

Arnav smiled at Khushi who was lying in his arms on the floor, gasping for breath.

"Diwali! Guests!", Khushi panicked.

"Ssshhh!", Arnav soothed her. "We can continue with the fireworks after all are gone.", he informed her outrageously.

He helped her up, and slowly pushed the waist band down, covering it with the folds of her sari.

"Let it be our secret, Khushi.", he whispered. "Only we know what is hidden inside."


Khushi smiled at a lady that Nani had introduced her to, and folded her hands in a namaste. The elderly lady beamed at her. Khushi could feel Arnavji's eyes on her. 

She turned her head to see him smiling at her from far.

His eyes slowly travelled down from her lips to her waist, and lingered there. She blushed.
"Oh, what a pretty bahu you have, Devyani!", exclaimed the lady as she pinched Khushi's chin.



Part 34


Arnav hurried up the steps of the temple, Akash close behind him, making their way through the thousands of people gathered there . They could hear the bells ringing, the devotees singing loudly. It was Teej. The first Teej after their wedding. Khushi & Payal had been fasting the whole day for their husbands' well-being, and Arnav & Akash had to attend the pooja with them and make them sip water and have a morsel with their own hands.

And as usual, they were late.

Khushi turned her head towards the entrance of the temple to see if her Arnavji was anywhere around. Must be stuck in traffic, she thought. He wouldn't forget, she knew. He couldn't, even if he wanted to. She had reminded him just under a hundred times before he had left for his office that it was Teej. 

Unused to fasting for the whole day, she was ready to faint with hunger and thirst. Payal was equally exhausted.

 Khushi turned to look at Lord Shiva. He was smiling. 

Khushi complained silently, "Just look at Arnavji! Late again! He Bhagwan, couldn't you have given me a punctual husband?"

Devi Maiyya was smiling too. Khushi pouted. "How can you smile when mice are running around in my tummy?" She clutched her stomach. "And you are supposed to be my friend. This is not fair. AND I don't want to hear any of your arguments supporting him."


The traffic had been terrible. The entire area around the temple was full of devotees and their vehicles, and navigating his way through the mess had taken too much time. He turned his head to make sure that Akash was keeping up with him, and that he hadn't lost his way in the crowd. He reached the main part of the temple to see Nani, Di, Mami, Mamaji, NK, Payal, and Khushi waiting for them.

"Chotey!, Akash!", Nani chided them. "You are late."

Di said, exasperated, "How could you be late on this day? This is too much."

"Nannav, Akash, you are grounded, man! Khushi & Payal bhabis will become ghoosa now."

Mami saved the boys by complaining loudly, "Saasumaa, I am hungry. All the others have finished their pooja and taken food. Now let's breaks the fastwaa. We can scolds the boys later. They are not going anybhere, but if I don't have food now, I will goes to heaben (heaven)."


Khushi was wearing a red sari, and she stood silent, the pallu over her head, the thali in her hand. The big eyes that looked at Arnav held a hint of tears, a bit of anger, and a lot of disappointment. 

Arnav felt terrible at having made her wait, but at the same time, the cross look on her sweet face made him want to smile. He tried very hard to keep the smile away from his face. Or he knew that he would be the first husband to be killed by his wife after she had fasted the whole day for his long life and good health!

He went with her, Akash, Payal, and the rest of his family for the pooja, and stood very close to her, his warm arm touching hers. She averted her eyes from him, and ignored him as he joined her in doing the aarti. 

Lord Shiva and Devi Maiyya were still smiling.

She looked down at the thali held by both of them, and then at his strong, masculine hand. The hand that had caught her each time she had slipped or fallen, the hand that had cupped her face and wiped away her tears countless times in the past year, the hand that had ruffled her hair lovingly that very morning...

She felt tears filling her eyes. Not because Arnavji had been late. And not because she was hungry and thirsty. But because she loved him too much. She looked at the smiling gods, and made her mind clear to them.

"Please forget what I said earlier. About Arnavji. I didn't mean it. Please, please give him a long life. And good health. Please remind him to take his medicines and food on time. And thank you for giving him to me. I want to look after him as well as he looks after me. I want to spend the next seven lifetimes looking after him. I love him. Even if he is not punctual for prayers and family functions!"

They made way for Akash & Payal, and stood to the side, waiting for all their family members to join them before breaking their fast. Arnav looked at her serious face under the cover of the pallu, and felt her small hand close around his heart.

He whispered, "I am sorry, Khushi. We got stuck in the traffic. It took a long time to cross the few kilometers around the temple."

"It is alright, Arnavji." Her tender lips trembled in an attempt at a smile.

"Khushi, I promise. From next year, on Teej, Akash and I are going to take the day off and spend it with you and Payal."

Khushi looked at him, wonder struck.  Before she could ask him more, the other couples came to join them.

Khushi circled the thali with the lit lamp in front of Arnavji's face, did her pooja, and tried to touch his feet.

He held her by her shoulders, not letting her touch his feet, and lifted the small pot of water from her thali and brought it to her lips.

As she was about to sip, she looked into his eyes. They contained an ocean of love.

She asked him, "Arnavji, did you have lunch?"

He smiled.

"Water?"

He smiled again.

Khushi whispered, agitated, "Arnavji, you fasted? You are not supposed to fast. You are diabetic. What if your sugar levels had gone down?", she hissed, her face pale with worry.

Arnav smiled, silent, enjoying her worrying over him.

Khushi snatched the small pot of water from his hand, and took it to his lips.

"Arnavji, please drink."

He sipped the water, his eyes totally focused on hers, and then pressed the rim of the vessel against her lips. She took a sip.

She broke a piece of the sweet on her thali, and fed him. He fed her the rest of it.

They stood lost in each other's eyes, unaware of the world around them.


"Hein?", asked Mami. "Bhat kind of modaarn (modern) Teej is this, Arnav Bitwaa? You are supposed to pheed your wife, not..."

Khushi broke in, "Mami, Naniji, Di! Arnavji fasted along with us! How could he? What if he had fainted during the day?" Tears poured down her cheeks.

Nani quickly hugged her, and said, "Chotey! You should take better care of your health. And see what you have done! You have made our Khussi Bitiyaa cry!"

"Chotey, this is the outside of enough. Such carelessness! And you made my bhabi cry! How dare you?", Di asked.

"Khushi bhabi, Khushi bhabi, don't cry. I will dhoond (daant) Nannav till he promises never to do this again."

In the middle of this ruckus, Arnav stood smiling, enjoying the sight of his family rallying around Khushi.

Mamaji sidled up to Arnav and whispered in his ears,  "Arnav Bitwaa, please don't give ideas to your Mami. Or she will starve me for Teej next year!"



Part 35


"Naughty boy!"

Arnav looked up from his laptop to find out exactly whom Khushi was rebuking, and smiled.

"How many times have I told you not to cling on to this poor shrub standing next to you? Arnavji has given you a stick for yourself. Why can't you use it?", Arnav smiled as he watched Khushi untangle the tendrils a creeper had used to coil around a neighbouring shrub.

He was now used to this. His smile widened. Khushi talked to his plants as though they were like him, her friends in Laxmi Nagar, her Nanheji, or her Akash Jiju.

"And you? For one year I have been waiting for you to flower. How long do you intend to make me wait?", she glared at his favourite tree he had planted 10 years ago.
He had never seen flowers on it. 

"I would like to have my own teeth and my eye sight when you finally deign to bloom.", she chided it. Then her voice went all soft and syrupy. "I have been imagining you with lots of purple flowers, more flowers than leaves for the past one year. Please, bloom na, yaar." She pouted, "By the way, your flowers are pink when the bud opens, and then purple. I saw it on Arnavji's laptop. So don't try to fool me!"

Arnav chuckled silently. She was so amusing. He loved waking up to a new day now, each day bringing with it lots of pleasant surprises and many moments of laughter.

"Arnavji! These roses that you planted! They are the best! Their scent!", Khushi had her nose buried in the lush red petals of a Papa Meilland rose, her eyes shut as she inhaled the heady fragrance.

His tender eyes lingered on her kneeling down by the rose bush, taking delight in the simplest of things he had done for her. He got up, went to her, and kneeled down by her.

"Khushi...", he murmured, running a gentle hand over her shiny hair. "If you like them so much, why don't you cut them and arrange them in our bedroom?" 

"Cut them? Kill them? No, Arnavji! Let them remain on the bush. They will live longer that way." Her dainty fingers caressed the velvety flower.

Arnav sighed and smiled.

"And if I want to smell them, I can always pull a chair close to them, and sit by them when I am studying."

"True!", Arnav agreed, his smile widening.

Khushi suddenly put her arms around Arnav's neck, and hugged him tight.

"Arnavji, your garden is like heaven. When I return from college, all I want to do is sit among your plants for some time. They make me feel so good, so energetic, so happy."

He closed his eyes, swallowed, and buried his face in her hair. His garden had been his sanctuary, his refuge from the mad world for years. Now it was hers too.

"Then I feel as though I am with you... As though you are all around me...", she murmured, her arms tightening around him.



His phone rang. He looked up from the file he had been going through with Aman to glance at the caller's ID.

Khushi! But she never called him when he was in his office. It must be something very urgent. 

"Khushi, what happened? Are you OK?" 

Aman, sitting across him, hid a smile at the worry in his boss' voice.

"I... I am OK, Arnavji! I... I just called to... Arnavji, were you in some meeting? Am I disturbing you?"

"Khushi! How many times should I tell you that you can never disturb me? Kya hua? Do you need something?", his voice was gentle.

"Arnavji, I was returning from college..."

"Haan?"

"I saw a dog."

"A dog?", Arnav frowned.

Aman buried his head in the file in his hand to hide his smile.

"It is very hurt, Arnavji. Some car had knocked it down. I... I couldn't leave it there..." She paused.

"Haan?"

"I took it to the vet."

"OK. So?"

"It is all patched up now. And the vet gave him an anti-rabies vaccination."

"That's good. So?"

"Can I ...can I keep him with me for a few days? Just 2 weeks. Till he heals. Then I will take him to a shelter.", she asked in a rush.

Arnav smiled. 

"Haan, Khushi. Why do you need to ask? It is your house. Take the dog home."

"Are you sure you don't mind, Arnavji?", her anxious voice asked.

"Of course, I don't mind. Where are you right now?"

"At the vet's." She mentioned the location.

"Shall I send Mohan with the car to you?"

"Would you, Arnavji? That would be very nice. I don't think many rickshaws would let me in with him. I had to beg a driver to take us to the vet's."

Arnav smiled, and did the needful.

He looked up to see Aman trying very hard not to burst out laughing, and cocked an eyebrow in question.

"Sir...", Aman managed to say, "..have you had a dog at home before?"

"No."

Aman chuckled openly. "I think you are in for an interesting time, boss."



Arnav returned home late to find his house in silence. Scared of the dog, HP had taken refuge in his kitchen, and Mami in her room. Nani, Di, NK, Akash, Payal, Mamaji, & Khushi were sitting by the poolside, gathered around a thin scrap of a dog, a puppy in fact, a bag of bones, with some damage to its back.

Khushi jumped up when she saw her Arnavji.

Mamaji took one look at Arnav, and exclaimed, "Ee leo, Arnav Bitwaa has come too. Come on, Arnav Bitwaa, come and meet the new member of the Raizada family, Mr. Dog."

The dog lifted tired lashes to take one look at an astonished Arnav, and then promptly went back to sleep.


Nani had given Khushi an old blanket for the dog to lie on. Di had contributed an old pillow. Akash had gone out and purchased a bag of dog food and a bowl for him., Khushi told him. 

He nodded.

Later, after the whole family turned in, Arnav woke up from his sleep. What was that creepy sound? Like... like someone crying? He looked at Khushi. She was sound asleep, her leg hooked over his hip, her left hand clutching the collar of his T-shirt as though to prevent him from absconding. He smiled at the way she made sure that he was with her all night before slowly freeing himself from her hold, and walking to the window to stare at the poolside.

The dog was moving slightly, restless. He opened the door, and went close to the dog. Even in the soft light, it was obvious that the dog was a mass of bruises. As he watched, the dog whined softly. Oh, so that was the sound he had heard! Arnav sat down on his haunches by the dog, and slowly touched his forehead, the only spot on his body without wounds. The dog licked his hand, and collapsed exhausted, the small action eating into his remaining reserves of energy. Arnav swallowed, pity choking him.

The next day, Arnav decided to work from home. Khushi had classes to attend, and left him reluctantly, kissing every inch of his face many times before leaving. Arnav smiled at the thought, and then started working, the feel of her soft, plump lips on his face lingering to tantalise him.

A while later, he felt an unaccustomed warmth on his foot. He looked down. The dog had crawled from the poolside into the room, and was now lying at his feet, its head on his foot. Arnav stared at it in shock and wonder.

The dog looked at him with its deep, beautiful, liquid eyes, and then fell asleep on his foot.

One week later, Khushi said, "Arnavji, we can't continue to call it a dog. Shall we name it?"

"What do you want to call it?"

"Biscoot.", she smiled happily.

"What?"

"Biscoot. Because I like biscuits, and in Lucknow, we call biscuits, biscoot in Hindi."

Arnav hid his smile and nodded.

After Khushi officially named him and left the room, Arnav slowly walked out to the dog, and stroking his forehead, asked him, "Did you like the name?"

Biscoot licked his hand.

"Biscoot!", Arnav chuckled. "I will call you Bikki."


Two weeks later, Arnav said, "Khushi, about giving Biscoot to the shelter..."

"J...i?", Khushi panicked. The newspaper Biscoot had efficiently shredded, the flower pot he had smashed while walking past it, the pair of expensive shoes he had chewed on...all such nasty memories rushed through her mind.

"I was thinking that maybe we should look after Bikki. I mean..."

He didn't have to say anything more. His arms were filled with his wife who had thrown herself at him in joy, and there was Bikki at his feet, licking his toe. 

Part 36

A fitting banner made by ...Doctor... Thank u, sweetheart!



Arnav drove home in the dark. It was drizzling, and the feeling of being alone on earth became stronger as he parked in front of his house. He didn't want to go inside.

HP opened the door to him. Bikki launched himself at Arnav's feet, rolling over in joy at having Arnav home, prancing around him in sheer pleasure... Arnav scooped him up and placed him safe against his left shoulder, and began walking towards his room.

"HP, black tea.", he ordered in his quiet voice as he climbed the steps.

The house was silent, as it should be. Its life was gone. 

Khushi had gone that afternoon with the rest of the Raizadas and the Guptas to Kanpur for NK's wedding, which was to be held next week. 

He sighed. He had sent Akash with them to keep an eye on NK. Both Arnav and Akash could not be absent from Delhi for one week, and so he was going to Kanpur only one day before the wedding. One week without Khushi!
He had picked up the phone a hundred times to call her, to see if she was enjoying the journey, to hear her voice. But he had cut the phone every time. She would pick up his loneliness from his voice. And then she would insist on returning to Delhi. The last thing he wanted to do was disrupt the celebrations or take away the smile from her face.

He pushed open the door to his bedroom, put Bikki down, and switched on the light. A set of casual clothes was laid for him on the bed.

Khushi! She must have done it before she left. He drew in a deep breath. He could still smell her in the air. Her jasmine scent... He pulled out the phone from his pocket, desperate to hear her voice. But...His fingers tightened around the phone.

"Khushi!", he sighed.

"Arnavji!"

He turned his head at a speed that could rival the speed of light to look at her. She was standing behind him, dressed in a coral anarkali, a wide smile on her lips.

"Khushi!", he murmured, scared that she would vanish if he spoke too loudly.

Thunder followed a streak of lightning.

Khushi threw herself into his arms, whimpering, "Arnavji."

Arnav could not get the words out without swallowing the big ball of tears and hope lodged in his throat.

"Khushi!"

"Hhmm?"

"You... you were supposed to go to Kanpur with the others in the afternoon?"

"Ji. But I didn't go."

"Why?"

"One week without you, Arnavji! I couldn't bear it!"

Arnav blinked moist eyes, and slowly ran a finger down her plump cheek.

"Please don't make me go without you, Arnavji!", she pleaded. "I can't stay so far away from you for so long."

"I... I won't, Khushi. I... I missed you, Khushi...", he whispered.

"You will never miss me, Arnavji. I will never give you the chance to miss me!",  the Maharani of Lucknow took the oath.

Arnav smiled into her hair. He was so lucky.

Thunder sounded loudly. Khushi burrowed into his arms.

HP knocked on the door. "Arnav Bhaiyya, your tea."

"Leave it outside the door, HP.", Arnav instructed.

HP obeyed and left for the kitchen.

"Don't you want your tea?", Khushi asked softly.

"Later."

"Later?"

"Khushi, do you know that we are alone at home? For the first time in a year?"

"Ji.", she blushed.

"How shall we celebrate it?", he asked, his errant lips trailing a way towards her lips from her forehead.

"I don't know.", she whispered, her breathing rapid, her limbs shaking like leaves in strong wind.

"Maybe I can suggest a few ways...", breathed a wicked Arnav into her receptive ears. His knowing fingers walked over her waist, played over her dori, pulled her dupatta, all the time leading her towards their waiting bed.

The tea, when he finally got around to drinking it, was very, very cold.



The next morning, when Khushi woke up, Arnav was packing his clothes and accessories into his suitcase.

She sat up, clutching the cover to herself, and asked, "Arnavji, are you going somewhere?"

"Haan. To Kanpur."

"Kanpur?"

He smiled. "Get up, lazybones, and start packing. We need to leave in a couple of hours."

Khushi looked at him with wide eyes.

Arnav sighed, a small smile on his face.
 
"NK tried to give a love letter to Mili today morning. Her mother got it. The last Akash knows, Mili's father was searching for the man who dared to write a love letter to his wife."

Khushi's eyes brimmed over with laughter. 

"Only Nanheji!", she gasped, "only Nanheji can do this... Kahin pe nigahein, kahin pe nishana... He went to all this trouble to marry the daughter. Now he will be stuck with the mother...ha...ha..."

Arnav chuckled.

"What about your work, Arnavji?"

"Will have to monitor it online. Aman will have to take on added responsibilities for a week. There is no other way out."

"Arnavji, are you sure?", she asked seriously.

Arnav cupped her much loved face in his palm, and said, "Remember what Babuji said when our wedding was fixed. That happy times come rarely in life and that they should be enjoyed to the fullest?"

Khushi nodded.

"I can't think of anything I want to do more than travel to Kanpur with you, and enjoy NK's wedding."

Khushi threw herself into his arms and kissed him where ever she could reach. Bikki added to the fun by demanding his share of kisses too. 

Arnav, Khushi in a bed sheet, and Bikki rolled over the floor, having fun and laughing loudly.



NK hugged Arnav tightly when he and Khushi walked into the huge haveli in Kanpur.

Later, when all the boys were in their suite of rooms, NK received a call from Mili's father. He clutched his heart, paling. Arnav & Akash bit down their laughter, and asked him, "What is wrong, NK?"

"Nannav, Mili's father is talking about making every male in the house write the first line of the letter in his presence so that he can compare the handwriting with the one in the original letter."

Arnav and Akash burst out laughing.



Later, Arnav whispered in Khushi's ear, "Mili's father knew who had written the letter the moment he saw it. After all, who else will call his beloved a julab (gulab) in a garden, write that his family will come on sarson (parson), that his heart goes dhak dhak when his nazaaron (nazrein) meet hers? Who else will try to rhyme 'tum mili' with 'billi'?"

Khushi bent over in laughter.

"Mili's father wanted to have some fun at NK's expense. That's all."



The Sangeet was a grand affair. NK's parents were introduced to all the Gupta relations,  and the air was filled with laughter and good wishes.

          (Mili)


NK was pushed into a red sherwani by Akash & Arnav, and made to sit right in the front with a gorgeous Mili in a red & blue lehenga.

Arnav wore a dark suit, Khushi, a pink lehenga, Payal, a green lehenga, and Akash, a yellow sherwani.


Mami and Buaji danced, making fun of NK and his love for Mili, how he saw her first, how he spent all his time on the phone, how he complimented her in her tooti-phooti Hindi, how Mili blushed when NK smiled at her... NK and Mili flushed as relations sitting near them heckled them. Mili's four brothers joined Mami & Buaji on stage.
Then it was the turn of NK's brothers. The stage went dark. And when a faint light appeared, Khushi and Payal saw Arnav and Akash standing there. They looked at the empty seats beside them. When had the men left them?
The music began to play.

Arey kacchi kali tu hai
Main hoon bhanwra
Arnav looked directly into Khushi eyes.

bhanwra bhanwra...
Arey pad gaya hai mujh ko dil ka daura...

Arnav & Akash clutched their hearts.

daura...daura...

Gach maar maar ke hai phatka kha ke yun
Kamar ka jhatka kho gaya...

The sight of two handsome boys shaking their legs on stage was enough to send many a maiden into a state of coma.

Ke dil garden garden ho gaya
Ke bhanwra bagiyan mein kho gaya...
They spread out their arms like butterflies.

Ke dil garden garden ho gaya
Ke bhanwra bagiyan mein kho gaya...
Khushi pulled Payal from her seat, and dragged her up to the stage. She pushed Payal into Akash's waiting arms, and ran into Arnavji's.

Ke dekha jabse tujhe hai jaani ho gaya
Main pani pani dil ka visarjan, ho gaya...
Arnav winked at her. Khushi almost swallowed her tongue.

Re dil garden garden ho gaya
Ke bhanwra bagiyan mein kho gaya...

Ke dil garden garden
pa pa pa ra pa

Arnav and Akash twirled their ladies around and around, the skirts of their colourful lehengas flaring around them. NK and Mili ran up the stage, holding hands. To the enjoyment of the raucous crowd, they too began to dance to the music.

Arey koi nahi tujh si hi-fi...

Arnav and Akash ran their fingers along the tempting waists of their wives. NK pinched Mili's cheek, her waist being out of bounds for him for a few more days.
na hi na fi...

Arey ae Gucci mein naha ke tu hai aayi
Nahayi aayi...

Arnav buried his face in Khushi's neck, and Akash in Payal's hair.

Tune aisa kiya scratch ke dil tujh se hi attach...

Bikki ran onto the stage, and began prancing up and down in keeping with the excitement of his master.

Ke dil garden garden ho gaya
Ke bhanwra bagiyan mein kho gaya...

Khushi picked up Bikki, and all seven brought the floor down with their fun-filled and energetic dance.

Ke dil garden garden ho gaya
Ke bhanwra bagiyan mein kho gaya...

The crowd began to dance with them, whistling and cheering. They were led by Mili's  and NK's fathers, their mothers very close behind. Buaji and Mami gave dance a whole new meaning.



Arnav and Khushi had been given a huge room on the top most floor of the haveli,  with a door and windows opening to a terrace. As others sought their beds after a successful evening, Arnav and Khushi walked into their room. Arnav closed the door after them.

Khushi went to the dressing table, and humming, Dil garden garden ho gaya, started removing her jewellery. She took off her bangles with a smile on her face, and put them in their place. She unhooked her earrings and her maang tikka, her eyes on the mirror image of Arnavji who was undressing. He had pulled off his coat, tie, and waist coat, and was unbuttoning his shirt.

He turned around, and caught her eyes on him. He smiled. She turned away, blushing, but she was caught.
In the mirror, she could see him coming closer and closer to her. Feeling unaccountably shy, she jumped up and almost ran to the terrace, feeling a cool wind pass through her hair, plaster her clothes against a trembling body... 

She could feel Arnavji come to stand behind her, the warmth of his body summoning her to rest against him. She trembled with need.

His hands caught the rich bounty of her silky hair and pushed it over her shoulder to lie across her chest. A lone finger trailed down her back, tracing the cut of her blouse, playing with the knot of her dori... Khushi shivered.

His burning lips branded her nape and the creamy skin exposed by the back of her choli.

She turned around with a whimper, pulled him close to her, and bit his shoulder gently.

"Let's go to bed, hmmm?", he asked, his seductive voice sending a tingle down her spine.


Part 37



It was their first wedding anniversary.

Anjali, Nani, Mamaji, Mami, NK, & Mili wanted to do something special for the two couples. They arranged a grand party for the evening, inviting all their acquaintances and friends to RM.
In the morning, Nani, Mami, Anjali, & Mili took Khushi & Payal shopping. They dragged Mamaji along despite his loud protests. Arnav, Akash, & NK were left at home.

"Bhai, I was thinking...", Akash said softly to an Arnav who was working on his laptop.
"Haan, Akash?"
"I was thinking that we need to do something special for Payal & Khushi bhabi. I mean, something personal. Something more than a party & a sari."
"You are right.", admitted Arnav.
"But what shall we do?", asked Akash.
"Nannav, Akash, don't worry. I am here to help you!", offered a smiling NK.
Akash looked at Arnav, worried now.

"You should order the most scrumptious cake in the world for my bhabis!"
"There will be cake at the party anyway.", said Arnav evenly.
"OK. Then order the biggest bouquet of flowers you can think of!"
"Khushi does not care for cut flowers.", Arnav continued to focus on his work.
"What about arranging a clown at the party?", asked NK in all earnest.
"It is our first wedding anniversary party, NK Bhai, not the birthday party of a 4-year old.", Akash bit out.
"A fashion show at the party!"
Arnav rubbished the idea which was all about bringing his office home.
"Champagne!"
"Khushi & Payal don't drink."
"Chocolate?"
"Payal is on a diet."
"Jalebis?"
"You think we should give sweets to the daughters of the best halwai in Lucknow?"
NK sat down, tired but not ready to give up. He used his laptop frantically to come up with something new.
"A balloon ride?"
"Khushi is scared of heights."
"Oh! A holiday abroad? A cruise..."
"Take too long to arrange. We need something now."
NK wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"A nice dinner in an upscale restaurant."
"How can we take them out when there is a party here in their honour?"
"Oh! That would be rude!"
Arnav & Akash glared at NK.
"OK, OK. I get it. You need something personal, right? Something special that you want to do for them. Something you haven't done before..." NK's face lit up. "Eureka, Eureka! I got it!"
His brothers looked at him with wary eyes.
"You should cook for them."
"Cook?", Akash & Arnav looked horrified.
"Yes, cook. Make them something with your own fair hands." NK's bright eyes looked at them hopefully.
"I.. I have never cooked before...", said Akash uncertainly.
Arnav said sternly, "Neither have I."
"Yes! That is what will make your dish special. You can make an eggless cake for them. I know that you will have cake at the party, but the cake that you make for them will be extra special!"

A scared Akash and a sceptical Arnav followed NK and his laptop to the kitchen.
Arnav looked around. The few times he had entered the kitchen had been to tease Khushi while she was cooking. He didn't know atta from dal, and cooking, making a cake seemed like an impossible task to perform. But it was for Khushi...He sighed, and rolled up his sleeves.

NK read out instructions from a recipe he had found online. Arnav & Akash in aprons, assembled the ingredients and started working on them. Bikki sat silently at one corner of the kitchen, watching Arnav make a fool of himself.

One hour later, they were done. There was more flour on Arnav, Akash, NK, & his laptop than there was in the cake or the flour bin. The batter had dripped on to the kitchen floor in places. The kitchen looked like a battle ground, and the sink was full of used utensils.
Akash wiped the flour from his glasses, and looked closely at the charred mess in the pan in front of him.
"NK Bhai, is it supposed to look like this?", he asked uncertainly.
NK shook himself like a dog to get rid of the white powder, and said, "They didn't give a pic."
"Maybe we should taste it before we..."
Arnav broke off a small piece of the cake, and took a dainty, careful bite. It tasted terrible. Like nothing he had ever tasted before. He offered the remaining piece in his hand to Bikki who sniffed at it, and walked off with his tail in the air, signifying his displeasure at being offered inedible things to eat.
"How is it, Bhai?"
Not receiving any answer, Akash tasted it and choked.
"Bhai!", he said through a blocked throat, "I think we should throw it in the dustbin before the ladies return..."
NK put a piece in his mouth, and ran gasping to get a glass of water.


Into this mess entered the Raizada ladies, Mamaji, & Mili.
"Chotey! Akash! NK! What are you doing in the kitchen?", asked Anjali, surprised.
"More importantly, what have you done to the kitchen?", asked Nani.
"Bhy are you looking like whitewashed men?", asked Mami, astonishment written loud on her face.
"Is it time for Holi?", asked Mamaji.
"Arnavji, what happened to you?", an anxious Khushi asked him, wiping the flour from his face with her dupatta.
"Akashji, why are you covered in flour?", asked Payal.
"Nanduji, what were you doing in the kitchen?", asked Mili.
"Baking a cake.", said NK, coughing.
There was perfect silence in the kitchen.
NK continued, "Nannav and Akash wanted to do something special for Khushi bhabi & Payal bhabi. So we baked a cake."
The Raizadas stood shocked for a moment, and then Anjali asked. "Chotey baked a cake?"
"Akash bitwaa too?", asked Mami.
NK nodded.
"So where is it?", asked Mamaji. "We should all get to taste this historic, momentous creation."
NK paled, and looked at the cake.
Mamaji put a piece in his mouth, and his face took on a look of horror.
Mamiji said eagerly, "Let me tastewaa it."
"Mannu!", Mamaji tried to warn her, but she was, as usual, too fast for him.
She choked on the charred morsel and ran to her bedroom to scrub her mouth clean.
Anjali & Nani took a bite each and excused themselves rapidly.
Only Mili, Khushi, Payal, & the men were left.
The girls reached for a slice each of the cake.
Arnav caught hold of Khushi's arm. "Don't eat it, Khushi. It will make you ill. It is awful."
Khushi smiled at him, freed her hand, and tasted it. So did Payal and Mili.
Khushi said after she swallowed a bite. "It is not that bad, Arnavji. Next time you make it, just set the timer of the oven correctly." She smiled at Arnav and took one more bite.
Payal said, "It is sweet. Except for being slightly charred, it is OK." She smiled at Akash.
Mili said, "It is good for a first effort." She squeezed NK's hand encouragingly.


Khushi led Arnav into their bathroom and began to clean him up, rubbing away the flour from his body and hair with a wet towel. Then Arnav had a quick shower, and came into their bedroom dressed in his white T-shirt and dark trousers.
Khushi had changed her clothes, and was unpacking her purchases.
"Did you enjoy the shopping?", he asked her, a smile in his voice.
"Very much!", she beamed. "It is such fun to shop with Mami, Di, & Nani. Jiji and Mili helped me a lot. And I modelled the clothes they selected in front of Mamaji who gave his opinion about them."
Arnav smiled.
"Arnavji, Di bought me a beautiful anarkali."
"Acha?"
She took it out of its box, and showed it to him. It was gorgeous.
He said, "Will you wear it for me, Khushi?"
"Now?"
"Haan."
"Ji. Just a minute..." She ran with it into the bathroom, and soon came out, looking like a princess. Arnav took a deep breath. Khushi looked... She looked... He had no words to describe her beauty.

"Is it alright, Arnavji?", her eager eyes looked into his for his opinion and found her answer. She blushed.
He went to the locker, and returned with a small jewellery box. He handed it over to her.
She opened it to find a gorgeous diamond necklace with a floral design, diamonds glinting in the petals and leaves.
"It is extraordinarily beautiful, Arnavji!", she said in a hushed voice.
"No, Khushi.", he said gently. "You are."
"It must have cost a lot, Arnavji!", her worried eyes looked into his.
"Yes. But you are priceless, Khushi. Happy wedding anniversary!"


The whole family was at lunch when there was a delivery for Arnav. He went to the door to sign for it, and two men carried a carton into the house. All gathered around it to find out what it was and who had sent it. Khushi alone looked anxiously at Arnav's face for his reaction. He remained calm as he slit the box in an unhurried manner.
"Jaldi kholo, Arnav Bitwaa! This suspensewaa will kill me.", said Mami.
"Manno, let the boy open the parcel!", said Mamaji.
"Hey Nannav, who is this secret admirer, eh?", teased NK. Arnav glared at him.
"What can it be?", Anjali thought hard, her forehead scrunched in serious thought.
"Ee lo, it is Arnav Bitwaa and Khushi Bitiya's wedding anniversary! They have received a gift, and all of you are more eager to know what it is than them!", exclaimed Mamaji.
"Aap to shutuppiya kar lo Ji!", said Mami. She almost fell into the box while leaning to take a look in it.
Arnav finally opened the box, and took down the four sides to reveal a potted plant with two buds. He drew in a sharp breath. He was speechless with joy. He couldn't believe his eyes.
The others couldn't believe their eyes too. But not for the same reason.
"A plantwaa!", exclaimed Mami in disappointment. "Who ijj the phoolwaa who gave you a plantwaa? As though this house is not philled with them!"

All looked at each other, but Arnav had eyes only for Khushi.
"Some one very special to me, Mami.", he said softly.
"Khushi bhabi, beware uh! Some one very special, hmmm!", NK warned her.
She smiled, her eyes filled with joy.
Nani and Anjali asked Arnav, "Chotey, who sent you a plant? Did you order it?"
"No, Di, Nani. You can't order this. And this is not just any other plant."
Mami peered at the plant. "Hein? It looks like an ordinary plantwaa."

"It is a Brahma Kamal. Blooms only when it wants to. Maybe once in 5 years, 12 years, maybe once a year, maybe more frequently...from July to September."
Mami stared accusingly at the plant. "Hein, bhat kind of kanjoosi is that?"
"It blooms at night, and wilts by dawn."
"It goes to sleep in the morning?", asked NK.


Arnav smiled at Khushi, and said, his voice husky, "I have been waiting for this plant for years."
Khushi nodded, smiling seeing his heart-felt joy.
He slowly opened the letter in the parcel.


Arnavji,
Happy wedding anniversary!
I wanted to give you a gift you would never forget, but couldn't decide on what it should be.
My heart? My love? My life? But all these are already yours.

Arnav swallowed hard.

I needed something as unique as you, something that deserved to be given to you.

Arnav looked at her smiling face.

Then I thought about the Brahma Kamal. It is not supposed to be bought, only begged from others. I contacted Tiwari Chacha in Lucknow and pleaded for a plant. He sent it to me at my Laxmi Nagar address. I had it sent here.

Chachaji said that we should take great care of it. I promised him that no one on earth would take greater care of it than you. Because you would love it as you love all of us.

Arnav smiled at her, his eyes moist.

It has 2 buds that will open today evening. A fitting gift for a special day, isn't it?

He nodded.

Yours and yours only,
Khushi


Part 38


Janmashtami meant a week and more of elaborate preparations, and the Raizadas and the Guptas were having fun doing the rituals together and decorating the cradle in which Lord Krishna was to be placed. Mountains of sweets were prepared by the ladies, hours of shopping done by the men & the ladies, baskets of flowers of varied hues purchased, long floral chains made by the ladies, lots of laughter, hours of devout prayer...
On Janmashtami evening, Arnav drove Amma, Babuji, & Buaji to RM for the pooja. They were greeted with warmth & love by all the Raizadas. Buaji pinched NK's cheek as he bent to touch Buaji's feet for her blessings. NK yelped, and all laughed.

Khushi was dressed in a glorious green sari with a deep gold border. Arnav looked at her beauteous form with loving eyes, his heart smiling at the joy on her face and her eagerness to rock the Lord's cradle.



The pooja went very well. Arnav and Khushi, held the chain linked to Lord Krishna's cradle and swung it together. Akash and Payal, who was in a pink sari with a silver border, followed them, enjoying the moment of piety and togetherness.


They then took the blessings of all the elders. They were followed by NK & Mili, who was wearing a red and gold sari.
Nani blessed all the couples, and said with a naughty smile on her face, "It is high time for you six to make me a great grandmother."
"Haan, you are very right, Nandkisore!", added Buaji.
All six youngsters blushed.
"Look at them blushing!", Nani teased. All laughed.
Then Nani said, "I won't pressurise my Khussi Bitiya. Let her finish her studies. But the rest of you! No more excuses."
"Hear, hear!", said Anjali.

"Err..., Dadi...", stammered Akash, his face resembling a tomato. "...Dadi... Err..., you will be a great grandmother in 7 months...". Payal blushed all shades of red.

It was as if he had dropped a bomb of happiness in RM. Big, tight hugs were exchanged between the family members, sweets were stuffed into happy mouths, Khushi was jumping up and down clapping her hands, Anjali was crying buckets in happiness...
Arnav hugged Akash & lifted him off the ground. NK joined them. Mili & Khushi hugged Payal.

NK said, still in shock, "Akash! Congrats bhai! I never thought you had it in you!"

Akash glared at him, but before Akash could retaliate, Arnav stepped in to hand him and Payal a file he had taken from his locker. "A gift for you both.", he said softly.

Akash & Payal looked at him, surprised. All the family members waited eagerly to find out what Arnav had gifted the parents-to-be.

NK guessed, "A holiday trip!"

Anjali joked, "Chotey must have purchased a hospital so that Payal can deliver in peace!" All laughed.

"An isspa (spa) for Payal!", was Mami's idea of a perfect gift. Mamaji shook his head. "Manno! You are going to be a grand mother! No spa will help you now.", he teased.

"Hein?" Mami's eyes bulged. "Me a grandmother! Bhite hair & no teeth!"

Buaji said, "Haan, Manoramaji! Now it is time to say Hello Hi to gray hair and wrinkles, and bye bye to your evergreen jawani and makeup."

All laughed.


Payal & Akash smiled as they opened the file. As they started to read, the smile died on their faces.
"Bhai!"
"Arnavji!"
All looked anxiously at Payal & Akash who had tears in their eyes and at Arnav who was smiling. Khushi slipped her fingers into Arnav's hand. He pressed them.

"Bhai! A house! You bought land and built a house for us! In our names!"

"Haan..., it is no big deal.", Arnav looked away. He mumbled, "I was planning to furnish it and give it to you on your second wedding anniversary, but... Today is the right day."

"A housewaa?", Mami wondered aloud.

"Arnav Bitwaa! So much money!", protested Mamaji.

Nani & Anjali shed tears of joy. Babuji smiled at Arnav, knowing how much he loved his brothers. Amma & Buaji were moved beyond words. NK & Mili had wide grins on their faces.

Akash & Payal touched Arnav's feet. Blushing, he moved back. But Khushi pushed him forward. 

"Bless your brother and sister.", she said smiling, proud of him.

All smiled to see Arnav touch Akash & Payal's heads in blessing. He hugged Akash who cried all over Arnav's shoulder.

Arnav swallowed hard, and whispered in Akash's ear. "You can rent it out or leave it locked. I don't care. But you are not leaving us to go and stay there. Got it?" He made that very, very clear.

Akash nodded. "I will never leave you, Bhai. Not even if you ask me to go." Akash tightened his arms around Arnav's shoulders, both men smiling.



NK caught hold of Mili by her shoulders, and looking into her eyes, asked seriously, "Mili, I know you are happy about Payal bhabi. But... but are you sorry that we decided to wait for a couple of years? If you are, we can..."

Mili laughed, and tweaked her Nanduji's nose.
 
"I am having fun with my naughty bacha, you, now. Let me enjoy you before we have our next child."
NK picked her up with a sigh of relief, and twirled her around. Their laughter filled the room.


Next morning, Khushi folded the washed clothes that HP had brought to her room, and placed them in the cupboard. She looked at Arnavji who was sitting beneath his favourite tree, working on his laptop. There was a slight frown on his forehead. It was a Sunday, but he was still working. 

She stood in her room, looking at her husband, her heart overflowing with love for him. She blinked back tears and slowly went up to him with his medicine and a glass of water.

He looked up at her, and the frown vanished as if someone had smoothed it away. A small smile appeared on his sinfully appealing lips. He took the pill and swallowed it. He set the glass of water on the table by his laptop.

"Kya hua, Khushi?" He knew that she was disturbed about something.

She shook her head and smiled at him.

"Can I sit with you for sometime, Arnavji?"

"Haan. Why do you need my permission to do so, Khushi?"
He caught her arm, and pulled her on to his lap. She put her arms around his neck, and cuddled closer.

"Pati hoon tumhara. Haq he tumhara, mujh pe.", he whispered in her ear.

She sighed in pleasure, and laying her head against his shoulder, looked up at the branches of the tree and the clear sky above.

"Arnavji!", she whispered in shock.

Arnav looked at her alarmed.

She pointed a finger up, beyond words.

Arnav looked up, and felt his breath stop.

There were bunches of pink buds hidden among the leaves of the tree. Twelve years after he had planted it, it had bloomed. It had heeded Khushi's loving requests. Or it had grown tired of her daily love-filled scoldings.

Khushi jumped up from his lap and ran to the tree, throwing her arms around the trunk, and kissing the smooth bark repeatedly, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.

Arnav ran his hand along the bark, feeling more happy than he could say. It was as though Khushi had brought a big bag of joys into his house along with her Griha Pravesh. Akash & Payal were going to be parents. Their tree was blooming. NK was married......


Suddenly, Khushi threw herself at Arnav, weeping in to his neck. 

Arnav rubbed her back, anxiously waiting for her to speak. Finally, her sobs died down, and she said, "I am sorry, Arnavji."

"For what?", Arnav cocked his eyebrow at her.

She hiccuped. "Jiji and Jiju... and we got married on the same day."
"I know. So?"
"They are going to have a baby."
"So?"
"If it were not for my studies, we too could have..."

Arnav burst out laughing.

"It is nothing to laugh about, Arnavji. You must be feeling sad..."

Arnav guffawed. Khushi looked at him as though he were mad.

Finally, Arnav said, "You are pagal." He pulled her ear gently. "Bilkul pagal." His tone was loving. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close to his heart. He dropped many kisses on her hair, breathing in her jasmine scent.
"I should be feeling sad, Khushi? What is sorrow? I haven't met it in the two years we have been married."

He looked into her eyes with serious ones.

"Before I met you, I knew sorrow very well. I carried it with me, in my heart, where ever I went. It poisoned my life, my days and nights... I never knew what peace was, what khushi was till you came into my life, Khushi. How can you expect me to be sad now?"

"But...A baby?", Khushi whispered.

"There is a time for everything, Khushi. Our time will come, after your exams are done. Remember our promise to Babuji."

Khushi nodded.

"I want to see his smile first. His joy that his daughter has completed her graduation. That his trust in us was not misplaced."

Khushi nodded.

"I owe Babuji a lot. We owe him a lot. Let us deal with that debt first. Then we will think of a family."

Khushi nodded, happy now.

"By the way, it is not a competition, you know. Like...uummm... the person who gets pregnant first wins a gold medal from Nani or something!", Arnav laughed and tickled Khushi. 

Khushi tried to retaliate, and chased a laughing Arnav around their tree trying to catch him.


Heart-felt thanks to the 250+ readers and friends who stayed the course!!!!!!

Last part: Part 39

Arnav glowered as he dismissed the marketing team. He leaned back in his chair, grim. Heads would roll for this carelessness. 

Akash took one look at his Bhai's face and quickly gathered up the files and stuffed them into his case. It had been a very long day, and not a very pleasant one. But then performance reviews were never pleasant. It was a monthly chore, torturous for all concerned.

There was a knock on the door. Arnav turned his head to scowl at Aman who had a slight smile on his face as he announced, "Your last appointment for the day, Sir."

(TINA!, thanx)

Arnav glared at Aman, and looked past him.

Khushi stood there, peeping over Aman's shoulder. Dressed in a vivid red sari, she was glowing.

"May I come in?", she asked with a smile.

Arnav stood up slowly, the tension and the weariness falling off him like a discarded cloak.

"Khushi!", he murmured, his melting eyes on her glowing face. A smile appeared on his face, softening the weary lines of his visage.

Aman and Akash smiled at the change in Arnav's demeanour, and quickly excused themselves.



Khushi was still standing near the door.

"Do you need an invitation to come in?", he purred, his chocolate eyes taking on a honey tinge.

"Yes. I need to make sure that the lion is not roaring.", she said cheekily.

"Have I ever roared at you in these three and a half years?", he asked, his husky voice reminding her of warm nights, his soft touches, his naughty fingers gliding over her hot silky skin, his lips worshiping every inch of her body... He slowly walked towards her.

She lowered her eyes, and shook her head to mean 'no'.

"Then?", he asked.

"When you shout at others, get irritated with them for small things..."

"Haan?"

"I...I feel like laughing..."

"Laughing? Really?"

She nodded.
 
"When others scurry like rats, scared of your roar, when your face goes all serious like our school principal's just before she used to cane me, I feel like laughing..."

He cupped her face in his warm palm. "Khushi!"

He would never tire of listening to her talk, would gladly spend all his life looking into her eyes, would enjoy every moment of her company that he had been given...




She looked into his loving eyes, and asked, "Arnavji, today is Friday. Can we spend the night at the farmhouse?"

"Why not?", he murmured.

Khushi smiled into his eyes. 

There was something special about her today, he felt. She had come to the office today. She never ever did that. She had suggested going to the farmhouse. Why?
And she looked beautiful. She always looked beautiful, but today, she looked extra gorgeous. And her eyes... Her eyes seemed to hold so much love for him that he could drown in them. They were looking him over as though she could not get enough of him.

He gently smoothed a few strands of her hair behind her ear. She caught his hand, and kissed his palm.

"Let's go home, get some clothes, and leave for the farmhouse.", he suggested.

"I have already packed for both of us. Mohanji has already placed the bags in your car."

Arnav looked into her eyes. What was happening here?, he wondered. 

"I have already informed Naniji & Di."

He kissed her forehead. "Okaa..aay!"

"Shall we leave, Arnavji?", she asked, her voice soft and loving.

He nodded, quickly grabbed his laptop and the files he needed, and left the office with her, taking hold of her hand.



As they walked down the steps, many employees stole looks at the angel who had managed to make a place for herself in the stone heart of ASR, the machine. Khushi, embarrassed, tried to pull her hand out of his, but he held firm.

"Arnavji, people are watching!", she warned him softly, her cheeks tinged with pink.

"Let them.", he said. "I am holding MY wife's hand, not somebody else's."




As he drove towards the farmhouse, he looked at Khushi.

She was lying back against the seat, silent, a small smile on her face.

She was silent. She was silent?

"Khushi, kya hua?"

She looked into his concerned eyes.

"I am very happy, Arnavji." She smiled at him.

"Sure?"

She nodded, and squeezed his hand. 

"Three years and six months have gone by so fast, Arnavji!", she said. "Can you believe that it has been three and a half years since we got married?" 

"No, it seems like yesterday.", he said, smiling.

"My BA is over, our promise to Babuji has been kept, Jiji and Jiju have a son, Nanheji is helping you in your business... So much has happened in this time."

"All good. Only good."

Khushi smiled.



They reached the farmhouse. It was getting dark.
As soon as he stopped the car, she walked to the tree that he, Di, & his Mama had planted together in his childhood. As he watched, she put her arms around the trunk, and whispered something to it that he couldn't make out. Then she returned to him, and began to help him carry the bags inside.

"What were you telling Mama?", he asked.

"It is a secret.", she smiled, naughtiness rife in her eyes and grin.

He sighed, pretending exasperation. "You and your Saasumaa!"

She giggled. He loved the sound of her giggle.



Later, he sat back, replete, the remains of a delicious dinner on the small table that he had placed in the garden for her. He looked at her. She was dressed in a white suit that she normally wore at night, her hair unbound, her arms free of bangles, her mangalsutra and her sindoor her only ornaments... She had never looked more beautiful to him.

"Arnavji, I have something to show you."

She got up and went into the bedroom. He cleared the table while she was gone, and returned to sit among the plants in his garden that was brightly lit by many lanterns.

She returned and walking up to him, sat on his lap, locking her arms around his neck. His arms closed around her, pulling her as close to him as possible.

She handed him a slim cover.

He looked at her, and then flipped it open, drawing a single sheet out from it.

He read it, reread it, and sat staring at it for a few moments, unable to believe his eyes. Then he looked at her. She could see a glimpse of tears in his beautiful eyes.

"Khushi!", the whisper wafted on the cool night air.

She didn't need his words. She had never needed his words. She cupped his face and kissed his tears away. He hugged her tight, his hand gently rubbing where their baby lay.



A while later, he carried her to their bedroom, and placed her gently on the bed. Then he sat by her, just looking at her, thinking how lucky he was. If he hadn't seen her feeding the pigeons in the temple...if Babuji had refused his proposal...He shuddered to think of it.

"Arnavji, I want you to do a few things for me."

"Anything, Khushi."

"One, I am going to have a baby. Please don't stop me from walking about in the house, eating what I feel like eating, cooking, praying..."

"Err..." He cleared his throat.

"I mean it, Arnavji." She smiled. "I saw how it was with Jiji. Jiju, you, and Nanheji. You wouldn't let her breathe without worrying about how she was breathing, whether it would hurt the baby..." 

"We...we were just looking after Payal, Khushi. What if...what if she had fallen or something?"

"Arnavji! She had been walking by herself for years before she married Jiju." Khushi giggled. "I am sure Jiji wanted to tell you 3 that she could manage by herself, but her good manners forbade her from screaming at you." She teased Arnav. "And what was it that you 3 did in the hospital at the time of her delivery? You scared the doctor. One husband and two over-protective brothers, literally breathing down her neck asking her how Jiji was, why it hurt her, how come the doctor didn't know how to take away her pain, asking her from where she had taken her medical degree..., AND then Jiju fainting when Jiji delivered..." Khushi burst out laughing.

Arnav could smile at the memory now.

"I will be perfectly fine, Arnavji. I promise you. I am more than 21 now. I will be very careful, and won't take stupid risks. Please don't worry about me." She caught hold of his hand. "When I see you anxious, Arnavji, it hurts here." She touched her heart with his hand. 

Arnav swallowed hard. Then he said, "I will try...try not to worry..."

"That will do, Arnavji.", she smiled happily. "And one more thing."

"Haan?"

"This is...what do you call it in your business speak?... haan! This is non-negotiable!"

Arnav smiled. "What is non-negotiable?"

"Promise me that you will love me then as much as you do now."

"Uuhh?" Arnav's face was a picture.

"Once you see our child's face, I don't want you to forget me."

Arnav hugged her, and whispered against her lips, "I promise, Khushi. Even if we have a hundred children, I promise that you will always be the one I love the most."

"I don't mind if you love all of them, all hundred of them, but..." 

"Remember what I promised you that day at the party, Khushi. You will never lose me. Never, as long as I am alive."

Khushi cuddled up to him, and placed a kiss on his heart.




After a while, Arnav asked softly, "Did you tell Amma, Babuji, Buaji, Nani...?"

"No. I wanted to tell Amma and you first. We can tell the others tomorrow when we return."

Arnav kissed her on the forehead, and asked her, "What made you go in for a check up, Khushi?"

"I was feeling sleepy all the time, Arnavji. Naniji asked me to shoo crows away from some rice she wanted dried by the pool, and I fell asleep over the rice. Then, seeing that I was listless, Di made jalebis for me. The moment I had a whiff of the jalebis, I wanted to throw up. Then I knew."

"That you were pregnant?", Arnav looked at her, astonished.

"No! That there was something very, very seriously wrong with me. Just imagine, Arnavji! Me feeling sick at the smell of jalebis. I thought it was some terminal illness. That's why I didn't tell you or any one. I went to Dr. Sharma and told her all my symptoms. Then she sent me for some tests, and then I found out that I was pregnant." She smiled happily. Arnav chuckled.


Dawn made its presence felt, spreading its radiance gently across the sky, bathing the farmhouse in its diffused light. Khushi turned in Arnav's arms, burrowing her face into the crook of his neck, hitching her leg higher up his hips, holding him tight against her with her arm... He smiled at her sleeping form, her innocent, relaxed face, and looked out through the window. 

Gentle light fell on their tree, standing tall and majestic among the other plants, dwarfing them with its size and age.

"Thank you, Mama!", he whispered. "For sending Khushi to me. For knowing how lonely I was. For all the happiness we have had for three and a half years. For the baby. Thank you, Mama."

Khushi stirred in his arms, whispering "Arnavji" and tightening her arm around him. He dropped a kiss on her forehead, promising her silently that he would be there for her and their family, with her and their family every moment of their lives.

The End