6. His Own Chammak Challo



Arnav looked at the girl sitting across him in the cafe. How many times had he hurt her? He couldn't remember. Right from the day she fell into his arms at Sheesh Mahal to the moment he had called her a halwaii. Why did he keep on giving her tears? He looked at her bright eyes and live features. What was she made of, to bounce back from every pain? Could she ever become someone else's?
He brought back his mind to the matter at hand. Akash and Payal were worrying him.
"In my opinion, this deal will be a good one" (Akash will get what he wants. He will be happy. He deserves to be happy. It should happen at the earliest)
"Deal? What do you mean by that?"
(Damn) "I mean, it will be good for both of them. (Be careful about the words you use with her.) Akash is a good boy (not like me. He won't hurt Payal as I have hurt you). He is my brother." (I will be always there for him and his wife.)
Arnav heard her murmur, "He is a good person inspite of being your brother",  her right hand playing with her earring. Her grumbling entertained him, and he decided to turn the screw a little. There were so few such moments in his life.
He looked at her, his left brow raised slightly, and as expected, she jumped into the breach with an explanation. With a patently false smile, she said, " Even though he is so good, my jiji has refused him..."
He continued looking at her. (Come on, don't stop)
"My jiji is very stubborn" (Look who is talking) "It is very difficult to change her 'no' into an 'yes'. We have to make her aware of her feelings for Akashji by hook or by crook."
"OK. I will ask Akash to take a lot of gifts and go and meet your sister." (That has always worked with the bimbos I know. It keeps them quiet and happy.)
"What? This is not a business deal where you can send gifts and get your client's signature on a piece of paper." (Not business? I am lost. Gifts have always worked before, with girls and clients!)
Reading Arnav's confusion & helplessness (leading to a rising anger), Khushi continued quickly,
"We need to do something good, different, something dhamakedar..." (Here it comes...Khushi Kumari Gupta's brilliant brain is swinging into action...control your smile...maintain your blank  expression...and be careful. Her plans always get you into trouble.)
"I have a plan", she said. 
Arnav looked to the elements for escape.
"Bolo" (Here it comes.) Arnav looked at her calling him closer with a wave of her hand as though he were her best friend. He looked around at the other customers to see what they thought of her gesture. An impatient Khushi said, "Please come fast."
"WAIT." (I am having enough trouble controlling my eagerness to be close to you without having to dampen your excitement as well. Let me get myself under control.)
He leaned forward carefully.
Arnav watched Khushi come up with the wildest of wild ideas. Where does she get them from? He sat shocked, staring at her mobile features as she planned and plotted. Her expressive eyes, the joy on her face, and her zest for living captivated him.
On their way out, they stopped by the stairs.
Arnav saw a flicker of awareness of all that has passed between them on her face. With a hint of awkwardness and recognition of his maleness, she said,
"Regardless of whatever has happened or may happen between us, we are together on this issue." (YES! Let me touch you!)
"OK then." Arnav held out his hand for her to shake. There were people around, and unfortunately he wasn't angry. He couldn't take hold of her shoulders and arms (his fav hold), or lift her up in his arms (He had done it so often that it had almost become a habit), or take possession of her wrist (He could do it in his sleep. Again, practice makes perfect.)
She hesitated, uncertain about his intention and alerted by his devilish smile as he focusedon her face. He was wallowing in her fear of her response to his touch.

With no other choice left, she slowly slipped her small hand into his larger one. (Welcome to my parlour, said the spider to the fly.) He clasped her hand and held it tight in the warm embrace of his palm and fingers. (His to hold!)
"Khushi, there is a problem. Your plan is very stupid. It will fail." (Now come the fireworks. Yes, bring them on.)
"What? My plan will not fail. You want Akashji and my Jiji to be together, don't you? Then this plan alone will work." (Right!)
He looked at the earnestness and complete confidence on her face, and bit down rising laughter and the desire to carry her out of there...right into RM...up the stairs...into his room...to the poolside...
He turned and left the room, followed by her.