90. Loving Khushi Part 2 (Section 3)

Loving Khushi: Part 2: Day 12: Section 3

Khushi slowly looked around.

Amma, Babuji, & Buaji were looking at her with expectant eyes.

She turned her eyes to her contract husband. He was waiting, his naughty eyes twinkling.

“He Devi Maiyya!” Khushi whispered.

Arnav smiled.

Khushi moved slowly towards the object of her distress, clutching the bottle of oil in her hand.

The doorbell rang.

All looked towards the door. Khushi’s breath left her in a rush of relief. Saved by the bell for a few minutes!, she thought.

“Thehro, Nandkisore! Hum aavat he!” Buaji grumbled goodnaturedly as she went to open the door.

Vimla Chachi stood beaming at the door, big with news about their neighbours.

Amma whispered to Khushi & Arnav, “Both of you go to your bedroom and do the maalish. Khussi, massage Damadji’s head too. It will give him a lot of relief. Bitwaa, take off your shirt. Otherwise, the oil will stain it.”

Khushi felt her heart stop. She stared at her mother with impossibly huge eyes, feeling a constriction in her chest. 

Arnav coughed slightly to stop the laughter bubbling inside his chest at the look on Khushi’s face.

Buaji was leading Vimla Chachi in.

Arnav said suggestively, “Khushi, aren’t you going to take me to your bedroom?”

Khushi looked at the evil smirk on his face & vowed revenge even if it killed her.

“Khussi, go, go.” Amma exhorted her.

Khushi looked heavenwards for a moment, promising Devi Maiyya an earful as soon as she had dealt with the pest of a Raizada sitting in front of her. She then marched towards her bedroom, bottle in hand.

Arnav followed her gleefully.

Khushi walked in to her bedroom, pouting. Fate was conspiring against her.

Arnav took the precaution of locking the door after him. The last thing he wanted was Vimla Chachi exclaiming over the rope cuts on his arms or his leanness… He quickly unbuttoned his waistcoat & his shirt.

Khushi placed the bottle of oil on her table by Devi Maiyya’a idol, and pulled out the chair for him.

“Aap yahan baitiyee!” she muttered.

A shirtless Arnav slid into the chair. Khushi gasped.

“Aap…aap…what…why…?” poor Khushi gasped, her eyes lingering on his shoulders and his back covered only by a silky, golden wheat-coloured skin, its smooth look tempting her hands to wander over them at will.

Arnav turned his head to look at her. “Sunna nahi Amma kya keh rahi thi? The oil will stain my shirt!” He tried to look as innocent as an Adonis with naughty intentions and dressed solely in a pair of black trousers could look.

Khushi shut her eyes for a moment, drawing in a vast amount of air into her starved lungs.

Arnav smiled. He could see her & himself in the mirror on the wardrobe.

Khushi opened her eyes. Arnav quickly wiped off the smile from his face.

Khushi moved a step closer to the chair to stand at his back. The bottle was on the table. As she leaned forward to take it, her unbound hair touched his bare shoulder.

Arnav shuddered.

“Are you feeling cold?” Khushi frowned. It was a warm day.

“No. Very hot.” Arnav replied, tongue-in-cheek.

Khushi frowned at him, not comprehending his meaning. She poured a little oil in her left palm, and leaned forward to place the bottle on the table, her arm grazing his shoulder.

Arnav drew in a sharp breath.

“It won’t hurt.” Khushi said, frowning at the back of his head. Why was he scared of the oil?

She needed to get his head tilted at an angle to massage his forehead. Khushi swallowed through a dry throat. She touched his thick, dark hair with slightly trembling fingers and pulled his head back to rest against her bosom. Khushi felt breathless at the press of his head against her softness. His hair was so soft, so silky, so unruly, the strands clinging to her fingers as though begging her not to take her hand off his dark locks.

Arnav shut his eyes, holding his breath, waiting for more.

Slowly, with shaking fingers, Khushi managed to spread the oil on his frowning forehead, sharp nose, lean cheeks, and clenched jaw. From his chin, her fingers smoothed oil down his neck. The muscles of his throat worked as he tried to control himself from pulling her into his lap and kissing her senseless. His hands clutched the arms of her chair, threatening to crush the wood with his strong grasp.

Arnav lifted his lashes to look at her disconcerted face, a blush staining her plump cheeks as she grappled with the sense of having him at her mercy and the freedom of touching him where she willed, as long as she wanted…

There was perfect silence in the room. The air seemed so thick that Khushi & Arnav could not draw breath. Khushi lifted her head to see him in the mirror, his eyes burning as they ran over her.

Desire that had been suppressed for too long and love that had been silenced for too long made their presence felt.

Khushi averted her eyes and focused on the work at hand. Arnav continued to devour her with his molten chocolate eyes.

She moved both hands to his forehead, and with deft, slick fingers, began to press and rub the knotted nerves, soothing them. She rubbed the frown lines away, rubbed the area between his brows firmly, pressed the bridge of his nose with her thumbs, and kneaded the pain out of his cheekbones and jaw.

Arnav fell back further against her, cushioning his head against her softness, her touch taking him to a pain-free and dream-filled world. Her warm fingers moved down to his throat. Arnav swallowed, feeling her hesitation.

He sat waiting, silent, trying very hard to regulate his breathing. Khushi looked down at his bare chest and washboard stomach, and hyperventilated. Why did he have to remove his clothes?

Khushi slowly pushed his head away from her bosom. Her fingers kneaded his nape. Arnav moaned in relief.

“Khushi… my shoulders too.” he said, his husky voice sending the butterflies in her tummy dancing wildly.

Khushi leaned forward to take the bottle of oil, holding on to one bare shoulder for purchase. Arnav shut his eyes in pleasure, loving the bite of her nails on his muscles.

Khushi warmed the oil by rubbing her palms together, and applied it on his shoulders, his muscles rippling as she caressed them. Arnav watched her closely with rapt eyes as she massaged his aching body. Khushi looked up, and seeing his predatory eyes on her, felt her hand slip from the shoulder she had been working on to slide down his arm.

Khushi quickly lifted her hands off his shoulders. And looked at him. Whatever it was that she saw in his eyes, it made her tuck her loose strand of hair behind her right ear, totally uncaring of the fact that her fingers were leaving traces of oil on her face. Arnav felt a wave of tenderness wash over him. He smiled at her through the mirror.

Khushi grabbed the bottle of oil as though it were a talisman to protect her from the smirking Shaitan. It was time to leave the room. Staying in the same room as a smiling Arnav Singh Raizada was hazardous to the health of her heart.

“Aren’t you going to massage my head, Khushi?” the devil asked. “Should I ask your Amma to do it?”

Khushi clenched her jaw and grit her teeth. If this was the way things went on, by the time the twelve days were over, she would have only stubs where her teeth were supposed to be, she thought. His head! There were many things she wanted to do to his head. And massaging it was not one of them, she fumed.

She glared at Devi Maiyya who was watching the proceedings with  benevolent eyes, and poured oil on her palm. Arnav bit down his laughter.

Khushi pushed her oily fingers into his thick hair and began massaging his scalp. Arnav’s aahs and oohs were the only sounds in the room, if one discounted the dhak dhak of their hearts and their rapid breathing.

“You hands, Khushi…They feel so good…” Arnav’s soft words sent a tingle down her spine.

Khushi gulped. She finished the massage as soon as humanly possible, heaving a sigh of relief as she walked around him to screw the cap tightly on the bottle.

The next thing she knew, she was sitting on Arnav Singh Raizada’s lap, her hands clutching his oily shoulders for support. His bare, oily shoulders for support. His arms were around her waist, holding her close to his chest. His shirtless, warm chest…

Khushi squirmed, trying to free herself of his hold. He tightened his arms.

“Kya kar rahe he aap? Chodiye hamein….” Khushi tried to protest.

Arnav cradled her in his arms, and kissed her forehead.

“Thank you, Khushi.” he murmured against her skin.

Khushi sat still on his lap, shocked at the kiss and his gratitude.

Arnav bent to kiss her cheek. “Your hands are so soft…” he whispered, his lips moving against her skin. Khushi felt her heart beat louder than a drum, faster than a speeding train.

He rubbed his nose against hers, transfering oil to her face. “Your fingers have magic in them…”

Khushi stared at him, unblinking, panting for breath.

Arnav stared at her parted lips for a fraction of a second. In keeping with his new resolution of showing her his love as and when he felt it, he swooped down and kissed her lips.

A while later, he lifted his face off hers. Her eyes were dazed, and her fingers were in his hair, clutching the locks as though they were a lifeline.

Arnav stood up, Khushi in his arms, and walked to her bed. He laid her on it and got in beside her, almost crushing her with his body. Khushi put her arms around him, enjoying his weight against her. He rained kisses on her face, taking his time to worship her with his lips, moving closer and closer to her lips, but not touching them. He kept her wanting so long, he kept her so needy that, finally in desperation, Khushi clutched the back of his head and pulled him closer so that their lips could touch.

He brushed her lips softly with his, teasing her, taking his lips away from hers. Khushi was in no mood to be teased. Khushi pulled at his shoulders, and dragged him closer.

Amma knocked on the door. “Khussi, Vimala has gone. How is Damadji’s headache now?”

Khushi woke up from the dream he had lulled her into, and scrambled off the bed.

“I am much better, Amma.” Arnav laughed. “My headache is gone.”

Khushi looked at his laughing visage with feverish eyes. His headache was gone, but hers was just beginning!


 Rash's interpretation Part 2: Section 3: BLITZKRIEG


Smita,
Here is the interpretation to Section 3 of Part 2.
This update is about coming out from a defensive position to make an attack. An intense attack intended to bring about a swift victory.. in a word, BLITZKRIEG.

What is Blitzkrieg?

It is a military tactical term of German origin. The word, meaning "lightning war", in its strategic means is associated with a series of quick and decisive short battles to deliver a knockout blow to an enemy before they could fully mobilize. 

When Khushi slowly looked around for some sort of support to get out of massaging Arnav, all she found was the expectant eyes, of Amma, Babuji and Buaji on her, to comply. They were putting forth their expectation out for her through their single look without uttering a word. As she looked at her contract husband, with eyes, as luminous, bright and brown as waters of a woodland river, he was waiting with naughtiness twinkling that said, she was a fair game. Khushi's whisper, He Devi Maiyya!  like a low wind sigh, was met with a smile from Arnav. Clutching tightly the bottle of oil, showing her distress over the need to minister a massage, as she moved towards the object of her distress, the door bell rang. Khushi heaved a sigh of relief at the thought of being saved by the bell for a few minutes.She thought it would help her to emerge intact out of the soup she was lead into. Buaji with a good natured grumble called out, that she was on her way, as she ambled her rotund self to open the door. It was Vimla Chachi who had come visiting, armed with the latest of the grapevines. Amma, whispering to Khushi and Arnav, asked them to go to the bed room to get the massaging done. She instructed Khushi, to massage his head as it would give him the much needed relief. She also instructed Arnav, to remove his shirt to avoid oil stains on it. Khushi felt her heart stop and her chest constrict. Khushi, with eyes that grew bright and large, like the water springs when rain-fed that dilate their marge, stared at her mother as though she was doling out a preposterous advice. Arnav, turned his laughter that was bubbling inside him wanting to come out like the sudden outburst of the glad bird in the tree-top, into a hiccup. It was like letting monkey free in the banana plantation.

When Buaji let Vimla Chachi in, Arnav's suggestive query, was she not going to comply with her mother's request? was weighed by Khushi for what it was worth. His snide smirk made her boil and promised herself to pay him back in spades, even if it was the last thing she did. As Amma's hurriedly urged to go inside, Khushi looked heavenward, mentally promising her Devi Maiyya, that She was to get an earful as soon as she had dealt with the pest of a Raizada who was sitting pretty in front of her. Armed with the bottle of oil she marched to the bedroom and was followed by a jubilant Arnav. The lines for the battle were drawn. 

As a sulky Khushi walked into the bedroom she realized, that her fate as plain as a day, was leaning towards him. Taking care to lock the door lest Vimla Chachi sauntered in and comment on the rope cuts on his arms or his leanness, Arnav shed his waist coat and his shirt. Khushi asked Arnav to sit on the chair, placing the bottle of oil on her table by Devi Maiyya'a idol. Seeing Arnav's bare torso, she gasped and stammered out. You... what... why? with her eyes, lingering on his shoulders and back, allured by the silky, golden wheat-coloured skin, looking  smooth, just like a velvet breeze on a summery night, tempting her hands to wander over them at will. The assault on her senses had begun.

Arnav turning his head towards her asked, did she not hear what her Amma had to say? The oil would stain his shirt. The bare torso Adonis, looking as innocent as a new born babe, but full of naughty intentions was dressed in just a pair of black trousers. Khushi shut her eyes for a moment inhaling deeply, trying to calm her mind and her heart that was quaking and quivering, like a short-haired puppy after a ducking, while Arnav relished witnessing in the mirror, the gamut of expressions that flitted across her face. He had a wide grin ear to ear like a Cheshire cat. It was a raid on her senses, to see Arnav in a half dressed state. When Khushi opened her eyes he schooled his face into innocence, wiping off the smile from his face. Khushi moved a step closer to the chair and leaned across him to reach the bottle. Her unbound hair, like a cascading waterfall showered down upon his shoulders, caressing his back like a soft gentle breeze. It made Arnav shudder, and Khushi frown and ask, was he feeling cold, even on such a warm day. No, very hot was his wise crack. Khushi's frown deepened unable to comprehend what he meant. Pouring a little oil into her left palm, leaning over, to place the bottle on the table, her arm gently brushed his shoulder like a silk scarf, leaving just a soft and a pleasurable feeling, making his breath hitch. Khushi, unaware of her effect on him, frowning as he drew in a sharp breath, assured that it won't hurt, but wondered, why he was scared of the oil! Feeling the necessity, to have his head held at an angle to massage his forehead, overcoming her inhibition, she touched with trembling hands, his thick dark mane, looking lush like a woodland growth, to rest against her bosom. Khushi felt breathless at the feel of his head against her softness. His hair was soft, silky, smooth and unruly, yielding into her hands, the dark locks playing with her breath imploring her fingers, to entwine with them. Arnav shut his eyes with bated breath for more assault on his senses. Slowly, with shaking fingers Khushi spread the oil on his forehead, sharp nose, lean cheeks and clenched jaw. With flourishing strokes she smoothed oil from his chin down to his neck. The muscles of his throat worked as he tried to control himself from pulling her into his lap and kissing her senseless. His hands clutched the arms of the chair, in a strong iron grip.The offensive was taking its toll on him too.
Arnav lifted his lashes and took in her flustered face, with a blush rising on her like the morning sun, as she was coming to terms with having him at her mercy and the freedom of touching him at her will. With perfect silence prevailing, the air seemed so thick that they could not even draw breath. Khushi, lifting her head saw in the mirror, his eyes smoldering with heated passion as they ran over her. Air was like wine, heady with desire and love, that had long been suppressed, were making their presence felt. Khushi skittering away her eye, continued with the task at hand, while Arnav's molten caramel eyes continued to devour her. With deft fingers and slick movements she massaged his knotted nerves relaxing them. Taking each and every part of his face with her fingers using her magical touch, she relaxed them and kneaded the pain out. Arnav relaxed against the soft cushioning of her bosom, feeling like a drifting cloud, bathed in her warm touch, experienced euphoria, so far unknown to him. It was like getting wings to his dreams and floating in a pain-free sky. He relished this attack blitz on his senses. When her warm fingers moved down to his throat, he could feel her hesitation. He sat waiting in silence trying to bring the erratic heart beat under control. Khushi looking at his well toned torso, feeling as breathless as the deer driven hard to bay, wondered, why was it that he had to remove his shirt?

Pushing his head away from her bosom she worked on his nape, elicting a sigh of relief and pleasure. His husky voice, making butterflies dance in her belly, asked her to massage his shoulders too. Knowing that she was reluctant to do it, he set forth to corner her so that she was left with no option than to give in to his request. Gripping his shoulders on one hand, she leaned to take the bottle. Arnav shut his eyes in pleasure at the warm touch, loving the dig of her nails on his muscles.
Khushi warming the oil between her palms, applied it on his shoulders where his muscles rippled in spasms, like the waves rolling in, as she caressed them. Arnav with his hawk like eyes, watched her closely, as she massaged his aching body. Khushi, sensing his burning eyes up on her, felt her hand slip from the shoulder she had been working on to slide down his arm. She quickly lifted her arm and what she saw in his eyes made her tuck the tendril on her face behind her ear, forgetting that her fingers were soaked in oil. Arnav feeling a wave of tenderness washing over him at this endearing gesture of hers, smiled at her through the mirror. His smile was launching a storm in her mind, turning her cheeks into a blushing cloud. This constant shelling on her senses and heart made her decide that it was time to retreat as it was taking a toll on her. Khushi grabbed the bottle of oil and got ready to leave the room knowing the effect of the smiling assassin on her heart. A grumpy Raizada could freeze her heart, but a smiling one was deadly. He could make her heart soar high and float like streamers in the wind. But that very thing was hazardous to her heart. She knew that this Arnav, was capable of penetrating deep into her heart and be the cause of her meltdown. But, that was not what the rational side of her mind told her she wanted.

Arnav who was now an imp personified asked, was she not planning to massage his head or was he to ask her Amma to do? Khushi clenching her jaws and gritting her teeth, just like a dry ice in hot water, hissed in anger. She was being overrun by maelstrom of emotions. On one hand, she was being rushed to massage him and bear the brunt of his onslaught on her senses. On the other hand, anger was pushing her not to give in to him. She thought if this was what she could look forward to in the next twelve days, then there would only be stubs as remnants of teeth just like ramparts of fallen forts. For his head, she had a list of lovely thoughts on ways to grind it and massaging never featured in it. She glared at her Devi Maiyya who was watching the proceedings with Benevolent Eyes, who she believed was the puppeteer. She poured oil on her palm, making Arnav ravish with delight. While Khushi massaged his scalp with her deft and nimble fingers, Arnav's moans in delight were the only sounds in the room, discounting the wild erratic heartbeats and their heavy breathing. Arnav's words, her hands feel so good, uttered with a voice so mellow, so bright and warm, as if a beam of sunshine had been melted into sound, sent tingles down her spine. Khushi was unable to talk at the rush of feelings that were arising in her. Finishing the massage in a record speed, heaving a huge sigh of relief, she screwed the cap tightly on the bottle. As she went around, in a move of lightning speed, she found herself seated in the comfort of Arnav Singh Raizada's lap, her hands clutching at his glistening shoulders for support. The blitz attack, left her with no other option than to comply, as she was not given time to react.
His arms had wound themselves around her waist bringing her close to his warm and stripped torso. As Khushi squirmed, his hands held her as tight as an oyster, making Khushi say in protest, what was he upto, and to leave her alone. Arnav cradling her in his arms and kissing her forehead and trying to comfort her, murmured his thanks against her skin. It was a bolt out of blue. She sat still on his lap to digest his kiss and his gratitude. Arnav kissing her cheek said in the softest of whispers, that her hands were soft, as soft as dew on flowers of spring, and his lips caressed her skin. Khushi felt her heart boom louder than a bass drum, faster than a runaway train. Nuzzling her nose with his, Arnav smeared her face with oil and mumbled that, her fingers possessed magic. His intense attack, succeeded in making Khushi short of breath with her eyes out on stalks! 

Arnav staring at her parted lips for a fraction of a second, in keeping to the promise he made to himself as to show her his love in all possible ways, at all possible times, whenever he felt so, in a move as swift as the thought, caught her lips in a kiss, as sweet as honey. After a while, when he lifted his face off hers, bedazzled by the onslaught, her fingers lay curling in his hair, gripping them as though they were her lifeline. Arnav carried Khushi in his arms and laid her on bed. Getting in beside her he held her close to his body, making Khushi hug him in a warm snuggle and enjoy the feel of his weight on her.

Raining her face with kisses, giving her lips the misses, taking his own sweet time to worship her with his lips, pressing his lips all over her face but her lips, he kept her yearning so long, he kept her so longing that, finally in desperation, Khushi clutched the back of his head and pulled him closer so that their lips could meet. Passion and desire, like the two twists of rope, mutually mixed one with the other, twining inextricably round their heart. Teasing her lips with soft kisses, he made Khushi feel the need to have his lips firmly on hers. The attack was turning into a victory. As she pulled at his shoulders and dragged his face closer, there came a knock from Amma, asking Khushi, how Damadji's headache was and Vimla had gone. This reality check from Amma, burst the dream bubble that had enveloped her and let her soar high, allowing her heart to take the lead, made Khushi scamper off her bed. It was Arnav who called out with laughter lurking in his voice, that he was much better and his headache had taken a hike. Khushi was still soaked in the emotional downpour, with her hazel eyes, looked at his laughing face giving it sultry glances, unable to control her reeling senses. His head ache was gone but hers was just beginning. He had aroused her sensually so much that now she was left with what she was never aware of before, craving and unfinished!

In this update, we see Khushi being the target and Arnav achieving the victory. He has succeeded in awakening her sensual needs and she has ventured out to initiate the kiss. He has made her extremely aware, that it was he whom she needs. With the timely help of her parents Arnav has succeeded beyond his dreams now, with the continuous blitz attack.
While doing so Arnav too is not unaffected. He has realized that he enjoys Khushi's company more than anything and he would go to any length to be with her. Shelling her senses with his reactions to her touch and later with kisses he is giving her a glimpse of how things could be between them if given a chance.
The day is not over yet. It is just nearing mid-day and it is the birthday of Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. Arnav Singh Raizada is not the one who will be going to let go of this chance. Having lost a few hours to work in the morning, he has made it up beautifully beyond his expectation. It was a successful BLITZKRIEG.

"Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing           toward what will be"                                         
                                          ~ Kahlil Gibran

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.



Part 2: Day 12: Section 4

Khushi looked out through the window at the night sky, not because she wanted to see the sights, but because she wanted to avoid the Raizada driving the car, stealing looks at her lips with his seductive eyes…

It had been so throughout lunch and tea. He had barely taken his eyes off her and Khushi had felt her Amma’s delicious cooking stick in her throat.

Khushi fumed, and worried. What would she do once they reached RM? Why had she looked at his shirtless glory? She should have shut her eyes tight while massaging him! And why had she let him kiss her? And enjoyed it? The feel of his lips… Who had known that the lips that had insulted her time and again were capable of… Khushi squirmed in the hot seat of her own making. The seatbelt seemed to chafe her. If only she could fly out through the window, like a bird….

Arnav stopped the car in front of RM and opened his door. Khushi pushed her door open, clambered down, and almost ran to the front door.

“Khushi…” Arnav called.

Khushi pretended a sudden bout of deafness and sounded the door bell, praying that Hari Prakashji would open the door fast before her contract husband reached her. She tapped her foot in impatience.

Hari Prakashji opened the door. Smiling at his greeting, not waiting to respond to them, she ran to the kitchen.

HP stared after Khushiji with perplexed eyes. Was Khushiji so thirsty that she was running to the kitchen?

Dinner was a quiet affair, with Nani & Anjaliji having it upstairs. Mami, NK, Arnav, Khushi, Akash, & Payal had it in near silence in the dining room.

Payal whispered in Khushi’s ear, “Happy birthday, Khushi.”

Khushi smiled at her Jiji. “Thank you, Jiji.”

“I wanted to wish you in the morning, but…”

“I know. With everyone so worried and upset…” Khushi comforted her.

“I am glad you went to Buaji’s house for the day. They must have made you your favourite dishes…” Payal smiled.

“Haan, Jiji.” Khushi smiled back.

Dinner was soon over. Payal, Khushi, & HP cleared the table. Mami went to watch her favourite serial on TV. NK went with Akash & Arnav to check on Anjali. 

Soon, everyone drifted off to their rooms.

Arnav collected the parcels he had ordered and waited in his room for Khushi, but there was no sign of her. She was avoiding him. How could she? After pacing the length & breadth of his room for a while, Arnav went down to the kitchen.

“And then I made jalebi… A mountain of jalebi... Hari Prakashji, you won’t believe how many people had dinner in our house that night. It was such fun…” Her voice trailed away as her eyes fell on the furious Raizada standing at the door of the kitchen. Her fingers stopped shelling the peas. HP, who had been enjoying her Lucknow tales, looked around to see Arnav Bhaiyya staring at his wife.

“Khushi, come up with me.” the lion growled.

“I have work in the kitchen.” the lioness growled back.

“Khushi…” the lion raged.

“Khushi Bhabi, leave the peas. I will do them.” HP, the traitor, took away her excuse.

Left with no recourse, Khushi walked out of the kitchen & up the stairs, feeling like a student chastised by a teacher. She looked daggers at the stern back of her Shaitan, but walked after him to his room.

Once they reached the room, Arnav shut the door after her. He picked up a huge bouquet of red roses and pushed them into her hands.

“For me?” Khushi’s eyes were as round as saucers.

“No. For Aman.” Arnav bit out, his caustic tongue sharpened by the knowledge that Khushi was trying to keep a distance between them.

“Then give it to Amanji. Why are you pushing it into my arms?” Khushi asked.

“Khushi!” he bit out. “Happy birthday!”

Khushi looked at his face that was pale with anger & then his gift. She sighed. “Is this the way you give a gift? After shouting at the birthday girl…?”

“This is the way I give gifts.” Arnav bit out.

“No wonder you don’t have any friends except Amanji!” Khushi retorted. “It is a wonder he hasn’t left you long before. What have you done to him? Forced him to sign a contract?”

Arnav tried hard to control his anger. He had only 12 more days. He looked at the clock. Soon this day would end, & he would be left with just eleven more days… His anger vanished as if it had never been. If she left him… he would die...

“Khushi…” he said softly. “You love red roses, don’t you?”

“Ji.”

“That’s why I…”

Khushi looked at him for  a moment and then at the sweet-smelling flowers in her hands. “Thank you.” she whispered.

Arnav handed over another box to her, coming to stand behind her. “This too is for you.” He looked at her face with intent eyes.

Khushi put down the roses and took the gaily-wrapped box.

“Open it.” Arnav invited her, his eyes on her plump lips.

Khushi unwrapped it with shaking fingers. As she lifted the lid of the expensive-looking box, she saw a red hanky in it. Maybe a towel. Why was he giving her  a red towel for her birthday?, Khushi wondered.

Khushi lifted the flimsy satin cloth out of the box, setting the cover aside. It was claret in colour. Satin. It had two shoestring straps. Why should  a towel have straps?, Khushi frowned. She shook it out, and her eyes opened wide in horror.

It was a short nightie in claret satin, with more holes than material and straps so thin that even a child could tear them.

Khushi turned to look at Arnav’s eager face with wide eyes and an open mouth. Her heart beat sounded like a drum to her.

“Do you like it, Khushi?” His husky voice should be banned in all countries of the world, Khushi thought.

“Will you wear it, tonight?” he asked hopefully.

Khushi moved away from him and glared at him. “I will wear it for my real husband, not my contract husband who will vanish in…” she looked at the clock “…eleven days…” Even though the look on her face was militant, her voice was soft and sad.

Arnav felt tears choke him.

He had  a lot to make up for. Ever since they had met at Sheesh Mahal, he had been hurting her, destroying her life knowingly & unknowingly, pushing her into dangerous situations, harming her reputation, humiliating her, maligning her character… It would take his whole life to make up for all the insults he had heaped on her. Her tears on Diwali night… They had fallen on his heart, corroding it like acid…

“You will wear it one night, for me.” Arnav whispered it as though he were making her a promise.

Khushi raised her eyebrow.

Arnav nodded.

Khushi pursed her lips, pushed the soft material into its cover, and set it aside. She went to the wardrobe, took out her nightclothes, and fled to the bathroom.

She stood in the shower, feeling the sharp sting of cold water on her hot skin. She had to leave this house at the earliest. Each day spent here, each moment spent in his presence would weaken her. But how could she leave? He would try to stop her… the thoughts whirled around in her head, making it ache.

Finally, she emerged from the bathroom, dressed in her white casual suit, her hair unbound. The room was dark, only a night lamp shedding dim light to help her make her way to the bed. The recliner was in darkness.

Khushi slipped into bed with a sigh of relief. He had given up waiting for her and gone to sleep. She pulled the blanket over herself and settled down.

A warm arm came to lie over her waist.

Khushi yelped and sat up.

“Sshh…it is just me. Go to sleep.” Arnav murmured in his husky voice.

“What are you doing here?” Khushi hissed as soon as she was able to find her voice. Her arms tried to dislodge his, but to no avail.

“Sleeping. Or trying to…” She could hear the smile in his voice.

Khushi saw red. “You are supposed to sleep on the recliner. And I am to sleep on the bed.” she reminded him.

“Who said so?” he countered. “Why should I sleep on the recliner when there is a good bed here, waiting for me?” he asked reasonably.

Khushi tried to leave the bed. “Then I will sleep on the recliner.” she announced.

Arnav pulled her into his arms and cuddled her close. “It is very uncomfortable. Especially when you are on the bed and I am on the recliner. I can vouch for that.”

“Leave me!” Khushi tried to struggle against his hold.

Training at the akhada came in use. He wrestled her into his arms using his arms, legs, & body.

He whispered in her ear, “Never. We are going to sleep like this, in one bed, in each other’s arms, every night of our lives.” 

It was a promise.

Rashmi's interpretation: Part 2: Day 12: Section 4

Smita,

Here is the interpretation to Section 4 of Part 2.

This update tells us about things, actions made, built or done with hopes of but no assurance of return, without commitment, in a phrase, ON SPEC.

While on their drive back home, Khushi sat looking through the glass, not for the panoramic vista of Delhi at night with the lights on that were quivering in a flowing stream, but to avoid the vision of Charmer Raizada, who was stealing glances at her lips with his enticing caramel eyes, that had gone as deeply dark as the desert skies. It was the same all through the lunch and tea. His eyes were constantly on her like two flaming stars that were unhasting, unresting, making her feel Amma's delicious cooking, stick in her throat. It was a long shot and he was trying to woo her with his eyes. This chance he was taking was unnerving her. Khushi was all jittery and worried as what to do when they reached RM? The image of his shirtless torso was popping up in front of her eyes and her minds eye was refusing to let it be shrouded, even when she was trying her level best to suppress it. She realized that she should have shut her eyes against memorizing it while massaging. She berated herself for letting him kiss and moreover for letting herself go with the flow and enjoying it. She tried to console herself, how was she to know that the lips that spit out fireballs of insult that had seared her time and again, were honeyed, capable of setting her imagination afire. She had never even thought there would even be an outside chance for it to be so. How was she to know that those thoughts were going to get her in a pretty pickle? If only she was at liberty to get away from this and be free like a bird to fly away, she would do so at the blink of an eye. But alas! her fate had not stood by her.

As soon as they reached RM, Arnav got down to open her side of the door. But before he could, Khushi taking a stab at escaping from his ministration pushed it open and ran to the front door turning a deaf ear to his call. Khushi rang the bell praying that Hari Prakashji would open the door before her Arnavji could reach her. When HP opened the door, in her impatience, she responded to his greeting with just a vague smile, before she shot into the kitchen, making HP stare after her and wonder, was Khushiji so thirsty?

Dinner was a quiet affair with Nani and Anjali having it upstairs. The rest were having their food in absolute silence. Taking the chance, Payal in a whisper, wished her, Happy Birthday, making Khushi smile and thank. Payal expressed her sadness for not being able to wish her in the morning and Khushi comforted her saying that she knew that they had no chance. Payal with a heartfelt smile told her, that she was glad that Khushi went to Buaji's house and must have had a celebratory meal with her favorites in the menu. Khushi smiled back agreeing with her. The action of Payal, feeling happy about Khushi spending her day at Buaji's reassured her, of her sister's love and actually somebody does care about her and her well being at RM that was as silent as a standing pool.

Once the dinner was over, Payal, Khushi and HP cleared the table while Mami ambled off to watch her favourite serial on TV and NK went with Akash and Arnav to check on Anjali. Soon, all retired for the day and everyone drifted off to their rooms.

Arnav who had collected the parcels that he had ordered was waiting for Khushi in vain. Fed up of pacing, frustrated with her dodging him, he ventured into kitchen to see her engrossed in narrating about an incident of her jalebi making and the dinner that followed, while shelling the peas with HP. Her voice trailed off as her eyes fell on the Raizada, who could make her heart race like a wind, was now standing looking at her like a whirlwind of the tornado. Seeing her stiffen up like a stone, HP who was enjoying the Lucknow tales, looked up to see Arnav Bhaiyya staring furiously at his wife. Hearing him thunder, Khushi, come up with me, she rumbled, that she has work in the kitchen. His howl, Khushi.., had HP hurriedly tell her to leave the peas as he would do them and her excuse to linger in the kitchen flew away along with that.  

Seeing that her lone excuse had been taken away, she reconciled herself to be led out like a student chastised by a teacher. Cheesed off by his behaviour, she walked after him. Once inside the room, shutting the door after her, Arnav picked a huge bouquet of red roses and pushed it into her hands. A wide-eyed Khushi asked whether it was for her, making an already annoyed Arnav retort acerbically, that it was for Aman and not her. The knowledge that Khushi was trying her utmost to put in a distance between them did not sit well with him. This uncertainity was giving him jitters and his annoyance at the unknown vexed him so much, that it made him utter unwanted things to her. Khushi irked by his reply, risked a shot at him as to why was he pushing it to her arms when it was meant to be given to Amanji. Ignoring her jibe, with an incisive, Khushi! he wished her, Happy Birthday!

Khushi looking at his angry face, that resembled a pale moon, and the gift in her hand heaved a sigh and asked, was that the way he gives a gift?  Giving a gift after shouting like a storm at the birthday girl? Arnav who was barely holding on to the last threads of the reins on anger came out with, that was the way he gives gifts. Her sharp reply, that it was no wonder, he does not have any friends except Amanji! It is astonishing that he was still sticking around. What was it that was making him do so? Was it a binding contract that he is unable to get out off? was a pot shot at him, that she thought would push him away from her. It was a long shot but Arnav, being driven up the wall, tried hard to bring his anger under control. He remembered that he had only twelve more days left, corrected himself, precisely just eleven more days, as it was nearing the dawn of the new day. His red hot temper that was raring to burst out, with just this thought cooled like nothing else could. His anger vanished into thin air, with the realization that if she left him there would be nothing else for him to live for. He realized that his words, had the tendency to make her hackles rise and his actions spoke louder than words. His softly spoken, Khushi, followed by a query, that she loves red roses doesn't she? elicited a yes, from her. His utterance, that was the reason, made her stare at him for a moment and at the fragrant flowers and whisper out a word of gratitude. It was a gamble that paid off. He had waited with bated breath to see whether she would accept it from him. Seeing that she was not averse to receiving his gifts, handing her another box, standing close by and looking at her intently, he said, that too was for her. As she took the gift box Arnav insisted on her to open it, while his eyes were on her lips that were like two budded roses. Unnerved by his gaze, with shaky fingers, she opened the box to see a red piece of cloth. She wondered, was it a hanky, or a towel? But why would he give her a towel on her birthday? Lifting the flimsy satiny claret cloth out of the box, she saw it had spaghetti straps. Why should a towel have straps were her first thought that made her frown. But as she shook it, her eyes widened in horror. It was an elegant blend of satin and lace, with lace predominant, a short claret nightie, smooth, rich colored, enticing just like the wine. Khushi looked at the eager eyes of Arnav with her mouth open wide. Her heart was beating like a jungle drum and his husky voice asked her, whether she liked it?  His voice was so delectably ambrosial that it made her feel, would cause her to walk on a tight rope and to keep her sanity intact, it was mandatory to place a blanket ban on it. 

When he asked her, will she slip into it tonight, though she looked defiant, her voice was soft and sad as she said, that she would wear it in front of her real husband and not the contract one who would disappear from her life in eleven days time. Her answer dealt a severe blow to him making him choke with tears. His eyes were deep wells of gloom with his thoughts reflecting in them. He had taken a shot in the dark, hoping that she would comply with his request. He knew he had done terrible mistakes. Ever since they met at Sheesh Mahal, all he had done was hurt her, destroyed her life, knowingly and unknowingly, pushing her to the precipice of crisis and each time it had ended up harming her reputation, humiliating her, maligning her character... What he had put her through would take his whole life and more, to make up for the plethora of insults he had heaped on her. Her tears on Diwali night, like drops of molten lead, had fallen on his heart in torrents, adding to its heaviness and eating it out. His whisper, that she would be wearing it one night for him, as though it was a promise to her, made her cock her eyebrow. While Arnav nodded, she stuffed it into the box and kept it aside. Taking her night clothes, she fled to the bathroom. His past actions were tightening the noose on him, while his present actions were being discredited by his past record. But being a businessman and a clever one at that, he knew he could beat the odds. He also knew that life is a gamble, so rolling the dice was the only viable option he had. The other being forfeiting, was not at all an option for him even to consider. So he had to venture out and try all possible ways. As her faith in his love had frozen out, he needed to bring in the sunshine and thaw it. His actions were based on risks and speculations and they needed to be on target. These thoughts had set the windmills of his mind in endless motion. He could not rest, until he achieved what he wanted in his life and that was her presence by his side, all through his life.

Standing under the cold shower to cool her hot skin she thought, that it was necessary to leave as soon as she could. The more she spent the days with him, weaker were her resolve sliding to. The thought, that if she tried to leave he would try to stop was whirling so much that it made her head pound. The room was bathed in darkness save for a foot lamp that was on, to help her make her way to the bed. The chaise longue was enveloped in darkness. With a sigh of relief, she slipped in between the sheets, thinking that he had given up waiting and gone to sleep. As she settled down, a warm arm settled itself on her waist, making Khushi sit up in a flash and squeal. Arnav murmured in his husky drone, sending shivers down her spine, that it was him and asked her to go to sleep. Her hissed out, what was he doing there on the bed, as soon as she recovered from the shock received, sleeping, or trying to, from him. Her attempts to release herself from his grip were futile and only brought a smile into his voice. Khushi, thinking that it was really going too far reminded him of the arrangement, of him sleeping on the chaise longue and she on the bed. He countered her with, who said so? Why should he sleep on the recliner when there was a perfectly comfortable bed available and waiting for him. As Khushi tried to slip away from the bed and occupy the chaise longue, Arnav, cuddling her tight, vouched that it was quite uncomfortable, with her on bed and he away over there. Her struggle to make him let her go, made him put to use the training at the wrestling arena. Trapping her with his arms, legs and pressing her with his body, like a lioness caught in the toils with hunter hemming her, he whispered in her ear that he would never leave her. He promised that they would be sleeping like this in one bed, in the warmth of each other's arms every night of their lives. It was a promise he made in hope, with every intention of keeping up, though Khushi had not committed to it. It was a risk he took that would make or break his love life. It was a long shot but well worth trying!

"It's possible to go on, no matter how impossible it seems"
                                          ~ Nicholas Sparks, Dear John

Thus this update is titled, ON SPEC, as all actions were based on speculation.

Part 3: Day 11: Section 1

Khushi woke up in the morning with a smile on her lips, feeling all warm and cosy within her blanket. She didn’t want to get up. She never wanted to leave the bed.

She yawned.

How come she couldn’t lift her hand? Why did her body feel so heavy?

She looked down to find the Rakshas almost sleeping on her. His face was buried in the crook of her neck, his arm was around her, clasping her to him, and his leg was over hers, locking her in place.

Khushi swallowed, her heart picking up speed till its sound almost deafened her.

She had to leave the bed before he woke up, slide out from under his body before he opened his sinful eyes and looked at her lips like she looked at jalebi.

She tried to push him away, nudge him off her body without waking him. His arm tightened around her. Khushi panted after her exertion.

Arnav woke up, alert the moment he opened his eyes. He was coiled around Khushi and she was trying to get out of his clutches. He shut his eyes again.

 She tried to move her body away from his, inch by difficult inch, but he was in no mood to let go of her. His legs twined around hers, and his face burrowed deeper into the scented hollow of her neck.

“Hhmmm…” he murmured.

That was it. Khushi could bear it no longer. She pushed his arms away and tried to thrust his legs away by  moving her body vigorously. She squirmed and tried to throw his weight off her.

Arnav deigned to open his eyes. He looked into Khushi’s wrath-filled eyes with his dreamy ones.

“Good morning!” he drawled, his husky voice touching every single nerve in her body.

Khushi looked into his warm, twinkling eyes. “Let me up.” she demanded.

“Why should I? You were the one complaining that we had never shared a bed.” Arnav said.

His audacious statement left her mouth open in an Awww.

“Tumhein yaad he, when we woke up in Gupta House and you were all over me…” Arnav reminded her.

Khushi paled. A good memory was a curse.

“I asked you why you slept in Taekwondo pose in Gupta House while you slept properly in RM, and you asked me how I knew? You complained that we had never shared a bed in RM.”

Khushi looked away, and tried to leave the bed.

“You want to get up?” Arnav asked, tightening his hold around her, loath to let her go.

Khushi nodded. Her voice had vanished to Gupta House.

“Theek he! You can get up after you give me what I want.” he declared.

Khushi’s startled eyes flew to his naughty ones. His eyes slipped to her lips, losing their naughty twinkle and taking on a wicked glint.

“No.” Khushi protested.

“Then we can stay here the whole day.” Arnav proclaimed.

Khushi tried to stare him down to no avail. She tried to wrestle with him, but his superior strength & training in wrestling made her efforts ineffectual.

“There is no other way, Khushi.” Arnav whispered. “Give me what I want. Then you can leave the bed.”

He Devi Maiyya, He Devi Maiyya…. she chanted, her eyes shut tight like a child’s. Arnav smiled, seeing her distress.

He lowered his lips to sip at her tender, plump ones. But before he could taste them, there was a knock on the door.

Arnav & Khushi looked towards the door.

“Chotey! Are you awake? I need to talk to you for a moment.” Nani said.

Khushi took advantage of Arnav’s momentary shift of attention, and slid off the bed. She grabbed her clothes for the day and ran into the bathroom.

“Chotey, I think Anjali Bitiyaa should join us for meals. It is not healthy, sitting in her room like this, crying….” Nani sighed.

“Yes, Nani. We will get her to come down for breakfast. The doctor will be coming at 10 anyway for her regular check up.” Arnav said.

Nani nodded and left.

“Khushi, I will get Di down for breakfast today.” Arnav told her as she left the bathroom. “It is not good for the baby that she remains alone, crying…”

Khushi nodded.

When Arnav, NK, & Akash led Anjali down, only Mami, Nani, & Payal were in the hall. Arnav looked around for Khushi. Where was she? he wondered.

All sat down around the table. HP & Payal began serving breakfast.

“Where is Khushi?” Arnav asked loudly.

Nani & Mami looked anxiously at Anjali. There was no change in the closed expression on her face.

“She went to the temple.” Payal murmured.

Arnav frowned. He had so hoped to share his meal with her. And why had she left without letting him know?

After the meal, Anjali was escorted back to her room. The rest of the family, including Nani, sat in the hall, relaxing. Akash left for the office, & Arnav, dressed in casuals, walked out of the house.

“Chotey, are you going to the office today?” Nani asked.

“Without coatwaa and bootwaa?” Mami asked.

“I am going to get Khushi from the temple.” he said.

Nani nodded, smiling.

Khushi sat in one corner of the big hall that held an idol of Devi Maiyya, her hands on her lifted knees, her chin on her hands...

What was happening to her life? From a seemingly carefree life as a girl in Lucknow, she had hurtled into a contract marriage in Delhi. And from August 15^th, she would be neither a spinster nor a married woman. What would she be?

People walked up & down the hall, chanting under their breath, praying. A baby cried. Bells rang as the arti began. Pigeons cooed as they flew around pecking at grains & perched on the rafters. But Khushi saw or heard none of these.

Would they have to get a divorce? Would they have to confess the truth to their families? How would they react? Her heart quailed at the thought of giving pain to her family. The tears, the disappointment on their faces… What would she do after eleven days? If Amma, Babuji, & Buaji threw her out, where would she stay? What could she do? Her future stared at her, looking bleak and dreary.

But worse than all these was the state of her heart. She knew for certain that she would never know a moment’s peace all her life, worrying about a man living far away from her, longing for him but having no claim on him… 

Her throat hurt with unshed tears. He would forget her… maybe, even marry again…. and she… she would spend all her life clutching his memory to her heart, reliving the few months they had spent together…

Her fingers touched her mangalsutra. She would have to relinquish this too, leave it behind as she left… How could an unmarried girl wear a mangalsutra? Eleven more days… that was the life span of this mangalsutra. After that period, the thin thread of black beads would come off her neck. Her maang would become unmarked again… she wouldn’t need a sindoor box again. Her life would change beyond recognition. She would be alone again… till the end of her life… with only her parents for company as they glimmered in the night sky… Her fingers tightened around the mangalsutra.

Arnav looked at the lone figure sitting in the dark corner. Her fingers were curled around her mangalsutra and her face was pale. He swallowed hard. It was all his doing. All his fault. His bad judgement. His impulsiveness. His thoughtlessness had brought her to this point, of hiding in a corner in the temple, worrying about the future…

As he watched, Khushi wiped a tear away from her eye and clasped her knees closer to her chest.

He couldn’t bear to see her sitting like that, defeated, scared, lost. He marched up to her.

She was so lost in her misery that she did not notice his presence till he called softly, “Khushi…”

She looked up, shocked. What was the Shaitan doing in the temple? He didn’t believe in God. Or love. Or marriage. He was free. Always free to do whatever he wanted, leaving others to bear the consequences… Whirling into her life like a typhoon, leaving destruction in its wake… Images of their marriage flashed through her mind. The Rakshas dragging her up the steps, tying the mangalsutra around her neck, dabbing sindoor in her maang, his face a picture of fury, his eyes full of contempt for her-- the destroyer of his Di’s perfect marriage, the siren who had lured Sant Shyam into betraying his Rani sahiba, the ‘other woman’ in his precious Di’s life… 

He and his contract marriage! Marriage for 6 months! What did he know about marriage? What did he know about the significance of the mangalsutra or sindoor? Nothing. What did he know about how this contract marriage would reflect on her family’s and her character? About how it had destroyed her life? Nothing. He knew nothing. And he cared even less. 

His words of love over the phone had been said in desperation. He had been in a tight spot and maybe he had even meant them at that moment. But now that he was free from the kidnappers, she was a burden to him, she being the star of Shyam-Anjali-Khushi farce. His pursuit of her was not motivated by love now, but by his ego which had been hurt by her decision to leave him before the contract period was over.

Her fury dried her tears.

“Yes?” she asked.

“Khushi, what are you doing here? Come home.” Arnav said softly.

“Is there anything in our contract that forbids me from praying in a temple?” Khushi asked evenly.

“Khushi…” Arnav protested.

“What are you doing in a temple, anyway?” Khushi asked. “Usually Anjaliji has to try emotional blackmail to get you here.” 

“Khushi, come home with me.” Arnav said.

“Whose home?” Khushi asked. “Oh, yours! Yes, yes, I will come to your home with you. After all, I have no choice. I have to stay there for eleven more days.” She got up to accompany him. “Ab khush?” she asked him, a plastic smile on her face.

“Khushi, don’t talk to me like that.” Arnav bit out, his heart hurting to see the lines of pain & desolation on her face, the lines that he had drawn with a careless hand.

“Kya kar lenge aap?” she asked, staring defiantly at him for a moment. Arnav stared back, helpless.

Then, to his shock, she started chuckling, “What else is left for you to do? You have done everything, destroyed everything I ever had. There is nothing more you can take away from me.”

Arnav stood still, his heart bleeding at the pain in her words.

She was about to walk away from him when the Purohit called her to give her prasad. She went up to him and put out her hand. After giving her the prasad, the Purohit turned to Arnav. Arnav did not lift his hand.

Khushi smiled and told the astonished Purohit, “Don’t worry, Panditji. He does not need Devi Maiyya’s blessings. Don’t you know who he is? He is Arnav Singh Raizada. He makes his own destiny.”

The Purohit looked at both of them for a moment and walked away, wondering why the husband & wife had brought their fight into the temple. He set the thaali aside and prayed to Devi Maiyya to show them both the right path to happiness, to protect them from all evil...

Khushi entered the house on silent feet, and leaving Arnav to talk to his family sitting in the living room, walked up the stairs. As she was about to enter their bedroom, she remembered the clothes she had left to dry on the terrace. She quickly crossed the bedroom, walked out into Arnavji’s garden, and went up the steps to the terrace.

Two saris and three suits with their matching dupattas were drying in the sunlight and the wind. She put out a hand to unclip a red sari from the clothesline. The wind blew the sari to cling to her body, covering her entirely. Khushi smiled and managed to free her face.

Her breath stopped.

Shyam was walking out of Anjaliji’s room, across the garden, and up the steps to the terrace. She stood petrified, unable to believe her eyes.

As she stood under the cloak of her sari, she saw Shyam look to the left and right, anxious not to be seen. Khushi stood still, not daring to breathe. Shyam walked down another set of stairs and left the house.

Khushi felt her legs tremble. She sat down on the terrace, panting, her brain racing to comprehend the many ramifications of what she had just  seen. The saris and dupattas danced all around her in the wind. She sat there for a long time till Arnav came looking for her.

“Khushi, what are you doing here?” he asked. “Are you feeling dizzy? You haven’t had your breakfast yet. And now it is almost time for lunch!”

“How is Anjaliji?” she asked.

Arnav frowned at her strange question. “The doctor examined her. The baby is fine. But Di is not eating enough. She is weak.” he replied after a pause.

He helped Khushi stand up, and led her down to their room. He ordered HP to bring her breakfast to their room, and watched her eat.

A while later, Nani came to see Arnav.

“Chotey, Anjali Bitiyaa is refusing to take lunch. She is crying for Damadji.”

Arnav clenched his jaw. Khushi stood silent, listening to them. 

Arnav, Akash, NK, Mami, Nani, & Payal crowded around Anjali’s bed, trying to persuade her to eat. But she was adamant. Arnav paced his room, worrying about Di. Khushi sat silent, folding her clothes and placing them in his wardrobe.

Dinner was  a repetition of lunch. Anjali refused to eat, and her family begged and pleaded with her to take food, if not for herself, then for her baby. But Anjali was adamant.

Arnav walked the length & breadth of his room, his fists clenched, his face stern, wondering how to get his Di to eat. Khushi watched him silently, sitting on her bed.

There was a movement near the door. Both Arnav & Khushi looked at the doorway.

Anjali stood there, all weak and fragile, hanging on to the door. Nani, Mami, NK, Akash, & Payal came running after her to prop her up.

“Di!” Arnav whispered, shocked out of his skull.

“Chotey!” Di called. Arnav rushed to her and hugged her. Anjali put her arms around him. “Chotey, you c…can make everything alright, can’t you? You always have, right from childhood… You will make your Di happy, won’t you?”

Arnav nodded, still stumped, trying to figure out what was happening.

“Hamein apne Shyamji lauta do, Chotey!” Di asked. “Hum unke bina jee nahi sakte.”

Arnav stared at her. She wanted that two-timing bigamous toad with a propensity for kidnapping his saala back in her life?

“Make everything as it was, Chotey! How happy we were! Bring Shyamji back, Chotey!” Di pleaded before she collapsed of exhaustion.

Khushi watched the entire family helping Anjaliji walk to her room. As they left, she went to stand by the pool.

Arnav came in an hour or so later, baffled at his Di’s demands and worried about her health. He found Khushi sitting by the pool, looking into the water that reflected the lights in his garden.

“Khushi…” he said, desperate for comfort from her.

“Shyam came here today.” Khushi said. “I saw him come out of Anjaliji’s room, cross the garden, walk up the steps to the terrace, and go out when I was on the terrace.”

Arnav stared at her, slack-jawed in shock.

 Rashmi's interpretation: Part 3: day 11

Smita,
Here is the interpretation to Part 3.
This is about a network of paths through which one has to find a way. It is also about being dazed and confused, in a word MAZE.
Khushi had a wonderful sleep and woke upto the feeling of warmth and cosiness and wanted to snuggle and curl in her blanket. The feeling was so good that her smile was like a glowing sunshine. When she yawned she could not lift her hand and wondered, why it was so and her body felt weighed down. Puzzled, she looked down to find ruthless Raizada sleeping almost on her. He had his face buried in the crook of her neck, his arm wound around her gathering her to him tightly and his legs entangled with hers. It was nearly a honeymoon hug. Khushi felt her throat go dry. Her heart started to beat so rapidly that it reached a deafening roar like that of a thunder. She thought she better slip out of bed before he woke up, lest she gets embroiled in the intricacy of his eyes, as his eyes had the capacity to lure her into submission. His gaze on her lips was always like hers, when she would look at jalebi, fully mesmerizing. However much she tried to push and nudge him off her, it was of no use. His arm tightened all the more, while Khushi was left panting. Arnav woke up, his senses fully alert and seeing her struggle and his body wrapped around her, he shut his eyes once more. She tried to move by slowly edging out but Arnav was not inclined to let her go. Adjusting his legs twined around hers and nuzzling deeper into the warm hollow of her neck, inhaling her fragrance, he murmured Hhmmm... feeling heavenly. Khushi irked by it, pushed his arms and tried to disentangle her legs by squirming vigorously.
As Arnav deigned to open his eyes, it was to look into Khushi's stormy eyes with his dreamy ones. His husky, good morning, sent ripples along her body, echoing inside her. As Khushi looked into his warm twinkling eyes, she demanded him to let her get up. Arnav countered her with, why should he when she was the one who used to complain that they never share the bed. His cheeky statement baffled her. He reminded her of the time, when they stayed at Buaji's house they had woken up with her all over him, and he had asked why she was sleeping in Taekwondo pose over there while she slept properly at RM. She had countered then with, how was he to know when he had not even shared a bed with her at RM. Khushi paled at the memory, cursing herself for possessing a good vivid one, looked away and tried to get up. Arnav not wanting to let go of her, tightening his hold around her waist asked, whether she wanted to get up? Khushi nodded mutely. Arnav coming up with a compromise said, if she could give him what he wants she could get up. She was startled and knew, his deals off late with her were all based on naughty thoughts, and as she looked into his eyes she found that it was glowing like two bright stars with naughty thoughts twinkling in it. As his eyes slid on her luscious lips that looked soft and pliant with sleep, they lost their naughty twinkle and took on a wicked glint. Khushi's protest, No, was passively accepted with a, fine, and a rider, then they could stay as they were the whole day long. Khushi tried to cow him down with her glare but to no avail. Her puny attempts to wrestle with him and get out of bed were ineffectual against his superior strength and tactics honed by training. He stated that there was only one way and that was his way, yielding to his simple request, she would succeed in her quest. A bewildered Khushi as usual, in her distress prayed with her eyes shut to her friend, Devi Maiyya, to come to her rescue.  Her eyes shut tight like a child brought in a smile on Arnav's lips. He lowered his lips on her tender, enticing ones to sip, but before he could even nip, it was by a knock on the door clipped, making both turn towards it. They heard Nani calling out to Arnav that she needed to talk to him for a moment if he is awake. Khushi, for whom it was a quagmire of emotions, using this distraction to her advantage, slid off the bed and rushed into the bathroom picking her clothes on her way.
A worried Nani, with a sigh told him she thought, that Anjali Bitiyaa should join them for breakfast at the table as her copious tears and melancholic frame of mind are not healthy. She needed to get around. Arnav agreed with her and said that they would get her down, and at ten, the doctor too would be coming for her regular check up. Nani nodded at his words and left. When Khushi came out of the bathroom, Arnav informed her about Di coming down for breakfast saying that, it was not good for the baby if she stays alone and crying all the time. Khushi just nodded. 
When the three brothers came down with Anjali, only Mami, Nani and Payal were in the hall. Arnav's eyes searched for Khushi. At the table, seeing that it was Payal and HP who were serving the dishes, Arnav asked loudly where Khushi was? Nani and Mami with frantic eyes looked at Anjali but to their bewilderment, she was sporting a closed expression as though benumbed. When Payal murmured that she had gone to temple, Arnav frowned. His hopes of sharing his meal with her had been dashed. He wondered why had she left without letting him know? After the meal, with Anjali in her room, the rest relaxed in the hall, while Akash left for the office and Arnav in casuals walked out of the house. When Nani asked whether he was going to his office that day, Mami in her Hinglish and her own flavoured accent, added without his coat and boot? Arnav's reply, that he was on his way to the temple to fetch Khushi, earned a smile of approval from Nani.
In the temple, Khushi sat in a corner of the big hall where the idol of Devi Maiyya had been placed with her chin on her hands that were resting on her lifted knees. She was a bundle of confusion. She was wondering what was happening to her life? From a seemingly carefree life as a girl in Lucknow, she was caught up in an imbroglio, a contract marriage in Delhi. And from the fifteenth of August she would neither be a spinster nor a married woman. What would she be? Her mind was muddled up. The hall was bustling with sound and activity. But Khushi's mind was flowing in the sweeping meanders of thoughts, on what her life had become. She heard not, the walk of the people traversing through the hall, chants of the people, cry of the baby, ringing of the bells as the aarti began, cooing of the pigeons as they pecked at grains, fluttered and perched on the rafters. Her mind was engrossed on, what next? Would they have to get a divorce? Would they have to confess the truth to their families? How would they react? These hodge podge thoughts made her heart quail. The very thought of giving pain to her family, the tears, the disappointment on their faces, made her apprehensive. Moreover what would she do after eleven days? With the tangled skeins of explosive truth out, if her Amma, Babuji and Buaji threw her out, where would she stay? What could she do? Her future stared at her, looking bleak and dreary, as bleak as the vast ocean, her mind convoluted with the thought of how to survive?
But the cause of perplexity was the state in which her heart was responding! She realized that she would never have a moment of respite all through her life, worrying about the man who would be living far away from her, longing for him with unrequited love, having no claim over him, not even for a thought. Even while her mind was going through the endless labyrinth of tunnels of thoughts, this particular thought was searing through her heart and it had twisted itself into a Gordian Knot. The unshed tears clogged her throat. It singed her to think that he would forget her, maybe, even marry again, while she.., she would spend all her life clutching at the strands of his memory to her heart, reliving the few months they had spent together. Her unconscious touch on her mangalsutra, reminded her of yet another thing that she would have to relinquish, along with the sindoor that was adorning her maang. It would be for just six months that she would be adorning them in her lifetime and in eleven days time that part of her life would have its closure too. This baffling jungle of thoughts led her to one place that she was dreading, loneliness. She knew with only her parents for company, as they shone brightly in the night sky, she would be spending her endless life in the labyrinth of memories of a short period of her life. These thoughts made her fingers curl around her mangalsutra.
Arnav who had come to collect her, saw she was sitting in a dark corner with her fingers curled around her mangalsutra and her face that was like an opening rose, so fresh and bright to look, was now like fallen snows, gone cold, dead and wan. The sight of the cheerful, never say die attitude girl, shriveled into a pale shadow of herself, sitting in a corner, made him swallow hard and berate himself for being the source of her sad state. His bad judgement, impulsiveness, thoughtlessness, convoluted sense of righteousness, had brought her to this point, of hiding in a corner in the temple, worrying about the future... As he watched, he saw her wipe a lone tear that fell like liquid silver on her cheek and clasp her knees closer to her chest. He just could not bear to see her look defeated, scared and lost as though there was no path out of the quandary. Marching upto her he called out, Khushi.. So lost was she in her misery, that she had not noticed him and his call shocked her.
She wondered what was he doing in the temple when he was an atheist! He also neither believed in love nor marriage. He was free. He was so bullheaded and arrogant that he forged ahead with whatever he wanted, unmindful of its repercussions on others. Storming into her life like a hurricane, twisting her life out of synchronization, now in eleven more days she would be spiraled into oblivion. For him, it was like a game of twister, but for her, it was an invisible web that would tangle around her making her incapable of living with her head held high. The images of him dragging up the steps, tying mangalsutra around her neck with absolute loathing, dabbing sindoor on her maang with his eyes spitting balls of fire, his face livid like an active volcano, with contempt oozing out in every deed and word he uttered, at the vile women who had the guts to destroy his Di's perfect marriage, the femme fatale, who not only enchanted Shyam, an epitome of loyal husband, a devoted family man, but also trapped him with her lures into betraying his Rani Sahiba. She was the reviled 'other woman' who dared to upset his precious Di's applecart.
She thought he and his contract marriage! Marriage for six months! Utter preposterous! What did he really know about marriage? What did he know about the significance of the mangalsutra or sindoor? Next to nothing. What did he know about, how this contract marriage would reflect on her family and her character? What does he know about how it had destroyed her life? Nothing. In fact, he knew nothing, and he cared even less. Voicing out the words of love over the phone had been an act of desperation. The pressure had taken its toil and his thoughts had been clouded. Maybe, at that point of time it was heartfelt. But now, she had become a burden to him, she being the pole star of Shyam-Anjali-Khushi triangle, the one who led them to the doom. She was the dispensible one of the lot. His pursuit of her, was the result of the hurt that his ego suffered by her decision to leave him, before the stipulated contract period and no, it was never by love. Though she could not find a way out of the current morass, it built up a fire within her that blazed out enough to dry her tears. When she asked him tersely, yes?, he queried what was she doing there and asked her to come home. She countered him evenly with, was there any stipulation in the contract that forbid her from praying in the temple? perplexing him. At his protest, she asked him, what was the reason behind him entering the temple, when usually Anjaliji had to resort to emotional blackmail for him to do so. When he asked her to come home with him, she countered, whose home? and in all seriousness, his home? Of course she would accompany him, after all for eleven more days she was bound by the contract.
Getting ready to accompany him, her poser with a wide smile pasted on her face, that looked like the one painted on the face of a Kathakali artist, was he now happy? was like a tight slap on his face. His heart hurt seeing the bitterness, pain and desolation etched on her face that was as solemn as a mask, the copyright of which was exclusively his. His fierceness at extracting his pound of flesh for his perceived sense of betrayal had resulted in repainting the canvass of her face. He asked her not to talk to him in that manner, and she defied him asking, what would be the repercussion for not toeing the line? Arnav stared helplessly at this belligerent Khushi. Then shocking him with her chuckle, she knocked the wind out him by asking, What else is left for him to do? He has destroyed everything she ever had. There was nothing more he could take away from her. Her words pierced his heart as straight as an arrow, bleeding at the hurt he had caused. He was being tangled in the web of his own making. By questioning his decisions she was subjecting him to torsion which was winding him in a twist of remorse, guilt, self-derision and above all self loathing. For a person who prided on flawless judgement it was like being thrown down the precipice along with an avalanche following behind. She was about to walk away from him, when the purohit called her to have the prasad.
While she received, he turned to Arnav, but he did not lift his hand. Khushi with a smile told the astonished man, don't worry Panditji, He does not need Devi Maiyya's blessings after all he is Arnav Singh Raizada, who makes his own destiny. Don't you know? Purohit, looking at the couple wondered why they had brought their differences to the temple. He prayed to the Godess to get them out of the muddle, show them both the right path to happiness and protect them from all evil.
As they both entered RM, Khushi silently moved towards their bedroom, leaving Arnav to talk to his family. Remembering to collect her clothes that were on the terrace for drying, she moved into the terrace taking the staircase through Arnavji's garden. As her hand went to unclip the billowing red saree she cleared it from her face, only to see Shyam slinking away from Anjaliji's room up the steps. She was shocked and bewildered at the sight and stood still with her eyes following his movement. Shyam using another set of stairs after ascertaining that the coast was clear, slipped away. The saris and duppatas were billowing across making a pleasing scene. But Khushi, all muddled up, feeling her legs give away, slumped down, unaware of everything but the ramifications of what she had just witnessed. She sat there thinking, that the tangle was getting complicated as well as murky. Possessing miscellany of links about what you never really wanted to know, she was in a dilemma. She sat there in a stupor with the thought as what to do, unmindful of the breeze and the sunshine, until Arnav came in search of her.
When he admonished her asking, what was she doing there? Was she feeling dizzy? She had not even had breakfast when now it was nearing lunch time! her query as to how was Anjaliji, had him frown at its strangeness. Though perplexed he answered, both she and the baby were fine as per the doctor, but just weak as she was not taking enough food. Helping Khushi to stand, he led her to their room and made her eat her breakfast that HP had got at his behest.
When Nani came later and said to Arnav, that Anjali Bitiyaa was refusing lunch and just crying for Damadji, Khushi was a silent spectator. Even with the rest of the family, Arnav, Akash, NK, Mami, Nani and Payal coaxing Anjali to eat, she was adamant. It worried Arnav and he was baffled by his Di's stance. While he was trying to get a grip on this perplexity  pacing the room, Khushi went on with the mundane task of folding her clothes and stashing them away in his wardrobe. She was absolutely silent on that matter. Dinner time too saw the repetition of the melodrama that took place in Anjali's room at lunch time. Arnav ended up pacing his room, wearing out the carpet in frustration, wondering how to get his Di to eat. Khushi was silently watching him sitting on the bed. Sensing a movement near the door, both of them turned towards it, only to see a weak and fragile Anjali hanging on to the door to stop herself from swaying. Nani, Mami, NK, Akash and Payal came running after her to prop her up. Arnav whispered, Di! and was so surprised to see her there, one could have knocked him over with a feather! As Anjali called him, Chotey! he rushed and hugged her. Anjali too holding him close to her asked, he could make everything alright, could he not? He had always been doing so since childhood. Now too he would make her happy, won't he? When Arnav nodded not really understanding where this headed to, Di dropped her bombshell asking him, to get her Shyamji! Without him she would not be able to draw her breath! Arnav could just stare at her. She wanted that dastard two-timer of a weasel, who was hell bent on cheating her, with a penchant for kidnapping her brother, back in her life! She beseeched him, to make everything as it was, life filled with happiness, with Shyamji back in the fold and so saying, collapsed due to exhaustion. She knew, her brother would move the earth to fulfill her wishes and he had been doing so for her till now. Taking this weakness of his as her strength, she pleaded with him resorting to the usual emotional blackmail, not even giving an iota of thought to the quandary she would be pushing him into. For Arnav who had placed his sister in the pedestal as his mother it was a traumatic experience. He was bewildered with her convoluted sense of happiness and muddled sense of security.
Khushi watched the entire family helping Anjaliji walk to her room. As they left she went to stand by the pool looking at the reflection of the night sky. After settling his Di, Arnav baffled at her demands and worried about her health came to Khushi, sitting by the pool.  She was looking into the water that reflected the lights in his garden. Her face was like the Milky Way in the sky, a meeting of gentle lights without a name. She looked serene and her inner turmoil was not to be seen. It looked as though she was a source of comfort and seeing her Arnav called out to her, Khushi.. as though she was the only source of comfort for him. His desperate call to her, seeking comfort from her, made her say, Shyam had been here, while she was on terrace, she had seen him coming out of Anjaliji's room, sneaking across the garden and take the way out via terrace that had a different set of steps leading to the outside entrance. Her words left Arnav shellshocked so much that one could play marbles with his eyeballs. He was left in a maze by his own sister, for whom, he had made his love the scapegoat, and had placed the girl whom he loved between the hammer and the anvil.
That is why this is titled MAZE.

"That's the funny thing about mazes: what is  baffling on the      ground begins to makes sense when you can begin to rise      above it, the better to understand your history and fix                yourself"
                                           ~ Wally Lamb,                                                                 The Hour I First Believed  
     
That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.



Part 3: Day 11 Section 2

“What the!” Arnav exclaimed.

Khushi did not bother to reply. She sat waiting for her revelation to seep into his brain.

Finally, he said, unable to believe his ears, “Shyam came here?”

Khushi nodded. There was a moment’s pause. Anger against the toad began to burn in his mind.

“You were on the terrace when you saw him.” he stated, his voice deadly.

Khushi nodded.

“And I was with the others downstairs when he entered the house.” Arnav spoke softly, but his desire to crush Shyam with his bare hands evident in his voice.

Khushi nodded.

“He wouldn’t have taken the chance of getting caught… no, he wouldn’t. He is a crook of the worst kind, but not a fool… So he is in touch with Di… He must have called her…her phone…” Arnav thought aloud.

Khushi remained silent.

“Di told him she was alone…” his voice trailed away.

Khushi looked away. The hurt on his face was more than she could bear. His certainties were crumbling, and reality was revealing its ugly face to him.

“Di let him into her room through my garden…” Arnav realised. “I locked the door in the morning because the breeze was cold… If he got in, she must have unlocked it for him…”

Her heart hurt for him. Khushi sighed. Anjaliji was not the only female in RM who was foolishly in love with her husband.

The tycoon bent his prodigious brain to the problem at hand. “Di had breakfast. She talked to me, to the doctor… She was sounding better, more adjusted… She started refusing food after the rascal visited her… Tonight… tonight, she came to beg me to bring him back… It is all his plan, Khushi. His plan to return to RM as the husband of Anjali Raizada…” he bit out.

“If Anjaliji starves for a couple of days, you will have to bring him back. Or shift her to a hospital where they can take care of her health.” Khushi said dispassionately, as though she were making a casual comment about the weather when it was raining cats & dogs.

Arnav glared at her. “Over my dead body!”

Khushi walked to the wardrobe and took out her nightclothes, turning a blind eye to the claret satin smiling at her from the neat pile.

“As you wish. Anyway, it is not my problem anymore.” Khushi turned to leave for the bathroom.

“Khushi!” Arnav protested.

“Shyam tricked my family & me. I found him out, slapped him, threw his ring at him, and kicked him out of our lives. He has nothing more to do with the Guptas.” Khushi told him, her voice low.

Arnav stared at her, feeling very alone.

“I will be leaving soon. So whether you bring Shyam back or not makes little difference to me.” Khushi continued.

“Khushi, how can you say that?” Arnav asked from his heart.

“There was a time I wanted to clear my name in your eyes, tell you the truth, protect Anjaliji, save your family from ruin… I tried, but you were not willing to listen to me. I continued to try, believing that it was my responsibility to set things right…but...” she sighed. “I didn’t understand then that some things are beyond me. I do now.” She looked in to his eyes. “This is your fight now. Not mine.”

“Khushi… don’t leave me alone.” he whispered.

Khushi said softly, “You are Arnav Singh Raizada. You are worth a thousand Shyams. You can break him in seconds without anyone’s help.”

Arnav stared at her.

“Your real problem is Anjaliji and her strong belief in her husband.“ Khushi stated.

Arnav looked at her, silent, listening.

“A blind belief in her husband.” Khushi continued. “Jiji & I told her that he had been staying in our house as a paying guest. But Anjaliji has pushed that out of her mind. We told her that he had been trying to get married to me. That we were engaged to be married. That the Shyamji I was engaged to was her husband… But she is pretending not to have heard any of that. We told her that you were kidnapped by Shyam. Nanheji, Mami, Jiji, I, & you told her that he is a cheat. That he was willing to endanger your life to get your wealth. But she has conveniently forgotten all that. She is living in an imaginary world where her husband loves her and wants her and her baby.”

 

Arnav swallowed his pain, silent in the face of the bitter truth.

 “She is living in this dream world because she believes her husband blindly. The day you shatter this belief, you will win. Otherwise Shyam will continue to play her against you and you will have to sit and suffer it.”

Arnav looked at her through wet eyes.

“You have known Shyam longer than me, but I have seen a side of him that you have never seen. I have fought him. This is what I have learnt from my experience." she said.

Arnav looked at her unblinking, his ears trained to hear every word falling from her lips.

"One, he is a lawyer. Don’t try to argue with him. Two, he is very proud of his intelligence. He thinks that every one other than him is a fool. His pride will bring him down one day. Three, he is very greedy for money. He will do anything for money. He will sink to any level. Four, he has no real affection for Anjaliji or the baby. They are just a means for him to get to your wealth. All that matters to him is money. Five, he has lots of people to help him. Men he has hired, men he is paying. He is capable of trying to kill you or Anjaliji any time.”

Arnav nodded. He could not argue with anything she had said.

“Six, he knows that Anjaliji is your weak point. That is why he is trying to reach you through Anjaliji.” Khushi said.

Arnav nodded, sighing. How could he get rid of that snake without hurting Di?

But Khushi wasn't done yet.

“What he hasn’t realised yet is how much your family loves you. How much Anjaliji loves you. How your word is law to all of them.” Khushi looked him straight in the eye.

Arnav shook his head as though it were no important matter, just something to be taken for granted...

Khushi persisted. “You can kill. They will still stand by you and loudly declare that you were right to kill. That is how much your family loves you.”

Arnav stared at her with wide eyes.

“Your Nani, who values her position in society and upholds high morals, let you bring Lavanyaji to stay here. For you.” Khushi stated softly. “Had she put her foot down, you would have been helpless. You would have had to leave this house. She didn’t want that to happen. To keep her Chotey with her, she put up with the barbs of her acquaintances and the follies of Lavanyaji.”

Arnav stared at her.

“She loves you more than she loves anyone else, even Laxmiji.” Khushi smiled slightly.

Arnav’s lips relaxed in a slight smile.

“Mamiji realised that there was something wrong… when you were kidnapped.” Khushi said. “We stole into the cellar at night to locate the video clippings of you and the five men who stopped you and took you away with them from the airport…”

His eyes widened in distress and shock. “Khushi! If you had been caught! Khushi… How dare you risk your life...!”

Khushi ignored it.

“We thought you had been kidnapped. That a call demanding ransom would come any moment. Mami gave me her entire collection of jewellery and her passbooks so that I could raise the ransom.” Khushi smiled. “Mamiji loves you more than she loves her gold, her makeup, and her money.”

Arnav, though unwilling to, had to smile.

“When Shyam sent gifts for all of us, supposedly from you, she was the first to realise that they were not from you. She took the bottle of perfume you had sent and cried over it saying that her Arnav Bitwaa would never, never buy her that particular scent as he knew that she was allergic to it.”

Arnav nodded. “Roses. She can’t tolerate scents made from roses… I always get her lily of the valley, gardenia, magnolia, jasmine, or something else when I travel…” he murmured, a small smile on his face.

“But Shyam did not know that.” Khushi continued. “Mamaji, Jiju, & Nanheji will do anything for you. Even Hari Prakashji swears by his Arnav Bhaiyya, even though you shout at him regularly.” Khushi smiled.

Arnav had to smile again.

She continued softly, “Anjaliji will see the truth once the spell that Shyam has cast over her is removed. Once she sees his real, ugly face, she will realise how wrong she has been, how you were all trying to protect her from him, how much you love her…”

Arnav nodded.

“If you keep your family close to you and open Anjaliji’s eyes to the real Shyam, you will win this battle.” Khushi concluded.

“And you, Khushi? Will you stand by me?” Arnav asked the all important question, his heart in his mouth. If she stood by him, he could vanquish the world. If she refused…

Khushi nodded. “As long as I am here.”

Arnav heaved a sigh of relief.

“Because he is evil. And you are fighting to protect your family against him.” Khushi said before leaving for the bathroom to change her clothes.

Rashmi's interpretation: Part 3: Day 11: Section 2

Smita,
Here is the interpretation to Section 2 of Part 3.
This update is about guidance, warning, sign and also inspiring and encouraging. In a nut shell BEACON.

The first words that came out of Arnav Singh Raizada when he overcame the initial shock of coming to know that foxy Shyam, slinkily sneaking in and out of his Di's room through the back door was What the! Though he exclaimed to Khushi she did not deem it fit to reply, knowing that he did need time to assimilate the entire thing into his muddled up brain. Her conscience that had debated since morning whether to involve herself in the affairs of RM, that was a temporary dwelling for her, did not let her be passive spectator to the clandestine activities. She gave Arnav the warning by informing what was going on in his Di room when she sequestered herself. When it did seep in he was unable to believe, that Shyam had sneaked into the house without anyone being aware of it and asked Khushi for confirmation! When Khushi nodded, his mind went numb for a moment at its implication. Then, fury ran all through his blood and bones like an electric flood. In a voice that was quiet but deceptively deadly, he stated that she was on the terrace when she saw him. At Khushi's nod, he continued to say that he was with the others downstairs when the louse had entered the house. Though his voice was soft, it was evident that he wanted Shyam's head in a platter and that was the only act that would appease him. Once again at Khushi's nod, he started to analyse loudly. With her timely information she directed his thoughts to where his action was absolutely needed. His instincts told him that Shyam would not risk at being caught out. He was a sly operator and not a nincompoop. So that meant he was in touch with Di. He must have been in contact with her by phone. All the while Khushi remained silent. He realized his Di must have told Shyam that she was alone! His voice faded away with this thought. It made him feel as though a knife had been plunged into his heart. Khushi skittered her eyes away unable to see the pain etched on his face. The reality revealed itself and he found all his certainities had their base on the shifting beach sand. His certainities had become uncertainities, as uncertain as the English weather. The vast ocean of his love for his Di was being encountered with the ugly facet of betrayal. He realized that his Di had let Shyam inside through the glass door. He had locked it in the morning due to the cold breeze and she must have unlocked and left it open for Shyam. This was a warning for him of the times to come. The power of Shyam and his glib tongue had overpowered the love between the siblings. Anjali who had always walked with her Chotey and who had fought with him openly, even resorting to emotional blackmail in the open was now swayed by Shyam and was operating in secrecy, in cahoot with her husband!  Khushi felt his hurt and with a sigh thought that Anjaliji was not the only female in RM who was foolishly in love with her husband! Arnav started to use his extraordinary power to analyse the problem at hand that had made him one formidable businessman with an acute acumen. He slowly started to analyse the day and Di, starting with, Di had breakfast. While she had talked to him and later to doctor she was sounding better and more adjusted. She started refusing food at noon, after the leech had visited her and tonight, she had come to him, begging to bring back that scum bag. He told Khushi that it was all Shyam's plan, his plan to return to RM as the husband of Anjali Raizada. What had baffled him about his Di's behavior earlier, was clear now and the plan shone brightly.

Khushi in a calm, candid yet aloof voice said, if Anjaliji starves for a couple of days, he would  have to bring Shyam back, or shift her to a hospital where they can take care of her health and Shyam would have better access to her. Her comment was so casual as though she was talking about weather when it was raining cats and dogs. Khushi in her own way guided his thoughts to what needed attention. She lead his thoughts towards Shyam's deeds and not Anjali's for she knew if he dwelt on betrayal the result would be melancholy and Shyam would become once again a free loader. Her quick take on the situation made him aware of where this act of his Di and her flea of a husband was heading to and made him fume and retort, over his dead body. As Khushi took out her nightclothes, she successfully avoided looking at the claret satin piece that was prettily ensconced amidst her neat pile of colourful clothes, luring her with its luster as though asking, when is my turn. In reply to Arnav's retort, she told him that it was his wish and anyway it was not at all her problem anymore. As she turned to go to the bath room, Arnav protested with a, Khushi! making her say that, Shyam had tricked her family and her. She had found it out in time, given him a taste of her slap, had thrown his ring back at his face and kicked him out of their lives.He was a persona non grata to the Guptas. Her couldn't care less attitude, was a cold douche and he felt lonely, as lonely as a deserted ship even though he had the family with him. Khushi, unmindful of the desolate hollow look in his eyes continued saying, that she would be soon out of the house, out of the family. So, whether he brings in Shyam or not, is of no consequence to her. It was a warning to Arnav, even if he tries hard it was really difficult for him to appease her. She had been hurt time and again but this time it was way too much. Arnav who was devastated by her words asked how she could say such a thing. His words were heartfelt and the enormity of her words had him reeling. Stoically she said that, there was a time when she wanted to clear her name in his eyes, tell him the truth, protect Anjaliji, save his family from ruin. She had tried, but he was not willing to listen to her. Her every step was misconstrued but still had continued to try, believing that it was her responsibility to set things right. She had directed herself to shut her eyes to all the barbs and words of anger spewed on her in order to save the family. Sighing she continued to say that, she did not understand then that some things are beyond her control and the capacity to grasp. However she does now and the rude awakening has made her realize that this as his fight, not hers. This too was a warning signal to him that whatever happens he may have to fight it all alone.

Her words pitched him in the depth of misery where he felt the lone light, his leading light, was being doused by a storm. Rocked by his misery, trying to reach out to her he whispered not to leave him alone. Khushi who could never see anyone else hurt, less so Arnav, who happened to be, the one and the only one, whom she would accept in her life as her life partner. Her marriage had meant a great deal to her even when she got a raw deal. She had even put up with the shady Shyam just to keep the family together. Seeing him in the dumps, she said softly that he is Arnav Singh Raizada, worth a thousand Shyams. He could  break him in seconds without anyone's help. Her encouraging words made Arnav stare at her. Khushi stated that his real problem lay with Anjaliji's blind belief in her husband. Arnav was all ears to what she had to say. Seeing that he was bent on listening to her words took him through the facts and made him aware of all the loopholes that needed to be covered. Khushi listed out the facts that were the root cause of his trouble with Anjali. She said, Jiji and she told Anjaliji that Shyam had been staying at their house as a paying guest. But she has pushed that out of her mind. They told her that he had been trying to get married to her. That they were engaged to be married, the Shyamji she was engaged to was her husband. But she is shutting her ears to this truth. She had been told that you were kidnapped by Shyam. Nanheji, Mami, Jiji, she and him, told her that Shyam is a cheat, who was willing to endanger your life to get hold of your wealth. But she has conveniently forgotten all that. She is living in an imaginary world where her husband loves her and wants her and her baby. She thinks her life is rosy and cozy as she imagines it to be. But it is a world far removed from reality. It was a fragile dream which Hope with hollow hand has guided. Khushiguided Arnav, through the maze of Anjali's mind and how it operates.

For Arnav this was a bitter pill but nevertheless he had no other go than swallow it or else he too like his sister had to cocoon himself within the glass cage thinking that they were safe from the outside danger. It would need just one strike from Shyam to break it into smithereens. Khushi continued to shine the light on the fact why this was happening. She told him that, Anjaliji is living in this dream world because she believes her husband blindly. The day he shattered this belief, he would win. Otherwise Shyam will continue to play her against him and he will be the one to bear the brunt while the rest would continue to see the circus from the sidelines. As Arnav looked at her, feeling the truth of her words, his eyes moistened thinking what his Di was doing. She, who had been cocooned and ensconced in love and care of their family, was under the impression that her husband, a leech, a parasite, who was living at RM in the lap of luxury the result of her brother's toil, was a person of integrity. She was blind to his faults, his pseudo love and his glib tongue had adorned her with blinkers and had ensured that she was unable to see his Machiavellan ways. She saw only what Shyam wanted her to see. That was a dangerous sign.
 
Khushi continued to voice out her thoughts and Arnav was agog to hear all that she had to say. She told him that, he had known Shyam longer than her, but she had been privy to a side of Shyam, that he has never seen. She had taken on Shyam as her adversary and had learnt a lot. These were what she had learnt from her experience. She took him through what she had gleaned about Shyam and the situation. Arnav was amazed to be the witness of her analytical mind and prowess. A girl whom he had thought was hell bent on snaring a rich man, possessed such an acute acumen and her insight, could put even a seasoned businessman into shame. Arnav looked at her unblinkingly, his ears trained to hear every word falling from her lips. He was ready to take guidance from her. Right now he was a broken man who had to contend with his Di's attitude in addition to Khushi leaving him in eleven days time.

She started to list out her impressions and presented it before him succinctly. She said, One, he is a lawyer. Don't try to argue with him. His has the capacity to turn each and every word to his advantage and his glib tongue would enable him to twist the facts and have an upper hand at any given point of time. Two, his weak point is his pride. He is very proud of his intelligence. He thinks that every one other than him is a fool. His pride will bring him down one day. Three, he is very greedy for money. For him, money is everything and he will do anything for it. He is capable of sinking to any level. Four, he has no real affection for Anjaliji or the baby. They are just a means for him to get to your wealth. All that matters to him is money. Five, he has lots of people to help him, shady men who would have no compunctions to kill, provided they are supplied with money. He needs to be careful of men Shyam has hired, men he is paying. His tentacles are far reaching in that circle where money is the conscience. Shyam is capable of striking out at him or Anjaliji any time. Arnav agreed with all she said, thinking and knowing that was the truth and she had uttered nothing but the truth. To his cluttered mind she was a beacon of light. Her truth shone like nothing else could. Continuing she said, Six, Shyam knows that Anjaliji is his weak point. That is why he is packing hefty punches at your solar plexus through Anjaliji, knowing fully well you would opt for yielding to her wishes and not loose your Di. 

Arnav nodding at the truth of her statements sighed and wondered how to get rid of the snake without hurting Di. But Khushi was not done yet. She showed him the beam of hope. She told Arnav, looking straight into his eyes that were as clear as a misty morning and in a voice firm as a solid rock, that his trump card was his family. What Shyam has not realized yet is the extent of the love of your family towards you. How much Anjaliji loves you, the bond you share is much more than that of siblings. How your word is law to all of them. Arnav who had been used to it just shook his head as if it was not a significant factor. But Khushi persisted and elaborated on their love towards him and inspired him with it. She said even if he kills, they would still stand by him and vouch that he was right to kill. That is the extent of the love his family has for him. Her words had him wide-eyed. Detailing the extent to which his family loved him, Khushi stated softly that, his Nani who was a stickler to traditions, who values her position in the society and upholds high morals had eased her rules to let Lavanyaji  stay with them, just for him. Had she not relented, he would have been torn apart. He would have had to leave the house and she did not want it to happen. To keep her Chotey with her, she developed a thick skin to all the barbs of her acquaintances and the follies of Lavanyaji. Khushi told him that Naniji has a soft corner for him that cannot be usurped by anyone, not even Laxmiji! Her words lit his face by a smile like pale wintry sunshine.

Khushi continued saying, Mamiji realised that there was something amiss, when he was kidnapped. So, both of them had stolen into the cellar at night to locate the cctv footage of that time and saw the five men who stopped him and took him away with them from the airport. As she tapered off, Arnav boomed, Khushi! What if she had been caught! How dare she put herself at risk. His eyes were wide with distress and shock. Ignoring it, she continued with, they had thought he had been kidnapped and a ransom call would come through. Mami had given all her jewels and her passbooks so that she could raise the necessary amount. For Mamiji, her love for gold, make-up and money come a distant second to him. Arnav let out an unwilling smile at the thought of Mamiji's love towards him, though never shown much, was very much there, just like a protective spine. She narrated that when Shyam sent gifts for all in his name, she was the first to realise that they were not from her nephew. She took the bottle of perfume he had sent and cried over it saying that her Arnav Bitwaa would never, never ever buy her that particular fragrance as he knew that she was allergic to it. Once again, Khushi directed his thoughts towards his family, the positive side of it. Arnav concurred saying that, she was allergic to roses. He always got her lily of the valley, gardenia, magnolia, jasmine, or something else when he went anywhere.  A wan smile flickered across his face, like the northern dawn.

Khushi continued to say that Shyam was unaware of that. Mamaji, Jiju and Nanheji are bound to you and will do anything for you. Even Hari Prakashji is one of your greatest believers and swears by his Arnav Bhaiyya, despite the daily dose of pretty loud vociferation he receives from you. Her words on HP made her smile thinking of HP's reaction daily to Arnav's bellow and it found a reflection in the gentle tug in Arnav's lips. All serious reflections are like reflections in water, a pebble will disturb them, and make a dull pond sparkle. Her words and thoughts encouraged him and stirred a sparkle in him.

In a soft voice, as soft as a flute, that touched him like a cool summer breeze, continuing her recount she said, Anjaliji will see the truth once the spell that Shyam has cast over her is removed. Once she sees his real, ugly face, she will realise her folly of misjudging and how all of you had bent backwards just to protect her all along. And in conclusion she said that if he can manage to keep his family close to him and Anjaliji is made to see the reality behind Shyam, he would triumph against Shyam.

Having understood all that she said and its implications, he asked, will she stand by him. He needed to know what her stance was and where he stood with her. This was a question that would make or break him when she answered. He had learnt the hard way that she was his strength and with her by his side he had all the motivation and could summon all the arsenal to vanquish his enemies and conquer the world. She was his guide, his Beacon of Light, his Beacon of Hope and his Beacon for Future. He knew if she refused that was the end for his reason to live and the reason to fight. Khushi's answer that, she would be with him in his fight as long as she was there, since Shyam was a low life, and he was in a fight against evil to protect his family. Saying so, she went to the bathroom to change her clothes. Her answer made Arnav heave a sigh of relief. It was a much needed breather for him. 

In this update Khushi showed the path that Arnav needed to take when he was devastated by the deeds of his Di due to her blind belief in her husband. She lead him to see the positives in his life, the love of his family and his Di's love for him. She showed him what to work on if he had to defeat Shyam by fair and square means and remove his Di from the clutches of Shyam. She also showed how Shyam operates and his minus points that Arnav could work on.  Khushi was Arnav's Beacon of Hope, Beacon of Light, Beacon of Future. She was his warning signal, she was his inspiration, motivator and a counselor. She was his guide to channel his thoughts in the right direction, his personal Pole star.

That is why this update is titled BEACON.

"There is a crack in everything.
 That's how the light gets in"
                                        ~ Leonard Cohen, Selected Poems

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.