132. Recalling Arnav II (Part 22-)

Part 22

Khushi walked in to Ganga Chachi’s house located four houses away from her Buaji’s home in Laxmi Nagar.

“Khussi! When did you come to Delhi? How are you?” the matronly lady hugged her.

“Chachiji, I am fine. I want your help,” Khushi said urgently.

“Help? Haan, but what can I do for you?” Ganga asked in wonder tinged with sorrow. “You know the state of affairs in our house.”

“I know. Chachiji, did the officewale keep their promise of giving you a job after Chachaji’s accident?” Khushi asked.

Ganga shook her head sadly. “They have convenient memories. Khussi, I don’t know how I can pay the girls’ school fees next month. Lagta he we will have to return to Saharanpur to be a bojh on my brother.”

“Will you work for me, Chachiji?” Khushi asked.

Ganga’s eyes widened in hope.

Khushi explained about her new business. “You won’t have to travel to work, Chachiji. You can walk to Buaji’s house in seconds. And you can return home when the children get back from school. I will give you a key to the house. Will you help me?”

Ganga nodded. Her eyes filled with tears. “Khussi, I never thought…I was worried…”

“It is just cooking and cleaning, Chachiji. Ordinary, daily chores. We just have to do them for fifty-five people, that’s all,” Khushi comforted her. “I will get the advance tomorrow morning and will go with Jiji to buy pots and pans. I will bring everything back to Buaji’s house and we can ready everything for the next day.”

“How are we to pack the lunches, Khussi?” Ganga asked.

“The men will bring their lunch boxes to Buaji’s house in the morning. We don’t have to buy boxes,” Khushi said smiling. “I am so glad you are with me, Chachiji,” she said hugging the middle-aged lady warmly. “As our business prospers, we can hire more people.”

Ganga dried her eyes and said softly, “You have given me a reason to live, Khussi. May Devi Maiyya bless you and your husband.”

                                        ***

“Khushi, what is your plan for today?” Arnav asked as he fastened his tie.

“I have to meet the supervisor at 10 to sign the contract, take the advance from him, go to the market with Jiji and buy vessels to cook, purchase provisions and stock them in Buaji’s house…” Khushi began as she brushed her long hair standing before the mirror.

“You have a busy day ahead of you,” Arnav said as he came to stand behind her. “Hand over the contract to Aman. Mr. Roy will be waiting in AR Designs till twelve noon to go through it.”

Khushi smiled at him though the mirror.

He cupped her shoulders and pulled her to rest against him, his eyes on the curves of her smiling lips.

Khushi watched his head lower, her heart thudding in excitement. His warm lips brushed a kiss on her creamy cheek. Her lashes fell, hiding the dazed look in her eyes,  letting her savour the thrill of his touch in peace. His lips moved down to the edge of her lips and captured the pink curves with his loving ones even as his hands turned her to face him.

His phone rang.

Arnav lifted his head to glower at it.

Khushi felt a smile take birth somewhere in the general region of her heart, a smile that burst forth as she heard her husband grumble in to the phone, “Yes, Aman?”

She dropped a kiss on his cheek as she made to leave the room with a cheerful wave.

“Khushi, is Payal joining you at the market?” Arnav asked, making Aman wait.

“Yes,” she smiled.

“Ask Mohan to take you. Don’t run after rickshaws,” Arnav tried to warn her.

“Happyji is already here with his rickshaw,” Khushi said, smiling at him before leaving the room.

“Sir,” Aman called him back from his thoughts.

                                        *** 

Aman took the contract from her and asked, “Khushiji, will you wait in ASR’s room?”

“I will sit here,” she pointed to the lounge. “Let Arnavji work in peace.”

“He asked me to inform him when you came with the contract,” Aman smiled. “He will have my head if I don’t let him know that you are here.”

“We have to protect your head at all cost, Amanji,” Khushi laughed.

“Waise congrats on your new business, Khushiji,” Aman smiled.

“Shukriya,” Khushi said cheerfully.

“I hope one day you will accept the contract to supply food for our employees too,” Aman said hopefully before informing ASR that his wife had arrived.

ASR came down the steps, his feet flying to join his wife.

“Khushi, come up,” he said, tugging her arm, running his fingers through hers and taking her with him, least bothered about the employees gawking at them.

“The next time you come here, just walk in to my office. Don’t wait in the lounge,” he said.

Khushi smiled.

“Is Payal going to cook with you?” Arnav asked.

“Yes. And Ganga Chachi is going to help us,” Khushi smiled.

“Who?” Arnav frowned. “Have you done an employee check on her? She may be a murderer for all you know.”

Khushi giggled. “I am sure she is…a murderer, I mean. She must have killed mosquitoes with the bat at night.”

Arnav tried to keep his lips from twitching.

“She is our neighbour in Laxmi Nagar. Her husband was a security guard at a private bank. Some men tried to enter the bank at night. He stopped them and they shot him dead. The bank owners promised to give her a job but they haven’t. She has two daughters to feed. So I asked her if she could help us. She agreed,” Khushi explained.

“Oh,” Arnav said. “She must be alright then.”

Khushi smiled at him, her eyes twinkling with merriment.

Arnav stared at her, captivated.

“I love your smile, Khushi,” he whispered, his eyes on her lips.

The air in the cabin seemed to contract as they stared at each other; the distance between them seemed to vanish. She could see the rise and fall of his chest, feel every heart beat, each throb of his pulse, each breath he dragged in to his lungs. She stood, caught in his thrall, captivated by his intent gaze, trapped by the power of his passion for her.

Aman knocked on the door.

Arnav and Khushi stared at him, startled.

“The contract is harmless, Khushiji. Mr. Roy said you can sign it,” Aman smiled.

Khushi smiled weakly. “Sh..shukriya, Amanji,” she said. “I…I need to leave now, Arnavji,” she told her husband.

He nodded, loath to let her go out of his sight.

 Part 23

Glad to be back after such a long break, my darlings! So sorry to keep you waiting.

Khushi and Payal went to buy the vessels and provisions they needed. The market was crowded. The two girls examined the big containers and vats with eagle eyes, setting aside the ones that passed inspection.

“Khushi, this should do for the rice,” Payal murmured in her ear.

“Haan, Jiji,” Khushi whispered back. “Let me bargain for a cheaper rate.”

“Khushi, you are the wife of Arnav Singh Raizada! Don’t put him to shame!” Payal whispered urgently.

Khushi laughed out loud. “I am Sasi Gupta’s daughter first,” she said between her chuckles.

Payal looked at her with exasperation mingled with amusement.

Khushi girded her loins and began to argue with the shopkeeper about the prices.

One hour later, Khushi and Payal bent to lift the big bins and containers so that they could load them in to Happyji’s rickshaw but stopped short at the simple, low-voiced call.

“Khushi…”

They turned around to see ASR in casual clothes.

“Arnavji,” Khushi gasped. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to help you,” he said softly.

Payal and Khushi stared at him in silence. People milled around them, but all three stood caught in the moment.

“Bhai,” Akash called.

Khushi stared at a formally-dressed Akash making his way gingerly through crowds of militant housewives bent on finding the best bargain.

Akash looked at the surprise written large on the faces of the two girls and smiled faintly.

“I am here too, Khushiji, Payalji,” NK said, peeping from behind Akash’s tall frame. “Ab moze aayega.”

“Maza, NK bhai!” Akash said.

All laughed.

The men lifted the vessels and walked towards the two cars they had come in.

“Arnavji, Happyji is waiting,” Khushi reminded him anxiously.

“I told him to return to Laxmi Nagar,” Arnav said.

Khushi stared at him in silence, watching him and his brothers do the hard work.

Once all the containers, lids and spoons with long stems were loaded in to one car, Arnav asked Khushi, “Do you need to buy anything more?”

“Rice, atta, vegetables, potatoes…” she began.

“Akash, take Payal & NK with you to Laxmi Nagar. I will go with Khushi, get the stuff she needs and join you there in a couple of hours,” Arnav instructed his brother.

“I will, bhai,” Akash said before helping Payal in to the car.

“Akash, there is no space for me to sit,” NK said. “Looks like I will have to sit in one of the containers,” he laughed.

"I hope Akash fastens the lid on him," Arnav muttered beneath his breath.

Khushi nudged him in mock anger. 

Arnav watched Khushi examining the different brands of rice available in the wholesale store with wondering eyes. She took food seriously, he thought with a smile. She was staring at a few grains of different varieties in her palm, sometimes biting in to a grain to taste it.

“Don’t stare so, Khushi. You will scare the rice,” Arnav teased her softly.

Khushi smiled at his comment and turned her attention to the shopkeeper to demand that he supply her with large quantities of a particular brand at regular intervals.

Arnav watched with wide eyes as she cajoled and threatened the man in to agreeing to deliver bags of rice to Laxmi Nagar once a week.

“I have a weighing machine, bhaisaheb,” Khushi told him. “I will weigh the bags before paying your employee who delivers them.”

“Yes, yes,” the shopkeeper said, all smiles. 

“And make sure that the rice is of good quality,” ASR warned him, his face stern and eyes cold. “I don’t want my wife to open the bags to find that you have sent her second-quality stuff.”

“No, no. She won’t have any reason to complain,” the shopkeeper wiped his face nervously.

Arnav watched Khushi buying vegetables with single-minded devotion to their freshness and quality. She haggled vociferously with the vendors, beating them down to a price advantageous to her with all the tenacity of a bulldog and the negotiation skills of a seasoned manager.

As the vendor was packing her purchase for her, Arnav moved to stand by her shoulder.

He whispered, “Khushi, I should have employed you at AR Design. Your negotiation skills are out of this world.”

Khushi smiled at him.

Arnav parked his car before Buaji’s house in Laxmi Nagar. Akash & NK came running and all of them lugged the purchases in to the house.

“Khushiji, so many ullus? What are you going to do with them?” NK asked.

“Aloo, Nanheji,” Khushi laughed.

“She can fry one ullu,” Arnav muttered under his breath.

Khushi frowned at her husband. “I will make sabzi with the aloo, Nanheji,” she replied.

Ganga and the others arranged the rice, the spices and the vegetables neatly in the kitchen.

“You need a fridge,” Arnav muttered as he punched Aman’s number. “Aman, get a fridge delivered to Khushi’s Buaji’s house in Laxmi Nagar…the biggest size available.” He cut the call.

Khushi sighed. “Arnavji, remember the blackout we had when you switched on the AC?” she asked.

“Yes. So?” Arnav frowned.

“The wiring in this house is as old as the house,” Khushi smiled. “I don’t think we should risk getting a fridge.”

Arnav looked at the ancient electrical wiring on the walls around him and felt his face pale. He got on the phone to Aman. “Send me a dozen electricians. I need the wiring changed tonight.”

“Wiring change, Sir? Whose wiring?” Aman scratched his head.

“The wiring in Buaji’s house is too old,” Arnav explained, his urgency reaching Aman.

“I will arrange the men, Sir. It will be done tonight. We will have to pay extra, but…” Aman understood the seriousness of the situation. If something were to happen to Khushiji…It had been bad enough when she had left for Lucknow last time....

“Money is no problem, “ ASR said unnecessarily.

“I understand, Sir. I will get the fridge delivered after the wiring is ready,” Aman said.

“Yes,” Arnav cut the call, feeling his heart settle in his chest. He lifted his head to look at Khushi. She was smiling at him with a strange look in her eyes.

As he watched, she walked closer to him and kissed him firmly on his lean cheek.

Arnav drove Khushi to Laxmi Nagar early in the morning.

The rest of the colony was asleep but Buaji’s house was brightly lit. As he parked his car outside the house, Ganga opened the door for them.

Khushi lit the lamp at the feet of Devi Maiyya and prayed for the success of their venture. She did aarti and Arnav and Ganga prayed with her. Then she placed the huge vessel for rice on the stove and poured water in to it with a small bucket. She lit the stove and stood watching the flames with peace in her heart.

“Shall I cut the vegetables, Khussi?” Ganga asked.

“Yes, Chachiji,” Khushi smiled at her.

 As Arnav watched, Khushi set about boiling potatoes and cooking dal for the workers.

“Arnavji, I am fine. I will manage here. Aap ghar jaayiye. You have to go to the office later,” Khushi smiled at him.

“Yes…” Arnav hesitated.

“I will come to your office with your lunch, Arnavji,” she promised him.

Arnav nodded.

Khushi accompanied him to the door to see him out.

“The fridge will be delivered before noon, Khushi,” Arnav promised her, sparing a look at the excellent work done by the electricians overnight.

“Thank you, Arnavji,” Khushi said softly, her eyes on his dear face.

He looked at her, his eyes serious.

“I love you, Khushi,” he whispered.

“I know,” she smiled.

Part 24: Section 1

Arnav looked up to see a beaming Khushi standing at the door to his office room, holding his lunch box aloft.

“Khushi!” he exclaimed, feeling his heart lighten at the glee on her face. The workers must have liked her food, he mused.

“Arnavji, the supervisor said that the men enjoyed the food,” Khushi almost danced in to the office on light feet.

Arnav stood up. His arms lifted of their own accord.

Khushi abandoned his lunch on his table and leaped in to his arms.

“Arnavji, I am so happy. I can’t tell you how happy I feel,” she murmured against his heart.

He held her as close as he could.

She lifted her head to look at him. Her eyes turned serious as she said softly, “Arnavji, finally.... I am not a burden anymore.”

“Khushi?” he murmured in shock.

“I was always dependent on the goodwill of others, Arnavji. All my life I have been a burden on Babuji, Amma and Buaji. I wanted to stand on my own feet, be independent…” she smiled at him.

He caressed the strand of hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear, his heart aching at the tinge of loneliness in her voice.

“It is a small business, Arnavji. It is not something to boast about. But it means the world to me. It makes me very happy to cook for others, to pay my way.” Khushi said softly.

“You don’t have to prove anything to anyone, Khushi. You don’t have to justify your existence to anyone. Just be happy. That’s all,” Arnav kissed her gently on her forehead.

“I don’t want to take on more than one order at a time, Arnavji. Nor do I want to own a hundred branches of this catering business. I just want to cook with Jiji in Buaji’s house, supervise the cooking and the packaging, ensure the supply and enjoy the feedback,” Khushi said.

“Make it as small or as big as you want, Khushi,” Arnav said, cradling her head against his shoulder. "I will be with you every inch of the way."

“I am so lucky, Arnavji. I have so many people ready to help me out. Jiji joined me a few minutes after you left today morning. Then Di called while we were cooking,” Khushi smiled against his neck. “She wants to join us tomorrow.”

Arnav smiled. “Good. It will give her a sense of purpose in life.”

“Naniji and Mamiji will accompany her,” Khushi laughed.

Arnav’s brows hit the skyline.

“My entire family is going to cook with you?” he asked. 

“Mami is really going to get her hands dirty?”

“Yes,” Khushi laughed.

“Nani will faint with happiness to see Mami cooking,” Arnav smiled, dropping a gentle kiss on her chin.

“Come and have your lunch,” Khushi invited. “I made sugarfree halwa for you.

Arnav smiled as he sat down and dug in, licking his fingers as he finished the lunch made by his wife.

That night Arnav lay in bed watching Khushi plait her silky hair. Her slender fingers deftly twisted her hair in to a neat and orderly plait and completed the process with a band at the end.

“Khushi, I love your hair,’ Arnav said softly, almost involuntarily.

She looked at his image in the mirror and her lips stretched in a sweet smile that soon turned naughty. Her lashes fell to hide her eyes.

“Acha? I was thinking of cutting it off,” Khushi frowned at her hair. “To look more like the ladies in your office…modern…fashionable.”

Arnav paled.

He leaped soundlessly off the bed and strode towards her on silent but determined feet. He came to stand behind her. His left hand clasped her shoulder and his right hand moved over her hair, right from her head to the end of her plait, his intent eyes lingering lovingly on the silky fall.

Khushi stared at him in surprise. She had expected an outburst but not his actions.

She jerked as she felt his fingers free her plait from the dark band and then run through the knots to free the lush waterfall to fall down her back.

“Arnavji…” she whispered.

“Ssshh…” he whispered, running his fingers through her hair with abandon, enjoying his right to savour her beauty.

She trembled as his fingers massaged her scalp, sending electric currents down her spine and limbs.

Her head fell back against his chest, revealing the tender lines of her throat to the eager, loving eyes of her husband. His lips touched her hair,  moved down to tease her vulnerable ear and then explore the sensitive skin of her throat.

Khushi moaned, “Arnavji…”

“Hhmmm?” he asked against her throat.

She had no answer as his marauding lips explored her nape and his fingers trailed down her arms, attacking her senses from all angles and directions.

“A…r..nav…ji…” she cried brokenly.

“Khushi…” he whispered as his fingers drew the dupatta away from the base of her neck and threw away the wisp of cloth.

She turned and threw herself in to his arms, hanging around his neck with her slender arms.

Part 24: Section 2: The Last Part

Arnav nuzzled her ear and throat and ran his warm hands down the slender lines of her straight back.

Khushi trembled and hung on tighter to her husband.

He rubbed his nose against her cheek and moved closer to her lips. Before she knew it, her lips were his, trapped, captured, captivated by his hard ones.

Khushi gasped.

Arnav, a good businessman, knew how to make the most of opportunities. He dived in deeper, tasting the nectar hidden by her plump, pink curves.

“Khushi…” he whispered as he came up for air a long time later.

Khushi tightened her hold around his neck and pulled his head down to quell the demands of her hungry lips.

He obliged happily, loving her need for him, stoking the fire in her till she burned as he did. Her fingers roamed over his back, her nails clawing at his muscles in a frenzy of need, clutching the soft, fine cloth of his T-shirt.

“Khushi…” he whispered against her collar bone.

Her fingers ran through his silky, unruly hair. Her low moan filled the air.

“Khushi?” His low-voiced question held uncertainty and the willingness to let her decide where they went from that point. The choice was hers.

Khuhsi looked in to his molten eyes, alight with a strange expression. The fire of passion had blended with the tenderness of an all-consuming love to make the orbs gleam with an irresistible need to make her his, to lose himself in her. The rightness of their love, the inevitability of their relationship, the strength of their love struck her heart that moment and brought moisture to her eyes.

“Khushi? Khushi…what is wrong?’ he asked, worried, upset at her tears. He had reduced her to tears too many times in their convoluted and complicated life together and wanted no more of it.

“I love you, Arnavji,” Khushi whispered, her eyes firmly on his surprised ones.

“I know,” he managed to croak after a long pause.

Khushi tried to smile.

“I don’t deserve your love…or your forgiveness,” he said seriously. “But I am glad that you have a heart big enough to give us a second chance, Khushi, to see the best in others, to hope for a future.”

Khushi did not bother to reply. She walked in to him, lodging her legs between his spread ones. She cupped his nape and pulled his head down to hers.

“Khushi,” he whispered the paean against her lips before lifting her into his arms and carrying her to their warm bed.

A long time later Arnav woke up.

He was lying on his side by Khushi, his arm outstretched so that she could rest her head on it. Khushi was lying on her back, close to him, her eyes open. The blanket covered them in its warm and cosy comfort.

“Khushi,” he whispered against her hair, his eyes on her pensive face.

“Arnavji…” she began softly, stopping to swallow the boulder in her throat before continuing. “I used to dream that you were touching me…” she murmured, “…even when I couldn’t remember my family.” Her direct gaze rested on his moved eyes. “What is this love, Arnavji, that can penetrate through the mist of my memory loss, drag me back from oblivion, tug at my heart even when I couldn’t recognise you, make me know and yearn for your touch even when I couldn’t remember your name?” Her question was genuine, her confusion as real as her.

Arnav pulled her closer in to his hold. “I don’t know, Khushi. I can only say that…” he rested his lips on the hollow at the base of her neck and continued to whisper, “…you are a miracle I didn’t know I was waiting for, didn’t know I deserved.”

Khushi swallowed hard.

“If you ever leave this house, Khushi, take me with you. I don’t want to see another moment in my life when you are not with me,” Arnav pleaded against her skin. Khushi felt the saline wetness of his tear on her neck.

“Devi Maiyya has given you to me, Arnavji. And she has filled your arms with me. I didn’t know before…now I know,” Khushi whispered.

“Whatever happens in the future, Khushi, we face it together,” he promised. “Together for a lifetime.”

Khushi smiled tenderly at him. Her eager arms circled his bare shoulders and she raised her bare torso towards the hard warmth of his.

“Is it time for us to wake up?” Arnav asked, desperately praying that it wasn’t so.

“The sun can wait for us today, Arnavji,” Khushi whispered against his hard lips. “I can’t wait any more for you. We have wasted too much time apart as it is.”

Arnav smiled in agreement as his eager lips and arms savoured his wife and he revelled in her love. 

The End

Darlings, I will be writing a few OSes on the many ways in which a sanki Khushi Kumari Gupta manages to make her clumsy way in to khadoos ASR's life. I hope you enjoy them in the coming weeks.

With loads of love,

Smita