161. OS: 7: The Other Woman (Part 26)

Part 26

“Payaliyya, Titliyya, meet Arnav babua’s family, Nandkisore,” Buaji invited them, beaming.

Payaliyya smiled shyly at the strangers.

Khushi stared at them as though they were ferocious animals in a zoo, barely caged.

“Payal, Khushi, this is my Nani, Devyani Singh Raizada. My Mami, Manorama Singh Raizada. My sister, Anjali Jha,” an apparently guileless Arnav Singh Raizada made the introductions.

The two girls folded their hands and murmured, “Namaste.”

The ladies responded in like.

“Khushiji, Payalji, are you both fasting today?” Anjali asked with a smile, hoping to break the ice.

“Ji,” Payal smiled in response.

Khushi nodded warily. Who knew what this mad lady would accuse her of next? Was fasting a crime? Would Shyamji come to the temple to break Mad Singh Raizada’s sister’s fast? What if the lady found fault with her for being in the same temple as Shyamji?

“We are bery happy to meets you phinally,” Mami proclaimed. “Arnav bitwaa has told us many things about you.” She looked Khushi up and down with her painted eyes.

Khushi swallowed. What had Loudmouth Singh Raizada told them about her? Would his family think that she was encouraging him even though she had made her mind clear to them over the phone? Her head spun, hunger, anxiety and helplessness rendering her weak.

“May you both get very good men for husbands. May your marriages happen soon,” Nani blessed them, a smile on her face.

Not if she could help it, Khushi thought. She wanted no husband if her only option was Pest Singh Raizada!

 She turned to look at him.

He smiled at her, his naughty eyes dancing merrily.

Khushi drew in a deep breath. What could she do with this Natkhat Singh Raizada?

Mamaji and Shyamji joined them. As soon as the introductions were over, Khushi glided towards the back of the crowd on silent feet. The last thing she wanted to do was stand somewhere near Shyamji and have his wife ghoor at her. Her brother’s ghooring was enough to drive her insane!

She felt him move back to stand by her.

She glared at him.

He smiled at her. “Kya hua, Khushi?” he asked.

She shivered at his husky voice and tried to straighten her spine. After all, she was a Bharatiya Naari, a descendant of Jhansi ki Rani. How could she let him make inroads in to her locked heart just because he had a fascinating voice...and chocolate eyes...and floppy hair...and a strong nose...and a cute chin...? Khushi drew in a deep breath and turned her head away from him to look at Devi Maiyya.

‘You have landed me in a pickle, Devi Maiyya! I am hungry. So hungry that I can swallow the world. I am thirsty. And then this Raizada and his pagal khandaan had to tapak padna here? Where did you find this man for me? Was he going for free or at a discount in some market?’ Khushi asked.

The pooja began.

Khushi stepped forward to stand by Buaji, leaving Arnav behind.

The crowd milled around them.

One after the other, the Raizadas and the Guptas did aarti.

Khushi stood aside as soon as her turn was over, deliberately not looking at Devil Singh Raizada doing aarti.

‘Khushi Kumari Gupta, focus on the peda on your plate. Concentrate on the water in your pot. Don’t look at that man. You are hungry for food, not for Rakshas Singh Raizada,’ she reminded herself.

‘Peda..peda..peda..pani..pani..pani....’ she chanted silently, her lips moving inaudibly.

As she was busy whispering her secret pani-peda mantra, she failed to notice Sly Singh Raizada positioning himself by her. The first she knew of it was him tugging her arm and pulling her to stand behind the pillar, away from the eyes of the Raizadas and the Guptas.

Khushi found herself with her back against the pillar, thali in hand. She stared open-mouthed at Determined Singh Raizada.

“Kya?” she began.

He lifted the pot of water and placed it at her lips.

Khushi gasped.

He poured some water in to her mouth. She had to swallow it or die choking.

“What...?” Khushi croaked.

He took the peda, broke off a small piece and placed it in her mouth.

Khushi stared at him, her mouth open, the peda still within.

He placed his finger on her hanging lower jaw and pushed it up to close her mouth. Khushi swallowed the peda so that her mouth would be free to fight with him.

“Happy Teej, Khushi,” he whispered against her cheek, his lips caressing the fine, soft, silky skin of her cheekbone.

Khushi jumped, the thali shaking in her hands, the pot in danger of toppling. He held her hands holding the thali to ensure that she didn't drop it. She pulled her hands away.

Arnav put his hand in to his pocket, withdrew something and quickly placed it around Khushi’s neck. Khushi shivered as his fingers moved aside her hair and fastened the knot at her nape.

“What are you doing?” Khushi whispered. “Are you mad?” The weight of the ornament he had placed around her neck felt oddly comforting.

“Yes,” Arnav Singh Raizada murmured. He quickly stole another kiss on her cheek and looked up, his height giving him an advantage over the ladies packed around them, all breaking their fast at the hands of their husbands.

He saw Buaji and Payal look around anxiously for Khushi. He looked down at the dazed eyes of the girl he desperately wanted to marry.

“Marry me, Khushi,” he whispered.

She was powerless to do anything except stare at him.

“Buaji & Payal are looking for you,” he said softly. “Time to join them.” He led her by hand to her family.

Khushi walked on nerveless limbs to join her aunt and sister. 

He held her hand and took advantage of the crowd to walk close to her, his side pressed against hers.

Khushi threw a glance at him, goaded beyond control. This Badmash Singh Raizada would be the death of her!

“Arnav bitwa, you found her! I was looking for Titliyya in the crowd, Nandkisore!” Buaji exclaimed in relief.

Payal frowned. She whispered in Khushi’s ear, “Khushi, where did you get this necklace from? It is not yours, is it?”

Necklace? Khushi drew in a deep breath. What could she say?

“Jiji, woh...Jiji...I...Jiji...” Khushi’s fertile brain struggled with many answers as she bought time.

“Khushi?” Shyam called.

Khushi turned to him in relief.

Shyam’s eyes rested on the diamond necklace around Khushi’s neck with satisfaction. So Arnav had given her his mother’s jewellery she had set aside for his wife whenever he got around to marrying one.

“Ji, Shyamji?” Khushi asked.

“Can you come over here for a moment? I need to speak to you,” Shyam asked politely.

Buaji smiled her permission. Khushi joined Shyam and his wife.

Arnav moved to stand by her.

“Khushi, I know you met Anjali before, but it was in an unpleasant situation. I would like to introduce her to you now. She is not usually as delusional as she was that day,” Shyam began.

“It is alright,” Khushi muttered, wishing she could dump the whole Raizada family in the nearest dustbin and go home and have her dinner in peace.

“Hamein maaf keejiye, Khushiji,” Anjali began. “I was very worried that day. That is why...”

“It is alright,” Khushi mumbled.

“Your necklace! It is beautiful,” Anjali said with a knowing smile at Arnav. “Aap ko pata he, Khushiji? Arnav was given a similar necklace by our mother before she died. She wanted him to give it to his wife.”

Khushi began to hyperventilate. ‘This Outrageous Singh Raizada will kill me one day with his antics,’ she thought. 'Now I have to courier the necklace to him!'

“It looks very good on you, Khushiji,” Anjali smiled away. “Chotey, it seems made for her, doesn’t it?”

“It most definitely does,” Brazen Singh Raizada smirked.

'The whole family should be sent to Agra pagalkhana,' Khushi thought.

“Khussi, shall we go home?” Buaji asked. “You must be hungry and tired, Nandkisore,” Buaji called.

“Yes, Buaji,” Khushi agreed hastily. She bade the Raizadas a quick good bye and walked away from the temple with her family.

As she paused by the steps to retrieve her sandals, she stole a glance at him. He was standing still, his eyes on her, his entire attention concentrated on her.

 Khushi shrugged uncomfortably. If he kept on looking at her like this, she would have holes in her back, she thought. Her lips twisted in a grimace.

She looked at him for the last time, her eyes drawn to him despite her warnings to self.

Cheeky Singh Raizada winked at her.