243. OS 13. Laad Governor and Afghan Jalebi (Part 7)

Link to my new short story: Taking Care of You


“I thought I was dreaming when I first saw you," he said.

 “How did you know it was me?” she asked. “I could have been anybody. A thief even.”

He smiled wearily. “I don’t know many thieves who would look at me with anxious eyes and then cry because I was sick,” he mumbled.

Is it possible for love to bloom, sight unseen? Juhi and Abhay are strangers who know each other better than they know themselves. One night changes the equation and the even tenor of their lives and puts all their doubts and fears to rest.

http://pothi.com/pothi/book/ebook-smita-ramachandran-taking-care-you

Link to my first e-novel; A Home for Meenakshi

http://pothi.com/pothi/book/ebook-smita-ramachandran-home-meenakshi

"I love the way you love, Meenu," he whispered, his eyes on hers. "Such loyalty, such passion..."

Meenakshi Sharma, an orphan, lives in Varanasi with her uncle, a chronic bachelor who wants her to become a professional musician. She unwillingly relocates to Delhi to study under a renowned musician for eight months. Staying for rent in the outhouse of the Agrawals, she meets Aditya Agrawal, an attractive young man brooding over the memories of his horrendous past. Pulled between her uncle's expectations of her and Aditya's love for her, Meenakshi struggles with her feelings. How can she disappoint her uncle who had devoted his entire life to her upbringing? How can she pretend to be blind to Aditya's feelings for her? A romance that moves between the alleys of the holy city of Varanasi and the modern city of Delhi.

A blog for my VMs:

http://smitarsvms.blogspot.in/

Dedicated to Supriya Sahasrabuddhe (Sups/ aniyathi). She wanted Mami and Payal to plot to bring A-K together. So here goes,

Part 7

ASR came down to breakfast, his laptop bag in hand. He pretended not to notice the silence at his entry or that Khushi was seated with NK.

He took his seat.

Payal, as she had been doing every morning, served him and then went to sit by her husband.

ASR stole a look at his di’s face. She was pale, nervous.

Mami was sitting on the edge of her seat.

Nani was looking at him and at Khushi.

Finally mami dared to draw his attention to Khushi’s presence at the table.

“Arnav bitwaa, look who hajj come to join ujj. Khussi, Payaliya’s choti behena,” she said.

Arnav lifted his head to bestow a distant glance at Khushi. He nodded.

Khushi looked down at her untouched plate.

“This is what we wanted to tell you when you returned from office last night, Chotey,” nani said.

He nodded.

“Chotey, you don’t know Khushiji well, do you? I don’t think you were introduced at the shaadi,” Anjali began, hoping to give him a positive picture of the victim of their machinations.

“We met last night,” Arnav said shortly.

Many wide eyes looked at him in shock and dismay.

“It is strange how with eight guest rooms in this house, our guest was given the room adjacent to mine and she was found wandering in my garden at night,” he said bluntly.

Some faces paled, some reddened. Akash and NK looked merely confused.

Khushi looked down at her plate, her jaw clenched.

“Nannav, chill,” NK finally said. “Khushiji won’t disturb you. We are planning to have fun. This will be a week Khushiji will never forget.”

ASR stood up. “I am sure it will be,” he said laconically before leaving.

He left behind him silence.

Nani, mami and Anjali were ashamed to look at Khushi.

Payal felt terrible.

Akash said apologetically, pushing his specs up his nose, “Khushiji, please don’t feel bad. Bhai is short-tempered. Small things irritate him and what with his diabetis and long working hours, he gets testy sometimes. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Khushi tried to smile. In her head, she was frying Arnav Singh Raizada in a vat of bubbling oil while haranguing Devi Maiyya for putting her in a spot.

“Khushiji, come out with me,” NK invited. “I will take you to my gym and introduce all the guys to you. Then we can go to a nightclub in the evening.”

Khushi opened her mouth to refuse the ‘treats’ Nanheji was hanging before her, but nani beat her to it.

“NK bitwa, who do you think Khussi bitiya is? She is your sister. Will you take her to your gym and a nightclub? What will Sasiji think of us?” nani asked.

“You are right, saasumma. NK bitwaa, take her to an isspaa. Tell them Manorama Raijjada’s name. They will do massage and phacial free free, Hello Hi Bye Bye,” mami told him.

“Manorama,” nani glared at her.

Anjali asked sweetly, “Khushiji, shall we go to a temple nearby? After that we can plan our shopping and enjoy the sights and sounds of Delhi.”

Khushi said, “Ji,” with a smile. As long as the sights she had to see in Delhi didn’t include Arnav Singh Raizada and the sounds she had to listen didn’t include his reprimands, she could see and hear anything and be happy.

                                             ***

Khushi was with NK, eating his chips and listening to him massacring Hindi as he introduced her to Laxmi, nani’s goat.

Payal was outside, seeing off Akash.

Anjali, mami and nani were in the living room, deciding the menu for lunch.

“Naniji,” came HP’s hesitant call.

“Kaa hua, Hari Prakashji?” nani asked.

“I went to Arnav bhaiyya’s room to clean it,” HP paused.

Nani nodded encouragingly.

“We will have to order a new mirror and a table,” HP said. “The room is in a bad shape.”

All frowned.

“Kaa hua, HP?” mami asked. “New furniturewaa? But we changed everything in the housewaa six months back.”

“Mamiji, woh—Arnav bhaiyya ghusse mein—hum kya bataaein aap ko? please come with me and look at the room,” HP finally said.

The ladies followed him on quick feet.

HP opened ASR’s door and the ladies gasped.

                                 ***

Anjali, mami and nani stood by after praying as Payal, Khushi and NK walked around taking in the beauty of the temple and its premises.

Akash had gone to the office.

“The last time hamre Arnav bitwaa attacked furniturewaa wajj two years back,” mami informed them thoughtfully.

“Yes, mami,” Anjali agreed. “It was when Singhania tried to cheat him by supplying third-rate fabric. Chotey totalled his room first in anger that he had been taken in by the crooks’s smooth ways and then he demolished Singhania. Neither he nor his ghatiya business exists now.”

“Chotey met Khussi bitiya last night and then returned to his room to wreck it. Anjali bitiya, Manorama, this does not bode well,” nani said sadly.

Anjali nodded, her lips drooping.

“Think positive, saasumma, Anjali bitiya,” mami exhorted.

Nani looked at Manorama with anger in her eyes. “Tell me, Manorama. What is positive about Chotey destroying his room?”

“Kahiye na, mami?” Anjali too wanted to know.

“Saasuma, Anjali bitiya, Akass bitwaa wajj telling ujj that businejj is booming. He ki naahi?” mami asked.

“Yes,” nani and Anjali agreed.

“To Arnav bitwaa ko kahe ki tensionwaa he? Bhy? Bhy did he break the tablewaa?” mami asked.

“Because he met Khussi bitiya and didn’t like her?” Anjali surmised.

Mami grimaced. “Hamre Arnav bitwaa ijj isstupid, but not that isstupid,” she said. “If he didn’t like Khussi, he would have ignored her like he did today morning. Room ka satyanass karne ki kaa jaroorat rahe, saasumma?”

Nani and Anjali looked at each other.

“Listen to me, saasumma, Anjali bitiya. Kucho to baat he. There ijj something wrong. He met Khussi, room ko barbaad kiya and then ate breakphast with her without saying anything to her? Inbestigation karega padi,” mami concluded.

“Maybe,” Anjali said hopefully. “It sound odd when you put it like that, mami.”

“Odd hi to he, Anjali bitiya. Hamre Arnav bitwaa ijj odd. To uska pyaar bhi odd hi hone ki padi,” mami stressed.

“I hope you are right, Manorama,” nani said. She turned to look at the sanctum sanctorum. “I hope Devi Maiyya answers our pleas.”

                                        ***

Arnav glared at Akash.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. “I thought you were escorting your sister-in-law around Delhi.”

Akash smiled. “They are at the temple now, bhai. After lunch, they are planning to shop. NK is with them anyway and Mohan is driving them. So I thought I would get some work done, bhai,” he said easily.

The acid of jealousy burned ASR’s gut. NK was going to spend time with Khushi? He was going to take her around Delhi, stuck to her like conjoined twins?

“You left them to the care of NK? That nitwit?” he asked, furious.

“They are going to buy clothes, bhai and that too at Anamika’s boutique. Di managed to get an appointment at one. What can possibly go wrong?” Akash asked in bewilderment.

“It is no use expecting you to handle this, Akash. The fault is mine,” ASR fumed. “I should have taken care of this.” He marched out of the room to save the world, his coat swirling behind him like Batman’s cape.

“Handle what?” Akash asked aloud. “Take care of what?”

Aman came in to collect ASR’s laptop.

“What is wrong with bhai?” Akash asked him in genuine confusion.

Aman smiled. “When has anything been right with him?” he asked gently.

“Woh bhi sahi he. You are right,” Akash had to conceede.

                           ***

Sasi called Khushi.

“Bitiya, are you enjoying spending time with Payaliya?” he asked.

“Yes, babuji, but I will be back in one week,” she vowed. “I miss making sweets and working with you.”

“And nagging Preetho and laughing with Munna and Krishna,” Sasi added, smiling.

“Woh bhi,” she admitted. “I like Lucknow, babuji, not Delhi.”

Sasi smiled. “What have you seen of Delhi to dislike?” he asked softly.

Khushi pursed her lips. An honest answer would give him a heart attack and she wanted to avoid that. “Nothing, babuji,” she said.

Sasi said softly, “Titliya, we have no idea where you will be married off, where your sasuraal will be. It maybe in Lucknow, but it may also be in Kanpur, Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Indore or any other place. You have to adjust, bitiya.”

“Yes, babuji,” Khushi said, her face cross.

“Are Payaliya’s in-laws treating you well?” Sasi asked.

Khushi paused for a moment. Then she said, “Yes, babuji. They took me to the temple today. In the evening they are taking me to a dress shop.”

“Khussi, use the credit card I gave you. Don’t be miserly. You know we can afford it,” Sasi reminded her.

“I have enough clothes at home, babuji. And what I don’t have, I can stitch,” Khushi replied.

Sasi shook his head. “You have been working at the shop since childhood, bitiya, doing the work of two people. Do you know how much money I owe you?” he asked.

“Babuji,” Khushi protested.

“Buy whatever you want. There is enough money in the account for you to buy all of Delhi,” Sasi reassured her. “Waise you were supposed to stay there for two weeks, weren’t you?” he asked curiously.

“Don’t tell amma and buaji. I managed to bring it down to a week. Babuji, bahut yaad aati he Lucknow ki,” Khushi said.

“I won’t tell them. But what will you do if your sasuraal is far away, Khussi? Think about that,” he reminded her.

“I will think about it later,” Khushi said. “Babuji, is it not possible for me to remain a spinster and live with you all my life?”

“Give the phone to Payaliya,” Sasi said. “And ask this question to your buaji if you dare. She will twist your ear so bad that it will be red for days.”

Khushi smiled and went in search of Payal.

                                   ***

Khushi walked into a huge, posh building with the Raizadas at one.

Anjali talked to the receptionist who allotted them a smiling attendant who took them via a glass-walled lift to the third floor.

Khushi looked around with wide eyes. All around her were mannequins wearing elegant gowns, designer lehengas and specially crafted sarees. Familiar with embroidery and stitching as most girls in Lucknow were, she could appreciate the selection of fabric and the quality of the work.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Anjali asked in a whisper.

“Bahut,” Khushi had to say.

“Anamika is the best. And getting an appointment here is next to impossible,” Anjali murmured.

Khushi nodded.

“The bridal section covers the first two floors,” Anjali said softly.

Khushi nodded.

“Do you like lehengas or sarees, Khushiji?” Anjali asked.

“Ji...” Khushi’s voice trailed away.

“Buy both,” mami advised. “How can any girlwaa hab too many dresswaa? Buy, buy.”

“Take whatever you want, Khussi bitiya. Don’t be shy. You are our daughter, just like Payaliya,” nani said with a smile.

“Ji,” Khushi said slowly. She peered at the price tag of a lehenga worn by a mannequin standing near her and felt her head spin. Hey Devi Maiyya! There was no way she could let the Raizadas pay if she bought even a handkerchief here, she thought.

“Khushiji, this is so beautiful, isn’t it?” NK asked, pointing to a yellow sari.

Khushi smiled weakly.

“I will model it for you,” he offered. He went to stand by the mannequin, lifted the pallu from it with a murmured apology and then draped it over his shoulder.

“Kya khaayal (wounded) he?” NK asked Khushi.

“Khayaal (thought), Nanheji,” she whispered. “Put it back. Koi dekh lega.”

NK removed the pallu from himself and tried to arrange it on the mannequin in stealth. The mannequin wobbled.

“Sorry,” NK told the lifeless form. He tried to make it stand.

It wobbled again.

“Stand straight,” he hissed. “Had a beer too much?” he asked sympathetically.

“Chodiye usse,” Khushi told him softly. “The attendants are looking.”

NK let go. Thankfully the mannequin stood straight.

Khushi grabbed his hand and pulled NK away before he did more damage.

“I lub that saree,” mami pointed to a rich green saree with loads of gold work. “Payaliya, buy it,” she suggested.

“Saasumma, it will suit you better,” Payal said softly.

“Haan,” mami replied thoughtfully. “Let me shock Akass bitwaa’s papa with it, hello hi bye bye.”

“With the bill or by wearing the saree, Manorama?” nani teased softly.

“Donon,” said an unrepentant mami.

All laughed.

“Khushiji, did you see anything you like?” Anjali asked her.

“No, Anjaliji,” she replied.

“Then will you wear this for me?” Anjali asked, pointing to a dress the assistant was holding up.

Khushi stared at the rich fabric, speechless.

Payal added her bit. “Khushi, wear it. It will look good on you,” she insisted.

“Yes, Khushiji,” NK requested.

Khushi could only nod.

She walked behind the assistant to the changing room.

“Payaliya, try thijj saree,” mami pointed at a pink silk saree.

Payal nodded and went with an assistant to try it out.

Nani and Anjali sat down on the plush chairs arranged for convenience.

Mami and NK looked at the mannequins.

“Nk bitwaa, ijj the mannequin thinner than me?” mami asked NK, striking a pose near one.

“No, maasi. You are thinner than it,” NK lied.

Mami smiled happily and opened her mouth to thank him. Her mouth remained open and no sound emerged from it.

NK turned to see what had made his maasi look like a snake that had swallowed a tractor.

ASR was being escorted to join his family.

Nani and Anjali jumped up from their seats.

“Chotey?”

“Arnav bitwaa?”

“Nannav?”

ASR ignored the questions on the faces of his family and said casually, “Anamika designs for us once in a while.”

Before anyone could ask him what he was doing in their midst, he asked, “Where is Payal?”

Distracted, nani said, “Payaliya is trying out a saree. Khussi bitiya too.”

The door of the changing room opened.

All eyes turned to look at the pari emerging from the room.

Khushi was in a rich red lehenga, her hair unbound, her eyes lowered.

ASR’s breath caught in his chest.

Khushi felt his eyes on her body and looked up.

He was staring at her, an unreadable look in his eyes.

She turned her head, averting her eyes.

Anjali breathed, “Khushiji, that lehenga was made for you. You must take it.”

“Yes, Khussi bitiya,” nani seconded.

“Take it, Khussi. You look tip tap in it,” mami declared.

Khushi swallowed hard. Wanting ASR to see her doing so, she slowly lifted the price tag and looked at it.

Thirty thousand rupees.

She could afford it. But she wanted to teach the great Arnav Singh Raizada a lesson.

“It is beyond my budget, Anjaliji,” she said softly. “We are middle class people.”

ASR’s heart stopped. She hadn’t forgotten.

“There is no budget for our sister, Khushiji. Take whatever you want,” Anjali said, meaning it.

Nani and mami nodded.

“Don’t you think it shows too much of my waist? Woh kya he, naniji, I don’t want anyone thinking that I am flaunting my assets to attract them,” Khushi said softly.

The ladies rushed to assure her that it was perfectly modest.

NK said, “Khushiji, leejiye na? It makes you look like a lollipop.”

Khushi and the ladies burst out laughing.

Then Khushi said, “No, Nanheji, I won’t buy it. If I do, then ants will nibble on me.”

All laughed except ASR with burning eyes and a sore heart.

Gals, just wanted to tell you something. Please don't use abusive language in the comments. You can disagree or agree with the storyline, like it or dislike it, criticise it or praise it, read it or condemn it to the dustbin. I don't mind. But kindly avoid using foul language. This is a place for friends, for fun, a place to escape to when real life gets difficult. Let's keep it clean.

Rash's interpretation:

Part 7

ASR’s quiet entry and sticking to his daily routine of having his breakfast before going off to work as though unaware of Khushi’s presence was unpalatable to the rest making them jittery… Silence is the best way to let someone know they did wrong… It is the most eloquent of replies… When Mami finally took the initiative to point out the presence of a guest amidst them, he deigned to look into her face and give a slight nod… Nani’s words that this was what they wanted to let him know the previous night and Anjali’s machination to introduce Khushi to him met with a stumbling block with the news that they had already met the previous night… His sarcasm laced statement, it being strange, of the eight guest beds in the mansion the one next to his, with access to his garden, was the only room that was fit to be occupied by her… His statement though greeted in silence, elicited response only from NK of keeping her out of his hair… Nani, Mami and Anjali had the grace to look shame-faced for their plotting and Payal felt terrible… Just a statement from him gave them an inkling that he had cottoned on to their plan! Akash’s attempt to smoothen his brother’s behavior was met with a stoic smile by Khushi, though her mind was recalling the scenes of her kitchen with vats of oil just ready to fry jalebis… and she silently groused about these situations her Devi Maiyya had put her in… NK’s offer to escort her to his gym and the nightclub was met with a chide from Nani asking him is that a fit place to take his sister to? Mami’s spa too was shot down. Anjali’s temple visit to begin with was endorsed by the rest … It was decided later it would be shopping time… Khushi was happy to go along with any of their plan as long as it was sans ASR and his shadow…

When HP told them they needed to replace a few pieces of furniture in Arnav’s room all were flabbergasted as to what had caused him to unleash this destructive instinct… Last time it had occurred, it had decimated a rival who had tried unlawful means… When the rest felt gloomy thinking it to be due to the presence of Khushi… Mami was elated… She could see the positive in the situation… Mami’s intuition and deduction on which her understanding of the situation is based, was spot on… Her take on it was, if he didn’t like Khushi… he could have resorted to ignoring her like he had done that morning… But after meeting her, his emotions had been unleashed in his room on his furniture…  Though odd, it seemed like a feasible explanation…  Mami stressed this very oddity of not venting it out in the open is what is making her think… after all love is an odd thing… as odd there is… and when it comes to Arnav bitwa it becomes all the more odd that spills on to his behavior too… Hence it calls for an investigation… These thoughts coming on in front of Devi Maiyya in her temple made Nani seek her blessings for the success in their endeavor….

Arnav who knew the family were to go on a shopping spree with Khushi had thought Akash would be taking them around… But seeing Akash’s presence in the office his knee-jerk reaction was to question him why was he there when he was supposed to take his sister-in-law around Delhi… But the minute he heard NK was escorting them he did a double take, the green monster raised its head and Akash’s assurance that they would be at Anamika’s where they could not come to any harm had no effect on the fretting and fuming ASR… With his coat thrown on his shoulders like a cloak, his expression like a man on the mission to save the planet, ASR breezed past Akash without wasting a minute to give his brother an explanation as to why it was a necessity… A flabbergasted Akash was brought to earth by the Mr. Dependable, Aman, as to when were they ever privy to ASR’s thoughts?… When ASR is in the ASR mode of silently posing the query… it isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me… it’s better to give him a huge leeway…

Shashi Gupta, who had sent his grown up younger daughter to his eldest daughter’s house where there were eligible bachelors too, called up and enquired Khushi, how was she feeling amidst the Raizadas? Her response that she would be back in a week to help him out with orders had him prod gently why? Her reply that she loved Lucknow better than Delhi made him ask how could she conclude so without even venturing out? Her silence made him tell her that there would come a time when she too would have to leave their nest to build her own nest and she would be needed to make a lot of adjustments… Her still reluctant answer made him enquire further of her activity and came to know that they were scheduled to go shopping sometime later that day… Shashi insisted her on using the credit card and not to think of the money as her account had enough to spend as and if she wishes… When her reluctance to be away from them for more than a week was voiced out… Shashi asked her to mentally prepare herself if her in-laws lived far away and she had to go a long distance… He squashed her thoughts on living a spinster’s life with the dare to say so in front of her Buaji…

Anamika’s was an enchanting place… A boutique housing the best of Anamika’s exclusive collection… It was a connoisseur’s delight… Khushi being well versed in the art of embroidery and stitching could appreciate the finesse and the standard it had adhered to… Raizada’s while explaining the layout of the boutique… asked her to buy anything that took her fancy after all she was a daughter of the house just like her sister… Though Khushi nodded her head, the price tag showing her how pricey the clothes displayed were, had her decide not to accept even a handkerchief as a gift from the Raizadas… NK who was with them tried hard to make her choose something but met with no success… Even when the rest had chosen Khushi was quiet. At Anjali’s insistence, Khushi consented to  try out a lehenga and Mami made Payal try a pink silk saree…

Mami who was about to thank NK for his compliment that gave her a boost to her beautiful self was so blown away by the sight before her that she was rendered speechless…. Seeing her startled expression NK turned his head and followed her line of vision only to see his Nannav being led to them… Giving a nonchalant shrug he just stated that sometimes Anamika freelanced for him too… wanting to know about Khushi he asked where Payal was and pat came the reply from the wise matriarch of the family that she was trying out a saree and so was Khushi… Cleverness is when you believe only half of what you hear… but brilliance is when you know which half to believe… Good old Nani!

The sound of the door opening had all the eyes turn and out came a feminine pulchritude… For ASR, a person who was used to being surrounded by beauties… a beauty with a glowing face, glowing with a light in the heart became irresistible… that too swathed in the misty fabric of the color of his choice… she in the red lehenga with its gentle sweeps, looked like a flowing river, coursing freely, sparkling brilliant and ploughing his imagination… His thoughts from his soul too flowed with no forcing… no holding back… opening up to a joy unparalleled… But to others ASR was seen with an indecipherable expression… Though he was quiet… others were vocal in expressing their happiness to see this beautiful young maiden and told her to go for it… Checking the price tag, she knew that it was something she would love to possess and was within her power of buying… You are free to make whatever choice you want but you are not free from the consequences of the choice… Her mind wanted to teach ASR a lesson… Arnav needed to learn that his actions affect others too… One needs to be careful of what they say and do as it is not always just about them….

Her soft spoken words to his Di… that it was beyond her budget… the budget of a middle class girl had ASR know she had not forgotten his words… Anjali brushed it off saying that it was from them which was concurred by Mami and Nani… But Khushi persisted in asking whether it was not a revealing outfit and she did not want anyone to think that she had stripped and had done it purposely to tease them… Though the ladies assured her it was within the decency permit, she was determined to haul ASR over the coals… At NK’s description of it being as enticing as a lollipop, she laughed and told neatly then it was a definite no as it would lead for ants to crawl on her…

Khushi is bestowed with the power of knowledge of knowing Arnav’s thoughts about her… Knowing that words can inspire or destroy, she is choosing her words well to her advantage… Her words are effectively making Arnav’s hands tied and eat the humble pie alone while his family is trying to soothe her ruffled feathers unwittingly… Arnav is left with the thought … Had he exercised a moment of patience in a moment of anger it would have saved him from a hundred moments of regret…

There is nothing in this world that can trouble you more than your own thoughts…

That was a good update Smita …