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.
“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 30
Arnav woke
up to see that Khushi had left the room.
His eyes
fell on the roses . He drew in a deep breath of relief. She has asked, given
him a chance to talk. And wonder of wonders, he had been able to explain. She hadn't rejected him. She was willing to give him a chance.
He jumped
out of bed, eager to see her. On the way to the bathroom, he bent to breathe in
the scent of the flowers in the vase.
A rose petal touched his lips.
He smiled. It was satin soft, but not as soft as Khushi's lips.
A few
minutes later, he joined Khushi and the others at the morning prayer. He stood
very close to her, his shoulders brushing hers.
Her wide
eyes looked at him in wonder for a
moment before trying to focus on the aarti.
As soon as the
prayer was over, he said softly in Khushi’s ear, “Khushi, come with me to
office today.”
“Ji?” she
asked in surprise.
“I will
drop you back after I show you something,” he promised.
She nodded
uncertainly.
“Jao, jao, go out to his office with hamre Arnav bitwaa,”
mami, who had been eavesdropping on them, encouraged them.
“Yes,
Khussi bitiya, jao,” nani said with a big smile.
“You should
see where he used to spend all his time, Khushi bhabi,” Anjali said. “His
office is your souten.”
Khushi
smiled slightly.
“Haan,
bitiya, come to office and see where your preetam works,” mamaji said with a
smile.
Akash too
nodded encouragingly.
“Where is
NK bhai?” Anjali asked suddenly. “He went without taking the prasad,” she said,
holding the thali of laddoos.
All looked
around for him, but he was missing.
***
Arnav held
the door open for Khushi. She settled in and he drove her to his mama’s garden
crafted around his grandfather’s cottage.
Khushi
looked around in amazement.
He waited
for her reaction.
“It is so
beautiful,” she breathed. “So peaceful.” All she could hear were the chirping
of birds, the humming of bees and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
“Nana built
this cottage. Mama planted the garden. I spend every moment I can spare here,
tending to the plants she loved,” he said softly.
She breathed
in the fresh air, fragrant with the smell of roses.
He took
hold of her hand. “I have never brought anyone here, ever,” he admitted. “Not even
di, nani, Akash, mama or mami.”
Khushi felt
happiness fill her, leaving no space for doubts about the future of her
marriage. ‘So there is space in his life for me,’ she thought with contentment.
“Khushi,
look at this rose,” Arnav led her by hand to a bush with bright red roses.
“Altissimo,”
he named it. “My mother’s favourite rose.”
Khushi bent
to smell it. Her eyes fell shut in delight.
“Khushi,
come with me,” he invited.
She looked
expectantly at him. Was he going to take her to the cottage? Maybe he would
skip office today and they could spend a lazy day in the bedroom of the cottage among her sassumma’s plants?
She held
out her hand.
He dragged
her out of the garden towards the car.
“But,” she
protested, looking longingly at the cottage.
“Kya?” he
asked, opening the door for her.
“Nothing,”
she mumbled.
He drove
directly to his office. He helped her out and led her in, nodding at the
guards.
As they
entered the building, many eyes followed them.
Khushi’s step faltered.
Arnav
caught hold of her hand and curled it around his arm. He matched his steps to
hers and led her up to his office.
“Sir,
bhabiji,” Aman came to them, smiling.
“Khushi,
this is Aman, my secretary,” he introduced them. “Aman, this is Khushi, my
wife.”
“I am
delighted to meet you, bhabhiji,” Aman said. “And thank you.”
“Ji?”
Khushi asked, perplexed.
“For making
ASR leave his office at six every evening. He used to work till nine and ten
before marriage and we had to work with him,” Aman complained.
Khushi
looked at her husband.
He had a
small smile on his face.
“Sir, I
will order tea for bhabhiji,” Aman suggested.
Arnav
nodded and led Khushi up to his room.
“Khushi, I
work here,” he said.
Khushi
looked around at the glass office with its black and steel furniture.
“Come with
me,” he invited. He led her out through another door to a personal lift and
whisked her up to the production department.
He
introduced her to the manager and led her to a huge temperature-controlled room
with dresses in bags, all stored on railings.
“The
finished dresses are stored here,” Arnav explained softly to Khushi.
She nodded.
He threw
open a cabinet and pulled out a few bags. He unzipped the first one and pulled
out a red dress.
Khushi
gasped.
The dress was the same colour as the altissimo rose and had roses strewn all over the skirt. It had
a sweetheart neckline and ruching at the waist.
“For you,”
he whispered. “I designed it sitting in the garden.”
She stared
at him. “When?” she asked softly.
“Long before
I had the courage or the wisdom to admit that I wanted to marry you,” he
confessed.
Khushi
swallowed hard.
He unzipped
the next bag and pulled out a bright red evening gown with a split bodice.
Khushi
gasped. The skirt was split too and if she wore it, her leg would be exposed.
“Will you
wear it for me, Khushi?” he asked softly.
She nodded
slowly. “Only for you,” she whispered.
He smiled,
his eyes promising her a thousand delights in privacy.
He pulled
out another one-shoulder, pleated chiffon mermaid gown in red.
“It is so
beautiful,” she gasped.
He smiled,
thrilled that she loved his vision.
“I will get
them sent home today,” he promised.
She nodded.
“Khushi,
will you go out to dinner with me tonight?” he asked urgently.
She nodded
slowly, flushing with happiness.
“And,
Khushi, leave your hair down? I—I like it when the strands dance in the wind,”
he confessed awkwardly, unused to complimenting a girl.
“Ji,” she
whispered, happy beyond measure.
“I will get
home at six,” he assured her.
“I will be
ready,” she said softly.
He led her
out and drove her home, his lips relaxed in a slight smile, his eyes stealing
glimpses of her sitting in the passenger seat by him, his heart leaping at the
thought of sharing a candlelight dinner with her, just the two of them in their
own world....
***
Arnav
seated Khushi in the chic restaurant in the heart of Delhi’s fashionable,
upmarket location and watched her look around at the expensively-dresses ladies
and formally-dressed men with them.
Arnav ran
appreciative eyes over her in the pink saree and silver blouse he had designed.
Her lush, silky hair fell over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her kajal-lined
eyes looked mysterious and her creamy cheeks tempted him to take a bite of them.
He
swallowed hard.
The waiter
was by his side.
“Water,
please,” he requested.
The waiter
moved away with a polite nod.
“Arnavji,
if you want to drink, please do,” she offered. “I don’t drink. That doesn’t
mean you must abstain.”
“No, I am
driving,” he said softly. Drink and maybe miss an expression on her face, a
tilt of her head, a flash of her eye? Never.
“You can
ask Mohanji to drive us back,” she suggested.
“No, I will
drive you,” he said firmly. No way was he going to lose the few moments of
togetherness they would get in the car on the way back.
Khushi gave
in.
Two hour
later, he sat back, replete, happy. He had no idea what they had eaten, but he
was full. His heart was full of happiness, his head full of amusing incidents
in her life she had shared with him of a childhood of mischief with Preetho and
Payal.
“Then
masterji said babuji had to take me out of school, that he wouldn’t teach there
any more if I wasn’t thrown out,” Khushi said, her eyes twinkling.
“Phir?”
Arnav asked.
“Babuji
reminded him that the frog I had let loose in class had been captured from the
pond near masterji’s own house by his own nephew and that if I had to be
punished, then masterji’s nephew too must be punished,” Khushi said, sipping
water.
“That ended
masterji’s complaints?” Arnvav asked with a smile.
Khushi
nodded, matching his smile.
She excused
herself to go to the ladies’.
Arnav sat back, the smile still on his face. He
had never enjoyed an evening more. If he weren’t taking her home, if they weren’t
going home to sleep in the same bed, if he weren't sure that she was his wife, he would never let the evening end, he thought.
Khushi used
the facilities and moved to the opulent vanity area with gleaming mirrors and a
lounging area with plush seats and fresh flowers.
She looked
at herself in the mirror and smiled. She looked good, very good. Laad Governor’s
eyes had told her this truth a hundred times this evening.
She
swallowed hard.
Maybe,
finally, everything would be alright. Maybe she could hope to have a normal
marriage with a loving husband. Maybe, finally, she could permit herself to
hope...
She looked
at herself.
There was a
flush of excitement on her face and her eyes were eager to see him.
She shook
her head, laughing at herself. ‘Why are you wasting time looking at yourself in
the mirror in a fancy bathroom when you can spend those moments with your Laad
Governor?’ she asked herself.
She turned
to leave and her face and body froze.
“Khushi
Kumari Gupta, I presume?” asked Lavanya.
Rash's interpretation:
Part 30
You are not a drop in the ocean... But you are the entire ocean in a drop.... This is what Arnav Singh Raizada is trying to convey to Khushi.... And has been quite successful at it...
Arnav opening his heart and his life to Khushi has set her mind at rest... By taking her to his Mama's garden and introducing her to its beauty and tranquility he has stated that she, his Serenity, is beautiful and has emphasized it by presenting her the sets of gowns that he had exclusively designed with her in his mind.... The gown with the Altissimo motif embellishment was the ultimate assurance for her that he values her in his life as much as she does. He had silently nourished the plant his mother had planted years back cherishing her memory... Giving her a gown with the design of the same rose motifs gave her the indication that she need not fear of being usurped in his life... Though Arnav taking her to the garden gave her the understanding that she indeed had the space in his life that is meant to be occupied by the woman who holds his heart... By getting the gown she realized that she is indeed his amaanat... The rare gem that was given a part of him, his mother's legacy to be taken care off...
Taking her to his place of work, was an indicator to her that whatever he had told her about aukaat was just a talk in the heat of the moment time and again trying to convince himself of her being a forbidden flower… Introducing her there showed how much he is different from the man she had perceived him earlier to be… Giving her the gowns that were meant to be exclusively savoured by his eyes, he showed her, he not only loved to have her as his wife but loved to see her in his creations… but some were meant just for him, that feeling… when his love looks at him…. and their moments together… moments that take your breath away…
She in turn has seized the moment.... as the present moment is the only moment available to them, with it being the door to all moments... She opened herself up just like him and the dinner date was the sealing of their fate together.... She agreed to his request to don his creations in private, let him into her world of naughtiness and happiness….
Though they had accepted each other in the physical union... It is the union of souls that would let them face obstacles together... It is this clarity of vision of each belonging irrevocably to the other that made their dinner a pleasurable and memorable one.... Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect… It means that you have decided to look beyond imperfections...
While she was blissfully immersed in her thoughts of her Eden in the powder room.... out came the snake to mar its beauty.... An unwanted addition to their dinner… La has come as a la carte … in a la mode.. …femme fatale… a self invite to L’appel du vide… a self goal… (on the menu in a the style of a deadly woman all set to seduce… it is surely the urge to engage in self destruction…)
Even when it is easy to throw in the towel, just hang on... Things are thousand times better on the other side... One cannot run from weakness... You must at times fight, perish it out and if that be so why not now and where you stand...
Loved it Smita....
Part 31
Khushi
looked at her husband’s girlfriend, no, ex-girlfriend with scared eyes.
Beautiful,
dusky skin, flashing eyes, straight, dark hair to her shoulders, pointed face
and an excellent figure clothed in a designer sari, the white band that passed
as blouse barely covering her body.
Lavanya
walked in, her high heels clicking on the marble floor.
Khushi
gulped.
Lavanya
studied Khushi from the top of her head to her toes slowly, sizing her up. Then
she asked, “You are ASR’s wife, aren’t you?”
“Ji,”
Khushi said, her voice low.
“Aman
mentioned that you are Akash’s wife’s sister,” Lavanya stated.
“Ji,”
Khushi admitted.
“Where are
you from?” Lavanya asked.
“Ji,
Lucknow,” Khushi whispered.
“Oh,
Lucknow?” Lavanya asked conversationally. “What does your father do? Is he a businessman?”
“Ji, he is
a halwai,” she said simply.
“Halwai?
That’s the person who makes sweets, right?” Lavanya asked, frowning. ASR had married from the middle class just as Akash had? Why? Had he picked her because he wanted a biddable wife?
“Ji,”
Khushi replied.
Lavanya
looked at the pure lines of her beautiful face, the glow of innocence and youth
that emanated from her and sighed inwardly. Middle class girl married off by
her family to a rich businessman who cared squat about her.
Lavanya’s lips
twisted. What a life! What a fate!
“Do you
know who I am?” Lavanya asked, sitting down comfortably on a plush chair.
“Ji.....”
Khushi stammered.
Of course,
she didn’t, Lavanya thought. ASR is not going to point out his former
girlfriends to his dehati wife, is he?
“Lavanya
Kashyap,” she introduced herself.
“Ji,
namaste,” Khushi folded her hands in greeting. It seemed impolite not to. What
would babuji say if she didn’t?
Lavanya shook
her head in pity.
“I used to
work in ASR’s office here,” Lavanya explained.
“Oh,”
Khushi murmured. She hadn’t known that. She frowned. Lavanya was supposed to be
in London, wasn’t she?
“ASR and I—we
were in a relationship for three months,” Lavanya admitted.
Khushi
swallowed hard.
Lavanya
looked at her pale face. Maybe she hadn’t understood, Lavanya thought. “He was
my boyfriend and I was his girlfriend.”
Khushi
nodded slightly.
“I know him
well, very well,” Lavanya claimed.
Khushi said
nothing.
“Why don’t
you sit down?” Lavanya motioned to a chair.
Khushi sat
down. Her legs were none too steady.
Lavanya
studied Khushi’s face closely, but could detect no emotion except a certain
stillness, a blankness, maybe even a bit of fatalism. Poor thing. She was out
of her depth. Must have been pushed into it by her family.
“I am sorry,”
Lavanya found herself saying.
“Ji?”
Khushi asked, startled.
“You
married him for your family, didn’t you?” Lavanya asked the poor lamb who had
been thrown into the starving lion’s den by her greedy, grasping relations.
“Yes,”
Khushi had to admit. A picture of her loving babuji flashed through her mind.
Lavanya
sighed. “I am sorry you had to marry him,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “It
was a bad bargain.”
Khushi’s
mouth fell open.
“Bad
husband, bad boyfriend,” Lavanya admitted. “I was stupid to get involved with
him. No, let me say it like it was. I was beyond stupid to chase him from
London to Delhi, transfer to his Delhi office, offer myself to him on a silver
platter like a spineless noodle, let him use me without expecting or getting anything
back.”
Khushi
stared at her in silence.
“I changed
my life for him, Khushi, but he never even noticed the changes. He didn’t ask
me to, but I did it because I wanted a future with him. I am glad he ended our
relationship, Khushi. Otherwise I would have been hanging on to a man who is so
selfish that he can see nothing except his convenience.”
Khushi
blinked. Arnavji and selfish? Never.
“He told me
he didn’t believe in love and marriage. I am sure he doesn’t. He doesn't lie. Then why did he
marry you?” Lavanya asked. “Because it suits him. Maybe it was to stop his
family from nagging. Whatever the reason was, it wasn’t because he wanted to
marry.”
Khushi blinked
again. Arnavji hadn’t wanted to marry her? Then why had he brought his family
to Lucknow and proposed to her? And Laad Governor would never marry to stop his
family from nagging. His roar was loud enough to silence his family.
Lavanya sat
back with a sigh. She said thoughtfully, “I was so stupid. My birthday gift was
picked by Aman and couriered to me. He wouldn’t stay at my flat. That should
have been like a red flag to me. I mean, what kind of boyfriend refuses to
spend the night at his girlfriend’s?”
Khushi
looked away.
“Forget the
night. What kind of bf refuses to even enter the living room of his gf’s place?
What kind of man takes his gf to a hotel room for a romp and then drops her
back home in one hour?”
Khushi
looked down at her lap where her fingers were tightly crossed.
“Doesn’t
kiss. Have you heard of any man who doesn’t kiss his gf? Who doesn’t permit his
gf to kiss him? And detests being touched? Who turns away and is back to
business as soon as the job is done?” Lavanya shook her head at her own folly.
Khushi
stared at her. Was she talking of the same man? Laad Governor kissed her every
chance he got, touched her whenever he could.
“I don’t
blame you, Khushi, for marrying him. You
had no idea what he was. And I am sure you never had a boyfriend before him,”
Lavanya said with pity in her voice and heart.
Khushi
nodded. Lavanya was right.
“I did. I
had boyfriends before him and I am seeing someone right now in London. Just
seeing him. Nothing serious, nothing committed. I mean, it is early days yet and I
want to be cautious after my experience with ASR. With him, I—I rushed in where
angels fear to tread. I don’t want to do that a second time. I mean, look at a
guy, fall for his looks, moon over him, chase him shamelessly without knowing
anything about him and then regret it terribly. So I am careful this time,”
Lavanya thought aloud.
Khushi
nodded.
“But it is
when I got together with Sunny that I realised how hollow my relationship with
ASR was. It was so one-sided, Khushi. It was a relationship that followed a
path he dictated. It was like I wasn’t there in it at all. I felt invisible at
times. If I wanted to party, no way. If I wanted to go out to dinner, no way.
If I wanted to spend time with him, no way. I couldn't even touch him in affection. I wanted to travel with him to
Paris while he was on business there. But no way. I had to stay here like a
dog, waiting for him. And if I wanted out, all I had to do was say. He wouldn’t
even have noticed it if I had dropped off the face of this earth!”
Khushi felt
disoriented, like she was stuck in a dream with no way out.
“But there
is one thing I could count on, Khushi. Maybe you can too. He is faithful. Fanatically,
zealously faithful while a relationship is on.” Lavanya looked Khushi in the
eye. “And he normally takes a six-month break between relationships. This is
not just my experience, Khushi. I talked to Lisa, his previous gf. She told me
the same stuff. No kissing. Doesn’t spend the night, just an hour or so in a
hotel room. No gifts except those that Aman picks out. Don’t expect him to
remember b’days and anniversaries. No shopping trips. No romance, no
conversations. But he always helps out when the relationship is over. He sent
Lisa to Paris. I returned to London to find out that he had bought me a flat in
a posh location. I mean, Aman did it. ASR would never do it, except order Aman
to do it and then pay for it.”
Khushi said
nothing but her head was whirling.
“I am sorry
for you, Khushi. I am sure he will be kind, but,” Lavanya sighed. “I wish he
were a better man or you a stronger woman, at least stronger than me.”
Khushi
looked at the roses in the urn by the door.
Lavanya’s
phone rang.
She
answered it. “I will be there in ten,” she said before cutting the call.
“My cousin
is getting married today. I called ASR from London asking him to help me find a
venue. He passed it on to Aman who suggested this hotel,” Lavanya explained. “I
saw ASR and you walking into the restaurant. I wanted to have a word with you.”
She stood
up.
Khushi
stood up too.
“When Aman
said ASR had gotten married, I told him that I needed to offer my condolences
to ASR. But once I saw you, I knew the condolences were all yours. I am sorry,
Khushi, that you are stuck with such a difficult man,” Lavanya said softly,
meaning every word of it.
“I am glad
I met you today,” Khushi said, her voice low. “You have given me much to think
about.”
“I tried to
change him. Lisa tried to change him. We pushed and pulled, cajoled, pleaded—but
nothing worked. He remained what he always was—cold, unfeeling, heartless,
distant. Do you think you can change him, Khushi?” she asked directly.
“No, never,”
Khushi replied honestly. “I have never tried and will never try to change him.”
Lavanya
looked at her in silence.
“If there
is any change in him, it will come from within him, because he wants to change,
not because I want him to change,” Khushi said quietly. “If he changes, it will
be because he wants to grow up, be an adult, leave the past behind him, because
he wants to live a life with me, a life that will have its share of troubles
and trials. I don’t want him to change unwillingly, reluctantly, just to suit
my notions of who a husband should be. I am not perfect and I don’t expect him
to be perfect.”
Lavanay
nodded slowly.
“I hope you
are never disappointed, Khushi,” Lavanya said seriously.
Khushi
nodded. “I need to leave now. Good bye, Lavanya,” she said softly. “I hope
things work out between you and Sunny and that you are very happy with him.”
Lavanya
smiled her thanks.
Khushi
smiled as she left the ladies’.
Rash's interpretation: Part 31
People make assumptions and don't take time to ask individual experiences. We pretend we understand, and our assumptions are often wrong... Before Lavanya assumed what was the state of Khushi.... she could have tried a crazy method called asking... Knowing from hers and Liza's experience with ASR... assuming it to be the same with Khushi, the least questioned assumption by Lavanya about ASR and Khushi's relationship was the most questionable...
One thing that stood out clearly to Khushi was ASR was his mom's Chotte with her in the form of her Arnavji.... His girlfriends were always only in the fringe, as whom he had come into contact with... They were never brought into his inner core circle... That exclusive privilege has been hers and only hers, his wife... None of his girlfriends understood what he stood for and were not emotionally attached ever... So far Khushi's thoughts on what kind of relationship it was to have a detached unromantic boyfriend got a parallel thought what kind of relationship were they in to enable a girlfriend to move on to greener pastures so soon once she got the ultimatum of break up...!?
To Khushi it was surreal... For her, the picture of ASR painted by Lavanya was not recognisable... It was the complete antithesis to her observation and experience... like it was of two different individuals... Her imagery of Lavanya, whom she had hated to confront, was very different from the one she met.... Lavanya's monologue gave her a lot to ponder over... It showed her whatever her Arnavji had been telling her, has been unwittingly vouched by Lavanya... Now, she could feel what her Arnavji feels for her is very different from what he ever felt for his girlfriends which amounted to zilch in romantic sense... She understood never to go back and repair the past which is highly impossible... but to be prepared to construct the future which is very much possible....
Judging a person does not define who they are... it defines who you are... Khushi has judged Lavanya to be a good Samaritan and her Arnavji to be a person who has changed for her and her alone… for no one is perfect… that’s why pencils have erasers… It’s up to us to give them a chance to rectify…. She has come to love not the perfect Arnavji but by learning to see the imperfect Arnavji perfectly… That’s why she won’t be swayed away by any amount of negative vibes from anyone on her Arnavji…
Loved it Smita… Brilliant portrayal of Lavanya…
Part 32
Arnav
frowned. Why was Khushi taking so long? He made to get up and go looking for
her.
His phone
rang.
Aman.
“Yes, Aman?”
he asked.
“Boss, I
received the signed contract from Agnee Fabrics. They want to meet you at Agra
tomorrow.”
“Agra?” ASR
asked. A vision of him and Khushi standing before the Taj Mahal flashed through
his mind. “Yes,” he replied. “And cancel my appointments for a week, Aman. I am
taking your bhabi on a honeymoon.”
Aman smiled
from ear to ear. “YES, sir,” he said. “Shall I bring the contract home now?”
“Leave it
with di,” Arnav said. “I am at Zen with your bhabi.”
“Zen?” Aman
asked paling. “The restaurant in Residency Palace?”
“Yes.”
“Sir,
please, get out. Fast,” Aman said.
Arnav
frowned. “What the!”
“Lavanya is
attending her cousin’s wedding there. I made the arrangements,” Aman confessed.
Arnav stood
up. He didn’t need this. He really didn’t. And Khushi was late. Where was she? Has
she run into Lavanya? His heart stopped for a moment in panic.
“Sir?” Aman
called.
“I will see
to it,” Arnav said shakily before cutting the call.
But before
he could do anything, he saw Khushi walking towards him. There was a small
smile on her lips and her eyes seemed to shine.
“Khushi,
tum theek ho?” he asked, stepping closer to her.
“Ji,” she
said softly.
“I was
worried,” he said hoarsely.
“Why?” she
asked easily. Without waiting for a reply, she stepped closer and placed her
hand lightly on his chest.
‘Will he
push me away? Does his dislike extend to my touch?’ she wondered, trying out
Lavanya’s theory.
Arnav
caught hold of her hand.
Khushi
tensed. Would he push it away?
He held it
more firmly against his heart.
“You were a
long time,” he said, seeking answers from her expression. “Kuch hua tha?”
She smiled
into his face. “What can happen to me?” she asked, removing her hand from his
chest.
He smiled
back, feeling gloriously happy.
“Shall we
leave?” he asked.
She nodded.
As they
walked out, she said, “Arnavji, I feel like eating golgappe.”
He turned
to look at her, surprised. Then he said, “Fine. I will stop at a golgappe cart.”
“I don’t
want to go home tonight,” she said whimsically.
His eyes
widened. “Where do you want to go?” he asked.
“Will you
take me where I want to go?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.
He smiled. “Tell
me,” he said.
Khushi just
smiled.
“Khushi, trust
me this time. Come with me now,” he said.
“Ji?” she
asked.
“We need to
go to Agra tonight,” he said. “I have a meeting there tomorrow morning.”
“Oh,” Khushi
said. Keeping Lavanya’s words in mind, she said, “Aap jaayiye na? You go. I
will stay here.”
“No,
Khushi. I want you with me,” he replied.
“But I will
be a nuisance to you. You are going on business, aren’t you?” she asked easily.
“No, you
won’t be a nuisance. I don’t want to leave you here. Come with me, Khushi. We
can have our honeymoon in Agra. I asked Aman to free me for a week,” he said.
Her mouth fell
open.
“One week,”
she asked in a faint voice. “Oh,” she tried to sound disappointed.
“Kya hua?”
he asked
“Woh--I was
thinking of visiting Lucknow. Alone,” she said, peeping at him to see his
reaction.
She didn’t
have to peep. His reaction was loud enough.
“No, no way, Khushi. You are not
going anywhere alone, especially not to Lucknow. I am your husband. It is my
duty to take you to your maikka. We can spend a couple of days there next
month,” he stated.
“Ji,” she
said meekly, her heart dancing in joy. Laddoo, jalebi and rabri phooted in her
chest.
“Now it is
time for our honeymoon,” he declared.
“Ji,” she
murmured meekly, her eyes twinkling.
He nodded,
relieved that he wouldn’t have to stay away from her in Agra. And a week of
togetherness with no disturbances was like a slice of heaven.
“Waise,”
she drawled.
He looked
at her.
“I was
thinking—matlab—you designed lehengas and sarees for me. How come,” she paused,
blushing.
“How come?”
he asked.
“How come
you didn’t design any nighties?” she asked.
He looked
at the roguish expression on her face and her merry eyes and lost it. He burst
out laughing and hugged her to him.
Khushi
chuckled.
Lavanya,
who had been watching them leave, almost collapsed in a heap in shock.
***
Rash's Interpretation: Part 32
Taking Lavanya's warning with a pinch of salt... Khushi tested Lavanya's theory of what sort of a person Arnav was… The theory couldn't hold itself upright... Khushi's subtle posers and her Arnavji's response just bull dozed those theories and flattened them out unwittingly leaving a gawking Lavanya behind... One good thing that came out of it was... both Arnav and Khushi did not need to resort to stepping gingerly around one another but could respond clearly without inhibition... Ah Lavanya! What have you and Liza missed…!!! Such a delicious man who could have been yours if you understood but…but… but… Devi Maiyya had already reserved him for her child… Sometimes the road of life takes an unexpected turn and you have no choice but to follow it to end up in the place you are supposed to be… what’s meant to be will always find a way…
Fate brought two people coming from different backgrounds together for a reason… to make a change in the life of one. so as to be the one, for the other…. Though fate brought Arnav and Khushi together… it is they themselves who decided whom to let stay, whom to let walk away and whom to refuse to let walk out…
A sweet update Smita…
Yaayyyy me first! Why why why o why? Lavanya Kashyap ko doooorrrrrr bhagaooooo!
ReplyDeletelavanya! hai re nandkishore!
ReplyDeleteOh lavanya nahhhhiiii:( I hope there would be no mu's...well nice update:)
ReplyDeletewhy lavanyaaa.... :( they wer so happy.. bt i guess just like the truth about lisa got them CLOSE.. lavanya will get them CLOSER... :))
ReplyDeleteyes. Let's think positively.
DeleteThank you.. lavanya and now😞
ReplyDeleteLovely beginning of the update
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bonding of this beautiful couple
But then......... Laaaa?!!! Seriously Smita, yaar aik update mein tu happy happy arshi rehne deti
Khushi was feeling so happy for the first time genuinely after her marriage
La said Khushi Kumari Gupta, I hope Khushi corrects her that it's now Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada
Thanks for the update
I hope Khushi gives it back to her and shows that she believes in his sincerity to value his marriage ,
ReplyDeleteI hope Khushi gives it back to her and shows that she believes in his sincerity to value his marriage ,
ReplyDeleteHope she doesn't shatter khushi dreams when she has started hoping, hope khushi puts her in her place!
ReplyDeletewow brilliant update loved it can't wait for next part hope lavanya does not ruin arnav khushi relation thank you.......ameena671
ReplyDeleteOh no..what does lavanya want now..
ReplyDeleteI hope she doesn't create any misunderstanding here...then what is the use of so much effort from arnav..phir toh bhais gayi paani mein...
Cnt soon
Dont like the feeling of that Lavanya
ReplyDeleteContinue soon
Loved their romantic dinner so cute and loved him showing her the office and his mom garden and the gowns he designed for her and so cute how he did not drink because he dd not want to miss and of her expressions and damn what the hell is la following them hope she does not create misunderstanding in Khushi and Asr fragile bond .
ReplyDeleteDid she say kkg does it means she does not know is Mrs Asr.
ReplyDeleteShe knows... Aman had told her...
DeleteThey have spent a lovely time together it's should have ended well.I smell trouble, Lavanya ambushing Khushi 😠bad bad!! ! .I hope it doesn't take them back to square one, was actually of the impression that Lavanya moved back to London
ReplyDeleteAwesome update Smitha!! Such an amazing ended with La, hopefully Khushi will trust her LG more than Lavanya!!
ReplyDeleteEh Lo .. Lavanya aa gayi.... But now it's not khushi Kumasi Gupta facing lavanya it's khushi Singh raizada.., lavanya kl khair nahin... Awesome story
ReplyDelete"If he weren't taking her home, if they weren't sharing the same bed, if he wasn't sure that she was his wife, then he would never let the evening end". - Lovely the way he opened up to his wife, ASR style. Chhooo Chweeet!!
ReplyDeleteWhat are you doing Smitaji? Just as these two are taking baby steps towards understanding each other, you bring La in! Hmph! Wasn't she going back to London? Then why is she still hanging around in Delhi? Hai re Nandakishore!!
All ijj well! All ijj well! All ijj well! All ijj Well!
It's early in the morning here and we have to wait another day for an update! Hey DM Raksha Karna!
Loved the update, that goes without saying. but still......
This is the roller coaster ride I was talking about. Beginning of the update - roller coaster (rc) starting, all the happy souls buckled up securely, rc moving slowly.
ReplyDeleteMiddle of the update : rc gaining speed, moving up an incline
3/4 of the update : rc moving up a steep incline
end of the update : free fall from the highest point, hollow feeling in stomach
Hai re Nandakishore!
Hi Smita, read the update last night but was too sleepy to comment:)
ReplyDeleteI think this Khushi has confidence now and she will be able to face Lavanya. Arnav has opened up to her and shown her places that no one has seen before.
Bring it on and let's see the face off!
Love, love, love the mermaid gown.
ReplyDeletebeautiful update. but La? I guess this time If La hurts Khushi with any harsh words; Arnav will not save her. and she'll regret the mess up with ASR.
ReplyDeleteWaiting for the next eagerly.
lovely update .......... its good to see arnav opening up ... and khushi is getting confidence on her marriage life ........ oh god at the end la has to come in the pic .....
ReplyDeleteNice update Smitaji! It's getting interesting now... Khushi is going to give La the ultimate as now her LG had opened up. Can't wait for the update....Smitaji pleej,pleej updatiya keejiye!!
ReplyDeletewonderful update,where any body can see how a man without a word shows woman how much she means to him.And i dn't feel L is going to survived K 's anger if she tries to maniuplate their love.......
ReplyDeleteWas stalking by the way and what I see part 31 :D
ReplyDeleteI was grinning from ear to ear :D
Will after reading it
Thanks a ton
*comment
ReplyDeletewow superb update loved it just hope khushi stays with arnav and does'nt misunderstand arnav thank you......ameena671
ReplyDeleteShoo relif .. Thank you for this I was also thinking that LA should told her this than their relation will get more stronger... Update soon next part:)
ReplyDeleteI think la addressed khushi's insecurities. Now they will be able to move forward completely
ReplyDeleteI think running into La was for the best. Now that she has complained enough of what was lacking in her relationship with ASR I am sure Khushi will realize how much Different and in LOVE Arnav is with her. Wonderful update Smita
ReplyDeleteHopefully Khushi realise that Arnav is not as what as La had pictured him to be. After all she has lived with him these few days
ReplyDeleteHopefully Khushi realise that Arnav is not as what as La had pictured him to be. After all she has lived with him these few days
ReplyDeleteKhushi is acting so matured... loved it..
ReplyDeletewow two updates in a day from smitaji ...... its a treat for us .... and u gave us the surprise of solving all the MU's of khushi by one meeting with la .... that too la .... great thought ........... and the way khushi reacted is just awesome ....
ReplyDeleteI think Khushi's smile as she leaves says it all. After all she now realizes that Arnav is not at all what La has described and is very different with her.
ReplyDeleteAwesome update Smitha!!! This is totally unexpected and I loved it :-)
ReplyDeleteRead it. Am in AWE of this update. Jahanpanah tussi great ho!!!
ReplyDeleteDead on my feet. Will comment later.
I have patience... Patience is waiting... So I am waiting... waiting kc waiting! ;)
DeleteKhushi has so much to ponder.. I think after her talk with lavanya khushi will under stand arnav much better
ReplyDeleteA big applause for u Smita. Just fantastic. Mmmmmuuuuuaaaahhhhhh...
ReplyDeleteAfter lavanya's words, I am eager to see how Khushi is going to behave with arnav. Will she understand his changed behavior towards her? Nicely written Smita.
ReplyDeletewow? love it, wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMuch needed convo between Khushi n Lavanya..very well written...fantastic update..continue ASAP
ReplyDeleteThanks Smitha.. Lavanya cleared all of khushis doubts I guess ..
ReplyDeleteHats off to Rash's interpretation of the update
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have said it better ever
Thank you...
DeleteScrap booker, where are you?
ReplyDeleteSB, bhere art thou? Missing hui gawa?
DeleteShe is busy... Having a hectic AD...
DeleteLavanya- Khushi conversation was a blessing in disguise.
ReplyDeleteNice one! Lavanya just cleared Khushi's doubts and just made her understand her LG more. ASR is going to get tensed when Khushi tells him about meeting Lavanya.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful interpretation Rash! You did great!!!
Thank you...
DeleteKhushi got all her doubts answered by lavanya ,and proof that he loves her and not his girlfriends as he was ASR to them but he her Arnavji ,very well done
ReplyDeleteIt was well played ,Khushi realises that he is Arnav only for her ,
ReplyDeleteWhen will you update next part??? Please update asap:)
ReplyDeleteyes I am the first to comment. That was awesome Smita. Khushi testing Arnav and he passing with flying colours. I could actually picture Lavanya collapsing. lol
ReplyDeleteAwesome update Smita.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lavanya! !!!!
ReplyDeletewonderful!
ReplyDeleteNice one dear :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice update...
ReplyDeleteVery nice update...
ReplyDeleteAwesome update
ReplyDeleteChapter 31
ReplyDeleteLoved it loved Khushi learning and comparing the difference to ASR and his girlfriends and Arnav with his wife La has unknowingly made Khushi realized the difference between them and any woman who was part of her husband life before her .
Simply superb
ReplyDeleteHuh?!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat the? It just ended
I was so lost in the update, why did it have to end, it was soooo beautiful
Ha ha loved Lavanya's expression
Lavanya knew ASR not Arnav but khushi, she knows Arnav and not ASR
Just one glimpse of ASR in the beginning for khushi to last a lifetime
Thanks Smita dear for the bootiful update :)
I loved the update beautifully done loved Khushi test his reaction to the things La had told her loved that she realized he was different with her loved her cute antics and her teasing hi amazing baby girl.
ReplyDelete“If there is any change in him, it will come from within him, because he wants to change, not because I want him to change,” Khushi said quietly. “If he changes, it will be because he wants to grow up, be an adult, leave the past behind him, because he wants to live a life with me, a life that will have its share of troubles and trials. I don’t want him to change unwillingly, reluctantly, just to suit my notions of who a husband should be. I am not perfect and I don’t expect him to be perfect.”
ReplyDeleteBLOODY AMAZING
All were afraid of la and khushi's meeting but like always you bring out the most unexpected track and made it in the most logical track IMean who really thought that la will help khushi seeing her importance and unique place in asr life
ReplyDeleteJust amazing dear
Khushi is brilliant!!she understood what Arnav have for her. So she is testing and tasting it!! Njoy khushi and gradually let Arnav know they u love him too madly irrevocably
ReplyDeleteThe irony of the whole tsituation is perfect ,lavanya figured out that she really was insignificant in the role she held as ASR girlfriend as she barely knew the real person ,khushie showed the real person ,
ReplyDeleteMere dil mein bhi laddoo phooting Smita but why this slice of my heaven end so soon? Lavanyas reaction though 😉
ReplyDeleteThat was such a cute update Smitha!! Loved it!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely update.
ReplyDeleteWow..wow..wowwwwwe
ReplyDeleteToo good.
ReplyDeleteNow that Lavanya has seen how much arnav loves khushi hope that she will stay away from them.
Continue soon
Its good that Lavanya has cleared all the misunderstanding about her relationship with Arnav or khushi would have ended up hurting herself and Arnav . Now it is time to test his love , I am sure ASR will pass with flying colors
ReplyDeleteCaught up with all missing parts. Awesome story. Love it
ReplyDeletehow come i missed chapter 32..so happy to see them happy...thank you lavanya for helping khushi
ReplyDeleteFinally! Was run off my feet organizing a medical camp,spreading awareness about the camp and putting together relief material to be distributed. Am wiped out.
ReplyDeleteSuperwoman with a heart of gold. That's what you are, KC. Pata nahi SB kahan gayab ho gayi.
DeleteSB ???? Hello, are you there? What's going on?
DeleteNot superwoman Smitaji. Not at all. It's not just people who have been displaced but snakes also. Need I say more.
DeleteSmitaji, It was such a relief to sit down and read all your updates and this one was a WINNER -hands down.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where to start. Should I start with the way Arnav showed Khushi how much he loves and values her? Actions do speak louder than words.
Or Should I start with Khushi - Lavanya convo? Perhaps with Khushi's reaction to Lavanya's speech? I'm at a loss. If IPKKND gave us roughly hewn statues, you've chisled each one into a fine sculpture.
Maybe I should start with the way you have depicted Lavanya. All of us were expecting a show down / cat fight but as expected you've given us the unexpected. Instead of showing us a Lavanya who is vindictive and nasty, you've given us one who is sophisticated, modern, young enough to feel the pain of unrequited love but mature enough not to let it embitter her. ( I don't think I'm doing justice to your portrayal. Put it down to exhaustion)
Khushi, on the other hand is nervous as she feels extremely gauche before her LG's ex gf, but does not lose her innate sense of politeness and decorum. Other than the discomfort that any wife would feel when confronted with intimate details of her husband's past, Khushi uses her head to try to reconcile her Arnavji with La's ASR instead of becoming jealous or start feeling inferior.
Though they are not friends you've left us with a feeling that had they met at a different time and place they could have become best friends.
Loved, loved, loved, loved it. As much as I loved the fact that A and K are on their way to a happy ending, I'm absolutely blown away by the two ladies. La was genunine in that she did not want another girl to go thro' what she did. The beauty of this entire piece lies in the subtle acknowledgement that the past is best left alone. In Khushi's case because she realised that the man she had married had no resemblance to ASR and In Lavanya's case - she realised what she had been missing out on in her futile relationship with ASR. Thank you for giving us such a wonderful story.
"You are not a drop in the ocean, but the entire ocean in a drop." Rash ji - I must have read this too many times to count. That sums up Arnav's feeling for Khushi. Truly your interpretations are the icing on the cake.
ReplyDeletePart 32. You are right Rash ji. Even though fate / DM brought Khushi and Arnav together, it was their decision not to give up on each other and forge a life for themselves. Like I said- icing and cake ( black forest - my fav)
DeleteIt is said...People who uplift you are are the best kind of people... you don't simply keep them... you treasure them... You are one such wonderful treasure... Not just to me but to your fellow Chennaites too...Thank you kc... thank you...
DeleteNot at all, rulamaji. There are so many others who are doing so much more. This is but a drop in the ocean. (I didn't want a water related comparison but couldn't find anything else. He he!!)
DeleteThere might be numerous strings in the lute... But your own addition to it has enhanced its power...
DeleteAwesome chapters...........it was good that lavanya and Khushi met and spoke......Khushi now will know what is ASR and how much he values Khushi in his life......beautifully written.......
ReplyDeleteSB, I'm going to try this.
ReplyDeleteWhere are you?
Ou es tu?
Donde estas?
thum kahan hai?
Wo bist du? ( Had a friend help me with the german)
Did it work, KC?
DeleteNope, non, nada, nahi. Don't know what's going on.
DeleteLet's see if today's update can bring her out of of AD. *wink*
DeleteHai.... How did I miss this? Sorry, sorry laakhon, laakhon Sorry...
DeleteAny chance of another update??? :)
ReplyDeleteupdate please
ReplyDeleteThis is the first story I am reading as you update. All others I have read only after completion so that the torturous waiting period is not there. Believe you me that waiting for the next update is really very difficult. What an imaginative and wonderful storyteller you are!Do you send out notification of the update? If you do kindly add me to your list. All the best. Hail.
ReplyDeleteNo notifications, my dear, but I update almost daily. Keep an eye on this page.
DeletePlease update????
ReplyDeleteToday. Likhing madly.
DeleteCrazily refreshing the page to see the update!!!! Can't wait!! Please make it looooooong!!! :)
DeleteOkay waiting eagerly:)
DeleteNice update....
ReplyDeleteThing have gone better between arshi.
Now honeymooning time....
Update the next post soo smita
Nice update....
ReplyDeleteThing have gone better between arshi.
Now honeymooning time....
Update the next post soo smita
Refreshed the page numerous times since morning
ReplyDeleteAny chance of getting the update soon?
Kya karen wait nahin hota :p
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletenyc update smita………
ReplyDeleteplease update soon
nice update smita………
ReplyDeleteplease update soon
please don't end it with a honeymoon Smita. This one should go on and on...........
ReplyDeleteStill waiting desperately!! Where are you Smita? :/
ReplyDeleteWriting! Will post tonight.
DeleteI love all your stories in this blog spot. Please come back Smita, please come back. Eagerly waiting for your return. Please please come back.
ReplyDeleteI feel so content
ReplyDelete