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1 years ago

TiaMaaaaa

@TianaWrites

~1~

June 6, 2010

"Khushi... Hey Khushi, Wake up... It's already 9... Khushi... Khusheeeee... Don't make me come there..."

22 year old Khushi stretched herself on her bed and lazily opened her eyes. As the blinding sunlight hit her, she rolled to her side, grabbed the bedsheet and pulled it over her head trying to get some more beauty sleep. In a few minutes, in entered her mother and pulled the sheet right off her. She blinked her eyes open again and gave a grin at her angry mother.

"It's the first day of semester holidays, my dear Garimaaaaa, can't you let your little baby sleep a little longer..."

She pouted. Her mother pulled her ear.

"Considering the aforesaid baby is 22 years old and is well able to do all sort of pranks, I don't think she needs to sleep any longer..."

Khushi rounded her mouth in an 'oh' and widened her eyes.

"Pranks and me?"

"Of course, I don't remember interchanging the labels in the salt and sugar dabba."

Khushi giggled.

"You must have done it while you were sleeping..."

"Oh sure, I must have.... Here's your morning coffee, Maharani."

Khushi put out her tongue and grabbed her coffee.

"Nothing can beat freshly brewed coffee from your beeyoutiful hands... ugh... thu... eww"

She made a face and spit out the coffee.

"What is this?"

Her mother made an innocent face, shook her head casually and said

"Oh I must have put the coffee in my sleep... Now did I read the labels right when I added sugar, let me think..."

"Argggghhh, Garimaaaaaa..."

"Did you really forget that I am your MOTHER? Now get up and get ready... come quick or I am going to complete the pooris you love so much... It's hot and tempting..."

Knowing only too well that her mother loved carrying out her threats specially when it came to pooris, she sighed and pulled herself to the bathroom.

Half an hour later, the mother daughter duo sat in comfortable silence munching their beloved breakfast when the doorbell rang. After a short battle of its your turn, Garima sighed and walked to the door. In few minutes, she came back with a letter in her hand. Khushi looked up.

"What is it?"

"No idea, it's addressed to you..."

"Really? Might be our college newsletter. I won the essay competition na?"

"You won?"

"Mm hmmm... Didn't I tell you?"

Garima pouted.

"If you had why am I surprised?"

Khushi reached out and pulled her cheeks. Garima slapped her hand away away.

"You are sooo cute... You know this face is what I miss the most when I am at college... ok sorry, sorry... I forgot, my mistake... anyway the newsletter has that essay. Here, you open and read it."

"Of course I am going to read it... let me..."

Another doorbell interrupted her. Khushi grinned and pointed to her plate.

"So sorry, I still have a poori left and you are already done."

Clicking her tongue in frustration, Garima left to answer the door. When she came back, Khushi had already cleared the table and done the dishes. Looking at her worried face, she raised her eyebrow

"Who was it?"

"Sarita... the woman who stays 2 blocks away.."

"Who? That old gossip?"

Garima's lips twitched.

"Shut up, Khushi..."

She pulled a chair and sat down. Keeping her head on her hands, she took a deep breath trying to compose herself. Knowing she was truly worried, Khushi placed her hand on her shoulder.

"What is it?"

"Khushi... I never thought things would turn out like this..."

"Like what?"

"Sit down... I'll explain..."

Khushi sat down beside her.

"Khushi, two months back I asked for your photo, remember?"

"Yes, you said that you wanted to give to someone to search for a groom."

"Yes, that someone is Sarita... I gave it to her as she said that someone was looking for a bride."

"So?"

"Well, 2 days back she came to me with the proposal from the prestigious Malik family. It seems they liked your profile very much. She said that they are willing to let you complete your studies and work after marriage. She also said that if you wanted to study more, they are willing to let you do that too."

"Who is 'the Malik family'? I haven't heard anything of them"

"They are very rich people, Khushi. They own a garment factory. It seems their son has returned home after completing his education at Harvard University just last month. It was in the local newspaper too."

"Seems strange that they would want me, a scholarship student from Lloyd's as a bride for their son. Does the boy have some problem?"

Garima slapped her.

"Shut up, Khushi. Don't use your lawyer brain too much. What is wrong in taking a clever scholarship student as their bride?"

"Alright, I won't say anything... But what about the Maliks that's worrying you?"

"Well, it seems they want to come home and see you today evening."

"Today?"

"Yes, that's what Sarita came to say. It seems they don't want to wait."

"But, Maa..."

"I know, I explicitly told Sarita that I will talk to you, get your consent and let her know if she can proceed and now she comes and says she can't say no as they did so much for her son blah blah blah... and I haven't even shown you the boy's photograph yet..."

She got up and went inside the room leaving a bewildered Khushi wondering about the sudden news. She was back soon with the photograph. She placed it in Khushi's hand.

"This is him. His name is Arnav Malik. He is the son of Anand and Ratna Malik. Anand Malik owns AR Garments of which he is the sole heir."

Khushi looked at the photograph in her hand and felt her breath hitch. The man in front of her was the very man of her dreams. Of course, she didn't know him, never seen him before too but he had every attribute she had ever wished for. His jaw, his eyes, his perfect hair... everything that she had wished for since childhood to the dot. It was as if someone had listened to the imaginary description of her prince charming and made this man. She shut her eyes and immediately her brain painted the image of her leaning her head on his shoulder as he whispered sweet nothings. The picture felt so real and beautiful that she didn't want to open her eyes ever. Garima shook her a little to bring her out of her reverie. Seeing her wide eyed look, she said

"Khushi it's ok if you don't like him. There are better guys out there. I'll tell Sarita...."

"Nooo... don't..."

Garima looked confused, then peered closely at her and gave a smile.

"You are smitten..."

"Shut up..."

She laughed out loud.

"Come on girl, you know I can tell... now run along, I know you have a 101 things to do before they come... I'll clean the house, no one can refuse my beautiful daughter..."

Khushi blushed and ran away from the room while Garima sat still in the chair her ever smiling face now wrought with worry. Would the boy's family truly accept Khushi? What would happen if they uncover the past? No one except Khushi knew about the past here in Delhi but what if someone investigates in Lucknow. Though she had brushed off Khushi's doubts, she was genuinely feeling uncomfortable that someone like the great Maliks wanted Khushi as their bride. The Maliks were well known in Lucknow too, it really was strange that they would actually not do any investigation there. Added to all this, the sudden announcement of their arrival didn't sit well with her at all. Had she not seen the look on Khushi's face, she would have definitely talked to Sarita and cancelled the meet. She gave a sigh and stood up. Just like every other day, she decided to throw her inhibitions away and get things ready to fulfill her daughter's dreams.

The entire afternoon seemed to rush. There seemed a lot to do with no help. While Khushi was busy grooming herself and immersing herself in flights of fantasy every time she tried a new apparel, Garima was busy dusting, cleaning and cooking. They were so engrossed in their tasks that they completely forgot lunch. Around 5 in the evening, when Khushi was finally ready and Garima finally satisfied that the house was clean enough, they both noticed that they were unusually hungry. Looking at the time, Khushi came out of her room

"Maa, did you notice the time?"

"Haan..."

Garima stopped as she looked up to see her daughter looking breathtakingly beautiful. She was wearing a plain red saree, mild makeup and had let her hair loose. As she moved, few tendrils of her hair caressed her face and her large earrings dangled in time. She was devoid of jewelry apart from those large earrings but her beautiful smile accentuated her features more than any jewelry or makeup could ever do. Suddenly she was transported to the day she first smiled. She remembered it had been a hard day and she had been tired but just before sleeping, she had looked into her eyes and smiled. Over the years she reflected how much her daughter had grown and changed but the smile that brought her the sense of joy never really changed.

"Earth to Garimaaaa... what are you thinking?"

"Just how beautiful my baby girl has grown to be..."

"Thank you for the compliment, my Queen... but I would be happy if this beautiful girl gets something to eat before she faints away in hunger."

She kept her hand on her head dramatically and Garima slapped her playfully.

"Yes yes, we need to keep the fainting part for the guy... sorry, Khush... I forgot to cook lunch... Let's have some biscuits... I am sure they'll come any moment now..."

"Haan Haan... come I'm famished..."

Just as Khushi was leading her mother away, the telephone bell rang.

"You go and take out the biscuits, I'll answer the phone..."

Khushi took the phone

"Hello..."

A sweet lady's voice answered.

"Garima ji, we are really sorry but we can't come to see your daughter today..."

"Tell her we won't come ever..."

"Chotte..."

"What? That girl is no match to me... I will never marry her.... I...."

Click

The receiver went dead but not before breaking Khushi's heart and shattering it into pieces. All the castles she had built the past few hours came crashing down.

"Who was it, Khushi?"

Seeing her stand still, Garima walked towards her, worriedly.

"Khushi... what..."

"They are not coming. I am no match to him it seems. He said so. He won't marry me."

Garima felt rage course through her veins. It was a good thing Arnav was a good way away from her. Seeing her daughter looking so disappointed was too much for her. Taking in a deep breath, she controlled herself. She ought to think of her daughter first, she reckoned. She reached out and took her hand in hers.

"Come sit..."

Making her sit, she sat down beside her.

"Look at me... You are clever, beautiful, loved and worthy... Any man who says you are no match to him is a fool. He is a loser who just lost the precious of all earth's treasures... You... And you deserve someone who will treasure you. I promise you will get that someone, someday soon... I'll do everything to bring him to you..."

Khushi hugged her mother tight and let down the tears that had formed in her eyes. In the safe haven of her shoulders, she drew comfort silently piecing up her broken heart. Pulling away, she gently wiped the tears that had wet her mother's cheek and held her hand.

"Maa... it's not your fault. I heard him loud and clear and it's not because of the past..."

"But how..."

"I know you are feeling guilty. Please don't... nothing that happened is your fault... not now not then..."

"You don't know..."

"I do know enough to know you are the sweetest, bravest, kindest and the best mother anyone could ever get... And I love you... I know you are worried about me... don't be... I won't ... and my Prince Charming... I'll get him, and even if I don't I have you and that's all I want... Now smile... Look it's raining... You made a lot of tasty stuff today... Let's call it a night, watch Mamma Mia and party..."

Garima smiled at her daughter and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Let me go and bring the food... you get the CD, connect the DVD player to the TV and get everything ready..."

As Garima went in to get the food, her eyes fell on the unopened envelope on the dining table. They had forgotten all about it after Sarita had come. Eager to read Khushi's essay, she opened it to see a letter inside the envelope instead of the expected newsletter from college. As she read the contents she let out a scream of joy. Khushi came running.

"What is it?"

She thrust the letter into Khushi's hand.

"Look look, they are offering you an internship at the prestigious 'King and Co' law firm... My Khush... I am so proud..."

Khushi stared blankly for a minute then jumped up and down in delight.

"This is awesome... wheee..."

She grabbed her mother's hand and waltzed to the hall.

"Today is a real party kind of day.... Come let's dance..."

As the lightning flashed and thunder roared out the window, the mother-daughter duo danced their heart away to Abba's tunes. As their legs grew tired, they paused to relish the snacks so thoughtfully made and gossip about everything in the world. They never once mentioned the Maliks. It was as if the Maliks never existed but just before she shut her eyes and drifted into a deep slumber, Khushi felt a tug in her heart as the vision of her in his arms flashed before her eyes. It would be long before she would be able to clear that image. With a sigh, she whispered

"Arnav..."

***