PART 6. AND THE PLANNING AND PLOTTING STARTS!

"What the hell is happening to me? Yeh main kya kar raha hoon? WHY CAN'T I CONCENTRATE?", Arnav Singh Raizada roared as he paced to and fro in his cabin at AR Fashion House. It was two days after the wedding and after staying at home for these two days Arnav had come to Office to start working. But unfortunately he was unable to concentrate and hence here he was roaring and pacing all the while showing his anger on some poor hapless employee.

"This is not right! Uss Khushi Kumari Gupta ne toh meri zindagi hi badalke rakh di! I can't think! I can't work! Khushi! Tumne kya jaadu kar diya hai mujh par?" Arnav sat down on his chair and closed his eyes. He had to talk to Khushi and that too now. Or else he would never be able to concentrate on his work. This was maddening!

Arnav pulled out his mobile and called Gupta House in Lucknow. He had saved the number in his mobile for future use when before the wedding, his Di and Naaniji had asked him to call the family wanting to ask about something or other preparations. Today he was thankful for his foresight and waited with bated breath as the phone on the other side rang.

"Hello?", a sweet voice spoke and Arnav felt his breath hitch. He had not heard this voice for more than two days and only today he realized how much he missed it.

Khushi had gone back to Lucknow in the evening of the wedding day and Arnav had gone two days without seeing her or hearing her.

"Khushi!", Arnav's voice held a softness to it.

"Arnavji!", Khushi's voice seemed equally soft.

Arnav smiled and tried to imagine her face, her eyes and her smile when Khushi spoke up, "Arnavji? Hello?"

"Haan Khushi bolo!", Arnav spoke up still lost in his daydream about her.

"Mr. Raizada! Call aapne kiya aur aap humein baat karne ko bol rahe hain?"

Arnav came out of his daydreaming and looked at the phone. Oh yes! He had called her! But why had he called her? Aha! Yaad aaya!

"Khushi! Fight with me!"

"Kya?"

"Main kahaa fight with me!"

"Hey Devi Maiyya! Aap theek toh hain?"

"Ab tum in sab ke beech mein Devi Maiyya ko mat ghaseeto! Just fight with me so that we can keep the phone down and get back to our daily lives! I want my peace back and I will get that only after fighting with you!"

On the other side of the phone, Khushi looked at the phone incredulously. Hey Devi Maiyya! Inhein kya hogaya hai? Humne kab inki shaanti bhang ki?

"Par hum kyun jhagde aapse? Humaare paas toh jhagadne ki koi wajah nahi hai!"

"Hat waqt jhagadne ke liye wajah nahi chaahiye hoti! Just start the damn fight!"

Khushi huffed in anger. Now this man was seriously irritating her. Inka toh kuch karna padega!
"Dekhiye Mr. Raizada! Lagta hai aap paagal hogaye hain! Apne dimaag ka ilaaj karwaayiye aur phir yahaan phone kijiye!"

Khushi slammed the phone down in anger and stomped away.

What the! Phone kaat diya? Arnav looked at his mobile in shock. He dialed the number again and when Khushi again picked up the phone, he again demanded the same thing. Fight with me! And she cut the phone again. Arnav glared at the phone. How dare you slam the phone down! How dare you! Itna aasaani se nahi chodunga tumhein Khushi Kumaari Gupta! Not so easily!

Khushi huffed as the phone rang again. Iss Akdu Raizada ka hum kya karein! Her eyes narrowed in anger. Musibat kahin ke! Paagal hogaye hain paagal! "Aee titaliya! Uu phone ko aisan tukar tukar dekhti rahegi ya uthaayegi bhi?", her Buaji hollered as she neared the hall Khushi was sitting in. She smiled brightly as an idea struck her head. She looked at her Buaji sadly, "Buaji! Dekhiya na! Ek wrong number kab se call kar karke humein pareshaan kar raha hai! Aap hi kuch kijiye!"

"Kya?", Buaji roared in anger, "Humaar ghar ki betiyon ko chedta hai? Abhi hum uu ko dekhat hai!" Khushi slapped her hands on her mouth as she tried to smother the giggles threatening to come out. Bechaare Akdu Raizada! Ab toh unki band baji!

Arnav smiled as someone picked up the phone but before he could say anything he was bombarded with every Hindi swear words known to mankind. He cringed and flinched at some of them and some of them shocked him so much that he looked at the phone with wide eyes. Just as the old lady on the other side took a breather, Arnav cut the phone and took a deep breath. What was that? In between the swear words, Arnav heard the woman scold him for eve teasing ghar ki jawaan betiyaan!

Does that mean what I think it means? Arnav wondered and then his eyes widened. Khushi set him up! She set him up and he ended up getting scolded. Khushi must have lied that someone on phone was harassing her! Oh no! Khushi Kumaari Gupta! You don't play dirty with me and get away! I will have my revenge! Mujhse ladne se mana kar rahi thi na! Ab dekho! Main aisa kuch karunga ki tumhein roz mujhse ladna padega!

Arnav thought for a while when a plan struck his head. Tum wahaan ho isliye hum dono lad nahi paate, right? But what if I bring you to Dilli, at my house? Then you will daily fight with me, right?

It was late evening when Arnav entered the kitchen of Shantivan. He had come here in search of Paayal who was supposed to cook something meetha as per the rivaaj. He leaned on the door as he watched Paayal bring out one Jalebi after other out of the boling oil and add it into sugar syrup. He wondered how to start the discussion with her; namely how to get information about Khushi out of her.

Arnav looked around for conversation starters, "Ummm... You making sweets?"

What kind of stupid question was that Arnav? Obviously she is making sweets! Kitchen mein khade rehke koi bhajan nahi karta!

Paayal smiled at him, "Ji Arnavji!"

Arnav smiled back, "Bahut achchi khushboo aa rahi hai!"

Paayal's smile went mile wide, "Thank you Jethji! Par aapko Khushi ke haathon ki Jalebi chakhni chaahiye, woh toh isse bhi badhiya banaati hai! Infact, poore Lucknow mein usse badhiya Jalebi banaane waala nahi hai!"

Arnav's eyes brightened up. Thank you Paayal for bringing Khushi up!

"Yeh tumhaari behen, Khushi, sirf Jalebiyaan ki banaati hai ya aur kuch bhi karti hai?"

"Arre! Woh toh college ki topper hai! Padhaai mein number one! Kaash..."

Arnav frowned, "Kaash kya?"

"Kaash use aage badhne ka mauka mil jaata! Use aage padhne ka bahut shauk haina! Woh aage padhke apne pairon pe kade hona chaahti hai aur isiliye Dilli aake padhna chaahti hai! Par Amma Bauji use jaane nahi dete! Bechari Khushi! Uski padhne ki chaah yahin khatam hogayi!"

Arnav looked pensive for a while but then he smirked. Got the perfect idea to get Khushi Kumaari Gupta right into this house!

He looked at Paayal, "Tum Naani aur Di se kyun nahi baat karti iss baare mein?"

"Daadiji?"

"Haan! Naani and Di are all for education of girls! She can talk to your family! Upar se tumhaare sasural se hain toh unhein tumhari family taal bhi nahi sakti!"

Paayal looked at him with wide eyes, "Aisa ho sakta hai, Arnavji? Daadiji aur Di Khushi ko aage padhne mein madat kar sakti hai?"

Arnav shrugged, "Why not? Infact, bring Khushi to Shantivan and let her stay at our house, so that she can get the best education aur apni behen ke saath bhi reh sakegi!"

Paayal grinned eagerly, "Phir toh hum abhi jaate hain aur Daadiji aur Di se baat karte hain!"

Paayal turned to walk outside the room when Arnav called after her. She turned around, "Naani ya Di se yeh mat kehna ki yeh mera idea hai!"

Paayal frowned, "Kyun?"

Kyunki agar dono mein se kisiko pata chala toh do din mein Khushi aur mera rishta pakka kardegi and I don't want that! Arnav thought but outwardly he replied, "Ummm... Kyunki... Haan Kyunki tum baat karogi toh Naani aur Di tumse impress hogi kyunki tum apni behen ke baare mein itna soch rahi ho! You know what I mean!"

Paayal nodded and smiled again, "Thank you Arnavji! Hum bahut khushnaseeb hain ki aap humaare Jethji hain!"

She walked away and Arnav smirked. No Paayal! I am the lucky one kyunki bahut jald Khushi mere ghar mein hogi!

After half hour, Arnav hid by the stairs and noticed Paayal, Naani and Anjali coming out of Naani's room and Naani taking the phone and calling somebody. Arnav smirked; Mission accomplished. Khushi Kumaari Gupta! I am waiting for you very eagerly! After all, maine waada kiya tha ki main agli baar jab miloonga toh tumse jaroor ladoonga! Toh chalo Miss. I-Love-To-Fight! Lets fight!

Next update: Arnav's plan is successful and Khushi arrives at Shantivan!

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Thanks, take care and have fun,

Kalpana

P.S. As usual, I read your reviews daily, but they will be liked or liked and replied slowly!

Kalpana_Writer2014-05-17 12:28:44