PART 13. FROM SHANTIVAN TO AR FASHION HOUSE

Arnav smiled as he stared at Khushi while hiding behind a pillar. She was standing few steps ahead of him talking to Paayal, both the girls giggling over something. As Arnav stared at Khushi, he mused over the last two months. Two months had passed since the day he realised that he was in love with Khushi. The next morning when he had woken up, he had taken the decision to stop fighting with Khushi and try to behave civilly with her. After all, where was the fun in giving stress to the person you loved the most? But then he got a surprise when he got ready for his daily jogging and walked out of his room. He saw his whole family standing by the stairs discussing something seriously. When enquired, Arnav was shocked to know that Khushi had locked herself into her room and refused to come out. Arnav was not surprised. The whole evening she must have been in shock and now that the shock had worn off the trauma must have been showing its effects. He assured his worried Naani, Di and crying sister-in-law that he will talk to Khushi and stormed off to her room. As he neared her room, he heard faint sobs coming from the room and sighed as he realised that his beloved Khushi was crying.

Arnav smiled and shook his head as he remembered the way he had cajoled Khushi in his softest voice to come out of the room that day.

"Khushi! Darwaaja kholo!"

"Khushi! Dekho Paayal ro rahi hai!"

"Khushi! Naani aur Di bahut pareshaan hai! Please darwaaza kholo!"

"Khushi! Dekho! Sab theek ho jaayega! Bas tumhein kuch waqt ki jaroorat hai!"

"Khushi! Please darwaza kholo! I promise main sab kuch theek kar dunga!"

But nothing had worked that day and Arnav's anger slowly mounted up. Arnav's promise of not fighting with her went into smoke as his anger took over and he banged the door of Khushi's room.

"Khushi! Open the door warna main darwaza tod dunga!"

And yet when Khushi did not come out, Arnav's anger reached its peak and he blurted out the next words which he would never have said if he was not angry.

"Khushi! I knew that you are a little idiotic but this foolish and coward, I so did not exepct!"

What Arnav did not know at that time was that this was exactly what Khushi had needed; a jolt of reality, a reality where while rest of the family might pity her, Arnav would always treat her the way he normally did, by fighting.

Outside by then Naani and Anjali had arrived by Khushi's door wanting to scold Arnav for his harsh words. But before they could rebuke Arnav, Khushi had opened the door and glared at Arnav.

"Kya kahaa? Hum aur idiot?"

"Aur nahi toh kya? Agar kal main nahi aata toh kya hota?", Arnav scolded her.

"Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada! Aapko yaad nahi toh hum aapko yaad dila dete hain ki woh hum the jisne turant aapko call kiya tha! Kal aapne humaari jaan nahi bachaayi thi! Humaari jaan humne khud apne tez dimaag ki wajah se bachaayi thi, Samjhe?"

And soon they were back to their regular fighting. After a while, Naani realised that Khushi was alright and rolling her eyes she dragged Anjali and Paayal away while whispering to them, "Ab Khushi bitiya ka tum dono fikar chod do! Arnav bitwa haina! Uu Khushi bitiya ko normal kar denge!"

Arnav shook his head to forget those memories and turned to walk away from there before anyone noticed him staring at Khushi. As he walked away, his mind went back to the last two months. After that fight, Arnav's plan to talk to Khushi civilly went right out of window and he continued to fight with her daily. And when he was not fighting with her, he was hiding in some place nearby staring at her. Yes! You read it right! Arnav Singh Raizada had found a new hobby in the last two months; staring at Khushi! He observed her so much that nowadays he could tell what she would next say just by observing her expressions. He could tell you her daily routine, her favorite songs, foods she hated and many more! And yes! He knew that what he was doing was borderline stalking but you cannot fault a guy who is in love, right? I mean everything is fair in love and war, right? Whether you consider it fair or not, Arnav did not care. For him, everything is definitely allowed in love and stalking comes under that allowance as far as he was concerned.

As Arnav continued to walk away, he remembered how Aakash had to stop Arnav from smashing the jaw of that weirdo Rahul. Aakash had kept his promise and put the crazy guy in jail while Arnav was all for beating the life out of the guy. Of course, when Khushi heard that Rahul was in jail, she had hugged Aakash so many times while thanking him profusely, that Arnav was red with jealousy. This was the second time Arnav was jealous of his own brother. Aakash ne Rahul ko jail mein daala, toh usko itna saara hugs? Aur maine jo iski jaan bachaayi, mujhe ek chota waala hug bhi nahi? Arnav's heart had cribbed for hours on this matter.

As Arnav walked away, he heard something which stopped his heart for a second.

"Haan Jiji! Bauji chaahte hain ki hum ghar waapis aa jaayein!", Khushi informed her sister morosely.

Arnav turned around and looked at Khushi in horror as Khushi continued, "Ab jo humaari padhai hogayi hai unhein lagta hai ki humaari shaadi ka time aagaya hai! Aur isliye woh humein ghar bula rahe hain!"

Both girls looked as helpless as Arnav felt at that moment as he stumbled towards his room in daze. Khushi! Jaa rahi hai? Mujhe chodke? Arnav felt as if someone had taken his heart out of his chest and stomped on it. Aise kaise jaa sakti hai woh? Nahi! Woh nahi jaa sakti! Now he regretted his decision to wait and enjoy the feeling of love. I am an idiot! Tabhi I Love You bol diya hota toh ab tak hum dono ki shaadi bhi hogayi hoti! He huffed in anger as he sat on his bed. Lekin I Love You bolne se shaadi toh nahi ho jaati? Agar woh mujhse pyaar na karti toh? He worriedly looked around hoping to see some solution. Problem sirf yeh hi nahi ki woh ghar chodke jaa rahi hai lekin problem yeh bhi hai ki uske Buaji uski shaadi ke baare mein soch rahe hain! Ab main kya karun? His mind alternated between worry at loosing Khushi to some other guy and anger at himself for wasting time instead of proposing to her.

Ek minute! Arnav sat straight. Uske Buaji uski shaadi hi karwaana chaahte haina? Aur obviously woh ek arrange marriage hoga! Toh kyun na main hi dulha ban jaaun? Jaake Naani aur Di se boldunga that I Love Khushi! Problem solved! Bauji itne bade businessman ka rishta toh nahi thukraayenge? Aur jahaan Khushi ki behen bhi rehti hai us ghar mein Khushi ka rishta karwaane se Khushi ki family hichkichaayegi bhi nahi? Aur agar Khushi usi ladke se shaadi karegi jisko uske parivar waale chunenge toh use mujhse aitraaz bhi nahi hoga? Haan! Use kuch dino ke liye mujhse door jaana hoga lekin bahut jald zindagi bhar ke liye meri ho jaayegi! Yes! Dono problem solved! Arnav stared into distance as he went through his plan. As a businessman, Arnav always made sure that all his plans were fullproof and here also he applied his analytical mind, and wondered whether there were any flaws in his plan! Finding none, Arnav got up with excitement. Bas ab Naani ke paas jaana hai aur apne pyaar ka izhaar karna hai!

Arnav nodded and walked off towards the door wanting to talk to his Naani as soon as possible when suddenly a memory floating through his mind came onto the fore.

"Tumhaari behen bata rahi thi ki tumhein padhne ke baad job karna hai?"

"Humein koi bada insaan nahi banna hai! Humein bas apne pairon pe khade hona hai! Apne Amma Bauji ka khayaal rakhna hai! Padhai khatam karke ek job join karlein phir humein aur kuch nahi chaahiye zindagi se!"

Arnav stopped walking as Khushi's words echoed in his mind. Nahi! Main Khushi ke sapnon ko apne pyaar ke liye kuchal nahi sakta! He took few steps back. Nahi! Agar aaj main aage badha toh Khushi bhale hi mujhe apna le lekin woh kabhi khush nahi rahegi! Nahi! Arnav took a deep breath. Mujhe pehle Khushi ke sapne ko poora karna hoga! Phir mere sapne ki baari! Arnav sat on the bed again and thought for a while. Toh problem yeh nahi hai ki Khushi mujhe chodke jaa rahi hai! Problem yeh hai ki Khushi agar idhar se gayi toh woh apne sapne se door chali jaayegi! Mujhe aisa hone se rokna hoga! Par kaise?

While Arnav was wondering about how to ensure that Khushi's dream comes true, in Naani's room, Naani and Paayal watched as Anjali stood in a corner wringing her hands in worry. Paayal and Naani looked at each other curiously and then back at Anjali. After few seconds, Paayal spoke up, "Lekin Di humein yeh samajh nahi aa raha ki aap Khushi ke jaane ki khabar sunke itne pareshaan kyun hai?" Naani nodded, "Haan Anjali bitiya! Kuch toh bataayiye!"

Anjali came out of her thoughts and looked at Paayal and Naani, "Naaniji! Paayalji! Aise kaise hum jaane de humaari Bhabhi ko is ghar se?"

"Bhabhi?", Paayal questioned in confusion.

At the same time, Aakash, who was passing by the room, stopped in shock. Bahu? Ghar se jaane dein? Kahin Di Paayal ko kahin bhej toh nahi rahi hai? Oh no! Meri Paayal! He hid behind the door and listened to the conversation.

Paayal rushed to assure Anjali, "Lekin Di hum kahaan jaa rahe hain? Hum toh yahin hain!"

Anjali shook her head, "Hum aapki nahi Khushiji ki baat kar rahe hain!"

"Kya?", Naani was in shock.

Paayal blinked in confusion, "Khushi?"

Outside of the room, Aakash was also blinking in confusion. Khushi? Woh kabse Di ki Bhabhi ban gayi? But Anjali knew his Di enough to know how her brain worked. Calling Khushi Bhabhi meant... Oh no! Oh no! His eyes widened in shock as he realised Di's wish. He listened as Di confirmed his guess.

Anjali smiled at Paayal, "Haan! Khushiji! Humne Chote ke liye Khushiji ko chuna hai, unke patni ke roop mein!"

Paayal's eyes brightened and she squealed, "Khushi! Aur Jethji ki patni?" She went towards Anjali and hugged her tightly while Naani looked on with smile. Anjali looked at Naani and Naani nodded in approval. Anjali smiled at her.

While Paayal was happy to hear this news, Aakash was not at all happy. He shook his head all the while muttering in horror, "Bhai will not be happy with this news! Bhai will so not be happy with this news!" He cringed as he remembered his brother's anger. "Bhai defo will not be happy to hear this news!"

It seemed that right at the same time Arnav's anger filled face passed through Paayal's mind as right at that moment she squeaked, "Lekin Di! Jethji..."

Anjali cut her off with a smile, "Chote ki aap fikar mat kijiye! Jab sahi waqt aayega toh hum unhein Khushi se shaadi karne ko kahenge aur woh maan bhi lenge! Humein ab yeh sochna hoga ki Khushi ko iss ghar se jaane se kaise roka jaaye?"

Meanwhile outside Aakash rolled his eyes. Arnav bhai? Aur aapki baat sunke shaadi kar lenge? No way! Just because unhonein aapki baat sunke Khushi ko College drop aur pick up kiya uska matlab yeh nahi ki aapki sunke Khushi se shaadi bhi karlenge! He shook his head. He had to inform his brother about this plan! He can't let his brother get married to Khushi just because Anjali wanted it to happen. While Aakash would have been happy that Khushi was the girl Anjali had chosen for his brother, Aakash also wanted Arnav to experience love the way he experienced with Paayal. Sorry Di! Lekin main nahi chaahta ki mere bhai ki arrange marriage ho! I want him to fall in love and get married to the girl he loves! Aur mujhe poora yakeen ki ek din Arnav Bhai ko pyaar jaroor hoga! Aur tab tak main aapke har plan ke saamne khada rahunga Di! Aakash nodded and marched off to inform Arnav about Di's plan to get him married to Khushi!

Paayal looked at Di in confusion as she sat back on the bed beside Naani, "Par Di aap itni pareshaan kyun hai? Haan! Khushi iss ghar se jaa rahi hai! Lekin jaise hi aap Jethji ka rishta lekar Bauji ke paas jaayenge, Khushi aur Jethji ka rishta pakka ho jaayega! Phir sirf kuch din ki doori aur phir Khushi is ghar mein aayegi aapki bhabhi banke!"

Anjali huffed and sat beside her, "Paayalji! Aap humaare pareshaani samajh nahi rahi hai!"

"Kaisi pareshaani bitiya?", Naani queried.

Paayal frowned and Anjali explained, "Aapko pata nahi lekin Chote ko Khushiji se pyaar hogaya hai!"

Paayal gasped in shock while Naani blinked in surprise as Anjali nodded, "Aur isliye hum Khushiji ko rokna chaahte hain! Kyunki hum Chote ko achchi tarah jaante hain! Unhein ab tak nahi pata ki woh Khushiji se pyaar karte hain! Jab pata chalega toh Chote humesha ki tarah apne ehsaason se door bhaagenge! Unhein is ehsaas ko samajhne aur apnaane mein waqt lagega aur uske baad hi woh Khushiji ki taraf apne kadam badhaayenge! Aur iske liye unhein waqt chaahiye! Isliye hum chaahte hain ki Khushiji aur kuch din yahi rahe! Warna humaare Chote kabhi apne pyaar ko qubool nahi karenge!"

Paayal was in shock. Arnav loved Khushi? And according to Di, he needed time to accept them and till then Khushi had to be here! Ab kya karein? Suddenly, Naani and Paayal looked at each other, nodded, stood up and started pacing the room trying to think about a solution while Anjali stood in the corner wringing her hands in worry, trying to plan a solution.

While Paayal and Naani and Anjali worried, Aakash entered his brother's room in hurry, "BHAI BHAI!"

Arnav, who was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands, wondering on how to stop Khushi from going away, looked up in confusion, "Aakash!" He stood up in worry. Kahin Di ko kuch ho toh nahi gaya?

Aakash reached him and grabbed his arms, "Bhaag jaao bhai! Bhaag jaao! Di aapke hasti khelti zindagi mein aag lagaane pe tuli hai! Unse bachke bhaag jaao!"

"What the?", Arnav looked at Aakash as if Aakash was an alien. Yeh Aakash ko kya hogaya hai? Kahin bukhar toh nahi? He pressed the back of his hand on Aakash's forehead when Aakash grabbed the hand with both hands tightly and pleaded with his brother, "Bhai! Baat ko samjho! Di aapki shaadi karwaane pe tuli hai!"

"What?", Arnav snatched his hand from Aakash's grasp and stumbled few steps. He walked to the window and looked out in horror.

Aakash nodded, "Haan bhai!" Then he continued to narrate everything he heard in Naani's room.

As Arnav heard Aakash's words, his lips bloomed into smile. Iska matlab Di aur main ek jaise hi sochte hain! Khushi ko rokne ke liye hum dono ne meri shaadi ke baare mein socha! But then he frowned. Lekin agar Di Khushi ke bauji ke paas rishta leke pahunch gayi toh? Phir Khushi ke sapnon ka kya hoga? Arnav closed his eyes in worry. Mujhe kuch karna hoga!

Meanwhile Aakash concluded his narration, "But bhai, I don't want you to have arrange marriage! I want you to fall in love and be happy as I am! Isliye main yahaan aaya aapko yeh sab bataane!"

Arnav smiled sadly, "Thanks Aakash! Lekin ab hum kya kar sakte hain?"

Aakash continued to speak, "I tell you bhai! Yeh sab Bauji ke wajah se hua hai! Agar unhonein Khushi ko ghar waapis bulaaya na hota toh Di yeh sab nahi sochti! I wish there was another way to make sure Khushi remains here! Saari problem hi khatam hojaati!"

Arnav's eyes snapped open as he realised that Aakash had just offered the solution to all his problems. He turned and stormed towards Aakash, "Aakash! Tumne toh saari problem hi solve kardi!" Aakash blinked twice, "Maine? Achcha! Kaise?"

Arnav smirked, "Di chahti hai ki Khushi yahin rahe, right?" Aakash nodded eagerly.

"Toh agar hum Khushi ko yahaan rokne ka bahaana dhoondle toh?", Arnav spoke eagerly.

Aakash nodded, "Toh humaari problem solved! But roke kaise?"

Arnav smiled smugly, "AR Fashion House mein ek Accountant ki post khaali hai, right? I am sure Khushi won't mind working there! After all, she is a Commerce Graduate! And humaari apni company hai toh Bauji ko bhi koi problem nahi hogi! Aur agar Naani baat karengi toh Bauji Khushi ke job karne pe aitraaz bhi nahi karenge! Aur Khushi humaare ghar mein rahegi toh Di aur Paayal bhi khush!"

Aakash smiled happily, "Bhai! Aap toh genius ho! Main abhi jaata hoon aur Khushi ko woh post offer karta hoon! Ek baar woh haan kehde phir dinner pe Di, Daadiji aur Paayal ko bhi bata denge!"

Arnav approved his plan and Aakash walked off to meet Khushi.

As Aakash went off, Arnav smiled and fell on his bed. Aakash! Tumhein kya laga yeh idea maine Di ko rokne ke liye diya hai? Is mein meri bhi kaee faayde hain! After all, Khushi ka kaam karne ka sapna jo poora hoga! Phir uske aur mere pyaar ke beech koi problems nahi! Aur added bonus yeh hai ki main jab chaahun Khushi ko dekh sakta hoon! Bas kuch din aur! Phir Khushi ghar mein hi nahi, Office mein bhi mere saamne hogi! Aur kuch waqt ke liye yeh shaadi ka tension bhi sar se hat jaayega! Aur kya pata iss waqt mein main Khushi se apne dil ki baat bhi keh doon! Aur kya pata use bhi mujhse pyaar ho jaaye! Arnav took a deep breath and got lost in daydreams of Khushi!

When in the evening, Aakash announced to the family that Khushi is joining AR, everyone was happy for her and when Aakash wondered about Bauji, Naani announced that she will talk to him.

As they congratulated Khushi, the only thoughts going through Anjali, Naani and Paayal's head was that, Now Khushi won't go away for a while!'

Aakash smiled as he thought to himself, Atleast ab mere Bhai is shaadi ke changul se bach gaye!'

Arnav smiled as he looked at his family. Everything was okay now. Khushi was not going anywhere. His family was happy, of course due to different reasons, but they were happy! And he? He was the happiest because his love, his Khushi was with him, right where he wanted her to be. Soon, she would be in his Office where of course he will call her into his Office for every silly reason possible. She will fight with him, he will fight with her, they will fight at home, they will fight at Office and maybe in between all this fighting he will win her heart over and maybe when he would pop up the question, she will accept his marriage proposal. Yes! Arnav Singh Raizada smirked, Life was just perfect!

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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_Writer2014-09-01 11:16:20