PART 1. KYA PYAR KAROGI MUJHSE KHUSHI?

Arnav smiled as he met one of his favorite clients. He shook hands with him and was about to start talking with him when his eyes noticed something in his peripheral vision. He turned towards the vision fully and his eyes widened in shock. There came Khushi down the stairs dressed in a green saree, looking like a shining star on dark night, her skin glowing with happiness, her cheeks stained with blush, her lips looking lush, her hair left open, flowing down her back, her hips moving gracefully down the stairs, her bare waist pulling Arnav towards her, her twinkling eyes looking around curiously. Arnav felt his heart beating wildly at the sight of her and he did not even notice his favorite client calling his name till the client clapped him on his shoulder bringing Arnav out of his stupor. He turned back to the client but his eyes kept on going to Khushi who stepped down the stairs and Paayal came over to meet her.

Today was AR Fashion House's founding day anniversary and hence, Arnav and Aakash had thrown a party at Shantivan to celebrate the day. As Khushi was about to join AR in next few days Naani decided that she needed to attend the party along with the rest of Raizadas to get acquainted with her colleagues informally. And hence, here was Arnav standing by a client staring at Khushi who was standing across the hall, looking as beautiful as he saw her the first time, chatting with Paayal.

FIVE YEARS LATER...

Arnav smiled as he remembered how beautiful Khushi was looking that day five years ago. Her beauty dazzled him that day and still continued to dazzle him every day. "Aur party itni shaandaar thi na...", Khushi's voice brought Arnav out of his thoughts and he turned to look at her. Khushi was leaning by Arushi's cradle telling her their story.

It was late afternoon and Arnav had come home early from his Office to spend time with his wife only to find his wife leaning by Arushi's cradle narrating their story, so Arnav decided to hide outside the room and listen to Khushi. It was only the last day when Khushi had narrated their crashes and it was only today morning when Arnav told Arushi about his genius plan of bringing Khushi from Lucknow to his house and from there to his Office. And now coincidentally it seemed, Khushi had decided to narrate the story of how she turned from his employee to his wife. Of course, we all know that it was no coincidence but Arnav does not know that, right?

As Khushi described the party, his mind also went back to five years back. But unlike Khushi who was describing the grandour of the party, Arnav was remembering how beautiful Khushi looked that day. As Khushi's narration continued, Arnav got lost in those memories too.

FIVE YEARS BACK...

It was an hour after Khushi's arrival that the band struck the music while asking all the couples to come to the dance floor. Arnav smiled as he noticed Aakash asking Paayal for dance and Paayal blushing and nodding while giving him her hand. Arnav turned his eyes towards Khushi again and he smiled as he saw her chatting with one of his employee. She already had made friends, it seemed. The light in the hall dimmed as the song started playing and the couples started swaying in their places to the tune of the slow song. Arnav's eyes sought Khushi again as notes of flute wafted into the air. As the music gathered momentum, Khushi raised her eyes and locked right into Arnav's. For a second, the world faded away and only Arnav and Khushi remained in place.

Dil Mera Pooch Raha Hai Tujhse

The words jarred Khushi out of her thoughts and she looked away but Arnav's eyes remained on her.

Kya Pyar Karoge

Khushi's eyes rose again to look at Arnav and Arnav felt his heart skip a beat.

Mujhse...

Mujhse...

Khushi looked away nervously.

Dil Mera Pooch Raha Hai Tujhse

Khushi turned around unnerved by his glance.

Kya Pyar Karoge

But then shyly she looked back at him sideways.

Mujhse... Haan Haan Haan

Mujhse...

Realising what they were doing, they turned away from each other and looked around. But every other moment Arnav's eyes went back to Khushi and she would give him a glance and walk away. Arnav met many people that night but except Khushi he did not remember anyone else. He looked back at Khushi again only to see her laugh at something the girl standing near her told her. Arnav almost smiled at her and slowly started walking towards her.

Hasti Hai

Aise Tu Hasti Hai

Jaise Bahaaron Mein

Khilti Kali...

Khushi pouted at something the girl said and Arnav felt his heart melt at her pout.

Lagti Hai

Tu Mujhko Lagti Hai

Thodi Thodi

Manchali...

Arnav smiled to himself as he remembered the first time he saw her.

Pehle Se

Main Tujhpe Marta Tha

Kehne Se Darta Tha

Yeh Daastaan...

His eyes went back to her and he remembered their first crash.

Aankhon Mein

Khaabon Mein Neendon Mein

Tu Thi Basi

O Jaan-e-jaan...

Khushi turned around and crashed right into Arnav. Her eyes widened in surprise as she noticed him. Arnav grabbed her arms for balance and he felt her shiver.

Dhadkan Pooch Rahi Hai

Tujhse

Arnav's grip tightened a little and Khushi took a sharp breath.

Kya Pyar Karoge

Khushi's cheek turned red as Arnav stared at her with intensity.

Mujhse... Haan Haan Haan

Mujhse...

FIVE YEARS LATER...

"Aur us din humein yeh ehsaas hua ki humaare aur tumhaare Papa ke beech kuch toh hai!", Khushi's words brought Arnav out of his thoughts. He turned around to look at his family as Khushi continued, "Aisa nahi hai ki us raat ke pehle humne kuch mehsoos nahi kiya tumhaare papa ke liye! Lekin us raat humein ehsaas hua ki hum kuch unke liye mehsoos karte hain. Hum ladte the, jhagadte the, dost the lekin us raat humein aisa laga jaise humaari kahaani kuch naya hi mod le rahi hai. Jab hum tumhaare papa se takraaye aur woh humein girne se rokne ke liye humein pakde toh unki aankhon mein kuch aisa tha jo humein unki aur kheech raha tha. Unka humein pakadna, haathon ko thoda kasna aur humein itni tez nigaahon se dekhna, us waqt humein ehsaas hua ki hum dono ka rishta dosti se aage badhne ki kagaar par tha. Kuch naya hone jaa raha tha aur hum aur Arnavji us naye zindagi ke mod pe khade the!"

Khushi came out of her thoughts and smiled at Arushi, "Pata hai Arushi! Humaari zindagi ki sabse yaadgaar raat thi woh! Jahaan ek taraf hum apne career ki shuruvaat ki taraf badh rahe the, wahin doosri taraf humaare dil ne humein bataaya ki hum shaayad tumhaare papa ki ore bhi badh rahe the!" She smiled softly as she got lost into her memories.

Arnav shook his head at her words. It was a memorable night for him too but while for Khushi it was a beautiful night, for Arnav it was night that shocked him into action, the night which brought him out of his Khushi-land and right into reality.

FIVE YEARS BACK...

Naaniji smiled, "Haan Arnav bitwa! Aapan ne aur Aakash bitwa ne milke bahut hi badhiya party ka intezaam kiya! Humein toh bahut mazaa aaya!" Arnav and Aakash smiled at each other in pride. The party was over and Arnav, Aakash and Paayal along with Naani, Anjali, Shyam, Maama, Maami and Khushi were seated on the terrace of the house having desserts while talking to each other. It was Paayal's idea to go to terrace for some quiet time as servants were still cleaning the hall and kitchen.

"Khushi! Tumne party enjoy ki?", Aakash questioned Khushi and Khushi eagerly nodded as she spooned another piece of rasgulla into her mouth.

"Tum apne naye colleagues se bhi mil chuki hogi! Infact, I am sure ki tumne unme se kuch ko toh apna dost bhi bana liya hoga!", Anjali spoke and Khushi grinned widely.

"Of course Khushi ne dost bhi bana liye honge! Meri saali hai hi itni milansaar! Sab ka dil jeet leti hai!", Aakash proudly announced.

Arnav smiled at that. Haan! Khushi sabka dil jeet leti hai! Dekho! Mera dil bhi jeet liya aur mujhe bhi!

Naani unknowingly echoed Arnav's thoughts, "Haan! Khushi bitiya ne toh sabka dil jeet liya! Pata hai Manorama ki kitty party ke saheliyaan toh Khushi se itni impress hogaye ki woh toh Khushi ko apne ghar ki bahu banaana chaahti hai!"

Arnav choked on his sugar free dessert while Paayal, Anjali and Aakash looked at Khushi teasingly. Khushi blushed at their glances and looked down shyly.

Naani smirked at Khushi and teased her, "Kyun Khushi bitiya? Baat chalaayein hum aapan ki? Agar aapko party mein koi ladka pasand aaya toh bol dijiye! Hum unki amma se baat kar lenge!"

Arnav looked at Khushi wide eyed, his heart beating wildly and his breath getting shorter.

Khushi shook her head vigorously but continued to look down.

Maami frowned, "Khushi bitiya! Kuch toh bolo!"

Khushi nervously looked up, "Naaniji! Maamiji! Hum toh usi ladke ko haan kahenge jise Babuji humaare liye pasand karenge!"

Arnav felt his breath come back. Ok! So Babuji had the final say here. Good! Arnav was sure he could impress Babuji right away. After all, Babuji would not mind giving Khushi's hand to the heir of Raizada family and the CEO of AR Fashion House, right?

But while Arnav was relieved, Anjali and Shyam were frowning. Shyam voiced their thoughts, "But Khushiji! Aapko nahi lagta ki aapki bhi raay important hai! Aapko ladka pasand hai ya nahi yeh bhi important hai!"

Arnav narrowed his eyes at Shyam. Why are you doing this Jeej? I can impress Babuji but after the fights we continue to have, I am not sure I can impress Khushi. Why are you ruining my life Jeeju? You are supposed to be on my side. We are supposed to be Saala-Jeeju duo!

Khushi shrugged at Shyam's words. She never thought of these things. From her childhood she knew that she was supposed to marry the person her Babuji selected for her. Now the thought of having an input in the matter seemed foreign to her. Even Paayal used to think the same way till she fell for Aakash in their college days.

Shyam continued to prod Khushi, "Aur Khushiji! Agar aapko kisi se pyar hogaya toh? Jaise aapki Jiji ko Aakash se hogaya tha?"

Khushi and Arnav both were horrified. Arnav was horrified because the thought of Khushi falling in love with someone else never passed his mind. But no one noticed Arnav's reaction as everyone was focused on Khushi.

Khushi looked at Shyam with horror. What if she fell in love? Hey Devi Maiyya! She bit her lip nervously and thought about the matter. And then she brightened up and answered Shyam happily, "Agar humein pyar hogaya na toh hum unse kahenge ki jaake Babuji se humaara haath maange. Agar Babuji ne unhein pasand kiya toh unse shaadi, aur agar nahi pasand kiya toh hum unse apna rishta tod denge! Humaari love marriage ho ya arrange marriage, hum apne Babuji ka dil nahi todenge! Unhonein humein padhne diya, naukri karne di, bhale hi yeh sab Naaniji ke kehne par hua lekin woh manaa bhi kar sakte the na! Lekin unhonein humein humaari aazaadi di! Aur hum unke bharose ko nahi tod nahi sakte! Hum apne Babuji ke khilaaf nahi jaaungi! Jaise Paayal Jiji ne Babuji aur Aakash Jeeju ko milwaaya aur Babuji ke haan kehne ke baad hi unse shaadi ki, waise hi hum bhi apne Babauji ki hi baat maanenge!"

Naani smiled proudly at Khushi while Aakash and Anjali looked at each other in confusion. Being born and brought up in a city, they could not understand Khushi's point of view.

Suddenly, Arnav excused himself and scrambled away. All of them looked at Arnav in confusion and then shrugged and started talking to each other. Arnav was known for his eccentric behavior so no one questioned his abrupt departure.

While on the terrace, the others enjoyed their dessert party, Arnav paced to and fro in his room. The discussion which happened just now had unnerved him. Till now he had thought that one day he will ask Babuji for Khushi's hand and Babuji will say yes and all will be happy. But it never struck him till now that Khushi might fall in love with someone else. Someone from his Office, maybe? Arnav narrowed his eyes as he tried to remember which all male employees Khushi made friends with.

But then Arnav shook his head. Arnav, tum paagal hogaye ho! Agar Khushi ko pyar ho bhi gaya toh kya guarantee hai ki woh ladka Babuji ko pasand aayega! Arnav nodded but then frowned. Lekin pasand aagaya toh? Suddenly, he saw himself in a mandap showering flowers on the couple while Khushi and her husband exchanged malas and the man tied mangalsutra to Khushi's neck. Nahi! Arnav collapsed on his bed. No! This can't happen! Khushi cannot be someone else's! But what if that happened? What if Babuji approved the guy Khushi loved?

Arnav put his head in his hands when suddenly he realised something else. If Babuji did not approve of the guy Khushi loved, then there was a good chance of Khushi marrying Arnav. But will Arnav be happy knowing that the girl he loved was in love with someone else first? Arnav stood up in horror as the implications hit him. Forget about Babuji liking or not liking the guy Khushi loved, Arnav had a new problem right now. What would happen if Khushi fell in love with someone else? Hey Devi Maiyya! Ab main kya karoon? Khushi kisi aur ko dil nahi de sakti! Uska dil mera hai! Then a thought struck him. I could go and ask for Di to get me and Khushi married.

But then Arnav remembered Aakash's words from few days back, "But bhai, I don't want you to have arrange marriage! I want you to fall in love and be happy as I am!" Didn't he owe the same courtesy to Khushi? Did she not deserve the chance to fall in love, to experience love, to marry the love of her life rather than the guy her Babuji had chosen for her?

Arnav frowned as he continued to think. Ok Arnav! Stop panicking. You are a businessman! Think like one! What is the problem? You don't want Khushi falling in love with someone else but you want her to experience love? So what will be the solution? Arnav thought for few minutes and then he smiled. Simple! Khushi should fall in love with him. This way Khushi will experience love but still remain in his life.

Then Arnav frowned. How are you supposed to make sure that a girl falls in love with you? He paced the room again for a while and then an idea struck him. What the! This is so simple! He will woo Khushi. He will flirt with her, buy gifts and flowers for her, he will make sure that he lives in her mind and heart. He smiled as he imagined him giving gift to Khushi.

But as Arnav tried to imagine Khushi's reaction to his gift something seemed wrong with the situation. What is wrong? He pondered and pondered and then he realised. Till now he had fought with Khushi at every turn. He rarely talked to her sweetly unless he felt that she needed his soft words rather than harshness. Agar main abhi usse yeh kahoon ki I love her, woh toh mujhe paagal khaane mein daal degi! Use phool doon toh woh taane expect karegi aur gifts doon toh woh koi prank samajhke uss gift ko uthaake phenk degi! Hey Devi Maiyya! Yeh maine kya kar diya! Start se itna lada us se ki aaj agar main apne pyaar ka izhaar bhi kar doon toh bhi use mujhpe vishwas nahi hoga! Use kya mere parivar waalon ko bhi vishwas nahi hoga!

Arnav again collapsed on his bed and looked at a distance with sorrow on his face. Aur lado Arnav Singh Raizada! Aur lado! Pehli baar mile the toh dosti karne ke bajaay lade kyun? Par ladta nahi toh aur kya karta? Woh toh mujhse darr rahi thi! Toh ek baar ladte! Doosri baar ladne ki kya jaroorat thi! Badi hot lag rahi thi na ladte waqt, ab sambhaalo apne hot hot problem ko! Arnav's mind continued to fight with his heart as Arnav looked around morosely.

But after few seconds, Arnav stood up with a jerk. Nahi! Main Arnav Singh Raizada hoon! Aise haar nahi maanunga! Main ladunga! Apne pyar ke liye ladunga! Khushi se ladunga aur ladte ladte uske dil mein apni jagah bana bhi lunga! Bhale uske liye mujhe kuch naya plan karna pade! Yes! I will create situations which will make us come face to face with each other. I will woo her all the while fighting with her.

Arnav smirked as slowly a plan formed in his brain. Get ready Khushi Kumari Gupta! Arnav Singh Raizada is coming to make you fall for him. But then he looked up and smiled uneasily. Errr...I know what I am doing is going to be wrong but Devi Maiyya, everything is fair in love and war, right? He winced and looked ahead. Hope Devi Maiyya doesn't ruin my plans.

NOTE:

The Past and Present Jumping is going to continue in every chapter!

As I want to show both Arnav and Khushi's point of view!

Also there is a reason behind showing both Arnav and Khushi's point of view,

but that you will come to know in next few parts!

But don't worry, the jumps will be less in the upcoming chapters compared to this one!

Oh! And also in present this is the day after the wedding Anniversary. The scene where Khushi narrated their crashes in Dh Dh Epilogue happened yesterday and the scene where Arnav narrates his manipulation in Jab Se Tere Naina epilogue happened in the morning and the current narration is happening in the late afternoon.

SONG DETAILS:

The song is from the movie Kucch Toh Hai (2003) and is sung by Alka Yagnik and Sonu Nigam.

PRECAP:

Arnav starts his plan!

Thanks for reading, take care and have fun,

Kalpana

Kalpana_Writer2014-10-16 12:20:31