Chapter 6

Sweta

@Happy__Days

PART - 6

When Khusi reached down, everyone was present in the mandir, except payal. No one had noticed Khusi as she was behind all.

Mami: "Sasuma, what are we waiting for? Everyone is present here. Let's start the aarti.

Nani: "Manorama, if you have forgotten, then let me remind you, yesterday not one but two bahus came into this house. As it their first day, they need to attend this aarti."

Akash: "Dadi, Payal is not well and having headache. I have asked her to rest. She can't come."

Manorama: "Lo.. from the first day itself she is acting. Wants to sleep till late.. Hmmphh.. Anjali Bitya you start the aarti. These gupta sisters are good for nothing."

Nani: "Chup rahiye Manorama.. " she saw Khusi standing behind and told Anjali "Anjali Bitya ask the elder bahu of the house to do aarti.."

Everyone looked back to see Khusi standing. From this statement of nani, Khusi knew that though angry at the moment, Nani would forgive her soon. Anjali went to her and was about to hand over the aarti plate to her, when payal came there. She asked sorry to everyone as she was late.

Payal: "Sorry Dadiji, I was not feeling well so slept for a bit longer."

Nani: "Not a problem bitya, we were about to start the aarti."

Payal was about to move her hands towards Anjali to take the aarti plate, but Anjali handed over the plate to Khusi and said: "Chaliye Khusiji, let's do the aarti." Khusi nodded and moved forward but payal got angry.. very angry. After completing the aarti Khusi went towards nani, bending she touched her feet for blessing. Nani was about to put her hand on her head, but stopped herself. Knowing Nani is angry at the moment, she went to Mamaji and touched his feet, who blessed her saying "Khush raho Bitya." And when she touched Mamiji's feet she muttered a barely audible "thik hai.." and went away from the place in typical Manorama style. Khusi didn't feel bad as she knew her nature. Anjali came forward, khusi was about to bend and touch her feet, but she stopped her and hugged her. Seeing this NK and Akash smiled but Shyam and Payal were not happy.

Nani: "Payal Bitya, today is your first day in this house. You have to something sweet for everyone. If you are not feeling well then we can have this ritual postponed till tomorrow."

Payal: "No Dadi, I am perfectly fine. I will cook."

NK: "Payal bhabi, can you please make halwa poori for me, I really feel like eating it."

Everyone smiled at him.

Nani: "Yes, bitya make halwa poori for everyone."

NK: "Dadiji, What will Khusi Bhabi make?"

Nani didn't reply and went away from there. Khusi's face fell. Seeing her fallen face; Anjali said: "Khusiji, can you please make Kheer. Chote loves Kheer."

Khusi: "Okay Di."

NK nearly shouting in excitement: "Wooww.. Today halwa poori and special kheer by Khusi bhabi... It will make my day. Payal bhabi and Khusi bhabi please make more amount as I think I will be eating more than usual."

Everyone laughed at NK's words. Khusi and Payal went to kitchen, while Anjali followed them saying she will see if they require any help. Payal had thought that she will have some time to talk with Khusi but Anjali's presence ruined her plan and she preferred to ignore Khusi royally.

Payal Gupta now Raizada is a complex character. She had always wanted the best for herself. When in childhood her Amma had got Khusi home and said that she will be staying with them. She was happy as she will get a friend to play but when khusi got more attention from parents as she was emotionally shattered, she started to get jealous of her. While growing up, they went to school together and were in the same class. Khusi was the topper whereas she was the back-bencher. When their teacher praised Khusi and scolded her, her jealousy grew. When Khusi kept on her ever smiling face and laughed freely in spite of being an orphan her jealousy grew further. When everyone praised Khusi's beauty her jealousy grew even more. With passage of time it took the form of hatred. But she was well capable of controlling her emotions, and always tried to show that she is genuinely happy for her sister and really loves her. When Shyam proposed to get married to Khusi and her buaji agreed, she was jealous thinking Khusi is getting a rich husband who gets her expensive gifts but still showed that she is happy for Khusi. But when Akash proposed her for marriage she was on cloud nine. The feeling that Khusi will get a husband who is just a lawyer but her would-be husband is a rich industrialist and way far better looking than Khusi's would-be, all her jealousy had gone to drain then. But yesterday nights events had shaken her. Khusi in all her glory had got married to ASR, surprising everyone. Now she will be her elder-sis-in-law. How much she hated this fact. But that's the truth now. But for her Khusi will always remain an orphan who survived at the mercy of her family. The hidden jealousy and hatred that she had for Khusi had returned in double amount to her. Her only solace was Khusi will not be accepted into the family and the way Arnav had left her alone downstairs and gone had strengthened that feeling. But today morning what she saw has burned her more. Khusi doing the aarti which was supposed to be her right, Dadi not irked by presence and Papaji blessing her had not gone well with her and also Maaji not taunting Khusi as an additional bahu had irked her. Now that she is in the kitchen cooking laughing merrily with Anjali was burning her inside. But she was well capable of hiding her feelings and not showing it, therefore she maintained a straight face and continued her work.

When Arnav came down, Khusi was in the kitchen along with Anjali and Payal. Nani and Mami were not in the hall. He assumed they might be in their respective rooms, the former studying scriptures while the latter as usual busy with her makeup. Mamaji was reading newspaper sitting on the sofa. NK and Akash were sitting opposite to him and discussing something. Seeing Arnav, NK called out: "Nannav mere bhai, come and sit with us." Arnav nodded and sat beside Mamaji.

Arnav: "Mamaji, are you angry upon me, for what I did?"

Mamaji: "Bitwa, I have never questioned you for what you did. I always wanted to see you married and happy. I wish you could have involved us all in your marriage, in your happiness. But now that you are married I wish you take care of your wife properly. I know you are not like your father, but I would still say don't do the same to Khusi bitya what your father did to my sister."

Arnav with pain evident in his voice said: "Mamaji, you know I am not like my father. Though his blood still runs in my veins I do have my mother's blood too. I do have the genes of the Raizadas too. I would never become like the Mallicks.." seeing Shyam coming towards them he added "I promise you Mamaji, I would always keep Khusi happy and never leave her." Hearing Arnav's word Shyam's mood become some more bitter than it already was.

Mamaji smiled at him and patted his head. At that moment his phone rang, he checked it and said: "It's my friend, Jayant. He didn't attend the marriage yesterday. Must have called to apologise. I need to take this call." Saying this he went from there.

Shyam was about to come and sit beside Arnav but NK jumped onto the side of Arnav making both Arnav and Shyam jerk in shock. As the seat beside Arnav was occupied by NK, Shyam took a single sofa and sat on it. NK wanting to irritate Shyam and tease both Arnav and Akash grinningly asked in typical NK style: "So nannav mere bahi... kal raat tumne kya kya kiya.. come on tell us tell us.." Arnav got irritated with this question and barked a typical ASR "what the" while Akash blushed. Seeing Akash blushing NK further added: "Oh my.. my.. look Akash is blushing. After nannav answers you too have to answer dear.." Arnav wanted to shout at NK but seeing the facial expression of Shyam thought of giving a proper reply, as he somewhat knew that NK is doing it intentionally to irritate Shyam.

Arnav: "Why should I tell you NK, what I did. That's personal between me and my Khusi. By the way you should be knowing what couples usually do on their wedding night." He answered NK but his eyes were on Shyam whose face looked as if someone has hit him hard on his guts. Akash had his mouth open at his bhai's reply.

NK: "Naughty.. naughty.. nannav.." now facing Akash.. "Akash now it's your turn, tell us what you did in your room last night." Akash's face was all flushed as he didn't know what to say and he was not that bold as his bhai. Luckily he was saved from answering as Anjali called out to come to the dining table as breakfast was ready.