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Chapter 163

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

(Thanx a million, Naughtymallu!)

FINDING KHUSHI

Part 43

Section 5

If he could get his hands around NK's neck... If only he could get his hands around NK's neck... Arnav fumed helplessly, staring at Khushi's happy face. The difficulty he had faced in bringing matters to this point! Only he knew how hard it had been to get Khushi to agree to marry him. He had fought the odds to lay claim to her heart, and now, at the eleventh hour, NK was out to sink his boat...

Anamika took one look at Arnav's pale face, and silently signalled him to leave the room.

Arnav hesitated, his chest hurting at the sight of Khushi's open face radiating joy.

Anamika put her arm around Khushi's shoulders and gently pulled her close. Khushi hugged her, saying, "I will make you eat a basket full of golgappe, Anamikaji. I won't let you off today."

Over Khushi's head, Anamika looked directly into Arnav's eyes, conveying her wish that he leave Khushi in her care.

"I... I have some work, Khushi..." Arnav mumbled.

"Ji." Khushi laughed. "Amanji must have missed you the whole of today."

Arnav smiled weakly and left the room slowly, turning back twice to look at Khushi.

Anamika said, "Sit down for a while with me, Khushi." She locked the door of the room and led Khushi to sit on the bed.

"Ji." Khushi happily parked herself by Anamika, her legs curled under her. She pulled a pillow on her lap and propped her elbows on it.

"Do you know why men celebrate bachelor party, Khushi?" Anamika asked, a small smile on her face.

Khushi smiled. "Because they are happy for the dulha as he is getting married the next day!"

Anamika smiled. "No, because they think that the dulha is going to lose all his freedom the next day, and they want to console him."

Khushi laughed. "How ajeeb! Is shaadi a jail for the dulha to lose his freedom when he marries? Anamikaji, I thought only I was sanki, but it looks like many people are more sanki than me."

Anamika smiled fondly at her.

"And why should they console the dulha? Nobody is tying his hands and legs and dragging him to the mandap. He is marrying because he wants to, isn't he, Anamikaji?"

Anamika nodded, smiling. "It is just a party given by the groom's friends for him. They have fun, crack jokes at the dulha's expense..."

Khushi smiled.

"When men get together, they don't drink lassi, you know, Khushi. They may drink beer or wine or whisky..." Anamika dropped a hint.

"Daaru?" Khushi asked.

Anamika smiled & nodded. "The Raizadas and your family... you are all vegetarians, aren't you?"

"Ji." Khushi said.

"Does ASR take non-veg?" Anamika asked.

"Ji. But he is not permitted to have it here in his house." Khushi replied.

"Then he may have it at the party." Anamika said softly.

"Oh..." Khushi said.

"And what is a party without some naach-gaana?" Anamika asked smiling.

Khushi smiled happily. "Ji. I was thinking we ladies can play Balam Pichkari and Lazy Lad and dance to them here."

"The men too may have music and dance... NK might invite some of his friends and acquaintances, other men & women to the party..." Anamika hinted.

Khushi looked at her, her face becoming anxious all of a sudden.

Anamika hugged her. "ASR, Akash, Ganesh, Gaurav, and NK will be together. They won't get into any trouble." she comforted her.

Khushi jumped up. "Anamikaji, hum abhi aate he!" She strode out of the room. Anamika looked after her with a soft smile on her lips.

Khushi barged into NK's room, her eyes furious.

NK dropped the T-shirt he was holding. Offo, it looked like someone had told Khushiji the exact meaning of a bachelor party, he thought, his heart sinking. Nannav had just torn a strip off him for the bachelor party idea, and his skin was still stinging from the ASR's fury. Now it looked at Khushiji's turn.

Khushi came and stood in front of NK, her arms crossed, waiting.

NK swallowed hard. Would she kill him?

"Nanheji, I never thought you would do this to me!" she complained.

NK bleated, "Khushiji..."

She cut in, "I thought you were my friend!" Tears filled her eyes.

"Khushiji..." NK said in a feeble voice.

"I won't talk to you again. How could you...?" A tear made its way down her cheek.

"Khushiji, I promise. I promise..." NK touched his Adam's apple. "I have not invited any girls. Nannav will kill me if I... Khushiji, it is just some wine and food... no girls. I promise. I promise." NK almost fell at her feet.

Khushi looked at him with suspicious eyes. "Pukka?" she asked.

"Pukka. Promise. NO GIRLS. Only shabab & kebab,,," NK was desperate.

"Sharab." Khushi corrected automatically.

"Yes, yes." NK pulled his ear. "Only sharab & kebab."

"You have not invited any girl?" Khushi made sure.

"No one. No girl. Not even a single girl." NK swore.

Khushi let out a sigh of relief. "Tabhi to! I was so sad wondering why you had not invited me, your friend. It is because I am a girl, isn't it? This party is only for men, he na Nanheji?"

NK shook his head slowly.

"Anamikaji said that men drink & eat non-veg at parties. And that they invite their men & women friends for naach-gaana. I was wondering why you hadn't invited me!" Khushi smiled happily at him. "But if you are not inviting any lady, then it is OK if you don't invite me."

NK stared at her. So he had been apologising for the wrong crime all along? He scratched his head.

"Have fun, Nanheji! And make your Nannav dance at the party. Haan, and take hajmola with you. It will calm your stomach after all that non-veg." She sashayed away, a wide smile on her face.

Part 43 Section 4: 86061636 Part 43 Section 6: 86268098

rulama2013-06-24 22:36:29