188

Chapter 169

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

(Thanx a million, Naughtymallu!)

FINDING KHUSHI

Part 43

Section 8

Sensing Arnav's stillness, Ganesh, NK, Akash, & Gaurav turned to look towards the entrance. And stood petrified.

"Khushi..." Arnav whispered, his face pale.

"She will kill me, cut me into chotey chotey pieces..." NK murmured.

"Payal... Di... Khushiji..." gasped Akash.

"Mama..." Gaurav said softly.

Ganesh alone stood silent, having nothing to fear. Anamika knew him through and through.

The men looked at the ladies, and the ladies studied them in silence.

Arnav spoke to NK under his breath, "Stop the music. And kick the bunch out. Fast."

NK nodded and raced away, glad to be doing something to salvage the messy situation.

The music died. The drunken revellers looked around, struck by the silence.

Confused cries demanding music and more beer came from the crowd.

In the midst of this cacophony, Khushi walked purposefully forward. The ladies with her looked uncertainly at her. What was she going to do? Had the sight of the wannabe Bollywood vamp trying to coil her arms around Arnav hurt her so much that she was going to remonstrate with Arnav in public?

Arnav swallowed hard, watching Khushi walk towards him, a set look on her pale face.

But Khushi had no time for him. She stopped in front of Nisha, and gave her a hard slap on her cheek.

"How dare you touch my Arnavji? Or Anamikaji's Ganeshji? Sharm nahi aati aapko?" Khushi glared at the wilted vamp.

Arnav's eyes shot wide open. Ganesh smiled at Khushi, and shared his amusement with a smiling Anamika.

Gaurav, NK, & Akash stared at this proactive avatar of their Khushiji with awe.

Khushi turned to the crowd, her ire still burning bright in her.

"And you lot! What are you doing here? Don't you have homes and parents? It is eleven o'clock. Go home and sleep!" she ordered.

Like sheep, the fully drunk and the on-the-way-to-being-fully-drunk guests trooped out silently, led by Nisha.

NK watched with his mouth open as Khushi cleared the room efficiently.

Once just the family was left, Payal went to Akash, Anjali to Arnav, and Anamika to Ganesh & Gaurav.

Khushi went to NK. "Kya hua, Nanheji?" she asked.

NK gulped. "I told them that girls were not invited. The idiots brought their girlfriends and acquaintances... and hired a dancer..."

Khushi nodded. She turned to Anjali & the others. "Didn't I tell you? Nanheji will never lie to me. Nanheji promised me that he had not invited any girls."

All nodded.

"Shall we go home?" asked Anjali.

All nodded their willingness to put the day behind them.

But Arnav said, "Di, I need to talk to Khushi. Just give us a few minutes alone."

Anjali nodded. It would be impossible for them to clear the air once they reached RM.

Khushi frowned at him. All looked anxiously at Arnav & Khushi, their eyes moving from one to the other, trying to gauge their mood.

Arnav caught hold of Khushi's arm and tugged her behind him. He led her away from the hall to his bedroom, saw her in, and shut the door.

He turned to look at her pale face with anxious eyes.

He then caught her arm gently and made her sit on his bed. He kneeled down in front of her, his face close to hers.

"I am sorry, Khushi." he whispered.

Khushi frowned. "For what?" she asked.

"I am sorry you had to see this... this... I should have made sure that NK had done as instructed, vetted the guest list... done something... anything... I am so sorry, Khushi." His eyes were moist and slightly red as they looked at her strained expression.

Her eyes filled with big tears, the heavy drops trailing down her cheeks.

"I am the one who should apologise, Arnavji. It is all my fault." she claimed credit for the debacle. Arnav stared at her in surprise.

"You wanted to cancel the party. You didn't want to attend it. You wanted to stay at home. I... I.. I forced you to..." Khushi wept.

"Khushi..." Arnav protested, trying to dry her cheeks with his fingers.

"It is all my fault. I am so stupid, Arnavji!" she wept. "Anamikaji tried to tell me what a stag party was, but I didn't understand. Jiji was angry with me because I forced you to go, but I didn't understand. Anjaliji had to explain it to me before I could understand..." she wailed.

Arnav said, "Sshhh... Khushi, you are not stupid..."

"I am stupid." she claimed. "And sanki."

Arnav shook his head, a small smile taking birth on his lips. "No, you are not."

"I am." She was determined to own up.

"You are the dearest girl on earth. My Khushi." Arnav hugged her, burying his face in her bosom. "The girl who thinks that everyone is like her, innocent and well-meaning."

Khushi hugged him to her, cradling his head in her arms.

They sat together, silent, happy, at peace.

Finally, Arnav sighed, "I wanted to bring you here for our honeymoon..."

Khushi looked at him.

"But tonight... It must have left a bad taste in your mouth." Arnav said sadly.

"Let's come here tomorrow night." Khushi suggested.

Arnav stared at her. "You don't mind...?"

"I don't. Ganeshji is taking Anamikaji to a cottage he owns by some lake. If we stay at home, all of them will tease us..." Khushi fretted.

Arnav smiled and nodded.

"Shall we leave now?" Khushi asked. "The others must be waiting..."

Arnav nodded. But he did not let her get up from the bed.

He lifted her right hand and dropped a kiss on her palm.