188

Chapter 187

rulama

@rulama

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[NOCOPY]

(Thanx a million, Naughtymallu!)

FINDING KHUSHI

Part 46

Anamika, dressed in an anarkali, walked into the kitchen of the cottage with Ganesh. They had spent an enjoyable 10 minutes chatting with Gaurav and the rest of the Raizadas, and now were ready for their meal.

Ganesh showed her the insides of the pantry, and they gathered the items required to make breakfast, nay brunch for two.

They cooked together, Ganesh used to taking care of himself, having lived alone for a good part of his life. They kneaded, fried, & tasted their concoctions, laughing at old memories and making new ones.

In between, Ganesh dropped kisses on Anamika's cheeks, hair, chin... in fact, any place he could get. Anamika giggled like a girl, feeling happier than she had ever been in her life.

As they shared their meal, Ganesh said, "Anamika, I was thinking..."

Anamika looked up at him.

"Maybe we shouldn't have any more children." Ganesh looked at her, his eyes serious.

Anamika's eyes widened.

"Err... I was thinking... Gaurav will feel left out." Ganesh said, putting down his cup.

Anamika stared at him.

"I don't want him to ever, ever feel that. Ever." Ganesh was firm on that point. "If we have more children, he may feel that he does not belong to us, that we are paying too much attention to them..." Ganesh worried.

Anamika looked down into her cup, a small smile on her face.

"So you don't want a child of your own?" Anamika asked softly, knowing his reply.

"I have Gaurav. He is mine, in all the ways that matter. He is enough for me." Ganesh spoke the words Anamika expected from him.

She swallowed a lump in her throat, and said mildly, "That is a pity."

Ganesh frowned. "Kyon?"

"Gaurav was telling me... and Buaji... and Naniji... and Anjaliji... and Payal... and Koel... and everyone who would listen, how much he was looking forward to having an army of brothers and sisters..." Anamika smiled lovingly at Ganesh's shellshocked expression.

A few moments of stunned silence later, Ganesh asked, "Really?"

"Really." Anamika smiled. "He was trying to pick good names for them... with Buaji's help."

Ganesh gulped.

A while later, he asked softly, "An army...?"

Anamika lowered her head, smiling. "An army."

"So it looks like we are going to be very busy for a few years." he smiled wryly.

Anamika nodded. She hugged Ganesh and whispered in his ear, "I would love to have your babies..."

Ganesh swallowed hard.

Khushi inspected the kitchen, and selected ingredients for breakfast. Arnav was busy calling his home & talking to the Raizadas & the Guptas to make sure that their overnight absence had not caused an earthquake in Shantivan. In between listening & answering Di's, Nani's, & Mami's questions, he sipped the black coffee that Khushi had made for him, smiling and blushing at their teasing.

"Arnav Bitwaa, it ijj eleben o'clock! Kaa hua, late ude ho kaa? Aaj running wunning naahi gaye kaa?" Mami laughed.

Arnav looked at the walls and the potted plants, searching for an answer. He could hear Scooby barking & Gaurav joking with NK in the background. Akash was trying to get them to lower their volume so that all could hear Arnav.

"Mami, what kind of question is that? How can you tease my Chotey so?" Di asked.

Arnav heaved a sigh of relief.

"Why should he go for jogging now? Running after Khushiji all his life will keep him healthy!" Di laughed.

Arnav smiled. He could hear his Nani, Mami, Buaji, Amma, & Payal chuckling.

"Arnav Bitwaa..." Buaji added her advice. "Don't let Titliyaa fall from the bed and hit her head. As it is, a screw is loose somewhere, Nandkisore! If she hits her head, there is no saying..."

All laughed.

"I will take care, Buaji." Arnav promised, smiling.

"Nannav, mere bhai! Are you OK?" NK asked.

Arnav pretended to be perplexed. "Of course, I am fine."

"You are sure?" NK asked. "Not missing us, are you?"

Arnav looked at the ceiling, his eyes wide. Khushi & he had just gotten married, not climbed the Everest! And they had arrived at the farmhouse late last night! Khushi & he had spent just one night apart from their families! What was the big fuss all about?

"Who kya he, Chotey, Nanhe is asking you this because if you are not OK, if you are missing us, we can all come to the farmhouse to give you company." Nani laughed.

A look of horror passed over Arnav's features. "We are fine. Perfect." Arnav hastened to reassure his family.

He could hear his family laughing like mad at having successfully pulled his leg.

Arnav walked into the kitchen from where the tantalising smell of food was wafting. He dropped the newspaper on the table, and went to stand behind Khushi who was making pooris.

Khushi turned her face to look at him. "It will be ready in a few minutes." she smiled.

Arnav dropped a kiss on her soft cheek, and peeked into the hot, bubbling oil in which the pooris were dancing merrily.

"I will help you, Khushi." Arnav offered, shocking himself. His acquaintance with the kitchen was slight, very slight.

Khushi's eyebrows shot up. "Aap? You will cook?"

Arnav raised one eyebrow. "Of course." He grabbed the slotted ladle from her and began playing with the pooris in the oil.

Khushi hid her grin. "Arnavji, the pooris know what to do to get fried. You don't have to dunk them in the oil. And stand slightly away from the pan. If the oil bubbles and splutters, it will burn you."

Arnav took a step back, and with Khushi's help, managed to transfer the fried pooris on to a platter when they were done.

"So, Khushi, what will you give me for helping you?" Arnav drawled, a smirk on his lips.

Khushi's eyes widened. "Give you? Why should I give you anything?" she asked. "I did more than half of the work." she claimed.

Arnav stepped closer to steal a kiss from her, but Khushi darted out of the kitchen to the dining space, giggling, the platter of pooris safe in her hands.

Arnav picked up a couple of dishes and followed her, smiling. Where would she run? He would steal a kiss, no matter what!

Khushi pushed Arnav into a seat with loving hands, & placed a plate on the table in front of him. She served him food. As she turned away to get his cup, Arnav caught hold of her arm.

"Sit here, Khushi. Next to me." he invited.

Khushi looked in to his love-filled eyes, and sat by him, her face flushed.

She broke a piece of poori, dipped it into the sabzi, and took it to his mouth. Arnav was startled for a moment, but then, smiling, he parted his lips and ate from her hand. He fed her in return. As Khushi was about to take the morsel from his fingers, a thought flashed through her mind. She burst out laughing.

Arnav looked at her highly amused expression with captivated eyes, waiting for her to finish laughing to know what was going through her sanki brain.

"What?" he finally asked.

"Just think... Arnavji, if... if.." Khushi clutched her tummy, laughter overpowering her. "If Amanji... if Amanji sees you now..."

Arnav smiled slowly.

"He will...die of shock..." Khushi laughed. "The great Arnav Singh Raizada... feeding poori..."

"That he made..." Arnav inserted, smiling.

"That he helped to make..." amended Khushi, still laughing, "...to his wife... What will he say, Arnavji?"

Arnav leaned towards her, his nose touching hers. "He will say that Arnav Singh Raizada..." Arnav angled for her lips, "...is a very lucky man."

After a leisurely and fun & kiss-filled breakfast, Arnav took Khushi into his Mama's garden. He made her sit down on a bench by a rose bush with big, beautiful, red roses that smelled heavenly. Khushi drew in a long, appreciative breath.

"Mama planted many of these." Arnav said, touching the leaves of the plants by him. A gentle breeze blew in their enchanted garden.

Khushi smiled at him, looking around at the beautiful pond, the huge, shady trees, the stone benches... It was truly magical, like a piece of heaven, far away from the concrete jungle and the crowds...

"I wanted to give you this when we are here." Arnav said softly as he handed over a sheet of paper to her.

Khushi looked curiously at the paper and at the drawn look on his face.

She unfolded it. It was her Saasumma's letter to her. Her eyes moved slowly over the lines, tears filling them as she met the lady who had given birth to her Arnavji.

"Khushi, don't cry." said Arnav through a tight throat, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Mama wants me to put up with your anger'" Khushi murmured.

Arnav smiled slightly. "Only you can manage me when I am angry." he conceeded.

"To see through your khadoos exterior, to see your heart..." Khushi whispered, leaning her head against his chest.

Arnav smiled. They both knew the answer to it.

"To love you a lot. Because you will return it hundredfold." she breathed against the bare skin exposed by the open neck of his white shirt.

"I will." Arnav promised, pulling her closer into his arms.

She was his home, his family, the very reason for taking the next breath. "Khushi... promise me..."

Khushi looked in to his serious face & moist eyes.

"Promise me that you will never leave me, Khushi. Tumhare bina..." Arnav gulped. "Tumhare bina main jee nahi paaoonga..."

Khushi hugged him thoroughly. "Then you will live a very, very long life with your Sanka Devi." she promised against his lips.

Part 45 Section 4: 87492733

The End

Dear friends, this is the end of Finding Khushi.

I will be starting the next 'OS'..ha..ha.. LOVING KHUSHI on Monday. Rash, bless her kind heart, will be posting it on I-F.

There will be a slight change of schedule when we start LOVING KHUSHI. I will be posting long updates on Mon, Wed, & Fri. Rash will post her superb interpretations on Tue, Thur, & Sat.

Hoping to see you back this Monday (15 July 2013)!

Smita

LINK TO THE NEW STORY

LOVING KHUSHI: 87865268

rulama2013-08-05 22:06:34