Chapter 6

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

RECALLING ARNAV

Part 3

Section 2

"Jiji," Khushi hugged Payal till her ribs were in danger of being crushed.

The Guptas smiled, their eyes moist at Khushi's excitement.

"Leave me, pagal," Payal laughed. "Are you loving me or punishing me?"

"Both. Loving you because you are my Jiji and punishing you because you didn't come sooner." Khushi laughed.

Payal's phone rang.

She looked at the display and then at Buaji. She silently mouthed, 'Arnavji'.

"Titliyaa, tanik rasoyighar jao aur chai keliye pani chadao. Your Jiji must be tired and thirsty, Nandkisore." Buaji pushed Khushi towards the kitchen.

Khushi went dancing towards the kitchen, delirious with joy that her Jiji was back home.

"Arnavji?" Payal asked.

"Have you reached home, Payal?"

"Ji. Mohanji got me here on time." Payal said softly.

"You met your family?"

"Ji."

"How is Buaji?"

"Ji? She is fine. Healthy." Payal said, sending a worried look towards the kitchen.

"Your Amma & Babuji?"

"Ji, they are healthy too. Babuji is better."

"K... khushi?" ASR came to the point.

"She is happy. Safe. Lucknow is her home and she knows everyone here. So she is happy." Payal whispered, her eyes in the direction of the kitchen.

Amma, Babuji and Buaji looked at each other.

"H... her business?"

"I didn't get a chance to ask, Arnavji. I haven't entered the house yet. I am still standing in the yard."

"You go in. I will call you after some time," ASR cut the call.

Payal sighed. "What will we do, Buaji?"

"Nothing," Buaji said. "Just try not to push Titliyaa in to his path again. As long as he is in Delhi and she is here, it is alright, Nandkisore."

"He doesn't sleep at night, Buaji. He doesn't eat. He keeps on asking about Khushi. He works all day and night." Payal was almost in tears. "You should see him, Buaji."

Buaji sighed. "Only Nandkisore knows what is in store for him. And the pagli with us."

Payal shut the door of the bedroom she used to share with Khushi in the old days, took fresh clothes out of her suitcase and moved towards the bathroom.

Her phone rang. It was Akash.

After cooing sweet nothings, she cut the phone and walked in to the bathroom with it. It was not safe to leave it out in the open. What if Khushi checked the contact list?

As she hung the clothes on the rail, her phone rang again. Dadi, Saasumma, NK and Di wanted to talk to her, all at the same time. They all wanted to know about Khushi.

She had forgotten to get a towel. Talking to them, she began looking for one without success. As soon as the call ended, she placed the phone on the bed and began to look in earnest. She finally found one and left for the bathroom bearing it, forgetting the phone lying on her bed.

Khushi knocked on the door. "Jiji, I need to get the keys to Satwik Mistan Bhandar. The boys are waiting. Can I come in?"

There was silence.

Khushi kept her ear on the door and listened. She could hear the shower working in the bathroom. She pushed the door open and marched to the table on which the keys were kept.

As she walked to the door with the key, Payal's phone rang.

It might be Jiju, Khushi thought, her eyes dancing with excitement. She could tease him. She grabbed the phone and trilled, "Jiju!"

There was perfect silence from the other end.

"Jiju? You are my Akash Jiju, aren't you?" Khushi asked, uncertain. A gust of wind teased the fringes of her hair.

Silence.

Khushi looked at the bathroom door and at the phone uneasily.

"Hum Khushi he. Jiji is taking a shower. Aap baad mein phoone keejiye."

Silence.

"Acha, you don't want to talk? If you don't want to talk, then why did you call?" Khushi asked, genuinely curious. "Hum phoone rakh rahein he. Woh kya he, hamein bahut kaam he. I have to make kheer. Namaste." She cut the call and went dancing to the door, the key in her hand.

The phone slipped from ASR's numb fingers and fell to the ground.