Chapter 15

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

RECALLING ARNAV - II

Part 16

Kishorilal came to collect the sweets. He took one look at Arnav and gasped, "Who is this, Khussi?"

"My husband, Kishorilalji," Khushi smiled.

"Why is he all yellow? Did he roll in haldi? Or does he have jaundice?" the elderly man asked as his eyes ran up and down Arnav's lean frame.

Khushi, Munna and Krishna looked at Arnav and then away to hide their amusement. The superfine, expensive fabric of his jacket and trousers had patches of ghee and the golden yellow gooey laddoo mixture. There was a red stain on his cheek, maybe from the jalebi mixture he had knocked down while packing the sweets in cartons.

"It is nothing," ASR said brusquely, trying to dust himself down, his stained hands adding to the colourful food designs on his vest. "I was helping Khushi make laddoos."

Kishorilal looked at him once more and said, "Bitwaa, you have a business in Delhi, don't you?"

"Yes," ASR answered.

"What business is it?" the old man asked.

"Textile and apparel," ASR replied.

"Kapde? Thank God," Kishorilal said, taking one last look at Khussi's husband's motley costume. "At least he will have enough clothes to change in to each time he decides to play halwai, the biwi ka ghulaam," the aged man muttered as he left.

Khushi looked at Arnavji as they walked home from Satwik Mishtan Bhandar. He had removed his vest and was in a white shirt and a pair of black trousers. The wind ruffled the truant strands of his hair to flop on his temple and he strolled by her looking happy and content.

The bells tolled in Devi Maiyya's temple. Khushi's feet stopped of their own volition. Arnav halted and looked at her, a question in his eyes.

"I will bring prasad for Devi Maiyya tomorrow," she said in a low voice.

Arnav could feel his throat constrict. He asked, "What will you make for her?"

Khushi drew in a deep breath. "Jalebi," she whispered.

Arnav caught her fingers with his and pressed then warmly. Khushi looked up to see the regret and pain in his eyes.

"Khushi," he whispered, wishing he could take away all the pain and loss he had thrust on her in his blindness.

Khushi made an effort to smile.

His fingers tightened around hers.

"When do you have to return to Delhi?" Khushi asked.

"Tomorrow," he said, looking in to her eyes.

She smiled valiantly again. "I will help you pack, Arnavji," she said.

Arnav curled her fingers around his arm, pulling her closer to him. Khushi followed his signal and hugged his arm. The pair walked along the road in this fashion and entered Gomti Sadan to be teased by their family.

"Madhumatiji, I didn't know that shaadi ijj like Fevicol, Hello Hi Bye Bye!" Mami cackled. "Donon chipak gaye hein."

"Chotey, why is your cheek red?' Nani asked.

"Khushiji must have slapped Nannav," NK laughed.

Arnav glared at him.

"No, I have full faith in Khushiji," Anjali laughed. "She will never hit him even though he deserves it. Chotey, what happened?"

"I.. I knocked down the jalebi batter," Arnav confessed.

"Hein?" Buaji exclaimed, her big eyes round with wonder. "What were you doing with the batter, Nandkisore?"

"Were you... were you making jalebi, bhai?" Akash asked in shock.

"No," Arnav replied.

Akash drew in a breath of relief.

"I was actually making laddoos but my hand hit the bowl with the batter," Arnav explained.

Akash sat down in shock.

"Sasiji, your damad is trying hard to become a halwai," Nani teased.

The Guptas chuckled.

"A diabetic halwai," NK laughed, pretending to duck behind Buaji's plump figure as Arnav glowered at him.

"Our Chotey is looking for a career change," Anjali pulled Arnav's cheek.

"Di," Arnav protested.

"Bitwaa, I will bring hot water to your bathroom. Go and take bath," Garima saved Arnav.

"Thanks, Amma," he muttered as he walked up to their room, Khushi by him.

After dinner, Arnav packed his belongings in his suitcase.

"Arnavji, shall I fold these?" Khushi pointed to his casual wear hanging in the wardrobe.

"No, I will need it this weekend when I return," Arnav smiled at her.

Khushi swallowed painfully.

"Khushi, call me if you need anything," he told her as he stuffed his laptop in to its bag.

She nodded.

"And maybe you can think about hiring a couple of people to work in the shop. It will help the boys and permit you to take some time off," he said softly.

She nodded. The shop was doing very well and they could very well afford two more employees. And if she was leaving for Delhi at some point of time, then... Her breath came faster; her throat dried up in nervousness.

"I will fill the water jug," Khushi whispered as she left the room clutching the steel container.

She poured water in to the jug and tightened its lid.

"Khushi," Payal called.

"Yes, Jiji?" Khushi tried to smile.

"Khushi, are you sure you don't want to come with us to Delhi?" Payal asked.

Khushi smiled. "No, Jiji. Not now."

Payal hesitated.

"What is it, Jiji?" Khushi asked.

"Nothing. It is just that... when you are not there, Arnavji will work every moment of every day. Who can stop him?" Payal asked. "And now he has to travel to Lucknow on weekends. Khushi, he will be exhausted."

Khushi looked away, feeling her heart contract in grief.

"Will you be happy here, Khushi, without him?" Payal asked softly.

Khushi looked at the jug. "I will take the water to our room, Jiji," she said as she walked away.

Khushi lay curled in Arnav's arms at night, her eyes wide open. He was asleep, taking comfort from her warmth against his taut body.

Khushi sighed, hearing Payal's question resound in her head.

"Khushi," Arnav murmured in his sleep. He burrowed his face in to the sweet hollow of her neck.

Khushi's eyes filled and tears dripped down her cheeks.

"Khushi, take care. I will be back this weekend, " Arnav said. The others were already in the cars.

Khushi nodded.

He looked around. They were alone. He quickly cupped her sweet face in his palms and kissed her mouth.

"I will miss you, Khushi," he whispered against her parted lips.

Khushi swallowed.