IPKKND FF: JALEBI by Jalebi Jane Thread 1: EPISODE 001-042 - Page 21

WoW such a strong pull / attraction exists between them. Lovely.

OMG This Khushi is much braver than I imagined.

JALEBI by Jalebi Jane (Maya) EPISODE 010

KHUSHI SCRAMBLED INTO the first rickshaw she saw and cried, "chalo-chalo-chalo!" slapping her palm against the seat, as her head whipped back to spy through the dusty window. Did she really expect to see Arnav Singh Raizada, hard upon her heels? No, of course not!---yet, she feared it all the same.

Then becoming aware that the vehicle remained at a standstill, she turned to face the front and demanded of the driver, "why are you still parked? Go!"

He glared at her via the rear-view mirror and said, "give me a destination, Madam, and I will go!"

Oh!

"Yes, of course. Forgive me," Khushi coloured. "Janakpuri Market. Opposite Happyji's Garage. Next to Humptyji's Chai Palace."

The driver turned the ignition and pulled into traffic, muttering something about young ladies who behaved as though rickshaw drivers were blessed with clairvoyant powers. That drivers should not only guess exactly where passengers needed to be next but also know where the next traffic jam would occur.

One final glance back at the tall gates of ASR Group Headquarters assured Khushi that no hero was chasing her down, filmi-style. With a sigh, she fell back into the seat and took in a long breath. As oxygen entered her brain, so did the thoughts which had been until now forestalled.

And merciless were those thoughts.

There are conditions under which even the most majestic person is obliged to scratch or sneeze.* Do we demand rational reasoning for those reflexes? Do we? No. Then why a kiss? Why should we subject a kiss to more scrutiny than any other impulse of the moment?

Why? I will tell you why', Sisters! Because a kiss is an impulse which involves another person. What Khushi had done to Mr Raizada cannot be compared to the kisses she inflicted daily upon her Salman Khan poster. No. This was entirely another thing.

"Oh, Devi Maiyya!" she moaned, burying her hot face into her palms. What had she done? What had she done? She couldn't bear to think of it, but no other thought could enter a mind so full of personal shame. Why?! Why had she tried to kiss the man she despised more than any other man, living or dead? She squeezed shut her eyes which flashed a vivid montage of that dreadful scene. His mouth. Her leaning forward. Pressing her lips against those lips. Those very lips which had shouted at her. Mocked her. Berated her.

And if that was not torture enough, her treacherous mind served up a slow-motion video of her tilting her face up for that second lip-to-lip contact. The horror of what she had done punched her directly in the womb. [Or where she imagined her womb might be.]

Oh, what have I done? What in Devi Maiyya's blessed name have I done? That's it. I must resign. I must. I have no choice now. I'll write a resignation letter. Tonight. And I'll take it to Pari's. She'll place it on his desk tomorrow morning. Because I can't face him. Nahin! Never! I can never see him again. Perhaps it's best to leave the Capital. I can't risk being in the same city. What if I bump into him? I couldn't bear it! But where will I go? I can't return to Lucknow.

AMAN BEHL TAPPED ON THE DOOR which adjoined his office to Arnav's and entered. His feet drew him into the room blindly stopping at the desk, as his eyes were occupied tallying the figures on the printout in his hand.

"Are you aware that you've spent more on landscaping your new home than on the structure itself?" he said, with humour. And when he looked up, he realized that Arnav was not in the chair behind the desk where he expected him to be, but standing by the tall windows.

Arnav's back was to him. He appeared to be looking at the entrance to the building.

Aman moved nearer and elaborated, "Almost thirty percent more."

At this, Arnav pivoted rather suddenly and said, "I don't like surprises."

"Then stop demanding more trees," Aman advised.

"Trees?" Arnav frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Aman mirrored his frown and echoed his words: "What are you talking about? What surprise?"

He saw that Arnav's countenance showed rare confusion. But it lasted only a moment, and then with a shake of his head, Arnav said, "it's not important."

He went to the desk, and added, "by the way, Di wishes to be here before I move in. She wants to hold a pooja. A house-warming pooja. Has the interior designer provided a completion date?"

Aman nodded, "seven to ten days. The landscaper promises the same. Sir? Is there anything the matter? You appear a bit disturbed."

Arnav was silent. But then suddenly, as though he reached a decision, he grabbed the phone on his desk and said, "I'll see you tomorrow, Aman."

Aman noted that his employer left without his laptop. Something was certainly amiss.

KHUSHI PAID THE DRIVER and turned to climb the steps to the house, when she collided with Payal.

"Khushi---!" Payal whispered, indicating the phone in her hands, "I was just about to call you. To ask you to come home early."

"What is it? What's the matter?" Khushi asked. What more could go wrong today?

Payal did not reply, but gripped Khushi's arm and drew her up the remaining stairs to the portico and pulled her around the corner to the window of their shared bedroom.

And then---believe it or not!---Payal climbed through the open window into the bedroom and beckoned Khushi to do the same. This sort of behaviour might be expected from Khushi, but it was so bizarre from her staid sister that Khushi was nearly breathless with worry.

"What---?" Khushi began.

"Shh!" Payal indicated with a finger to her lips. And gestured frantically for Khushi to climb into the bedroom.

Khushi had no choice. But there was some alleviation of concern as she saw that her Jiji's round eyes shone with joyful excitement. Not distress.

Once inside, Khushi asked, adopting the same whispering tone, "Why are we sneaking into our own house? Why didn't we enter through the door?"

Payal suppressed a giggle, and jabbed her finger in the direction of their front room. "Because he's in there talking with Buaji right now."

"Who is?" Cold dread like premonition crept up Khushi's spine.

Payal smiled, "You've received an offer of marriage, you pagal creature!"

* Altered from George Eliot's -Middlemarch-.

brilliant. update...very well written...👏

Who is ?

Si Arnav s surprised 😃 and Khushi is confused...ab kya hone wala hai?

OMG this is sooo funny. Oh ook Oh She is in trouble now

Hope khushi doesn't get hurt!

So arnav is affected .
Khushi got rishta .Ahh not shyamu please .

Auto rickshaw!the saviour when u want to run away from sudden kiss 😆

Loved part 10👏

Oh my God! Something tells me its not arnav sitting there talking to buaji..