Part47 The Phone call

Arnav got struck, seeing Khushi. He was embarrassed as she had seen him arguing like a school student. Khushi was more embarrassed than Arnav. She never imagined that he would even fight with his Di for not letting him meeting her. She looked down not to see anyone's face as there was a teasing smile crawled on their faces. Lavanya smiled at Arnav teasingly. Arnav composed himself and sat on the couch silently.

"Chotte, I know your heart. You seemed upset when I stopped you from coming to GH today morning. That's why I asked Lavanya to call Khushi and I called you here."

Arnav smiled softly whereas Khushi looked at Lavanya widening her eyes like, "is it?" and Lavanya chuckled at her expression.

"Didn't you say we should be like a family more than a friend...? all together? That's why I helped Di." She smiled making Khushi embarrassed.

"Really, Khushiji? Did you say like that?" Anjali asked smilingly.

"Khushi is a very nice girl. I like her very much. You guys are very lucky to have such a BAHU." Lavanya's mother, Sukanya praised Khushi which made Khushi more embarrassed.

"We knew about Khushi bitiya. That's why we all are in full swing to bring her to our house."

"You don't have to be worried about anything if Khushi is with you. Khushi is a good solution-maker. She solves all the problems in the blink of an eye." Sukanya said touching Khushi's shoulder.

It was very awkward for Khushi to face such flattering words that too in front of everyone. Arnav was admiring her awkwardness.

"What about Lavanya? Is not she a nice girl?" Manorama asked.

"She is a nice girl indeed but losses her patience easily and gets angry."

"Oh, really?" Anjali asked.

"Yes, di. She starts hitting if she gets angry." NK said laughingly and Lavanya's facial expression was worth watching. Khushi bit her lip to suppress her chuckle.

Shagun was given to Lavanya.

"Tomorrow is Roka and 25th is Marriage," Manorama said.

"Yeah, we are ready," Sukanya said.

"Complete the rituals as per your comfort."

"No ritual should be done together?" NK asked.

"Only Sangeeth will be done together," Nani said.

"It will be fun," Anjali said eagerly.

"Shall we dance on Sangeeth?" Lavanya asked excitedly.

"This is your marriage. Don't forget that."Sukanya said.

"Then I will dance on Khushi's marriage and she will dance on my marriage. What say Khushi?" Lavanya smiled.

Khushi nodded NO hurriedly and Arnav smiled.

"So smart...." NK said.

"This is our family function. You can dance." Nani said smilingly.

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Thank you Nani." Lavanya smiled.

"Shall we leave?" Manorama asked looking at Arnav.

"Haan... a lot of work should be done," Nani said.

"Khushiji, how will you go? Shall I drop you?" Anjali asked.

Before Arnav said, I will drop her,

"Don't worry Di. I'm going to GH to meet Garima aunty and Shashi uncle. It's been a long time I met them."

She smiled making Arnav disappointed which was not gone unnoticed by Lavanya.

"If you are interested to drop Khushi then no problem, I will meet them tomorrow at the Roka ceremony," Lavanya said suppressing her smile.

"Haan Chotte, you can drop her..." Anjali said teasingly.

Khushi doesn't know how to react to it. She was suffocating like hell about these guys' teasing.

"I will go home with Lavanya." She said looking at Anjali, hesitatingly.

"Haan Anjali bitiya. They have been met after a long time of their college days... let them enjoy."

"Anyhow they will be enjoying together in RM for the whole life." Arnav murmured inwardly with distress.

Raizadas left the place. Arnav stopped at the doorstep and looked at Khushi, turning his face. She was talking with NK interestingly. He went from there.

"You should have gone with him, Khushi," Lavanya said.

"Anyhow I will be going to be with him for the whole life..." She said calmly.

"Ohhhhh......" Lavanya teased her.

"Come on, Lavanya..."

"Is not your man looking handsome?" Lavanya nudged her.

"Shut up."

"Don't make her angry. It's only her right to admire him, right Khushi?" Sukanya teased her.

Khushi smiled, said nothing.

"You are right Amma. She is very possessive you know. Don't know what that poor man is going to do with her possessiveness." Lavanya laughed.

Khushi pressed her shoulder, gesturing her to be quiet.

"Let's go, La. Amma would be doing all the work alone."

"I will come dropping Khushi at home," Lavanya said to Sukanya and she nodded ok.

Lavanya drove the car and Khushi was in the passenger seat.

"Are you fine Khushi?"

"Yeah..."

"You are not looking so. Don't I know you? You would be excited if something GOOD is supposed to happen to you."

"I'm happy Lavanya."

"Really?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Do you like ASR?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"You are so lucky to be with your husband for 24*7."

"You too can join in AR to be with Nanne."

"No way... I don't want to work. I just want to be at home, eating and watching TV."

Khushi chuckled at her.

Lavanya dropped her in GH and spent time with Garima and Shashi.

Khushi came to her room and got fresh. Her mobile flashed with Arnav's number. She attended it right away.

"Khushi...."

"Yeah..."

"Have you reached home safely?"

"Hannn..."

"Ok... to know that only I called you."

Khushi frowned. To know that only did he call her?

"Yeah... I reached safely."

"Ok... good night."

"Good night."

Though she said the good night she was keeping the phone without disconnecting it and so was Arnav. Both of them were keeping the phone on their ears without talking. Khushi looked at the phone and saw the timer running. She didn't know whether she should cut the call.

"Haan, coming, Amma..." Saying she disconnected the call.

Arnav smiled, hearing that. So, she knew he was on the line.

Khushi wondered thinking about his argument with Anjali. When she met him for the first time in RM, her perception of Arnav was completely different. He was rude and arrogant. She had never thought that a man could show this much of changes. He didn't change... maybe, this is what his real character is. She touched the chain on her neck. She smiled how he clipped her shawl with the chair's lag to see the pendant. She must have pinned her shawl. She chuckled. Biting the "A" pendant, she lay down on the bed to get sleep.

Next day

ROKA ceremony

RM workers were hell busy in decorating RM. Arnav got ready and came to the living room.

"Chotte... you look gorgeous..." Anjali said touching his cheek.

"Di... didn't you see me?" NK asked posing.

"You are also looking handsome." Anjali chuckled.

NK rushed to the entrance as Lavanya entered. Raizadas welcomed her.

"Why Khushi has not come yet?" Arnav thought. His eyes fixed on the main door of RM.

HP extended him a juice glass and he denied. That's when he felt something in his heart. He turned towards the entrance and his breath ditched. No need to say why. Khushi entered RM who was wearing a green half-saree. Anjali greeted her with Manorama.

"Welcome Khushiji..."

"Namaste," Khushi said joining her hands.

"You are looking stunning..." Manorama said.

Khushi sensed a strong gaze on her and she knew whose gaze that was. Lavanya rushed to her and hugged. That's when her eyes met Arnav's. There was a mild smile on his face. Absolutely he was admiring her.

Grooms and brides were called to the stage. Anjali extended the ring to Arnav. Khushi's eyes went wide open, seeing the ring as it was an "A" initial diamond ring. She looked at Arnav who was smirking like, "How will you hide it like you did the pendant?"

"Khushi... it seems, you will become a promotion board of a particular initial." Lavanya laughed and so did everyone.

"She is right Khushi, after your neck and finger, your palm also will be filled with "A" tomorrow by Mehandi." Manorama countered.

Khushi faced a tough time to hide her blush. Arnav extended his hand, asking her hand to insert the ring. Khushi kept her cotton-like palm on his and Arnav wore the ring in her RING finger...the finger which connects with the heart. After that, Arnav extended his hand towards Khushi and she placed the ring in.

As the same, Lavanya and NK also exchanged the rings. All of them started chitchatting with one another gladly.

That's when the landline rang. Anjali attended it and her facial expression changed into horrified. The phone call was from Payal's mother. Her voice sounded panicky.

"Anjali beta, how is Laya now? I don't know what to do now. My child met with an accident and I could do nothing. The only solace is she is in the Raizada Mansion. I know you guys will take care of her."

Anjali didn't know what to say. Payal's mother is asking about Laya's accident which she knows nothing about. Payal's mother is thinking that Laya is in RM but she is not. What will she think if she gets to know that Laya was kicked out of RM?

"Actually, her friend called me and told me about her accident. Her phone is switched off when I called her back. Payal is also not attending my call. That's why I called your landline number."

"Actually, today is Arnav and NK's engagement..."

"Ohh yeah... I have forgotten that in the tension. Why Laya went out without attending the function?"

"oh..."

"She should have gone to buy gifts I suppose. Don't know how she is..."

"I...I will take care of her," Anjali said.

"Thank you Anjali beta. I will come to India but uncle went to New York for a business deal."

"You don't worry, Aunty. We are here."

Payal's mother sighed in relief.

Anjali disconnected the call and searched for Manorama to convey the matter.

To be continued...