Part 16 Birthday Girl

Khushi came to the kitchen with the empty cups and washed them.

"You just leave it, Khushiji... I will wash it" HP said.

"That's ok, Hari Prakashji..." Khushi left the kitchen, keeping the cups on the stand.

She saw Nani sitting in the living room. Khushi also sat with her. Arnav came there and took the newspaper in his hand and started reading it... or, he might be pretending to read. That wondered Nani. She was amazed when he stole Khushi's glance two or three times. That looked totally new to her.

"By the way, Khushi bitiya, tell me about the Groom family," Nani asked deliberately.

"He is the only son of his patents, Naniji. His mother looks sweet and his father is so jovial..." Khushi said casually.

"Your sister must have liked them, right?"

"Very much..."

"What about the Groom? What's his name?"

"Sunil Kundhra... He is working in the stock exchange"

"Wow... That's nice. That means, he would be at home at SIX every day... What does he look like?"

"Looks normal... Just like a man in the next door" Khushi said.

"Didn't he talk to you?"

"No..."

"Disgusting... How could any man be not talking to a charming girl like you?"

Arnav switched his gaze from the newspaper to Khushi, as if he was checking whether she was really charming or not.

"Charming and me? Very funny..." Khushi laughed.

"Why are you laughing, Khushi bitiya? I never met a woman like my mother who looked so beautiful. After my mother, I felt you are beautiful...! You have very striking eyes... Your hair... Your smile... Everything is special. If any man doesn't admire you, he must have some problem within him" Nani said making a serious face.

Nani saw Arnav's eyes analyzing Khushi.

"Naniji, I know you like me... But I didn't expect you like me to this extent to compliment me" Khushi teased.

"Do you think I'm complimenting you just because I like you?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"No... You are unquestionably beautiful. Tell me one thing, doesn't anyone propose to you so far?"

Arnav looked at her to know who had proposed to her, not showing his curiosity.

"Many... And they complimented me more than you did. I thought that madness was the effect of love."

"Of course, love should be like that only... Listen, if Sunil doesn't do that, just reject him..." Said Nani seriously.

"Reject? Are you serious?"

"Yeah..."

"Why Naniji?"

"A partner should be an open-hearted person. If he does not like to say you are beautiful, or if he doesn't realize how beautiful you are, what's the use of marrying such a person?"

Khushi's facial expression changed significantly.

"What happened, Khushi Bitiya?"

"You know, how openly my Jeejaji praises my Di?" She said feeling sad.

The duo felt bad for Khushi. Arnav composed himself.

"Why? Does not your Jeejaji love your sister truly?" Arnav asked as if he didn't know about it.

Not only Khushi but also Nani got stuck. They didn't know what to reply. But, they didn't have the necessary to reply as Khushi got a call on her mobile. Taking her mobile, she checked the number. She frowned as that was a new number. Yet, she attended it.

"Hello..."

"Hi..."

It was a male voice.

"Who is speaking?"

"Sunny..."

"Sunny? Who is sunny?"

"Do you watch Cricket?"

"Cricket??? Of course..."

"Which cricket player was called sunny?"

"Sunil Gawasker"

"Yeah..."

"But, what's a connection between you and Sunil Gawasker?"

There was silence on the other side.

"Hello... are you there?" Khushi asked.

Khushi didn't understand who was the caller but Arnav did. gulped down hard.

"My close ones call me Sunny..."

Khushi frowned at first and widened her eyes when she got the point.

"Are you...?"

"Sunil Kundhra..."

Biting her tongue, Khushi closed the phone end and gestured to Nani, like, 'Sunil'

"Wow... finally, he called you... I think he liked you very much... talk, talk..." Said Nani excitedly, noticing someone's pale face.

"I'm sorry... I don't know your close ones call you Sunny" Khushi said.

"That's ok... I hope you will become my close one soon..."

Khushi scratched her forehead awkwardly.

"Your sister said, you will marry anyone if she likes the person. Your sister liked me... I understood that from her gesture"

Khushi was silent.

"I like you very much, Khushi... I have seen many girls but you are the only one who attracted me like anything. You smile very nicely. I hope you will say yes to the marriage... I so want you to say yes..."

"Sunilji..."

"Sunny... call me Sunny... I like hearing Sunny from my loved ones"

"Actually, I'm out of my house..."

"Oh... no problem... I will call you after 9 in the night"

"I have a habit of sleeping earlier. I won't be up after 9"

"Ok then I will call you in the evening"

"Jee"

"One minute"

"Jee..."

"Happy Birthday"

"How do you know today is my birthday?" she asked, amazed.

Not only Nani but also Arnav looked at her surprisingly.

"I know... that's why I called you"

"Thanks"

"Bye"

"Bye"

She disconnected the call and looked at Nani making a weird face.

"Is it your birthday today?" Nani asked.

Khushi nodded yes.

"It seems he wished you..."

She nodded yes, sighing.

"What happened?"

"He talks so cheesy and said he likes me, Naniji"

"Didn't I say? Anyone likes you... so is Sunil... I mean, Sunny"

Arnav felt something awkward in his heart. Why did it make difference to him? He didn't know why.

"Naniji...please..."

"Arrey... how sweetly he wished you on your birthday...! By the way, why didn't you tell me that today is your birthday?"

"I was supposed to tell you that, before that, you asked me about the Groom and his family. The topic diverted..."

"Ok... wait a minute" Nani went to her room.

Arnav also went to his room. Khushi was left alone in the living room. Nani came and gave a chain to Khushi. She widened her eyes.

"Chain? It looks like Gold..."

Nani nodded yes.

"No, no Naniji..."

"Shhh... to whom am I going to give this chain? I would have given this to Chotte's wife if he had been married..."

Arnav came listening to her.

"Take it, Khushi" taking her hand, Nani kept the chain in her palm.

Khushi touched her feet.

"May God bless you to get a good and understanding life partner"

Arnav read Khushi's facial expression, where there was nothing shown. He extended his closed fist towards Khushi. she looked at him with confusion and glanced at Nani.

"Take it, Khushi" He insisted.

She extended her hand and Arnav kept the scooter key in her palm. the same scooter key that he bought as PENALTY for breaking her cycle.

"Arnavji..."

Cutting her,

"If you really respect me, don't say no," he said strictly.

Khushi pouted whereas Nani wondered. Her Chotte was doing EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL.

"This is your birthday gift. You can't deny it. And... you have stated earning for the petrol expense too. So, you can take it now" he gave reasons not to deny.

"Take it, Khushi bitiya... how lovingly Chotte is giving it to you...!" said Nani.

"Ok... but I won't take it to my house. Let it be here. I will use it from here"

"Your wish... (he shrugged his shoulders off) Happy Birthday," Arnav said extending his hand for a shake.

"Thank you" she shook hands with him.

"Have lunch with us" Arnav said, not leaving her hand.

Nani widened her eyes with surprise.

"Haan, Khushi... I will ask Hari Prakash to prepare lunch" Nani said.

"No need Nani... let me order it" Without waiting to hear her reply, taking his mobile, Arnav dialed a restaurant's number and ordered.

Nani was gazing at him and could not understand anything. That was the first time, she saw Arnav doing something for someone. She never saw him showing interest in anyone. What she thought could be true? Did Arnav have feelings for Khushi and he had not realized it yet? Or, it was just friendship? But, why did she feel like, Arnav felt helpless when Khushi talked to Sunil? Did Arnav start falling for her? But, Khushi's sister was all set to fix her marriage with Sunil and he too liked Khushi it seemed. What would he do if Khushi married someone? Nani was restless. She wanted to know what was there in Chotte's mind. If he loved Khushi, she had to do something about it. It didn't seem Khushi liked Sunil. Before she liked him, she should hurry up her action.

To be continued...