Part 19 Shocking Khushi

Khushi came home. Anjali hugged her happily.

"What happened, Khushi, you said yes to the marriage immediately?" Anjali asked with the same happiness.

"You liked the alliance, right?"

"Very much..."

"Then be it... you will do anything for my betterment... I know that"

Anjali hugged her pleasantly.

"I always pray to Mumma to give you a right partner"

Khushi smiled painfully. Anjali should have prayed for herself to get a GOOD husband, instead of Khushi. Khushi supposed.

Anjali broke the hug.

"Go and get fresh... I have made sweets for your birthday... come, we will eat together"

Khushi nodded ok and went to her room. Switching her mobile on, she got changed and got fresh. That was when her phone rang. She got irritated as she thought the call was from Shyam. Taking the phone, she was about to disconnect the call, and she stopped, seeing Aman's number. She hit her own forehead and attended the call.

"Hello, Aman..."

"Happy Birthday, Khushi"

"Thank you..." she smiled.

"Akash told me that today is your birthday..."

"Yes, Aman, he came to RM with his wife today..."

"And, they invited you to their anniversary party... right?"

"Yes..."

"That sounds great..."

"By the way, Aman, is Akash sir your friend?"

"Yeah... we belong to the same film institution."

"Oh..."

"One more idiot also is there in our gang. His name is Nandkishor you will meet him at the party tomorrow."

"You guys studied together. Then how Arnavji became your team?"

"He is my schoolmate... he was so interested in music from our school time. I wanted him to compose music for my movie. He didn't agree to it easily. I threatened him. Then only he agreed"

"Threatened? How?"

"I said I will commit suicide"

"Whaaaaat?" she was shocked.

"Yeah..." Aman laughed.

"My God..."

"He knew I won't do it. Yet, he agreed to avoid such dramas... he is allergic to emotional dramas you know"

Khushi laughed.

"Will you come to the party?"

"Yeah... sure"

"Shall I pick you up?"

"No, Aman... I will join Arnavji from RM"

"That's good... Ok, we will meet tomorrow then..."

"Ok, Aman..."

Khushi disconnected the call. Her phone again rang. She saw Sunil calling her. She rolled her eyes. She didn't know whether she should attend it or not. Finally, she attended it hesitatingly.

"Hi, Khushi, your sister said that you agreed to the marriage... I think you said yes because of me... after talking to me only you would decide to marry me, right?"

Khushi scratched her head, making a weird face.

"Hey... are you blushing?"

Khushi looked at her phone frowning. Blushing? Like really?

"Please say something, Khushi"

"Actually, Di wants me to say yes to this marriage"

"Isn't it a decision of yours?"

How could she say it was purely her decision but she didn't decide it for Sunil?

"Nope..."

"I thought you liked me"

Khushi was silent.

"But, I believe you will definitely like me..."

Khushi sat on the bed, keeping her hand on her head.

"Khushi, are you there?"

"Mmm"

"Why don't you talk?"

"I talk less..."

"But, your sister said you talk a lot..."

"With only my close ones"

"Then you should talk to me... after all, I'm going to become your closest one"

"Excuse me Sunil..."

"Sunny... call me Sunny..."

"My friend is calling me from London... I will call you later"

"Oh... I..."

Khushi disconnected the call sighing. She didn't know why her heart didn't like to talk to Sunil. She said yes to marrying him. Very soon, her marriage will get fixed with Sunil. Yet, she was not interested to talk to him even though he talked cheesily. Usually, any girl would like to listen to such talks from her would-be husband but why not she?

Khushi went out. Anjali was waiting for her with her favorite jalebis. Khushi became cheerful and started having it.

"Di, I'm going to my friend's party tomorrow"

"Oh... what party?"

"Wedding anniversary party"

"Oh... you will also celebrate your wedding anniversary next year..."

Khushi rolled her eyes.

"What dress are you going to wear?"

"Saree"

"Sareeeee?" she asked unbelievably.

"Yeah..."

"Oh... getting ready for married life?"

"Please stop it Di..."

"Which one are you going to wear? If you like any of MINE then you can take it, I will alter the blouse"

"I don't want any of YOURS Di"

"Is my taste that worse or what?" she pouted.

"Yours should suit only you, Di"

"Oh of... such a sentimental girl you are..."

"I'm going to wear my last year's birthday saree"

"Thank God, at least now you thought of wearing it"

"I didn't attend any function to wear it, Di"

"Ok... ok... ask me if you want any help from me"

"Sure Di... Shall I do need arrangements?"

"Yeah, go..."

Khushi came to her room. She didn't like to do anything. Her heart didn't cooperate with her mind.

The next day

Khushi came to RM and went to Nani's room. Nani went speechless, seeing her in a saree.

"My God, Khushi bitiya, even my EYES will affect you for sure... you look so gorgeous..."

"Thank you Naniji"

"Wait, I will call Chotte. Don't know whether he is ready or not"

"I will call him, Nnaiji"

Taking her mobile, Khushi called Arnav. He attended the call.

"Haan Khushi... when will you start?"

"I already came to RM"

"RM? Are you here?"

"Yes... in Naniji's room"

"Oh... I will come"

"Ok..."

Arnav disconnected the call and headed to Nani's room.

"Khushiiii..." He stopped, without continuing the sentence, seeing Khushi. His tongue stuck inside his mouth. He felt like his throat drained.

Khushi stood up, seeing him. Nani looked at Arnav who was lost in Khushi. Khushi walked to Arnav and stood looking at him. He was staring at her blankly.

"Arnavji..."

No response.

"Arnavji..." she called a little louder.

"Haan...?"

"Shall we go?"

"Haan... haan..." he stammered.

"We are leaving Naniji," Khushi said.

"Enjoy the party"

Khushi nodded ok.

"Chotte, drop Khushi home... the party may take time to get over"

Arnav nodded ok.

Arnav started the car. There was silence in the car. Both didn't know what to talk but they kept on stealing glances at one another.

"Khushi, this must be a new circumstance to you. if you are not comfortable, let me know. We will leave the party" Arnav said.

"But, this is your friend's party. how will you leave just like that?"

"I'm not fond of parties. In fact, I don't like such dramas. They knew that"

"Oh... anyhow you are considering attending it..."

Arnav didn't say that he considered to attended the party only because Khushi was a part of it. He didn't want her to be amidst the stranger crowd.

Party Venue

They reached the party. it has been arranged in an open turf ground. Akash and Payal welcomed them. Payal gave her a warm hug to Khushi and dragged her inside. Arnav sat at the corner table as usual. Payal introduced Khushi to her friends and relatives. There were a few stales being arranged, like, Mehandi, Tattoo, ice cream, and candy stales for kids. Payal asked Khushi to draw Mehandi in her palm.

"Come on, Khushi... draw Mehandi in your palms..."

Khushi was hesitating because if she drew Mehandi, she could not have dinner soon and should wait until it dried. But Payal pulled her hand and extended it toward the beautician. As the beautician was an expert in drawing Mehandi, she finished drawing within ten minutes. Khushi smiled, looking at her palms. Arnav's eyes were only on Khushi not only for safety and security but she looked breathtakingly beautiful in her saree.

Arnav saw Aman entering the venue with NK. They waved at Arnav and he nodded his head formally. He sighed. These guys were leg-pullers. They were experts in teasing, without missing a chance. But, to Arnav's surprise, they searched here and there. Arnav didn't know whom they were searching for. Aman extended his index finger toward someone excitedly. NK's eyes sparkled and he rushed with Aman to the person. Arnav turned her head toward the direction and he flared his nose, seeing Khushi. Damn these guys...

Aman and NK stood in front of Khushi who was with Payal's cousin sister.

"Hi, Khushi..." Aman smiled.

"Hi, Aman..."

"He is Nandkishore, didn't I say?"

"Namaste, Nandkishoreji" Khushi said joining her hands.

"Nandkishoreji? This is not fair Khushi... When you can call Aman as Aman, you should not call me Nand...kisho...re...ji..."

Aman laughed.

"Call me NK..."

"Jee..."

"By the way, Aman, you said our Saint and Khushi are friends. Then why is he sitting alone?"

"Because he is a Saint" Aman chuckled.

"Who is Saint?" Khushi asked.

"Who else? ASR"

Khushi looked at Arnav who was looking at them with mixed feelings.

That was when a guy came to them. He was Harshad Bijlani.

"Hi, Aman..."

"Hi..."

"Hi, NK..."

"Hi..."

Though he said HI to Aman and NK, his eyes were on Khushi.

"How are you doing guys?"

"Yeah... doing great"

"When is your new movie release?" Harshad asked NK.

"The next month"

"I heard all the work of the movie is finished..."

"Yeah... some editing work is remaining"

"By the way, who is this MISS?" he asked looking at Khushi.

Before Aman or NK answered,

"She is my friend" Came from Arnav who was standing behind Harshad.

Harshad smiled at Arnav.

"Amazing... ASR and Girlfriend?"

"Friend... only friend..."

"But she is a GIRL... doesn't it matter?"

"Khushi, let's go..." Arnav said.

Aman and NK spared a glance.

Khushi walked with him to the corner table and sat. The sling bag that was hanging on her shoulder slipped. She tried to take it with her Mehandi-filled hands. Arnav came for her help. He took it and kept it on the table. That was when her phone rang. She raised her brows biting her lip. Opening her bag, Arnav removed her phone. His face drained seeing the name SUNIL. Turning on the speaker, he kept it on the table.

Khushi was embarrassed, seeing Sunil's name. She would not have attended the call if there was no Mehendi in her palms. She thought to tell him that 'she was at a party and will call him later. But before she spoke, Sunil talked.

"Khushi, no one ever insulted us as your Jeejaji did"

Arnav was about to leave the place, he looked at the phone with shock. Khushi frowned. INSULTED?

"If you know anyone in our area, ask them about me and our family. We have a reputation, Khushi. What does he think of us? I liked you at the first sight and I genuinely wanted to marry you... but this is not done... because, I too have self-respect"

"I don't know what you are talking about. What happened? Why are you angry? What did he say?"

"He called my father and asked me to test HIV..."

More than Khushi, Arnav was shocked.

To be continued...