Part 18 Snake in the Grass

"That rogue is a MARRIED man... scoundrel... he hid the truth from her and acted like an unmarried man. How dare he...! Rascal...! I'm searching for him only. If I found him somewhere, I will definitely give him a few slipper shots" Khushi panted hard, biting her jaws.

Shyam was gazing at her horrified. If she got so angry for her friend, what would she do when it came to herself? He gulped down hard.

"Being a lawyer, what will you do if you meet such a rogue, Shyamji?" Khushi asked.

"I don't like such persons, Khushiji. Who would like criminals? That's why I'm dealing with CIVIL cases. I can earn money in lakhs if I started dealing with criminal cases but I don't want to earn that way. I'm satisfied with what I have. It's enough for me. I won't wish for more because life is short. What we have is God's gift. We should thank him instead of wishing for more"

For a few minutes, Khushi could not understand anything. She felt like, she was in a SATSANG and the man in front of her was a SAINT. What this man was made up of? Anyone would fall for his words who listened to him.

Khushi was right. Anyone would fall for his words... Buaji fell. She heard him talking to Khushi. She was delighted as if she had found a perfect match for Khushi. She came to Shashi who was having tea with Garima.

"Shashi, I would like to talk to you"

"Tell me, Jeeji"

"What do you think about Shyam?"

"Seems a nice guy"

"Is not he?"

"Yeah...but seems soooo nice... that's what makes me suspect him"

"You always doubt people. Listen, we will never get such a nice guy for Khushi"

"Khushiiii? What do you mean, Jeeji?"

"Payal got a nice man. Likewise, Shyam will be for Khushi. However, we will find a guy for Khushi. Why should we let him go when we know he is a gem of a person? What do you say, Garima?"

"Jeeji is right, Shashiji. Where can we search for a nice guy like Shyam? He talks with Khushi nicely and Khushi also talks..."

Cutting her,

"Like a friend... Khushi has no such intention in her heart" Shashi said.

"Maybe... but she will like him and will be happy with him," Buaji said.

Shashi became thoughtful.

"I will talk to Shyam if you are ok with the alliance"

"I'm not..." Said Shashi.

"But why?"

"How could you give our daughter without knowing anything about him? He is staying in our house. He is a lawyer. What else do you know about him? Who is he? Where is his family? Which is his native? Why is he here? Do you know anything?"

"He has no one"

"How do you know?"

"He told me"

"Will you believe whatever he says and will give your daughter?"

"What do you want me to do Shashi?"

"Give me some time... I will decide"

"Ok, take your time and inquire about him but, I'm going to talk to Shyam babuwa"

"But what so urgent?"

"Just to hold a nice man. Then only he will not think of anyone other than Khushi. If you don't like him, or if you find any flaws, we will reject him..."

"I think you are hurrying. Just hold on... that's all I say" Shashi said and left the place.

Buaji looked at Garima disappointedly.

"Jeeji, you just talk to Shyam. On the other side, Shashiji will inquire about him. Why should we waste time? If the alliance clicked, we will arrange their wedding after Payal's wedding is over..."

"Good idea. I will talk to Shyam at the right time"

"Every time is a good time, jeeji. We should get to know whether he is interested in Khushi or not. Then only we can take it further"

Shyam who came there heard Garima talking about him. He stopped hiding and heard.

"Mmm, you are right. We can take it further only if Shyam babuwa likes Khushi. But, Shyam babuwa will not defy my words. He will definitely marry Khushi if I ask him to marry her" Buaji said proudly.

Shyam smirked, folding his hands. Finally, the awaited moment came. He was going to get what he waited for. Buaji was fully set to get him married to Khushi. He made himself to take the situation in his favor. He walked to the kitchen and prepared tea for everyone.

Shyam came with the tea tray and forwarded it to Buaji and Garima. They looked at each other as if Shyam was an angel who just got down from heaven.

"Bituwa, I would have prepared tea for you if you want it..." Garima said.

"I didn't prepare it for myself but for you and Buaji..."

Buaji's face glittered.

"Who do I have for myself, Buaji? I have no family... if I had one, I would have celebrated them like anything...! Please give me a chance to relish the sweetness of the family through you..."

"Why are you feeling bad when we are here for you? We are your family and you are one among us. Don't think you have no one"

"It's nice to hear, Buaji. I'm blessed to have a motherly Buaji like you"

Buaji looked at Garima who gestured for her to ask him. Buaji nodded her head.

"Babuwa... if your words are true, I can give you a chance to become our family in every sense"

"In what sense, Buaji? I didn't get you" he pretended.

"If you want, you can become one of our family by marrying Khushi"

Shyam brought a shocking expression to his face struggling as he was hopping inside in happiness.

"Khushiji...? You mean I and Khushiji...?"

Buaji nodded yes with a smile.

"I don't know what to say, Buaji... am I that lucky...!"

He stopped and took a deep breath. Buaji and Garima spared a glance.

"Please don't make me greedy, Buaji. Please ask Khushiji if she will accept me"

"We will surely ask her, bituwa. Before that, we would like to know your answer. That's why we asked you. And now, we got to know your opinion. You feel lucky to have Khushi as your life partner, right?"

"Who won't like Khushiji like a gem of a person?" Shyam smiled.

At the same time, Anjali called Khushi. She attended the call.

"Haan, Anjaliji"

"Khushiji, the date for Payal and Akash's engagement is fixed. It's coming Friday"

"Coming Friday... that means, we have only two days?"

"Yes..."

"But, why suddenly, Anjaliji?"

"The date suits Akash and Payal very well. That's why"

"Oh..."

"Your landline is not reachable. That's why I called you. Could you give the phone to your Amma?"

"Yeah, sure"

Khushi came to the living room where Garima and Buaji were sitting with Shyam. She passed the phone to Garima.

"Amma, Anjaliji wants to talk to you. They fixed the engagement on Friday" Khushi intentionally said, reading Shyam's face who was suffocated.

"Is it?" Garima snatched the phone in excitement and talked.

Garima disconnected the call after speaking to Anjali and gave the phone to Khushi.

"Jeeji, there is a lot of work to do. We have only two days for the engagement. A new dress should be stitched for Payal" She became nervous.

"We will go shopping today evening and will get it stitched tomorrow. Don't worry" Buaji said casually.

"Buaji, I have to go... I have an important work" Shyam said standing up.

Buaji nodded ok.

"See you, Buaji"

"Mmm"

"See you, Khushiji" Shyam said cheesy.

Khushi smiled artificially and Shyam left.

Buaji pulled Khushi's hand and made her sit next to her.

"What Buaji?" she rubbed her wrist.

"What do you think about Shyam?"

"What's there to think about him, Buaji?"

"Is not he a good person?"

Khushi looked at her perplexed. Why did she ask her about Shyam suddenly?

"I and Garima would like to get you married to him..."

"Whaaat?" she was shocked.

"He is a nice guy, Khushi. Our family will be happy if you marry him" Garima said.

Khushi was shocked. What the hell were they asking? Without knowing the truth that Shyam was married, how did they decide to get her married to him? What would he think if he got to know their intention?

"If you say yes, we will arrange your wedding after Payal's wedding"

"Buaji... please stop it. How could you think of getting me married to Shyamji? What will he think of us?"

Buaji's answer shocked her to the core.

"He said yes to the marriage. Only your answer is remaining"

"Whaaaaat? Shyamji agreed to marry me?"

"Yes... I'm asking you only after knowing his heart"

Khushi gritted her teeth. Heart? Bloody hell...! Did he have a heart? How could he do this to Anjali who loved him like anything? What a man he was! She wanted to slap him right to left. at the same time, Khushi was scared. What would she say, Arnav? What would he do if he got to know his sister's husband was ready to marry her? What if he stopped Payal's wedding in anger? Just now he started talking to her nicely. If he got to know his sister's husband was behind her, he might hate her for the mistake she had not made. What would she do now? Arnav wanted her to tell him everything related to Shyam but how could she tell him this?

Khushi went to her room and locked the door. She cried not understanding anything.

She jerked as her phone rang. She saw Arnav's number flashing. She wiped her cheek and composed herself.

"Hello, Arnavji..."

Arnav frowned, hearing her voice, the voice that always sounded cheerful sounded different.

"Khushi, are you alright?"

"Haan... I'm alright"

Her answer also sounded different.

"Did Di call you?"

"Jee..."

Arnav again frowned. Just JEE? That was all that she would say about the engagement?

"Khushi, Akash, and Payal's engagement is fixed"

"Anjaliji told me"

"This is how you react to it?"

"Actually, I got a sweet contract on the same day. I have to cancel that now. I'm thinking about it"

"Oh..." The reason for her gloominess was not satisfied Arnav. He felt it odd. Didn't he know Khushi?

"Why did you call me, Arnavji?"

"Nothing... just randomly... will call you later. Bye"

"Bye," Khushi disconnected the call.

Arnav was sure she was hiding something from him but he was not sure what was that because he didn't expect Shyam would propose to her so soon.

On the other side, Khushi was not ready to stretch this. She wanted to end it right away. She wanted to stop Shyam from entering GH. She could not bear the snaky man. She decided to do something without Arnav's consent.

To be continued...