Part 15 Riddle

My family members were awestruck, seeing Diya and Jiya in Khushi's Pag Phera costume. Anjali Di dropped her jaw in shock.

"Khushi, why did you spend this much for kids?"

"They liked it... didn't they?"

"Of course, they liked it, but it doesn't mean, you should spend excess money. They will grow fast. Then this dress will be wasted"

"They are happy today... That's all that matters. They are lucky because their happiness can be attained with money," Khushi said.

That pricked me. Would not any happiness be attained with money? Why did she say so? Would her happiness not be attained with money? The question was raised in my mind.

That was when Payal came with Akash. Khushi's face bloomed with happiness seeing her brother. Akash gave a gentle hug to Khushi and Payal pounced on me cheerfully. Could not help... we were like that. Being gentle was not our cup of tea.

"How are you Bhai?" Payal asked.

"Doing great"

"Why not, after all, you are with my sister-in-law," Payal said looking at Khushi who didn't react.

Payal excused herself and went to my cousins to have a word.

"Who invited you?" Khushi asked Akash in a feeble tone. Yet, I heard her.

I shrank my face because she knew Di called Akash on the phone and invited him.

"Anjaliji called me and invited me," Akash said in the same tone as Khushi.

"Yet, you came?"

That was a big blow to me. What did she mean?"

Akash nodded yes.

"Didn't Dad say anything about coming to the party without a proper invitation?"

"He didn't know about the party"

"Unbelievable..."

"He went to Jaipur yesterday"

"Ohh... What about Mrs. Gupta?"

"She sent me happily when I asked her permission"

"When is Mr. Gupta coming?"

"He will be at home within an hour"

"You are done," Khushi said teasingly.

"Do you think so?"

"Yeah, I bet. Mr. Gupta is going to hop from earth to sky and Mrs. Gupta is going to console him and she will say, 'Akash my, dear, this is about our Royal reputation. You should not be at ease"

"Shhh... anyone may hear," Akash said.

"You should have told Payal Bhabi about our Royal custom. Then Raizadas would have invited you, coming to the palace..." Khushi said.

"It's so awkward to nag them for everything, Khushi..."

"So what? If they are willing to give their daughter to the Prince, then they should follow the Royal custom..." Khushi said.

I could not understand what kind her tone was. Mockery or disappointment? She might be right. Di came to Mini Palace and invited Khushi. Then she should have invited Akash going to the Palace. Why did she do the blunder? So what if Payal was her sister? Would Shashi Gupta scold Payla and Akash? I became restless. Because of Di, Akash, and Payal were going to be scolded. Would it create disappointment in Akash's mind about Raizadas? Would he let out his frustration on Payal? My mind thought a lot. I sighed.

The cake cutting was over. Diya and Jiya fed the first piece of cake to their MAMI but Khushi guided them to feed Di.

We had dinner all together. I noticed Akash looking at his watch again and again but Payla seemed casual. She was chitchatting with Lavanya and Di. After finishing dinner, I went to her.

"Payal, it's getting late. You have the royal custom to follow. Your in-laws would be waiting for you" I said.

Payal widened her eyes and nodded yes.

"You are right, Bhai. I have to go. Where is Akash?"

I saw him talking to Khushi, sitting at the corner table.

"You go and take everyone's leave. I will call him" I said and walked to them.

I heard Akash asking Khushi,

"Are you happy?"

Khushi's answer to Akash stunned me.

"What will you do if I say NO?"

I got rooted at the same place. Akash clutched her hand.

"I'm sorry... because of me..."

Cutting him,

"Not because of you..." She didn't complete it.

"What you think is not true, Khushi. Arnav is a nice man..."

Again cutting him,

"I didn't say NO..." she said and looked at me.

She immediately changed her expression and said,

"Call me after reaching home"

Akash turned behind and smiled at me. He should have understood that someone was behind him. How sharp both of them were! I wondered.

Payal and Akash took our leave. I and Khushi also left RM. I sensed a huge difference in Khushi even though we were not on good talking terms. She was not only silent but also disturbed.

"Are not you happy?" I asked her.

Khushi looked at me frowning and looked at the road.

"Of course, I WAS happy with kids," She said.

"I'm not talking about today but about your life"

"I'm..." She said in one word.

"You can ask me if you want anything," I said.

"Could you drive fast?" She asked.

I looked at her and geared the car up as I didn't want to disappoint her. We reached the Mini Palace. Khushi came to our room and switched the TV on. She sighed in relief as her favorite program just started. I too sat on the bed and watched the program. Not because I was interested in the program but in my wife.

Khushi's facial expression changed in a second seeing the new program announcement. She became excited as her favorite Chef Alan Smith was going to come to India for a program that was going to be held in various Cities of India. Khushi's face lost its charm because Delhi was not on the list but only Kolkata, Cochin, Chennai, and Varanasi were on the list. I could read the disappointment. Why not?

"I think, they decided the slot in two north Indian states and two south Indian states," I said trying to console her.

"But Delhi also has a strong cultural background, just like those states..." She said sadly.

"Feel happy your favorite Chef is visiting our country..."

She nodded yes plainly.

I looked at the watch. Payal would have reached the Palace as of now. Taking my mobile, I dialed Payal. She attended my call in the last ring.

"Have you reached home?" I asked, making sure my voice was inaudible to Khushi.

"Yeah, I will talk to you later," Payal said in a feeble tone.

"What happened? Is everything alright?"

"No, bhai, Shashi uncle is upset with us"

"Why?" I asked looking at Khushi.

"It's because we attended the birthday party without a proper invitation that's not come under the Royal custom"

I sensed her restlessness through her voice.

"Means?" I asked even though I understood what she meant.

"Di didn't invite us in person but through the phone. That's why Uncle is shouting at Akash"

"Didn't your mother-in-law say anything?"

"She is the one who tried to console Uncle"

"Oh... is she fine with Akash's decision to come to the party?"

"I don't know but she said, this is about our Royal reputation. You should not be at ease"

I could not hold my eyes from moving to Khushi.

"Be careful. From the next time, make sure you are doing everything according to their custom" I said.

"Ok, Bhai"

"Take care" I disconnected the call.

I felt I understood something... at the same time, I was confused. Khushi understood everything accurately but she remained a riddle. I got to know she didn't want me to know her problem because she didn't answer my questions properly. It didn't mean I should let her be a riddle. I would like to solve it because I like riddles.

The next week went plainly. I could say Khushi maintained distance from me. She almost stopped talking to me. She gave ONE WORD answer when needed. I was fed up. I didn't know how to mend things... in fact, I lost the hope of mending things between us.

That was a Saturday. I got a call from Payal. I attended it with a smile. We would have someone in our life who could make us smile, hearing her/his name. Payal was such a person in my life.

"Hi, Bhai..." Her voice sounded brisk like ever before. Something would have made her brisk and I was eager to know it.

"My sister's voice literally bouncing... What's the reason, my dear Behana?" I asked.

"It's you, my dear Bhai Jaan," she said.

I flinched. Me? Was I the reason for her happiness? What did I do? I was clueless.

"It seems you have started taking my beautiful Bhabi to date?"

I was stuck. What was she talking about? Date and me?

"I'm so happy about the progress you are showing in your relationship, Bhai... I was Damn happy when I got to know you are on Date with Khushi Bhabi"

I was stuck. Date with Khushi? Here, I was vexed as my wife was not even talking to me... but what Payal told me was something beyond my worth.

"How do you know?" I asked keeping my voice plain.

"I and Akash just went to Mini Palace to meet Khushi Bhabi. That was where we got to know she left the house after receiving your phone call..."

I gulped down hard. I have no idea, what was that.

"Did she reach you?" Payal asked.

"Not yet..." he said. I didn't want to create a scene on something I was unaware of.

"I hope I don't disturb you" she giggled.

I was silent as I didn't know what to say. How could I say I was disturbed like hell?

"Ok, Bhai, enjoy your date... keep it secret. Or else, our monkeys will start teasing Bhabi. She would feel awkward..."

"Mmm"

"Bye," she disconnected the call.

Khushi left the Mini Palace after receiving MY call. What the hell was that? I felt like choking. Khushi went on a date with me? When I was here, how could she go on a date? With whom? Where did she go? Was she cheating me? I could not tolerate the thought. I could forgive anything but treachery...!

To be continued...