Part 42 Phone calls...

I and Khushi were sitting, hugging each other without minding about time. We didn't know how long we were in each other's arms. I was pleased by the involvement Khushi showed to me.

"Arnav..."

"Mmm?"

"Can't you come to London with me?" She asked.

I raised my brows and looked at her.

"What about a new AR branch in London?" She asked curiously.

"Are you kidding? Here, I'm struggling to save our business and you are talking about a new branch... that too in London..."

Khushi sat in front of me, getting detached from the hug.

"It's not even easy for those who are successful because there are many aspects to be considered. Everything would be different from India and London. We can't think about it at least for the next ten years even if we are successful" I smiled.

She again came close to me and leaned her back on my chest. Taking my arms, she made me circle her waist.

"I don't know how I'm going to be away from you" She pouted.

"Time will fly in the blink of an eye... because you are interested in your goal."

"But, I'm equally interested in you too... what about that?" She looked at me, turning behind.

I got stuck for a few seconds and pecked her forehead, saying nothing.

That was when Khushi's phone rang. She took it wearily. Her eyes widened, seeing the name flashed on her mobile... DAD.

She attended it hurriedly and turned the speaker on.

"Dad..."

"Khushi..." his voice was not clear.

I chuckled as I understood he was having something in his mouth... if my guess was right, it must be Khushi's Biriyani.

"I'm eating your Biriyani... it was so so tasty. I don't know you cook so well..." he said.

Khushi smiled looking at me.

"You reminded me of Garima," Shashi Gupta said.

I saw the surprise on Khushi's face. She gulped down.

"Thank you for sending it to me, beta,"

"Dad, I just..."

"It's very nice... it seems I will get such tasty food if I come to the Mini Palace..."

"Sure..."

"I was an idiot who had no idea what my daughter is..." He sighed.

Khushi closed her eyes.

"I would have eaten this a long ago if I had let you do what you like..." He regretted.

Khushi was silent.

"Shall I come to Mini Palace to eat your handmade food, beta?"

I could not understand whether he pleaded or demanded.

Khushi who was controlling her emotions till then failed to do that hearing that.

"To come to your daughter's place, you don't have to get her permission, Dad"

"Thank you, beta"

"Dad, eat first... we will talk later," she said managing herself.

"Mmm"

Khushi disconnected the call and again hugged me. This time, I felt emotional. I didn't know what her state was.

"Your father liked your dexterity"

"Mmm"

"What made you surprised when he said you reminded him of your mother?"

"This is the first time, he talked about my mother after her death"

I guessed it.

"Maybe, this is why Mithu didn't want you to cook," I said.

Khushi chuckled painfully.

"Feeling sad?"

"No... there is no use in feeling sad. It's all over. I don't want to waste my time being sad for something I can't change" She talked practically. I liked it.

My concentration went to my phone as it rang. I smiled as the call was from Payal. I attended it.

"Bhai, pass the phone to Khushi," She said hurriedly.

I rolled my eyes and extended the phone to Khushi.

"Payal wants to talk to you"

Without taking the phone from my hand, she turned the speaker on and spoke to Payal.

"Hi, Payal..."

"Khushi... your Biriyani was so so so tasty. How did you cook so well? You should have magic in your hands"

"Nothing is like that..." Khushi smiled.

"You know what Khushi, my mother always says, while cooking, anyone should be with a cool mind because our MIND would reflect in our cooking. If we cook with a sad mind, the food will not be tastier. When you said you are happy with my brother, I thought you told that to ease me... but now, I trust your word. You should be truly happy with my brother. That's why your mind is reflecting in your cooking"

Khushi pinched my cheek and kissed her fingertips. I showed my cheek to her. She circled my neck. After pecking my cheek, she continued talking.

"I really don't know there are so many psychological facts behind cooking" Khushi chuckled.

"It's true, Khushi. I never compared anyone's cooking with my mom's but today, I did. You cook as same as my mother"

I raised my brows and Khushi smiled with kindness. There was no PRIDE on her face.

"Khushi, I would like to tell you an important matter. Come a little aloof"

"Aloof?"

"Yeah, Bhai should not know the secret"

"Oh...wait..."

Khushi was about to take my phone but I pulled it behind not letting her do that.

"Arnav, give me the phone" She clutched my hand and snatched the phone. Getting down from the bed, she said,

"Don't you dare get off the bed" and went aloof.

"Tell me, Payal"

I was watching Khushi's face and saw excitement on it. She closed her mouth and talked to Payal whispering. So that, I could not hear her.

Suddenly, her facial expression changed. She rolled her eyes. I was confused. What made her react so? Khushi disconnected the call sighing.

"What happened?"

"Leave it... it's not important"

"If it is not important, why did Payal want to tell that secretly?"

"There is nothing called secret. She could have said that openly. I too thought it must be interesting"

"Was not it?"

"Mithra tried to trap Payal it seems"

"Trapping Payal? How?"

"By gifting a diamond set"

I was surprised. Mithra was trying to trap Payal? But why?

"Is it?"

"Yeah... but at the right time, Akash went to the Palace with my biriyani and messed up her plan it seems" She chuckled.

"What did he do?"

"He simply PAID the bill for the diamond set and gave it to Payal" Khushi laughed.

"That's a good twist" I wondered.

"Her thoughts are always cheap. She thinks girls can be manipulated with jewels and money..."

"She is not wrong, Khushi... she just does what she can because she would think of others only in the way she is..."

Khushi nodded yes.

"But, what's there to be secret?"

"Look, stop questioning me... Payal said she compared my cooking with your mother's. You said nothing about it..." she pouted.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Would you do it?"

I nodded no.

"I will not do it," I said.

"Really?"

"Yeah... comparing mother's cooking with wife's cooking is the most idiotic matter in the world"

"Why?" Khushi became interested.

"Mother would have many years of experience. Comparing a wife, who is in her daughter's age with her is not right. How could we compare a TEACHER and a STUDENT? And more than that, we don't have to compare anyone because everyone has their own style and dexterity. I can't expect Payal to cook like my mother. It's not possible. Then, how could I expect my wife to cook like my mother? Of course, you cook well... in the future, you will cook tastier than my mother... it doesn't mean my mother is less. Her dexterity is different and yours would be improving day by day. So, instead of comparing a wife with a mother, we should eat both their dexterities well and relish"

Khushi was looking at me without blinking.

"Khushiii..." I shook her shoulder.

"Wow... Arnav, this is the first time, I heard such an explanation from a man. If every husband is clear about this concept, a maximum of problems will be sorted out because people casually complain, that their wife is not cooking like their mother... and, poor wives are trying hard to bring their mother-in-law's taste in their cooking. That's not at all possible. But, how sweetly you understand it. you are always unique" She kissed my cheek strongly making me smile.

"Ok. Tell me what would you like to eat for dinner" she asked.

"I will eat anything..."

"See, you are my husband. I want to know what's your favorite"

"If it is about food, there is nothing I could ignore. So, you can cook anything. By the way, is it necessary to cook every time? Can't you be free?"

"I will be free tomorrow. Tonight, I will cook fried rice and dragon chicken. What say"

"Wow... that will be a super dinner"

Khushi nodded yes. Of course, it was a wonderful dinner. Khushi again killed me with her dedication. After having dinner, we went to the bed. Khushi came close to me and rested her head on my chest. As Khushi got to know I didn't want to be intimate, she made up herself. So, she looked with a free mind... unlike me. Yeah, though I said I didn't want to be intimate I struggled a lot with Khushi's closeness. What could I do, I was also a human. We just consummated. It was obvious if I wanted it again. What would I do if a marble idol like my wife was lying almost on me, putting her leg on my thigh and hand on my waist? How did I feel? Damn it...!

After she slept, I slowly flipped her on the bed and turned opposite to her to get some sleep. But poor me, didn't sleep for long.

The next morning

When I woke up, Khushi was not on the bed. I guessed she must be in the kitchen. I got ready for the office. Khushi came to our room with HOT Gobi ka paratha. I inhaled its smell. Khushi took a piece and fed it to me... should mention, with a smile. I ate it and it tasted delicious because Khushi fed it to me. I finished having breakfast. Taking my bag, I kissed my wife's cheek.

"Khushi, call me if you need anything," I said.

Khushi nodded ok. I left the Mini Palace.

I came to the office. My mind got the flashes of Khushi again and again in between office work. I remembered I left an important file at home. So, I went to Mini Palace to bring it to AR. Usually, I felt irritated if I missed anything at home before. but now, I didn't feel so because I could see my wife. If I went home.

When I came home, Khushi was not at home.

"Where is Khushi?" I asked.

"She went out," One of the servants said.

I frowned. WENT OUT? Where did she go? Why didn't she say anything to me regarding it? I was confused. Taking the file, I left the Mini Palace thinking about it.

To be continued...