Part 18

Evening

Khushi went to the kitchen to prepare her favorite Jelabies for DM. she has to offer jalebis for DM and she was happy for her Amma too. That was the tang, "RM" never smelled before. Even Ratna didn't prepare it ever. It smells too sweet. That aroma reached every corner of the RM. It dragged Arnav towards the Kitchen. Khushi was making a small jalebis mountain there. Arnav's eyes went wide open seeing that.

Arnav: Are you going to start a jalebis shop in Delhi?

Khushi got confused, because if he comes to the kitchen then he will taste the food, unlike today. He didn't even touch those jalebis which amazed her.

Khushi: Shop? How this little quantity is enough for a shop? This is not enough for me then?

Arnav jaw dropped.

Arnav(shocked): Are you preparing this for yourself? Will you eat this much sweets? He asked in disbelief.

Khushi: After all this is just two kilos. She said coolly.

Arnav (chuckled): Seeing your thin figure, no one will say, that you can eat this much.

Khushi: I can. Either if I'm happy or upset.

Arnav: ohh these jalebis are to celebrate your mother's successful operation then?

Khushi (nodded yes): This is for you. (she extended the plate which has few jaleabis)

Arnav was looking at her smilingly. He took a small piece from the plate and had it.

Arnav: It tastes too good.

Khushi: You can have more.

Arnav: I'm not lucky enough to have your hand made sweets.

Khushi(confusingly): But why?

Arnav: Because I'm diabetic.

Khushi was horrified. DIABETIC?

Arnav: I should not eat sweets.

Khushi: What? Are you a Diabetic patient? How pathetic?

Arnav: It's not so big deal.

Khushi(feeling sad): Without sweets what a life is this? We, people, use sweets to celebrate and enjoy our lives. Doesn't "sweets" part of our lives? Do not you really eat sweets? What's the use of your money, if you can't even eat sweets then? How will you share your happiness with your loved ones? I can't even imagine a life without sweets. She blabbered nonstop.

Arnav was gazing at her smilingly without breaking. She is a sweet girl. Her life occupied by "sweets" is amazing.

Arnav: Tell me one thing, if a poor man, who is in need of money got trapped in a desert for a week, prefers MONEY or WATER?

Khushi has no idea why suddenly he asked so.

Khushi: obviously water.

Arnav: why?

Khushi: Who can think about Money while dying?

Arnav: Like the same, we won't miss sweets when our lives surrounded by bitterness. (he said softly) your life is full of sweetness or you may have changed it sweetly.

So you are thinking about sweets. Will you do the same even though when you are weary of life? I'm expecting sweetness in my life instead of my mouth. I'm trying to get it by putting all my efforts (pause) nowadays. (he gulped) Can you understand what I'm saying? (he looked so vulnerable when he said)

Khushi who looking at him was suffocating by his soften side. They were looking at each other with different emotions. This Arnav is not a man who came to her home to let out his frustration that day. He looks different from his eyes, tone, body language everything. Khushi shifted her gaze to somewhere she couldn't see him like this.

Arnav: Won't you be the sweetness of my life Khushi? He asked directly.

Don't know why... neither Khushi defy him nor said anything. She looked here and there and left the kitchen without answering, taking Jelabie plate. Arnav gulped closing his eyes.

...........

Khushi was offering Jelabies to Devi Maiya though her mind was not mediate into the Pooja.

"Won't you be the sweetness of my life Khushi?"

Arnav's stance was haunting her. She always fails no matter how much she was trying to not getting into his thoughts. She felt a pull when she saw him the first time at the Temple. She sensed that she was being dragged by him. She never felt this kind of PULL with anyone else. She was afraid of that magnetic power which was ruling her since she met him. His eyes, his look, his face everything was conveying something unnamed. That's why she started shielding her heart by showing disinterest towards him. She couldn't let it happen.

She tried her level best to shrug off his thoughts but destiny dragged her beside him.... So close to him. She couldn't understand why these things are happening in her life? Why he wanted to marry her when there are many girls in the world who are equal to his status? Why she? Why did he meet her when she already got engaged to someone? She didn't get anything.

She remembered Buaji's words. "I wish someone have come into your life and change your mind". Is Arnav that someone?

Khushi closed her eyes with joining hands. "Hey Devi Maiya please help me. Enough of this Pakkadam Pakkadai. How long will you make me wait? Please bring him in front of my eyes". She opened her eyes and shocked seeing Arnav was trimming the lamp which was about to extinguish. He looked at her and left the place silently making Khushi numb.

She sat there holding her head thinking about the incident which was the reason for everything.............

Flash back.

Fifteen years before... Lucknow.

Little and cute Khushi was playing outside of her home with her friend. She saw a car stopped outside of her home. Her face brightened seeing that. She knows who that was. She hid behind the tree controlling her giggle. A lady in her late thirties got down from the car and went inside. Khushi went behind her with tiptoe steps. She closed her eyes.

Lady: Who is that?

Garima smiled at them. This is usual, between them.

Lady: It must be my angel.....CHUTKI????

Khushi(giggling): correct.....

She circled her neck and the Lady kissed her cheek.

Lady: This is for my Chutki.

She gave her a sweet box. Khushi opened it and it was jelabie. Her mouth went wide open in happiness. The lady fed her a jelabie.

Khushi: Thank you, aunty.

Lady: How is my Baby?

Khushi: I'm so good. Why didn't you come last week?

]Lady: I had some work darling. So I was unable to come.

Khushi: Do you know how sad I was? She pouted.

Lady (getting serious): You will not forget me, do not you?

Khushi: No, how can I forget you?

Lady(lovingly): But why?

Khushi: Because you are so good.

Lady: Really? Then come to my home and be with me.

Khushi (looking at Garima): Then what Amma will do? She asked worriedly.

Lady(smiling): That's what my Chutky is. So understanding, so lovable. Will you remember me all the time?

Khushi(spreading her hands): All the time.

Lady(feeling sad): I can come to see you next year only.

Khushi looked at her making face. The lady took out a small box and removed a chain from the box. She made Khushi wear it and kissed her forehead.

Garima: Arrey what all this?

Lady: Beta you go and play with your friend.

Khushi nodded ok and left. But she wanted to eat jalebis. So she sat behind the door hiding and started eating.

Garima: Now tell me RATNA, what all this?

Ratna: We are leaving Lucknow because of my husband's business. Before that, I want to confirm Khushi as my BAHU.

Garima(shocked): Wha...t?

Ratna: Yes as I said before.

Garima: Ratna you said, but where you people are and where we are?

Ratna: Do you think, I said that playfully? I don't care about status but people. Whatever I told was from my heart. I want Chutky as my Chotte's wife.

Garima: But what about your husband? He doesn't even like you coming here and you are visiting us without his knowledge right? don't you know how "status freak" he is? Do you think he will accept Khushi?

Ratna: My Chotte will accept her. I know my son. I don't even need to say that I like her. He himself will find it out, and he will make it come true.

Garima: you are very lucky to have such a son. But..

Ratna: No ifs and buts. Chutky will be my Bahu and that's final. That's why I bought a chain which is having a locket with my Chotte's photo. Chotte and Chutki both are so small. This is not the right age to know about these things. So I sent her outside. We will notify them when the right time arrives.

Garima: I can't understand what to say.

Ratna: I will bring Chotte when I come next time. If I knew that I would leave Lucknow, I would have brought him here before.

Garima: It's ok Ratna. We just met a few months ago. Otherwise, we would have met him sometimes. In addition, your husband does not like him coming here.

Ratna: Everything will be alright.

Garima: Hope so.

Ratna: Take care of yourself and my Bahu.

She smiled and closed her eyes and prayed inwardly. "Hey Devi Maiya, Please fulfill my wish". She left this matter on God's feet.

Little Khushi who heard everything from behind the door opened the locket and looked at the photo of the boy whom Ratna addressed as "Chotte". She smiled seeing him.

Khushi(whispering): Are you Ratna aunt's Chotte? She giggled.

Flash back end.

To be continued.....