Part 8 Strengthening Friendship

Khushi was tensed. She had to shift to another place before Akash's brother arrived in Delhi. She didn't know if she could get a house quickly. More than that, India was not like London. In London, people didn't care about who was in their next door, but India was not like that. People won't hesitate to question her about her personal life. They would casually poke their noses into other's personal life. She didn't know where she would get a house.

She was worried about Aashi more than the house. She could not always take Aashi to the hospital. Until she was in London, Lavanya and NK aligned their shifts with Khushi to look after Aashi. So, she never felt it was hard to go to the hospital. It seemed it was not possible in India.

Khushi didn't think about what Ratna said. She thought it was just a concern. Of course, it was all common in India. Indians spoke with concern, but that didn't mean she could expect them to help her.

Khushi searched for a house through an App. No house met her expectations. Finally, she found one. The house had only one bedroom but looked neat. She called the owner.

"Hello, sir... I saw your house online... is it still untaken?"

"Yes, madam... it's still available."

"How much is the rent, sir?"

"Monthly twenty thousand and one lakh advance"

"Shall I see the house?"

"Oh, sure... call me before coming. I will show you the house."

"Shall I come now?"

"Of course, you can..."

"Ok, sir, thank you."

Disconnecting the call, Khushi headed to the area with Aashi and hired an auto. The house owner was waiting for her. The area looked like a middle-class area. Of course, Khushi didn't like it, but she had no choice because she had no time to search for a good house. So, she decided to shift to this place for the time being.

"Namaste. I'm Khushi."

"Namaste, I'm Lokesh Ram," he said, joining his hands.

"Shall I see the house?"

"Please come..."

Lokesh Ram took her to his house on the first floor. The house looked older, with a wooden staircase and pillars.

Lokesh opened the door, and Khushi huffed in relief. The house was not bad.

"I just whitewashed the house, madam... I five lakhs to whitewash the whole house."

Khushi nodded seriously.

"Ok, sir... I will come tomorrow with my friends and give advance payment."

"OK, but give a TOKEN advance to hold the house. If someone likes this house, I will give it to them."

Khushi nodded and removed a thousand rupees.

"Keep it as a token advance. I will tell you tomorrow if I will shift here."

Lokesh nodded ok. Khushi left the place with Aashi.

.............

Khushi told Payal and Akash about the house. Akash was not satisfied.

"Khushi, the area would not be up to your standard... whyn't you wait for a few days?"

"Your brother is coming on Monday..."

"So what, Khushi? We can adjust."

"No, Akash, I don't want to embarrass you guys. This house is not permanent. I will search for a good house and shift in a month or two."

"It will not be so easy, Khushi. You can take the house only after signing the contract. The contract will be for eleven months. You can't cancel the contract."

Khushi became thoughtful.

"I gave token advance."

"How much?"

"Thousand rupees..."

"Let it be... keep the house as a last option. We will search for a good house," Payal said.

"Why not we ask Arnav to search for a house?" Akash asked.

"Yeah, he has a wide contact. We can ask him."

"No, Payal. Please don't disturb anyone for me. The house is more than enough for me. I'm going to go to my home only to sleep. I will be in the hospital a maximum of the time. This house is enough for me..." Khushi said sternly.

Payal looked at Akash helplessly, who was also in the same state.

The next day

Khushi came to RM with Aashi as usual. Ratna told her a story about how Khushi treated her.

"Aashi beta, do you like India?"

Aashi looked at Khushi and then Ratna. She nodded yes and no.

Ratna chuckled.

"What does that mean?"

"I like it, but I don't like it."

Ratna was taken aback.

"I miss Nanne's Dad and La's mom," she said sadly.

"Oh... then why do you like India?"

"It's because you tell me stories... Mr Puzzle gave me puzzle games."

"Oh, I see... Did you find the picture in the puzzle game?"

"Oh yes..."

"That's great... I will ask Chotte to bring more puzzle games."

That was when they saw Arnav entering the room.

"Hi, Mr Puzzle..."

"Hi, Ms Smile... "

Arnav looked at Khushi and said,

"Hi..."

Khushi smiled.

"Don't you go to the office today?" Aashi asked.

"I have to go to the Hotel for a conference. I will go a little later."

"Chotte, have lunch before leaving."

"Mmm..."

Aashi got on the bed and stood next to Arnav. She checked their heights.

"What are you doing?"

"Why do you call him Chotte when he is so big?"

Ratna and Arnav laughed.

"I started calling him Chotte when he was Chotte. Then I get used to it... I can't change it," Ratna said.

"Thank God he was not fat..."

"Why?" Arnav asked.

"Then she would have started calling you MOTTE..." she giggled.

Arnav burst out laughing. So did Ratna and Khushi.

"She is so smart," Arnav said.

"We are leaving, Aunty," Khushi said.

Ratna nodded.

Khushi and Aashi walked out.

"Chotte, send them off."

Arnav nodded and followed them.

"By the way, Khushi, Payal said you are searching for a house..."

Khushi looked at him surprisingly.

"I called a house broker. He will show you a few houses. Choose according to your comfort," he said.

"I already finalised a house."

"Payal said it's not up to your standard..."

"It's not that bad. It's enough."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah..."

"Please tell me if you need any help. Don't think you are troubling me."

Khushi nodded.

"I want to tell you something."

"Yeah, tell me..."

"You brought up Aashi well..."

Khushi didn't know what he meant.

"She spoke about BAD touch. It's a much-needed one for the growing girls... I liked it..."

"When did it happen?"

"HP spilt a few drops of chocolate drink on her knee that day. He tried to wipe it. That's it, Madam became tensed. It's appreciable."

"Usually, my friends taunt me for teaching BIG things to small kids..." she smiled painfully.

"No, no... don't take it in your heart. People will talk about what they want to... but we should do what our heart wants"

Khushi nodded yes.

"I'm terrified to be near Ms Smile. She is so particular about it, I suppose. Please tell her, don't BEAT me if I touch her."

Khushi folded her lip not to smile.

"Mr Puzzle, I will beat you only if you BAD touch me. Otherwise, you don't have to bother," Aashi said with an attitude.

"Thank you for your concern, Madam."

Khushi smiled.

"When are you going to shift to the new house?"

"Tomorrow..."

Do you want to purchase things?"

"Yeah, I will do it slowly..."

"But you need some important things for your livelihood, Khushi."

"What are you talking about?"

"You have to apply for an Adhar card. It became a must in India. Without that, you can do nothing here."

"Yeah, I have..."

"Really?"

"Yeah... I got my Adhar card ten to twelve years ago."

"Oh... did you go to London after that only?"

"Yeah, I went to London five years ago."

"That means, after your wedding, you should have settled in London."

Khushi just smiled.

"Ok, using your Adhar card, you can only register for a gas connection."

"Oh, yeah..."

"You should connect your PAN card and phone number to your Adhar card."

"Mmm..."

"If you don't mind, I will help you. I have hands everywhere."

"But you have only two hands..." Aashi said.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"It seems we can't flaunt ourselves in front of her", Arnav chuckled.

Khushi smiled. She liked how Arnav spoke without EGO, but she didn't tell him about it.

"How will you go?"

"I will book a cab."

"No need. My driver will drop you."

"It's ok, Arnav."

"Khushi... please don't be so formal... then I will think you don't accept me as your friend."

"Just because you are my friend, I can't trouble you."

"It seems I should not ask you for any help."

"Why?"

"then you will think I'm troubling you... don't you?"

Khushi rolled her eyes.

"Mohan..." Arnav called the driver.

He came to him.

"Drop them"

"Jee" He ran out.

"Thank you so much..."

"I said don't be formal."

"Then I will expect you to drop me every day."

"With pleasure..."

Khushi walked smilingly.

"Bye, Ms Smile"

"Bye..."

Arnav stood looking at them smilingly.

To be continued...