Part 12

"Do you like RED so much".

When he heard Kushi's voice asking about red, he closed his eyes clenching his jaw. That means she is really here. He is not hallucinating. He blurts out everything in front of her like an idiot. What the hell. He could hear her anklet sound. She is nearing him. He composed himself and smiled at her. Without react much he said gently.

Arnav: yes I like RED very much.

Khushi: Were we that much close to each other? (Arnav just nodded.) I know that. See this.(She showed her mobile to him which had his pic as a screen saver with a smile on her face. Arnav's face lit up like a thousand volt blub. He looked at her with extreme happiness.)

Arnav: Did you check it?

Khushi(frowning): check? For?

Arnav: I mean did you see anything in that?

Khushi: Means?

Arnav: I mean photos, files anything?

Khushi: No there is nothing.

Arnav snatched the phone from her hand and started checking it. yes, there was nothing. He was vexed.

Arnav( in frustration): from where did you get it?

Khushi: from my Babuji's closet.

He turned his face opposite to her for suppressing his frustration doesn't want to show it to her. So the only hope which he had was broken in to millions of pieces. That's when they heard Anjali...

Anjali: Khushi... when did you come? I didn't see you coming.

Khushi: yes Di, when I came, there was no one in living room. I just came searching by and saw him waking from sleep in recliner. (Anjali saw the phone in Arnav's hand and got exited.)

Anjali: you got it Khushi?

Khushi: yah Di. From Babhuji's closet.

Anjali's expression changed hearing that she can sense from Arnav's face what could have happen.

Anjali: chotte...

Arnav(gritting his teeth) : it's just a phone Di. Nothing else.

Khushi(confusingly): nothing else? What it means?

Arnav: I will be downstairs after getting fresh. And you keep it back from where you took it.

Khushi: but why?

Arnav(sarcastically): or else your Bhabuji will get upset.

Khushi: ok. we will wait (she said looking at Arnav and he nodded)

Living room

Khushi: Today is Sunday. I know everyone should be at home. So I came here to play SEVEN STONES.

Everyone in living room passed the glance like "what is this?"

NK: That's great. We are bored sitting and eating. Let's play guys.

LA(smiling): Ok we will play.

Anjali: But Khushi how can you play wearing saree? Do you want to change?

Khushi: No problem Di. I can play.

Arnav was descending the stairs hearing.

Arnav: what are you going to play ?

Akash: Bhai, WE(he stressed) are going to play.

Arnav: what?

Payal: Yes, khushi is here to play seven stones.

Arnav(looking at her like really?): seven stones?

Shyam: looks like sale sahib is not interested.

Arnav(with his lop sided smile): I'm in which team?

NK: wow. That will be fun. Men in one team and women in another team. OK?

Arnav: Bakwas hai. How could you? We men are against women? Team should be equal in strength.

Khushi: No problem. We will manage.

Payal, Anjali, and La: yes we will manage.

NK(whispering): Naanav please don't mess. We never get such a good chance to hit our wife without any reason.(he pleaded)

Arnav(glaring ): Have some shame. Hitting a woman is not appreciable.

NK: They themselves agreed then what's the problem Naanav?

Khushi : Ok let start.

Arnav: Are you sure?

Khushi: Yah I'm ok with that.

As per plan poor La got more hit from Nk. But unexpectedly he received the same from La sometime. After arranging six stones Khushi got the opportunity to finish the game. When she supposed to put the stone ...

Arnav( saving khushi from hit):Khushi make it fast. (As expected, khushi finished the game. But Arnav received weird look from everyone like "what was that?")

NK: Naanav did you forgot your team?

Akash: Bhai this is not done. You scored a SAME SIDE GOAL.

Shyam: Guys leave it. Why are you arguing like you didn't expect this.

Anjali: Shyamji is correct. When Khushi is in our side how can my chotte let her lost the game?(teasingly) Hey na chotte?

Arnav: Di....

Khushi(looking at him): Thank you. Did you do like this often.

Arnav(with content smile): No, this is the first time. Because we never played in opposite teams.

That's when Arnav got a call which made his face drained. Seeing his sudden change everyone got alarmed. At the same time Nani came from Temple and she was happy to see khushi.

Nani: Khushi bitiya you are here that too in saree?

Arnav(In angry tone): she is practicing for her marriage. Am I right?

Khushi: Not like that. But how do you know about my marriage?

The sentence made everyone felt like some thunder got down in their head.

Anjali: What? Marriage? What are you talking about?

Arnav: She got a proposal from Yanesh Amit Negi.( he said gritting his teeth)

Khushi(smiling): Did Amma tell you? Yesterday they came to home for asking my hand.

Arnav was glaring at her like he will swallow her any time.

Shyam: Did you agree?

Khushi: Not yet. I asked some time to decide. They agreed for that. But I like YAN.

Arnav seems like he want to punch nonstop on YAN's face.

The mansion turned in to graveyard in few minutes hearing about Khushi's marriage proposal. They know very well Negis are mean to Guptas. They are worried about Arnav. He should not do anything in haste. Seeing Arnav's face they didn't daring to talk to him.

Arnav: Why didn't you say anything when you come here?

Khushi: Does it matter?

Arnav: yes it does.

Khushi was little taken back seeing his raged face. This is the first time she is witnessing him like this. She was looking at him confusingly. Shyam pressed Arnav's shoulder and signaled him to see khushi's reaction. Arnav calmed himself.

Arnav: How could you agree for this when you have no idea about your past?

Khushi(casually): I didn't agree yet. But what's the harm in meeting a family?

Arnav: you are not ready to get a simple mobile from me and you are ready to give chance for marriage? Doesn't that look insane?

Khushi: I did because I don't want to disappoint my parents.

Arnav gulped hard hearing this.

Nani: Khushi bitiya please don't mistake me. This is not a play but your life. You believe it or not, we are concern for you.

Khushi: I know Naniji and I told the same to Amma also.

Anjali: what did she say?( she asked curiously)

Khushi: She also does not like this proposal. She didn't say openly but I can sense her disinterest.

Raizadas were happy to know this not that they didn't know Garima's stand. Garima will never accept anyone in the place of her nephew.

Arnav: I have some work. I should go.

They know very well for which work he is going.

Khushi: Can you drop me? (Arnav nodded yes. She bid bye to everyone and followed him)

To be continued.....