Part 5

LUCKNOW, SEESH MAHAL.

India Vs Pakistan Cricket match is LIVE on TV. Looks like the fourteen years old boy, Arnav is not heated up for the match. He is frustrated for something. That's when a servant came and said that his mother is calling.

Arnav( Gritting his teeth): As expected that TINTIN is done with her complaining about me to Ma.(saying, he went to his Ma's place.)

Mrs.Ratna Malik is sitting in her room with her SIL Garima who is here for their daughter Anjali's Wedding.

[Note:  In southindia, we only consider our,
Mother's sister's son or daughter
Or
Father's brother's son or daughter
as sister and brother.

We are allowed to get married with
Mother's brother's son or daughter
Or
Father's sister's son or daughter ]

Arnav: Ma did you call me?

Ratna: Chotte, did you scold Khushi ?

Arvan:( Looking at Khushi who is unwrapping her chocolate cover) Ma India, Pakistan's match is LIVE. She asked me to change the channel for her so called TINTIN show.

Ratna: so what chotte? She is very small to know about the match. She is our guest, let her stay here happy. Instead you are doing mischief with her?

Anjali(supressing her laugh): Ma, don't you think someone is jealous of khushi that she is getting more attention than him.

Arnav:( glaring at Anjali) I'm not jealous. She is calling me Maamu which irritates me.

Ratna:(frowing) Maamu should be called Maamu right?

Arnav: No need. Ask her to call me ARNAVJI.

Anjali: (chuckling): What? ARNAVJI? Chotte, you are still chotte remember that.

Garima(making face): Arnav beta, I thought you will be a good friend of Kushi But U.....

Arnav(rolling his eyes):the total family are Drama Queens, except one. (Pointing at Khushi ) here everyone is having chatting about her, and she is munching her chocolates like as if, she doesn't know what is happening here.( he went off, giving the TV remote to Anjali while the family chuckles on his statement.)

He started playing football in the garden with his friends, when he kicks the ball, khushi came in between and got hurt. Arnav ran to her and saw she suppress her cry by closing her mouth by her hand.

Arnav: Hey, are you alright? Why did you come here? (She showed him a TV remote) did you come here to give it to me?( she nodded yes while tears falling from her eyes.) why are you not talking? What happen to you damn it?

Khushi: (slowly removing her palm from her mouth): if I remove my hands, the sound will make everyone gathered here. Then they will scold you. (Arnav stunned hearing this.)

Arnav(calmly): Why are you thinking like that, I should not be scold?

Khushi: Amma told, you are a good boy(she said while wiping her tears by her knuckle)

Arnav(feeling sad): But I hit you right?

Khushi: would anyone hit intentionally? No, right? (Arnav can't believe this tiny girl can be this much wiser. He felt guilty for hurting this girl)

Arnav: I'm sorry. "BATTI"?

Khushi: I was never "KATTI" with you ARNAVJI.

Arnav: call me MAAMU as Ma said.

Khushi(excitedly): Sachi?

Arnav: Muchi.

This is how they got into each other's life. After that the whole family witnessed the very strong bond between the Dou. In all pre marriage rituals, Khushi was always behind Arnav. And Arnav's looks always followed Khushi wherever she goes.

When Arnav talking with some of his friends, Khushi came there and asked

Khushi: Maamu, who are they?

Arnav: They are my friends.

Khushi: Should I call them also Maamu?

Arnav picked her in his arms and excused himself from those boys. He came to nearby room and made her stand in chair to make her to his level.

Arnav: you should not call anyone as Maamu except me, understood? Just call them Bhai. (khushi nodded ok. He gave her a chocolate which is usual these days. He received a kiss in his cheeks. He smiled and about to go from there, he saw Ratna, Anjali, and Garima smiling at him mockingly)

Anjali: Ma, don't you think, someone is much more "SOME ONE" these days?

Ratna(smilingly): Kya hua chotte? You are the one who restricted her to call you Maamu. Now you don't want her to call anyone as Maamu, except you?

Anjali: And you are always concentrating on her. What's the matter chotte?

Arnav: Yes. Because when she is behind me, then I will be my Ma's special CHOTTE as always. Isn't that cool?

Anjali(In serious tone): I believed.

Garima: Me too.(they laughed)

Ratna: I don't know that my chotte started lying.

Arnav( scratching his head): Ok .I agree. She is so sweet. Happy? (he ran from there leaving his beloved ladies laughing heartedly.)

But as anyone didn't expect, everything went totally upside down on Anjali's marriage day. Because of Arvind's illegal affair, Ratna killed herself without thinking anything. Arvind shot himself in guilt. Anjali's marriage got stopped. Arnav and Anjali were thrown out from their own house by their Chachaji (father's brother). Ratna's mother Devyani brought them to Delhi and she adopted them legally. Arnav and Anjali are no more MALIKs, and they became RAIZADAs.

Hearing this khushi felt very bad for Arnav and Anjali.

Garima: After that Arnav hates his father like how much he loved his mother. He started stay aloof from everyone. He did his graduation in Howard in scholarship. He became a SELFMADE business tycoon who is ruling the whole fashion world under his feet. He bought the same house few months before, from where he was thrown out. For world he is rude and ruthless. But for his family he is a boy no one ever gets.

Khushi is very much impressed and started respect him. She has no words to praise him. She thought that he is a MAN OF HONOR.

*******

Arnav is standing in pool side looking in to a photograph of little khushi. He closed his eyes thinking...

The day he was brought to Delhi by his Nani and Mamaji, he was sitting in the garden that's when he felt someone is looking at him. And he knows that who was that someone.

Khushi: Maamu, are you crying?( Arnav nodded no) are you thinking about Ratna mami? (without saying anything he was looking at her) your Maa is there.(she is pointing at sky)Don't you know, if someone went to God then they will became Stars? See Mami is looking at you. Wouldn't she feel hurt seeing you crying? ( Arnav knows that these are superstitions said by some elderly people. But the way this girl trying to bring him out of grief, isn't matter to him?)

Khushi: Maamu don't cry. I will be with you forever.

This girl is someone, like an Angel. She has more maturity then her age. She can feel someone's pain, no matter what. He started spending time with this little girl. He used to search for her every day. Interest towards khushi, changed as possessiveness. He hates someone being close to her. He had even beaten some guys who teased her. In some days, his family was worried about his behavior. When he went to Howard they thought that he will change, instead he started giving orders to Akash and NK to be protective towards khushi.

Somehow khushi didn't like his over possessiveness and she was scared. She told him on his face which made him angrier and he didn't talk to her for a day. But the interesting thing is that, Khushi made the wheel upside down by wearing a RED saree flauntingly and made him all the day behind her.

He is smiling thinking those wonderful days of his life. Suddenly his expression changed to sad one. He has no idea what could be her thought about him now? He would not have been minded to break the bone of the person if anyone comes in between them. But the case is different here. She can't remember anything. She is behaving normal doesn't mean she is normal. She need some time to adopt everything which is coming in her way.

Evening RM,

When Arnav entered in, he saw khushi sitting with his family chitchatting. He stood there looking at her.

Anjali: Chott, You Came? I was about to call you. Don't think you are hallucinating khushi as usual.(which made khushi widened her eyes. Means is he hallucinating her? Often?)

NK: but u r supposed to be In office this time.( they don't know that actually Garima called Arnav and said about Khushi's arrival to RM. He ignored his question.)

Arnav: Hi, how are you? You here?(khushi smiled for her question.)

Khushi: I'm bored sitting and watching movies. So I took permission from Amma and came.

Nani: khushi bitiya, Your Babuji ?

Khushi: He doesn't know. (silence)what happened to you people? Should I know?(everyone is watching her like some Alien, not understanding what should they answer.)

Khushi: I'm sorry. Please don't mistake me.

That's when Mamiji remembered about Garima's words about the photos and certificate.

Mami: hello hai bye bye Anjali bitiya why not we show our photo albums to khushi?

Arnav dumbfounded by the statement while Khushi was excited.

Khushi: good idea Mamiji.. she smiled

Anjali( Hesitatingly looking at Arnav): but Mamiji all the albums are in chotte's room.

Nani: So what? Chotte's room is in our home only, as if you are saying like it's in another planet.(she laughed)

Khushi: It's ok Anjaliji, if you are not comfortable...

Arnav(cutting her): There is nothing which makes us uncomfortable with you.( he gave a stern look, which makes Khushi take her gaze away from him immediately.)

Payal: Let's go it will be fun.

La: Khushi you will come to know how much you were close to us.

Khushi(in mind): I'm also eager to know. (she smiled while nodding yes)

Arnav galloping towards his room, he should hide something before she reach there.

To be continued.......