Part 10 Birthday Celebration

Arnav kept two peanut candies in his table drawer safely so that he could eat them the next day. That was when his sight fell on the identity cards given by Shyam. Taking them, he searched for Khushi's identity card. He smiled painfully, seeing her photo. She had not even changed a bit. The only thing was missing. Her smiling eyes. Her eyes always sparkled with a smile when they were in college. Now, he didn't see it. He read her address. She resided in Gomti Nagar. Aranv raised his brows as that was the safest area of Lucknow. He kept the identity cards back, thinking to give it to her the next day.

The last bell rang and all the teachers and students started dispersing. Arnav saw a few teachers having peanut candy in their hands. Arnav walked smilingly as he understood who should have given it to them. Though he didn't want to search for Khushi his eyes didn't obey him. he saw her going out of the campus with Lavanya. He could not resist remembering, how she always waited for him when they were in college. He went to the parking feeling helpless.

...........

Arnav came home and got stuck, seeing baby Khushi wearing a Cinderella gown.

"What's the matter, Khushi? Why are you wearing this gown now?"

"Daddy. Please go and get ready"

"Why?"

"I want us to go somewhere"

"Somewhere? Where?"

"You go and get ready then only I will tell you"

Arnav rolled his eyes and went to his room. Baby Khushi watched cartoons, sitting in the living room.

Arnav came out within a few minutes, getting ready in a casual outfit. He looked dashing in a maroon color T-Shirt with light gray pants.

"Fatima chachi, please get me a cup of coffee"

Arnav asked.

Fatima gave it to him as she already prepared it.

"Thank you"

Arnav sipped it. Baby Khushi turned the TV off and wore a matching cut shoe to her dress.

"Fatima Chachi, bring it" baby Khushi said.

Fatima nodded ok and went to the kitchen.

"By the way, where is my princess taking me?" Arnav asked sipping the coffee.

"We are going to my Khushi teacher's house," Khushi said.

Arnav was about to throw up the coffee, he pressed his lips. He looked at Baby Khushi as if she was a ghost. Fatima brought the cake and kept it on the tea table, observing his expression.

"Today is her birthday. That's why I asked Fatima Chachi about this cake. Give her money for this cake"

"Khushi, this is not done... we should not go to anyone's house without their invitation"

"Today is her birthday Daddy... we are going to give this cake. We can do that... (She looked at Fatima) am I right, Chachi?"

Fatima nodded yes.

"Neneno... (Arnav's way of telling no no no... haha) I don't think this is right"

"Kids don't come into the RIGHT or WRONG circle, Arnav bituwa... She is a kid. She loves her teacher very much. She likes to give her gifts on her birthday. What's wrong with that? In fact, anyone will become happy if they get such a surprise" Fatima said.

"Haan, Fatima Chachi is right. I want to surprise my teacher. Come on Daddy... let's go"

Arnav hesitated.

"Why are you hesitating, Arnav bituwa?"

"She is our school teacher... I'm the principal..."

"So what? Should not a principal be friendly with a teacher's family?"

Arnav was tongue-tied. He didn't know how to explain his condition. He saw Baby Khushi was extremely excited to go to Khushi's house. Though Arnav was nervous he too wanted to visit Khushi's house. After all, she was KHUSHI.

"Ok, let's go," Arnav said.

"But, how do you go to her house without knowing her address?" Fatima asked.

"Oh... actually, I know her address"

"Really?" Fatima wondered.

"Yeah... her identity card arrived today. I just checked as she is new to Lucknow"

"Oh..." she nodded ok smiling inwardly.

Taking the cake, Arnav walked. He kept it in the back seat and started to Gomti Nagar with DHAK DHAK.

In the meanwhile,

Suman came home and saw Khushi in deep thought. He tapped her shoulder and Khushi smiled at him.

"What are you thinking?"

"Nothing"

"You are lying"

"No Sumi"

"After coming to Lucknow, you are hiding many things from me," Suman said feeling sad.

"Don't you know me?"

"I know you... that's why I say so" Suman went to the room to get fresh, keeping the bag on the couch.

Khushi felt bad for making him upset. He was not wrong. She was not sharing with him anything. she thought something and a naughty smile crept on her lips. She rushed to the room and didn't find Suman there. He was in the washroom. She took something from the closet and went to the next room.

Suman came from the washroom and found the house silent. He looked here and there for Khushi. As she was not found, he searched for her. he saw the next room's door closed. He knocked on the door.

"Khushi..."

Khushi opened the door and Suman got stuck, seeing her wearing a lungi and shirt with a scarf on her neck. She had been drawing a thick mustache. There was a pen in her hand, she pretended like, it was a cigarette.

"Mere angne mein tumhaaraa kyaa kaam hai" she sang the old song of Amitabh Bachchan in a base voice.

Suman burst out laughing. He rushed to the room and took Khushi's saree out. Wrapping it around him, he started dancing and Khushi joined.

In that joy, they didn't notice that the main door of the house was not locked.

Arnav reached the address he saw on Khushi's identity card. Arnav felt a kind of nervousness to knock on the door. But Baby Khushi pushed the door and it got opened. The father and the daughter got stuck, seeing them dancing in opposite-gender costumes. It was Suman who saw them first. He stopped and unwrapped the saree hurriedly but Khushi was still dancing, closing her eyes. Suman stood, controlling his laughter. Khushi saw him standing without a saree.

"Where is your saree, my dear young lady?" she asked, shaking her shoulders.

Suman gestured to her to see Arnav. Khushi turned towards the doorstep and was thunderstruck. She pulled the scarf from her neck and spat the pen from her mouth.

Baby Khushi was standing, looking at Khushi. She didn't even know a husband and wife could be so joyful and friendly.

"Please, come in" Suman greeted Arnav and Baby Khushi whereas Khushi rushed to her room.

Arnav got in with Baby Khushi.

"I'm Suman Mathur" Suman extended his hands toward Arnav.

"I'm..."

Cutting him,

"Arnav Singh Raizada" Suman smiled.

Arnav got stuck and then nodded yes.

"Please be seated. Khushi will come, washing her face"

Arnav nodded ok and sat. Baby Khushi pulled Arnav towards her. Arnav leaned towards her.

"Daddy, shall we also dance like them?" She asked pleadingly.

Arnav smiled at her and said nothing but Suman did.

"Come to our house when you are free. We will dance. What say?"

"Really? Will you dance with me?"

"Why not? What costume would you like to wear? Saree or your teacher's costume?"

"Teacher's dress..."

"Oh... do you like it?"

"Yes, it looked funny" Baby Khushi giggled.

Arnav was listening to them silently.

"Ask your Dad and Mom to wear the such costume and enjoy" Suman intentionally said.

Arnav got an alert. He was supposed to stop Baby Khushi from blabbering anything, but he was late.

"I don't have Mom" Baby Khushi said.

Suman who was expecting that looked at Arnav who gulped down.

"I'm sorry... I just" Suman said.

At the same time, Khushi came out of the room, changing her dress. She smiled at Baby Khushi. she didn't look at Arnav.

"Khushi... what are you doing here?"

"I came here to give you this cake as a gift," Baby Khushi said.

"But why?"

"For your birthday"

Khushi was about to say something,

"That's great... let's cut the cake," Suman said, extending his hand towards Baby Khushi.

Clutching his hand, she went with him. He arranged the cake on the table asking Baby Khushi's help to cheer her up. She did delightedly what Suman asked her to do. he gave the candles to Baby Khushi. she arranged them on the cake. Suman lit the candles. In the meanwhile, Arnav and Khushi stole one another's glance.

"Come on, Khushi" Suman called.

Baby Khushi extended the knife to Khushi. Clutching her hand, Khushi cut the cake, after blowing out the candles.

"Happy Birthday to you..." Suman and Baby Khushi sang.

Arnav stood, plastering a smile.

Khushi fed the cake to Baby Khushi and she did the same. Suman took a piece of cake and extended it to Khushi. She had it from his hand and Arnav turned his gaze somewhere. He realized what he missed in his life.

Taking a cake piece on a plate, Suman gave it to Khushi.

"Give it to Arnav Sir," he said.

Khushi took it from him and extended it to Arnav.

"Thank you... and Happy Birthday" he wished her again.

Arnav had the cake. Suman passed him a tissue paper to wipe his hand. Arnav didn't deny it. He stood up wiping his hand.

"We have to go," he said.

"Whaaat? No way, sir. You should have dinner with us" Suman said.

"No... that's ok... I just came here for KHUSHI" Arnav said, looking at Baby Khushi.

"I know you came here for KHUSHI" Suman smirked, making Arnav stuck.

"I mean, Baby Khushi must have wanted to come here, right?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"We are pleased. You came here and surprised us. Khushi would not expect you to come here. Am I right, Khushi?"

Khushi was silent.

"What would you like to have Baby?" Suman asked Baby Khushi.

"I like aloo poori"

"Ok, today's special is, Khushi's aloo poori. Ok?"

"Ok"

"Khushi, be with Baby Khushi... I will prepare"

"Do you know cooking?" Baby Khushi asked.

"Yeah... I cook well then your teacher" Suman laughed.

"Shall I come to the kitchen?"

"Do you want to check whether I really cook?"

Baby Khushi nodded yes giggling.

"This is a task... Khushi, you are not allowed to enter the kitchen. Just stay here. I and Baby are going to cook today." Suman said.

Khushi looked at him widening her eyes. without giving heed to her glare,

"Let's go, baby" Suman lifted Baby Khushi and walked to the kitchen, leaving Arnav and Khushi in the living room.

To be continued...