Part 39

Khushi received National Teacher award from the president. Arnav and Aashi were so happier than Khushi. Aashi couldn't stop flaunting about her mother's talent with her friends. Khushi was drenching by flattering. Arnav was so delighted to see his wife receiving those prizing words with embarrassment.      

....

Khushi came from the school and got rooted in seeing her house was being decorated. Top of all, she was surprised seeing Guptas, Raizadas and Aman as well. Arnav handed over the box and asked her to get changed. She draped the Red saree given by Arnav and came out. Shyam came with his wife Anjali and daughter Shali with a huge cake.

 Khushi cut the cake and fed it to Arnav and Aashi. Garima and Shashi were in cloud nine. This was an unexpected surprise, they had ever imagined.

Khushi took blessings from Manorama and Manohar. Garima hugged her with emotions. She felt like, she achieved it. Of course... she is her MOTHER after all.

Shyam: Arnav... Rotary Club members want to honor Khushi. They are planning to throw a party. What do you say?

Arnav: Yah... Aman told me. I'm so glad because she deserves it. But I want to ask her once.

Shyam: Let me ask her.

Arnav: Sure.(he saw Khushi talking with Anjali.) Khushi....(Khushi looked at him and he gestured her to come here)

Khushi: Yes Arnav.

Arnav: Shyam wants to ask you something.

Khushi looked at Shyam like "tell me".

Shyam: Rotary club members want to give a party for you Khushi.

Khushi: No no Bhai. Whatever I did is my duty. I don't want any parties. Please.

Shyam: Of course Khushi but what harm if they give party. They gave such parties, only for deserving persons.

Aman: Exactly. I'm sure it will inspire some teachers in the future.

Arnav: Aman is right Khushi. If this party, give some positive energy then why to deny?

Khushi: Do you really think so? (Arnav nodded yes.) Mmm ok.

Shyam: Then shall I say yes to them?

Arnav: Yah. Go ahead.

Arnav saw Aashi was talking with Shali, NK's son PK (Prem Kishore) and Aman's daughter Pooja. She was showing them a photograph which was captured when Khushi received the award from the president. Khushi who came there to call Arnav frowned seeing him standing there leaning on the wall smilingly. He saw her and gestured to be silent. Khushi looked at the direction and listen to their talks.

Aashi: See here, whom my mother is with, the President of India. My mother is so intelligent.

The children were looking at the pic awed.

Aashi: Who teaches you, math guys?

Shali: None. My father (Shyam) is so week in math. My mother was not that efficient like your mother.

Aashi: My mother solves all the problems in a jiffy.

Pooja: You are so lucky.

Aashi: If you have any doubt in math then come here. My mother will help you.

Arnav: See, how your daughter is flaunting.

Khushi: After all she is your daughter. She chuckled.

Arnav: Didn't I say, she likes you so much?

Khushi: After all she is my daughter.

Arnav: This is not fair. If she does anything good then she is your daughter. If she does anything naughty then she is my daughter. Great.

Khushi: She is praising me, because I achieved something big. But you don't need anything to get it. She always takes your side.

Arnav: Because she knew very well if she didn't take my side then she will not get chocolates, pizzas, burgers...

Khushi(cutting him): Arnav.... Are you providing her junk food every day?

 She asked shockingly.

Arnav bit his tongue. He and Aashi are trapped today. She will give a looooong lecture about healthy food and bad effect of junk food. He saw Aman coming towards him.

Arnav: Yes Aman, yah I'm coming...

He escaped from Khushi who was blabbering.

Delhi Rotary Club.

The function arranged in a huge hall. Khushi was asked to come on the stage to receive the honor. Rotary club president requested her to say about her achievement. Khushi accepted it politely.

Khushi: Good evening everybody. I accepted your invitation and came here because I wanted to say something about the person who is behind my success. I'm, what I'm, it's because of him and I'm not what I'm, it is also because of him. If he was not there in my life then I would not have been in front of you today. MY HUSBAND. "MAN BEHIND MY SUCCESS". I'm dedicating this award to him. And I want him to be with me in the proudest moment of my life. I would like to call my husband Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada on stage.

Arnav was overwhelmed. He was hesitating to go to the stage. He nodded no looking at Khushi but Aashi pushed him towards the stage. He went to the stage and stood beside Khushi. People asked him to say something. Khushi pulled him in front of mike.

Arnav: Khushi is a talented teacher. She does everything with sincerity and dedication. So that she reached here. I'm so glad to be called her husband. Thank you.

Khushi snaked his bicep while descending the stage. Aashi was in an alien world as everyone was looking at her proudly. People started greeting Khushi and Arnav as well. Khushi heard someone calling her name. She was dumbfounded seeing Akash.

Akash: Congratulation Khushi.

Khushi nodded yes plainly.

Akash: I'm very happy about the position, you reached.

Khushi: Thanks. She was about to go,

Akash: I got married to Pranav's sister. Hope you know that. (Khushi nodded yes) Do you know why? (Khushi looked at him without answering) because I know the pain of rejection.

Khushi was suffocating and Akash composed himself.

Akash: My wife is also a working woman. I don't want her talent to be wasted and I want to respect her feelings.

Khushi smiled at him nodding yes. But she has no idea her smile made someone "mad" and he was looking at her with tightened jaws. Aashi who was talking with her friend, surprised seeing her father's sudden changed reaction. She looked at the direction to where his father's angry glare got rooted.

Akash: I know that I have done a very wrong to you Khushi. I'm really sorry for whatever happened between us. I know that I'm late in asking sorry. But late is better than repenting.

Khushi: I forgot everything. There is nothing in my mind.

Akash: Am I forgiven?

Khushi nodded yes. She got rooted when she saw Arnav's rooted gaze on her. Arnav started heading towards them. Khushi was horror stuck seeing his expressionless face. He wrapped his hand around Khushi's shoulder.

Arnav: Chalen? (shall we go?)

Khushi nodded yes plastering a smile. They left the place without biding bye to Akash. Khushi got panicked when Arnav started talking to someone avoiding her gaze. She stood beside him nervously. She didn't take her eyes from his face. He looked calm which made her hell nervous. The person who was talking with Arnav bid bye to him.

Khushi (holding his hand): Arnav, he just wished me, that's all.

Arnav: I didn't ask you anything... He said looking at somewhere.

Khushi: That's what makes me worry.

Arnav: I'm ok.

Khushi: Really?

Arnav: Why?

Khushi: I can't forget the incident, once you hurt your palm with the knife when I talked about Akash.

Arnav: What are you trying to say?

Khushi: Are you angry with me?

Arnav: We will talk later Khushi. This is not a place to discuss our issues.

That means there is something to discuss. That thought churned Khushi's stomach. Khushi nodded yes. But they didn't know someone was awe stuck hearing about their flashback stunt. Aashi. This is an unknown side of her father. Arnav wounded his own palm with a knife? She couldn't believe his father is possessive on her mother to this extent.

She always teases Khushi thinking that she was the one who is possessive on Arnav. But seems like, truth is something. And adding to it, Khushi always fought with Aashi like she is really jealous. How sweet her mother is? Her mother behaves equal to her level as if she didn't know about Arnav's love.

She witnessed Arnav so silently throughout the journey to their house. Khushi was trying hard to pacify him by conversing with him continuously. These all looked so new for Aashi. She never saw her dad stern like this. Is Arnav more possessive than Khushi? She got a very good entertainment then. This is the time to switch the person, from whom she kept on teasing until now. Isn't it going to be interesting to tease her father? She was so excited to start teasing her father unaware of Arnav's real possessive avatar.

To be continued......