Chapter 18

Khushi breaks from the hug and pulls Arnav to his room.

She runs to get her “Hum Aapke Hain Kaun” DVD and shows it to Arnav excitedly: See Arnavji? I brought Salman Khan movie to watch with you.

Arnav gets irritated to see that Khushi brought a Salman Khan movie to watch. What’s wrong with a decent Hollywood flick or even Bollywood movie of some other actor other than that meathead?

But when he saw the shining orbs that are Khushi’s eyes and the excitement in them, he knew that he will watch even re-runs of Dr.Phil to make her happy. He sighed and sat down on the bed to watch 3 hours of Salman Khan…

Khushi ran out of the room and called HP. HP came on cue with a large bowl of popcorn and two huge glasses of drink.

Arnav raised his brow to Khushi: Khushi, you know I’m diabetic. So I can’t drink sugary drinks.

Khushi smiled: I know. That’s why I made you Fresh lime soda without sugar.

Arnav smiled in tenderness, overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness again.

He grabbed the drink and they sat on the bed to watch the movie. The minute the movie started, Khushi scooted closer to him and snuggled in his arms. He put his arms around her and settled down to enjoy yet another amazing experience of his life.

When the song “Didi Tera Dewar Deewana” began, he remembered another Sangeet when Khushi had reworked the song to fit him and a chuckle came out of his mouth at the memory. Khushi raised her face from his arms to look questioningly at him to know the reason of his smile. He just shook his head and hugged her closer.

It surprised him to no end that he actually enjoyed the movie. But to be truthful, what he really enjoyed watching was Khushi’s expression when she laughed, cried, blushed and showed hundred different expression with each scene. He loved to see Khushi’s face showing million expressions in the blue light of the tv. He might learn to love Bollywood movies after all.

By the time the movie ended, Arnav found Khushi sleeping in his arms with her head pillowed on his shoulder. He gently, picked her up and carried her to the guest room and carefully placed her on the bed without waking up Payal.

He came back to his room and thought about his first Bollywood movie experience.

He smiled at the memory but then he frowned as he remembered how disturbed he felt when the beautiful heroine dies in the movie leaving her family and her husband devastated. He paces on the poolside and decides to sleep on the recliner so that he can see Khushi’s face as his eyes closes in sleep.

Next morning, Khushi wakes up and decides to see how her Laad Governor was doing.  She dresses up in a yellow anarkali by Satya Paul with silver work on it. She left her hair unbound because she knows that her Laad Governor loves her unbound hair.

Khushi slowly goes to Arnav’s room with muffled steps and sees Arnav sleeping on the recliner. She somehow felt he had a restless night.

She gets worried and thinks for a moment. Then suddenly a brilliant idea (or so she thinks) strikes her head. She slowly moves to Arnav, takes the corner of her dupatta and tickles Arnav’s face with it.

Arnav feels something soft tickling his face. He makes a grimace and moves his face to one side.

Khushi giggles and tickles his face again. He rubs his face with the back of his hand and turns his face to the other side.

Khushi tries to muffle her giggle by putting her palm on her mouth and tries to tickle again.

But her muffled giggle woke up Arnav. He smiles inwardly at her mischief and decides to pretend to be asleep.

Khushi tickles his face again. But this time, Arnav does not react.

Khushi frowns and rolls her dupatta some more to tickle again. Again, Arnav uses all his willpower and does not react.

Khushi bends forward to tickle his neck, but suddenly Arnav grabs Khushi and pulls her on his lap.

Khushi gives out a shriek as she lands on Arnav’s arms with her wide eyes and mouth open in an “O”…

Arnav smirks at her surprise and raises his brow: So, Khushi Kumari Gupta? What were you up to this time?

Khushi blushes and stammers: I… I… ummm… came to wake you up…

Arnav smirks: Oh, so you wake up sleeping men with tickles?

Khushi blushes some more: Nooo… I don’t wake up sleeping men with tickles… (Realizes what she said and hurriedly tries to rectify the sentence with her blabbering) I mean, I don’t wake up sleeping men at all… I mean sleeping man at all… Well, other than babuji. But I don’t wake him up with tickles. I mean…

Arnav puts his palm on her mouth to stop her blabber and leans closer to look into her big eyes: I don’t mind waking up with your tickles, but next time, you will wake up with me in my bed.

Khushi blushes crimson and lowers her head in shyness.

Arnav raises his brow and smirks: I did not know Khushi Kumari Gupta knows how to be shy…

He leans forward until his nose almost touches hers: Your nose is turning red (Kisses on her little nose) and so are your cheeks (kisses her left and right cheeks)…

Khushi slowly whispers: Someone will come, Arnavji…

Arnav comes closer to Khushi’s leaps: I don’t care…

Suddenly they hear Nani’s voice: Khushi bitiya? Where are you?

Khushi’s eyes go bigger and she jumps up from Arnav’s lap…

Arnav gets irritated: What the?

Khushi starts babbling: Arnavji, Naniji is calling me. I have to go.

She runs out of his room before he could catch her.

Arnav jumps out of the recliner and stomps to his bathroom, irritated to have his morning kiss interrupted by nosy family members.

After he comes out of the bathroom, he picks up his blackberry to check messages and notices that his bodyguard, Angad, has left twelve missed calls and fifteen messages on his cellphone, all of them urging him to call Angad immediately.

Arnav tenses and calls Angad and asks him to meet him at his office.

He dresses up quickly in one of the suits and leaves in a rush.

Living room, Shaantivan:

Khushi sees Naniji in the temple and walks upto her: Naniji, I want to make something special for everyone for breakfast. What can I make?

Naniji smiles inwardly: You want to make something special for everyone or just one?

Khushi blushes: No, I mean… I will make it for everyone.

Naniji caress her face with love and says: Chotey’s favourite dish is poori and Mathura aloo. When Anjali bitiya and Chotey were young and used to come to our home for summer vacation, I used to make them that dish. Chotey loved it.

Khushi excited: Naniji, will you teach me how to make it?

Naniji is extremely pleased to see Khushi’s love and care for Arnav. She said: Of course, I will teach you. In fact, I will teach you so well, that Chotey will eat his fingers with aloo.

Khushi’s eyes sparkle with happiness.

Naniji comes with Khushi to the kitchen and teaches her how to prepare the food.

Anjali comes into the kitchen and sees all arrangements and asks: What are you teaching Khushi, Nani?

Naniji replies: Poori and Mathura Aloo.

Anjali’s eyes widen: What? When I asked you to teach me how to make it, you said that this recipe is not for sharing? (She smiles and teases Khushi) Khushi, you are very lucky. Naniji does not give away her secret recipes to just anybody.

Khushi smiles: I’m very honored to learn it from Naniji, Di.

Anjali teases her some more: As far as I know, only one person is crazy about this dish in here. Who was it again?

Khushi blushes..

Naniji smiles at Anjali: Don’t tease her so much. See, how she is turning red? She is making this for Chotey.

Anjali widens her smile: Oh yes, chotey loves this recipe and if he really loves the cooking, he might even kiss the cook. (Anjali winks at Khushi)

Khushi blushes some more and finishes the final preparation.

She beautifully arranges the dishes on a tray and takes it to Arnav’s room.

But Arnav’s room was empty. She puts the tray on the table and looks in the bathroom, but it was empty as well.

She sees HP passing through the corridor and calls him: Hari Prakashji, did you see Arnavji anywhere?

HP: I saw Arnavji leaving some time back. May be he went to office Khushiji?

Khushi gets disappointed. She takes the tray and comes back downstairs. Naniji sees her sad face and asks her: What is the matter, Khushi bitiya?

Khushi tells Naniji sadly: Naniji, Arnavji went to office without eating breakfast.

Naniji exasperated: Chotey just can’t leave his work alone. (Then she sees Khushi’s sad eyes and comes up with an alternative plan) Khushi bitiya, why don’t you pack the food and take it to Chotey’s office?

Khushi brightens up at the idea. She smiles and runs to the kitchen to pack the food and decides to take it to Arnav’s office.

In the temple, a candle flickers constantly at Devi Maiyya’s feet…