OUR HEARTBEATS BECOME ONE!

CHAPTER  6

Arnav's satisfied smirk began wearing off when he took in how Khushi appeared. She was wet from head to toe...and looked...well strangely .....tempting! He couldn't take his eyes off a single drop of water that found its way down her right cheek , her chin and onto her long neck. He gulped.Khushi had noticed the look in his eyes and became conscious . She tried covering herself ,but gave up and ran away from there leaving a disheartened Arnav staring at her receding back...her oh too tempting back!! He raised his hand as if to stop her but immediately put it down when he realised what he was doing.Anjali was now sure that the sparks were on between the two...but they just wouldn't admit it. She calculated her next move.Khushi had run straight into buaji who snorted at the impact. "Arre sanka devi! Where were you? My throat is parched and you return so late? That too empty handed?"Khushi recognized her folly and knew she had no excuse to give. She didn't want to go back...what if he was still there?Arnav turned to leave but came face to face with Anjali."Di?" he asked"Kaha hai?" asked AnjaliArnav thought that his di meant Khushi and didn't know what to say. He stammered ," K..Kaun di?""Kaun?" asked Anjali ,hiding her smile ."Woh...""Kaun nahi chote...kya?""huh?""I was talking about water chote!""Huh? oh! ya...here di" said Arnav handing her the half empty glass."Bade kanjoos ho gaye ho?""Sorry di!", he said and immediately filled her glass for her.Anjali took a sip and then ran her finger along the rim. Without looking up she asked,"Vaise, who were you talking about?""Me? Umm..no one di! I just... its getting late , I need to go. Aakash will drop you home",said Arnav changing the topic immediately."Hmmm... fine. Actually I invited the Guptas over for lunch. They seem to be such a nice family......especially Khushiji. Don't you think?""Aa...""You have to go right? Office?.... Aren't you getting late?""y...yes...umm"Just then Anjali spotted Aakash.She called out to him and he came over.She told him her plan and asked him if he could accomodate three more people in his car.An all too eager Aakash agreed instantly."Okay then chote... you leave... bye!""Huh? Di ..but""What chote?""I mean...The car is too small for so many people to travel comfortably...Umm I'll drop you and the Guptas..and Aakash can drop the others home?" said Arnav, trying to hide the longing in his voice."But won't you be late for office?""Thats fine di... I'll drop you and then leave.""Hmmm...fine then."Arnav let out a sigh of relief.Buaji was still scrutinizing Khushi,who seemed to be lost in her own world!She smaked her slightly on her arm and asked,"Kya?""Ji woh hum...", began Khushi...but buaji cut her off."Chodo! We have been invited for lunch by the Raizadas.""What????", yelled Khushi surprised."Arre! Why are you shouting? Anjali bitiya wanted us to come over.""And you agreed?", asked Khushi...though she already new the answer."Ofcouse I did! How can I refuse them? After all they are Raizadas!", said buaji reverently."But we are also Guptas!", said Khushi defiantly. She didn't want one more encounter with that laad governor!"Chup pagli!",said buaji and smacked her again.Just then Anjali came there with the rest of the family and the two families prepared to leave.Once buaji and Payal were seated in Arnav's car, Anjali said,"Khushiji...why don't you come in Aakash's car...that way everyone will be able to sit comfortably!"She checked Arnav from the corner of her eyes and saw that his head had snapped up on hearing this!Khushi who had also turned to look at Arnav noticed it and immediately looked away , gulping!"ji Anjaliji...Kyun nahi?"Now Arnav turned to glare at Khushi who refused to meet his eyes!Arnav fumed at the defiance and turned to take his seat ,swearing in his mind!Anjali chuckled , while Khushi obediently went and sat in Aakash's car.Aakash too was disheartened but he understood his di's plan and kept mum. This maneuver meant that Arnav would stay at home a little longer now...just to be with Khushi! Anjali really knew how to play her cards!!

The ride back home was pure torture for Arnav! He couldn't believe he was so close to his angel and yet so far! He kept wondering how he could've convinced di to let Khushi ride with them......wthout arousing suspicion. His mood turned gray with every new possibility that popped into his head!Meanwhile Aakash's car was in a complete antonymous mood! Khushi bonded really well with nani and Aakash and kept chattering away , keeping them entertained.....and winning their hearts! Mami,....though she tried to stay aloof,..couldn't but smile, at some of Khushi's antics. It was to be said that she too had, in small ways, fallen for sanka devi's charms....though she tried hard to hide it!So it happened ,when the duo reached the Raizada mansion, Khushi was cracking some silly joke and she and Aakash were giggling away.......much to the displeasure of Arnav ...who turned green with jealousy. He stared at Khushi who didn't even glance at him!You couldn't blame her either. The moment Khushi stepped out of the car and onto The Raizada property,she......for the second time.....felt she had died and reached heaven!!!! 'Cause this couldn't be any less than the paradise that people talked about. The poor thing couldn't get enough of everything,...and her laad governor expected attention for himself..... so not happening!!If the exterior was paradise....the interior...well she couldn't put it in words! The expansive white marble floors! The plush velvet sofas! Antiques from across the globe! And most importantly the brilliant set up! She was speechless.Anjali limped towards her and lay a hand on her shoulder," Kaisi lagi? ""Its beautiful Anjaliji!", exclaimed Khushi."It Chote's designing", put in Anjali.Khushi quickly stole a glance at Arnav , who was looking at her from the corner of his eye! The expression on her face clearly stated that she was impressed. Arnav beamed. It meant the world to him!But that one look at Arnav brought back the previous night's memory. Khushi recalled how she had thought buaji's house was the type of paradise anybody would want to live in..that too in such an expensive city as Delhi!She knew she had to take that back now! The Raizadas were indeed stinking rich! "The Raizadas ," thought Khushi reverently, just as her buaji had....a while ago!But her face fell, the reverence gone, the ego back!! " So what? I am perfectly happy where I am. It has everything I want. A comfortable bed, a kitchen with a kadai to make jalebis in, a 3/4 day water service and ofcourse my Salman Khan posters! What more do I want?", she thought haughtily. She didn't look at Arnav again.Meanwhile buaji and Payal were in a similar state as Khushi....minus the ego...plus the reverence!Aakash offered to tour them around the house, which they gladly accepted. Khushi somehow got left behind.So she instead mae friends with nani's pet.. Lakshmiji...the goat!She was busy chatting with her and Arnav was watching her fascinated!"Toh pata hai Lakshmiji , humne kya kiya?"The goat stared at her."Are sunoge to hairan reh jaoge", said Khushi beaming"meheheheh!""Ha Ha! Batate hai! Humne use pehle ghutno ke neeche laath mari , phir uske hath ko kata...thab woh chillaya....NAHI!!!!!!!""Mehehehehee!!!" said Lakshmi,..matching Khushi's tone.Arnav burst out laughing ...much to Khushi's , Anjali's and nani's shock!Khushi looked down embarrassed. But it took a lot of willpower from her side to look away from her laughing laad gover.....no demigod! She blushed red!"Arre wah! Khushiji...you have made the impossible happen! You have made the great ASR laugh after almost a decade!!", exclaimed an excited Anjali.She was truly happy for her brother. Khushi was his perfect match!Khushi just smiled! She too was happy. His laugh was mesmerising...she could live with it.....forever!Nani called them all for lunch.Arnav tried sitting opposite Khushi but Aakash, who had been instructed by Anjali, quickly took his place."Vaise Arnav...aren't you getting late for office now?", asked Anjali.Caught unawares, Arnav was at a loss as to what he should say. He stammered," Uh..Woh di....The meeting got cancelled so.... I'll be working from home today.""Acha?" said Anjali raising her eyebrow.Arnav gave his sister a half smile and concentrated on his food.Anjali turned her attention to Khushi."Vaise , What are you and Payal doing now Khushiji? I mean ..are you studying?""Ji woh! Actually jiji has done her B.Ed and is planning to take tuitions for children at home. I on the other hand... I've done my B.com and a short term management course. I am looking for a job...""Arre that is brilliant Khushiji . You can work in Chote's company...A.R. designs?... I'm sure he has a post for you. Right chote? ....That of assistant manager?" asked Anjali expectantly.Khushi's eyes turned the size of saucers as she rapidly shifted her gaze from Arnav to Anjali and back to Arnav!"Arre wah! That would be soo helpful Anjali bitiya! We would be most grateful!", said buaji happily"Ofcourse she'll get this job! She is capable of doing it! yeh to vahi baath hui na,...bagal mein chora aur sheher mein dhindora!" exclaimed nani"Chori nani!" said Anjali ruffling Khushi's hair playfully.Khushi gulped."Haan bhai! I think it will work. Vaise bhi Amanji has so much work load on his head. This will help him too!", said Aakash...playing alongMami sneered. Payal placed her hand on Khushi's excitedly! Nani beamed.Khushi gulped."k..fine! you join from tomorrow...8'o'clock sharp!", said Arnav......glad that others were oblivious to the cartwheels his stupid heart was doing!Mami sneered. Payal pressed Khushi's hand! Nani beamed. Anjali hugged Arnav. Aakash looked satisfied. And Khushi.....she choked on her food!!Khushi began coughing uncontrollbly! In his haste to give her water , a concerned Arnav spilt it on her sari....the second time! Today was not that sari's day!"Khushiji?..Are you alright?" asked Anjali.... worried.Khushi nodded."Why don't you go clean up ? You can find a bathroom upstairs."Khushi got up and left.Mami snorted.... they ignored her! Hello hi bye bye!Khushi had found her way into Arnav's room...not that she knew. She looked around at the grey walls distastefully(and should've immediately guessed owing to the bright setup outside. To think one person could have such different tastes and moods in two different rooms of the same house!!) ad then slipped into the bathroom.A while later she exited the bathroom to find Arnav preparing to enter."Aap yahan?", strutted Khushi."Mere room mein mere alava kaun ayega?", asked Arnav raising his eyebrow."This is your room? ". Khushi gulped and looked around. Then looked back at him."Khushi...tum theek ho?" asked Arnav.. referring to the earlier coughing fit."Ji?..ji. ", said Khushi... Suddenly memory of the previous night at the hospital flooded her mind. He had asked the same question then. It felt so right.The hospital brought back one more memory which Khushi had almost forgotten!She picked up Arnav's injured hand and looked at it. Then looking into his eyes she asked," Arnavji...aap? Aap theek ho?"

A moment they spent , lost in each others eyes. But then Khushi broke the trance when she realized what she was doing! She quickly moved back and nervously fidgeted with her dupatta.Arnav noticed her state and smiled. She was concerned for him. He liked that. He could live with it......forever!He stepped towards her one menacing step at a time. Khushi who noticed moved back, her heart pounding away to glory! Arnav had almost reached her when.."Chal maiyya ke dagar...." Khushi's phone sang!Arnav looked at her in wonder. Khushi returned the look sheepishly and picked her phone." H...H...Hello?"As the conversation proceeded Khushi's expression turned from sheepish , to dread.... to anger....to fear! She cut the phone and began crying silently.Arnav , who had noticed everything stepped forward, concerned. " Khushi?", was all he could say before she ran out of the room , tears still streaking her face!Arnav was confused...then concerned.....then angry! ASR was back! "How dare she turn away from me like that?", he thought. But her tears haunted him and he got angrier. Angry because he didn't know why she affected him. Angry because he couldn't control it. Angry because she had turned away. Angry because someone had made her cry. And above all... angry because it had been someone else and not him!Well this much anger was never going to let him think straight.....so he thought of all the crooked ways he could gather. Ways through which he could channel his anger out of his body and onto his angel, who he held responsible for all this!"You just wait Khushi Kumari Gupta! Tomorrow onwards your life is going to be hell!" he stormed.Meanwhile Khushi ran down the stares, shaken. He had found her...had he? " Oh! please devi maiyya. Please dont let him find me!" she prayed , as the tears streamed down her face.She bumped into Payal."Khushi?" she enquired."Jiji?... " she hugged her sister and cried her heart out. "Usne mu...muj...mujhe dhoond li..liya!" she sobbed.Payal was shocked! But she quickly composed herself and consoled her sister. She managed to shush a shaking Khushi and stealthily took leave from the Raizadas and left for home.All through the goodbyes , Khushi's eyes threatened to overflow, but Payal's firm hand that held her, kept her sane. But once out of the Raizada mansion, she let it flow, not able to hold it in anymore!As soon as they reached home, buaji bombarded them with questions, which Payal patiently answered ,while Khushi rocked back and forth , hugging her knees to her chest.