Part 29

Amidst the laughter Khushi looked at Payal and then suddenly realized that Payal’s opinion was not taken. Though she could guess from the slight blush that was shining on her Jiji’s cheeks that it was a definite yes but no she had to hear it from her sister. She was deciding how to ask the question when all the older people were around her. She decided no matter what it had to be donefor her Jiji’s sake and she would do anything for her Jiji.

Just as she cleared her throat to say something she heard Naniji say “Garima, you did not ask Payal bitiya what she thinks about all this…” and Khushi’s mouth hung open. She knew if not in front of the Raizada’s her parents would have asked her Jiji’s opinion after they left. But the head of the groom’s side to suggest to ask the girls opinion was just …. AWESOME!!

Her Jiji was going to be soo happy at her in-laws places… Khushi was feeling so light hearted she felt like jumping with all the joy she was feeling. While Khushi was basking in all the happiness the room had gone silent and everyone was eagerly looking at Payal for an answer. And Payal was looking uncomfortable and trying to speak but not knowing how to say anything and hence fidgeting.

Khushi turned to her Jiji and looked in her eyes and wriggled her eyebrows at Payal as if to say “What’s going on??” Payal widened her eyes at Khushi’s audacity and then giving up to her sister’s craziness lowered her eyes so as to avoid her sister’s eye lock.

Khushi who was not one to give up bent all the way and looked into Payal’s lowered lashes and repeated her eyebrows wriggling gesture and Payal’s eye’s widened at her sister’s action but she noticed Khushi was not going to give up until she answered. So she laughed a low laugh and closed her eyes and nodded her head in the positive and even before the nod was done she was crushed to an inch of suffocation by her highly hyper sister. Happy chatter broke out in the room by most of the people talking at the same time nobody understood what the other was saying.

Payal turned to the room and said in a “but I need…” no one was listening to her not even her sister who was busy hugging Lavanya and saying that now they are related. Payal tried to catch the room’s attention again “I want to….” But again no one was listening.

Suddenly “WAIT everyone…” came a loud and a clear voice but no one was able to recognize the voice as it was never heard in a raised tone. The Raizada’s practically stared at Aakash, they didn’t even know Aakash possessed such a loud tone. But one Raizada was relieved to hear his brother use that tone, his brother could stand up for himself when in need. Knowing this would reduce his worries about his brother’s future.

“Yes… Aakash…??” asked an uncertain Anjali.

“I… I just wanted… hmmm…Payal wants to say something…” he finished. ASR sighed his brother was back to himself… well something is better than nothing..he told himself.

While everyone else looked in Payal’s direction and Payal took a deep breath and said “I need to talk to Aakashji… before we.. I mean… before anything else is decided.” Payal finished uncertain about the reactions to her proposal but certain that this had to happen.

Nobody knew what would have happened when Aakash butted in and said “I was going to ask the same thing Payalji…” then he turned to his Dadi and said “Dadi can we go out for lunch…?”

Buaji said “No Babua we don’t allow all those things… I don’t know Payal bitiya was thinking asking like that.”

Naniji was in deep thought but Sashi spoke “Jiji times have changed and it’s only lunch and Payal bitiya goes with her friends all the time….if you want Khushi bitiya will go with them.” Finalizing that Payal will go to lunch with Aakash and Khushi will chaperone the event.

When NK said “Me and Lavanya will go too….” Excitedly.

After some more planning, it was decided that Manorama will go back to her cousin’s house to attend some event. Nani, Mamaji and Anjali will go back home in their car and Aakash, Payal, NK, Lavanya and Khushi will be dropped at a restaurant of their choice by ASR on his way to work.

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ASR waited in the driver’s seat as Aakash, NK said their send offs to Manorama and the Gupta’s and then started making their way towards his car. Nani, Anjali and Mamaji had left already with a promise to call in the evening and talk further.

He watched as NK settled into the back seat and saw Aakash slide into the front passenger seat. But as soon as NK settled he started hitting Aakash on the head with a newspaper he had found on the back seat and started saying “Dumbo.. dumbo..nayak..dumbo.. nayak..”

Aakash was busy covering his head and trying to get away from this unexpected attack from his mentally unstable cousin… ASR was stunned to for a split second but reacted soon after and quickly leaned over and held NK’s hand tight stopping the merciless attack on his brother and said “What the NK!!”

“Why are you asking me Nannav… ask Aakash he is such a dumbass…”

“What did I do?” said a now recovered Aakash.

“First you ask for lunch… who asks for lunch out with your sweetheart!!... you should ask for dinner a romantic dinner… you stupid, dumbo..Nayak!!” finished an agitated NK

“NALAYAK!!” corrected the Raizada brothers

“OK whatever, said a distracted NK… and even now you go and sit in the front seat… don’t you want to sit beside her!!” yelled NK,

ASR watched a small smile crept up on his brother’s face as Aakash realized what NK was trying to say and in a split second he was out of the car and beside NK in the back seat. ASR couldn’t believe the speed at which it happened “Unbelievable!!” he shook his head and turned back to face the road and clear his mind.

“Here they come…” he heard NK say and turned towards the Gupta house and saw Payal and Lavanya walking towards the car. He saw slight hesitation in Payal’s eyes when she understood the seating arrangement, but it was only a moment before it went away and a composed Payal sat beside Aakash. Lavanya was making her way around the car to sit beside NK but stopped and yelled “Khushi Kumari Gupta… if you don’t stop pushing Jelabi’s down your throat and get out here right now… I will make sure you won’t get to order any dessert in the restaurant.”

An amused ASR looked on as Khushi rushed out of the house and as sure as Lavanya had said her cheeks were puffy stuffed with Jelabi’s as a piece of it was sticking out of her mouth and her free hand had a another Jelabi ready. As she rushed to the SUV she screeched to a halt and he realized she was making sense of the seating in the SUV and then it struck him she would be sitting beside him and it pleasured his heart, he so wanted to watch her walk to him and sit beside him. But he did not want to make her uncomfortable…or lose control of his sense so he forced his eyes to look away from her and look straight ahead.

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Khushi sighed when she realized she was to sit upfront with HIM….“Devi maiyya why do you test me like this…”  But her resolve changed when he looked away “See Sanka Devi… he doesn’t give a damn about who sits beside him…then why should it effect you!!” she decided and threw her chin up to show her determination to the outside world and walked to the SUV and sat in her passenger seat, though her insides were a complete mush and her heart was going DHAK –DHAK like it was about to have a massive attack.

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As soon as Khushi settled in ASR put the car in to gear and moved out of the crowded narrow Lakshmi Nagar Street towards the Purple Orchid Restaurant, which was highly recommended by NK and Lavanya.

As ASR drove the car, the conversation in the car was mainly led by NK, Lavanya and Khushi. Khushi had turned slightly in her seat to look back diagonally and talk to them and was chattering of happily and teasing the new blushing couple mercilessly. He realized once Khushi got started it was hard to stop her chatter or rather nobody would feel like putting a stop to it.

ASR didn’t dare turn and look at her, he was so aware of her even without turning God only knew what would happen if he did turn and look into her eyes. So he concentrated on the road and traffic as if he was a teenager learning to drive for the first time.

When he heard NK say something to him “Hey Nannav it’s lunch time anyway and you haven’t had lunch, why don’t you eat with us and then go to work??”

Before Arnav could reply that he couldn’t stay he heard Aakash “yes Bhai, please eat with us.”

He looked in the rear view mirror to find an anxious Aakash pleading with his eyes. He knew Aakash was nervous and he knew NK would be no help incase Aakash required any. He gave a curt nod and a reassuring look to Aakash in the mirror.

To which Aakash responded with a smile. By now they had reached the restaurant and ASR drove up to the entrance and hit the break and he reached to put the gear in park.

Just as his hand reached out to change the gear that was sitting between him and her he saw her turn away from him towards the door. As all the others were getting out of the SUV. His hands fell on something that was soft and silky. Before he could fully comprehend what was going on he changed the gear as a reflex without much thought.

By the time he realized what he had done he saw her turn back sharply and her hand shot up to hold her dupatta in place, but she was too late. He already had a firm grip on it and her turning around didn’t help either and her dupatta slithered off her shoulder drawing his attention to her exposed neck and his hormones flew out of control… “Boy… would he enjoy making a mark on the crook on her neck and feel her pulse at the base of it… and..” before his eyes could travel further down the gentleman  in him woke up and he averted his eyes and looked up to see her face.

She was not looking at him she was staring at the dupatta end he held in his hand. She looked nervous… he felt her feel uncomfortable and even without thought he let go of her dupatta and she turned away from him simultaneously adjusting her dupatta in place and went on to join the group that had almost reached the front doors by now and were talking about whats good to eat at that place.

As the valet opened his door he cursed himself that he didn’t have the right on her to pull her to himself using the very same dupatta he had let go of few minutes ago. (Please imagine the scene at Payal’s mehendi, when Khushi goes to his room to get the bangles, he pulls her to himself using the dupatta before he kisses her ofcourse!!)

He cursed the place it happened he knew he would not let her feel uncomfortable in the presence of others but if it was just him and her…he knew in the heart of hearts he would have loved to make her feel nervous in his arms.

ASR shook his head to clear it’s outrageous thoughts and watched her from where he was standing. She stopped walking held Lavanya’s hand and said something in her ear and Lavanya turned and looked at him sharply smiled and turned to NK and said something to which NK, Aakash, Lavanya and Payal turned towards him and NK said “Come On Nannav… faster lets go in and eat…”

He nodded in reply and picked up his pace to his usual ASR style. But he didn’t fail to notice she had turned too ever so slightly but didn’t look at him and kept looking at the ground.

He realized what she had told Lavanya and his heart warmed at the simple gesture. And he walked up to the group his eyes fixed on her. Which went unnoticed by the other two men in the group who were blind to everything else but their lovely companions but however it did not go unnoticed by the their lovely companions.

Payal and Lavanya watched as the mighty ASR walked towards Khushi with his eyes fixed on her, it was like he was drawn to her like a moth to the flame. But they wondered who the flame was and who the moth was…whichever it was there was certainly a fire there they concluded as they saw Khushi involuntarily moved to make space for him to stand…