UE part 12

It had been a wonderful visit for Khushi, for one , the family immediately went gaga over her and to top it all , Arnav had taken his leave..She and Anjali together chatted for long, shared laughter, and even watched a television programme together..anybody could say they were already best buddies..

Aakash had walked to and fro several times before them on the phone trying to placate an Arnav on the phone who was busy blasting off at some poor soul, and eventually at every soul..

"Relax bhai"

"i know bhai...i understand"

"of course bhai"

"you don't worry bhai, i'll handle.."

"you are right bhai"

Khushi smiled to herself.. 'fire extinguisher' she muttered..

"you said something?" Anjali enquired..

"oh no nothing.."

"Guess what!" Khushi chirped.. "i met fire extinguisher come alive today!!"

"Khushi .." paayal rolled her eyes... "now who is this"

"Aakash Singh Raizada"

"what?"

"believe me jiji!! serves the same purpose when it comes to cement pile on fire"

"Khushi!"

"what? You should meet him... fire extinguisher meets book worm..i see some scope"

Paayal threw the cushion at her.. "you are mad!"

"see! You have the violent streak hidden in you! We need a fire extinguisher!"

and there went another cushion..

4 days later...

Agony and Ectasy...such a heart wrenching novel...

Aakash silently sat down next to Paayal who by virtue of being totally immersed in her novel had not sensed his presence, while his secretary ran to get the dentist's appointment checked..

A simple ponytail and wearing an equally simple dress Paayal stared at the book as if it was her future written in there..

"ahem ahem.." he cleared his throat slightly and Paayal looked up..they exchanged smiles before she immersed herself in the book once again, the bookmark fell to the ground and before she could pick it up he did it for her..

"oh thanks"

he smiled.. "please don't mention..by the way, i'm Aakash Singh Raizada"

Paayal's eyes immediately widened..

"so YOU are fire extinguisher??" she exclaimed..

"excuse me??" he replied in shock...as very expected, people are generally not habituated to being referred as inanimate object with such immense conviction..

realizing what had just slipped past her mouth Payal blushed profusely and tingled to hit Khushi wham! on the head..

"i am terribly sorry..i..i am Paayal, Khushi's sister, she happens to have met you..she told me you are cement pile's brother so-"

"EXCUSE ME?"

"Oh God what am I saying..i am so sorry..pleasure to meet you Mr Raizada.."

"oh the pleasure's all mine.." Aakash muttered wondering whether she had come to meet a wrong doctor..if her statements were anything to go by, she needed someone else..

Paayal tried desperately to change the topic..

"so, you are here for-"

"no" he smiled "by God's grace my 32 are doing well, my brother and niece have an appointment..the girl wouldn't come without me..you see, bhai is not exactly the comforting kind"

Paayal ,judging by what Khushi had sketched of Arnav Singh Raizada before her could never have imagined otherwise

"and you?..i mean.." his voice trailed away in a question

"oh , my 32 are intact by God's grace too..but Khushi is worse than your neice..she's already run away from 3 previous appointments and i'm here to ensure that that's not the fate of the fourth too..plus she has been so immersed in work since the past few days I literally had to drag her here"

Aakash laughed..

"i think the three of them are together inside" Aakash murmured..

"they are??" paayal widened her eyes..this couldn't be good..

--

the dentist took a moment's leave..

Khushi turned and craned her head to ensure the doctor had indeed left..Arnav sitting on the couch by the far wall eyed her..this girl was surely set on running away..unbelievable..

before Khushi could get up from the patient's chair Arnav was by her side holding Charu's hands..

Khushi eyed him confused..

Arnav looked at Charu and spoke "how does she look Charu?" pointing at her..

Khushi widened her eyes at him..

"scaild" charu muttered..

Arnav went on his knees before the little girl and spoke..

"and that is how smart girls are not, you heard me? Charu, you cannot be scared of such things can you? You are a brave girl, Arnav Singh Raizada's neice..it's not our way. We are never scared"

Khushi fumed and could now think of many innovative uses of those instruments before her..

Arnav picked up the water jet from the instrument tray..

"what is this? Nothing..see, absolutely harmless" he spoke to the little girl shaking it..

Charu ,who had never seen this side of her uncle before, by virtue of holding him in high esteem , was immediately relieved..

" I am not scaild...chee is?" she pointed at Khushi..

Arnav gave Khushi a sarcastic smirk.. "you needn't bother about her. She's not a Raizada after all"

That was it...Khushi had had enough..

"exactly dear!" she held charu's hands " I am not a Raizada and therefore I am very sane"

"aren't Raizadas chane?" Charu asked innocently..

"oh no..it's not like that..look, you are very sane, your aunt is , even your Aakash chachu..but everyone is not so lucky.." she glanced at Arnav..

"Isn't Alnav chachu chane?" she looked at Khushi as a very disturbing reality seemed to be settling on her..

"oh well.." she suppressed a grin...

Arnav's fuming retort was postponed by the dentist's entry..

"look Charu!" khushi called.. "i am having it done..no worries...nothing to be scared of..see.."

"you aal blave girl too!" charu clapped...

Khushi nodded with a nervous smile as the lump size in her throat grew larger..damn Arnav Singh Raizada!! now she couldn't even run away!! it was a matter of self respect..

"haha..the water jet is coming..but I am not scared..haha.."

"there goes that shiny prickly weird instruments..no problem.. haha..nothing to be scared..you see that Charu don't you?"

Arnav meanwhile was having the time of his life at the sight..so much for the brave talk..Khushi looked ready to jump out the window anytime..but her ego wouldn't allow her as long as he was there.

the doctor bent..khushi squeezed her eyes shut..

prick!

"AAA!!!!!"

"Relax Ms Gupta! I am just taking a broken tooth piece out...you are not getting hurt!"

oh well..she wasn't..but she could..that was enough for her to shriek..

Arnav shook his head disbelievingly 

Khushi finally got up and looked around searching for the child ,to save her impression in front of whom, she had undergone this horror..

"where is Charu?" she asked Arnav..

"she went away long before" Arnav spoke nonchalantly...

"what? And you couldn't tell me???"

"why should I?"

Khushi fumed as the door opened and Paayal entered..

"it's over??"

"oh what brings you so early?"

"sorry khushi..but wow! You got it done alone! without my help..this is a first.."

"is there a party?" khushi fumed..

Arnav smirked..

"Sorry to keep you waiting Mr Raizada.." the doctor turned towards Arnav

Arnav shook his head as he took her place on the seat..

"Khushi what happened?" Paayal struggled to catch up with Khushi as she stormed out on the road..

"Khushi what is the problem for heaven's sake!!"

they passed some construction work going on and Khushi's eyes fell upon a pile of cement on the floor..

"Khushi I asked you-"

"HE IS MY PROBLEM!!!!" Khushi threw her hands pointing towards the cement pile..

and as expected several pairs of eyes turned around and widened at her and then at the pile of cement..

after all, not everyone knows the 'he' cement pile..do they?..

---

Khushi fumbled for the papers as she got up in the morning...and spread the entertainment section before her...

"like seriously Khushi! Who would say your article has come in the papers today?? no matter what it has to be the entertainment section first right? What do you get from reading celebrity gossip?"

"what your Ayn Rand and Margaret Mitchell can't give you ..spice!!"

Paayal rolled her eyes at her..

but Khushi's eyes had suddenly gone large..very large as she clutched the paper in her hands.

she read and re-read the article heading in a corner of the page..

Arnav Singh Raizada. Eligible bachelor no more?

not that she hadn't read such a thing about him before...linked to this model and that actress...

but it was the picture beneath the headline which left her 'O' mouthed...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------