Part 14 Cold War
Mrs. ASR...? Khushi gulped down.
*You don't have to bother about it IT problem. I will take care of it* Arnav said.
Khushi nodded ok.
That's when Lavanya came to Arnav's room. Khushi smiled at her.
*Hi, Khushi* Lavanya hugged her.
*Welcome to RM...* Lavanya said.
Khushi smiled at her.
*Have you met everyone? * Lavanya asked.
*Shali, Shamli, Shyam Bhai, and NK are remaining* Khushi said.
Arnav lifted his brows wondering.
*How do you know about everyone Khushi? * he asked.
*Lavanya told me*
Lavanya nodded yes.
*Oh... full set to get succeeded in your plan? * Arnav smiled.
Lavanya nodded yes again.
*I will be happy if you put some effort in telling about Aman to your brother* Arnav said folding his hands, lifting his brows.
Lavanya sighed.
*You guys are torturing US...* he said, looking at Khushi.
*Khushi are we torturing you? * Lavanya asked.
Khushi looked at Arnav who was smiling at her. She nodded NO and then nodded YES.
*You too, Khushi...? This is not done* Lavanya pouted.
Khushi laughed softly.
That's when Anjali came to Arnav's room.
"Khushiji, I'm here to tell you something," Anjali said.
Khushi smiled at her whereas Arnav frowned.
"We decided to perform your Moo-Dikai function," Anjali said.
"Moo-Dikai?"
"It's a kind of introducing ceremony," Anjali said.
Khushi looked at Arnav.
"Di, it's not necessary..."
"Chotte... Don't be pointless, ok? No one is invited to your wedding. No one has seen Khushiji. What will people think seeing you with a girl?"
"Whatttt?"
"They can think anything... Khushi is your wife and her respect must be your concern. She has to be respected. No one could talk about her if we perform a ritual and show the world that we accepted her as our Bahu. What say, Lavanya?"
"Hann... You are right Bhabi..." Lavanya said.
"Tomorrow morning, we will perform moo-Dikai"
Khushi nodded ok with an awkward smile. Anjali left the place.
"Why did you say yes to Di?" Arnav asked Lavanya gritting his teeth.
"What do you want me to say then?"
"You should have said NO"
"How could I? she would have become doubtful..."
Arnav rolled his eyes.
"This is a usual formality ASR... What Bhabi told is not wrong. Don't we know about people? Do you want people to mock Khushi? People will start respecting her if we declare her as our Bahu"
"But, it may affect her future..." Arnav said.
Cutting him,
"There is nothing called future for me Mr. Raizada..." Khushi said.
"Khushi, stop calling him Mr. Raizada and call something romantic... then only people believe you guys are in love with each other"
Khushi looked at Arnav who got stuck.
"Call him something like, Arnie... "
Khushi plastered an awkward smile which made Arnav smile inwardly.
"How will the moo-dikai be?" Khushi changed the topic.
"People will come and see you"
"That's all...?"
"Haan..."
"I thought it would be like a wedding reception..."
"Kind of... But ASR would not be with you... Only you will receive the gifts from the guests"
"Only me? " she gulped down.
Lavanya nodded yes.
"Will they ask me about anything?" She asked nervously.
Before Lavanya answered,
"You don't have to bother about it. Just keep silent if anyone asks you anything" Arnav said.
"That's all," Lavanya said.
Khushi nodded ok.
"Where are Shali and Shamli? " Khushi asked.
"They went to the private class. Will be here at 8o' clock"
"Oh..."
"Call me if you want anything. Don't hesitate" Lavanya said.
"Be careful Lavanya, your brother may shout at you if he sees you with my WIFE..." Arnav said in a flow, making Khushi and Lavanya shocked.
Seeing their faces, Arnav understood the blunder.
"I mean... according to Raizadas..." He stammered.
Lavanya nodded ok smiling.
Night
Anjali came to Arnav's room and called Khushi for the dinner.
"Chotte, bring Khushi to the dining."
Arnav nodded ok. Anjali left the place with a smile.
"Let's go Khushi " Arnav called her.
Khushi nodded ok hesitatingly.
Dinner
Seeing everyone, including Shyam in the dining, Khushi panicked. Arnav pulled a chair next to him for Khushi and gestured for her to sit. Khushi sat on the chair without looking at anyone.
Anjali served to Arnav and Khushi. Khushi ate silently. That was the first time she had dinner with a FAMILY.
"Is not Mami looking beautiful? " Shali whispered in Shamli's ear.
She nodded yes giggling.
"Why are you laughing?" Anjali asked.
"Mumma, Shali says, Mami looks beautiful" she again giggled.
Khushi stopped eating, getting embarrassed.
"Haan, that's why your Mama married to her..." came from Shyam.
Except Khushi, all the Raizadas and Lavanya understood the REAL meaning of his words. They knew it was a taunt. Arnav stopped eating and glared at him.
"Di... you said, tomorrow is Moo-Dikai function... nothing should happen in that function. If anyone taunts my wife, then I won't be silent... mind it" Arnav said looking at Shyam.
"You can't stop people from talking... you have to face everything if you brought your personal matter to the public," Shyam said.
"Stop the damn function if you can't control people, Di... I don't give a damn to those who don't have the manner to stay away from someone's personal matter. I won't mind throwing them away from my life" Arnav said wrathfully.
The dining hall heated up. Khushi looked at Arnav fearfully who emitted fire through his eyes.
Shyam was about to say something, Nani took lead.
"This is not a place to discuss something serious. If you want to talk, you can do it later"
"Yes, Nani... I want to talk and FINISH it off" Arnav said.
Shyam went to his room, leaving the dinner half finished. None of them stopped him, including Anjali.
"Bhabi, Gobi Manjurian is awesome," Lavanya said, trying to change their mind.
"Haan, Bua..." Shamli said.
"Do you like it, Khushi?" Lavanya asked.
Everyone looked at her. She nodded yes simply.
"Shhhh...Shhhh" Shali called Anjali.
Anjali raised her brows like WHAT? She gestured for Anjali to introduce them to Khushi. Khushi, who saw that controlled her smile.
"Khushiji..." Anjali called her.
"Jee?"
"They are my daughters, Shali and Shamli..."
Khushi smiled at them.
"Hi, Mami..." They said together.
"I'm Shali..."
"I'm Shamli..."
"I know," Khushi said.
"But, you will get confused within us" they giggled.
"I won't..."
"How?"
"Because Shamli has a scar above her left eyebrow... she got that when she fell down from the stairs..."
Shali and Shamli dropped their jaws.
"How do you know, Mami?"
Khushi smiled, said nothing.
"Your Mama had recited everything to her it seems," Manorama said.
Khushi looked at Lavanya who smiled at her. Arnav nodded NO smilingly. Don't know where this is leading them.
After finishing dinner, Arnav dropped Khushi in his room.
"I will just come..." he was about to go,
"Are you going to meet your Jeejaji?" somewhat she understood the cold war between them.
Arnav nodded yes.
"Don't say anything to him. just be it... it's all for a few days only, right?"
"You go. I will take care of it" Arnav walked to Anjali's room, leaving tensed Khushi.
To be continued...
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Anjali's suggestion
Arnav walked to Anjali's room. He stopped listening to her talks with Nani.
*What are you talking Anjali? * Nani asked worriedly.
*Haan, Nani. This is the only way to keep peace in our family. Shyamji won't be quiet if we are here. He will say something which hurt Chotte and Khushiji*