30. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 30)

Part 30

“Arnav bitwaa, don’t you have a gifat for your Khussi?” mami asked archly. “I thought tumhre pocketswaa will be phull of gifats, Hello hi bye bye!”

Arnav floundered. What did he know about giving gifts? This was his first shagun and shaadi!

“Please stay for dinner, Devyaniji,” Sasi requested, relieved that everything had concluded so well, especially for them.

“Yes, let’s, saasuma,” mami begged. “It ijj so much phun bhen all of are togethers.”

“I’ll be back,” Arnav muttered, leaving the house.

                                          ***

Khushi quickly slipped away to her room and started to remove her earrings.

“Khushi,” Payal came to her with a sweet smile on her lips.

Khushi tried hard to smile.

“Aren’t you thrilled?” Payal asked her the rhetorical question, hugging Khushi. “We will be together always as jethani and devrani, living in one house with our husbands.”

Khushi’s throat ached with unshed tears. She nodded.

Buaji entered the room. “What are you doing, Sanka Devi?” she asked. “Why are you removing the jewels? Arnav bitwaa will be back. This girl, Nandkisore!”

Khushi quietly pushed the stem of the earring into the piercing on her earlobe. What was the use of arguing? Arnav bitwaa had successfully destroyed life as she knew it by proposing to her.

                                              ***

Arnav returned in time for dinner and the two families laughed and chatted as they dined on Lucknavi delicacies. Only Arnav was perturbed by Khushi’s silence and impassive face. The rest attributed it happily to bashfulness.

Mami teased the new pair. Arnav looked at Khushi. She looked as though it were all happening to someone else.

He swallowed hard, confused and not a little disturbed.

As the families said their good nights, Arnav walked up to Khushi. She looked away and tried to pretend she hadn’t seen him.

“Khushi,” he called.

All looked at them expectantly.

Khushi swallowed her pain and her ire and turned her face towards him.

“For you,” he said, holding out a beautifully wrapped box.

“Bhat ijj it?” mami asked eagerly. “Khussi, open it and show mami.”

The Guptas couldn’t contain their delight at the special attention given to Khushi by Arnav bitwaa.

Nani and Anjali looked at each other, their eyes twinkling with happiness.

Khushi extended her hands and received the gift from him. He made sure to touch her fingers with his. She jerked at the touch but made sure to keep her head lowered so that he couldn’t read anything there.

“Unwrap it, Khushiji. Let’s see what our Chotey has given you,” Anjali encouraged.

Khushi pulled away the expensive covering to see a jewellery box inside. She opened the box.

There was a beautiful diamond necklace in the box, so gorgeous that even Anjali, the owner of hundreds of diamond necklaces gave an awe-filled gasp.

Khushi blinked at the fire of the stones. “Sh..shukriya,” she managed to mutter.

                                              ***

Payal went into the kitchen to get a glass of warm milk. The rest of the family, except for Arnav, went to their own rooms.

Arnav entered the kitchen, calling, “Err...Payal?”

“Ji?” she asked with a smile, walking up to him, leaving the milk. “Do you want something, jetji? Shall I get you a glass of milk or a mug of black tea?”

“No...err..Payal, I was thinking...your family doesn’t mind my proposal, do they?” he asked.

Payal smiled. “Mind? They are delighted.”

Arnav nodded slowly, making no move to leave.

Payal, encouraged to speak, said softly, “We were all so worried about Khushi. Woh kya he, Khushi and I, we slept together in one room from the day she joined us. So buaji and amma were worried how she would manage without me. She is scared of the dark.” She spoke through a throat choked with tears. “Because of you, jetji, we will always be together.”

Arnav blinked. This was info overload. He asked slowly, “Joined you? Why should she join you?”

Payal smiled sadly. “Her mother was my amma’s sister. Her parents died in an accident when she was eight. That’s when my parents adopted her and she came to stay with us.”

Arnav almost hyperventilated. “Adopted?” he asked softly when he could.

Payal frowned. “You didn’t know, jetji? Amma and babuji told your family.”

“No, I...I didn’t know. I...she was happy with you?” he managed to ask.

Payal smiled. “Very. She is very naughty and fun-loving. She brought life to our house.”

Arnav smiled slightly. “She..she is very close to you,” he stated.

Payal smiled and said, “Closer than sisters. She would do anything for me, anything.”

Arnav felt weak. Thankfully Payal had turned away to check on the milk.

“Good night, Payal,” he muttered before leaving the kitchen.