Chapter 26

Gupta House:

Payal continues to call Khushi but she does not pick up the phone.

She gets worried: Where are you Khushi? I need to talk to you.

Living Room, Shaantivan:

Aakash comes down to find Khushi, Naniji and Mamiji have their heads together and whispering to each other.

Aakash’s Look (minus the fierce look, strings in the wrist and the beard):

His eyebrow goes up in surprise: What is going on here?

They jump away from each other like guilty children caught with their hands in the cookie jar and says in chorus: Nothing.

Aakash is taken aback but smiles at them.

NK comes bounding in the room spreading his favourite perfume, Play by Givenchi smell everywhere and bounces off Aakash back.

NK’s Look:

Aakash turns to NK: Dude, did you take bath in the perfume or what?

NK stammers: Me? Uh no…

Then he looks at Khushi in adoration: Khushiji, I’m here.

Khushi beams at him: Come sit with us…

Then she turns to Naniji: Naniji, I’m hungry. Can we have something to eat?

Mamiji glances at Khushi’s skinny frame and mutters: Hello Hi Bye Bye… Kitna khati hain… Pata nehin itna saara khana jaata kahan hain…

(Hello Hi Bye Bye… She eats so much. I don’t know where the food goes.)

Naniji smiles at Khushi and calls HP from the intercom: Hari Prakashji, yahan pe thoda nashta le aaiye.

(Hari Prakashji, please bring some snacks here)

Khushi whispers: Samosa?

Naniji relays: Aur samosa (And samosa)

Khushi whispers again: Jalebies?

Naniji relays: Aur jalebies (And jalebies)

Khushi whispers: Kachoris?

Naniji relays: Aur Kachoris… (And Kachoris)

Mamiji mutters irritatedly: Poora snacks ka dukan hi le aao.

(Get the whole snacks shop, why don’t you?)

HP hears that in the intercom: Poora dukan, ji mamiji… (The whole store, okay Mamiji)

Then he disconnects the line.

Mamiji (irritated): Saare ke saare gadhe kaam karte hain hamare ghar mein.

(All the morons work here in our house)

Naniji consoles her: Koi baat nehin, Manorama. Abhi Manohar bhi aanewala hain aur inn bachho ko bhukh bhi lagee hogi. Laane do HP ko jo bhi laana hain.

(Never mind, Manorama. Now Manohar will be home soon and these kids are hungry too. Let HP bring whatever he wants to bring.)

Mamiji’s worry about her diet plan going down the drain makes her scowl deeper.

NK notices that and whips out the shopping bag: Masiji, I brought a saree for you.

Mamiji exclaims happily: Really?

She takes out the saree from the bag.

Manorama mami’s saree:

Mamiji exclaims in joy: I love this saree. I will wear it on the wedding next week.

Then NK hands another bag to Naniji: This is for you Naniji.

Naniji’s saree:

Naniji smiles happily: Thank you, NK bitwa. I will also wear this saree on the wedding next week.

The food arrives and the party starts with Khushi being at her vibrant self.

Mamaji arrives and joins in the fun too with a cup of tea.

NK gives Mamaji his gift.

Mamaji’s Watch:

He likes his gift too.

The party keeps going but no one realizes that how much time has passed.

Front Door, Shaantivan:

Arnav’s BMW swings in the front door of Shaantivan.

He gets out and hands the key to Om Prakash to park and walks in with laptop bag and suit jacket in one arm and loosening the tie with the other.

As he goes through the corridor and approaches the living room he hears a lot of sound coming from there.

He tries to remember if Nani had told him about any party tonight.

He walks in and sees one petite bane of his existence in bright yellow frock with a brighter smile is waving her hands telling a story and his family is sitting on the couch listening to her with rapt attention.

He notices NK with his goofy expression looking at Khushi as if the Goddess herself walked in to deliver gospel…

Khushi was waving her hands warming up to the story: And then I said to the man…

Suddenly a voice booms right behind her making her stumble: What the hell are you doing here?

Khushi turns around to see ASR standing behind her with a thunderous expression, arms crossed and scowling at (surprise, surprise) her…

She pulls herself to her not-so-considerable height and states calmly: No, I did not say that even though he deserved it because I’m more polite person. Besides, it’s my story. You can’t tell it. (Crosses her arms matching his stance but looking cute instead of intimidating in the process)

ASR stomps to her and mutters: This is the last time I’m asking. What are you doing in my house?

Khushi widens her big eyes: Your house? Oh no. I thought I was at Naniji’s house.

She turns to Naniji: Naniji, isn’t this your home?

Naniji scowls back at Arnav: Chotey, isn’t it my home? Why are you behaving rudely to my guest?

Khushi bounds back to Naniji and sits with her arms around her: Koi baat nehin, Naniji (Don’t worry, Naniji). I have a nice room in my house. You can come there with me. (Beams big)

Naniji beams back and pats her hand.

ASR scowls: Oh for God’s sake. When did I ever say it’s not your house? (turns to Khushi) And you, stop provoking my Nani.

Khushi picks up a samosa and says with wide eyes: Who me? (takes a huge bite) Mffftss pffsat pgget…

ASR shouts: What?

Khushi chews and then swallows: I did not say anything. You are the one being rude.

ASR sneers: If I was being rude, I’d have thrown you out of here while you were stuffing your face like a little chipmunk.

Khushi’s eyes widen and she stops in the middle of chewing, then scowls and starts chewing again: Mdfffttoj ouukbat pgggeht

ASR sneers: Did I mention I don’t understand chipmunk language?

Khushi swallows hard: Mehmano ke khaane par nazar daalte ho, Laad Governor kahin ke…

(You eye foods served to guests, Laad Governor)

Naniji about to drink some juice chokes on the term and starts coughing. Khushi does not take off her glare from ASR and starts pounding on Nani's back with the other hand.

ASR glares back at Khushi and hands Naniji a glass of water.

Naniji sees two equally angry people glaring at each other and does a happy dance in her head.

Khushi throws a hard glare to ASR and then gets up and says: Okay Naniji. I have to go. I have lots of work to do and also I need to talk to my family.

She hugs Naniji, Mamiji and Mamaji and waves a bye in the direction of Aakash and NK and leaves in a huff.

ASR scowls and stomps up the stairs ignoring Aakash’s call.

NK shows Arnav’s watch to Aakash: Aakash bhai, I will give the gift to Nannav tomorrow.

Aakash sighs: That would be a good idea.

They leave for Aakash’s room to hang around before bed time.

Mamaji also goes up to freashen up.

Mamiji turns to Naniji: Sasu maa, you think Arnav bitwa will marry Khushi. But did you see how much they fight? They hate each other.

Naniji smiles to Mamiji: Manorama, I have lived longer than you. You saw Arnav bitwa and Khushi bitiya fighting. But you did not see that for the first time in many years, Arnav bitwa had a sparkle in his eyes. He was not indifferent to Khushi bitiya like he is to all the girls he hangs around with. He needs someone he won’t get bored with and no one can get bored with Khushi bitiya.

Devi Maiyya (claps): Bingo, Devyani… I knew you’d recognize the sparkle. Reminds you of the love of your life, doesn’t it?

Nandi wakes up from his doze with a stumble: What did I miss?

Devi Maiyya sneers: Nothing. Your tender nature won’t be able to take the smoldering heat that just blasted through. Go back to sleep, I will wake you up when Aakash and Payal comes on the screen. Slow and shimmery flame is more suited to your palette…

Nandi scratches between his horns and then shrugs and goes back to sleep.

Gupta House:

Khushi parks Daisy and comes in slowly.

She goes to Payal’s room and sees her sleeping.

Then she creeps into her room, changes into a nightshirt and flops on the bed half asleep.

Next morning, Gupta House:

Payal wakes up from her sleep and goes to Khushi’s room.

She sees Khushi is sleeping half hanging from the bed face down clutching her childhood companion, Mr. Pooh…

Mr. Pooh:

Payal smiles at her in tenderness and slowly takes the blanket and covers her up.

She kisses Khushi on the forehead and leaves a note in front of the mirror on the vanity in Khushi’s room and leaves for her trip with Aakash.

Nandi smiles big: Sigh, Payal is going on a date with Aakash… Today is the happiest day ever… (Looks at Devi Maiyya) you gotta tell me if there will be any romantic scene. Will there be kissing? Dancing? Snuggling under one blanket beside the fire?

Devi Maiyya (smiles big): Oh there will be fire alright.

Nandi smiles bigger: Really?

He whips out his smartphone and types:

Spoiler 11/10/2012:

Aakash and Payal are on a date. Reliable source verifies that there will be fireworks. Stay tuned for more.

Please do not copy my spoilers to any other heavenly or hellish blogs. This is my spoiler and I retain all rights to it. 

Hindi Words Help:

Samosa: Flaky pastry with mushy potatoes with peas stuffed inside.

Jalebi: Sugar and flour mixed together and then deep fried in circular rings to make this crispy sweet dish.

Kachori: I don't know how it's made. Google to know.