“Arnav Singh Raizada!”
The name rang in Khushi's ears. Something was familiar
about the name. But what was it? She scrunched her brows as if in a deep
thought. But she soon came out of her reverie when the other passengers started
pushing her. "Let's get out of here!" Nani squirmed and went out of
the plane. "Umm....beta , who is coming to pick you up?" nani asked.
"Well , i am gonna take a cab and go to a nearby hotel and stay
there....that's the plan!" Khushi hesitated. "Are you sure?"
nani asked. She had come to like this girl. She was beautiful, ambitious, smart
and naive. Perfect for any man. "You can stay with me , if you want!"
nani suggested. Khushi opened her mouth to say something but was stopped by man
wearing a black coat who came running to the old woman and hugged her.
"Nani!" she heard him whisper as she saw him
hugging the old woman. "NK bitwa....kesan ho?" nani smiled as she
cupped his face in her hands. "I am fine....I just came from the office!"
he sighed. It was then , that NK’s gaze fell on khushi. Their eyes locked.
"Those eyes....they are familiar...." NK thought. Khushi too was
confused. Nani saw the gesture , she chuckled. "Umm....beta , this is my
grandson NK and NK....this is my favorite writer , Khushi Shergill..."
nani introduced them. NK, formally extended his hand towards her. They shaked
hands. "Umm....NK , she is staying with us!" nani smiled.
"What?" both of them yelled. "Yes...now you two , off to the
car....i want to meet my granddaughter too...." nani commanded and walked
towards NK's car. NK looked khushi. She shrugged her shoulders.
NK picked nani's and
khushi's stuff and dashed them into the car. "Nani....are you sure about
this?" he asked. "Yes...i am! Now drive...." she smiled and
looked towards khushi , who was surprised too. They headed off to the Raizada
Mansion.
"Wow....that's a big house...." khushi thought.
NK smiled at khushi. “I know what you’re thinking! Even I had the same
expression when I entered the house for the first time. It’s humungous!” NK
chuckled and khushi smiled. “Let’s get inside , shall we?” NK asked and
motioned khushi inside the house. Khushi had a peculiar hobby of taking photos
everything. So she took out her camera and started clicking pictures of the
house. She had a Nikon D60 with her. As she started taking pictures of the
house , she noticed a young boy sitting in the corner of the pool and watching
the plants. She went towards him.
“Beautiful plants aren’t they?” khushi asked him. It was
Aryaan. Aryaan looked at khushi. “Hmm…it is! This the only thing that connects
me to my parents , especially my dad!” he sighed. Khushi looked at him shockingly.
“Umm…by the way , I am…” she was stopped by aryaan who didn’t look at her and
said “I know! You’re Khushi Shergill , the famous writer….my bari-nani told me
about you!” he sighed and thrusted his hands in his pockets. He looked at the
plants and then at khushi again and with an aura of sadness and mystery , he
went away from there. Khushi looked at his retreating figure. She felt bad for
him.
She took her camera and took some photos of Aryaan when he
was not looking. “His eyes are full of sadness….I wonder why though!” she
thought as she glanced through the pictures. She sighed and went inside. She
saw NK listening to music. It was her favourite band ‘Backstreet Boys’ song
‘Unmistakable’. “That song always remind me of Kunal!” she thought as tears
made their through her orbs. “Will you be , Unmistakable!” she hummed the song
as looked around the house.
She went inside a room. The room was warm enough but the
way it was presented , made her feel cold as ice. “Why is everyone so
mysterious in the house?” she thought. She was so engaged in her thoughts that
she didn’t notice the knob of the washroom door turn and a figure of a man
coming out.
“Hey , who the hell are you and what are you doing in my
room?” she heard a hoarse voice coming from her back. As she turned around ,
she was greeted by the same familiar eyes she thought she had seen before. And
then it came crashing down to her. Arnav…ASR…Roro….her roro…”Arnav…?” she
gasped. Arnav was horrified to see her. He didn’t remember her properly but
knew she was an old acquaintance. Hearing arnav’s scream , anjali , nani and NK
rushed into his room. “Kya hua Chottey?” asked anjali. Even nani was startled
but only NK smiled. “So this was to happen?! They are facing each other
again….just as khushi took an oath!” “Umm….chottey she might have lost her way
that is why she is here….please don’t get angry….” Anjali requested , but it
fell into deaf ears as khushi , arnav and NK were lost into each other.
Nani and anjali noticed this. They decided to wait
downstairs for the three of them. Even though anjali closed the door behind her
, khushi could hear the loud music and song playing outside the room.
‘Unmistakable…’ NK thought. “There come a day , when you walk out of your
dreams , face to face , like I am imagining , Baby , how can I be sure , that
you’re the one I am waiting for….” These words rang in arnav’s ears.”Who are
you…?” arnav asked , which even startled him. But khushi sighed. “Aab isse kya
farak parta hai arnav?!” she took her camera and went out of the room. “If
she’s your girlfriend NK , then I am not tolerating her nonsense….” Arnav
yelled. NK was surprised. “What…? No….she…she isn’t my girlfriend ,she…don’t
you remember….anything? Anything at all?” he asked. But arnav shrugged his
shoulder and went towards the poolside.
Khushi was fuming. “Devi Maiyya…aapko aur koi nahi
mila….yeh…arnav....Roro…I had to bump into him….after all these years….” She
murmured under her breath. Then she remembered her stupid oath which she took
when she was in the 10th standard.
“Arnav Singh Raizada….saari zindagi pareshan karke rakhungi
main tumhe….dekhlena tum!”
“Shit…how could I do that?! Maine apna hi gadda khud kodha…”
she muttered. Then she felt someone patting on her shoulders. It was anjali.
“Khushiji…I hope I can call you that…please have a seat , lunch is ready!” she
smiled. Khushi nodded and sat down. Nani came down and sat on her place. Anjali
was trying to signal khushi not to sit in the place she was sitting because
that was arnav’s seat , but nani stopped her. Arnav came down and saw this. He
was fuming with anger. “That’s my seat…” he growled at khushi. Nani and anjali
thought that khushi might just pass out due to arnav’s anger , but to their
surprise , she was sitting calmly. “Simple…sit somewhere else….” Khushi spat
and rolled her eyes. Arnav was flabberghasted. “Excuse me?” he asked. “I said ,
sit somewhere else…and please buy a hearing machine if you need that so
desperately!” khushi spat again.
Arnav was horrified. No one dared to talk to him like that
, not even his own siblings and this girl? “Chottey , go and sit beside
aryaan….” Nani commanded. Arnav rolled his eyes at khushi and sat near aryaan.
Khushi noticed that the father and son took no notice of each other. As if they
do not exist to each other. It was disturbing. NK came down. He sat near anjali
and took his chappati. “Hey khushi , do show me those photos ok?” he asked.
Khushi smiled. “Absolutely…I would love to show you….” She said.”By the way ,
miss Khushi Shergill…with whose permission did you take these pictures…?” arnav
asked. “I don’t need your permission to take pictures of nature…they are not
your property MR.RAIZADA!” she exclaimed. “Well….THIS house is definitely my
property , so…with whose bloody permission were you showing off your skills as
a photographer….?” He asked trying to maintain his cool , but failing badly.
“There is no rule in the Constitution that I cannot do what
I please….and plus , I am a guest here so I think I do have that much
liberty…right Anjaliji?” she asked anjali. “Yeah…you do….khushi are you an LL.B
graduate or something?” anjali asked. Arnav looked up. “Yes anjaliji….by
profession I am a legal advisor but I just take photos and write books for time
pass that’s it!” khushi smiled. Nani was very impressed. “You’re a legal
advisor?” NK asked. “Yeah I am….I work for Samsung…!” she said. Everyone was
startled. Khushi eyed arnav. She got up from the table after finishing her
lunch and looked at arnav. “So Mr. Raizada….before you teach me law , I think I
can teach you a lot about your own manners.…” she smirked and left the dining
hall.
“She is still the same tigress she used to be….” NK smiled
to himself. “What’s so funny NK?” he heard Arnav’s voice. NK laughed out loud.
“Oh arnav….I am glad she is back in your life…I mean , other than me , nani and
di , you have someone else to knock some senses into your head!” he exclaimed
happily and went away. The atmosphere of the house somewhat changed for the
good.
“He is still the same ass he used to be!” khushi thought.
“No wonder why everyone’s so scared to death here….” She thought again.
HAPPY READING! :D
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