Part 103

25th day of December! The festivity of Christmas was overflowing everywhere with sweet aroma of cakes and cookies, with candles all over, illuminating households! The fairy lights over the roofs..!
There was a bang on Khushi's door, early morning. She got up with a start and opened the door. Elsa was at the door.

"Khushi, get ready quick!" she said and left hurriedly. Khushi was shocked. She ran after her,

"Bhabhi, what it is? what happened? Where are we going?" she asked concerned.

"You first get ready! We will talk later!" Elsa chuckled. Last few days, khushi was unable to take in anything that was going on around her. She often sat lost. No one was giving her any information either. They just made her sit at one place and look around that was going on. She felt frustrated and went to mummiji. Mumiji was all set and ready with her baggage.

"Mummiji? Where are you going?" asked Khushi surprised.

"Khushi, don't waste your time in asking silly questions. Go and get ready!" Ordered mummiji.
She ran to her room to get ready!

** **** ****

Arnav woke up early in the morning. When he went down, Nani was waiting for him.

“Chote, you need to go to Khushi bitiya's house here and give them the packets that are kept ready”

 
"Nani, please! send Payal and Aakash. I have some work to finish!" he said getting irritated.
"No chote, you have to go and give it. Its a custom! You have to follow it!" she ordered.
Nani, not now! I have work. I cannot go!" he said.

"Naniji, we will go! i will go with Raani Saheba!" said Sham glancing at Arnav.
"Nani, I will go with Payal!" said Aakash intervening. .

"Um. Nani! There will be someone coming from Khushi's foster parent’s house!" said Arnav.

"What? Why did you not tell me earlier? I have to make arrangements to welcome them" said Anjali looking excited. "When are they coming, chote" she asked.

"I don't know the time Di" said Arnav. "Saale Saab, do you even know that you are getting married? And with whom?" asked Sham contemptuously. Arnav ignored him completely.

*** *** ***
Arnav stayed home. Aakash and payal decided to go to her place after lunch. Anjali gave sham loads of work and requested him to help her. He got a phone call at 11 in the morning. It was Shondeep; he wanted to have conference call. Sham desperately wanted to stay home since Khushi's foster parents were to come. Sham reluctantly agreed.

Arnav received a call from papaji asking him which would be the good time to visit. Papaji wanted to invite the groom's family personally. Arnav looked at his Nani and handed over the phone to her.
She talked to papaji on phone and then said, “They are coming in half an hour. Arnav gaped at Nani his jaw dropping. "They are coming? Who else is coming?" he thought.

The door bell rang in the afternoon and Mamiji went to open the door. She was shocked to see Elsa at the door. "Hello Hi! Mishis Elsa? hum to surprisewa hui gayi! Belcome Belcome!" she greeted with her style looking at the other persons at the door. Arnav got up from his seat nervously. Aakash and Payal looked at each other. Anjali and Nani came forward to greet them.

The kids walked in and Elsa wheled mummiji's l chair followed by Raj and Papaji. All Six of them were looking stunning. Nani took them to the hall. Payal went in the kitchen. The maid brought in juice for them. Tej saw Arnav in the hall and jumped at him. He lifted Tej in the air grinning at him. Meera looked shy and was sitting next to her mother quietly. Papaji took out the invitation card and the large gift packet of dry fruits and politely leaning forward handed over it to Naniji.

"Hey Elsa!" Lavanya greeted her.

"This is our formal invitation to you all! said mummiji. Nani nodded. They all settled down.

Arnav looked around. Sham was missing. He was in his room busy with the conference call. Mamaji, Raj and papaji were busy talking to each other. Mami and Lavanya had taken possession of Elsa and Nani took mummiji in her room Anjali and Payal were in the kitchen. Aakash was looking at mamaji and papaji. Arnav had nothing to do. No one paid attention to him.

"All of them are here! Then where is she?" he thought. He wanted to ask about Khushi desperately. But no one seemed to think about her. They were all busy talking to each other on their own subjects leaving Arnav exasperated. He kept on glancing at them furiously.

"Uncle!" Tej was pulling his hand. He picked him up and took him to his room.
"Hey buddy! Where is your Khushi Buwa?" he asked his pulse racing and heart thumping.

"Oh! buwa? She is not with us. We left her!" said Tej concentrating on the cartoon movie.

"What? Where did you leave her?" Arnav almost fell off his chair and wanted to switch off the TV in frustration. It was difficult to get answers from Tej when he was watching TV.

"Buddy! Tell me where she is!" he asked Tej pleadingly.
"Oh! Dadaji asked her to stay home!" He said.
"What? Where? Kolkata? Alone?" Arnav could not stop himself from asking questions.
"Oh! Not Kolkata. Delhi!" came a voice from behind. Arnav turned. Raj was at door smiling at him.
Arnav avoided Raj's gaze. "She is in Delhi! With her Amma Babuji!" Raj said.

"Oh!" reacted Arnav. He came down with Raj asking Ram Prakash to be with Tej.
He could not take part in any of the parallel conversations going on in the hall. It was only Khushi in his head.
 
They all gathered at the table for the afternoon tea. Papaji said "Tomorrow morning flight will take you to the destination, Lucknow! Hotel is already booked. There will be formal Sagai in the Evening.

"There has to be sagai before they get married!"Naniji declared!

"The program is like this for five days Sagai, Sangeet, Mehendi, Haldi and Wedding!!" said Naniji looking at Arnav. He was all lost. Five days program..!

"Khushi...!" his heart called out! He avoided looking at anybody. Nani and Anjali exchanged glances smiling and raising their eyebrows.

"Um.. Nani, you said some packet or something to be given to Payal's family!" Arnav asked looking away.

"Yes, Chote, but you said you don't have time. So I entrusted it to Aakash and he is going."
"No! I will take it!" said Arnav at once. Raj smirked and thumped on Arnav's back.
"Its Ok bhai, I wil do it!" Aakash took his share in teasing Arnav. Arnav cast an angry look at Aakash.

"Ok then, if everything is settled, we would like to take your leave!" said papaji getting up.
"No dad! We have to wait for Damad ji!" said Raj.

"Oh! Yes! Anjali beti, where is your husband?" asked papaji. Arnav and Aakash looked tensed.

"Oh! He is busy with the conference call! let me see!" she started moving towards his room.

"No need, Beti, we will meet him at the wedding!" Said papaji and they all turned to go. Nani and Anjali went up to the door and Mamaji and Aakash up to their car to see them off.

Arnav growing impatient waited for Nani to come back.
"Nani give me the packet and I will take it!" he said.

"But chote...!" started Nani smiling...
"Give it to me Nani!" Arnav raised his voice in desperation. Nani handed over the packet laughing. Arnav's face changed colour.
"Chote.. wait! you have to take sweets too! Get the packets from halawai..!" said Anjali.
He turned to leave.
"Chote,.." His Di called from behind. He turned again trying to control his anger
"Don't forget to get jilebees, Khushiji loves them!" she said loudly. He closed his eyes and trying to keep his voice steady, said "Ok Di!"

Sham came out after the conference and was surprised to see no one in the hall. He came to Anjali and she said "Oh! You missed them!" Khushi's foster parents and brother had come. Oh my! They are such a good family. And you know? We are all leaving tomorrow for the wedding celebrations!" Said Anjali happily.

"Where?" asked Sham Anxiously.
"Luknow!" she said  and Sham froze!

*** ***

He raced away... when he reached Gopta house, to his disappointment, Khushi had already left with papaji. He was furious! "How could she do this?"

"Five Days to Go, Khushi .. And Tomorrow... You cannot avoid me! “muttered Arnav under his breath angrily, thinking about the upcoming Sagai!