Part 7

Khushi too had a very disturbed sleep that night.  Though, felt well about Avinash taking care of Babuji’s treatment, she had her heart ached every time she thought of her Monster.  Sham had been a head ache too.  Buwaji was all busy in preparation for the wedding.  Sham too wanted to keep the wedding a very low key very understandingly.  He knew the financial condition of the family and had offered to keep it very simple and only a family affair.  Buwaji almost touched his feet for his good nature and Payal frowned.

She got up early in the morning and went into the kitchen to find sham doing something at the kitchen platform.

“What are you doing here?” she asked loudly and he shuddered.  “N...Nothing..Just preparing luck warm milk for you babuji..!” he turned and said smiling.  She seemed ok. 

“Its ok, Sham ji, thank you! I will prepare his milk and give him.  Please, you don’t bother about his medicines.. Avinash has changed the medicines and I bought them yesterday..!” she said smiling and he moved away from the platform.  She kept water for boiling to make tea for herself.  Sham sat there, clutching his head.

“What happened?” she asked seeing him sitting like that on the chair.

“Oh! I am having a severe head ache.” He said pressing his head with both his hands. 

“Take some medicine!” she said indifferently and moved to give milk to Babuji.  Sham looked up clearly in pain.  “Yeah i will take the tablet.  You know, this only gets cured by oil massage... he said a little loudly looking at approaching Buwaji.  Khushi refrained from reacting. And went into babuji’s room. 

“Aray, haan Babua, come I will apply oil and massage your head properly!” Buwaji offered making him get up from the chair and taking him out of the kitchen.  Khushi came back to find empty kitchen.  She gaped at the boiling water.  Lost in her own thoughts, she forgot to put sugar and tea powder in the boiling water. 

“Aaii, Khushi, why didn’t you give him a head massage?” Buwaji nudged her angrily and she came back to her senses.  “Why didn’t I do it?” she had no answer.  She poured the tea the cups and gave one to Buwaji.  Buwaji took it and went away shaking her head hopelessly.  

Khushi sat on the chair holding the tea cup.  “Why didn’t i give him a head message?” she looked out of the room to see sham sitting on the floor and Buwaji giving him the head message.  Her grip on the hot tea cut tightened.  She went into trance.  Only a month back she had given him the head message.  And fallen asleep to her embarrassment.  

She had reached Raizada house early in the morning to find everybody having breakfast.  Arnav had skipped the breakfast and was sipping black coffee clearly looking in pain.  She raised her eyebrows questioningly at Anjali ji to know what was the reason.

“Aray, nothing, he is having headache! His migraine gives him trouble often...!” Anjali said looking at her younger brother worriedly.  Khushi looked at Nani.  “Why don’t you give him a head massage?” she had asked Lavanya suggesting that she should give one to as to be closer to him.  Lavanya didn’t know anything.  She shrugged.

“Aray, Nani ji.. Buwaji makes the oil. She puts tulsi and mint leaves and boils the oil.  Then gives head massage.. !  Pufff... goes the head ache..! Wait, Lavanya ji, I will prepare the oil, you give him the head massage!” she said running into the kitchen.

“Umm, actually.. I have a spa appointment..!” Lavanya said sheepishly.  Nani looked at her chote and said, “don’t worry, you have an appointment, I can understand! Lavanya went out hurriedly... ”  

“Lavanya ji.. This is your oil.  Apply a few drops and massage well...!” Khushi came out with the lukewarm oil.  

“Aray.. Where is Lavanya ji?” she asked aloud in surprise.  “Spa!” came a monosyllable.  She looked at Naniji.  She shrugged.  “Ab?” she asked bewildered looking at the oil bowl she had brought.

“You do it!” Nani ordered and Arnav looked up at her at once.  She looked down not knowing what to do.

“Yeah! You can!” Anjali too had permitted.  Arnav had got up and had gone to his room.  She had followed.

She entered his room to find him lying down on the bed with his hand across his eyes.  She stood beside looking at him.

“What?” he asked removing his hand from his eyes.  He was clearly in pain.

“Can I?” she had asked in a bear whisper.  “Humm...!” he said raising his head.  She sat at her head and he kept his head on her lap.  She took a few droplets of lukewarm oil and her fingers started running through his hair rhythmically.  He closed his eyes.

“You know? This is a magical oil.  Buwaji prepares it so well...” she started off.

“Shut up!” he spat and she shut her mouth up.  She couldn’t keep quiet after some time and again said something in a low tone.  He didn’t object and encouraged with this she had started off...

“You know? This magraine? Buwaji says its because of irregular routine and stress... you know? She says, you should exercise regularly, take rest, sleep well and then everything goes well..! and haan! You should eat well too!” she said smiling and he lifted his finger kept it on her lips.

“Shut up and do whatever you are asked to do...!” he commanded and she fell silent again.  Her fingers moving on his scalp the oil was making its effect.  He had felt dizzy.  She had started the chatterbox again and he pulled her down closing her mouth with his hand.

“Shut up, Khushi!” he had opened his eyes and was gazing at her closely.  She looked away straightening herself.  He smirked.  “Good!” he said closing his eyes again.  She had stopped massaging.  “What?” he opened his eyes again to glare at her and she looked startled.  He pulled her hands to his head “I haven’t yet said stop!” he said sternly and she started massaging sheepishly.  

“Bu... but I can’t keep quiet!” she had protested.  “Shut up!” he had retorted.  “Bu.. but I feel sleepy..not talking... not eating..!” she couldn’t complete.  He again had put his finger on her lips giving her shivers through her spine.

“Humm....!” she had sighed and had continued massaging.  But the pin drop silence made her close her eyes and she dozed off soon.  Anjali opened the door and couldn’t control her laugher.  Khushi had dozed off clutching his head with both her hands and resting her head on the head rest of the bed and he was in deep sleep and had turned on his side burying his face in her laps gripping her waist with his hand.  Anjali went down to call Nani.  Khushi opened her eyes with a start sensing some movement in the room and saw Nani and Anjali in front.  She tried to get up hurriedly lifting his head from her laps.

“No Khushi bitiya... Don’t wake him up.  After a very long time, I am seeing him having such a sound sleep...” Nani had stopped Khushi and had turned her face to wipe off her tears.  

When Khushi had come home, Payal had asked her about her red face umpteen number of times and Khushi had avoided telling her in detail.  She only had said, she gave him the head massage and had slept off...!

“Aray... Khushi... come back!” Buwaji was shaking her vigorously.  She got up with a jerk and went into babuji’s room without a word.  Sham followed.  Payal had helped Amma Sponge Babuji and Change his clothes.  Babuji looked fresh.  Khushi smiled at him broadly.  

“Sham ji, you said you bought the flat.  So will you be shifting to the new flat immediately after the wedding?” Payal asked narrowing her eyes.  She somehow felt something was fishy.  But Khushi had seen the unfinished flat when she inflicted Sham an eye injury.  

“Yes of course! Once I get the possession, I will be immediately shifting to the new flat!” he declared looking at Khushi lovingly.  Khushi smiled.  “Yeah I want to go out of this house, as early as possible!” she said glancing at Buwaji.  Her Buwaji felt hurt but kept quiet.  That was not the time to open the argument, she knew.  Khushi went out seriously and payal  went into the kitchen. 

“Buwaji, I am going out for home tuitions and delivery.  I will be back in three hours” Khushi informed .

“Hi re Devi Mayya... It’s already late.  I must rush...!” she almost ran towards the bathroom to get ready.  Payal had already filled the containers with jilebees...! Khushi was running late...!