Sunday,
Lucknow, 5:00 PM
"Di,
stop hyperventilating, will you," Arnav said, very briefly looking
up from his laptop.
"What
do you mean by hyperventilate? It is my brother's wedding. I am the
one managing the whole show. I don't want anything to go wrong. Not
after what happened the last time,' Anjali Di said, her brow furrowed
with creases now.
Arnav
closed his laptop. They were here for the wedding of their younger
brother Aakash. After the Anagha episode, it looked like nothing
could persuade him to put himself out there again. He had drowned
himself in work and busied himself with expansion plans of the
Raizada industries. It was than that he decided to convert their
family home in Lucknow, Sheesh Mahal into a swanky heritage hotel. It
gave him an excuse to leave Bombay, where he lived in constant fear
that he might run into Anagha somehow or the other. The family home,
which had been the Raizadas for three generations now, was jointly
owned by the siblings. After they lost their parents in a car crash,
almost twenty years ago, they never returned to Lucknow. Sheesh Mahal
was locked and sealed away, slowly dying and rotting. So when Aakash
decided to restore the Sheesh Mahal, he needed the services of an
architect and that is how he met Payal.
Payal
as it turned out was not just great with restoring dilapidated
buildings, she also helped Aakash pick up the pieces of his broken
heart and put it back together. When Sheesh Mahal had a grand opening
two months ago, Aakash let Arnav and Anjali know about his intentions
to marry Payal. When Anjali and Arnav met Payal, they took an instant
liking for her, for she came across as an intelligent and warm
person. Yes, she was perfect for Aakash. A week later they were
engaged.
It
was during the engagement that Arnav realised that Payal was Khushi's
older sister. The same crazy Khushi whom when he met the last time
carried a message from his brother's runaway bride. Since his last
engagement was a grand affair, Aakash decided to have a low-key one
for this with just family. The engagement happened at Payal's house
in Bombay. Payal's mother had passed away many years ago and her
family comprised of her father, Daadi and sister. When Arnav reached
Payal's house on the day of the engagement he saw family photographs
on the wall and realised that Khushi was Payal's sister. He
immediately made it a point to seek out Aakash asking him if he knew
that the girl who brought news of his previous to-be-bride dumping
him was the sister of his current to-be-fiance. Turns out that Aakash
knew about this and didn't have any reservations about it. While
Arnav knew that it was not Khushi's fault that the wedding had got
called off, he still felt a little indignant on behalf of his
brother. He had every intention of issuing a stern warning to Khushi,
just in case she created another flurry. But as the engagement
rituals progressed he realised that Khushi had not made it for her
sister's engagement as she had just joined a new firm in London and
couldn't take time off from work.
Later
Khushi's grandmother sought out Arnav and asked him a ton of
questions. Why was he the older brother still single? Could he cook?
What work did he do? Oh, so he wrote books, but what was his "real"
job? Did he make a decent living? Which part of London did he live
in? Was he single? Did he know that her younger granddaughter also
lived in London, made tons of money and was a fabulous cook?
Thankfully,
Anjali Di rescued Arnav and he escaped unscathed.
Anyway,
that was then and now the wedding was five days away. Five days for
Anjali Di to completely lose her sanity.
"When
does Asya's flight reach?" Anjali Di asked him, even as she was
squinting her eyes over her planner, evidently dissatisfied with
something that had caught her eye.
"At
7. I will pick her up and Jeeju. Don't worry, Di," Arnav said, this
time more kindly.
"The
extended family is meeting Asya for the first time. I hope they like
her. I am sure they will," Anjali Di said, not with too much
conviction.
"It
doesn't matter, Di. I don't care about what the extended family
thinks. You know that. My only family are you, Aakash and Jeeju,"
Arnav said.
"And
Payal," Anjali Di added.
"And
Payal," Arnav said and smiled.
Once
Anjali Di left, Arnav decided to go out for a walk. The wedding
preparations were on in full swing in all corners of Sheesh Mahal. A
music system was being installed and sound checks were happening. The
festivities began from tomorrow and the kitchen was being set up.
There was the smell of oil, ghee and flowers around. He wondered what
would Asya make of all this. He and Asya had now been seeing each
other for six years, neither of them particularly keen to take the
relationship to the next level. Happy with status quo. His thoughts
were interrupted when he saw Payal walk in towards where he was. She
looked flustered.
"Hey
Payal, what is happening? All okay," Arnav asked.
"Hi
Arnav. Yes, all is well," she said, "actually all is not so well.
My sister Khushi is missing."
"What?!"
Arnav said.
"I
mean, she stepped out in the morning for some errands and is not yet
back." Payal said, in a worried voice, "plus, she won't pick up
the phone and she doesn't really know the city."
"Do
you want me to go look for her?" Arnav offered.
"No
dad and a cousin have gone. You guys don't worry. Anyway I better go
and check on my grandmother. She is hysterical now," Payal said
leaving.
"Hmm.
Payal," Arnav called out to her, "if you need my help, just call
me, okay?"
"Sure,"
Payal said and left.
Hmm.
So Khushi was already in Lucknow. Somehow the idea that he could meet
Khushi anytime soon unsettled Arnav. He wasn't sure if it excited him
or bothered him. She probably didn't remember him. Anyway, he would
have Asya for company. He imagined introducing Khushi to Asya, meet
this girl whom I met very briefly some two years ago, who kissed me
and I can't seem to take my mind off her since then. Oh and maybe she
is a lesbian.
F*ck
this. He should just go to the airport and watch people instead. He
could do with some new material for the book.
Monday,
Lucknow 11 AM
Khushi
was lost again. This Sheesh Frikkin Mahal was such a maze. Plus, she
was so hungry.
Stop
thinking about food, Khushi, she strongly admonished herself. She
willed her mind to think of something else. Like Arnav Raizada for
instance, whom she had done a stellar job of avoiding for the last 48
hours that she had been there. Not that she had any reason to avoid
him, did she? I mean she had just been a messenger who brought some
unfortunate news the last time she met him. Except she had kissed him
without his consent. Though, something told her that he did kind of
enjoy it. But that wasn't the point. The point was that in a country
that 600 million or so men, her sister decided to marry Aakash
Raizada. Khushi trusted her sister to make the right decision, but
ever since the time her sister told her about marrying Aakash, she
was worried that Arnav would disapprove. She had heard from her
sister that Arnav was not just Aakash's older brother, but was some
kind of hero to him. Which is why she wove an elaborate lie and
managed to give the engagement a miss, but there was no way to miss
the wedding. So here she was, in Sheesh Mahal, which fortunately had
giant pillars behind which she could hide lest she wanted to avoid
crazy aunts, her grandmother with determined questions about her
sexual orientation and Arnav Raizada.
Perhaps
she had been thinking too much about the man, because sure enough, it
was he who was heading in her direction. He had obviously not spotted
her, as he was deep in conversation with this gorgeous woman next to
him. The woman, Khushi noticed was a foot taller than her and
probably a size smaller than her. God, she hated her already. Must be
Asya Raichand. Khushi was unsure if she should feel proud that her
memory was so fantastic or worried that she was such a good stalker.
Anyway, right now the giant pillar welcomed her and she went behind
one. She sent a mental thank you to her sister for designing a maze
with so many fabulous hiding spots.
She
could now hear the pair of them, though she couldn't really make out
the words. But evidently Asya was amused, for she kept giggling. She
peeped out for just a nanosecond when she heard a shrill, Khushiii!.
She wanted to kick herself. Another minute and she could have
escaped.
"Khushi,
why are you hiding behind that pillar?," Payal asked in a baffled
tone, "come here and meet Aakash's family."
Left
with no choice, she walked towards Payal, Arnav, Asya and some other
dude. Arnav had a part amused and part challenging expression on her
face. Khushi determinedly looked away and smiled at her sister
instead.
"Why
the hell were you hiding behind the pillar, Khushi?" Payal repeated
as she reached where they were all gathered, right in the middle of
the swanky lobby of Sheesh Mahal.
"I
was looking for something that had fallen," Khushi offered.
"What
had fallen?" Payal continued her Spanish inquisition.
Khushi
gave here the drop-it-already face and waved her hands in the air and
said, "Stuff!"
Payal
finally got the hint and offered introductions.
"This
is my sister, Khushi. Khushi meet Aakash's sister Anjali, his brother
Arnav and brother-in-law Abhimanyu," Payal said with a formal air.
"Khushi,
welcome to the family," said a smiling Anjali and pulled her into a
hug.
Woah!
This chick is friendly, Khushi thought. She was about to come up with
a flippant comeback when she saw her sister give her the
don't-you-open-your-mouth face. So she smiled instead.
"It
is good that I spotted you, Khushi. Please stay with Anjali and help
her. She has been on her feet for the last two days and could do with
some help," Payal told her.
Then
turning to Anjali she said, "Khushi is all yours. I have a parlour
appointment now. See you in a bit." and went away.
Khushi
looked at her watch. God, she needed to leave Sheesh Mahal in another
hour, tops. And this Anjali looked like one very determined kind of
lady. What could she do?!
"Khushi,
you are our slave now," Anjali said mock seriously.
"Wh..what,"
Khushi stammered.
"I
was just joking, of course," Anjali said smiling, "will you and
Arnav go taste all the food being prepared for tonight. We have a
chef who has flown down from Delhi. Arnav is too critical and Payal
tells me you will eat anything, I think the two of you together will
be perfect."
"What?!
No," Khushi began..
"I
don't need an assistant, Di," Arnav said, a scowl on his face.
"I
am NOT your assistant," Khushi almost screamed. God! This man is
such a douche.
"You
two, I am stressed already," Anjali said, "I would like everyone
to work together, okay?"
Anjali
did not raise her voice, but had a completely you-will-listen-to-me
look on her face as she said this.
"But...
but, I am on a diet," Khushi finally said.
"Oh
Khushi," Anjali said, "You don't need to diet. Now, can you guys
go, the chef is waiting."
Anjali
left. Poor Aakash, he had such evil siblings, Khushi thought. She
also began to feel lightheaded.
"We
might as well be done with it," Arnav said, not looking
particularly pleased with the task at hand or the company he was
saddled with.
Khushi
didn't respond, the giddiness now more pronounced.
"Are
you okay," Arnav asked, looking at her closely.
"I
am hungry and I might faint any moment now," Khushi almost barked.
"So
you are really dieting," he asked, as his eyes ran over the length
of the body, as if assessing if she needed weight loss.
Khushi
found herself bristling in his gaze.
"You
look fine to me," he drawled.
"I
look more than fine. I know that," Khushi said indignantly, "I am
not the kind to have body image issues."
"And
yet you are dieting," Arnav said dryly.
Somehow
his judgmental tone bothered her and Khushi found the need to justify
herself.
"I
have completely practical reasons to want to lose weight," she said
as the two of them began walking towards the kitchen. She had no clue
where the kitchen was, she followed Arnav, hoping that he knew the
space better, given that this was at one time his home.
"And
what are the those," he asked, in the same sardonic tone of his,
"even though it is really none of my business."
"That
is right, it is none of your business," Khushi said, "but I don't
fit into the blouse that I am wearing for the wedding."
"Ummm.
Wouldn't it be easier to alter the blouse," Arnav asked.
"Well,
firstly I am in Lucknow, I don't know any tailors around here. And to
alter the blouse, I will have to steal it from Payal's room, where
all the stuff is. Payal's room is guarded by my grandmother. If my
grandmother realises that I have put on weight, she will not let me
and anyone else hear the end of it. If Payal realises that her
wedding is going to be anything less than perfect, she is going to
channelize her inner bridezilla and drive us nuts. So, one must
conclude that I need to lose weight," Khushi said and collapsed on
one of the inviting sofas.
Arnav
looked really amused after her rant and sat down next to her. She
felt frazzled and nervous at this proximity. Also did she just
discuss her fat woes with some man? Khushi, you need help, a voice
inside her head said.
"So,
what is the plan," Arnav asked, "how do you intend to lose weight
in another three days?"
This
conversation needed to have got over before it even started, but now
she was too far gone. Plus, better Arnav Raizada than her
grandmother.
"I
am doing the GM Diet, the General Motors Diet. Today is Day 3, I am
allowed to eat fruits and vegetables. But I cheated a while back by
eating a piece of chocolate," she said sadly, "but only a very
tiny piece."
"Okay.
Let us finish the tasting first and we can find some other solution
for your problem," Arnav said, getting up and giving her his hand.
She
held on to his hand. It was warm and comforting. She could get used
to this and never let go of him. They reached the kitchen and she
heard a familiar voice, "So you must be here for the tasting. I am
Chef Shyam Jha. You must be Arnav."
"Shyam
Jha" Khushi muttered.
"Hi
Khushi! How are you?" Shyam asked, amused by her obvious
discomfort.
"The
two of you know each other," Arnav asked rhetorically, "guess the
world is really small,"
"Yes,
we were neighbours for years," Shyam said, "right Khushi?"
"Right,"
Khushi mumbled.
Why
is he here? Why is he here? Oh God, this can't be good. Why did her
life have to be so complicated? Why why why? Could she just sleep and
wake up after five days? Like a temporary coma without any long-term
side-effects? She was feeling even more woozy. There was so much
food, all deep fried, containing no fruits or vegetables. Could she
wipe the smile off Shyam's face? And that frown off Arnav's face? No,
she would rather just run her hands through Arnav's hair and stare
into his eyes. He was so handsome. He seemed to have read her mind,
because just then he turned towards her and smiled. And then the
world went black.
Monday,
Lucknow, 11 PM
Arnav
ripped off his Sherwani as soon as he entered the room and fell down
on his king-sized bed. He was glad the day was over. It was a
confusing day and even though he was a writer, there was too much
drama. Something that he didn't enjoy when it was not in fiction.
Firstly
Khushi fainted and it worried him so much that it surprised him. Then
there was something off about Khushi and Shyam, but he couldn't tell
what. And when before heading for the mehendi he came to check on
Khushi to see if she was okay and if she was ready to come down, he
was shocked to see Anagha leave Khushi's room. He had no idea what
she was doing here. And if Khushi drama was not enough, he and Asya
had broken up two hours ago. It was all very amiable. He had to
admit, he felt relieved. They decided not to share this news with the
family for now, because what you didn't know, couldn't trouble you,
yes? Except if it involved Khushi and the mystery surrounding her.
The lesser he knew about what she was upto, the more difficult he
found to get his mind off her. Khushi and her GM Diet, he smiled at
the thought. She didn't need to diet, in fact, she looked even more
captivating now than he remembered her.
Stop.
Thinking. About. Khushi.
He
tried to sleep. And failed.
Tuesday,
Facebook, 6 AM
Arnav
Raizada - Saw her today. Too much drama.
Shyam
Jha - Saw her today. She is as beautiful as ever.
Aakash
Raizada - Saw her today. I am over her.
Payal
Gupta - Saw him today. He is as douchey as ever.
Asya
Raichand - Saw him today. I am not over him.
Anagha
Chaturvedi - Saw him today. Awkward.
Khushi
Gupta - Gained two kilos after dieting for three days. Hello
universe, stop messing with me.
Edited by TabassumR - 11 years ago
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