Silent love
Chapter 5
"-Arnav Ji are you ready -We will be over to pick you up in ten minutes you haven't forgotten -your forfeit."
"-I'm ready-"
"-At the door , please open -ding dong-"
"I didn't hear anything"
"The bells like me the silent type communication by text -so open the door"
Arnav stood there gaping
Khushi pointed to herself and then gave herself the thumbs up.
She gave him a twirl and then signalled him a question what do you think?
She stood there in a beautiful chiffon sari with a red sequin border and large kundan ear rings.
"Breathtaking -amazing "
She signalled back to him with Aman's help-
"For Salman - a girl has to make an effort for her beloved -you know one day I'll marry him"
"Yeh -he will be waiting for you at the Laxi Nagar crossing cause he has nothing better than to wait for you !"
"Arnav who's at the door ?"
"nani ji its Aman and Salman Khan's fiance "
"What Chote ?"
"Nothing Nani ji Its Aman and Khushi "
Khushi looked at her watch -and then indicated to Arnav -are you ready ?
"There's plenty of time , would you like to come in?"
Khushi looked at Aman who translated for her
"We have to leave now she doesn't want to miss a single thing"
"What you mean like standing in a ridiculously long queue to get in and then buying absurdly priced food and drinks and then sitting in crowded hall watching hundreds of women fawn over Salman Khan, listening to their screams and wolf whistles when he takes his shirt off"
Khushi 's eyes lit up and sparkled and she nodded her head vigourously and smiled. She held her head to one side and fluttered her eye lids.
Arnav shook his head and then said something that made Aman look up and stare at Arnav.
"Really ?You do you need to make gaga eyes at him when you have to fine specimens here in real life "
Was Arnav really flirting with his sister ? Aman glared at ASR- to warn him.
Khushi looked at ASR and felt his biceps and then gave him the thumbs down, She then pointed out his shirt and waved both pair of thumbs from side to side indicating that he did not match up to Salman; she then turned to Aman hand smiled and kissed him on his cheek and indicated that he was perfect -except for his rakhi -he was her brother.
She looked downcaste and shook her head gently from side to side.
Nani had seen the exchange and heard the comments and laughed as she approached.
"Aman beta come in "
"Namaste Nani JI "
And then Arnav saw it, but Aman was used to it.
Khushi involuntarily took a step closer to Aman and sidled up to him -fear flickered in her eye's and then settled as he casually draped his arm over his sister's shoulder -and then the boldness returned to her eye's.
Arnav realised two things in that instant -Aman was not only her voice but he was her strength and proctor.
Aman's reactions were habitual that's how Khushi always behaved round new people nervous, till she had assessed them, she took her confidence from him until she knew where she stood with strangers;that's why he had found her response to ASR puzzling -not once had she retreated into her shell -instead she she had come out fighting, treating him like a long friend, his equal which she was. Aman felt that ASR had met his match in Khushi -the way she was treating him and the way he was responding. But this was his baby sister -more like his daughter-he had brought her up on his own for the last fourteen years on his own. He had taken responsibility for her from a very young age and when his mother's body finally lost the will to fight anymore ,Aman took responsibility for her completely. He would have to watch ASR very carefully -he wasn't about to let him hurt his sister.
"Who is this , with you and did I hear that Chote was actually going to A BOLLYWOOD- INDIAN MOVIE with you?"
Khushi put her hands together and greeted Nani traditionally as ASR made the introductions before Aman could -"This is Khushi"
Khushi stepped forward touching Nani's feet
Aman and Nani stared at Arnav momentarily - Aman noticed that ASR was taking his place he was becoming Khushi 's voice and he hadn't even realised it.He had to watch carefully -could ASR change -could he be the one for his Khushi- he had to wait and watch carefully.
Nani looked up at Chote -he introduced Khushi -but she was obviously here with Aman -and what magic spell had she created that was making her Chote voluntarily attend a film.
"Come in and have a cup of tea before you go"
Nani watched the expression in her face change as she warily looked at ASR first and then Aman for reassurance -they both smiled reassuringly and beckoned her forward into the room.
Aman was watching ready to pounce like a hawk, as Nani grabbed Khushi's hand and led her to the sofa.
As they walked across the room Khushi clapped her hand's and pointed to the mandir.
Khushi eyes lit up at the beautifully decorated mandir.
Arnav shook his head and Aman laughed.
He looked in stunned disbelief -him the agnostic was falling for a girl who visibly smiled at the site of a Mandir -typical of fate -it always laughed at him.
Khushi distracted and started peeking in and looking and admiring the mandir at the way it was decorated.
"Khushi you like it-you can go in if you want "
Khushi couldn't resist -re-emerging a few minutes later
"Beti what did you pray for ?"
Khushi pointed to Arnav and Aman and smiled.
"You shy ? really you prayed for both of them anything special"
Khushi nodded and shook her head - confused how to tell Nani .
She looked at her gently and smiled and pointed to her voice box and shook her head and then made actions of flying wings -indicating that her voice had flown away a long time ago when she was a child.
With her actions and Nani's interpretation she told her that she had prayed to Devi Maya that they wouldn't embarrass her at the movies and behave themselves -she really hoped that Aman wouldn't fall asleep and start snoring like he did last time he took her.
Aman and Arnav watched her and Nani talk as if they had known each other all their lives.
"Chai Khushi ?"
She made Nani understand She would prefer Adrak wali chai -Khushi jumped up and indicated to all that she would make it.
She rushed off following HP returning awhile later with adrak wali chi for all.
"Nani praised her chai commenting she hadn't had such a delicious cup of tea in a long while."
Everyone had joined them for tea and to stare in amazement that Arnav was going to watch a film -an Indian film.
Seeing was believing ,all there were convinced that he would find an excuse not to go.
Khushi looked at the time indicated to Aman that they had to leave -
"Excuse us Nani Ji otherwise if I miss the film we will have to endure the torture twice she will watch it and make me watch it again looking at Arnav -and if I go down so do you -boss or no boss!"
They all laughed
"She is very pretty -but she doesn't speak- she 's not good enough for our Arnav -she's not perfect"
"What do you mean she doesn't speak ? She speaks more than you -didn't you notice she didn't stop"
She doesn't speak Sasuma! She is like broken toy -one that you can't fix"
"Manorma! she is not broken , she doesn't need fixing, she is perfect - she smiles with her eyes and only those with a good heart would recognise that. Only broken people look for the same in others because of's their own insecurities. That's the problem with you you can't tell the difference between a real diamond and paste. And Khushi is a perfect diamond -I see that -but that doesn't matter Arnav and Aman see it too -and that makes all the difference."
All three had heard the whole conversation Aman noticed , the anger flare in ASR's eyes and clench his fists, Khushi smiled and slipped her hand into Aman's hand and shook her head and smiled and said lets go - Salman 's waiting.
She placed a hand on Arnav's shoulder and shrugged hers and smiled - it didn't matter she was used to comments like that.
Arnav replied that "it still didn't make it right "
Khushi used her eyes and a combination of simple hand signals and Aman's help to say to Arnav "You change the world one person at time -I won Nani ji today -next time may be ,It will be your Mammi or maybe it won't ;some people you can never change."
"How can she say you don't speak -you say more in couple of sentences than she does in an hour?"
"Salman - keys please Aman! I need to drive"
"Arnav say a prayer Khushi is driving put your seat belt on we are partaking in the next Dehli Grand Prix- I ll take the back seat -you joining me or are you showing your false bravado by sitting in the front!"
Khushi glared at Aman and told Aman " to zip it -Arnav waiting -front or back , let's go" tapping at her watch.
Arnav sat and belted himself in and the heard Khushi rev the engine squeal the car out the drive -he grabbed the seat of his car as he watched her weave in and out of Dehli traffic like a true professional cab driver -cutting up drivers going across a round about and the wrong way up a one way street. Finally he had to say something.
"Khushi you know that we have to be alive to watch the film !"
Arnav turned round and saw Aman siting with his head back eyes closed -sleeping -obviously he was accustomed to Khushi particular driving style.
The car halted with a jerk -yes she had actually managed to park the vehicle in the tinniest space.
Aman stood patiently at the boot of the car waiting .
"What are we waiting for ?'
"I can see that you have never been to the pictures with Khushi - our picnic basket"
"What ?"
We can buy popcorn and ice-cream and whatever else she wants inside ?""Not my Khushi -I tried to warn you -now just sit back and experience Miss Gupta at the cinema's and we will have to translate for her as well -as crazy as her words are"
Arnav wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't been there.
She had an argument with the ticket collector and won about the food with Aman translating for her. She held her own little picnic and shared her food with total strangers and them. she danced in her seat whilst Aman and Arnav sank lower and lower. Everytime Salman's shirt came off Khushi whistled as loud as she could. The first time she whistled Arnav had a heart attack and looked at Aman -who held out a sleeve of paracetomols smiling. Arnav shook his head -i'll take my punishment like a man."
"ASR you still have a lot more coming you're way. The night is still young"
The look that Aman received was one of absolute plain terror at what more the night could hold.
Finally the film was over and Khushi was dancing on air.
"It's a good job that she can't sing or we really would't survive"
Khushi then took the boys out for food -they had chaat from a street vendor whilst ASR looked at the food as though it would walk away by itself. She found a balloon man and bought half his balloons from him and let them go only hanging onto two, kissing each one as she let it go.
"khushi what are you doing ?"
Khushi explained to Arnav that she was sending a prayer and a wish up to heaven -it might reach there faster. ASR smiled at her. She had ice-cream and had made Aman have one too since she couldn't decide on a flavour , she had triple scoop each a different flavour and Aman's was the same. Each time he reached the next flavour she would take a little bit of his cone and when her's was finished as she wolfed it down at a ridiculous rate ;she watched Aman -till he smiled and gave her the rest of his cone.
"You do this every time Khushi -why don't you just order four scoops yourself."
She moved her hands very quickly and Arnav couldn't follow the conversation.
"Pardon Aman I didn't follow that last part -she should order eight mini scoops for herself , so I can eat mine in peace."
Khushi jumped i the conversation -Arnav don't listen to him he only wants two scoops he orders the third for me in the first place.
The group broke into laughter as Khushi took them to the park where they fed the ducks and she paddled in the fountain and she made Aman and Arnav join her and then the three lay on the grass watching the clouds and stars trying to name the shape of clouds as they floated by.
Eventually Aman drove them back to Shantivan whilst Khushi slept in the back.
"Enjoyed your punishment ?"
"Yes actually Aman I did! Tell her I'll speak to her tomorrow"
"Why ASR ? She's my sister -let her have her dreams, as long as she hope she will always dream -you might just break her dreams"
"Aman -she is special-I wouldn't let anyone break her dreams-night Aman - give us a chance Aman or she will lose hope slowly and you will end up breaking her dreams. Everybody deserves one chance"
"Aman looked at Khushi and the Arnav -text her tomorrow I'm sure she will be waiting "
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Edited by harrybiggins - 9 years ago