ISHQIYA PART 1

 PART 1:

(Arnavs Bike)

Log kehte hai khoobsurat ladkiyan jab jhoot bolti hai ... toh aur bhi khoobsurat lagti hai!
(It's a well-known fact that when beautiful girls lie...they look more beautiful!)

Khushi Kumari Gupta stared back in the chocolate orbs of her neighbor Arnav Raizada with her eyes touching her hairline. His unexpected company surprised the woman. Stunned by his blatant flirting the woman slapped her palm on her mouth. Khushi did not wish to make a fool out of herself so she answered the man.

Hum kyun jhoot bolenge aap hi hain jo...ek minute ye line to.... 
(Why would I lie it is you....one moment this line is...)

Tumhare Salman Khan ki hain. Tumhari favorite movie hai right? So I thought why not give it a try.
( From your Salman Khan movie. It is your favorite right?)

He shrugged his shoulders and dismounted his bike standing a little too close to Khushi making her step back quickly. The two were now standing on either side of the handpump in their locality.

Batameezi ki bhi hadh hoti hai Arnavji. 
(You are crossing your limits Arnavji).

Oh really? Maine aisa kya kardia Khushi?
(What have I done Khushi?)

Khushi lost her cool and dropped her empty bucket on the floor making a loud noise. It was time to make a few things clear to the enemy. There is no use of politeness in this matter thought the infuriated woman.

Pichli 1 saal se aap humari life ko sirf mushkil kar rahe hain. Padosi to ek dusre ke kaam aate hain. Aur ek aap hain jo humein pareshan krne ka ek bhi mauka nahi chodte...
(For the past year you are hellbent on making things difficult for me. Neighbors are supposed to be supportive. And you..you never lose an opportunity to trouble me...)

Khushi was about to continue when the man covered the short distance between them and whispered in a husky voice near her ears making the girl tremble involuntarily.

Yeh aankhen, yeh chehra, yeh noor ... insaan ho ya pari ho tum.
(These eyes, this face, and beauty...you are no less than an angel).

Again Khushis eyes bulged out to the unexpected proximity of Arnav Raizada. She tried to hide their connection with hatred and hostility. But this time Arnav seemed to be in a different zone.

Humein sab pta hai ki aap ye sab kyun kar rahe hain. Kal ladkewale humein dekhne aarhe hain isliye ye sab drama plan kiya hai.
(I know what you are doing here. Tomorrow a suitable boy will be coming to my place to see me that's why you are being so dramatic).

His mood and eyes turned dark hearing Khushis words. Picking up the bucket from the ground she tried to retreat from him. However, Arnav Raizada was quick enough to hold her wrist not allowing her to move even an inch away.

Tumhe lagta hain main itna bewakoof hoon ki tumhari aankhen bhi nai padh skta Khushi.
(You think I am a fool who cannot even read your eyes Khushi).

She stood still thunderstruck by his bull's eye observation. She should have been more cold and harsh. Damn this man. Why? Why Devi Maiyya? Why cannot he be like everyone else? Still, she tried to act one last time.

Kya matlab? Apni bakwas band kriye aur humara haath chodiye.
(What do you mean? Keep your nonsense to yourself and let me go).

Just because main ek Bengali hoon aur tum ek Gujarati you think both our families will be against this alliance? Yahi baat hai na Khushi.
(Just because I am from a Bengali background and you a Gujarati, you think our families will be against this alliance?)

What alliance? Aur ye kya humari communities ka discussion shuru kardiya aapne? Stop this nonsense.
(And why did you start this discussion about our communities?)

Khushi heart was thumping like a machinegun. She was on the verge of losing her nerves. The man was hellbent on spoiling everything. She had halfheartedly accepted her Dad's best friend's son Rajesh's proposal. As per her Mom, this would be beneficial for their family business. So she had no choice but to agree.

In the last 3 months, her equation with Arnavji had changed. He was no longer the crazy Bengali neighbor who played pranks on her. And she too chose to stop complaining about it to his father Mr. Raizada. They had become really good friends.

Three months ago when her kitchen was on fire Arnav Raizada rescued her Amma burning his hands in the process. When the incident gave her nightmares he joked around with her all night from their respective balconies. Chai, pakoras, fish, sondesh, thepla the two tasted each dish with new enthusiasm. 

Soon the lines of friendship blurred and something different started blooming in the two hearts. Numbers were exchanged. Messages and phone calls were now a regular thing for them. Khushi knew it in her heart that any day now Arnav will confess his feelings.

But then two weeks ago Khushi' Dad shared the shattering news about his friend's proposal and everyone seemed so ecstatic. Her Amma sensed Khushi's uncertainty and coaxed her to agree as Rajesh was the only son of their business partner. Not wanting to disappoint her family Khushi gave up on her love. She ignored Arnavs calls. Stopped replying to his texts. And chose not to cross paths with him.

However, two nights ago her Amma shared the news of her alliance with Arnavjis mother. He must have heard it from her. And as far as Khushi knows this man won't rest till he gets a satisfactory response from her.

Her wandering thoughts came to a halt when she felt a firm yet soft hand cupping the ball of her left shoulder. She shuddered inwardly. A minute passed. But it appeared to be longer than a century. Intense and keen eyes of Arnav Raizada arrested hers. They were too deep. Like an ocean. Swallowing her entire being.

Khushi stop this act. Why are you...?

KHUSHI DIDI...KHUSHI DIDI...

Both turned behind them to see Aunt Vimlas teenaged daughter Kamla running in their direction. Alerted by the third person both of them stepped back creating a respectable distance. Their conversation was not meant for little witnesses.

Didi didi Aunt Garima is looking for you. She wants her bucket of water as soon as possible. Oh...Hi Arnav Bhaiyya you also came here for water?

Kamla you go and tell her I will be there soon.

Okay, Khushi Didi. Bye Arnav Bhaiyya.

The kid ran away in the direction she came from making Khushi sigh in relief. Thank god Kamla did not get suspicious watching Arnavji and her standing together this late in the evening.

Khushi mujhe baat krni. 
(Khushi we need to talk).

Mujhe nai krni hai.
(I don't wish to).

Saying so Khushi turned around and started filling her bucket with water using the handpump. She could feel his presence. He stood right behind her.

You don't answer my calls. Neither my texts. And you have been avoiding me like plague. Tumhe lagta hai this idea of being aloof will work for you?

Shut up. Just shut up.

Her bucket was more than half full. Enough to satisfy her Ammas requirement. So eager to leave Arnavji she was about to pick it up when another bronze hand picked it up effortlessly and started towards her house.

What do you think you are doing? I can carry it myself. Leave the bucket.

Tum har kaam khud nai krsakti Khushi Kumari Gupta.
(You cannot do everything by yourself Khushi Kumari Gupta).

He kept walking without a second glance and Khushi tried to keep up with his fast pace. This man and his chivalrous ways. For the rest of the distance, she kept quiet and followed Arnav Raizada.

He stopped at the verandah of her house placing the bucket on the ground. Khushi could only gaze at the veins around his bulging arms. She felt the urge to run her fingers around them. The smooth bronze skin possessed some kind of magic that almost always left her in a trance. Adrift in her thoughts, she almost missed hearing his voice. Almost.

Answer your phone tonight or else I will be knocking on your door no matter what the hour is. Understood.

Are you threatening me?

Nope, I only make promises. Remember?

With that, he turned around and left a stunned Khushi behind. She knew that this was not a bluff on his part. She was aware of Arnavji's stubborn and adamant nature. She was heading for the impossible. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Sighing in displeasure she lifted the bucket of water and walked back to her house.

Around midnight the Guptas finally retired to their rooms. There was pin-drop silence in the house. By this time usually, Khushi slept like a log. But tonight she laid wide awake in her room with the night lamp lit in the corner. Arnavjis words kept ringing in her ears.

Tumhe lagta hain main itna bewakoof hoon ki tumhari aankhen bhi nai padh skta Khushi.

Just because main ek Bengali hoon aur tum ek Gujarati you think both our families will be against this alliance? Yahi baat hai na Khushi.

Tum har kaam khud nai krsakti Khushi Kumari Gupta.

Twisting and turning in the bed she tried to get comfortable. However, sleep was not coming to her tonight. She sat up in bed with a hand holding her head. Arnav Singh Raizada. The man behind all of her troubles. Khushi thought of making some chamomile tea for herself when her phone began to vibrate. A message notification. Sent by Arnav. She tapped on her screen to reveal what it said.

Kal Rajesh ko keh dena ki tum iss shaadi mein interested nahi ho.
(Tomorrow inform Rajesh that you are not interested in this alliance).

Punching the bed in anger her fingers quickly started typing her response. Fury clouded her mind. Sometimes Arnavji could make people pull out their hair due to his frustrating behavior. So he would be giving her orders now? She mused.

In your dreams. 

Khushi got out of bed and headed to the kitchen. She needed some chamomile tea. Maybe it would help to calm her nerves too. Because mind you Arnav Raizada is not going anywhere anytime soon. The phone vibrated again making her roll her eyes dramatically.


Agar usko mana nai kia na to tel mein usko daal ke uska fish fry bana dunga mein. 
(You better say No to that fella or else I will make a fish fry out of him).

Clenching her teeth Khushi put the kettle on a low flame and typed in her response. She was replying to the texts haphazardously in fear that he would end up at her door any moment.

That's all you can do. Bengalis and their obsession with fishes. Ughhh.

At least it is better than your Thepla. Fish is a good source of protein but how would you miser Gujaratis understand that huh?

Groaning Khushi put off the stove and added chamomile and honey to the hot water. Their arguments felt like walking back on memory lane. Her life was easier when she hated Arnav Raizada. A time when winning against him was a life-and-death situation for her.

She returned to her room with a tray holding her cup and a pill for her rising headache. Khushi placed it on her study table and sat on the chair with a gloomy expression on her face.

A minute later her phone went off making Khushi sigh. It would be a lie if she said that she was not waiting for his call. It has been days since she spoke to him.

Hello.

....

Hello.

....

Helloooooo!

....

Agar aapko baat nai karni hai to phone karke humara time kyun waste kr rahe hain?
(If you don't wish to speak with me why are you wasting both of ours time?).

Wow. 6-second se chup hun to itna bawaal. Ab andaza kro ki do hafte ki chupi ek insan ko kitna irritate kar deti hai.
(Now imagine a scenario of me ignoring you for weeks non-stop. Irritating right?)

Arnav words triggered the volcano of confusion and hate hidden inside her. It broke the dam which was keeping her emotions at bay. She gasped. Realization dawned upon her. Arnavji behavior was irritating her endlessly. However, she never once thought about how he must have felt regarding the whole ordeal. 

She had single-handedly decided for the both of them. Without any discussion with him. Was she not Khushi Gupta the one who urged that communication and trust are the backbones of any and every relationship.

And what in the god's name she was thinking? A sacrifice? And then destroying 3 lives in the process. Can a constitution like marriage ever survive if based on compromise?

Khushi palmed her forehead and tried to think of a suitable response. But she had nothing to say in her defense. Because of her foolishness, she had pushed him away. Arnavji. Her former best friend and now....probably something more. 

Khushi?

Oh No. No, no-no-no.

Uh oh!...listen to me...

Crap. Oh, Devi Maiyya! Me and my idiocy. What have I done Arnavji? Humne Rajesh ke proposal ko haan krdia. How could I? What was I thinking? Oh no. Oh, god.
(I said yes to Rajesh's proposal).

Deep breaths Khushi. In. Out. In. Out.

She took deep breaths following his instructions. Her body was in full panic mode. The repercussion of her decision flashed before her eyes.

Rajesh is coming here TOMORROW!

RELAX. Phere nai liye hain tumhe uske sath Khushi. Keep breathing damn it.
(No vows have been exchanged).

She continued to breathe as he coached her to relax. One minute passed. Two minutes. And finally, after 5 long minutes, she was somewhat calm. Looking at the wall clock she noted that it was 1.30 AM.

Humein milna hain aapse.
(I want to meet you).

Abhi?
(Right now?)

Haan.
(Yes). 

To Be Continued.