Khushi took advantage of surprise element of her arrival and chirped:
- I'm guessing, this was supposed to be a secret meeting or did I miss my invitation in the mail?
Arnav chuckled - he couldn't help but enjoy his wife's presence even though she'd kinda caught them of guard. He tried to make peace:
- Khushi, I didn't want to bother you...
She waved away his excuses and reprimanded him instead:
- What you should have done was to tell me! How many times life has to teach us the value of the full disclosure in the family?
There was an undertone to this question and everybody understood the meaning of these words to certain extend (except for Mr. Thompson - it was none of his business for sure). Arnav's shoulders sank and Khushi hurried to his side - she sat on the floor next to him and said very softly, almost intimately, as if it was meant only for him:
- Arnav, don't try to go through this without me - I will always be where you are. Always.
It sounded both like a promise and like a threat, but Arnav decided to take it as it is with gratitude. He caressed Khushi's cheek and asked:
- How'd you find us here? You were asleep when I'd left you.
Khushi chuckled:
- Arnav-ji, you overestimate your stealth, especially when you are injured and medicated.
Akash followed:
- Bhai, you might as well have invited Khushi to our meeting!
Khushi turned to him and wiggled her finger - she looked so much like a strict teacher in that moment:
- Jija-ji, you've almost waked the whole house when you'd stomped through the kitchen! Oh! Which reminds me...
Khushi flew up from her sitting position, grabbed the first book from the shelf and threw it to Akash. He caught it automatically and looked at Khushi surprised - to be honest, everybody in the room looked puzzled.
Khushi said really quickly:
- On my way here, I think I've heard Didi calling you from your room. She must think you went out for a glass of milk or something... You'd better go check on her before she'll come crushing our little party over here.
Akash nodded and took off to his bedroom. Khushi looked around pleased with her quick thinking - and saddened. Arnav worried:
- What is it, Khushi?
- I just thought that glass of warm milk would be such a good idea now... and some jalebis... but I'm so tired now...
NK jolted from the floor:
- I'll go grab them for you, Khushi-ji! I wouldn't mind some jalebis too!
He went out and halted at the door, turned around and asked:
- Do we have jalebis?
Khushi moaned:
- Why do you even have to ask, Nanhe-ji? I'm here, am I?
NK nodded and ran away to the kitchen. With the noise he was making he might as well could've waken up the whole house...
...
Javed looked around the room and his gaze stopped at Khushi's face - so innocent, so "it-wan't-me"...
- Khushi-ji, would you, please, explain, why'd you tricked Akash and NK out of the room? Or should we wait and see this little play till the end?
Khushi smiled at him - somehow Javed always caught up to her antics first. But she didn't feel herself guilty for this charade - there was something Khushi needed to discuss:
- About that... Arnav-ji, I want you to send Jija-ji and Nanhe-ji away. It's really important.
...
- Important how? - Arnav couldn't believe what he was hearing, was Khushi really going to question his opinion in this matter?
Khushi noticed the anger glimmer in her husband's eyes and a natural need to rebel against his authority rose in her... and then fell back as she had more pressing issues than "who's-the-boss-in-the-family".
- Arnav-ji, you don't know this yet, and you are not SUPPOSED to know this yet, but Didi and Jija-ji are about to announce some very big and happy news to the family... and I really don't want Payal to be around that snake when she's in such a delicate state...
The second Khushi's words reached Arnav's mind he sat up (and winced of pain but that was not important now) and looked eagerly towards the door - he wanted to congratulate his brother so much! It was a wonderful news, especially now!
Javed asked with a smile on his face:
- So Payal is expecting? I agree, Khushi-ji, there's no way they should stay here - too much worrying for parents-to-be.
Khushi nodded:
- My point exactly. But you have to send them away BEFORE they'll announce the news... and if I know my sister it's going to happen tomorrow. Because if you send them away AFTER the big announcement...
- ... it will hurt Akash's pride because it will look like we don't trust him to protect his family, - Arnav finished for Khushi. She looked at him with gratitude and whispered:
- I knew you would understand, - and added louder for everybody, - I totally trust Jija-ji with my sister... but that monster already deprived this family of one baby... I wouldn't want to give him half a chance on this one.
Her last words stormed into the room with a shadow of grief and sorrow as everybody remembered that one little innocent life that didn't even have a chance to welcome to the family. For millionth time Javed swore to himself that Shyam would pay his for this murder... he would... he would!
...
Something fell and broke downstairs and everybody remembered about NK's part in Khushi's play. Arnav was the one to ask:
- Khushi, what do you have against NK here?
Khushi answered with a question:
- Do you have anything FOR him staying here? Do you have any specific assignment for Nanhe-ji here?
Arnav shrugged and looked at Mr. Thomson questioningly - the detective also wasn't certain what to answer.
Khushi followed this exchange by the conclusion:
- I thought so. Send him away on the company business, or something...
- Khushi, what can NK possibly have to do with our business?
Khushi was a bit irritated - did she have to do all by herself?
- Arnav-ji, Nanhe-ji is an aspiring photographer - and he's actually quite good - and you are a CEO of a design company... Figure something out! Like... send him to Canada, to act as photo corr for the "AR Canada" big opening gala... it's in one month, right?
- Yeah... but why? Why should I send him away? - Arnav was lost and by the looks of it Javed had no idea too.
Khushi smile mysteriously... and wise... and simply said:
- Trust me, it's for the best. Actually, - she stopped for some quick mind calculation, - shouldn't you send somebody to oversee the launch of the "AR Canada"? Somebody like Akash? Mama-ji is already there, you're sending the rest of the family there anyways... it'll be nice for them to be together, especially considering the news...
Arnav nodded and marveled at his wife:
- I always knew you were smart, but you are... you are amazing, Khushi.
He stretched out his hand to touch her, Khushi stood up and went to sit by his side. For a moment there were just two of them - not only in that room but in the whole world... Just two heartbeats in one...
...
And then Akash came back. With the book that he tossed as if it was poisonous. He hissed at Arnav:
- "The art of details"! Really? Bhai, it's a book full of pictures of body parts! I had to explain to my wife that I was READING the book with nothing but photos of palms and feet and fingers and eyes in it! At three in the morning! Why would you have something like this in the library?
Khushi almost fell from a recliner - she was laughing so hard! Javed and Arnav wasn't trying to conceal their fun either, and Mr. Thomson was the only one attempting to keep a straight face...
Arnav managed to squeeze through laughter:
- I think... NK brought it here... something about... photography.
- Did somebody say NK? I'm here! Who needs me? - KN showed up to the door, balancing a tray with five glasses of milk (he was thoughtful, he brought milk for everybody) and a big bowl of jalebis. Khushi squealed in delight and jumped up to help NK to serve this to the table.
...
Once everyone was seated again (and more or less calm) Akash reported:
- Payal is asleep. What did I miss?
Arnav wore an expression of deepest concern:
- Not much, but it appears we have more than one problem.
- What is it? - Akash looked worried, as did everybody else.
- We need to think of something for "AR Canada" launch... Jev, can we postpone it?
Javed thought for a moment and replied:
- Sorry, bro, I'm no miracle worker. If that plant won't start producing revenues and paying some major taxes in a month we're gonna have issues with local tax police... and land lease agreement is not iron-clad on that subject either. We HAVE to launch the company...
Khushi intervened:
- No, Arnav-ji, there's no way I'm letting you go in this condition, doctor hasn't cleared you for flying for two more weeks!
- Yeah, I know, - Arnav did his best to sound pathetic and lost. It worked - Akash made an offer they were hoping for:
- Bhai... I can go... If you think I can handle it...
Arnav exclaimed victoriously:
- Hell yeah, I totally trust you with "AR Canada"! Congrats - you'd just made a CEO of our newly founded branch!
Akash smiled shyly and accepted a round of congratulations from everybody in the room. Only one thing was overshadowing Akash's happiness - he felt like he was leaving his family in the moment of need:
- Bhai, but maybe I can do more good here...
- No, - Mr. Thomson suddenly took the word, - less people I have to protect, the easier it would be. I'd be very grateful if you'd keep an eye on your family in Canada while we deal with Shyam here... you know, in case he has some friends over there too.
That sealed the deal - Akash nodded and smiled with relief - he was doing something good for the family after all.
...
After a milk toast for Akash's new job Arnav turned to NK:
- So, listen, NK... is it true what Khushi was telling me?
NK looked a bit suspicious:
- Was telling you what exactly?
- That you'd decided to go into photography... and you are good in it too?
NK shied away from the compliment:
- Umm... I did won an "Australian Photography Digital - Contemporary" last year... so I guess... I'm not that bad...
- But that's great! - Arnav winked at Khushi for it was her idea to use this angle, - What say you if I'd send you to Akash's big gala as AR photo correspondent?
NK was thrilled with a prospect of real photography job:
- Wow, Nannav, that's a great ide... Wait! No! You need me here! My pair of eyes and lens would surely help in catching that bas***d.
Checkmate - Arnav didn't really know how to match this move - and then Khushi chimed in:
- Jija-ji, when you say that gala is happening?
Akash answered vaguely:
- I guess, in three-four weeks. It depends on what I'll find there when I arrive...
Khushi clapped her hands pleased with this answer:
- Lavanya-ji has to go to New Your for two weeks but then she has some free time, so I'm gonna ask her to come model for your gala! It was such a success this time - I'm sure you will have so much fun in Canada!
And even though Khushi was speaking to Akash, this speech was directed towards totally different person - NK's face got that torn expression when he wanted something totally different from what he had to do.
Javed played along with exhausted moan:
- Oh no, Smiley! She's needs somebody to accompany her to all those press junkets and such... NK, bro, you would really help us out if you'd be there for her! Take one for the team, will you?
NK slowly nodded trying not to look very eager but internally he was dancing his victory dance. Khushi gave Javed a short bow - once again he understood her and completed her lead perfectly. Javed was like a brother to her, the one she'd never had but was hoping to get if everything plays out as she'd hoped it would.
Khushi stood up, stretched and yawned - very theatrically and on display. In case somebody missed her hint she'd voiced it:
- Gentlemen, it really-really late, and morning pooja is still going to happen and you won't be able to claim your secret meeting as a reason for oversleeping... So I suggest we go back to our bedrooms to catch some sleep and come back to whatever was your discussion some other time? Sounds good?
Not that she was actually asking - her stance was very determined as she was not going to let Arnav to stay and hurt himself even more on that uncomfortable recliner. Arnav sighted and stood up to leave.
And like that... meeting was adjourned.