Chapter 35: Arnav

"What are you doing?"

"Me? I'm reading the minutes of today's acquisitions meeting."

"Arnav-ji! Don't you watch any films?"

Arnav frowned at the papers in front of him, absently touching the Bluetooth device at his ear.

"Answer me like they do in films," Khushi's tone rose an octave as she implored.

"What do you mean?"

"You should say that you're lying down and staring up at the stars."

"It's cloudy," he objected, his eyes finding the night-time sky, "and that sounds like a waste of time."

"Fine! I'm hanging up."

"Okay. You should sleep, you have classes tomorrow."

"No wait, listen. I'll hang up now?"

"Yeah," he flipped to the next page.

"Should I really hang up?"

"Do you … want it in writing?"

"Okay," Khushi seemed to perk up, "You hang up first!"

Arnav rolled his eyes at her childishness, "Good night."

Ending the call, he settled back into the chair with a weary sigh, but his phone rang not thirty seconds later.

"You hung up!" Khushi greeted, outrage clear in every syllable.

"Well … yeah."

She huffed, seemingly so angry that she couldn't even speak, and it dawned on him that he was in trouble.

"You're not meant to hang up," she explained with exaggerated patience, "You're meant to say 'You first', so that I can say, 'No, you first' and then we talk like that."

"Why?"

"Because it's romantic!"

Arnav considered her words as he slid the file onto the table and reclined back.

She's trying to flirt. This is her filmy notion of romance.

He smiled into the phone, the realisation triggering a warmth in his chest. "What do you want to talk about, then?"

Immediately, she launched into a story about her latest project for college, a series of case studies into different pedagogies that involved day trips to local schools. While it was evident she loved children, and loved to learn, he'd started to wonder about her desire to become a teacher. For some reason, it didn't strike him as Khushi.

"… Then Barun said he wouldn't apologise to Pinky and we had a discussion about saying sorry … why don't boys say sorry, Arnav-ji?"

"I don't know," Arnav traced a finger along the edge of his chair, "It's hard to say it sometimes."

"Even for you?"

"Yeah."

A knock on his bedroom door distracted him from her reply.

"Babe, I'll call you back, okay? Give me a few minutes."

"Oh … what … you …" he heard her take a deep breath through the phone, "What did you c-call me j-just now?"

"What?" his fingers drummed on the chair as he replayed his words, "oh … 'Babe' … you don't like it?"

"I … you see …"

He grinned, imagining her blush stealing across her cheeks and nose. "Ten minutes. Hold that thought."

Sliding the phone into his pocket, he opened the door to find Aakash and Di on the threshold. He invited them in with a gesture, noting that Aakash looked pale, and folded his arms as they settled on his recliner.

"We have a problem," Di started, her hand finding Aakash's shoulder.

"Maa has more photos of girls," Aakash scuffed his shoe against the carpet, "Sita, Gita, Rita, I can't keep track anymore."

Arnav sat at the foot his bed as Di turned to their brother.

"Aakash, we know you best. Tell us what kind of a girl you want. We'll," here her eyes flicked to Arnav, "We will talk to Mami-ji."

"Di, it's not like …" Aakash's protest trailed off into silence.

Arnav shrugged at his sister's enquiring glance.

"I want someone simple." Aakash said suddenly, "Soft spoken. Kind and gentle. Someone who takes care of others. Not a rich socialite, not a Miss World, but someone who brings happiness just by being. Someone like … someone like … Payal-ji."

His cousin blushed, ducking his head as Di squealed.

"Aakash, this is wonderful! Isn't it wonderful, Chhote?"

Arnav nodded, his eyes still on Aakash.

"So, what's happening? Have you told her? Does she feel the same? We should call her family and arrange a time to meet. Chh—"

"—Di, let him speak."

She settled back, resting her hands in her lap with a contrite smile. "Sorry, sorry, sorry. Aakash?"

It took a few seconds for his cousin to gather himself.

"I haven't spoken to her. I mean … I've talked … talked to her, obviously. But she doesn't know how I … how I feel."

"Do you think she feels the same?" Di asked.

"I don't … I don't know."

Arnav blinked as they both turned to him, expectant.

"Don't look at me, Payal hasn't told me anything."

"Has Khushi-ji mentioned anything?" Di nodded encouragingly, "She must have said something."

Khushi talks non-stop.

"Yes, but …"

"Call her, Chhote, we'll speak with her right now."

She'll never let me forget this.

Sighing in defeat, Arnav complied, dialling her number before placing his phone on the small table between them. Khushi answered almost immediately.

"Will you say it in public, or only when we're alone? Because, Arnav-ji, I don't think—"

"—Khushi," he interrupted hastily as Di and Aakash exchanged bewildered glances, "You're on the speaker. Di and Aakash want to speak to you."

"Oh … Namaste."

He cursed inwardly on hearing the slight tremble in her voice, suddenly disliking the idea of dragging her into this.

"Namaste Khushi-ji," Di greeted brightly, "We're calling to ask a few questions."

"What questions, Di?"

"Do you think Payal-ji uhh … if we came to your house to ask for Payal-ji's hand for Aakash … do you think …"

There was a soft thud on the other end of the line, followed by a muffled squeal. Worry tightened in Arnav's chest.

"Khushi? Are you alright?"

"Sorry," she answered shortly, slightly out of breath, "I dropped the phone. I think, oh Di, I think that would be wonderful. Jiji will be so happy!"

"Do you really think so?" Di grinned.

"Yes! I'll tell Jiji right now!"

"No!" Aakash spoke up, "Khushi-ji I … I think I should speak to Payal-ji first."

"Right. Of course."

"Khushi-ji, thank you," Di swiped the phone from the table, "and good night!"

"Good night, Di."

Something akin to annoyance surged within him when his sister ended the call, but Arnav was quickly distracted by Aakash's sigh.

"Maa will never understand."

Ever the optimist, Di eagerly reassured him, "Of course she will. She only wants you to be happy, and she'll realise that you can only be happy with Payal-ji."

Then she was distracted by the chime of her phone, blushing as she read the message before looking up, "Your Jija-ji. I should call him."

Arnav studied his brother in the short silence that followed.

"Bhai, you haven't really said anything."

A memory surfaced — Khushi skipping alongside him as they circled a lake, asking questions and taking his hand.

"Talk to her," he said softly, "Get to know her. We'll talk to Mami-ji when you're ready."

"And if she doesn't agree?"

"Aakash, if this is what you want, then I'll make sure it happens."

"Thanks, Bhai. And please … please thank Khushi-ji for me too."

It was only when he was closing the door behind his brother that the thought struck him.

Khushi Kumari Gupta had won their bet.

Author's Note:

Thank you very much for reading, as usual!

The next update will be on April 22nd 2017.