Chapter Thirty Four

Ever since the thought first entered her mind, Khushi could not stop thinking about it.

Could that be the reason why Dai Ma was bashing Ma? Because she loves Papa, she wondered.

"Khushi?"

Khushi snapped out of thought. "Huh?"

Khushi saw Aryan looking at her confusedly.

"Are you okay," he asked. "You seem to be lost in thought."

Khushi shook her head. "No, it's nothing."

"Are you sure?"

Khushi caught Divya looking at her with concern from the corner of her eyes, but she didn't look at her.

"I'm fine," she smiled softly.

"Now Khushi, don't lie to me. I've noticed that you haven't been eating properly these past two days."

Khushi shook her head and was going to explain, but Aryan continued.

"Divya also told me you got sick earlier."

Khushi looked at Divya and then at Aryan. "It's nothing-"

"Khushi," Aryan warned.

Khushi pursed her lips. "I'm sorry," she said in a low voice.

Aryan sighed and reached out, and held her hand. "You're thinking about Chote, aren't you?"

Khushi looked up at Aryan.

Aryan smiled softly. "I understand that it's hard. It would've been one thing if he was in the city, but now he's away in a different country. But don't worry, he'll be home in just a few days. He'll be just fine, however, you won't be if you keep up this childishness."

Khushi nodded and Aryan smiled.

The family resumed to their dinner, but Khushi was still pondering. She looked at Divya, who was focused on her food, as well as on Aryan, asking if he needed anything.

Dai Ma has no relation to the family, whatsoever, besides being Ma's best- supposed best friend, Khushi thought. Yet she's been in this house since...  since... since when?

"Have you taken your medication," Divya asked Aryan.

Aryan paused. "Oh, I completely forgot."

Divya shook her head. "When do you ever remember? If it weren't for me, you would've totally forgotten about them." She called a worker and told them to bring Aryan's medication. "Honestly, where would you be without me?"

The way she said that... and the way she's looking at him.

Aryan sighed. "I'd probably be with Shalini."

Khushi looked at him with sad eyes and reached out to hold his hand. Aryan gave her a soft smile and Khushi lightly squeezed his hand.

"Don't say such things," Divya said.

Khuhi looked at her. Even though she says such stuff and looks at him in that way, Papa only thinks of Ma. Even after all of these years.

"I'm only joking," Aryan tried to laugh off. "Besides, even if you weren't around, I'd still have my Khushi to take care of me," he smiled at her.

Khushi smiled back, though she could feel daggers being thrown at her from Divya, even as slyly as she did it.

Khushi straightened her spine. If that were the case, I would be taking good care of him, better than you.

After dinner, Khushi went to check on Aryan and as she had expected, she found him looking at old photos of Shalini in his study.

"Papa?"

Aryan looked up and saw Khushi standing at the door. "Come in."

Khushi entered and went beside Aryan's side. "You're thinking of Ma again," she stated, rather than questioning.

Aryan scoffed lightly. "I can't help it. These days whenever I think of her, I just have to look at these photos of her. As if looking at them would bring her back...."

Khushi smiled softly and laid her head on his shoulder. "You love her. You'd do anything to bring her back. Even the impossible."

"I would. Though there are moments where it seems like she's still here."

Khushi looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know what it is but.... Shalini and I had this... connection, so to say. When we were near each other, our hearts knew immediately."

Khushi's eyebrows shot up. Just like me and Arnav.

"It was a different feeling, nothing like I'd ever experienced in my life. It would only feel that way whenever she was around. But over the years, after she was gone, I felt it. A couple of times, but I felt it."

Khushi tilted her head.

Aryan shook his head and tried to laugh it off. "I think it's just the thought of her that triggers it now, I don't know. In the beginning it gave me hope but now... I'd do anything to have her back."

Khushi pursed her lips to stop her tears from shedding. She placed her head back on her father's shoulder and held his hand.

"She's always here," she said softly. "She's always watching over us, watching over you."

Aryan smiled. "That she is, but still...." Aryan looked down at Khushi. "She would've been so happy to meet you. All she ever thought about was Chote's wife. I remember Chote getting upset over it, not to mention disgusted," he chuckled, "but Shalini was excited. Hence the reason why she bought all the jewelry," he chuckled.

"Would she really have liked me?"

"Like you? She'd have loved you. You're exactly what Shalini wanted in her bahu. ...unfortunately she never got to see for herself."

Khushi smiled sadly.

Aryan looked down at the pictures and so did Khushi. On the page was that very same photo, the one of Shalini and Divya.

"You said that Dai Ma is Ma's best friend?"

Aryan nodded. "The two were close, always together. That's why she was sometimes around when Shalini and I bumped into each other."

"Oh."

"Although one time, I accidentally bumped into her instead."

"You did?"

"Yup, by total accident though. I was rushing to class, bumped into her and nearly knocked her over, but I caught her. I quickly put her on her feet, apologized, and dashed to class."

Khushi blinked and looked down at the picture. Oh boy....

"Truth be told I never noticed her, no offense. I didn't really much after until I realized she was always around Shalini."

Huh.... "Was she around you guys even after you two were together?"

"Now and then, yes. We always saw each other on campus and she'd arrive with Divya and their other friends while I did with mine. Unless I decided to pick her up a block away from her home."

Khushi grinned. "You really did that?"

Aryan winked and Khushi giggled. Khushi looked back down at the photo and saw one of Aryan, Shalini, and Divya, Aryan and Shalini looking very, very happy.

"When was this?"

"Ah, this was the day I proposed to her," he smiled proudly.

Khushi gasped. "Really?"

"Yup. I got down on one knee in front of the entire student body and asked her to marry me."

"Wow, talk about pressure," Khushi teased.

Aryan chuckled. "Well, not exactly. We had been talking about the future for a while and we just knew we were meant for each other, even if we didn't know each other for long."

"And she said yes in front of everyone?"

"She did, and that was one of the best days of our lives."

The clock struck 12 and the two looked up at it.

"Well, it's getting late. You should head to bed," Aryan said.

"I will, I'll just clean the room up-"

"Leave it, you can do it tomorrow."

"No, it's okay Papa. You go ahead, I'll be done soon."

Aryan sighed and placed his hand on Khushi's head. "What did I do to deserve a daughter like you," and he kissed her on the top of her head before leaving.

When Aryan was out of view, Khushi looked down at the album book, at the picture of the three. Even though Divya was smiling, Khushi knew their was a gleam of anger in her eyes, as old as the picture were.

Dai Ma must have fallen for Papa when he caught her for bumping into her. Her fascination for him must have started then, otherwise.... But then again, Papa said he never really noticed her. Chances are she was around when Papa and Ma met for the first time.... I wonder if Ma ever knew about this.

"Almost forgot!"

Khushi looked up and saw Aryan come back in. He picked up his phone off the desk and smiled.

"Papa, if you don't mind me asking, why does Dai ma stay here with us? Doesn't she have a family of her own?"

"Divya was always the closest to Shalini. After Shalini was gone, Divya was the closest to a mother figure, not to mention the closest to Shalini."

"So she was only here to be as a mother figure?"

"To be somewhat of an essence of Shalini, being her best friend and all. I honestly don't think I could've done it on my own."

"But what about her own family?"

"Unfortunately, that never happened for her. There was someone once, but that all fell apart when her husband passed away."

"Passed away?"

"Yeah, only it was in the cruelest of ways - murder."

Khushi gasped. "Oh my!"

Aryan nodded. "The feeling of loosing the one you love... Shalini felt really bad, so she asked her to stay here. Then Shalini... basically she's been here ever since. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Khushi played off.

Aryan nodded. "Well that's enough curiosity for one night. Time to go to bed."

Khushi chuckled. "Yes Papa, I'm going."

"Good. I don't want Chote yelling at me, saying I didn't take good care of the woman he loves."

Khushi blushed and Aryan chuckled as he left.

Khushi placed the album down, keeping it open on the same page.

Something just doesn't feel right. If Dai Ma loves Papa then why would she marry someone else? Unless she was forced? Maybe her parents? Something, that's for sure. However if you think aobut it, things worked out for her, gruesome as it is for her late husband. In a way, Ma gave her the ticket for her to live with the one she really loves.... 

Over these years, who knows what Dai Ma's done. I'm pretty darn sure she's tried to put some moves on Papa. But Papa loves Ma way too much to even think of another woman, forget love another.

It all comes back to Ma though. I mean that was her best friend, so surely she'd have known if Dai Ma loved... maybe Dai Ma moved on from Papa and married, but then the old feelings came back when she moved in here? But the photo... this is all too confusing!

"Khushi bhabi," a worker called out.

Khushi left the room to tend to the worker, shutting the door behind her. However, the second she turned at the corner, a figure crept out from the shadows. Carefully opening the doors, they carefully shut the door behind them and stepped into the room. They glanced around when they caught sight of the album book. Going over to it, they saw the four pictures on the page: two of Shalini and Aryan, one of Shalini and Divya, and the other of the three of them together. They flipped through the pages, looking at each of the photos.

Meanwhile, Khushi helped the worker create tomorrow's menu. Remembering that she had forgotten to tidy up Aryan's office, she went back upstairs. Khushi was walking down the hall, close to Aryan's study, when Divya called out to her.

"Khushi?"

Khushi turned around and saw her, the woman dressed up in a scarlet sari, covering her head with her pallu. "Yes?"

"Have you seen your father in-law?"

Oh? "Papa has already gone to bed."

"Oh. Well did he-"

"I left his medication by his bedside table."

"Oh, good. That's all," and she walked away.

'Father in-law'? Really? And what a lovely scarlet sari she's got on - for a widow. It's as if she's still married....

Khushi shook these thoughts out of her head and went to Aryan's study. The second she stepped in, she felt something unsteady. It was as if there was a presence in the room, but the room seemed untouched.

Quit spooking yourself Khushi, you've only been in this room so many times!

Khushi went to the desk to put the album book away. However when she got to it, she gasped. The album book was now on another page: there was a picture of Shalini with a little Arnav, a picture of Aryan with a little Arnav, all three of them together as well as Divya, and the last picture slot was empty.

By looking at the page, Khushi could tell that there was photo, only someone had removed it - just removed it. Khushi picked up the book and looked around the room, expecting to find someone trying to hide behind the furniture.

Only there was no one else there at all.

Chapter Thirty Three

"Khushi, could you come here please?"

"Coming Papa," Khushi hollered back.

Khushi and Divya had been working in the kitchen, preparing lunch. With Arnav away, Khushi was able to give more time to the housework, hoping that this would give her points in Divya's chart. However, with Arnav away, some of the work load poured onto her, as well as Aryan, so every now and then, Khushi would have to ditch the housework for the office work.

Going to Aryan, Khushi did just that, taking a bit more time than she had hoped. And unfortunately when she was coming back into the kitchen, she heard Divya muttering about her all over again, just like she had been since the first day she heard her. It was only getting worse and worse by the day, and Khushi was worried.

Little did Khushi know that this time, she would hear so much more.

"... and gajar ka halwa, yet I'm making it," Khushi heard Divya complain. "What did she say? I'm in the mood for gajar ka halwa and I bet Papa would love it! Too bad Arnav isn't here," she mocked and then twitched her lips. "Wants it all but doesn't do shit, stupid villager."

Khushi pursed her lips, trying not to let her words hurt her.

"I swear, what the hell did her parents teach her? To put her feet up and relax in her in-laws? Then again what would she learn, the bitch's parents don't even like her," she cackled.

Khushi looked down at the floor.

"And Aryan? Oof, Aryan... always getting the opposite impression of people. You bring a daughter in-law in and instead of making her work, you're still making me work! She's not my bahu, she's my daughter - chi! Where are you and where is that low-class villager? Daughter? My foot!"

Divya stirred the halwa angrily. "Get it through your head Aryan, she's not what you think; you always get people wrong. Then again it's normal of you to do so. You're doing it now with this bitch like you did with Shalini."

Khushi's eyes widened at the mentioning of her deceased mother in-law and she looked back up.

"Shalini," she mocked with disgust. "What was so good about her anyways? Yet you fell in love with her," the woman pouted. "It shouldn't have been her!"

Shouldn't have been her, Khushi wondered.

"Khushi bhabi," a worker hollered.

Divya immediately snapped out of her rant and straightened her spine. Khushi backed away from the doorway immediately before Divya turned around and saw her. Khushi looked down the hall and saw one of the workers hollering for her, so she quickly went that way. When she got to the worker, she saw Divya poking her head out of the kitchen, seeming somewhat relived, as if Khushi hadn't heard what she said.

But boy was she wrong!

"Khushi bhabi," the worker began, bringing Khushi's attention back to her, "your phone."

Khushi nodded and took it, seeing that Arnav had called her three times. Calling him back quickly before he went crazy, Khushi left to Arnav's study, feeling the need of privacy.

"Khushi, where were you," Arnav said when he picked up the phone.

"Hello to you too, I'm fine," Khushi frowned.

"Don't give me that, why didn't you pick up your phone?"

"Arnav relax, I didn't have my phone near me. There's no need to shout."

Arnav was about to say something when he sighed. "You're right, I'm sorry."

Khushi sat down in a chair by the fireplace. "Is something wrong," she asked softly.

"Nothing, just stress. And without you here, I have no distraction."

Khushi smiled softly. "It's only been a week. This week will fly by, promise."

"Fly by? As if! I can't focus and I cant stop thinking about you."

Khushi blushed. "Really?"

"Yeah. It was so bad, I got hard during a meeting."

Khushi's jaw dropped to Arnav's audacity. "Arnav!"

"What? It's the truth!"

Khushi shook her head. "Unbelievable."

"It's not my fault! You try staying away from you for a week. Oh wait, you can't!"

Khushi held back her laugh. "Someone's cranky."

"Am not!"

This time she couldn't help herself. "Cranky-pants!"

"Khushi-!"

"Cranky-pants, cranky-pants," she sang.

"Khushi it's not funny, do you have any idea how awkward that was. I had to wait for everyone else to leave before I could adjust myself."

Khushi laughed harder, unable to help herself at all.

"Khushi," and she knew Arnav was frowning.

"I'm sorry, I can't help it!"

Arnav huffed and sat down on the bed.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I won't laugh, promise."

"Yeah right, you'll just laugh after you hang up."

"Then I won't hang up."

"Is that so?"

"Mm hmm. If you'd like."

"If I'd like? Khushi would you do everything I say?"

"Yes."

"Even if I told you to jump off a cliff?"

"Yes."

"Khushi, I'm being serious."

"So am I."

Arnav was quiet for a moment. "Khushi that's absolutely ridiculous!"

"What-"

"No, that's just completely ridiculous! You'd just do it just because I said so? Where the hell is the logic behind this?"

"Arnav-"

"No Khushi, it's absolutely wrong!"

"Arnav, calm down. I wouldn't just do it because you said so. Besides, you'd never say that."

"I think I just might," he said angrily.

Khushi chuckled. "You'd never say that."

"And why wouldn't I?!"

"Because you can't live without me."

Arnav remained quiet and for a moment, Khushi wondered if he was still there. But her heartbeat said otherwise, and she knew that he was a having a moment, and she knew she was absolutely correct.

"I love you," Khushi said softly.

Khushi heard him sigh. "I love you too," he replied.

Khushi leaned back in the chair. "I wish you would come home early."

"Me too baby, but I can't," he sighed.

Khushi hummed, toying with her mangalsutra.

"Stop toying with your mangalsutra," Arnav said.

Khushi paused. "How did you know I was doing that," she asked, glancing around the room, secretly hoping he was actually here.

"Because you always do that when you think about me."

"Do I?"

"Mm hmm; you do it while lost in thought, so you never realize it yourself."

"How can I focus on what I'm doing when my mind is focused on you."

"I know," he replied, and Khushi could hear his smile.

Khushi looked down at her mangalsutra, still unconsciously toying with it.

"You also do it when you're being bold," Arnav teased.

Khushi's cheeks filled with blush while her eyes widened. "I do not!"

Arnav laughed. "Yes you do, baby, yes you do."

"When?! I never do that!"

"Again, you do it unconsciously. Usually you bite your lip while doing that."

"What the- no I don't! You're just trying to make fun of me."

"Trust me baby, I'm not. I'm replaying those moments in my head right now and to be honest, I'm hard as fuck right now."

"Arnav!"

Though secretly, Khushi was a bit turned on.

"I can't help it," Arnav defended. "It can't be helped when you've got such a sexy wife," he teased.

Khushi didn't say anything, feeling her body react instead.

Arnav groaned. "You're biting your lip and still toying with your mangalsutra, aren't you?"

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows and looked down, realizing that Arnav was right - she was still playing with her mangalsutra and she was biting her lip.

She released both. "I hate it when you're correct."

Arnav laughed. "I'm gonna let you go right now; I need to take a long shower."

Khushi pursed her lips. "Only shower?"

Arnav could heat the little taunt in her voice. "Any other ideas?"

"Maybe," Khushi blushed.

Arnav shut his eyes and took a deep breath. "Why didn't you come with me Khushi?"

"I'd like to," she whispered.

Arnav inhaled sharply. "Khushi...."

"Yes," and again she was toying with her mangalsutra.

Both were quiet for a moment, erotic visions playing in their head. Unfortunately, the sound of the hotel line ringing snapped both out of their dirty thoughts. Khushi heard him take the call and asked them to put the person on hold, then pick up his phone.

"Khushi, I have to go."

"Okay," Khushi said sadly.

"I'll be home soon, I promise."

Khushi looked down and nodded, even though Arnav wouldn't see her do so.

"Take care of dad and of Dai Ma, okay? Bye, I love you."

"I love you too," and the two hung up.

Take care of dad and of Dai Ma, okay?

This last bit rung in Khushi's head, bouncing off from one end of her brain to the next.

Papa I can take care of, but Dai Ma....

Khushi stood up and absentmindedly walked back and forth.

What does Dai Ma have against Ma? Papa said they were best friends. But then-?

Khushi remembered the last of what Divya had said:

Shalini! What was so good about her anyways? Yet you fell in love with her! It shouldn't have been her!"

'It shouldn't have been her'? What does she mean by that? I mean it's not like she-

Khushi paused, her eyes widening as her hand paused on her mangalsutra.

"Oh my gosh," she breathed.

Could it be? But that's just... does Dai Ma love Papa?