Bikhre moti (Scattered pearls)

5.3 feel your heartbeat(pt3)

"Thoda sa pyar hua hai"

"Hey bhagwan, shyam, look at that! Arnav was not really not joking, he is really married and has a child." Anjali said panicking, clutching on Shyam's arms rightly

"ufff, Anjali, leave my hand, you will break it." He said, successfully saving his arm from getting a broken bone. But she was ready to jump from the barricades and run to confront Arnav it seemed, "Wait Anjali, let them come here at least." shyam stopped her.

But when Arnav and his (alleged) wife came nearer, it was Shyam who was surprised, as he identified his cousin sister, Khushi! Although she wasn't his immediate(first) cousin, she was his father's cousin brother's daughter. But he was in touch with his Shashi uncle and so knew Khushi. 

"Khushi? you are Shashi Uncle's daughter right? of course you are! What a pleasant surprise!" He gave her that big happy smile which you would give to your long lost dear sibling whom you are meeting after years. In this case though Khushi hardly remembered him. But hiding her confusion, she smiled politely,

"Hello, pleasure to meet you" she wasn't sure if she could call him bhaiyya, or bro, or just shyam!

"It sure is. call me bhai, like you did when you were little. And Uncle didn't tell me you were coming today"

Khushi remembered her papa had discreetly mentioned to her that she could stay at her distant cousin's house in Delhi but the shy and introvert American she had become, she politely refused saying she would be comfortable to stay in a hotel before proceeding for Lucknow, where the baby's grandparents lived.

In the meanwhile, the real siblings, Arnav and Anjali were watching this little reunion with amusement, having gathered by now that Shyam and Khushi were siblings too.

"Anjali, this is Khushi" Shyam introduced her albeit, with extra weight on her name and raising his eyebrows, trying to indicate some secret. Anjali took a minute to decipher but soon did

"Ohh! this is Khushi, khushi" Anjali said as she now got who this girl was. She was the same person they were planning to introduce to their chotte and here he already knew her. but who was the baby?

"Mamu who is this?" Soham asked Arnav, as he tugged on arnav's shirt asking about the baby.

And that was when Arnav explained in brief that it was khushi's friend's baby who she was taking care of and was going to Lucknow to meet the baby's grandparents where she would handover the baby to them

"Oh. that's such a good work you are doing Khushi." Shyam and Anjali said almost at the same time and smiled.  "Anyway, chalo remaining talks we'll do in car. come on khushi, our car is parked there" Shyam started walking away, when khushi registered what they were saying

"Bhai, wait. Actually, I am staying in a hotel" she said, patting on Sanika's back, as she had now started being cranky.

"Don't be silly khushi you will be staying at our place." Shyam said, already taking her bag

"Please Khushi I insist. Besides you can use a helping hand with the baby." Anjali insisted caressing Sanika's little head, and khushi almost said yes, when Arnav decided to say something,

"helping hand with the baby, that she definitely can use." Arnav said in a playful tone and Khushi swatted his arm to admonish him. 

However their little banter there made Anjali very happy. Looked like her wish of getting a good wife for her brother, was soon getting fulfilled!

--*--

Khushi and Sanika were warmly welcomed in Shantivan, by Arnav-Anjali's grandmother, whom they called Nani. And soon whole family gathered around her and Arnav asking about their journey. Khushi started getting nervous as she was not used to these many people around, it was only her and her papa back home. But soon, the warmth with which they were talking to each other, even to her, made her feel welcomed.