Silver Linings

Tense

Khushi sat on the front porch steps looking at the sky.. usually she is unable to sleep because her mother disturbs her sleep, but today that wasn't the case. She had been feeling anxious ever since they received a call from Payal in the evening. Khushi had answered the call on the landline and when she heard Payal's voice she had been so happy that she started to chat her up as usual. Payal had just cut her off in the middle and asked to put Buaji on the line.

The way Payal spoke had worried Khushi so she tried asking what the matter was but Payal dismissed her and asked her to quickly hand the phone over to Buaji, and Khushi had done so. She stood right there watching Buaji have the conversation, "Arey payaliaaa.. kaisan ho bitiya" (How are you child?) Buaji had the widest smile on her face which fell off immediately. Khushi's worried increased when she heard Madhimati's words "Kaa hua bitiya... tum pareshaan lagrahi ho" (What happened child.. you sound worried) "Acha.. par hua kya hai payalia..." (Okay.. but what happened Payalia?) "Acha teek hai nandkishore.. hum sab aavat hai" (Okay fine.. we will come) and she placed the receiver down.

Khushi had immediately asked her what the matter was, but Madhumati just walked into Sashi's room, Khushi followed her.. "Payalia ka phone tha.. Arnav Babua ne hum sab ko wahan Shantivan mai bulaya hai.. Kal savere gadi bejdenge" (It was Payal's call.. Arnav has asked all of us to come to Shantivan.. tomorrow morning he will be sending a car) Garima looked confused, "Kaa hua jiji.. aisi achanak?" (What happened Jiji.. suddenly?) Madhumati shook her head "Pata nahi nandkishore... par Payalia bohot pareshaan lag rahi thi... aur keh bhi nahi rahi thi ke hua kaa hai" (I don't know Nandkishore.. but Payalia sounded very upset.. and she wasn't even sharing what the issue was) Madhumati held her head and shook it as she made her way out of the room.

The atmosphere in the house had been very tensed since then, No one spoke unless it was necessary, and if anyone asked any questions, the answers were given in monosyllables. Khushi had contemplated calling Arnav directly and asking what the matter was, but there was an inexplicable fear in her heart that didn't allow her to make that call. Now here she was, sitting outside the house all alone. 

There was a sudden movement in the shadows that startled her "Kaun hai?" (Who is that?) she asked and looked in that direction.. her heart was in her throat as she heard shuffling of feet, she stood up and slowly walked in that direction, gulping down her fear. Just as she reached the corner "Devi Maiyya Raksha karna" (Devi Maiyya keep me safe) she whispered and was about to peep over, when she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped with a yelp and turned around, she could hear her heart pounding so heavily, When her vision cleared and she saw who it was that startled her, she let out a sigh of relief, "Aap dono! Pata hai hum kitne darr gaye the" (You two! Do you know how scared I got) She whisper shouted at the two girls standing in front her, her neighbours Kajal and Geet

The girls chuckled looking at the expression on Khushi's face "Par itni darr kyun gayi... aur choro ki tarah aise chup ke kya dekh ne jaa rahi thi?" (But why did you get scared? why were you hiding like a thief, what were you trying to see over there?) Khushi just shook her head "Hume kuch aawaazien sunai di... isiliye dkehne aaye the" (I heard some noises.. just came to check what that was) She explained and the girls nodded their head "Par aap dono itni raat ko yahan kya kar rahe hai?" (But what are you two doing here this late at night?) Khushi asked as all three girls made their way to the front porch 

"Hum abhi abhi dinner kiye the... aur socha thoda tehelne jaayenge.. warna neend nahi aayegi na" (We just had our dinner and thought we should go for a small walk, or it might get difficult to sleep) Khushi nodded accepting their explanation. The three of them sat on the front porch and started to chat about the most random things, and after almost an hour, Khushi started to feel quite drowsy, so she bid them a good night and went into the house.