Head over Heels

Chapter 6 - Khushi

🎶Yeh tune kya kiya - Once upon a time in Mumbai Dobaara!

Khushi stood frozen at the door, the air had left her lungs. She heard voices around that sounded strangely muted to her ears.

Arnav-ji stared into her eyes, his gaze roving over her entire face with something akin to hunger. He was dressed in a black designer suit with a white shirt and black tie, the classic look ever so crisp and unapproachable.

"Khushi!!"

A sudden tug on her elbow snapped her back to reality. Bua-ji stood beside her at the door, her eyes wide with disbelief. An implausible idea flickered in Khushi's mind: did Arnav-ji come knocking as the prospective groom for her sister?

As though in answer to her question, Arnav-ji moved aside to let his brother; Akash-ji step forward. The rest of his family were gathered behind him, Anjali-ji grinned with her arms full of Shagun gifts.

"P-please come in," stammered Bua-ji, ungracefully recovering from the shock. Khushi waited at the door as the Raizadas strolled inside, smiling in greeting.

Arnav-ji imitated her and was the last to enter. Khushi felt like she might combust with the heat pooling her cheeks. She sensed his eyes on her as she closed the doors with shaking hands.

He helped pull out the dining chairs and assembled them in the living room. Khushi took her place by Ji-ji, they both stood behind Amma and Bua-ji's seats.

"This might've come as a surprise to you," started Nani-ji congenially once they were all seated. "Thank you so much for your warm welcome, Madhumati-ji. I hope you have been doing well since the last time we met. Khushi-bitiya, you seem to have recovered well, I'm so happy to see you back on your feet."

Khushi worked up a smile, it was impossible not to respond to Nani-ji's warmth.

"We are very humbled, Devyani-ji, that your family decided to grace us with your presence," replied Bua-ji. "We couldn't thank you enough for taking care of our daughters during Teej."

"Not at all," said Nani-ji pleasantly. "They are, after all, reflections of Goddess Devi Mayya in human guise, and our Akash wouldn't have wanted it any other way...which leads us to the purpose of our visit."

"As you've been informed by Smitha-ji, we've come to seek your permission to ask for Payal-bitiya's hand in marriage to our Akash."

Khushi gave Ji-ji a quick glance, her sister seemed to be hyperventilating. She grabbed Ji-ji's concealed hand and held tight, the move also served to calm her own erratic heart.

Amma and Bua-ji exchanged troubled looks, Khushi had been told about the debacle during Teej. She glanced at Mami-ji who had maintained a stern silence throughout the exchange.

Arnav-ji cleared his throat, frowning resolutely at the furniture. As though nudged, Mami-ji began echoing Nani-ji's sentiments, her smiles strained and sugary.

"Let bhy-gones be bhy-gones, it's only so much a mother can do when their child is so forlorn, don't know what jaadu this khoon-bhari-"

Nani-ji shot Mami-ji a warning look. Mami-ji continued flustered with a wave of her hands, "I mean Payal-bitiya has done, but pleej hello-hi into our lives and make our son whole again."

Akash-ji's lips twitched while Anjali-ji hurriedly masked her chuckle with a cough. Arnav-ji seemed to struggle not to roll his eyes, he managed with a steady glance at the ceiling and to the side.

Khushi smiled covertly but hastily looked away when he caught her eye.

"This is a lot to take in," began Bua-ji, choosing her words carefully. "Can we have a private word between ourselves if that's alright?"