Making Her Mine- An IPKKND story.

Chapter 39 - Hullabaloo

Shyam was still out at lunchtime. Akash decided to accompany Arnav to the farmhouse, although Arnav had told him he didn't need to. So he was home too, as were Payal, Mamaji, Mamiji, Nani, and Di.

As they sat around eating, there was a loud commotion at the door.

Arnav, Akash, and Khushi all looked up, expecting Shyam. But the figure that bounded in, dressed in a bright blue T-shirt and camouflage pants, was NK.

"Masiji!!!" their Australia-returned cousin exclaimed loudly, arms wide, smiling at everyone. "Khushiji! I'm back!"

"Nanhe ji!" Khushi squealed, clattering dishes as she stood up, making Arnav grimace.

"This is amazing! Everyone's here! I missed you all!" NK continued, grinning like a clown as he turned to each of them. "Dadi-ji! Nannav! Akash! Payal Bhabi! Masaji! Anjali Di!!!"

Everyone at the table had wide smiles too.

Arnav once thought Khushi and NK were identical — crazy, clumsy, and outrageous. He liked NK fine, but he was beyond irritating.

"NK! You weren't going to come back until next week!" Mamiji said, getting up and rushing to NK to give him a hug.

"I came to give you all a surprise! Aren't you thrilled to see me?"

Arnav rolled his eyes — NK thought he was God's gift to humanity. But the rest of the family returned his smiles enthusiastically.

"What a great stink!" NK said, plopping himself on a chair across from Khushi. "What's for lunch?"

"Scent, NK Bhai, not stink," Akash said, correcting NK's Hindi.

"We are having Kulcha and Chana, Nanhe Ji!" Khushi said, eagerly pushing a plate toward NK.

"Khushi Ji, you are so sweet," NK said. "Did you miss me?"

"Of course! You left so suddenly! We missed you very much!" Khushi caught Arnav's eye roll just as she said this. She twisted her lips, which was clearly, code for "Grow up, Arnavji".

"And Nannav!!! Good to see you looking so well! I heard you scared everyone. So what's it like being a married man, huh? Huh?"

Arnav shrugged and hurriedly shoved the last of his food in his mouth.

"Akash and I have a meeting. See you guys," he said, still chewing as he got up from his chair. "Khushi, can I talk to you for a minute?"

She looked up at him mid-laugh, and her smile disappeared. It was like Akash and Payal's wedding days all over again – NK making Khushi laugh, Arnav making her laughter vanish in a flash. Déjà vu.

"I'm going to the farmhouse with Akash," Arnav said to Khushi quietly when she came to him. "To meet the police — the officer in charge of the case. I didn't want them to come here."

Khushi nodded. "I'll come with you."

"No! Stay here. Hang out with NK or something."

"Arnav-ji—" Khushi began, but he interrupted her.

"No, Khushi. I hate the police. I don't want them around my family. Especially you."

Akash had come up to them now. "Shall we go, Bhai?"

"What do you mean, you hate the police?" Khushi hissed. "It's for your case, and you know I can give them information. I haven't told them anything till now —"

Akash heard this. "Khushiji, let me and Bhai meet them on our own this time. If they think they need to talk to you, we can arrange that later. Everyone will wonder why you're coming with us today — and you've hardly had chance to spend time with everyone. Payal, especially. Bhai and I will handle this."

Arnav silently thanked Akash for his calm logic. Yes, he wanted to be honest with Khushi, but why he hated dealing with the police... he wasn't ready to go there yet.