Making Her Mine- An IPKKND story.

Chapter 56 - Celebration

It was Khushi's birthday, and Arnav was stumped about what to do for her. She was unhappy about Payal. Akash had compliantly done as asked and told her about Payal's pregnancy, which hadn't made things better. Khushi had been thrilled, gone to Payal, and had been rebuffed.

"She's not happy being pregnant!" Khushi had sobbed when she returned. Arnav had held her, feeling helpless and more than a little peeved by Payal's obstinacy.

And now, it was Khushi's birthday, and Payal hadn't said a word. Why wouldn't she relent?

Khushi didn't want any birthday celebration. Arnav knew she was the type to make a big deal out of birthdays, ordinarily. It was a bummer to see her so subdued.

"We can go out to eat," he suggested. "We can get lots of desserts. A cake? Jalebi...?" She shook her head. "Let's go to Buaji's house, then. I'll tell Akash – your family will want to meet Payal and Akash too."

Khushi brightened up a little at this. "You think Jiji will go?"

"Ask her. And then call Buaji to let her know who all are coming. I have to talk to Aman."

He got Aman to handle work he would be missing, and have cake and candles delivered to Buaji's.

"Aman, I need to get her a present," he muttered, half annoyed that he was asking his manager for help. But he hadn't been able to decide on anything – and he didn't want to just give her some random pricy thing.

"Sir... maybe a saree?"

"A saree?" Arnav had a sudden vision of Khushi in a red saree, her loose hair cascading like a waterfall, lights twinkling all around her...

"Yes sir. There's this red one in the spring AR traditional wear collection. Khushiji wore it for the calendar shoot..."

Arnav frowned. "How do you know —"

"There's a photograph in your desk drawer."

Arnav suppressed his annoyance. "That's... actually not a bad idea."

"Great, sir. I'll have that packed and delivered as well."

Khushi bounded back in to the room looking happier than she had in days. "Jiji agreed!" She said laughing, and putting her arms around him. He grinned, relieved to see her happy.

"Jiji said Di spoke to her," Khushi said as she picked out something to wear from the wardrobe. "Do you know what she said?"

"Really? Di said she would talk to Payal... and that she would suggest marriage counseling. But I don't know what else. Di is good at talking to people huh."

"You didn't know that?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, she is great to talk to, but I'm her brother, she and I –" he stopped. "I'll be downstairs."

He met Akash at the front, waiting around for his wife. It turned out Payal hadn't told the family yet — she hadn't been talking about the pregnancy at all. Happily for him, Khushi showed up first, and he escaped an awkward meeting with Payal. He wasn't sure if she would change her mind to go if she saw him.

—

Buaji bustled around when they turned up at the house, calling out loudly for Garima Aunty, circling a pooja plate in front of Khushi's face and forcing them both to go pray to her Nandkishore. He followed Khushi meekly and folded his palms in front of Krishna, waiting patiently for Khushi to finish praying. Not the best time to proclaim his atheism, so soon after the family showdown they'd had.

Akash and Payal came in, and even though Payal's mouth was set in a grim line, Arnav thought they both looked less... unhappy.

Buaji brought out several of Khushi's favourite sweets – she'd spent all morning making them. Arnav ducked into the kitchen to talk to Garima Aunty, and told her about the cake coming later, and was greeted with a smile. It looked like the family had more or less forgiven him. Or at least, decided to make peace with the fact that their daughter was stuck with the devil.

When they were all seated at the table, Buaji passed around the sweets, and realized too late that there was nothing for Arnav.

"Oh..." she said, clapping a hand to her head. Garima Aunty stood up. "I'll go make some pakoras for you, bitwa..."

"No, Aunty," Arnav said quickly. "It's okay. Akash and Payal have something to tell you."

Khushi looked sympathetically at him for a second, but she was far too excited to mope around about him not having a sweet to eat right now. She turned to Akash and Payal, bouncing on her chair in excitement. Akash cleared his throat.

"Payal is pregnant."

There were gasps, Buaji and Garima Aunty went to Payal to hug her, and Payal gave them a small smile. Akash had an equally tiny smile on his face.

Akash and Payal touched Buaji's feet, and Sashi Uncle and Garima Aunty's as well. Khushi went to her sister and hugged her, and did not get pushed away.

"I'll go make some pakoras," Garima aunty said. "This is such happy news! Khushi, take out some herb supplements for Payal, will you? I have some Brahmi and Shatavari capsules. They are in your room cupboard."

Khushi bounded off, and Garima aunty went away to make those pakoras. Arnav checked the clock. Right on cue, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Arnav said, going to the door. Cake, candles, a big box which was most certainly the saree, and some boxes of —he sniffed — momo! Aman going the extra mile!

Arnav hurried in, and roped in the family to set up the small table outside. Akash and Payal had brought some buntings that read "Happy Birthday", which they strung up on the wall behind the table.

"I'll go fetch Khushi and Aunty," Arnav said. But Khushi wasn't in her room. Her cupboard was wide open, and a green, glittery, loosely tied cloth bundle was on the bed, an assortment of things poking through. A large book had slipped out of the bundle, and was on the verge of falling to the floor.

Arnav stepped forward to tuck the book back into the bundle. It was covered with what looked like gift wrapping paper - a red one with gold lotus designs on it. "Khushi Kumari Gupta" was written across the front. Curious, he opened it. It was a scrapbook of sorts. There was a cutout of a model wearing a bridal lehenga- a red one with dark green accents. Quite a nice one, and not one of AR's. Most likely Sabyasachi, Arnav thought as he flipped the page. There were more cutouts. More outfits — a sparkly red one, and a white saree which the model wore with flowers for jewelry, Red and gold bejeweled shoes, gold jewelry – earrings, necklaces, forehead pendant, bangles... he flipped the pages. Several pictures of Salman Khan wearing Sherwanis. A mandap decorated with flowers and fairy lights, a mosaic of a wedding card, with cutout flower motifs, a series of mehendi designs...

The doors to Khushi room creaked. It was Payal. He slammed the book shut and slipped it back into the bundle.

"Khushi is crazy about weddings." Payal clearly knew what the book was. "She collected all kinds of ideas for her dream wedding. Rings, outfits for all the ceremonies, jewelry..."

Arnav cleared his throat. "I was just –"

"She knew what food would be served, what sweets. Most of all she thought about all the people she would invite. Everyone she considers a friend..."

He started to walk to the door.

"You took that away from her," Payal's voice lashed at him, cold and stinging, like a whip.

Khushi was in the kitchen with her mother, helping her bring out fresh pakoras and tea.

She did a little hop when she saw the cake and decorations.

They all sang happy birthday — even Payal, as Khushi blew out the candles, and cut the cake and fed everyone a little piece. She accepted hugs and kisses and presents with exuberance, and squealed when she saw the momo, squeezing his arm when Buaji said that Arnav had got them.

"Actually those are from Aman," Arnav mumbled. He sat down with his cup of tea, and looked over the rim at Khushi, who was popping a momo into her mouth with a happy giggle as she passed them around.

He had stolen her dream.

She caught his eye, and a little frown appeared between her brows. She put the takeaway container she was holding on the table, and came to him.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Why are you looking so —"

He shook his head, and forced himself to smile.