Head over Heels ☑️

Chapter 36 - Khushi

🎶 Thangamagan - Oh Oh

The second semester rolled by with gusto, faster than Khushi had anticipated. Both she and Gauri had managed to secure the subjects they'd set their sights on, along with the faculty members whose teaching styles they admired. With coursework doubling in pace, their schedules were crammed with assignments, project deadlines, and late-night brainstorming calls.

At Shantivan, the flurry of youthful activity was unmistakable, each of the younger members breezing in and out at all hours, with barely a pause for meals or polite conversation.

The crispness of Delhi's winter had begun to mellow, giving way to the promise of spring. February was coming to a close, and golden sunshine now filtered through the glass walls each morning, warming the marble floors and coaxing Lakshmi to snooze near the verandah.

"I feel like I'm forgetting what my family looks like," Nani sighed dramatically one evening. She absently petted Lakshmi, who nuzzled her lap with a low bleat, while steam curled upward from a cup of adrak wali chai [ginger tea] in gentle spirals.

Khushi had relocated to the living room that day, spreading her sketchbooks and fabric swatches across the rug like a painter setting up a studio. She sat cross-legged on the floor, hunched over a sheet of cartridge paper, with crayons, pastels, and sketch pens strewn around her in creative chaos. Every now and then, she looked up and studied Nani's saree with the scrutiny of a designer mid-breakthrough.

Nani had chosen a soft lilac drape that day—graceful and understated, embellished with fine Lucknowi chikankari and delicate stone work at the pallu. Khushi had immediately latched onto the aesthetic, declaring it "quietly regal," and decided then and there that Nani would be her model for the evening.

"She looks like a walking spring bouquet," Khushi murmured under her breath, adjusting the pencil strokes around the neckline she had just sketched.

Mami had wandered in midway, pursing her lips and peering over Khushi's shoulder.

"Hain, what's this border? Too plain, hello hi bye bye—add some mirror work if you want it to pop," she chimed, wielding her unsolicited critique like a badge of honor.

Khushis gaze flitted across the sketch, but to her own surprise, found herself adjusting the design as suggested—and it did look better. "Done," she said. "But only a modest amount of mirrors, or else she'll outshine Lakshmi at this rate."

Nani chuckled, sipping her tea with pride. "It's good to have a house full of ideas again," she said, eyes twinkling. "Even if I need a visiting card these days just to keep track of who's who. But I am adamant," she added firmly. "This Holi, I want everyone in attendance."

"Yes, Sasuma. Mahendar eej also coming back from London for the occasion," said Mami. Though her words were stilted as ever, Khushi caught the unmistakable note of excitement in her voice.

"How an entire year has flown by," Nani mused, a wistful smile tugging at her lips. "Which reminds me—it's almost your first wedding anniversary!"

"Yes," Khushi replied, nibbling her lower lip as a blush crept up her cheeks.

"Alas, those workaholic boys," Nani sighed. "Not even planning a trip to mark the occasion!"

"It's not just the boys," sniffed Mami. "Even that khoon-bhari taang [bloodied-foot] is drowning in deadlines. The other day, I asked her to hand me the sugar while I was making chai—she passed me a manila folder and told me, 'All the data's inside!'" Mami threw her hands up, scandalized. "I tell you, work has followed them straight into the kitchen. At this rate, I wonder if any kind of business merger is happening behind bedroom doors—"