Javed naam hai mera phir se

Chapter 26

Khushi took advantage of surprise element of her arrival and chirped:

- I'm guessing, this was supposed to be a secret meeting or did I miss my invitation in the mail?

Arnav chuckled - he couldn't help but enjoy his wife's presence even though she'd kinda caught them of guard. He tried to make peace:

- Khushi, I didn't want to bother you...

She waved away his excuses and reprimanded him instead:

- What you should have done was to tell me! How many times life has to teach us the value of the full disclosure in the family?

There was an undertone to this question and everybody understood the meaning of these words to certain extend (except for Mr. Thompson - it was none of his business for sure). Arnav's shoulders sank and Khushi hurried to his side - she sat on the floor next to him and said very softly, almost intimately, as if it was meant only for him:

- Arnav, don't try to go through this without me - I will always be where you are. Always.

It sounded both like a promise and like a threat, but Arnav decided to take it as it is with gratitude. He caressed Khushi's cheek and asked:

- How'd you find us here? You were asleep when I'd left you.

Khushi chuckled:

- Arnav-ji, you overestimate your stealth, especially when you are injured and medicated.

Akash followed:

- Bhai, you might as well have invited Khushi to our meeting!

Khushi turned to him and wiggled her finger - she looked so much like a strict teacher in that moment:

- Jija-ji, you've almost waked the whole house when you'd stomped through the kitchen! Oh! Which reminds me...

Khushi flew up from her sitting position, grabbed the first book from the shelf and threw it to Akash. He caught it automatically and looked at Khushi surprised - to be honest, everybody in the room looked puzzled.

Khushi said really quickly:

- On my way here, I think I've heard Didi calling you from your room. She must think you went out for a glass of milk or something... You'd better go check on her before she'll come crushing our little party over here.

Akash nodded and took off to his bedroom. Khushi looked around pleased with her quick thinking - and saddened. Arnav worried:

- What is it, Khushi?

- I just thought that glass of warm milk would be such a good idea now... and some jalebis... but I'm so tired now...

NK jolted from the floor:

- I'll go grab them for you, Khushi-ji! I wouldn't mind some jalebis too!

He went out and halted at the door, turned around and asked:

- Do we have jalebis?

Khushi moaned:

- Why do you even have to ask, Nanhe-ji? I'm here, am I?

NK nodded and ran away to the kitchen. With the noise he was making he might as well could've waken up the whole house...

...

Javed looked around the room and his gaze stopped at Khushi's face - so innocent, so "it-wan't-me"...

- Khushi-ji, would you, please, explain, why'd you tricked Akash and NK out of the room? Or should we wait and see this little play till the end?