They settled on the chairs. The food looked scrumptious. Different aromas of several confections settled in the air.
Khushi sat next to Payal and in front her sat Arnav. She could feel his burning gaze on her from what felt like an eternity.
She sweetly conversed with Aditya in the meantime. He was a sweetheart, such an obedient and well behaved kid. He had become her favorite Raizada.
The Raizadas were appalled upon seeing Aditya warm up to someone so fast, he was very reserved and didn't ease up very easily with strangers. But it was khushi, and everyone would be pulled to her ebullient nature.
"Khushi bitya, mera matlab Laila bitya, khana shuru kijiye na, hum umeed kartein hai apko pasand ayega." Said Nani. (Khushi, I mean Laila, start eating, I hope you'll like the food.)
Khushi's lips curved upon hearing them adjusting to her real name. "Naniji aap mujhe Khushi bhi bula sakti hein. Mein Laila bhi hun aur Khushi bhi." She smiled. (Nani you can call me Laila. I'm Laila as well as Khushi too.)
Aditiya who was listening the conversation with great interest was confused, so he interrupted. "Apka naam toh leilei hai, phir Khushee kaun hai?" He asked, bewildered. (Your name is Leilei than who is Khushi?)
She giggled seeing his confused state.
"Apka naam Aditya hain na? Lekin apko sab Adi bulatay hain, right?" She asked him. (Your name is Aditya, but everyone calls you Adi, right?)
He nodded cutely.
"Mera naam Laila hai lekin meray parents, meri bhen aur meray friends mujhe Khushi bulatay hai. It's like my nickname, like yours is Adi." She explained to him. (My name is Laila but my parents, my sister and friends call me Khushi. It's like my nickname, like yours is Adi.)
"Where is your sister and your mama papa?" He asked.
"Well my sister is sitting right here." She pointed towards Payal. "And my mama papa are back in India, who are also Payal's mama papa. Have you met them before?"
The child looked taken aback by the revelation. His eyes wide, nobody had told him this.
"You are Payal mami's sister?" He asked, shocked.
She giggled, "yes I am."
"That means you also know Nand Kishore buaji?"
She threw her head back and laughed at his question. Nand Kishore buaji?
"Yes, I know her very well." She laughed loudly.
Everyone had a smile on their faces seeing her sunny laughter after so long.
Nani urged her to start eating as she filled her plate with different varieties. She told her that it's enough but the women wouldn't budge and overfilled her plate. Taking a bite she complimented the delicious food.
"But why didn't you come visit us before?" The abrupt question from Aditya made the ground disappear beneath everyones feet.
"Aditya stop it, eat your food quietly." Said his mother sternly. He looked like he was about to cry. His lips formed in a pout.
"Adi beta! I couldn't come to meet you because I was living here in Dubai and I had a lot of work to do so I was very busy." She consoled the little child, preventing him from crying.
Silence engulfed them, too loud to cut with a knife. It was then that Manohar spoke up.
"Khushi bitya apko itna kamyab dekh kay humka bohat khushi hui lekin ee sab aap kaisay kiyeth itnay kam time ma?" He asked, captivated much. (Khushi seeing you become so successful made me really happy but how did you manage all this in such short time?)
YOU ARE READING
His Knife Her Chest
Romansa"You are the biggest mistake of my life. I wish I would've never met you." Rage engulfed him thoroughly. Gripping her shoulders in a brutal grip, bruising her, he pinned her against the wall with a loud thud, earning an excruciating moan from her. ...
