Chapter 7

Living Room, Shaantivan

The living room was filled with basket of flowers, decorations and waiting stuff. 

In the centre was Khushi, a notepad in hand, busy jotting down her ideas in it, occasionally consulting with Nani and Payal.

Nani and Payal were nodding their head dutifully, trying to keep up with the whirlwind of energy that is pure Khushi.

Khushi’s cell phone buzzes. She picks it up to see that it was Mamiji whom she earlier had called to inform their plan for baby shower while Anjali was with doctor for her checkup. Mami sent her a text saying that they are on their way.

Khushi jumps up and instructs everyone to hide everything where Anjali can’t see it i.e. storeroom.

HP, OP and JP along with support stuff pick up whatever they can grab their hands on and run with it in a hurry.

Naniji picks up a book and pretends to read.

Payal takes her saree ending and starts wiping the glass table in front of the couch.

Khushi puts the notepad under the couch cushion and sits on it. Then she grabs a pillow from the couch and starts fluffing it with all her might.

The doorbell rings and HP runs to open the door. But it was not Anjali, it was Arnav.

Arnav walks in to see his Nani reading a book upside down without her glasses, Payal wiping the coffee table with her saree ending and Khushi squeezing the life out of the pillow from the couch.

His eyebrow goes up at the bizarre scene and he asks: What’s going on here?

All three freeze at their position and then relaxes seeing Arnav instead of Anjali, then freezes again thinking of all the possible consequences.

Nani tries to giggle: What are you saying Chotey? Don’t you see? I’m reading a book.

Payal stutters: And I’m cleaning.

ASR turns to Khushi next and raises his brow at her.

Khushi recovers from her signature wide-eyed, mouth open in big “O” expression and replies while squeezing the pillow some more: And I’m hugging the pillow… I mean I’m fluffing the pillow. (smiles bigger) Yes, that’s what I was doing.

ASR exasperatedly sighs while pinching his forehead and asks: What are you up to?

Nani gets up quickly and says: I have to take rest now. Old age, you know?

Payal also gets up quickly and says: Dadiji, I will come and massage your legs while you take rest.

Khushi looks at her comrades’ retreating back and stammers: Wh…who me? Nnn… No… I didn’t do anything.

ASR raises his brow but keeps his silence.

Khushi recovers her blunder quickly and quickly gets up with the pillow: I mean, we didn’t do anything. None of us did. Why, we are just working here. (squeezes the pillow some more)

However, the poor designer pillow could not take Khushi’s hugs anymore and bursts in a flurry of feathers and cotton balls which rained all over Arnav and Khushi.

Arnav jumps at the sudden blast: What the?

Khushi looks at Arnav covered in white feathers on his black hair and beard and starts giggling.

Arnav grits his teeth in anger and shouts: Shut up.

Khushi jolts at his voice and sobers up. But the very next moment, seeing ASR covered in white feathers, her eyes start dancing again, laughter pops like bubbles in her tummy and she starts giggling again.

ASR comes closer and growls: I’m warning you again, shut up…

Khushi sobers up at his tone again. But once her laughter gets going, nothing can stop that uncontrollable giggles. But she has smartened up. So she looks away and bites her lips to stop the giggles.

ASR smirks, grabs Khushi, whirls her around and covers her giggling mouth with his.