Author's Note: Ok, people. Since most of you complained about the shorter update last time. Here's a bigger update for you. Enjoy...
Also, Fast Forward and Pride & Love are slowly reaching to their conclusion and I'm planning to start a whole new story with totally new characters set in Hollywood after I finish those two stories. Will send everyone more information in the last chapter of these two stories. Until then, stay tuned.
Cheers
Tia
The night of the dinner party,
Shantivan:
Arnav comes home to see the
Prakash brotherhood are busy cleaning Shantivan from top to bottom.
Naniji and Payal are joined
head to head discussing something gravely with Anjali, while Mamiji is busy
barking orders on the phone to someone, looking uncomfortably like… well…
himself…
If that wasn’t spooky enough,
Khushi came running from the kitchen holding a wooden spoon and asked Anjali
worriedly: Di, can you taste this and tell me if this tastes good?
Suddenly in the middle of the
twilight zone that seemed to have invaded his family, Arnav’s mind screeched to
a halt: Hold a minute. Since when Khushi needs anyone to tell her if her
cooking is good enough? What’s going on here?
Arnav clears his throat to grab
everyone’s attention. But nobody notices him.
It sets his teeth on edge that
the man who commands attention from every freaking business community, can’t
seem to get the same kind of drooling/fawning/adoration/awe/respect from his
own family. It seemed when his reputation was passing the clear message to the
business world about his formidable presence, his family missed the memo.
He cleared his throat again and
then pulled his best booming voice that makes his employees shake in their
collective shoes (some have been reported to lose their precious control on
their bladder): What the hell is going on here?
Unfortunately that’s the same
time everyone decides to shut up which makes his voice boom every corner of the
living room.
Khushi gasps: Arnavji, there is
no need to shout. We are not deaf, you know?
Arnav stares at Khushi
incredulously.
Anjali looks at Arnav disapprovingly:
Really Chotey… You almost gave us a heart attack. You have to learn to control
this booming voice of yours. It’s a residential neighbourhood.
Arnav now swivels his head to
his di: What the…
Naniji and Mamiji gravely shake their head…
Payal does what she usually
does in any kind of situation. She blushes, smiles and hangs her head.
Arnav throws off his hands in
the air and stomps towards the stairs when he hears Khushi calling his name and
running behind him: Arnavji, Arnavji…
Arnav growls as he turns back: What?
Khushi sways side by side, giddy
with happiness: We have a dinner party tonight. So can you come downstairs
after you freshen up?
Arnav scowls: How many people
are coming? And why are we having a dinner party now? You are yet to get over
from your sickness and Di is pregnant. We can have the party later.
Khushi panics: Nnnnooo No No… I’m
perfectly well, see? (Twirls around with bright smile). And it’s just one guest
other than the family members. Please please please let the party happen
(pleads with hands folded and puppy dog eyes in full use)…
Arnav’s eyebrow goes up: Who
did you invite? Salman Khan?
Khushi freezes and thinks for a
second, then whispers in an awestruck voice: Would he come if I invite him?
Arnav rolls his eyes: No. He
has better thing to do than come running at your service.
Khushi scowls: Then why did you
say he would come? Laad Governor!!! (then brightens up) But someone special is
coming tonight. So dress up real nice.(giggles to herself and runs back to the
kitchen skipping all the way)
Arnav frowns and shakes his
head: This girl is stark crazy.
(Then thinks about the mystery
guest) Who the hell are you that have got my wife in such a tizzy? You better
not be Salman Khan or I’ll personally finish your career.
But still goes up to get ready
for this dinner party of this apparently a VIP guest.
Around 7 p.m., Shantivan:
The doorbell rings at
Shantivan. HP was about to get the door when Mamiji stops him: HP, I will open
the door today.
She sways towards the door with
all the attitude of a diva and opens the door in a flourish: Velcome velcome
Vishal bitwa…
VJ aka Vishal Jaiswal hands a sunflower
from the flower arrangement he was carrying with a big smile: Thank you, mamiji…
A sunflower for your bright... errmmm… self.
Manorama giggles girlishly: Oh…
How sweet. Come in, come in.
VJ comes in to greet the rest
of the family except Payal, Khushi and Arnav, handing rest of the flower
arrangement to Naniji.
Khushi comes running to the
living room to meet the friend of Anjali, but as soon as she sees VJ, she
shouts: You….
VJ, startled at the sudden voice, turns around and his eyes widen as well: You…
Khushi mutters faintly: Oh my
Devi Maiyya…
The rest of the family keeps
watching from Khushi to VJ, trying to figure out what’s going on…
Suddenly Khushi runs to VJ and
jumps into his arms: Big B…
VJ smiles big as he picks up
Khushi and twirls her around: Chutki…
Everyone’s mouth falls open in
surprise except Payal’s who entered the room when Khushi ran to VJ’s arms
squealing.
Manorama finally finds her
tongue: Phatti saree… I mean Khushi bitiya… Do you know Vishal bitwa…
Khushi giggles: Yes mamiji… Big
B used to be our neighbour in Lucknow. He used to take me out in his motorcycle
for a ride and get me ice-cream, chocolates etc. if I took his letters to his
girlfr… mmpphhh…
VJ clamps his palm on Khushi’s
mouth effectively stopping her from revealing anymore of his secrets: What
Chutki means is that I didn’t have a sister, so I loved her like one.
He removes his hand from Khushi’s
mouth while she pouts.
Meanwhile, VJ greets Payal and
Aakash and congratulates them on their marriage.
Then everyone moves to the
living room sitting area.
After they are seated, Naniji
asks: So Khushi bitiya, how come you call Vishal Big B?
Khushi chirps: You see, Vishal
mean Big in Hindi and B as in Brother. He was always like an older brother to
me growing up, so Big B thought it will sound cool, if I called him Big B.
Anjali smiles: What a cute way
of calling someone big brother.
VJ smiles back at her: Yeah it
is.
Anjali blushes.
Khushi and VJ entertain
everyone and make them laugh out loud with their childhood antics while Payal
supplies anecdotes and occasional nods to the conversation.
In the meanwhile, Arnav comes
downstairs to find a very handsome, muscular guy sitting in the living room
surrounded by his family members who seem to be hanging onto his words while
his Khushi is sitting beside him with a bright smile while smiling and staring
adoringly at his face.
And his temper explodes…
Precap: The Green-Eyed Monster
Pounces…
