At Home

Buaji, who had just returned from the market that evening, was greeted by the sight of Khushi dancing around the house, singing Bollywood songs at the top of her lungs.

"Arrey O Sankadevi, what's gotten into you?" Buaji exclaimed, giving her a playful smack on the head and placing the bag of vegetables on the dining table.

Khushi laughed, twirling around and grabbing Buaji's hands, trying to make her dance too. Buaji frowned at her.

"Buaji, guess what? My dream came true today. Hey Devi Maiya, finally, I got the job at AR! I'm going to be a Jewelry Designer at AR, Buajiii! Can you believe it?" Khushi stopped her dance and jumped in delight like a child, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Hi, I'm Khushi Kumari Gupta-Mishra, Jewelry Designer, from AR," Khushi said, pretending to be in an office and meeting a client.

Madhumathi couldn't help but smile at Khushi's infectious joy.

"Kitna achha lag raha hai na, Buaji?" Khushi grinned, placing her hands under her chin and looking up dreamily.

(Doesn't it feel so good, Buaji?)

"Ye toh bahut achhi kabar hai, Khushi. I'll go and make some sweets for you. After all, meri Parameswari ke sapna puri hui hai aaj," Madhumathi said, grinning as she walked to the kitchen, leaving Khushi smiling and singing, lost in her own world.

(That's wonderful news, Khushi. I'll go and make some sweets for you. After all, my child's dream has come true today.)

Aman's cabin,

Aman dialed Arnav's number as soon as Khushi left the office, his fingers moving swiftly over the keypad.

"ASR, the interview went well. We've hired her," Aman reported, his voice steady and professional.

"Good. Make sure she settles in well," Arnav replied curtly, his tone leaving no room for further discussion.

"Of course, ASR. But I have to say, she didn't need your recommendation. She's quite talented," Aman added with a hint of admiration, unable to hide his respect for Khushi's skills.

Arnav 'hmmed' in response, a non-committal sound that conveyed his acknowledgment. He repeated his earlier words, "You didn't tell Di or her that I recommended her, did you?"

Arnav hoped Aman Mathur had not slipped up in front of Khushi or Anjali. Until today, Aman had kept his secrets safe about the company and deals. This was the first time something personal had come up.

"No, ASR. Your secret is safe with me," Aman said without hesitation. Despite being Anjali Mam's PA and loyal to her, his loyalty to Arnav Singh Raizada was unwavering.

Arnav hmmed before cutting the call. He really hoped Aman would stay true to his word. With Anjali in the picture, he doubted it because Aman, being the lovesick puppy he was, could slip up in front of Anjali. He knew about their relationship, but neither Aman nor Anjali was aware that he knew. He was waiting for Anjali to come and tell him and the family.

Anjali was the CEO of the company, a position she held with grace and authority. Arnav Singh Raizada, on the other hand, was the Board Director. He didn't come to the company often, but when he did, it was a sign that something was amiss. His presence was formidable, and he made sure to drill everyone thoroughly. Even when he wasn't physically present, he kept a vigilant eye on the company's share market, investments, and executives' duties, completing his responsibilities with full dedication remotely.

Shantivan,

A few days later, Arnav and Akash sat on their balcony, enjoying the evening breeze. The city lights twinkled in the distance as they chatted about various things. Anjali, who had just come from the office, went straight to her brother's room and shouted, "Chotte, guess what, Khushi..." She deliberately left the sentence hanging, hoping he'd guess.

Arnav stiffened at the mention of the name. Did she know he had a hand in Khushi's job somehow? Did Aman spill the beans? He tried to look normal and not tense. Akash raised his eyebrows in wonder.

"Who Khushi, Di?" Arnav acted nonchalant, not wanting to reveal that he had given her a job at AR. He went silent, not wanting to give his Di a chance to tease him for days. No, he wasn't giving her that chance.

Anjali frowned, disappointed. How could he forget their Khushi? His best friend?

"Chutki, Chotte. Humari Chutki. Tum bhul kaise gaye?"

Chutki? Arnav's eyes widened in surprise. "Chutki? Tintin?"

A three-year-old hazel-eyed baby in a white gown with two little ponytails on her head appeared in his mind.

"Yes, yes, your Tintin." Anjali chuckled.

"Shashi Uncle's and Garima Aunty's daughter? Is she found?" he asked, happiness and shock evident in his voice.

"Haan, Chotte. Vahi Khushi. Aur vo mil gayi. Wait, let me bring our album. Usme Chutki ka bhi photos toh hai..." She ran inside, leaving her brothers baffled.

Just as she disappeared, she soon reappeared at jet speed, baffling her brothers again. Arnav was quite emotional. After all, his Tintin was his best friend, and they had been trying to find her for years now.

"What about Khushi, anyway? Why did you remember her all of a sudden?" Akash asked as she settled on her chair with the album. He didn't know the brother-sister duo was searching for their childhood best friend.

"She joined our office as a Jewelry Designer yesterday, Akash. She was working in Lisa Kapadia's company, you know what happened there," she said, eyeing Arnav as she knew how Arnav trapped Lisa with an AR Company Deal. She continued, "And she applied at AR and got selected here a few days ago. And I met her just today. Although I couldn't recognize her. But the thing is she already recognized me." Anjali grinned happily. Why not? She found her after years and she loved Khushi from childhood. She was like a little sister she never had and was thrilled to have her around, calling her Di with her sweet voice.

"What??" Arnav whispered, shocked, not able to picture that cute chubby little doll as the woman he had met a few days ago in a very weird manner. His Tintin and the woman he literally kidnapped were the same? Why didn't it click him when he got her name and address? Why didn't he connect the dots? Maybe because of Mishra in her name, he didn't doubt. 

How did she even get that name? He frowned. 

Anjali then frowned, clearing his confusion, "We've been searching for her with the wrong name, Chotte. She is Khushi Kumari Gupta-Mishra. Her Buaji and Phupa-ji adopted her and they hyphenated her surname." She sighed, "And guess what, Khushi or Garima Aunty or Shashi Uncle never told us, but Khushi's Phupa-ji works in central railways and you know how it is with the government."

Arnav now understood why they couldn't find Khushi all these years. They didn't know she was adopted and that too by someone working in central railways, and her surname was hyphenated as well. They had no details about Khushi's aunt and uncle to dig more. Finding someone who's the child of a central railway employee without any case and court's order is impossible and illegal as well, even for a CBI Officer. Which is why no matter how much they tried, they couldn't find Khushi. Now it made sense!

Akash was confused but understood the gist, "So, you're having fun with your childhood friend?"

"Of course, yes. She didn't change at all. Still the same, crazy and bubbly." Anjali was lost in childhood memories as she opened the album. She's turning emotional now as if crying in the office, hugging and taking the breathe out of Khushi wasn't enough!

Arnav saw the first photo that appeared in his head the moment Anjali uttered Tintin. 

(consider it a real telephone)

A cute chubby baby with hazel eyes standing beside a sofa with a red-colored telephone in her hand, talking adorably in her baby language to the person on the other side. And that's when Shashi clicked her photo.

"Remember the story behind this photo, Chotte?" Anjali asked excitedly, her eyes a little moist.

"Haan, Di. I do remember vaguely. She talked to a hotel member, right?" Arnav asked, gulping down, his eyes moist as well. He did not have the exact memory of why she talked to the hotel member. He just remembered her playing with the telephone and Garima leaving her in his Di's lap for him to play with her ponytails and kiss and fondle her chubby red cheeks.

"That day, Garima and Shashi Uncle ordered food for their few guests from this telephone and Chutki was listening to all of their orders with sharp ears. After Aunty, Uncle, and everyone else got busy in our conversation, that naughty girl silently walked to the sofa and redialed the number, ordering her favorite sweets," Anjali giggled, remembering little Khushi's naughty actions.

"Haan, right!" Arnav's eyes twinkled now as a small smile appeared on his face, remembering the broken conversation his Tintin had.

"Jabeli. I wanna Jabeliiii," little Khushi chirped into the telephone, her tiny voice filled with determination as she tried to order her favorite sweet treat. Her mispronounced words only added to her charm, making everyone including Arnav and Anjali in the hall turn their heads towards her in surprise.

With a big, innocent smile on her face, Khushi continued to list more food items, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Shashi, finding the scene utterly adorable, couldn't resist capturing the moment. He clicked picture after picture, each one making Khushi giggle and look at him with her big, curious eyes.

Garima, however, walked towards her naughty daughter and gently took the telephone from Khushi's small hands.

"I'm so sorry," Garima apologized profusely, her voice filled with embarrassment. She then scooped up a now pouting Khushi, who was on the verge of tears, and held her close.

"Don't worry, my little princess," Garima whispered soothingly, "We'll get you your Jalebi." Khushi's face lit up again, "Yaayy. Jabeliiii!!" Her tears were forgotten as she snuggled into her mother's arms, feeling safe and loved while Garima shook her head chuckling at her mispronunciation. No matter how many times they tried to correct, she never listened to sticked to 'Jabeli'

Arnav and Anjali watched with amusement as Garima left little Khushi beside them after the telephone encounter. Arnav quickly became engrossed in fondling, pinching, and kissing her chubby cheeks, playfully tugging at her little ponytails. Meanwhile, Anjali took little Khushi onto her lap, where she happily munched on the strawberries Garima had given her.

Khushi's giggles filled the room as Arnav's playful antics continued, his affection for his little friend evident in every gesture. Anjali, smiling warmly, gently stroked Khushi's hair, enjoying the precious moment.

"That was such an adorable memory." Anjali whispered as if living in that moment. Arnav nodded his head. He's 7 years old then and his tintin was celebrating her 4th birthday.

"Remember, Chotte? It was you and me who went to the hospital with Mom and Dad to see our newborn Khushi."

Arnav, although he couldn't remember much as he was just three years old at the time, knew that he had gone to the hospital to see the little baby who had always rested in Garima's womb. His Anjali Di, who was seven years old when Khushi was born, had a few memories of that time. Arnav's own memories were vague and fleeting, but he could still picture little Khushi with her two tiny ponytails, her chubby cheeks, and her infectious giggle. She had been such a plump, adorable child, so easy to kiss and cuddle.

As he reminisced, a thought crossed his mind: Could he still cuddle and kiss her chubby cheeks? He quickly dismissed the idea, feeling a bit embarrassed. Khushi wasn't a toddler anymore, and he wasn't a kid either.

"Haan," Arnav absentmindedly nodded as Anjali showed the newborn photos of Khushi. He admired them. She was so adorable and red. So tiny and fragile with tiny hazel eyes and a few thin hair strands on her little head, wrapped like a strawberry in a green warm blanket.

No matter how many times he sees her baby photos, he can never stop gushing over them, of course in his head.

As he saw another photo, he remembered when it was clicked by him.

When Arnav was 10 years old and Khushi was 7, they went to an exhibition together with their family in tow.

"Nahi. Mujhe nahi aana," Khushi stubbornly protested, refusing to get into the bumper car for a breakdance ride. Arnav brought Khushi to this ride while their family and Anjali were busy playing a carnival game opposite to them. There wasn't much of a crowd.

(Nooo. I don't want to go)

"Tintin, sun meri baat. Kuch nahi hoga. Bahut maza aayega, in fact. Chal na, let's go," Arnav coaxed, trying to drag his best friend along. But Khushi, suddenly finding an unexpected strength, stood her ground firmly.

(Tintin, listen to me. Nothing will happen. It will be a lot of fun. Come, let's go)

"Nahii. Nahi. Mujhe bahut dar lag raha hai. Main gir gayi toh?" Khushi's eyes were moist and filled with fear.

(No. No. I'm very scared. What if I fall?)

"Main hoon na, Tintin. Kuch nahi hoga. Main tumhare saath hi baitunga. Come..." Arnav reassured her, gently taking her hand and leading a trembling Khushi to the mini vehicle.

(I'm here, Tintin. Nothing will happen. I'll sit right beside you. Come...)

As the ride began, Khushi's grip on Arnav's arm tightened. "Arnav, yeh zameen hil kyu rahi hai! Mujhe darr lag raha hai!" she cried out, her voice shaking.

(Arnav, this ground is moving! I'm scared!)

"Tintin, bas thoda sa aur. Dekho, kitna maza aa raha hai!" Arnav encouraged, his voice calm and soothing. The ride started picking up pace as the bumper cars danced according to music.

(Tintin, just a little more. See, it's so much fun!)

"Arnav, yeh ghoom kyun raha hai? Main gir jaungi!" Khushi's fear was palpable, her eyes wide with anxiety.

(Arnav, why is it spinning? I'll fall!)

"Main hoon na, Tintin. Seatbelt bhi hai. Tumhe kuch nahi hoga. Main tumhe pakad ke rakhoonga," Arnav promised, holding her securely even after they were secured by the seatbelt.

(I'm here, Tintin. The seat belt is there too. Nothing will happen to you. I'll hold you tight)

As the ride continued, Khushi clutched onto Arnav like she hugs her teddy bear. Slowly, her fear melted away as the ride stabilised, her fearful face was replaced by a bright smile. By the end of the ride, Khushi was fully enjoying it. Arnav chuckled at his Tintin. She is crazy! Wasn't she the one crying her heart out not wanting to get into the ride, now who's smiling? As they stepped out, Arnav quickly took Khushi into the car again and captured the moment with his DSLR camera as she posed, Khushi's beaming face forever preserved in the picture. 

They got into the same ride again on Khushi's insistence and this time, Khushi was screaming and singing along with music as the floor moved, bursting poor Arnav's ears.

Now, the image of her as a lean, hourglass-figured woman flashed in his mind, almost as if a strong gust of wind could carry her away. But her chubby cheeks remained the same. Cute, red, and easy to fondle them. His heart swelled with full of emotions — happiness, nostalgia, and a deep sense of longing. His Tintin was back, and he couldn't wait to see her again, to reconnect with the little girl who is his bestie. Tomorrow, he'd meet her. He decided.

As the clock struck midnight, Akash left them alone. Anjali and Arnav were still lost in the memories captured in their old photo album. Each picture told a story, and they reminisced about the moments behind every single one. Eventually, they too closed the album and headed to their rooms to sleep.

Regards, 

Poly, 

14-07-2024

Let me know how it was. 

This story is pre-written except for the ending and the updates will be quick.