Next day

Nani walked towards the boys room with a slight frown adorning her face, she knocked the door loudly knowing very well how her grandsons sleep like boulders that stay still if you don't apply much force to make it move, "Choteee.. Chikuuu... arey bhai.. uth jao (wake up)"

After an eternity, the door opened to a sleepy Arnav standing in front of her, rubbing one of his eyes lazily and frowning for being disturbed while sleeping, "Ji Huzoor! (Yes, my lord)."

The sarcasm laced in her grandson's tone made her shift her offended eyes from Ayan, who covered his face with a pillow as an attempt to ignore her calling them and continued to sleep to Arnav, who stood there lazily waiting to hear what she had to say, she shook her head in disbelief before reminding herself what she came here for, "We're running out of cooking oil at home. Wash your face and freshen up quickly and get us one bottle of oil at the nearest shop open."

"And why didn't you ask Akash bhai to go out and buy cooking oil Nani? He's also at home today and has no work.." Arnav asked in a complaining tone. 

Nani widened her eyes as if not believing what she just heard, "Arey bhai.. your brother is a doctor, he works day and night in hospital for his patients.. does it look good to disturb him on his free day?"

"Haan, main toh nahi kuch nahi karta hoon, haina? (Yes, I don't do anything, right?)" Arnav smiled sarcastically hiding his irritation over his Nani's words, "I stay here and wander around the house everyday with no work to do, that guy who leaves everyday for his job is actually my ghost.. kyun ki I'm toh always free here! Tuada kutta tommy, sada kutta kutta!"

Nani sighed deeply, "Thik hai.. Let's do one thing, I'll go out myself and buy cooking oil and then come back to cook for breakfast for everyone!"

"Bol toh aisi rahi ho jaise sach mein jaogi (You're talking as if you will indeed go).. emotional blackmailing doesn't suit you Nani," he walked back to his room to get his clothes and quickly freshen up with a sullen mood. 

"These kids nowadays don't respect their elders.." Nani shook her head walking back to the kitchen to complain about Arnav to his mother. 

****************************************************

"Ab bas bhi karo Ma.. yesterday he had to listen taunts of his Mami and now you're also starting same topic.." Ratna expressed her irritation over the same matter being brought up again to her by her mother, it wasn't enough that her sister-in-law spoke bad about her son, now her mother too started to speak as if her son is the most ill mannered boy in this planet. 

"Arey.. You're talking as if I'm his enemy.. I'm just saying you need to teach him how to respect and obey his elders like Manorama taught to Akash bitwa, look at how Akash bitwa talks with everyone politely and respectfully and look at Chote and Chiku, they are always retorting everything asked to them," Nani explained as she felt as if her daughter was accusing her of not liking her grandsons which wasn't true. She loves the four of them a lot. 

Khushi was grinding cloves, cardamom and cinnamon stick with the help of a spice grinder to make masala chai for breakfast when she heard Nani speaking about Arnav. She frowned slightly with a pouting sulky expression on her face as the voice of her mind completely disagreed with whatever Nani spoke about him, "Arnav ji toh bilkul aise nahi hai.. voh toh har kisi ki kamoshi bhi sun leta hai.. haan thoda sa naughty aur short tempered hai, par bohot accha insaan hai.. aur cute bhi hai (Arnav ji is not like that.. he's someone who even hears everyone's silence.. yes, he's a little naughty and short tempered too, but he's a very good person.. and he's cute too.)"

"Ma I know both my sons very well.. Chote is someone that if you talk with love to him, then he'll be ready to sacrifice his life for you. Yesterday I just expressed my disappointment to him over his Mami's behavior and he immediately said he'll try to finish our house renovations process sooner so that he doesn't see tears in his mother's eyes anymore. What do you want me to teach him? I can only feel proud to have a son like him in my life," Ratna said a bit emotional towards the end, melting Nani's heart who side hugged her, feeling guilty for spoiling her daughter's mood early in the morning. 

Khushi smiled slightly hearing Ratna as she thought to herself, "Arnav ji you're indeed a toota taara in everyone's life."

After sometime, Arnav walked in the kitchen and asked the ladies, "I'm going out to buy cooking oil. Is there anything else you need other than oil?"

Khushi looked at his side and smiled at him. He responded to her smile with a light smile and blinked his eyes. Though they didn't said anything to each other, they already understood that the exchanges of smiles meant a 'Good morning'. 

Arnav couldn't help but get lost in Khushi looking like an orchid flower in a lavender lucknowi chikankari kurti palazzo set while his Nani and his mother were making a list of items they needed. But Khushi was paying attention to the list being made by the ladies and even pointed out that they didn't have green peas at home to make matar paneer for Arnav as Ratna shared with her that Arnav had asked it for his lunch. After reminding the ladies about the green peas, Khushi randomly shifted her gaze to Arnav who immediately looked up at the ceiling of the kitchen to escape from getting caught while staring at her. 

"Ayan is right.. I really need to stop looking at her like a Majnu," he thought, scolding himself for losing control every time and end up making a joker out of himself. 

"Chote I think that's all we need.. will you remember what we asked when you reach there?" Nani asked.

Arnav who didn't even listen to the list being recited to him, stood still not sure what to reply, he was about to ask them to repeat the list when Khushi intervened to his rescue, "I'll write down the items to make it easy for you."

The ladies immediately agreed and he followed Khushi to the dining room. She quickly went to her room and brought a biscuit bear memo pad and a pen with her, she sat down to write the list to him while he smiled silently staring at the biscuit bear memo pad in amusement. 

Khushi finished the list and handed one sheet of her memo pad to him, "Here is the list Arnav ji."

Arnav took it from her hand still smiling, he raised his eyebrows questioningly holding the sheet in his hand.

"Oh.. Lavanya gifted it to me. I loved it.. it's a very cute memo pad, haina?" Khushi said expressing her excitement over the memo pad she got, her eyes twinkled while speaking about the same. 

And seeing the happiness in her eyes over this cute little stationery item, Arnav kept his thoughts of feeling embarrassed at the shop when everyone would be looking at the grown up man he was holding a biscuit bear sheet for a list aside and kept the biscuit bear sheet on his wallet safely before walking to leave. Khushi took a moment but soon realized what he was thinking, "Uhmm.. do you want me to write it down on a blank paper Arnav ji?"

Arnav shook his head, "No.. it's okay.. I found the biscuit bears cute too."

Khushi giggled feeling little embarrassed, "I'm sorry.. I didn't realize-"

"Is this even something to say sorry?" Arnav shook his head, "Bye.. I'll get going now."

"Bye Arnav ji!"

When he left, Khushi slapped her forehead with the biscuit bear memo pad, laughing silently as his reaction on seeing the memo pad given to him played on her mind continuously. 

*************************************************** 

Sometime later.. 

When Arnav came back holding the shopping bags in his hands, he found Sunny, the shoeshine man, sitting near their building gate waiting for clients. As soon as Sunny saw him, he rushed to help Arnav asking him to give him the shopping bags to hold, Arnav handed it to him who happily followed him upstairs to his house. While they were ascending the stairs, Sunny enthusiastically started sharing how the number of his clients have increased after Arnav shared his contact with his office colleagues to look for his services, "Sir ji you change my life for better.. now I earn more money than I used to because of you.. thank you so much Sir ji."

"I didn't do anything Sunny.. I just shared your contact, they liked your service and that's why there's an increase in the number of your clients.. because your work is good!" Arnav said. 

"Arey nahi Sir ji.. aap toh bohot acche hai.. that's why you're talking like this.. people like you are rare gems in this world.. Sir ji whenever you need me.. just call me, I'll come right away to help you with whatever I can," Sunny smiled broadly. 

"You might consider me as a good person, but it's actually you who's a greater person here.. people like you possess a rich heart rather than lots of money," Arnav said to him.

"Kya sir ji.. aap bhi na!" Sunny smiled shyly. When they reached home, Arnav guided Sunny to the kitchen to keep the bags and then walked till the door with him, he pulled out some money from his wallet and gave it Sunny, who denied it immediately but after Arnav's insistence, he took the money with him and left to continue his work.

"Hello hi bye bye!" Mami screamed to get everyone's attention, when everyone came out to see why she was screaming out of no where, Mami continued, "Sasuma dekho your grandbeta.. he brought a stranger to our ghar.. that stranger walked till our rasooi.. hello hi bye bye.. what if he's thief and your grandbeta granted him easy access to our ghar?"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"What happened Chote?" Nani asked confused with Mami's way of explaining. 

"It's Sunny.. a guy who shines shoes outside our building gate. He saw me coming with bags and offered to help me take them home," Arnav explained irked and left from there directly to his room pissed off. 

"See.." Mami widened her eyes, "He really brought a stranger ghar aur no fear at all.. who knows this Sunny is a thiefwa??"

Mama sighed tiredly, "Manorama please spare us from a headache in the morning. Please serve us breakfast.. we're hungry here."

Ratna and Nani walked back to the kitchen after hearing Mama complaining about the late breakfast. Mami followed her husband to the living room to watch TV with him and Akash walked back to his room to continue his video call with Payal secretly. 

**********************************************************

Arnav sat on his untidy bed that he didn't have time to make as he left hurriedly to attend his Nani's demands, before keeping his wallet on the side table, he unfolded it and took out the sheet Khushi gave to him with the list from one of his credit card slots and that was enough to calm him down, the cute biscuit bears and her handwriting style brought back the smile on his face. He kept it back on his wallet slot securely and left it on the side table. 

Getting up to make his bed, his eyes fell on his little brother sleeping peacefully, he walked to his bed and held Ayan's leg, dragging him out of the bed, "Enough of sleeping now.. chalo uth ja.. you've exams tomorrow.. you need to study.. Ayaaaaaan.. uth jaaaa.."

Ayan whined at being dragged out of his dear bed by his brother, "Bhaaaiiii.. don't do this.. let me-" before he could complete his 'sleep' word, Arnav had successfully pulled him out of the bed and Ayan found himself on the floor along with his blanket, he glared at Arnav with his groggy eyes, "This is not fair! I studied till late night yesterday with Khushi didi.. you could have let me sleep for longer today."

Arnav nonchalantly walked to his bed side and picked his blanket throwing it to Ayan's bed, "When I walked out of Ma's room, I found no one except Khushi in the living room.. so don't try to fool me.. you slept early yesterday."

The frown on Ayan's face got replaced with a huge teasing smile as he stood up from the floor, "Does that mean yesterday you were with Khushi didi?"

"Yes.. and the good news is she admitted she doesn't want to get married to the one her father chooses for her," Arnav said while  tucking his bedsheet around the corners of the mattress, "And don't come to hug me now.. go and wash your face first," he added when sensed his brother squealing happily behind approaching him, but Ayan didn't listen to him and hugged him anyway from behind. Ayan almost jumped on Arnav making him lose his balance and both fell on the bed. Arnav dangerously glared at Ayan for making his bed untidy again and Ayan grinned sheepishly at him before escaping from there to the bathroom. He started singing "Le jayenge.. le jayenge dilwale dulhania le jayenge" loudly from the bathroom for Arnav to hear. Arnav smiled shaking his head and sang along with him while making his and Ayan's bed. 

After he was done cleaning the room, Arnav sat on his swing chair and started checking messages and office mails he received when suddenly an idea popped up on his mind. He smirked leaving his phone on the chair, he walked out of his room and started looking for Khushi, he got to know from his mother that Khushi was in her room. So he went to her room and after knocking the door twice, Khushi opened the door and asked if he needed something. 

Arnav nodded as walked in the room with her, "Khushi do you have any anklet?" 

Khushi nodded her head, "Yes, I have. Do you need it?"

"Yes.. just lend me one. I'll give it back to you," Arnav said. Khushi walked to her closet and took one anklet as Arnav asked out of her box and handed it to him. 

Arnav smiled getting what he needed at the moment, "Come with me!" he said after taking the anklet from her hand. Khushi looked at him confused now. 

"Chalo.. I don't have time to explain!" Arnav said hurriedly leaving her room and Khushi followed him silently still wondering what is he up to now. 

******************************************************

Khushi didn't what happened but she found herself standing in a corner of Akash's room with Akash sat straight on the edge of his bed and Arnav and Ayan standing in front of him, facing him like they're some cops and Akash was the criminal. And she wasn't sure what was her role.. maybe she was the lawyer of the criminal!

"What are you guys doing?" Akash asked staring at his cousin brothers confused.

Ayan lifted Khushi's anklet and waved it near Akash's face, "Is this yours?"

Akash frowned, "What? NO!" 

Khushi giggled silently as she thought, "Oh.. Anklet.. Payal!"

"What do you mean? Kya Payal tumhari nahi hai? (Isn't Payal yours?)" Arnav raised his brows questioningly. 

The expression on Akash's face changed drastically as he gulped looking clearly nervous, "N-o.. this is not mine."

"Really? This is not what these pictures say," Ayan said showing his phone to Akash who widened his eyes seeing the pictures he took. Akash tried to snatch the phone from Ayan, who was quick to step back and throw his phone to Arnav who caught it in time. Akash started running behind Arnav asking him to delete the pictures. And like this they started running behind each other to get the phone, turning the room into a mess by jumping on the bed and Ayan throwing pillows to Akash to distract him. Once Akash was closer to get to Arnav, a laughing Arnav passed the phone to Khushi who panicked after seeing Akash behind her, she too joined Arnav and Ayan and started running towards Arnav, she hide behind him afraid of Akash, clutching the phone in her hands and covering it with her duppata. Arnav extended his arms as if blocking Akash from reaching Khushi, he laughed at Akash almost breathless after the marathon, "There's no use of deleting these pictures.. I've it saved on my phone as well. Stop running after us."

Akash sighed defeatedly and sat on the bed with a thud. Khushi returned the phone to Ayan quickly. 

"See Akash bhai.. I'm not interested to know about your relationship with our neighbor Payal. I just came here to make a deal with you," Arnav said sitting beside his brother and patting his back to calm him down, he gestured Ayan to bring water for Akash. 

"Deal?" 

"Yes deal.. now every time your mother insult or taunt me, Ayan or Khushi, you'll jump to defend us at that moment only otherwise I'll show these not so decent pictures to everyone here at home," Arnav smirked devilishly. 

"Done!" Akash agreed immediately, adjusting his specs, "Now please delete it."

"Oh I forgot to mention this is a never ending deal between us.. we're not going to delete the pictures because we're planning to use it in our favor at anytime.." Arnav said.

"I can't believe this.." Akash sighed, his eyes fell on Khushi standing beside Ayan, "Khushi you're involved in this too.."

"Haan.. Khushi didi is in our team," Ayan giggled proudly while Khushi stood quietly not knowing exactly what to say. 

"Okay fine.." Akash said, "Let me just clarify that I wasn't doing anything indecent that day.. Payal was upset because her mother was sick.. and I was just trying to cheer her up. I knew she would laugh if she saw me doing bodybuilder poses.. that's why I did that."

"Aww.. such a sweet boyfriend," Arnav pulled Akash's cheek smiling teasingly, but Akash didn't react to his teasing.

Seeing his sullen face, Arnav sighed at Akash for being such a spoilsport, "Okay fine.. Chill na.. I'll delete the pictures.. only our first deal remain.. change your mood now."

Chote is someone that if you talk with love to him, then he'll be ready to sacrifice his life for you. Ratna's words played on Khushi's mind as unknowingly she started smiling staring at Arnav.  

Ayan was definitely unhappy that his brother gave in to Akash's demand too easily. 

*******************************************************************

Few hours later..

After having lunch and resting for a while, Arnav and Khushi left the house at the time planned, but as Arnav forgot his phone, he went upstairs again to get his phone while Khushi stood near his car at the parking lot waiting for him. 

After waiting for a while, she was getting bored and as a result, her eyes fell on the car window covered with dust, she started writing her name on it and drawing flowers and stars. 

Arnav had reached there by that time and Khushi was completely lost drawing in dust on his car window, he smiled at her and took two steps ahead to stand close behind her as he raised his hand to the window and wrote his name next to hers, making Khushi almost gasp at his sudden appearance but then relaxed realizing it's him. Smiling awkwardly at him, "Voh.. I was just.."

"It's okay.. I love doing this too," Arnav said as he continued to draw infinity symbol and Khushi too added a smiling emoji. They laughed together as they started to draw silly random things on the window very fast as if competing with one another. 

"I won.. I fill this whole space with my drawings," Arnav pointed at his share of drawings, opening the car door for her. Khushi shook her head in denial as she climbed up to get in the car, "I was drawing it before you Arnav ji.."

"It doesn't matter!" Arnav shrugged as he quickly rushed to his driver seat. "Okay fine you won!" Khushi gave up. 

Arnav handed a tissue paper for to wipe her hands, "Itni jaldi haar nahi mante Khushi (You shouldn't accept defeat so easily)."

Even though he said it in the context of their silly game, this advice pricked her heart because she knows that what's she has been doing all her life, accepting the future life pre-planned for her without protesting. She always did what others wanted, not what she felt like doing. That's the sad reality of her life. 

***************************************************************

They reached his new home, at the first floor of an apartment building, Arnav opened the door with the keys and the two took the first step together with their right foot without realizing it. 

Arnav closed the door behind and kept the keys on his pocket, then he joined Khushi who was looking around the living room. He smiled softly at her before starting to talk about his new house to her, "This is the living room.. I'm done with the floor here, only furniture's to buy and painting left here.." And then he showed her the dining area connected to the living room, the kitchen and the four bedrooms and explained to her what was left to do and his plans and budget also. 

They sat together on his dining room to continue the conversations. "Your house is beautiful and a comfy space.. after the renovation, then it will look even more beautiful.." Khushi said admiring his house choice and also his ideas to renovate it as well. 

"Thanks Khushi.. that's the intention too.. to make this place a home for Ma!" Arnav smiled at her, "But you have to help me too Miss Toota Taara!" he added with a serious reminding tone.

"Ji Huzoor!" Khushi nodded her head as they continued to talk about the house renovation. Even though Arnav was surprised to hear her saying 'Ji Huzoor', he didn't react much to it because he doesn't want to make Khushi feel conscious when she's with him, she is slowly opening up herself to him and he's really enjoying seeing the real Khushi she hides from the world.