Part 27 Karwa Chauth

Khushi made Arnav stun by keeping fast on Karwa Chauth. It's a festival celebrated by married women. The woman keeps fast for her husband's good health and long life. Arnav knew that. Keeping fast without drinking water and eating any food all through the day is a difficult one. Arnav saw Anjali fasting for Shyam with love and respect every year. He couldn't believe Khushi did the same for him.

Khushi was looking at his shocking face through the sieve.

*Arnavji...* she shouted.

*Hann...* Arnav came out of the trance.

*You said you had seen your sister keeping fast... if it is so, you should have seen your Jeejaji breaking her fast too...*

*Hann...*

*Then break my fast... I'm hungry...* she said.

Arnav switched the terrace light on to get a clear view of Khushi. Damn this woman made his heart and mind flat...by wearing a saree, she made his heart flat... by keeping fast, she made his mind flat. He came to Khushi, all the way looking at her. His gaze was sharp enough to penetrate Khushi's heart. Khushi struggled to face it.

Khushi flicked her fingers and Arnav flinched. She gestured to him to feed her water. Taking the water glass from the plate, he fed it to Khushi. She drank it smilingly.

*So, you lied to me...* he asked suppressing his happiness.

Khushi looked at him frowning.

*Whenever I asked you to eat today, you said I ALREADY ATE...*

*I just said I ALREADY ATE but I didn't say WHEN DID I EAT...* she said suppressing her laughter.

*Veeeery smart...* Arnav said.

Khushi chuckled.

*Let's go... eat something* Arnav said.

Khushi nodded ok and walked downstairs. Arnav followed her silently. He couldn't believe what just happened. He broke Khushi's fast. They behaved like a couple. Arnav felt honored.

Keeping the sieve and the plate in the Pooja room, Khushi came to the dining and saw Arnav arranging the table.

*Arnavji, you sit. I will bring the dishes...* she went to the kitchen.

*No issues. I will help you* Arnav followed her.

He took the bowls from her hand and went to the dining. Khushi came, taking the other bowls. Arnav made her sit and served to her.

*Arnavji...*

*Shhhhh... sit and eat...* he ordered.

Khushi sat with an adorable smile. Arnav sat in front of her, filling his plate. He looked at Khushi who was eating relishing.

*Is it necessary to be starving for the whole day? * Arnav asked, eating the first morsel.

*It's not about starving...*

*Then? * he lifted his left brow.

*It's all about faith...*

Arnav smiled, remembering Anjali. She also tells the same.

*Do you know? It depends upon the people who follow it... a few people keep faith in God and do everything to get God's grace... a few people keep faith in SOMEONE'S WORDS and try to fulfill it...* Khushi said reading his expression.

She intentionally said that. Didn't he marry her going on Divya's words? Arnav gulped down.

*Whaaat do you mean? * he asked.

*I mean... I always listen to my Amma and Babuji. I never denied them for anything you know...* she asked not looking at him.

*Who asked you to keep fast? *

*It's not necessary for anyone to ask me to keep fast... I had seen my Amma keeping fast for my Babuji... They lived together... died together...* she said.

But Arnav stopped eating.

*I heard woman wishes for her husband's goodness on the Karwa Chauth...*

*It depends on the woman... do you know what my Amma wishes on the Karwa Chauth? *

*What? *

*She wants my Babuji as her husband for all her births...*

Arnav wondered. He didn't believe in re-birth theory.

*Do you believe in re-birth? * he asked.

*Of course...*

*Why? *

*Didn't we see good people suffering...?*

Arnav nodded yes.

*Why?* she questioned.

*Why? * he asked her.

*It's because they would have done something wrong in the previous birth... we will reap only what we sowed...that's why these are happening...*

Arnav raised his brows folding his lips.

*Why didn't you tell me you are fasting when I asked you to eat?* He asked.

*You would think again that I'm trying to cheat you...* she said shrugging her shoulders.

Arnav sighed inwardly. She was not wrong. He would have thought what she said.

*By the way, how is the food? *

*Tasty...*

*Thanks...* she smiled.

Though she finished eating she waited for Arnav to finish. Arnav noticed it. He stood, finishing dinner. Khushi followed him to the wash basin. Arnav washed his hand. Khushi waited for him to finish washing. Pulling her hand under the tap, Arnav washed her hand, making her thunderstruck. Arnav was washing her hand, looking at her hand whereas Khushi was looking at him overwhelming.

Arnav straightened himself while taking the hand towel from the stand and wiped her hand with the towel. he kept the towel back in the stand. While doing all these, he didn't spare a glance of Khushi. He walked towards the stairs. He stopped and looked at Khushi turning his face. He saw her standing like a statue, gazing at him. He went upstairs silently. Khushi smiled, looking at her hand washed by Arnav.

RM

Raizadas were also having dinner. Shyam saw Anjali thinking something.

*What are you thinking, Rani Sahiba? *

*Chotte got married. Khushi would also have kept fast if they are in RM* Anjali said.

*She would have kept fast no matter where she is* Shyam said.

*Do you think she would have kept fast? * Anjali asked.

Before Shyam said anything,

*She definitely would have kept fast. She would not have missed the good chance to gain Arnav bituwa's trust...* Manorama said.

*Mami is right. Didn't she cook Sale Sahib's favorite food yesterday? * Shyam asked.

*What if she didn't know today is Karwa Chauth? * Anjali said.

They became thoughtful. Yes. How would Khushi know about Karwa Chauth? There is no one in the farmhouse to tell her about it...

Farmhouse

Khushi came to their room. Arnav was looking at the MOON, standing near the window, thinking about how he broke Khushi's fast. He turned towards the entrance, hearing Khushi's anklet sound.

*Can I call my friend? * Khushi asked.

Arnav nodded yes and removed his mobile from his pant pocket. He extended it to Khushi. Khushi dialed Anjali's number. Anjali looked at her phone and her face brightened, seeing the number.

*Khushiji's call...* she said excitedly.

*Turn on the speaker, Di* NK shouted.

Anjali turned the speaker on after attending the call. Anjali waited to hear Khushi's voice.

*Hi, Anu...* Khushi said.

*Anu? *

*I'm fine Anu...*

*Is Chotte there? * Anjali sked.

*Hann... this is my first Karwa Chauth after my marriage...*

*Did you keep fast, Khushiji? *

*Of course, I kept fast... how won't I be? *

*Is Chotte happy? *

*I think so...*

*He must be... he is very emotional you know? * Anjali asked emotionally.

*Really? *

*Yes. But he won't express his emotions easily...*

*Haan... my husband is fine...*

Anjali understood that Khushi doesn't want Arnav to get doubt on her.

*Thank you so much, Khushiji...*

*No need Anu... It's my pleasure... I will call you later...*

Arnav didn't think of taking his eyes off her. She looked very beautiful in a red color saree. And adding to it, her expressions while talking tied him up with her.

Khushi disconnected the call and gave the phone back to Arnav. Arnav saved the number in the name of ANU as Khushi addressed her friend.

*She is my friend Anu... her marriage is fixed...*

Cutting her,

*Do you want to attend her marriage? * Arnav asked.

*No...*

*Why? *

*I don't want to go to Lucknow as of now...* Saying, she removed her nightdress and about to go the to the washroom, Arnav called her.

*Khushi...*

*Hann? *

*You look gorgeous in saree...* he said.

*Really? * she asked with a smile and kept the nightdress back.

*Don't you change the saree? *

*Later...*

She came to him and stood with him near the window smiling at him.

To be continued...

The next update is available on INKITT

You are so good

Khushi came to the window and stood in front of Arnav. Arnav, who was looking at the MOON till then switched his gaze to Khushi who looked brighter than the moon. She smiled at him. without reciprocating her smile,

*Why did you keepfast? * He asked even though he knew why. Maybe, he wanted to hear it from heragain and again. And, he wanted to know why she is so much into thisrelationship in which she was not interested in the beginning.