ArHi Drabble Series - K is for ...

Disclaimer – The characters you recognize belong to 4 Lions Productions but the ones you don’t are mine. The concept, story and dialogues belong to me. Please don’t copy this story in part/whole with anyone/anywhere or share it without my permission.

    K is for …

~Kati Patang~

She walked ahead, in a daze, not realizing where she was heading. Rain fell down in pellets, drenching her completely, but Khushi couldn’t care less.

She didn’t feel pain anymore.

Not after what she had gone through.

Thoughts flashed across her mind, making her reflect on her life – the good, bad and the worst.

One thing was clear enough though – he never loved her. He wouldn’t have treated her the way he did if he had actually, truly loved her. He had instead let his hatred overshadow everything…. and had hurt her incessantly.

Not any more.

Khushi reached the edge of the cliff. She stood there, staring at the abyss below her. The wind blew across her face, and she looked up at the steadily darkening sky.

The stars had come out.

Khushi looked at a set of particularly bright stars, and whispered into the wind “I’m coming home, Ma.”

And then she jumped.

For a moment, she was free. Free from wrong assumptions, free from hatred, free from accusing eyes - free from everything.

She fell, like a kite severed from its string.

A Kati Patang.

(187 words)

ArHi Drabble Series - J is for ...

Disclaimer – The characters you recognize belong to 4 Lions Productions but the ones you don’t are mine. The concept, story and dialogues belong to me. Please don’t copy this story in part/whole with anyone/anywhere or share it without my permission.

     J is for …

~Juicy Kahaani~

“Make way! Make way!” Khushi called out as she rushed through the hall, trying to get to Nani’s room so that she could give her some juice, as her sugar levels had come down. “Move away Om Prakash ji! This train isn’t going to stop before the station!”

But it had to.

For Arnav had stepped into her path, and the juice into his.

Arnav Singh Raizada stood in front of Khushi, bathed in Mango juice.

Giving her an exasperated look, Arnav looked at his shirt to survey the damage.

Khushi mentally prepared herself for the verbal onslaught to follow, but she was taken aback by a chuckle from Arnav.

She looked at him in surprise.. to find him smiling at her. He asked her,” What happened this time? You didn’t find Orange juice yet again?”

Smiling at Arnav, Khushi retorted cheekily,” Will you wait a minute? I can get Orange juice if you prefer that.”

Arnav gave her one of his special glares before he burst out laughing, with Khushi joining him a moment later.

(175 words)

ArHi Drabble Series - I is for ...

Disclaimer – The characters you recognize belong to 4 Lions Productions but the ones you don’t are mine. The concept, story and dialogues belong to me. Please don’t copy this story in part/whole with anyone/anywhere or share it without my permission.

I is for …

~I Love You Dammit!~

“Arnav!” Khushi called, as she barged into the house, to find him seated on the sofa, laptop in hand.

Khushi marched towards him, picked his laptop and shutting it forcefully, she set it down on the table.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Arnav demanded furiously.

“Don’t you dare question me, Mr. Raizada. I’m very angry right now! Who asked you to skip breakfast today morning? As a result, you go fainting all around Delhi… and Aman has to bring you home in such a sorry state! And then I have to freak out and come all the way here to see you working -”

“Woah… Khushi!” Arnav interrupted Khushi’s tirade. Standing up, he towered over Khushi as he said, “Why do you care anyway? You just fought with me today morning!”

“Why do I care?” Khushi retorted as she started moving towards Arnav Just because I fight with you doesn’t mean I don’t care for you!”

Arnav started moving backwards to counter Khushi’s angered pace. Pressed up against the wall, Arnav said defensively,” Look Khushi… I don’t like this cornering business that you’re doing right now. Besides, I never asked you to freak out just because I fainted! Why should I affect you in such a way anyway?”

 “Because I love you dammit!” Khushi said aggressively, while Arnav stared at her, shocked. 

A sound behind them made them realize that the entire family had been witness to Khushi’s confession. They stood behind – Nani, Mami, Anjali, Mamaji, and NK – with their mouths open.

Khushi stared back at them for a few moments. Then, blushing furiously, she rushed out of their house, mumbling continuously to herself.

Their eyes followed Khushi’s retreating back… and then focused on Arnav.

With a smirk on his face, Arnav picked up his laptop and said,” Well? Why are you all standing shell-shocked? Don’t you have wedding preparations to do?” as he continued walking towards his room.

(321 words)

ArHi Drabble Series - H is for ...

Disclaimer – The characters you recognize belong to 4 Lions Productions but the ones you don’t are mine. The concept, story and dialogues belong to me. Please don’t copy this story in part/whole with anyone/anywhere or share it without my permission.

    H is for …

~Hai Re Nandakishore!!~

“Hai re Nandakishore!” Madhumati Bua exclaimed as she spotted NK cowering behind a set of curtains in Raizada Mansion. “Idhar kaa kar rahe ho Nandakishore?”

“Nothing, Buaji” NK stammered as he made an attempt at moving away from Buaji…. to no luck.

Buaji grabbed NK’s arm and peering at him closely, she asked him,” Shaadi kab karne ka khayal hai, Babua?”

“What?” NK spluttered, startled by the sudden question.

“Shaadi Babua! Shaadi! Ab aur kitne din iss tarah akele akele pardo ke peeche chipthe rahoge?”

NK’s attempts to free himself from Buaji’s clutch renewed tenfold as he continued mumbling inconsequential answers to her.

“Arre bolo na Babua! Humaare ghar ke paas ek ladki hai, usse tumhaare baat karva sakte hai hum. Uska naam pata hai kya hai?”

Sucessfully freeing himself from Buaji’s grip, NK faced her warily and asked her “Kya hai?”

Buaji smiled at NK as she said “Madhumati.”

NK ran for his life.

(154 words)

ArHi Drabble Series - G is for ...

Disclaimer – The characters you recognize belong to 4 Lions Productions but the ones you don’t are mine. The concept, story and dialogues belong to me. Please don’t copy this story in part/whole with anyone/anywhere or share it without my permission.

    G is for …

~Green Eyed Monster~

*The lines in italics are Arnav’s thoughts. Clarifying so that there won’t be any confusion while reading. :)

“Nanhe ji! Let’s have ice-cream!” Khushi said as she walked into the hall at Raizada Mansion with NK in tow.

A scowl immediately formed on Arnav’s face as he heard Khushi’s words.

‘What was it with this girl and NK?’

“Ice-cream Khushi ji? Late raat ko?” NK questioned.

“Yeah Khushi. Don’t you have to go home?” Arnav asked her irritably.

“I can have ice-cream as I go home, can’t I?” Khushi replied coolly, looking away from Arnav and smiling prettily at NK. “So? What do you say Nanhe ji?”

NK looked at Arnav’s glowering face and asked him,” You want to join us too Nannav?”

Arnav was about to give NK a fitting reply when Khushi made a face, and playfully hitting NK, remarked “How will he have ice-cream?”

'She did care about him then.'

The illusion broke, as Khushi uttered, “Khadoos people can’t digest ice-cream, Nanhe ji, and we’re talking about Arnav Singh Raizada here!”

Laughing out loudly, NK and Khushi walked outside, as Arnav glared daggers at them.

(170 words)

ArHi Drabble Series - F is for ...

Disclaimer – The characters you recognize belong to 4 Lions Productions but the ones you don’t are mine. The concept, story and dialogues belong to me. Please don’t copy this story in part/whole with anyone/anywhere or share it without my permission.

     F is for …

~Frying Pans~

Khushi and Aashna walked towards Raizada Mansion with their shopping bags in hand.

“Isn’t it lovely Ma? We get to shop while Aarav and Dad cook for us! Can you believe it? They’re actually cooking for us!” Aashna said laughing.

“I’ll believe it when I see the cooked food in front of me, Aashi,” Khushi replied serenely, knowing her husband’s ways.

As they entered the hall, they heard Arnav and Aarav’s voices emanating from the kitchen. Impressed that the men may have stuck to their promise for once, Khushi and Aashna make their way quietly towards the kitchen.

“That isn’t an effective way to do it, Aarav” Arnav’s patient voice rang through the kitchen.

“Show me once again, Dad. I’m going to master this once and for all” Aarav replied, concentration evident through his voice.

As Aashna and Khushi peeked into the kitchen, they saw that the father-son duo were busy sword fighting – with frying pans.

Khushi looked at Aashna, who was trying to control her laughter seeing the scene in front of them and mouthed - ‘Men will be men.’

(181 words)

ArHi Drabble Series - E is for ...

Disclaimer – The characters you recognize belong to 4 Lions Productions but the ones you don’t are mine. The concept, story and dialogues belong to me. Please don’t copy this story in part/whole with anyone/anywhere or share it without my permission.

E is for …

~Ek Do Teen~

“Ek.. Do.. Teen.. Chaar.. Paanch.. Cheh.. Saath.. Aath.. Nau.. Dus! Main aa rahi hoon!” Khushi exclaimed joyfully, as she finished counting.

Now to find her children - Aarav and Aashna - as they hid in the house.

Finding Aarav was easy enough. He was hiding – actually standing – in the garden… hoping he would somehow blend in with the surroundings.

Khushi scrunched her nose. Now to find her daughter. Aashna had become a little mirror image of her… and she was all of two years. To find her, Khushi would have to think like herself.

After contemplating for a while, Khushi entered her room. Arnav sat on the recliner, working on his laptop as usual.

Khushi gestured at him to reveal Aashna’s hiding place, but Arnav just shrugged most unhelpfully.

Khushi made to walk out of their room to search elsewhere, when she heard a sneeze. Listening carefully now, she heard the following words being uttered -‘Dammit!’ – from the cupboard.

She laughed as she opened the door to find her daughter inside. As the mother daughter duo laughed, Arnav watched them as previous memories involving the cupboard enveloped his mind and he thought -

‘Like mother…like daughter.’

(196 words)