Chapter Five

The house was buzzing like a swarm of bees. There were people all over the place, all busy with work for the party tonight. The decorators had arrived and were busy decorating the living room and the ballroom. Workers were busy in the kitchen preparing for tonight’s food. Others were making sure the decorators didn't make too much of a mess and cleaned up. Khushi and some of the other workers were out in the garden picking up some flowers and some vegetables for the food.

Khushi made her way back to the house and placed the basket full of vegetables down. She tapped on the chef’s shoulder and pointed at the vegetables.

“Thanks Khushi, this should be enough for tonight,” he smiled.

Khushi smiled and left the kitchen to see how preparations were going in the ballroom.

“What are you doing,” Khushi heard Amoli say. “It’s not straight.”

The worker nodded and fixed the drapes.

Amoli turned and saw Khushi. “Khushi, how’s everything in the kitchen going?”

Khushi motioned that it was perfect with her hand and Amoli sighed.

“That’s good. I want this evening to go perfectly.”

Khushi smiled.

Amoli cupped Khushi’s face. “And I don’t want you to get too wrapped up in work. You also have to get ready too, hmm?”

Khushi sighed and nodded. Amoli gave her smile and Khushi went off to resume her work. As the day went on, more and more work was completed and the house looked amazing. Everyone went off to get ready, excited for the evening.

*~*

Arnav had showered up and he was busy getting ready. He was fixing his cuffs when he remembered the bet between him and Avantika.

Find her tonight? As if, he said in his head. Crazy Chatterbox, he chuckled.

At the thought of the bet, Arnav thought about the choli he made. It was pretty special to him and he wondered how it would look on someone. He didn't let any one of his models wear it once it was completed. He only worked on a mannequin - specific of its measurements - and that was the only thing that ever wore it.

Thinking about it, Arnav put on his waistcoat and went to the wardrobe. He opened it up and took the packet out. He pulled out the choli, unfolded it, and gaped.

“What the f-?!”

Arnav looked at the choli and the lehenga, front and back.

"This isn't it! I didn't create this! Then where is-"

Arnav’s grip on the lehenga tightened.

“Avantika,” he growled.

*~*

Arnav came down and joined the few guests that had already arrived. Vijay caught sight of him and called him over to introduce him to some of the guests. Arnav spoke with them a bit, when he noticed Avantika talking to a woman. Excusing himself, he made his way over to her.

“Excuse me,” Arnav said to the woman, “I need to talk to my sister for a moment.”

Without waiting for an answer, he took Avantika away.

“Hey! What was that all about,” Avantika said. “And don’t you look snappy.”

“I think I’ll snap you in half first,” Arnav said in a low voice.

Avantika scrunched her eyebrows. “Why? I didn't do anything.”

“Oh? Then explain to me where the choli went.”

Avantika’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Where is it Avantika? I know you took it. You’re the only person I told and that knows about it.”

“What are you talking about? I-”

“This isn't a joke Avantika. I opened it up and there’s a different choli in its place. Now tell me – where did you hide it.”

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Back it up. You opened your wardrobe?”

“Yes.”

“You took the choli out?”

“Yes.”

“And when you opened it up, you saw that it was a totally different choli?”

“Correct. Now tell me, where is it?”

“Uh well- I um- Ma!”

Arnav scrunched his eyebrows and turned to see their mother coming towards them.

“Oh Arnav, you look so handsome,” Amoli beamed, hugging her son.

Taking this as an opportunity, Avantika escaped. Arnav tried to call out for her, but Amoli started talking to one of the guests and she was introducing them to Arnav. Avantika dashed through the crowd and made her way to Deviyani, who was talking to Anjali.

“Nani!”

Deviyani turned and both she and Anjali looked at Avantika confusedly.

Avantika came up to Deviyani. “Nani where is it?”

“Where’s what,” Deviyani asked confusedly.

“The choli!”

“What choli,” Anjali asked.

“The one Bhai created.”

“He designed a choli?”

“Yes and it’s- never mind, I’ll fill you in later but Nani he doesn't have it!”

“What,” Deviyani said.

“I took the packet from your room and snuck it back into his room but it turns out it was the wrong one!”

“But didn't you take it off my bed?”

“Whoa, wait, what? No, you mean the wardrobe. I saw it sticking out.”

“No, I left it on the bed so you could take it.”

“But there wasn't anything on the bed. I saw the packet sticking out of your wardrobe since the door was left open.”

Deviyani’s eyes widened and she gaped. “That was the choli I fitted for Khushi.”

“What?!”

“Laxmi was chewing on a shoe so I went after her. I saw Khushi then and I told her to take her choli… from my… r-room.”

Avantika smacked her forehead and shook it.

“Wait, so let me get this straight,” Anjali said. “Chote made a choli for some reason-”

“It’s for his future girl,” Avantika explained.

“Okay, so he made a choli for his future wife, which by the way is so sweet! You snuck it out for some reason-”

“I thought Khushi could wear it,” Avantika muttered.

Anjali gasped. “Avantika you-“

“Nani decided it would be better if she didn't. That’s why we decided to return it before Bhai got mad.”

“Okay. So you snuck it out, told Nani about it – not even me which by the way I’m mad about - devised a plan for Khushi to wear it, but didn't end up doing it.”

“Yeah, so I went to check if Bhai was in his room.”

“So you left and Nani left the choli on the bed. Laxmi came in then-“

“Actually I went to my wardrobe to take out Khushi’s choli first, and then Laxmi came in.”

“So you went after Laxmi and saw Khushi, so you told her to get her choli while you were busy on Laxmi’s tail. So when she went in…” Anjali gasped. “She probably saw the choli Chote made and thought that it was hers so she took that instead and when Avantika came back, she thought Khushi’s choli was the one Chote made and put that one back instead?”

Avantika tapped her chin. “Basically… but what I don’t get is why Khushi didn't return it. It wasn't hers so why did she keep it?”

“Because she never opened it,” Deviyani groaned. “I had chosen it for her and because I did, she didn't bother opening it and trusted my opinion.”

Anjali sighed. “Khushi will forever be the same,” she smiled softly.

“Yeah but where’s Khushi now?”

Anjali gasped. “She’s in my room getting ready.”

“Well we have to go stop her-“

“We’re too late,” Deviyani said.

Anjali and Avantika looked at Deviyani confusedly. They noticed she was looking up and followed her line of gaze. Both girls gaped at the sight of Khushi.

Khushi stood at the top of the stairs. With a deep breath she slowly descended the stairs. People noticed her and looked up at her, wondering who she was and how beautiful she looked. Arnav heard the muffled talk and looked at what everyone else was looking at. The first thing he noticed was the choli he had designed.

What the, he wondered. How did it-? Avantika!

Khushi went over to Deviyani and Arnav went towards them.

“Wow, you look so beautiful,” Deviyani said.

Khushi blushed and looked down.

“It’s amazing how it fits her perfectly,” Avantika said. “Isn't it Nani?”

“Completely,” Deviyani breathed, completely shocked.

“Ditto,” Anjali breathed.

Khushi looked at them confusedly, tilting her head.

Avantika gulped. “Uh well, er, you see Khushi… that’s not… yours.”

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows.

“That’s actually Bhai’s.”

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows even more. She held the skirt in her hands and looked at Avantika confusedly.

“N-not like that, oh heavens no,” she tried to laugh off. “No, not like that. What I mean is that… Bhai designed that.”

Khushi’s eyebrows shot up.

“And it was made for a special someone,” she said in a low voice.

Khushi nodded in acknowledgement and looked down at the choli.

He made this… that too for someone special to him…. She’s lucky.

Avantika looked up and saw Arnav standing before them. “Bhai,” she squeaked.

Khushi, Anjali, and Deviyani gasped and looked at Arnav with wide eyes.

“B-b-bhai… I can explain,” Avantika said.

Arnav looked at her in confusion.

She took a deep breath and blurted it all out. “I snuck the choli out from your room when I said I was gonna get my phone and I did get my phone, but I also snuck the choli out of your room and put in my room and later showed it to Nani while everyone was wrapped up in their own stuff and Nani absolutely loved it and then I got scared and wondered how I was gonna sneak it back into your room, so I went to check if you were in your room and you weren't because Papa had you stuck in stupid business talk so I went back, but by then Nani had taken out the choli she fitted for Khushi, which was also red, but then she saw Laxmi chewing on a shoe so she went after her and while she did, she saw Khushi and told her to get her choli from her room, so she went up to Nani’s room and Nani didn't tell her where she put it and when Khushi went in and saw the choli you designed on Nani’s bed, she assumed it was hers, so she took it and by the time I came back, the choli that Nani meant to give Khushi, which was sticking out of her wardrobe was what I thought was the choli you designed, so I took that and snuck back into your room and put it away, thinking it was the one you made, but it wasn't and after you told me, I asked Nani and then Di helped figure it all out and by the time we did, it was too late because Khushi was already ready and out here and that’s when,” she took a deep breath, “you came,” she nearly whispered.

Arnav, Khushi, Anjali, and Deviyani just blinked her.

“Anyone wanna dance,” she asked, trying to lighten up the mood.

Arnav shook his head and miraculously understood every word his sister said. He was about to say something, when Amoli and Vijay came their way.

“Khushi, you look absolutely beautiful,” Amoli gushed. “You look like you could be a bride! Doesn't she Vijay?”

“She does,” he agreed. “I just might have to hide you after tonight so that proposals don’t come rushing in,” he chuckled.

Amoli removed the evil eye from Khushi. “Is this the one Ma helped choose for you?”

Deviyani gulped. “Uh, well-”

“Bhai made it,” Avantika squeaked.

Deviyani, Anjali and Khushi widened their eyes at her.

Amoli scrunched her eyebrows. “Chote made it?”

Everyone looked at Avantika to hear what answer she came up with.

“Uh, well, you see… it’s a gift.”

“A gift?”

“Y-yeah! Just like how Bhai designed our presents, he also designed Khushi’s present.”

“Why Chote, you never told me you had a present for Khushi.”

Arnav looked Khushi up and down, who was looking down at the floor nervously.

“Well…?”

“I forgot to mention it,” Arnav said, not taking his eyes off of Khushi.

“That you got a present for her,” Vijay questioned.

“I did. I was nervous about how my best friend would feel about her present….”

Khushi looked up at Arnav in surprise.

“I was worried she wouldn't like it. I thought she would only like it if it was yellow.”

“But this is red,” Amoli said.

“I took a chance.”

“Well she looks stunning! Doesn't she everyone?”

Deviyani, Anjali, and Avantika nodded and gulped.

“People sure are curious to know who she is,” Vijay said, hearing the little buzzing.

“She’s my daughter, that’s who, and they should all hush down,” Amoli said. “I can hear the gossip spread right now,” she said dramatically.

Avantika chuckled. “You know how people are.”

“Doesn't she,” Arnav said.

Avantika looked down and gulped.

Amoli wrapped her arm around Khushi’s shoulder. “Come Khushi, let’s all go to the ballroom now.”

Khushi nodded and she followed Amoli and Vijay to the ballroom. They announced that they would be moving to the ballroom and the guests followed behind. Deviyani and Anjali made their way and Avantika went to follow behind, when Arnav caught her arm.

“This isn't over Chatterbox,” he said, and then left to follow the others.

Avantika gulped. “Why do I always have to be the one to get in trouble,” she pouted.

Throwing a small fit, she stomped her way to the ballroom.