Heart wrenching adoration Part-30

The bus trundled to stop in the parking lot and the students alighted excitedly. Nobody bothered to obey teachers as they called us to be in order and narrated a long list of ‘Do’s’ and ‘Don’ts’. Suddenly I felt a small, warm hand enveloping mine and the next thing I knew I was dragged to the very edge of the teeming crowd.

“Khushi, what’s wrong?”I asked as she pulled me behind chattering teens.

“Di!”She huffed, pointing towards the crowd and I immediately sensed khushi’s predicament. Distracted by the prank my friends had played on khushi, I had all but forgotten about the promise I had given khushi and now I was all set to honour that.

I couldn’t really allow khushi to go away from me! I knew Payal won’t be too chuffed with me for denying her, her pleasure in shopping for khushi and going along whatever crazy plan she had made for khushi’s makeover. 

Still if khushi didn’t want it, then there was no way Payal could make her do it. I was going to see to it.

So, I grabbed khushi’s hand and carefully steered her in and through the group of chatting students as we swarmed towards the entrance of the Mall. But it seemed my luck wasn’t going to favour me as Payal suddenly materialised at our side, literally out of blue, with a breathless Akash.

“There you are khushi! I was searching around for you! Now come on, let’s go shopping. Where should we begin from?”Payal mused, clutching khushi’s arm as if afraid that she’ll run away, which was exactly the sort of thing khushi wanted to do.

She looked at me with a pleading, desperate look and I looked back at her helplessly. Payal wasn’t on quite a good term with me as it was and if I knew that if I so much as uttered a word now, she’ll literally bite my head off!

“Umm...let’s go to ‘Pantaloons’. I’m sure they must have some good collections down there!” Payal murmured as she scanned the shops interestedly. She started pulling khushi along.

Khushi reached out for me and caught my hand, towing me with her.

“Khushi, what are you doing? Why are you bringing him?” Payal asked, frowning.

“Di, actually...actually...yeah...its Arnav’s di’s birthday next month and he asked me to help him select a gift for her and...”

“But Anjali di’ birthday comes in June.” Payal contradicted suspiciously.

“Is it so?...I...I mean that...some on di, can he not have any other sister than her. Its his cousin sister’s birthday.”Khushi spluttered piteously and her nervousness was an obvious give away so I decided to intercede.

“Oh yes!  Khushi volunteered to help me Payal ! You know, I’m a dud at girly stuff!” I said with a poker face. Akash, who was the silent spectator till now jumped in too.

“Yeah, I have to get her a gift too! Payal you can help me! Your choices are too good!” Akash babbled admiringly and that did the trick. Payal turned pink and acquiesced with good grace for us accompanying her and khushi. 

I and khushi caught each other’s eyes as Akash and Payal became all lovey-dovey like Amitabh Bachhan and Jaya Bhaduri and looked away trying to control our laughter. So with that we attacked...or at least Payal pillaged the shop with ferocity.

She pawed through the neatly arranged dresses as we tagged along with her.

“Khushi, see this white blazer...It looks really chic with all sorts of tops even those classy camisoles. Hmm, and maybe this satin one, but its has got too deep a neck. Mom, will kill me if I got this for you. Oooh look, they have such good collection of shorts! Let’s go in there and...” Payal continued to go like that for what seemed like hours as she splurged happily on dresses for her and khushi.

“Khushi come on! Just try this one out. Its surely gonna look amazing on you and you’ll really appreciate an Indian dress!” Payal said, trying to force khushi into wearing a fusion-print palazzo and a matching kurti, beautifully embellished with Swarovski crystals.

We were standing in front of the changing room as Payal tried to bully khuhsi into wearing the dress she had chosen for her for what seemed like the hundredth time.

 She had made khushi wear all the dresses she had chosen for her, unintentionally torturing me as khushi looked ethereal and sublime in every one of those pretty dresses she wore- the white shorts with navy blue tank top that had sensuously clinged to her curves or the red knee length, strapless number, that made her look no less than a fashion diva and numerous more in which she had knocked my breath out of me! 

But then again khushi was probably the sort of person who could wear all but rags and still carry it effectively and stunningly! 

“Di please! I’m tired of all this shopping.”Khushi  moaned, looking on the verge of crying.

“Oh come on khush! Don’t be such a spoil sport! I swear this is the last dress.” Payal promised, egging her.

“I wonder how many times I heard you say that...Couldn’t have been more than a hundred or two!” Khushi’s voice dripped with sarcasm. Payal ignored her comment studiously.

“Oh go on khushi! There is no need to be so melodramatic!” 

“Give it a rest Payal! Cut her a lose slack and let her be! Besides, she’s perfect the way she is!” I interjected in their heated discussion, but the words burnt with too much fervour. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw khushi blush furiously.

Payal opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her short.

“You have had your fun shopping for her. Now, its only fair that you let her her have hers.” I said solemnly.

“ Khushi, come on! There is a Book Store up there and they always keep some pretty good novels. Let’s so and hunt for books!” I said like and khushi’s answering, exultant smile made my heart skip a beat. I had really never appreciated how very beautiful she was!

“Oh really?And what about that gift you needed to buy for your cousin sister?”Payal asked sardonically and I knew that she had never bought our lame excuse in the first place, but had allowed me to come along just for the sake of Akash.

“I think I saw enough shopping to last me a lifetime!” I replied condescendingly and marched out with my nose in the air and khushi at my side.