Nayika Writes

A series of very short snippets/drabbles based on the show. Some are AU, some are canon compliant, some are nonsense. A is for... Automatic B is for... Bikini C is for... Colour D is for... Damn It! E is for... Ego F is for... Fantasy G is for... Goodbye H is for... Hello I is for... Insane J is for... Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai K is for... Kitne Aadmi The? L is for.. Laad Governer M is for... Mama and Mamiji N is for... Nanheji O is for... Over P is for... Prakash Brothers Ltd Q is for... Questions Without Answers R is for... Raizada S is for... Scared T is for... Table U is for... Umbrella V is for... Vivah W is for... Wish Upon A Star X is for... X-Rated   Y is for... Yes Sir! Z is for... Zoo

Y is for... Yes Sir! One moment he had seemed so angry and the next he was unbuttoning his jacket. Khushi walked backwards away from him in fear but she couldn't help noticing how well his jacket fit him, clinging to his narrow waist and emphasising his broad shoulders. He removed the jacket and she could now see a hint of well muscled arms beneath his black shirt. He began to move closer and her eyes were drawn to him once again, her breaths quickened and she closed her eyes, expecting his waistcoat to be next. 'Dictation lena shuru karo.' She looked up in shock, horrified at what she had been thinking about. Only this morning she had had to avert her eyes as she saw Lavanyaji hanging over his chair with her arms around his neck. They were clearly a couple so how could Khushi have even thought that Sir was walking towards her because he... She moved backwards again, frightened by her thoughts and stumbled backwards. Instantly his hand held her...

Z is for... Zoo It was one of those rare Sunday evenings where the entire family was gathered in the Raizada living room. The children were sprawled across the floor watching a movie. Akash and Mamaji were playing cards on one sofa, Nani and Payal were looking through old photo albums while Mami and Anjali gossiped over their magazines Arnav was reading his newspaper while Khushi watched the movie with the children from where she was sat on the sofa next to him. Her legs were tucked up on the sofa next to him with her feet under his thigh for warmth while she ploughed through a plate of pakoras. His momentary idyll was broken with the sound of Akash's eldest son Sanjay's loud scream. 'Aditi! You hit me!' The screams and grunts that followed were indistinguishable as to which child they emerged from as Aditi began to claw at Suraj's hair and he fought back, egged on and helped by their various younger cousins and siblings. Payal, Anjali, Nani...

X is for... X-Rated 'Turn over; I want to play a game.' Khushi blushed violently but still obliged, turning over onto her stomach. She expected the legs that straddled her own and the hands massaging her shoulders but the tongue on her back was a shock and she jerked unconsciously. Arnav pinned her down and traced a long leisurely path with his tongue from the base of her spine to her neck. He then blew into her ear, making her shiver in anticipation. 'I'm going to write something on your back Khushi and you have to guess what it is. Okay?' Khushi nodded and screwed her eyes shut to concentrate, refusing to lose to Arnav in another one of their games. Although she was prepared this time, she still gasped at the first touch of his smooth tongue against her skin. He moved in a straight line upwards but then Khushi lost track of the direction, focusing only on his tongue and the pool of heat low in her stomach until she could bear it no...

W is for... Wish Upon A Star 'Hey Devi Maiyya, what kind of husband do I have that brings me a file as a present!' 'What the...! Khushi, read them at least.' Khushi sighed and took the file from Arnav, opening it to read the first page illuminated by the moon and the stars as he wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his chin on her shoulder. Khushi gasped as she turned the pages over rapidly, 'you... you named actual stars after my parents?' Arnav nodded, 'and one for my mom too.' Khushi turned and hugged him tight, her tears dripping onto his grey jacket.

V is for... Vivah He moved her tikka aside, noting her closed eyes as he did and then pressed his thumb to her forehead and up into her hairline, marking her as his forever. Specks of the red powder fell onto her nose as he moved his hand away and Arnav smiled. Khushi opened her eyes, large and trusting shining with tears. Arnav knew they were tears of happiness but he still couldn't bear to see them. 'Your nose has gone red again,' he said with a grin flicking the tip with his index finger leaving a large streak of red sindoor across it.

U is for... Umbrella As Khushi held up her umbrella for Anjali her mind was still on what she had just witnessed. She could never have imagined that ASR, the raakshas , the Laad Governer would be such a child inside.   'Chotte, you're getting more wet. Come here under the umbrella,' Anjali gave Arnav who was at her side a small push. His eyes met hers and Khushi was sure he would refuse but he surprised her for the second time that day. Still supporting Anjali he stepped under the umbrella, behind them both. Khushi held the umbrella higher to accommodate his taller frame, also supporting Anjali with her free hand. They stopped briefly when they reached the steps and Khushi wondered how they would navigate them. Arnav made a small sound of annoyance and took the handle from her hand. He held it high sheltering the three of them until they reached the car. *** Set during the first rakhi episode.

T is for... Table 'Were you and Khushiji alright by yourselves last night Chotte? Did you make sure to eat?' 'Yes Di. We ate at the table.' Arnav smirked and looked over at Khushi who was now hiding her flaming face behind her magazine. 'Khushi didn't want to; she wanted to eat in our room. I convinced her eventually though and I think she enjoyed herself.' ' It is a very big table, you must have felt odd there by yourselves but never mind, the whole family will be there tonight.' Khushi nodded weakly at Anjali as she walked away. 'What do you say Khushi? Do you want to... eat in front of the whole family tonight?' He then ducked quickly to avoid the magazine Khushi threw at his head.

S is for... Scared 'Why can't you tell us now damn it?!' After another minute Arnav threw the phone on the bed and let out an anguished groan with his head in his hands. 'He wants us to go in and discuss the results of the tests.' Khushi put a shaking hand on his shoulder, urging him to look at her. 'Arnav I'm scared.' Arnav gathered her up in his arms, tucking her head beneath his chin. He wished he could tell her everything would be okay, that she had nothing to be afraid. 'I'm scared too baby, but we'll... we'll face it together.'

R is for... Raizada 'And you?' Arnav looked up to see the woman looking at him curiously. Instinctively he hid himself partially behind Akash who despite being a year younger was already much taller than him. The woman didn't scare him but her question did. Since that night, he dreaded being asked his identity; his name. Akash moved further in front and spoke for him, 'this is my bhai.' It was a known fact that Akash was painfully shy and only ever spoke when spoken to but the fact that he had now made a surge of pride shoot through Arnav. This was his new identity. He stood straight, shoulders back and chest out. 'Raizada. My name is Arnav Singh Raizada.' 'I didn't realise you had another son, Mahendra.' Arnav stiffened, waiting for his Mamaji to correct the woman but instead he felt a comforting arm land on his shoulder and Mamaji simply smiled.

Q is for... Questions without Answers  'Do you think we did everything all wrong Khushi?' Payal stroked Khushi's back, not expecting a response. 'Maybe we shouldn't have questioned Babuji. Should we have let him mortgage the shop? Should I have married Abhishekji regardless? What do you think Khushi?' Her eyes rested on her parents, her father resting an awkward hand on his wife's head. 'Would Babuji be well do you think? Would he be able to walk and talk and smile and laugh? Would Amma be smiling instead of crying?' Khushi lifted her head slightly and looked at Payal with tearful eyes, 'Jiji, will he come?' *** Set during Khushi and Arnav's second (actual) wedding when he was delayed angsting in the street about his mom.

P is for... Prakash Brothers Ltd 'The only problem is... they keep calling me Hari Prakash!' Shiv Prakash sighed, 'they're very rich people Ram Prakash, they don't have time to remember the names of all their servants.' 'They knew my name,' Om Prakash remarked smugly from his desk in the corner. 'And mine' added Jai Prakash, looking up from where he was watching The Dirty Picture on his iPhone. Ram Prakash glared at them both, 'Om Prakash, didn't you get fired because you had a crush on Khushiji? And you got fired for fainting all the time Jai Prakash. At least I still have my job.'

O is for... Over She could hear the raindrops falling onto the window as she watched the clock finally strike 12. The day was over. It had been over for hours actually and had been an unremarkable day just like the rest. It should have been her wedding day; the happiest day of her life, filled with lights and colours. Instead it had been just another miserable day. She should be in the arms of her new husband right now, enveloped in his love and warmth. Instead, the day had ended and Lavanya was just as alone as she had been when it began.

N is for... Nanheji He didn't particularly hate his given name, but trying to get Australians to pronounce Nand Kishore properly was almost impossible. The much shorter and cooler NK was given to him on the first day of High School by his new friend Sean and he adopted it with ease. Another decade passed before he acquired a new name; his favourite name. Not that he would let anybody but Khushiji call him by that name. When Khushiji called him Nanheji, it made him feel special. As if they shared a joke between them, one he wasn't willing to share with anyone else.

M is for... Mama and Mamiji It took almost 10 years and hundreds of insignificant moments before Arnav finally realised it. Arnav, Akash, Karan and Mamaji were all ready to leave for a week-long conference in Japan. Payal and Anjali whispered goodbyes to their respective husbands politely and demurely. Arnav and Mamaji however, were trying unsuccessfully to extricate themselves from their tearful wives who seemed to think 'week-long actually' meant 'year-long'. In comparison it was one of more mundane coincidences but the defining one. Arnav hugged Khushi tighter and whispered into her ear. 'We have officially turned into Mama and Mamiji.' Aditya who had been eavesdropping intently on his parents' conversation quickly corrected him. 'Papa, Sanjay's 8 years old! You've been a Mama and Mami for 8 years already.' Khushi laughed through her tears, always fearful of being separated from Arnav and extended her arm for A...

L is for... Laad Governer 'Okay it's bedtime; we'll watch the rest tomorrow.' Arnav turned to his four year old daughter to receive his customary goodnight kiss. 'Papa, there's just a little bit left. Please?' 'Baby, you know you have to stick to your bedtime. Now come on, give Papa a kiss and go to sleep.' 'Laad Governer kahike,' Aditi said in a stage whisper before turning her head away from him, folding her arms and pouting in a perfect imitation of her mother. Khushi will be so proud when I tell her, Arnav thought as he fought to control his smile. 'Aditi Singh Raizada! How dare you?' Before she could reply however, Arnav pounced and tickled until Aditi was in tears begging for mercy, a ploy he often used with her mother as well. 'Sorry Papa! Sorry!' She exclaimed in between giggles before throwing her little arms around her father's neck. When Khushi came into the room a while later Ad...

K is for... Kitne Aadmi The? 'I don't know. Maybe 10? 15?' Arnav shifted uncomfortably and moved onto his back to look up at the ceiling. Khushi moved as well so her arms rested on his bare chest and she was looking down at him, 'Arnav! Was it 10 or 15? I need to know. There's Lavanyaji obviously and who else? What about that Lisa woman? Do you remember her? With the fur coat? Am I right? Was she one of them?' 'Khushi please, I don't want to have this conversation. You're just going to be angry at me for no reason. It doesn't matter how many girlfriends I've had. I only have one wife and that's you.' Khushi pouted and moved off Arnav, lying down beside him. 'Fine. If I was you I'd want to know about all of my boyfriends but if that's how you feel...' Arnav rolled back to his side facing her and raised an eyebrow. 'Excuse me? Exactly how many have there been Miss Khushi Kumari Gupta?' ...

J is for... Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai Hypnotised was how he would describe it. His every nerve was attuned to her presence, bewitched by her beauty, enthralled by her eyes. She was a siren bathed in a golden light. Her porcelain skin, blush pink cheeks and trembling lips all called out to him, begging for his touch. She moved and he fell in step beside her unable to bear her creating more distance between them. His hands burned in anticipation and protested at being denied the experience of his eyes which were free to caress and linger at will. --- He brushed away the strands of silk obscuring her captivating eyes and finally he touched perfection. He kept his touch light, afraid of bruising her delicate skin with his rough calloused fingers. All that remained now was for his lips to finally taste the deathly sweetness of hers and he knew he would be hers to command. *** Set during the (first) Diwali episode

I is for... Insane 'Ice! I need Ice!' 'There is no ice! You'll have to settle for this .' Khushi hissed as a slab of cold meat was pressed onto her right hand. 'Arnavji! It's Thursday!' Arnav looked up in confusion. 'What?' 'It's Thursday. We don't eat meat on Thursdays! Naniji will kill me if she sees this.' ' Pagal! You're not eating it!' They sat in silence, Arnav lightly stroking Khushi's other hand until he could no longer control himself and he began to laugh. 'I can't believe you actually punched her! What were you thinking?' 'What was I thinking? What was she thinking? I went to the bathroom for two minutes and I come back to find that... that churail all over you! She'd been eyeing you ever since we got there tonight. She was just waiting for her chance, I know it.' Khushi bristled and removed Arnav's hands from hers, 'and what about you...

H is for... Hello She was in disgrace, she should have been sad and ashamed but Khushi was excited. Of course there was that small part of her that hated being forced out of her own town, hated running away especially when she wasn't at fault. But mostly she felt excitement about the new city, new people, and new food ! As the train pulled into the station, Khushi's eyes took in the wonder of all the people jostling for space on the small platform. She took a deep breath in, held onto the bars, pressed her face against the window and screamed. 'HELLO DELHI!' *** Set during episode 5 when Khushi and Payal arrive in Delhi