16

Khushi and Anjali were in the Court premises with Aakash and Arnav. The atmosphere there was so depressing, that Anjali often had to control her tears. They were to be presented before the Court at 11 in the morning. But the calling out took two hours. The police and the Public Prosecutor took another hour to appear. Sham entered accompanied by the Police Officer. Anjali shuddered when she saw him. Her knees gave way. Aakash supported her. Khushi was burning with rage clenching her fists. She felt like bashing him again straight in the face.

"Di! Don't get upset!" she whispered holding Anjali's hand. She saw Shyam talking to the Police officer and was actually laughing. "How could he be so shameless?" she wondered. Their names were called out. They entered the Court room to see the overflowing crowd there. Anjali tried to hide herself. Khushi held her hand and said

 "Di, we have not done anything wrong. We are not criminals like him! Why should we be scared? Come Di, let us face it together!" she held Anjali's hand tightly, to give her some strength. Arnav and Aakash were made to wait outside. The prosecutor presented them before the Court and said

"The Principal witnesses are present here my Lord for deposition whenever required!" The Court Clerk took signatures of Anjali and Khushi on the form and register.

That was it. The prosecutor asked them to leave. There work was over. They both turned to leave when "Raani Saaheba..!" came a sly voice of Sham. Anjali winced. Khushi turned to face Sham. Her eyes spat fire. "How are you? Khushi ji?" Sham asked shamelessly. Khushi clenching her fists took a step ahead and was stopped by the police officer.

"Mr. Sham, be within your limits!" threatened the officer waving at Khushi and Anjali to leave. That was the traumatic experience for Anjali and outrageous for Khushi!
"This is the man once I loved more than myself!" said Anjali crying while returning home.
"Di, control yourself! This is the man you got rid off! He does not deserve your love, Di!" said Arnav.
"Chote, when he called me.. I felt like filth on me!" she winced again.
"Shh! Di! Stop thinking about that filth!" Khushi said holding Anjali's hand. Arnav adored his Khushi for her courage and support. Anjali's sobs had subsided. She was gaining control.
Arnav dropped them at home and went to office with Aakash.

****** ******
In the evening, Khushi was with Anjali in the hall. They had avoided talking about the court scene. Khushi had narrated everything to Nani. After a while, Anjali said "Actually nothing happened. We were simply scared!" With a faint smile. "Shondeep ji had told me this!" she said.

"Really? He had called you?" asked Khushi in mock surprise. Anjali nodded.

Khushi wanted to suggest her to call Shondeep. But she remembered Papaji's reprimand! Papaji had scolded her when she had suggested Shondeep to call Anjali.

"Khushi, don't hurry through! You should remember.. Anjali is going through a very difficult phase of her life and Shondeep has somehow recovered from it! Let them develop their friendship at their own pace. Hurrying through will spoil everything. Anjali is not ready yet even to think about any kind of relationship. Give her some time! Let her come out of this phase. It will take time, Khushi! You should know! Have patience. Otherwise it will have repelling effect. She has a lot of negative feeling about her failed marriage right now! Try and help her bring some positivity in her. Help her come out of the failure. Khushi, they both are mature enough to handle this in their own way. So from now on, no playing cupid! Understand? And do not expect anything out of this right now! " he had scolded Khushi. Khushi had promised him that she will never talk about Shondeep sir with Anjali!

She dialed papaji's number. "Papaji, ..." she narrated the morning Court incidence. Papaji listened to her patiently and said. "Ok! Khushi, so your first court appearance is over. Take care of Anjali. Many more traumatic situations are in store for both of you when the matter actually comes on board before the Court for hearing! So gear yourself up! Help Anjali, to have strength, don't do anything without taking advice!" papaji had sermon session with Khushi. Khushi felt much better, secure and safe under papaji's shelter.

"Every girl needs a papaji!" she thought to herself feeling lucky to have one!

************ ************ ***********
"Hello, Buwaji..!" Khushi screamed hearing her buwaji's voice over the phone.
"hai re Sanaka Devi, why do you have to shout? I can hear you alright?" scolded buwaji.
"Buwaji, what is it? Is everything ok?" Khushi asked.

"Everything is fine, Titaliya! I just called you to tell you that we got one halawai who will take over the shop and pay us monthly rent! Sashi babuwa is so happy! His shop is opening again!" said Buwaji. Khushi started jumping up and down in excitement.

"Buwaji, I am so happy! Muuwa!" she kissed her buwaji on phone.

"Hie re Paramesari, laaj sharam kahi chod ke ayi ho kya?' buwaji screamed. Khushi never listened to her.

"Buwaji, I want to talk to Amma? Where is she?" asked Khushi.
"Are, she has gone out! I will ask her to call you back!" said buwaji.

Khushi ran down after disconnecting the phone to payal. "Jiji, our shop is starting again. Someone is taking over..!" she hugged her jiji tightly screaming.

"Easy, Khushi... easy!" said Payal trying to control Khushi's excitement in vain. Khushi opened the sweets box and fed her the mithai. She took it to Nanai's room. Mami was sitting there with some magazing. She gave everyone sweet screaming about her shop!"

"Hello hi bye bye.. Sweet banavaa rahe hai ki amrut? Check kare ki padi, Kahi oos din jaisi khatti na banai ho!" said mamaji refusing to have one. But Khushi stuffed one in her mouth and said "No Mamiji, Laknow ki mithai to bahot meethi hoti hai! Aap ke jaisi! Hello hi bye bye!" Nani burst into laughter. Khushi went out dialing Arnav's number!

"How can she do thie?" wondered Nani "She finds out happiness even in the smallest thing! That should be the spirit!" Nani thought feeling proud of her Khushi bitiya!

Arnav did not take her call. "What the..?" Khushi reacted. "How dare he does not answer my call!" she mimicked him and giggled alone.

She saw Arnav entering the house and ran towards him.
"Oh! That's why you did not take my phone!" she said happily. Arnav gaped at her.
"What?" he asked climbing the stairs. She followed him talking to him excitedly.

"You know what... our shop in Lucknow..."she kept on chattering. Aranv and Khushi were in the room. She helped him take out his coat and jacket and was hanging them in the wardrobe with non stop talking. "Khushi..." he turned her around and placed his finger on her lips. She suddenly stopped talking. The methai box still in her hand, he wrapped his arm around her. Taking the box and keeping it aside he stared at her.

"Arnav ji... halawai... mithai..!" her voice trailed off….. "You know.. no sweets for me!" he said, playing with her curls… . "But..! I can have one..!" he stared at her lips causing her blush.
......
"Arnav ji... !" she was playing with his shirt button in his arms.
"In this white shirt... umm  ... you look..!" she said.

"What?" Arnav had his eyes and ears for her. 

"Umm... I don't know!" she tried to break free. He tightened his grip and asked her again.. "In this white shirt.... What?" she looked at him and rubbing her nose on his chest said "Se...!"
"What?" he asked her in her ear. "I look.. what? Se..?" he asked her stretching it further.

She shook her head and said "No...! I mean... "

"What?" his grip was becoming rib crushing now. "What?" he asked her again.

"Sexy!" she said causing him lift her in his arms and crush her lips with his…!
“Jungli…!” She tried to push him away licking her swollen lips…!

********* *********** ********

"Shondeep ji!"
"Yes, Anjali! Are you ok?" he asked Anjali late in the evening when Anjali had called him after a very long time in dilemma.

"Yes.. I mean.. as you had said... same thing happened!" she said.

"We went there, signed on the paper and came back!" she avoided telling him that they met sham there. She winced with the thought of Sham.

"That is good! Don't worry, everything will be ok!" he said. She got some encouragement.

"umm.. he was there with the police!" she said in a trembling voice. There was a silence..

"Anjali, be brave! You will have to face him! I want you to remember, he cannot do anything now!" said Shondeep firmly. He wanted to support her. She simply nodded.
"Ok! Shondeep ji, thank you!"

"Good night Anjali and I am with you!" he said assuring her his support.
"hmm!" she said and disconnected. Shondeep kept looking at the blank screen.

15

"Papaji, what is it? Why did you ask me to stay back and why did you send Arnav ji home?" she asked. 

"Because I wanted to talk to you alone!" he said. 

"Papaji, here? In the hospital?" she asked looking at him suspiciously. "Has he lost his mind?" she thought. "No, puttar, I have not lost my mind. I want to talk to you today itself!" he said reading her mind. She gaped at him doltishly. "Shut your mouth Khushi!" he said touching her chin. She looked at him angrily.

“No need to talk now.. You take rest!” she said adjusting his blanket. 

"No Khushi. Listen to me carefully. And do not interrupt!" he ordered her. She nodded. He had switched on his mobile recorder.

"This is about taking up the responsibilities. I am not talking about the profits, or returns from this. Those will follow. But right now you all should understand your roles!" he said gravely.
"But why are you telling me alone. Let all four be present!" she said.

"Khushi, I asked you not to interrupt!" he was annoyed. "Sorry!" she said.

"The other three have a very sound business background! You are the one who does not have any! I want you to play a significant role." He said looking at her. She opened her mouth again but looking at papaji closed it shut!

"I want you to be a part of every strategic decision the other three take. They cannot go ahead without your signature. I want you to be firm on your decision. Sign on go ahead only if you are convinced. I want you to be strong enough not to allow anybody influence you. 
Understand?" he asked her. She thought for a while and nodded. 

"Keep intact your individuality!" he said.

"Khushi, everyone has some strong points. Shondeep is technically very sound. But he is not tough enough. Sometimes people will take him for a ride. Like you do every time!" he made it little lighter. She grinned. 

"Arnav is a task master, but may not handle people well, he sounds ruthless when it comes to getting what he wants. There might be problems in getting wholehearted support from people for implementation!"

"Raj is very good at finance but least bothered about other things! But he is a good manager. He falls in between these two extremes"

"So I am dividing according to their strengths and giving them autonomy in taking their own decisions. All my units will be run by all four of you together!" 

"No strategic decisions shall be taken without you!" he said. "I have made the list! I am defining your role very clearly to avoid ambiguity!" Khushi did not understand the reason behind it. But she nodded.

"No new venture shall be started without your signature. NO amalgamation, joint venture, acquisition, merger, consolidation, closure, lockout, mass layoffs, capital restructuring shall be done without your signature!" he said.  Khushi gaped.  She didn’t understand any of the term.  She only had heard those terms…

"That does not give you power to interfere. So do not go poking your nose in their field. Understand?" she nodded.

"You may take up any one position, apart from this, of your interest in any one of the units!" He said. He was virtually giving her all the powers to control all the units. She did not understand the importance of her role at all. She just gaped at her papaji.

"And lastly, it is your responsibility to keep all of them together in every endeavor! Bind them, crease out their differences, and prevent them from breaking apart! Understand?" he asked her. She kept staring at the floor. He waited for her to assimilate.

"Papaji... I mean... Raj Bhayya is there to look after everything. Elsa Bhabi can take it up. She already runs a business with him. why did you split this?" she asked. 

"Khushi, this is my decision and no one questions my decision!" he was stern, a little irritated. She kept quiet. After a while, 

"Papaji.." she started off. "I am no good in business! I did not understand what strategies you talked about. I am better off as I am. Why are you giving me this so called strategic responsibility? I do not know anything about it. I am not educated enough!" she asked him in a small, weak voice. It was overwhelming for her. 

"Khushi, this is my wish! Call it my eccentricity or anything. But promise me you will keep in mind general well being of everyone associated and affected!" he held out his hand. She promised him.

"Will you promise me in turn that you will never ever neglect your health?" she asked him. He nodded and hugged her.

Papaji was satisfied with Khushi's acceptance. Khushi had suddenly become quiet. Papaji thought "three to go!" he smiled and switched off the recording. 

"Now tell me, what you are up to?" he asked her thumping on her back. "What?" she came out of the trance with a thud. 

"You tell me!" he asked her. "What are you going to do about your Shondeep Sir?" he asked directly.

She grinned. "You know! And I am happy that you are helping me!" she said giggling.
"No! I am not helping anybody!" he said 

"Oh yeah? Really? Not helping?" She mimicked him. "shondeep, you drop Anjali while going to the Airport!" sniggering. He grinned back. 

"Ms Kashyap, beautiful young lady!" she picked up his fake words and giggled. Papaji looked at her fondly and kept his hand on her head. He knew, Khushi will never let him down. He had taken a right decision. He did not know that soon the time will come to put her to test!

"Khushi don't let anyone come between you and your husband! Promise me!" he looked at her.
"And why will I do that?" she asked angrily. 

"Because you will ruin yourself while settling someone else's life" he said seriously.
"No papaji, I will not allow anything to come in between us!" she said.

"And another good news, I am getting discharged soon and Elsa is coming next week!" he declared.

*****  ***
"Arnav Puttar, listen to me carefully. And please do not interrupt!" Papaji opened up the topic when he asked Arnav to stay with him that night. Arnav was puzzled but he nodded.
"Here is my succession plan. I am putting you in charge, Purchase and Marketing of the entire group. I know this is duel responsibility. But you are capable of handling it! I know this is generally not done. But my experience tells me that if you know what you purchase, you will know what you produce. I know you are a task master and will keep tight control on the time lines. Shondeep is ...." Arnav gaped at him. Papaji played the same record of what he told Khushi about other three boys. 

"I have prepared the list of your responsibilities and you will handle it with full freedom" he said.

"Papaji.. I mean... Why? Raj can handle this. I can always help him. But why make me a part, when you have a successor?" asked Arnav.

"Puttar, it is my wish that you be a significant part of the group. I would like you to keep the AR group as a separate entity but I request you to take up this responsibility. I am sure you will handle this too!" said papaji. Arnav nodded.

"But papaji, why me? You have Raj, Shondeep, Khushi.... I mean .." Arnav's mind started calculating.

"I mean... does it not mean more than 50% control will be with me and Khushi?' he gave papaji the dangerous calculation. "Papaji.. this is almost transferring control! Why do you want to do it?" Arnav was puzzled.

"Arnav Puttar, tell me... do you think you will be able to influence her decisions?" Arnav thought for a while. .. and said "No! she will handle on her own in her own way!"

"And do you think she will influence your decisions?" asked papaji. "NO!" came the instant answer.

Papaji smiled. Arnav realized.

"Now the important disclosure! Any of you will not take any strategic decision without Khushi! You cannot go ahead without her signature" he gave him the list. Arnav's mouth fell open. Virtually Khushi had all the powers of the President. He was surprised at Papaji's decision. "It is ok, she is like his daughter, but she has no business knowledge. She doesn't even understand what is a strategy or a business policy! Then why is he giving her this power?" he was astonished and bemused. But he nodded.

"Promise me, you will look after BTR group the same way as you look after AR Group! The same way Tej would have looked after had he been alive!" said papaji. Arnav looked into papaji's eyes and said "I promise!"

"Papaji, you promise me that you will take good care of your health as you do with your BTR group!" Arnav asked him the promise. Papaji smiled.

"Arnav puttar, I have a reason to do all this. I know your potential and your integrity. I am sure the group will reach new heights with the able leadership of you four! You are a significant part of my group, my life!" papaji gave him a typical business talk for a long time about his vision, his philosophy, his ideas, his expansion plans and his retirement plans. Arnav listened to him carefully analyzing the scope of his responsibility. 

"Two to go!" thought Papaji switching off the recording and closing his eyes. Arnav could see the ocean of opportunities for BTR group. This would be challenge for him. He was excited to plunge into it.

****** ********* *******

Papaji was discharged next week and turning down everybody's request he went back to Kolkata with his wife. Elsa was there to take care of him. He had lot of things to catch up with. 

****** ****** **********
Arnav was about to leave for the office and the bailiff came with the summons for Anjali and Khushi to be present in the court. The attempt to kidnapping and murder had come up for hearing. Anjali and Khushi signed the paper with shaky hands. 

"This person Sham Manohar Zaa has been released on bail on a personal guarantee!" said the bailiff in a tone of giving the secret information.

"When?" Arnav was shocked. His lawyer had not given any information about this. 

"Yesterday!" came the answer. "But he has to report to the station everyday!" said the bailiff.
Arnav dialed his lawyer's number inserting a note in the bailiff's hand for his "Chai pani!". 

He could not reach his lawyer. He dialed the commissioner's number. The commissioner talked to him for a long time. As the time passed, Arnav looked relaxed and he actually smiled at the end of the conversation. Khushi gaped at him.

"Don't worry! Everything is under control!" he said. "Di, don't worry!" he held his Di's hand. She looked devastated at the thought of going to the court. 

Arnav and Aakash went to the office. Khushi sat with Anjali holding her hand not knowing what to do. Anjali was shattered. Khushi had gained self control but Anjali could not take it anymore. Khushi took her to Nani's room. Anjali could find some solace in her company. 

Khushi came back to her room and opened her laptop. She downloaded her to do list for the day and started working on the same. She looked into papaji's diary and noted down his schedules. He was not going to the office yet but had started his work from home. Raj was to visit him next week. Khushi dialed Shondeep's number. 

"Shondeep Sir. I saw the task list. Are you leaving for Mumbai tonight?" she asked. 

"Khushi, we need a thorough analysis of the losses we incurred in that blast. It would run into a couple of hundred crores. There were traces of other inflammable material in the warehouse of the Cotton Bales. This would put our insurance claim in jeopardy. I have to go there and supervise myself. You go through the documents and damage reports and find out the discrepancies. Give the list to me by evening so that I can carry it with me!" he ordered her.
"Ok Sir, I will do it!" she said. "Anything else?" she asked. 

"Nothing, but you will have to handle sir's meetings tomorrow. He has called the meeting of all the unit heads tomorrow. It will be a day long meeting. Please be there remotely and let me know later!" he said.

"Ok!" she said. "Khushi, is everything ok? Are you all well?' he asked her in a concerned voice.
"We are all ok, sir, but Anja..!" she started off cutting her sentence in between.

"What happened? Is she ok?" he asked her hastily. She grinned and said.

"What should I say? I mean we got a notice from the court to be present in the court " she said.
"Oh! Ok. I mean.. this must be very painful for her!" he said in a bear whisper.

"Is there anything I can do Khushi? Should I call her?" he asked simply. Khushi tried to control her snigger. And keeping her tone serious said "What can I say, Sir? May be she may feel better if you call her!" 

"Anyway, you decide what you want to do!" she said and disconnected. She controlled her urge to go to Nani's room and wait there for Anjali to get Shondeep's call. She started working on her task list.

********* **********

"Hello, Anjali, Good Morning! This is Shondeep!" called a voice on Anjali's cell. A faint smile appeared on Anjali's face. After the summons, first time she felt little better. Inadvertently, she got up and went out of the room to talk to Shondeep.

"Hello!" she said in a faint voice.

"Are you ok? Is everything alright?" he asked her in a soft voice.

"Ye...Yes! Got a summons to appear in the Court!" she said in a grave tone.
"It's ok, Anjali, nothing to worry. Its only your presence will be required. You need not do anything. Just go there, stand before the Court and come back! Nothing to worry!" he consoled her. She kept listening to his soothing voice.

"Anjali? Are you alright?" he asked her.

"Ye.. yes, I am fine! Feel better now!" she said actually smiling. Shondeep felt better too!

"Call me ...I mean if you ... I mean if there is anything I can do!" he told her hesitantly.

"Yes, Shondeep ji. Thank you!" she said genuinely. Shondeep disconnected the phone with a dimpled smile on his face. 

14

Shondeep and Arnav were in Avinash's cabin next day morning. Papaji had to be admitted to the hospital again in the night in a pretty bad condition! His urination was completely stopped. But later he had responded to catheter. The upstream symptoms were visible which would affect his bladder and kidneys. Papaji's biopsy reports had come in too! 

"Is everything ok?" Shondeep asked and Arnav waited for the answer with baited breath.
Avinash shook his head and said "There is a good news and a bad news!" 

Arnav gaped in shock. "What?" he blurted.

"No! The biopsy has ruled out cancer!" Avinash said gravely. "Oh!" said Arnav with a sigh of relief.

"But..." said Avinash
"What?" Arnav got up with a jerk. 

"He surely has benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and needs another surgery immediately!" said Avinash. "He must have had this problem for a long time!" he said.

"Dr. Avinash! What are we waiting for?" asked Shondeep. Arnav was incapable of taking in anything.

"The OT is getting ready" said Avinash. "Arnav, you need to sign the papers!" Arnav nodded.

"Arnav, I am staying back. I was supposed to go back by night!" said Shondeep. He took over and asked Arnav to go to Papaji.

Papaji was clearly in pain. He fainted frequently. Khushi sat there holding his hand. The hospital staff had started preparing him for the surgery!

"Khushi!" whispered Arnav. She came out.

"He needs another surgery!" said Arnav. "What?" she screamed.

"Shh, Khushi!" he said holding her hand. "Listen to me! I am calling Aakash and no one else. We have to take care of this ourselves. "I am not telling anything about this to mummiji!" he said gravely. She nodded. She kept praying her devi mayya.

********** *********

Papaji was brought in recovery room after the surgery. He was still unconscious. Avinash was with them throughout! Khushi paced restlessly. "Khushi! Sit at one place!" Avinash told her. "You are irritating others!" he said. "Avinash! I had warned you, it is your responsibility! Look what has happened now!" she accused him.

"Khushi.. stop it!" Arnav got up looking apologetically at Avinash. 

"Its ok! Arnav, I am to be blamed!" he said.

"Khushi... he will be alright! Don't worry!" said Avinash assuring her. She looked away.
"Avinash, if anything happens to him, I will not spare you!" she came on to him raising her finger.

"Khushi... relax.. nothing will happen!" said Arnav stopping her in the middle. She broke away with a jerk.

"Khushi, you go home!" ordered Avinash "And let me do my work!"
"No! I am not going anywhere!" she said
"Then keep quiet!" said Arnav making her sit on the chair.
After five hours, papaji was shifted to the private room to everybody's relief.
"Aakash, you go home and send Di, if possible!" said Arnav. Aakash nodded. Arnav wanted someone to be with Khushi.
Late in the evening, Khushi and Anjali reluctantly went home. Shondeep dropped them.
That night Papaji's condition further deteriorated. He was immediately shifted to ICU. He was put on ventilators, external respiratory system. Arnav and Shondeep waited sitting on the chairs outside the ICU ward.
Arnav's phone vibrated.. "Hello, Arnavji..!" it was Khushi. "Is everything ok?" she asked. Arnav had no answer. He looked at the time, it was 2.00 in the night. "Khushi, what made you call at this time?" he asked her.
"I am feeling restless! I want to see him!" she said quivering! Arnav kept mum. Shondeep had dozed off in the next chair. "Khushi.. everything is ok! Now go to sleep and come here early morning!" said Arnav disconnecting the phone.
Avinash walked in early morning. He went to talk to the doctors after talking to Arnav and Shondeep. Both of them were little relieved seeing Avinash. "Papaji was in safe hands now! "They thought.
****** **********
"Ok! Arnav, the double surgery has put him in more trouble! He should stabilize by this evening. I will come in the afternoon!" said Avinash. Arnav nodded. He dialed Khushi's number. She was about to leave home. "Khushi call me when you reach hospital!" he said. She called. He went and told her about his condition. She was shocked and panicked. "Shh! Khushi, calm down. He will be ok!" Arnav said. No visitor was allowed in ICU. They waited outside. She had brought them breakfast.
"Arnav ji, should we call Raj Bhayya here? I mean, we have taken up the responsibility... but!" Khushi did not know how to say that Raj was his son.
"No Khushi, let us wait for some time! I am in touch with Elsa! We will see and then may be..!" Arnav could not complete his sentence.
Nurse came calling him. "These, you should get now!" she gave him the list of medicines. He went away.
She said after a while, "Sir, Arnav ji, go home and have some rest. Payal jiji is coming. I will call you if need be!" said Khushi. She had composed herself and was in control. "But.." Arnav started off. "No! Arnav ji, go home!" she almost ordered.
**** ******** *********
They had managed the hospital duties. Arnav even went to office these days. Papaji was recovering. He, for a change, this time gave less trouble to the hospital staff and was listening to their orders. Shondeep was to leave in the night. Anjali and Khushi were in the hospital. Arnav came from Office. Lavanya was with him. Khushi smiled at her and greeted her.
"Hello Lavanya ji, how are you?" she asked. Arnav was talking to Shondeep. Anjali was sitting outside papaji's room. Lavanya greeted everyone and went to talk to Shondeep. Khushi looked around and entered papaji's room.
"Papaji.. Lavanya ji has come!" she said looking at him. "So?" he asked. "Nothing!" she said.
"Khushi, help me get up!" he orderd. Doctor had advised him to walk for some time! He came out holding Khushi's hand.
Shondeep saw him and came hurriedly. "What is it?" he asked. Papaji kept his hand on Shondeep's shoulder and said, "You drop Anjali beti to her home while going to the airport!" Shondeep nodded.
"hello Uncle? How are you now?" asked Lavanya. Papaji smiled at her. She got engrossed talking to Arnav and Shondeep. Anjali and Khushi took papaji inside. "Khushi, I want you to stay tonight with me!" his weirdness had come back. He was getting normal. Khushi nodded.
"Ms Kashyap, so you are all set for the fashion show!" exclaimed papaji. She was excited.
"Yes uncle. I mean I came specially for that. It is nothing like joining back AR Group and working with ASR again!" she said in excitement.
"Oh! That is great!" he said waving at her to sit on the chair. "You know, I am with AR Group in this"
Khushi flared up her nose. Papaji glanced at her and said, "Khushi puttar, why don't you and Arnav go and have coffee? I need to talk to this beautiful lady about the show!" Khushi stomped out. She came to Arnav and said "Papaji has ordered us to go and have coffee, while he talks about the show to Lavanyaji." Arnav was flabbergasted.
"I think I should leave now for the airport. I will drop Anjali on my way!" said Shondeep. He went into papaji's room. "Ok! Keep me in loop!" said papaji dismissing him summarily not giving him the chance to say bye! Shondeep came out shaking his head.
Papaji continued talking to Lavanya about the show. He frequently glanced at the door.
Khushi and Arnav came back after a while. "Anjali?" asked papaji. "Di went with Shondeep!" said Arnav. Suddenly papaji lost interest in the fashion show!
"I think it will get late. Lavanya, you should leave now!" said papaji. Lavanya looked at Arnav.
"Arnav puttar, the doctor said he will come for the round in 15 minutes!" said papaji.
"Lavanya, I will arrange a taxi for you! I should wait here to meet the doctor!" Arnav said.
"No! ASR, I will manage!" she said and went out.

***** ***
Anjali and Shondeep were in the car. Both of them had nothing to talk to each other. They had lost in their own thoughts. "Sir? Directly to the Airport?" interrupted the chauffeur.
"Hann? No! Shantivan!" said Shondeep glancing at Anjali.
"Its ok, shondeep ji, drop me at the next corner, I will go from there. You will get late!" said Anjali.
"No!" he dismissed.
"No! really, I mean Shantivan is not on your way. I will go from here!" she said picking up her bag, ready to get down from the car.
"No! I want to leave you at your place, Anjali!" he held her hand and left it immediately. For the first time he had lost his composure. She looked at him in surprise.
"I will drop you at your place and may be have a cup of coffee?' he asked her gaining his self control. She nodded smiling.
Shondeep met mummiji at home. "He is alright now!" he said. "I know, he keeps calling me!" said mummiji smiling.
"Madam, I am going back. Please call me if there is anything I can do!" he said getting up.
"Yes, sure Shondeep! And thank you for being so helpful in this crisis" she said with gratitude.
"Please, Madam.. no need to thank me!" he said feeling embarrassed. Anjali came in with the coffee.
"Thank you!" he took the mug from her.
Mummiji's phone rang. "Ok!" she said and disconnected.
"Khushi is staying in the Hospital and Arnav is coming home!" she declared.
"What? Alone?" asked Anjali. "Should I go?" she asked Naniji.
But mummiji answered. "No beti, Papaji wants her to stay!"
Everyone was puzzled. Shondeep took leave and went out. Anjali went to see him off to the door. He shook hand with her. She smiled.
He gave her his card and said "Anjali, call me, if there is anything I can do" she nodded. He went away.
Within five minutes his phone rang. "Hello Shondeep ji! This is my number!" came a sweet voice and Shondeep' s face brightened up, dimples visible on his cheeks, his ears grew pink! Anjali had given him a call back and her number.
Anjali was in Mummiji's room. She was fidgeting with the card. "Whose card is this?" had asked mummiji. "Ji? Shondeep ji gave me his card" she had said not knowing what to do with the card.
"Call him and give him your number! Reciprocate his good gesture, Anjali!" had prompted Mummiji. She did.
*** ******** **********
Arnav came home. "What about Khushi's dinner?" she asked him when he said he is hungry.
"Oh! She loves that canteen food sweeter the better and spicier the merrier!" he said. Payal smiled.
****** *********