11

"Am'ma, please... I am not ready yet!" Shondeep was pleading.

"When will you be? You are already 34!" she retorted back.
"Am'ma please .. I will tell you!" he held her hand. His father watched them.
"Come on! Am'ma, please.. not now!" he said looking away.

His mother had opened the topic after a long time. She had seen Lavanya's closeness to Shondeep and her dreams had cropped up again. She wanted him to settle down in life forgetting all the bitter experiences of the past. He was not ready yet. 

"Am'ma, please don't open this topic before anyone else... please!" Shondeep requested her. 

He remembered Khushi and how innocently she had asked about his family. A faint smile appeared on his face. "She would have definitely done that today also!" he thought. "And may be compelled me to spell out my choices!" he smiled.

"K…Khushi, should have been here. I would have told her!" his am'ma reflected his thoughts. His father laughed loudly startling them both.

"Stop it!" he said laughing. "This is all her work. She is trying to bring this MS Kashyap and you together!" he said. Shondeep was shocked. "How does he know?" 

"It is ok, if you want to take some more time!" he said and went out. Shondeep and his Am'ma kept gaping at each other.

********** ******** ********
"Hello Avinash, need to talk to you!" Arnav had called up. Avinash thought for a while and said "Lunch time, meet me at CCD... its mid way!" 
"Ok!" Arnav said disconnecting the phone.

At CCD (Cafe coffee Day) Arnav showed him papaji's file. He went through and said after a while.

"Arnav, this does not mean there is nothing to worry. In medical terms, 'Absence of proof is not the proof of absence!' though PSA is not elevated, it does not rule out the possibility. Biopsy can help us. May be we can combine this with Hernia surgery. He has to get it done as early as possible. I will recommend him to the best doctors and will supervise over! I am taking this file with me!" 

Arnav nodded. He thanked him for the information. He had to consult the others also. They both came out and went in different directions to reach their destinations.

Arnav came back to the office. His Income Tax case went on smoothly. His CA would take care of the process now. 

He had scheduled his Designers meeting in the evening. He left the meeting at six in the evening asking Aakash to continue and drove to the police station. He needed to know all the details about Shyam. 

"Your sister and your wife will be principal witnesses in this attempt to murder case. We are building up other cases under various counts of IPC. There will be a case coming up with Economic Offences Department. Your lawyer is gathering all the information regularly" The Police Inspector in charge gave Arnav all the information. Arnav came out dialing his lawyer's number. He assured him that he will take care of everything. 

He came late in the evening. He had kept his phone on silent mode. He saw an overseas missed call at 5.30 in the evening. Surprised, he dialed the number. It was Elsa at the other end. Arnav stopped his car aside to talk to her. "Arnav, is everything ok? Raj told me about Dad!" she opened the topic. "Raj is very upset!" she said.

"Elsa, I talked to Avinash and showed him the file. Papaji has to undergo surgery and Avinash recommended biopsy to rule out cancer. He will suggest the best doctors. I am waiting to hear from him" said Arnav.

"Elsa, tell Raj not to worry. I will take care!" said Arnav assuring her.

"I know, Arnav... it is one more burden on you with your own baggage..!" she said in a grave tone..

"But I am sure you will take care of this too..!" she said appreciating Arnav's efforts.
"Elsa, he is our papaji too!" said Arnav for the first time getting little emotional. "And please take care of kids and Raj... We will manage here..!" he said.

Elsa talked to him for a long time. He started his car and came home. Khushi was waiting for him. 

"Khushi, I need to call Shondeep, I will come for dinner in 15 minutes!" he said climbing stairs.

********** ********
He came back for dinner, looking little serious. Khushi did not ask anything but kept on glancing at him. 

"Bhai, the meeting went on well. Actually when you came and gave the instructions, the pieces started falling in places... the picture is more clear now!" said Aakash praising his big brother for his prudence. Arnav glanced at Khushi and nodded.

"We will talk about it later..Aakash! I have other pressing matters!" said Arnav.

"I know.. You don't want me to know anything about your so called falling in pieces..."She muttered..."I am least bothered. Even my pieces have started falling..!" she went on.

"What?" asked Aakash in astonishment looking at her. She stopped dead. "Nothing!" she said.
"She is trying to get information about our plans of the show, Aakash... remember she is a competitor!" said Arnav challenging Khushi.

"Why would I do that? We are going our way!" she said turning her face. Arnav and Aakash smirked. 

"Aakash, remember all our meetings will be in the office and no discussion at home!" ordered Arnav loudly.

"Yes Bhai!" Aakash supported him, pulling her legs. Khushi fumed, stomped out.

They were in the room. Khushi was still sulking and Arnav was restless. She opened up the ceiling and was gazing the stars. He did not know how to tell Khushi about Papaji. But he had to. He had a discussion with Shondeep and once the dates were fixed he needed to be brought to Delhi for surgery and biopsy. Shondeep had taken that responsibility! The major issues were how to tell this to mummiji and Khushi. Anjali was unaware of all these things. They had a long discussion and it was decided that Arnav would handle Khushi and Shondeep will take care of Mummiji with the help of Anjali. 

Arnav was pacing the room and Khushi was sitting on the recliner gazing up, lost in her thoughts. She kept glancing at Arnav frequently. "Arnav ji.." she started off but there was no response from Arnav. She kept quiet. At last Arnav mustered up courage and came and sat next to her.

"Khushi..!" he started gravely. "Why is he so tensed up? Is it the police case or the fashion show?" she was confused but did not speak. 

"Khushi.. I talked to Avinash today!" he said. Khushi looked at him with a question mark.
"I showed him papaji's file!" he held her hand. "What? What did he say? Everything is alright, right?" she grew panic. He shook his head.

"What?" Khushi screamed. "Shh! Khushi!" he whispered. 

"Khushi.. listen to me! Papaji needs a surgery. It is a minor one.. Nothing to worry about! But he needs it. I am bringing him here!" Arnav said. Khushi kept staring at him unblinkingly, shocked. 

He tightened his grip on her hand and said. "Khushi... he needs a biopsy!"
"What? What is that?" she asked. She sensed the seriousness though she did not know anything about it. He did not know how to tell her.

"Khushi, biopsy is done to see whether one has cancer or not!" he said it finally. There was a silence for some time..

"Papaji needs that biopsy? That means... he has cance...".. she chocked!
Arnav held her close and said "No! It is to rule out cancer!" She started weeping on his shoulder. 

"I .. I cannot...I don't.. he is... papaji!" she lost her control. Arnav stroked her head trying to pacify her. He allowed her to cry without uttering a word. Slowly her sobs subsided. She kept her head on his shoulder and then said. "Yes we will bring them here!" and suddenly looking up at him asked "Mummiji? Does she know about this?" Arnav shook his head.

"Shondeep and Di will tell her!" Khushi clutched her head. "Oh! God! Just now she has come out of that ... brain hemorrhage..! Oh God! Hey Devi Mayya, Protect us!" she prayed her devi mayya.

"Arnav ji! Everything will be alright. Nothing will happen to papaji! I know, Devi mayya will protect him! His good deeds will pay off!" she cupped Arnav's face and looked in his eyes for support. He nodded and said "Yes! Everything will be alright!" 

They both held on to each other tightly supporting each other and fell asleep on the recliner.
Arnav woke up early in the morning. Khushi was talking over the phone. He knew whom she was talking to.

"Ok! Avinash, it is your responsibility... Nothing should happen to my Papaji, understand?" she was threatening him. Arnav smiled. 

"Khushi...!" he called out. She came. "Its only 6 in the morning, Khushi, why did you call him so early?" he asked her.

"I called everyone. Raj bhayya, Shondeep sir and papaji!" she said. "Now get up and get ready!" she ordered him.

****** ******** **********
It was nine in the morning when Arnav called his Di.

"Di, papaji has some health problem. Shondeep will talk to you. You need to talk to mummiji!" he said gravely and narrated the problems. She sounded thunderstruck. But later on she recovered.

"Chote, I will handle it. I will bring them to Delhi. Don't worry!" his Di assured him.
She saw Shondeep walking in. She smiled at him. 

Mummiji was surprised to see Shondeep. Papaji greeted him with a broad smile and said "Khushi had called up early morning to wake me up!" Shondeep smiled, and said "She did!"
Papaji looked around and said "Biwi, I think we have to go to Delhi" Mummiji looked surprised.

"You know, mummiji, Khushi is worried about papaji's health and she has taken Doctor's appointment" said Anjali. Shondeep nodded.

Mummiji looked at everyone and said "Tell me the truth. What is wrong with him?" She looked at Shondeep and asked "And why are you here?"

"Biwi... you know last month I had stomach problem. Its Hernia and I need a surgery!" said papaji.

"Nothing to worry! My father went through that surgery some ten years back! And he is fit and fine!" said Shondeep, looking at Papaji. He nodded.

"Only this? No other problem?" she asked suspiciously. They all nodded.

"Ok!" said mummiji gravely. "When are we leaving?" she asked.

"As early as possible!" said Shondeep. "So far so good!" thought papaji. "Once I reach there, Khushi and Arnav will take care of her and tell her about other complications!" he thought.
"Don't worry mummiji, everything will be alright!" said Anjali holding her hand. "We are all there!" she said. Shondeep kept looking at her admiring her. "She has left her sorrows behind assuming this responsibility!" He thought.

Mummiji seemed to have taken it bravely. Everyone took a sigh of relief.

******** ************** **************
Next day Khushi had a meeting with her team. The designers and creative team was present and contributed towards the ideas and themes. Lot of progress was done and Khushi was happy with the development. When the meeting was over, Khushi asked Raghu to stay back. When Raghu was alone in the conference room she said, "Raghu ji, we have a friend who is ready to help us. She is in Kolkata for another three four days. You may have to go and meet her, before she leaves for Delhi!"

Raghu looked confused. "She?" he asked. "Mrs. Balwindar Singh!" said Khushi secretively. "What?" he asked surprised.

"Raghu ji, look! Mr. Balwindar Singh is with AR Group for this event. I mean he is not actively involved, but he is supporting. So we have to be careful. Mrs Balwindar Singh is ready to help us conceptualizing the show. You need to co ordinate with her. Go and meet her!

"Ok! He said clasping his palms. "This is interesting!" he thought. He had met her before at the party, but had never interacted with her. "I know, she is a great source of ideas to sir.. Now let me see what kind of help she offers us!" he thought smiling. He was little skeptical about the usefulness of the help from the old lady.

Khushi gave him her number and asked him to go and meet her.

********* **********
She was happily humming and shaking her leg when Arnav entered the room. He looked at her. She gave him a broad smile and took his bag from him. 

"You look happy!" he looked at her suspiciously. She nodded. "So... all set for the competition?" he asked teasing her. 

"Can't I have any other reason to be happy? Or you are scared of the competition?" she asked him standing up to him. He looked at her with a glint and said "Its AR Group's Show and Arnav Singh Raizada is the head!" 

She twisted her nose and turned her face. He clasped  her nose between his fingers. "What was that for?" he asked her. 

"Ouch! It hurts!" she said freeing her nose from his clasp.  He pulled her in a bone crushing embrace.  “Awaa..!” She moaned in pain.  He released her not until she allowed him his due ‘vasuli’.  

"Now freshen up and come down for dinner!" she said going out of the door.