3

Khushi got ready to go to the police station with Di who looked tensed up. Khushi brushed aside her grim thoughts and smiled at everyone. Arnav and Raj took the front seats and Khushi and Di at the back. They drove to the police station. Arnav stopped the car away from the station and waited. His lawyer crossed the road and came over.

"We need to talk before we go in!" he said. They all got down and went into a restaurant nearby.

Arnav had not told about Sham’s counter complaint to Anjali.
"Look, Mrs Anjali and Mrs. Khushi, there is a counter complaint. I have to check… whether he has filed FIR.  If he has, then we have to apply for bail. "
Anjali was unable to understand anything. “Why do we have to apply for bail?” She looked lost. Khushi nodded holding Anjali's hand. She too was very nervous.
"He has filed a complaint after he got discharged this morning. I checked up with the inspector. Mr. Balwindar Singh has talked to the Police Commissioner. Let me go in first and see the status and then I will call you!" he said looking at Raj. They all nodded. Raj went with the lawyer.

“What is going on? What counter complaint?” Anjali looked at her brother questioningly.
“Di… He has filed a complaint saying we tried to kill him…!” Khushi spoke gravely.
“What?” Anjali was shocked.  Then she shook her head in realization.  “I… I shot him..!” she said guiltily.  Khushi gaped in shock.

“No Di…! He tried to kill me, you..! We just defended ourselves…!” Khushi said gripping Anjali’s hand.  But Anjali again had lost it.  She felt guilty…! Khushi didn’t know how to convince Di.

“Di… Just keep quiet, Ok? I will handle it..! And trust me… You did nothing wrong…!” Arnav came to Khushi’s rescue.  She felt better when Anjali nodded.  He looked at Khushi assuring her that nothing will go wrong…!

Arnav ordered tea for everyone while they were waiting. This wait was killing them. Anjali was on the verge of breaking down. Khushi somehow had mustered up some courage and was putting up the brave face.

The lawyer called up. "Look Mr. Arnav Singh, he has not yet filed a written complaint against Mrs Anjali and Mrs Khushi. He has applied for bail. I have to apply for the anticipatory bail for these two. We have to see that his bail application gets rejected. I have talked to the In charge and given our written statement about the incident.
" Mrs. Anjali and Mrs Khushi should sign the papers in front of the Police Station in charge." He talked for a long time with Arnav. Khushi stared at Arnav gauging his reactions.

"Ok! We have to go!" said Arnav. He held his Di's hand and said "Di! The statement is ready. Please read through and sign on it. Ok? You don't have to do anything else. No one will ask you any questions. Don't worry!" he said looking at Khushi.

They entered the Police Station. Khushi was entering the police station for the first time. She was sweating and fidgeting. The situation was so tense that even Arnav wiped the sweat off  his forehead. He shook hands with the Inspector in charge.

"Sit!" Inspector gestured at the chairs. That too was against the Police rule of sheer arrogance. He knew the reach of these people. He had orders from his higher ups. He kept the complaint register in front of them and said.

"Don't worry! His complaint is not yet filed. We had his arrest warrant and he is in our custody. Tomorrow we will ask for a remand and make sure all his crimes are brought up on record. Please sign on the statements" Anjali and Khushi nodded and looked at the lawyer. He gave them the copies of their individual statements.

Both of them scanned through the contents unable to understand anything. Raj took the statement from Anjali and scanned through. "Sign on it!" he said looking satisfied. Khushi was still reading every word. She had described the incident to Arnav and he had relayed it to the lawyer. The narration had to match with the Panchnama of the crime scene!" She signed on the statement.

"Technically speaking, you cannot leave the town and will have to report to the police station on demand. But I have received instructions to allow you upon your affidavit. So please sign on this too!" said the inspector. The Lawyer produced the copies of the Affidavit too!

They came out. Raj had already gone out and had brought the car near the station making sure no reporter was lurking. Arnav took Khushi and Di and hurriedly sat in the car. Raj drove away. No one talked in their return journey. Khushi's mouth had gone dry and she felt hungry. Anjali had closed her eyes. They came home.

"Khushi! We have tomorrow evening flight!" said Raj.
"Raj bhaiyya, I will come only if Di is coming with us!" she said looking at Anjali.
"No! I am not going anywhere!" came Di's first reaction.

"So no question of me going anywhere!" said Khushi closing the issue. Raj gaped at her. Anjali had gone to her room. Arnav followed. The siblings had a long talk in the room while Raj waited in the hall with bated breath. Khushi had gone to her room to change.
Arnav came out with Anjali and said "Di is coming!"

Oh! That's great!" said Raj. "Khushi...!" he called out loudly. She came down. "You are coming!" he said placing his hand on Arnav's shoulder. She looked at her husband. He smiled faintly.

"Where is Lavanya ji?" asked Khushi.
"Oh! She went to her friend's place and staying over!" said Nani.
Raj went back. Nani solved the problem saying "Anjali bitiya will stay with me tonight!" Anjali nodded.

Ram Prakash laid the table .  They gathered at the table…

"You know what? That police station gave me a spooky sensation! As if I was watching some kind of horror movie! A haunted House or something…!" said Khushi while others were having dinner. Everyone looked at her startled.

"That Inspector, those constables were like demons with scary mustaches and huge belly! I felt like anytime their tummy would burst like a balloon!" she said sending waves of laughter. Arnav gaped at his wife.

"I know her condition in the Police Station and now... she is describing it like a movie story..! How can she do that? How can she look at the same grim situation differently?" he wondered smiling at her. She winked and glanced at Anjali. She had a smile on her face. Arnav felt like getting up and hugging his wife.

She had already started mimicking the inspector and his deep husky voice while serving the food. Everybody started laughing and asking her for more.
"Enough now! Khushi bitiya go and get your plates and have dinner!" ordered Nani hinting that the dinner was over.

Khushi helped Payal to clean the table while Arnav and Aakash sat on sofa discussing the day in the office and the "To Do" list for tomorrow.

They both went to their room. Arnav opened his new wardrobe to take out the clothes. He remembered the box. He felt exposed “Damn Khushi…!” He clenched his fists angrily.
“What?” Khushi asked him confused.  He looked away frustrated… “Nothing…!”

He changed and went to bed turning his back on her. She kept staring at his back lying on the bed. She kept her hand on his shoulder after a while. He jerked away.

"Arnav ji!" she said softly. He did not respond, still morose with her. She knew he was awake and did not want to talk to her. She got up from the bed and came around to his side. She sat on the bed.

"Arnav ji!" she called out. He opened his eyes.
"You  know? I had nothing with me when I left this place a year back?" she said seriously. He looked puzzled.

"I had nothing of you except for that black thread you tied around my neck. You at least had something ...though broken.. to look at! I had nothing. Not even a single photograph of yours. Can you imagine…How much I craved for a tiniest souvenir? How did I spend the year? I only had to imagine you going to the office, yelling at Aman sir, shouting at people around, shaking hands with clients, closing the deals, coming back from office with Aakash ji, having dinner, sleeping with face down....! I had nothing to look at. Only to dream about you! No souvenir... nothing. " she said looking at him intently. He had sat up.

"You know, when I opened your cupboard and saw my things hidden in the cupboard, I was overwhelmed. I collected all of them and kept them in the box where you had hidden that saree! I know you didn't like me touching your things. I know you are upset! But ..."

"Wait!" she said! She went and got a scrap book. Arnav's eyes followed her. She opened it. She had stuck his photos from the news paper cuttings. She had collaged them neatly. He looked at her in surprise. "I was not lucky to have anything of you when I went away! Arnav ji, I couldn't even dare writing your name in this book!" she said closing the book again.

"Khushi..!" Arnav took the book from her and keeping it aside hugged her resting his head on her shoulder.

** **

"Arnav ji! Get up! Its already eight!" She was waking him up.

"What?" he opened his eyes! She was looking fresh and beautiful. He looked at her. She was pulling his hand. He smirked and gave it a huge tug! She fell upon him. He wrapped his arms around her. "Hmm!" he said with a satisfying pleasure!

"Arnav ji... Di..!" she said in a whisper.
"What? What happened to her?" he immediately released her and got up with a jerk.
"Nothing... She is fine!" said Khushi reaching the door and teasing him. He threw away his blanket and got up. Hectic day was ready to embrace him.

Arnav came down for breakfast. Aakash was waiting for him. "bhai!" he said holding out a folded news paper. Arnav took it and kept it on his laps. He had his breakfast silently and went to his room. Aakash followed.

"The news is out!" said Aakash gravely. "I expected so!" said Arnav opening the news paper. Aakash pointed out at the news. Arnav read it.
"Aakash, it is a toned down news, very mild compared to the scoop they had to blow up! Its only like another news. Thank god!" said Arnav keeping the paper aside. "We have to read the other papers too" he said opening the laptop.

"Aakash, anytime the news will be blown up! We have to be careful!" said Arnav seriously.
"Di seemed to be ok today!" he said remembering the morning incidence with Khushi and smile appeared on his face.

"Bhai, it’s good that you all are going to Kolkata tonight! Di will be away for some days! And don't worry! I will mange here!" Aakash sounded very mature and confident. Arnav placed his hand on Aakash's shoulder.

"Aakash, I know, that will be very hectic for you! But I will manage most of the things remotely!" said Arnav looking at his younger brother. Aakash nodded. "Don't worry bhai! I will manage!" he said assuring Arnav that he is capable of handling the matters.

"Aakash, if everything goes well, I intend to keep Di in Kolkata for some more days! May be lavanya or Khushi will stay with her!" said Arnav thinking.

"Yes Bhai!" said Aakash getting up. "I got to go Bhai!" he said.
"Wait! I am coming with you!" said Arnav getting up too.
They went to the office together.

Khushi did not leave Anjali alone even for few minutes. She packed her bag and kept ready. She gave her medicines in time and helped Nani in her pooja.

Lavanya came at lunch time. Khushi told her about their Kolkata trip.
"Umm.. Chamakili! Um.. I mean. I feel awkward .. !" she said.
"Why? I mean all of them have invited you!" said Khushi unable to understand her awkwardness. And Di is also there." She said. Lavanya agreed reluctantly to come with them for a couple of days and then she would return.

"We too are returning after a couple of days!" said Khushi.
Arnav and Aakash did not come for lunch. In the evening Raj and his family came to pick them up.

Tej looked around and asked "where is uncle?"

"He hasn't returned from office!" said Khushi. She too was waiting for him. She had packed his bag but was not sure about his choice. She saw Arnav walking in.
He smiled and lifted Taj and came into the hall. Everyone else was ready.

"Arnav ji!" Khushi whispered. "Packing..?" she looked at him.

"Oh yeah!" said Arnav heading towards his room. Khushi followed.
"I have packed your bag but..!" she started off.
"You need not do all these things, Khushi, I can manage!" he said. He pulled out the clothes from the bag and started repacking. Khushi was furious. "I had packed them.. What was the need for taking them out?" she stood there thrusting her hands on her hips.

He looked at her. "What? I wanted to see what all you have packed! Where are my toiletries? Shaving kit?" he asked her pointing out lacuna in her packing.

"Shaving kit?" she yelled. "Why do you need that kit? When you don't bother to shave" she said

"Your stubble pricks!" she muttered. "Excuse me? What did you say?" he asked her straightening himself up.

"Nothing!" she said turning her back on him. He caught her and rubbed up his cheek against hers and asked "What?"

She broke apart holding her cheek. He smirked. "Why is your other cheek growing red?" he asked her closing the gap between them with mischief in his eyes. She looked at him and tried to push him away. He did not leave her.  “Vasuli…!” he whispered….