8

The hot chocolate did the magic. Arnav kept looking at her beauty in bath robe and wet hair. She pulled out a dress, kept it back again.  Arnav gazed at her expressions..! His eyes twinkled…. "Khushi try out the dresses!" he said ready with the camera.

“Try out! Me? These dresses..! “ She thumped her palms on her hips and contorted in pain. 
“Oops!” he smiled blurting.  She cast an angry look and he smiled sheepishly for making fun of her pain.

“Do you think, I will ever wear these dresses? They are so tiny… I think she packed Meera’s Dresses…!” Khushi said frowning and Arnav looked away hiding his smile. 

“Just try them out…!” he said pulling out one at random from the bag.  She snatched it immediately looking at the translucent pink tiny top in his hand.  She hid it behind.  He pulled out another… She came on to him angrily, pulling the bag away from him.

“Stop pulling and looking at the dresses… hungrily…!” she scoffed stuffing them back into the bag. 

“Awaaa… “ she contorted her face in pain… He pulled her up… She kept her palms on her bums..

“Ohhh… Must be painful… Those bumps of the ride…!” He too tried to caress her bums and was pushed away immediately. 

“Stop it!” she said sitting on the bed with the support of a soft pillow, Arnav kept under her bums…!

“Khushi.. I want to see you in these outfits… Just for my sake?” he pleaded softly in her ears.  She reluctantly agreed… “Fashion world ka Shehazada, Arnav Singh Raizada..…!” she blurted with mock anger and he pulled her on him. 

“In that case.. .. I would love to see you without any….” He unbuttoned her top.  She pushed him away.

“Decide what you want, Khushi… Try out the dresses or  nothing on you…” he threatened.  She frowned.  “No!” she protested.  “Yes!” he forced her to agree.

She had tried out all the dresses Elsa had packed for her which otherwise she would never wear. Arnav's camera never stopped clicking. Every dress presented her more beautiful and breathtaking making him wanting to see her more and more.

She was at the mirror and Arnav was still in the bed when she said "Arnav ji! This really is a paradise. I am in heaven!" she turned and he smiled.

He picked up the camera from the table and started viewing the pictures. She peeped in. They both were lost in viewing the pictures taken.

"What? You took this picture? How could you do that?" she was shocked. "I requested the passerby." He said looking at the picture unblinkingly. "No no..! Please delete it. Please Arnav ji!" she pleaded.

"No!" he said. "Please?" she tried to snatch away the camera. He raised it above her head and said. "No, Khushi!" She looked at him nervously and said "What if someone sees it.. I mean this kiss..." she flushed enticing Arnav to kiss her again.

"There are lots of pictures like this!" he teased her grinning. She turned her face angrily and went away from him. He came from behind and said "Ok..! I will hide them away!" she turned around and smiled happily.

They were moving towards the cantons of Schaffhausen and Zürich. “Why are we going there? I have seen waterfalls…” she complained.  He looked at her in amazement.  “Have you seen a frozen one?” he asked her.  She looked at him all lost.  She had seen a few of them in India but the frozen one? She kept quiet. 

“Where is it? Where is the roaring sound?” she asked him suspiciously.  He smirked.  He took her to the viewers’ deck and pointed at the vast frozen waterfall… It looked like someone had painted the poster of a waterfall and a castle on the horizon.  She herself turned into a statue watching the panoramic picturesque beauty of  Rhein falls with the Laufen castle on the background.  She gaped at it for a long time… and then smile appeared on her face.  She turned excitedly.. Arnav held her shoulders from behind. 

“Itanii Saari  Ice cream..!” he whispered in her ears, her words..! She smiled sheepishly, blushing…! He grinned rocking her in his arms…!

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

They landed on the busy Kolkata Airport on 18th and papaji's car was waiting for them. The chauffeur took them home. Papaji was waiting for them at the door. He looked at his daughter's brightened up pink face and smiled broadly. Arnav's cheeks grew pink too. "Is this blushing or frost?" he asked hugging her fondly. She blushed more. They went in.

"Raj Bhayya? You are still here?" Khushi asked in surprise.

"I couldn't go Khushi, had to wait for you to return!" He said grinning. She ran to mummiji's room. She barged in and hugged her mummiji. Mummiji stroked her head happily.

"Thank you, Puttar! For taking her with you!" said papaji. Arnav came forward and said "Papaji, I still owe you one favor!" Papaji gave him a hard look and hugged him. Anjali and Lavanya were in the hall. Khushi and mummiji came out and Khushi asked

  "What? No breakfast? I am dying!" Arnav looked away in frustration. "She is back!" he thought. Anjali gave her a big smile and said "Khushi.. you are glowing. Your cheeks are red!" Khushi blushed.

"Oh! No Di, it's the frost. Now the skin will blacken and then the skin peels off!" Lavanya was a perfect spoil sport. Everyone looked at her. "Even Chote's cheeks have grown red!" said Anjali smiling.

"Same effect!" said Arnav and turned away.

"What? Skin peels off?" Khushi looked scared. She held her cheeks and looked at Elsa.
"Oh! Don't worry Khushi, we have creams for that. Nothing will happen! The sun rays even in winter are deceptive and harsh on the mountains!" said Elsa. "And Lavanya, stop scaring Khushi!" she said with mock anger. Lavanya laughed…!


"Umm... papaji.. I mean, I have to go back!" said Arnav once settled, after breakfast.
"I know. Even Raj and Elsa are leaving tomorrow!" said papaji. The thought of the empty house again gave him heart ache.

"Di, I have some urgent work. I feel you should stay here for some more days!" he said to papaji's relief.

"Yeah, that will be great!" said papaji.

"But Chote, I need to be there!" she avoided mentioning the police station.

"No need Di. It will take a lot of time! And I will send Aakash to pick you up whenever your presence is required!" he said.

"May be Lavanya can stay with you!" he said looking at Lavanya.

"No, ASR! I am so excited about the Fashion Show. I wish to return with you and join AR Group again!" she said not bothering about anything.

"But before that I need to go back to US for some days!" she said to everybody's relief.
"I will stay with you Di!" said Khushi looking at Arnav for support.

"Oh! No, Khushi! You are such a sweet girl. But really, no need. I will be fine. Papaji and mummiji are there.. I will stay over!" said Anjali looking at papaji and mummiji. Papaji gazed at her fondly.

"Papaji? Mummiji? Haan? Wow! That's great! Your family is getting extended day by day, Papaji!" Khushi came and hugged her papaji. "I welcome with open arms, Puttar!" said papaji embracing her.

"Ok! It’s decided! Arnav and Khushi will return tonight. Ms Lavanya will directly go to US from here. Anjali will stay with us for few more days and....!" He created the suspense...
"And what papaji?" asked Khushi impatiently...
"And .. Nothing!" papaji busted the suspense.

Khushi saw Shondeep walking in. "Shondeep Sir!" she exclaimed greeting him.

"Oh hello, Arnav and Khushi! You two look terrific!" he said smiling at them. Arnav shook hands with him.

"Arnav, we need to talk!" said papaji looking at Raj and Shondeep. The four of them went to the study. Khushi knew, they will come out only at lunch time.

After some time, papaji called Khushi in. She went and looked at four of them. All of them except papaji looked very serious but papaji was in jovial mood. He kept on cracking silly jokes. Khushi knew, something was very wrong!

"Khushi! Dad wants to retire by this June end!" said Raj.

"What? This year? But he said in couple of years in the press meeting!" Khushi was shocked. She looked at Arnav and Shondeep.

"Why? Papaji?" she came around behind the table where papaji was sitting relaxed. She shook him when she did not get any answer from him. "Why?" she screamed.

"Khushi... stop it! He wouldn't tell! We tried everything!" said Raj.

"Its hi time, Puttar, I must step down!" said papaji looking serious.

"No way! You are not doing that!" Khushi warned him raising her finger. She looked at him piercingly he avoided her gaze and looked away.

"Tell me! What is wrong?" she demanded. "You cannot avoid me!" she said.
"Nothing, Puttar... look at my age! I cannot handle everything now!" he said smiling.

"And when I have my young brigade ready to shoulder the responsibilities, why shouldn't i?" he asked her.

She looked at him suspiciously. For the first time she could feel the age on his face. She felt a knot in her chest. Then ... realizing something she started off

"You did not go to the doct..!"
"Shut up Khushi!" papaji roared. Everyone shuddered. Khushi's jaw dropped.

"You did not tell!" she accused. Papaji ordered "Khushi go out!"

"But you only called me in!" she said defiantly. "And.. Don't change the subject!" she came on to papaji threateningly. He was taken aback. She pulled out the drawer and took out the keys.

"No! Khushi! Don't you dare!" papaji roared. Arnav gaped at Khushi.

"Now I understood! Raj bhayya.."
"No! Khushi... you had promised!" papaji, getting up immediately pressed his hand on her mouth. She struggled. Everyone stood rooted to the floor in shock. They had not seen papaji like this. Papaji was clearly agitated and was angry with Khushi.

"Promise me!" he ordered. She nodded. He took out his hand.
She took his right hand and placed on her head. "Bless you!" he inadvertently said. She was out of his reach when she spoke.

"You have forgiven me for breaking the promise!" He gaped at her.
"Ok. Raj Bhayya.. he was to go to the doctor for some tests!" she said loudly.
"What?" came everyone's reaction.

"No! its nothing. I just felt little weak last month so ..!" papaji started off bleakly.

"Stop it, Dad! let me hear it from her!" said Raj getting agitated by this drama.

"Raj bhayya, last month, he had severe abdomen pain. He did not tell anyone. He had some other problems also. He directly went to the doctor not informing any of us. Actually when the doctor had called later that evening, I, by chance picked up the phone. He said papaji has to take some test for something.. I did not understand. .. He said he needs to rule out the possibility of something..prostege.. something.. Wait.. wait.. I will just get back!" she ran out with the keys.

Raj looked at his DAD thoroughly hurt. Papaji looked away with guilt. "Its..Nothing..just some indigestion.." he started of weakly. Arnav feared the worst. "Prostate..?" he thought. Shondeep had the same thought. They looked at each other.

"DAD, why didn't you tell me?" Raj had moist eyes. They waited for Khushi... papaji kept muttering

"Nothing serious.. simple stomach upset.. had urinary infection.." No one paid any attention to him.

Khushi came with the large envelop and a file. "See here, Doctor recommended some test, he has not done it. Some PSA.. " Said Khushi. "Or have you?" she turned to papaji and asked him. He looked away.

Arnav snatched the file and glanced. Raj looked at him with bated breath. He had no courage to look into the file. "Tests to rule out prostate gland can..." Arnav couldn't complete his sentence.
Raj sat on the chair with a thud. "And you did not take those tests, dad?" he was furious.

"No! I mean .. I will ... soon!" said papaji miserably.

Khushi came near Arnav. "What is that? What is in the report?" she asked trembling.
"Nothing Khushi, it is not a report! We have to get the tests done for his general health!" said Arnav looking at her.

"Oh!" she took a sigh of relief.

Shondeep placed his hand on Raj's shoulder. "Don't worry! We will get the tests done!" he said.

"Please.. Don’t talk about this to anyone.. Please!" Papaji pleaded miserably. "No DAD! But I am not going tomorrow!" said Raj seriously.

"See, Khushi... I had warned you!" roared papaji looking  enraged. She was frightened. "Has my haste caused damage again?" she thought to herself.

"It's not her fault." Arnav took her side. "Why didn't you tell us?" he asked papaji.
"And Raj, Don't cancel your plan. I will take care of this.!" Said Arnav turning to Raj.
"No!" said Raj. "Raj, we will let you know about the test reports" said Shondeep.

"Yes, that is right!" said papaji.

"You don't talk in this, DAD!" Raj roared back at his father. Khushi held his hand.

"Raj bhayya. He is right. Don't cancel. We will let you know!" she said calmly.

"DAD, tell me you have not done the tests!" asked Raj.
"No I haven't yet! But I was supposed to .. last week!" said DAD

"You had all the time and energy to pester us to go on honeymoon! And didn’t take the test!" Khushi was furious.

"Why is he doing this? The prostate gland cancer spreads faster than any other type. Why doesn't he understand? And why didn't Khushi tell me this?" Arnav thought gravely. He had to stay back.

"Ok! I am taking him to the hospital right now. Arnav and Raj do not cancel your travel! I will manage!" Shondeep took control and turned to papaji.

"You are coming with me right now!" he ordered him. Papaji nodded like a guilty kid.
"We are coming with you!" both Raj and Arnav said.
"Me too!" said Khushi.

"No! Khushi, stay at home!" all four of them said. She stomped in rage.

"umm.. Shondeep... I mean.. I don't want to take the tests in the Hospital which we patronize. I mean.. Take it somewhere else... if the news spreads... if something worst turns out... I mean... it will spread panic among the people in our company.... I mean.." Papaji pleaded. In this crisis also, he was thinking about his people in the companies.

“That’s why I want to hand it over to you… Stupid boys…!” he muttered infuriated.  The boys ignored him.

"I understand... I will take care of that!" said Shondeep calling the Doctor.

Within 10 minutes all four of them were out for some urgent business meeting. Khushi looked nervous and paced the room restlessly munching on something noisily,  irritating others. She was not bothered about anything. She was waiting for her papaji to come back.