28

Papaji was pondering over the information. Dasgupta had called up that night and had given him some vital information. He was scrutinizing the old inheritance papers of Arnav Singh Raizada, with his Thakur linage! All his inherited property was in litigation. When Dasgupta's office traced back the original owner of the property, in most of the title deeds, the landed property belonged to Maliks, from Lucknow! This included Sheesh Mahel too! The properties got transferred somewhere between seventy and eighty years back to Thakurs in Kanpur! 

"Find out about this Malik family!" Dasgupta had suggested. "They might create problems later on! There are no sale deeds!" 

"Balwindar, by the current market rate, these properties will fetch the Thakurs a thousand crore of Rupees! The Malik's seemed to be the princely family!" added Dasgupta. 

Papaji had investigated further the inheritance of the property from Maliks to Thakurs!! There were lot of missing links and mystery . Papaji needed an inside story from someone from Maliks or Thakurs! 

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

"Khushi...! Buwaji had called up. The shop is ready with renovation. The new owner has invited us all for the opening ceremony!" said Payal excitedly. Khushi was more than happy.

"Khushi, you and Arnav ji can go!" said Payal considerately. She knew what Khushi went through and wanted to give her some relief.

"No jiji, you and jijaji should go!" said Khushi resolutely. You have been tied up to home for a long time. Now you should go and meet Amma babuji! Said Khushi dreamily remembering her Lucknow!

Arnav and Aakash came home. Payal and Khushi talked about their plans and it was decided that Payal and Aakash would go for the ceremony. Khushi came to her room humming merrily. Arnav gazed at her. She looked around for her book and then remembering that Arnav tore it off muttered "The nice book I had.. he had to tare it off!" she looked angrily at him.

"What?" he asked her flaring up his nose. "Nothing! You tore my book!" she said angrily. He shrugged and continued working. 

"Don't grumble in your sleep!" Arnav warned her. 

"Don't wake me up, even if I do!" she snapped back. She drew blanket over her head. Arnav sighed.

"Silver locks and keys!?" the girl looked at the pair of locks and keys in amazement. The tall boy nodded. 

"Real Silver?" she asked again with wide eyes.
"Why? You want me to get gold ones?" he asked getting irritated.
"Can you?" she asked with surprise on her face.
"Yes! Do you want me to?" he snatched the locks from her hand and turned to leave.

"No!" she held his hand. "I thought you would get those brass ones which are available here!" she said smiling.
"You are very rich! Haan?" she said patting the boy on his back. He moved away glancing at her angrily. 

"Enough! Tell me what you want to do with this?" he asked her getting irritated.
They were at the back side of the Darga, sitting under the tree. The quawalls were singing with manjiraas accompanying! 

"You know! This place is so cool! See? No one is around!" she said dreamily shaking her legs. He did not answer.
"You know people come here to ask favors for themselves, always!!" she said looking at him.
"I know!" he said looking impatient. "Tell me what to do!" he ordered her.

"Wait.... !" she held his hand. He freed himself with a jerk and said "I am going!"
"No.. wait! Sorry!" she said apologetically.

"You know people ask for favors from God! But I am going to ask favor for you!" she was serious. She looked into his eyes. "And I will ask for you!" said the boy holding her hand.
They looked into the locks and keys on their palms. "Come on... let us go!" he started dragging her over... he left her behind while striding up the stairs!!

"Wait.. wait... I am coming!!" she screamed ...

She got up from her bed with a jerk. "Arnav ji!" she muttered looking at his side. He was fast asleep. She snuggled by his side putting her arm around his waist; The locks and keys still lingering in her mind. "Why do I remember these dreams so vividly?" she wondered. 

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

"Dada..!" Ramani had called up to give his update!
"Ramani... I am giving you vital information! Listen to it carefully and get the information to join the dots!" said Dada sternly.

"Ok! Dada!" said ramani in a small voice.

"Look, I want to know how the property got transferred to Thakurs! One of the Thakur's girl was married to Maliks. She had two elder brothers. Then after some years ... these families turned into enemies... I want to know what happened in between. Look I tried to find out the genealogy. But the links are missing" said Dadai.

"Dada.. I want to tell you that only. That Thakur girl who married to Malik died early giving birth to her son. Her son was adopted by one of the Thakur after some years. Her elder brother who was issueless adopted this child. The younger brother had children. 

"Ok. This makes sense, Ramani! The Malik boy was adopted by Thakurs! Ok. But why did the property got transferred over a period of time? You have to find out!" said papaji.

"Yes, dada! This man seems to have lost his mind. He is serving for brutally killing two people in a fit of rage!" said Ramani. He is that adopted boy's nephew!!" Ramani provided the information. 

"He keeps muttering and screaming if we open the topic of his family. He is an addict!" said Ramani.

"Ramani, go ahead and find out! You have little time left!" said papaji and disconnected.

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

Aakash was waiting in the car to take Khushi and Anjali to the Court. Arnav was on business tour and could not make it. Khushi got ready. Anjali was about to leave. She came to Khushi's room. Khushi was opening her laptop.

"Khushi, we need to leave!" said Anjali.

"I know! Just one minute. I will pass on an important message to Shondeep Sir and close!" she said in a hurry. 

"Hello, Shondeep Sir, I talked to the administrative officer of the Mill. They have scheduled the meeting next month 2nd of May. " She gave the information. Shondeep nodded.

"Shondeep Sir, Di is here!" she said in a whisper.

"Anjali Di! Shondeep Sir! Talk to him and come down!" she said and went out of the room.
"Hello, Anjali!" Shondeep smiled. Anjali reciprocated.

"All the best! Keep your cool! Anjali!" he said with his voice cracking.
"Yes!" she said resolutely. He smiled.

"Anjali, remember, we all are with you!" he said. She nodded.

"Anjali, let me know what happens! And be brave!" he said in a deep voice.
She smiled. He logged off!

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

Anjali's deposition continued. She had done well this time. She tried to tie up all lose ends and make her statements sensible. The lawyer looked satisfied. Sham kept smirking. He was comfortable with the police around. It seemed that he had established rapport with them too by his deceitful fake behavior! Khushi controlled her temper whenever she saw him grinning and sniggering. Sometimes he jeered looking at Anjali with his lawyer. Khushi clenched her fists.
Anjali's deposition concluded. Next week would start with their cross examination. 

"These are the copies of your statement. Keep reading those. Your answers should not deviate from your statements." Said the lawyer. They both nodded. But going through the same trauma and remembering the same events was torturous. They both put off reading those statement documents. 

They went to Mandir while coming home. 

"Hello, Raani Saheba!" came a sly voice. Sham stood there folding his hands on his chest.
"How dare you!" Khushi couldn't control her temper.

"This is a public place, Khushi ji!" said Sham disdainfully curling his lips.
"Di.. let us go!" said Khushi holding her hand.

"Haan Haan.. wait a minute! Raani Saaheba, my things are still in Shantiwan. I will come and collect them!" he said taking a step ahead.

"We will send it through someone!" said Khushi moving away from him. She saw Aakash coming over and said loudly..

"Aakash Jijaji, he wants his luggage back. Ask the police inspector to come and collect it. There might be something important for the cases!" Sham looked furious. He backed off when he saw Aakash coming over. 

Anjali was unable to move. The mask of her brave face had vanished. She again looked miserable. They came home. Anjali was still trembling. Khushi gave her hot milk and said "Di! Talk to Shondeep Sir, you will feel better!" 

"No! Khushi! I am alright. No please don't call!" Anjali pleaded.

Khushi looked at her and said "Ok! Di!" 

Khushi came back to her room. She was upset too. Arnav ji was out of town. Sham had grabbed this opportunity. Khushi had a lot of work to do. But she was not able to do anything. She was fuming pacing up and down the room. She sat on the chair by the pool side.

"Calm down, Khushi... Control!" she told herself. "You have to keep cool! You have to take care of Di also!" she kept reminding herself. 

Something was stirring up in her mind. She felt a surge of pain in her stomach. What was that? She felt dizzy. And then she had to run to the bathroom. Then the bathroom visits never stopped for next few hours. Nani gave her medicine. She had a food poisoning. 

"What did you eat?" kept on asking Nani. Khushi could not recollect what she ate different than other people. "May be that Sham's face made me sick!" she thought to herself disgusted!

"If your diarrhea does not stop, I will have to call the doctor!" declared naniji. 

Khushi was down for next couple of days. Nani compelled her to take rest. Lot of her work was pending. Arnav still had not come back. She did not have her favorite hindi novel with her. These two days were boring. Khushi had to take rest. She was waiting for Arnav to come back.
Khushi was at the table when Aakash entered talking over phone. "Haan, bhai! Sent it! ... Yes Bhai! Yes Lavanya has left. She will reach in couple of hours! Yes .. Bhai... I have sent them with her!" He was talking to his bhai. Khushi looked at him curiously. He had attached a blue tooth to his ear, he had grown stubble, his stride was like his bhai.."Is he following his bhai's footsteps?" Khushi wondered.

"No Way! What will happen to Jiji then?" she blurted.

"What?" Aakash stopped and asked. She bit her tongue and said "Nothing... Jijaji, you carry on!" 

"Yes Bhai... No, Khushi ji is here!..." he went to his room. 

Khushi sat there for a while waiting for Aakash to come out. He did. 

"Aakash jijaji? Where did Lavanya ji go?" she asked with curiosity.

"Oh! She went to Mumbai to help bhai!" he said. "We are sending our designs to one of the shows in Mumbai!" he provided further information. Khushi nodded. She went into the kitchen. Payal was preparing Samosas! 

"Jiji? Samosas?" she picked up one. "No Khushi! You are not well! " said payal slapping on her hand. The samosa flew and landed in the boiling oil again splashing the oil. Khushi screamed. It splashed on her hand.

27

"Dada... lots of cross connections!!" said Ramani excitedly.

"What?" asked papaji irritated.

"Dada.... I got information... very complex... !" he said incoherently, and continued. Papaji listened to him intently. 

Getting information from that Malik, serving life sentence was important for papaji. Ramani knew its importance. He knew, only he can do it and not any of his men. The information got to be confidential. He planted an extortion drama and put himself under police remand to be sent to Tihar Jail. Within no time he established rapport with Malik offering him the luxuries he craved for in the Jail. 

"Dada... I have Thirteen more days here. Then I will be presented before the Court. I will manage. But I will get all the information and get back to you!" he assured Dada.

"So Arnav has roots in Malik family!" thought papaji. "And Khushi...?" he was to find out.

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

Anjali's deposition had started. She was going through the same trauma Khushi went through a couple of weeks back. Khushi had regained her composure, though she remained very quiet and did not talk to anyone. But somehow she was pulling herself away from Arnav. Arnav tried to talk to her in vain. Lavanya was adding to the problems by calling him at odd hours. Arnav was losing his patience. Khushi kept herself away from him. 

The lawyer had warned Anjali that her deposition should match Khushi's. The discrepancies would lead to more doubts and more grilling questions in the cross examinations. She tried to be calm and composed but sometimes during her deposition lost her control over her emotions and blurted the things she ought not to have said. Every time she lost control, Sham had curled up lips and a smirk. Khushi accompanied her everywhere. 

Arnav had started consolidating on his properties. He had invested a lot in real estate for more returns. That was proving to be a bad move. All his self earned properties were in joint ownerships with either Aakash or Anjali. He had to separate it out from Anjali now. Lot of money was involved in deleting Anjali's name from the properties and putting him as sole owner. Capital gain tax was another burden.

His inherited properties were in litigation. He had not bothered about them. He had no interest in those properties except for Sheesh Mahel and he had got that. 

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

Khushi was in her room in the afternoon reading the novel. She dozed off. 

A girl and a tall boy were in the mandir holding hands. The girl was talking and giggling. The tall boy only gaped at her.
"What?" she asked waving her hand before his eyes. He held her hand and asked "What if we get separated?" she was shocked.
"Why? Who will separate us?" she asked. "Amma!" he said turning his back on her. He started descending the stairs... she ran after him. She tripped over the stairs and screamed!

"Arnav ji....!" Screamed Khushi waking up from the dream only to find herself on the floor! She got up sweating. She had started dreaming during day time also. She slapped herself "Khushi.. control! This is not done! It was only a dream!" she stood in the room gazing at the pool and went down to the kitchen.

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

"You know... I had a dream in the afternoon!" Khushi was telling Arnav in the evening when he was having his tea in their room. She badly wanted to share it with someone.

"Khushi... stop reading those books!" Arnav screamed grabbing her shoulders and gripping tightly. She was hurt..

"Ssss.. Arnav ji it hurts!" She said trying to free herself. "It should, Khushi! Learn something worthwhile!" He said angrily. He left her and dialed a number.

"Shondeep, give her more work. Give her at least ten hours of work every day!" he almost ordered. Shondeep was puzzled.

"What?" he asked bewildered. "Give her work, Shondeep, ... she keeps reading those stupid Hindi novels... and gets nightmares!" he was agitated and annoyed.

"Ok.Ok! Easy..! I will give her enough work!" said Shondeep.

Khushi was listening to all this. "Why? Why did you tell him?" she snatched the phone from Arnav's hand.

"You left me no choice, Khushi!" said Arnav grabbing her and snatching the phone back from her. She was furious! He kept the phone on the table. 

"Khushi.. You can work in my office!" Arnav suggested. She shook her head. 

"Why would you want to hire a brainless female in your office?" she asked him disdainfully. He had said that once to her. He was enraged. "Why does she have to remind me of all those things?" he stared at her. He turned his back on her and went out of the room.

"See? I am still a brainless git for this brainy Arnav Singh Raizada!" she muttered angrily and followed him.

His phone rang and she turned and picked up the phone. It was Lavanya! Khushi's rage mounted to the peak. She wanted to disconnect the phone. "Hello...!" she said

"Chamakili, hi... what are you doing with ASR's phone?" asked Lavanya. She was oblivious to Khushi's state of mind.

"Yeah, you are right. What am I doing with his things?" she said and went down to hand over the phone.

"Lavanya ji!" she said holding out the phone. He took it from her. She turned her back on went back to her room.

He followed talking over the phone. "Yeah, Lavanya! Don't worry, I will be there! No, I will handle it!" he said opening his laptop. Khushi sat on the bed flashing angry looks at Arnav. He kept the phone aside and said "I need to leave for the office early, tomorrow! Got some urgent work. Lavan...!"

"I didn't ask you about your work. So no explanation is required!" she snapped him cutting him off.

"What?" he gaped at her. "Why are you upset?" he was angry now.

"Who said I am upset. I am perfectly alright. You go ahead with your work!" she said and went out of the room leaving Arnav puzzled.

***** 

Anjali was experiencing hell. She had problems with her deposition. It dragged for weeks together and she kept on losing her control. Lawyer was not happy. He had to intervene in between and beg for a break. She seemed to be  inconsistent in her statements breaking down emotionally. 

"Look Mr. Raizada, if she continues like this, I may have to declare her hostile! She is making statements in his favor! This will ruin our entire case!" The lawyer was clearly upset. Anjali was upsetting his case. Anjali started blaming herself for putting everyone in trouble. It was the sole duty of Khushi now to take care of her, give her support and make her comfortable.

***** *****

"Hello Shondeep!" greeted papaji. Shondeep paid a visit to Mansion.

"Sir, I am going to Delhi!" he declared.
"Why?" came a piercing question.
"um.. I mean... I have some work!" he said fumbling.
"What work?" came a question sternly.
Shondeep looked up at Papaji.

"I mean... I want to meet Arnav!" he said. "For business purpose!" he added hastily.
"Call him up, you need not go!" said papaji looking at Shondeep intently.

Shondeep had not expected this. Papaji had never objected to any of his plans.
"Don't you even think of going to Delhi and meet her!" said papaji under his breath
Shondeep was shocked. He gaped at papaji with his mouth falling open.

"Shondeep, this is not the right time. Even I am not going there! Not even for Khushi! You should stay away from that family as far as possible. One single clue is enough to spread the fire. Understand?" asked papaji.

Shondeep had no clue what he was talking about.

"What?" he blurted.

"Shondeep, I know whom are you going to meet! Look my boy, I know you want to support her in her difficult times. But remember, her marriage is not yet annulled. A slight clue that you are closer to each other will blow up everything. She will be in more trouble. That Sham will make a mountain out of a molehill and will try to blame her for what she has not done. You stay away from all this, Shondeep, for her sake." Papaji was more serious. Shondeep had not thought about the repercussions of his good gesture. He gaped at papaji.

"Shondeep avoid calling her. If you want to call her or talk to her, call on Arnav's phone or on landline!" papaji was extra cautious. Shondeep nodded and went away crestfallen. He wanted to be with Anjali which was not possible. 

Papaji sat back on his chair pondering over the information given by Ramani. 


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


"Hello Shondeep Sir, Yeah! I uploaded the documents. I have prepared the draft MOU. Go through the commercials and deliverables part. The other terms and conditions are standard" Khushi said enthusiastically. Shondeep smiled. He had started giving her more work including work from other units of BTR group! He gave her enough work to occupy her the whole day.
"Khushi, what is that in your hand?" he asked her on video call. "Nothing...!" she hid her hand behind.

"What were you eating?" he asked her raising his eyebrow. She brought her hand forward showing him the peanuts she was munching on! He grinned shaking his head. 

"What is the problem?" he asked her. He knew she kept munching when she was nervous.
"No.. Nothing.. ! " she avoided to answer.

"Ok!" he said shrugging. "Ok. Khushi you need to go through the new contract documents with some of the insurance companies. This time our premium will be loaded as we had claims last year. Go through the premium part and get back to me with your comments and comparative statement! We need to decide on the Broker" he said going ahead with his work assignment. She noted down. 

"Ok Khushi... that's it! I mean the assignment for the week is over. I expect results in time!" he said authoritatively. She nodded. "Have a good Day, Khushi!" he said ready to log off.

"umm.. Shondeep Sir, ... I mean ... I am actually worried about Anjali Di. She is messing up with her statements in the Court. Giving contradictory statements...the other day the lawyer was very upset" She said it in one breath.

Shondeep stared at her not sure about how to react. He thought for a while. "Khushi, should I talk to her?" he asked her seriously.

"Will you?" she asked hopefully. He nodded. 

"Ok! wait here... I will call her!" she said excitedly and vanished. Shondeep waited. The wait was taking longer than usual. And then he saw her. She had lost weight. There were dark circles under her eyes. She looked weak and pale. She smiled faintly. 

"Hello Shondeepji!" she said mechanically.

"umm..Di, you carry on.. I will just come!" said Khushi and vanished. 

"Anjali!" he hesitated. She did not respond.

"I know what you are going through. You have to be brave Anjali!" he said earnestly. She nodded.

"I understand, it is easier said than done! But believe me, I have gone through hell!" he said it. It was for the first time, he had said something very personal about himself to her. She looked up at him. He looked back at her intently and said.

"I have gone through this. Please... Anjali, stay calm and get out of this. I am sure everything will be alright!" he said wanting to hold her hand. She nodded again, tears trickling down her cheeks.

"Anjali, Please! Take care of yourself. Do as the lawyer says! I mean... I don't know what to say, but it is the only way out! Trust your lawyer and be brave!" he kept on telling her in a soothing voice. She found solace in his company. She felt better and calmer. She actually smiled at the end and said

"Ok, baba! I understood. I will do as you say!" she said smiling pleasantly at him. His eyes emitted satisfaction and happiness. 

"Anjali, that's it! Hope to meet you soon! And all the best!" he said smiling back at her. She nodded. 

"Khushi..!" she called out. Shondeep logged out!

"Do you want to talk to him?" asked Anjali coming out of the room. Khushi went in and saw him logged off. "Already logged out? Haan?" she wondered sniggering.


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

Shondeep just could not believe that he actually saw Anjali and talked to her. He closed his eyes dimples visible on his cheeks. "Hmm" he sighed. "Khushi!" he blurted. "Why didn't I think about it? This is a better method to communicate!" he thought to himself. 

Anjali's spirits lifted. His soothing voice had made her calmer. She was regaining her composure. "Wish he calls me before my deposition!" she thought and immediately brushed it aside. Khushi was looking at her intently. She smiled and turned to leave.

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

Khushi was working on her laptop chewing the pencil, shaking her leg and humming. She had made it possible. She had made Anjali talk to Shondeep. Khushi was happy. She patted her own back. "Good work Khushi, you brainless g..!" she said loudly. "This calls for some jilebees!" she thought to herself moving towards kitchen. Payal was in the kitchen preparing tea for Aakash.

"Jiji? Its already evening?" Khushi looked surprised. She was working for a long time. Arnav was expected to come any time. She dropped the idea of Jilebees and came back to her room. She threw herself on the bed humming. She opened her favorite novel...


"why are you so upset? Are you this angry always?" the girl asked the tall boy. There were sitting beneath the tree.
"What do you mean?" he asked her angrily.
"I mean... look at you! You are looking like a fire ball!" she said giggling.
"Not funny!" he said turning away from her.
"Sorry!" she said holding his hand.
"Amma has planned everything...! I am going..!" he said seriously looking at the girl.
"Going? Where?" she asked looking surprised still holding his hand.
"Far away... forever!" said the boy withdrawing his hand.
"Don't go!" she pleaded.
"Can't help!" he said getting up. He started striding on the lane. She ran after him trying to catch up with him but he had gone already.


"Wait..!" Khushi screamed.
"What?" Arnav reacted. She opened her eyes at once. Arnav came back and standing at the bed looked at Khushi angrily.

"I mean... wait for me!" she said avoiding his gaze. He sighed and turned to leave. She caught his hand and pulled him slightly. That was enough for him blow his head off!

"Khushi...!" you were reading the book! He said snatching the book from her chest and tearing it into pieces. He thrust the pieces into her hand and walked out. She gaped at his back.
"She is impossible!" he blurted hopelessly.

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

26

"Khushi...!" said Arnav in a husky voice, touching her shoulder. The 'attempt to murder' case was put up for hearing following a statement by Sham of pleading not guilty. 

She stood up in witness box of the court and took the oath. Sham was sitting at the other end opposite her. Anjali and others were in visitor's area. Khushi was sweating. She was trembling at the thought of standing before the Magistrate and answering the questions. Arnav was looking at her. She gave him a faint smile, by the time the prosecutor prepared himself to take her deposition.

She gave her details while taking the oath and waited fidgeting. Sham was looking at her unblinkingly making her nervous. The prosecutor started off in a very calm voice. 

"Mrs. Raizada, can you elaborate how you knew Mr. Sham Manohar Zaa?" he asked her. She narrated briefly. The prosecutor kept nodding assuring that she was on right track. The court clerk was taking notes ad verbatim. 

"So you know him since you were in Lucknow!" he wanted to confirm. "Yes!" she said.
"He saved you from the goons!" he asked

"Yes!" she said.

"Ok. Now going ahead, how did you start working with Raizadas?' he asked her. She again narrated trying to be very precise. 

Dasgupta had warned her not to be emotional and not to use any vague superlatives or adjectives. He had advised her to stick to facts only. "Don't give your opinion, don't try to justify anything or use ifs and buts in your narration!" he had told her.

"Ok! So you did not tell the truth to anyone!" he made the statement.

"No! I did! I told Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada!" she said fidgeting.

"Ok! Then what happened?" he asked her kindly. She narrated. 

"And he married you?" he asked her.

"Yes" she said, her eyes searching for Arnav. She got confused and more nervous when she saw Lavanya sitting next to Arnav. Sham had a smirk on his face. 

"So you say, Mr. Sham Manohar Zaa was a witness to all this?" he asked her to confirm.
"Yes!" she said.

"Then you started staying with Mr. Raizada?" he asked her.

"No!.. I.. did not!" She had tears in her eyes recollecting the trauma! Arnav had a knot in his stomach. 

Her deposition went on for a couple of hours. She was offered water which she refused. She kept looking around in between and every time saw Arnav gazing at her. But when she saw Lavanya next to him she stopped glancing at him.

"Why is she here?" thought Khushi and so did Arnav. He went out with Lavanya excusing himself asking for Court's permission. Khushi forgot what was she talking about, as if someone had sucked life out of her, her knees gave way. 

The prosecutor begged for a break of ten minutes which was granted. Arnav had reentered the Court room alone. 

Khushi avoided looking at him. She was frustrated with herself. "Why did I lose my control? Why should I be bothered?" she asked herself. "She was not sure, why was she upset for? For Arnav exiting the Court room or for Lavanya sitting next to him!" she tried to push away the thought and concentrated on what her lawyer was talking about.

Her deposition continued after the break. The prosecutor kept on asking more complex leading questions prompting the answers. Like, "He was administering medicine to your babuji, right?" she used to say "Yes!" 

" Always or sometimes?" he asked. She answered "Sometimes!" 

They came out of the court compound. Khushi was still shivering a bit. Arnav came and held her hand. She moved away. She did not want anyone's sympathy now! She kept on looking down. Her lawyer came out and said "so far so good!" 

"But you left lot of gray areas, Mrs. Raizada.. I am going to try and fill those tomorrow but be careful. Your cross examination will be traumatic for you!" he warned her. She looked away.
Arnav could not understand her. He wanted to be her support and she was avoiding him. "Why is she behaving like this?" he wondered. She did not utter a single word on her return journey. He left them at Shantivan and left for the office. It was already four in the evening.

She went straight to her room. She paced restlessly. That person had turned her world into a living hell. She clenched her fists. "Why didn't Anjali Di kill him?" she thought in frustration. She sat on the bed recollecting the events in past couple of years and her plight. She could not think of one single happy moment in her life. All the insults thrown at her, Sham’s deceitful acts, babuji's attack, she leaving Raizada house that day, everything ran before her like a horror movie. She shut her eyes closed tight not wanting to see anything. She took the blanket over her head.

She saw a young lady in her wedding attire crying. She could feel her pain. The lady was carried in a doli! Khushi had a knot in her throat! She was seeing herself in her dream!
"Khushi...!" Arnav was waking her up with the dinner plate.

"Khaa lo!" he said in a soft voice, helping her sit up in the bed. She looked miserable, so did he. 

"Did you have?" she asked him. He did not answer, but fed her a spoonful of sweet. She did the same to him. He had a faint smile on his face. They ate dinner in their room.

"I will keep this!" he said going out of the room with the empty dinner plate. She washed her hands and again sat back on the bed wrapping her arms around her knees. She heard footsteps. She pulled blanket over her head not wanting to talk to Arnav. 

He came into the room, saw Khushi sleeping again, sighed and started working on his laptop. Khushi went into sound sleep. Somewhere after midnight she felt his warmth. She felt safe and secure. 

***** ****

Her deposition went on for a torturous week. As the days passed she started isolating herself from everyone around. She felt weak and exhausted mentally. All her happiness, her energy had drained out. Arnav did not know how to cheer her up. Papaji tried talking to her but she refused to talk to anyone. Papaji used to call Arnav to know the details. He too was in distress unable to find a way to bring Khushi out of this phase! She avoided everyone. She was acting against her nature. She wanted some time alone.

The defense lawyer had requested for Anjali's deposition before Khushi's cross examination. Anjali had to be ready for her share of mental torture. Khushi was worried about her. Khushi had only one case. But Anjali was facing another one. For the annulment of her marriage with Sham as sham was already married before and the second marriage would be automatically null and void. Sham had denied marrying before and the case needed to be contested. 

Khushi had stopped going to the kitchen sometimes. She missed out on her daily chores. Naniji was very considerate. The family members left her alone. 

"Papaji... " she had called him. He could sense her distress. "Puttar, come over here for some days!" he said kindly.

"No papaji...! " she did not know how to express this but badly wanted to share with her papaji..

Her papaji waited for her to talk.

"I mean... I feel very odd...I don't know what it is...!" she said incoherently. Papaji was very patient.

"Papaji, I feel very sad. I don't know... I ..I... can I talk to Mummiji?" she asked suddenly.
"Yes, Puttar.. Hold on!" he said and went to his biwi.

"Mummiji.... !" Khushi could not continue. Tears started streaming down her cheeks. 

"Mummiji.. I am scared... I get scary dreams!" she said.

"Go to the temple!" Mummiji suggested her. "Go in the morning and evening!" she said. Khushi nodded and said "Ok!" 

Arnav couldn't share Khushi's plight! She had to endure alone. 


**************   *********

"Mannat wali chabi....I .. I Tumhaari chabi hameshaa mere paas hi rahegi!!" Khushi again was blurting in her sleep. Arnav sat up holding his wife.

"Khushi....!" He woke her up. "Are you ok?" he was worried. "Mannat ki chabi.... Kho gai... she continued ...

"Khushi...! Its with you!" he said shaking her. "Haan?" she opened her eyes.

"Meri mannat ki chabi... is with you, Khushi?" he said placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Haan?" she stared blankly. 

He gaped at her. "Khushi... stop reading those books!" he pleaded cupping her face. He pulled her closer and stroking her head said "Khushi.. go to sleep! Everything will be alright!" He held her close to his heart putting out the lights.

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

There was news in the papers that a criminal was caught red handed trying to extort money and was sent on remand to Tihar Jail. Arnav hoped it be Shyam again! 

Khushi started going to the Mandir. Khushi was going into shell. She had almost stopped using her cell phone. She never used to pick up the phone. Arnav was worried. She had stopped talking to him. Her answers were in monosyllables. He tried taking her out for lunch or dinner or even to the temple she would love to go. Somehow she avoided going out with him or any of the family member. She did not stop reading those suspense Hindi novels. She used to get up in the night sweating. Arnav would pacify her and put her to sleep. He talked with papaji. But she refused any of their suggestions. She was all the time in Anjali's room worrying for her. 

"Khushi....!" Called out Arnav. Khushi was at the pool side. She turned back. "Its Tej!" he said holding out his cell phone. A faint smile appeared on Khushi's face. She took the phone!

"Khushi Buwa?" Tej was at the other end. She smiled broadly hearing his voice.

"Taj... mere golu! How are you?" she asked affectionately. 

"Khushi buwa.. you know my new school is so big... but Mom says I will be going next year!" he was morose. "Meera is going though!" he said sulkily. Khushi actually laughed. Arnav gaped at her face. His eyes were moist. After a very long time he heard her laugh. He sighed. Khushi was talking to Tej animatedly. Arnav never wanted the conversation to get over. He went into his room. She came in with the phone. The smile had not yet wiped off from her face. He looked at her. She smiled back and said

"Tej was complaining about you. Why can't you find time to call him?" she asked him angrily.
"I will!" he said nodding and taking the cell from her. Her mood remained happy for the day. Arnav wished Tej called every day. 

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