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.

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