42

The girl was standing at the window staring hopefully at the terrace of the Haveli. There was no one waving back at her. The relatives had gathered in the house. 

Everything was hush-hush. They were talking in bare whisper. The commotion on the road had increased. There was more number of police than the agitators. She heard screaming and looked in that direction. 

They were dragging the Austin car. The mob was violent,  Police had to lathi-charge. There was gun firing in the air, people scattered running in all directions. A group entered the house and closed the door behind them. Everybody in the house was scared.
"Nothing will happen. Give us shelter for the night!" said a particularly rough man. The girl's father nodded. The girl still was looking out of the window and following the Austin car. They set the car on fire shouting like maniacs!! 


Khushi screamed and got up with a start sweating all over. "They got him. They burnt him with his car!" she murmured clutching her head trying to stop the riot in her head. In panic, she dialed Arnav's number. 

Arnav got up with a jerk on hearing his phone ring. He looked at the time. It was 3.30 in the night. Khushi's name flashed.

"Khushi?" he was surprised.
"Arnav ji!" she called out in panic. 'Are you ok?" she asked him shakily.

"Khushi? What happened? I am fine! Khushi?" he talked to her soothingly.
"Khushi, tell me what happened?" he asked her softly.

"Th..That bo...!" Khushi stuttered and suddenly coming back to her senses said. "No.. nothing! I missed you!" she said hurriedly.
"Oh! Really?" he asked her suspiciously.

"Ye.. Yes! O ok! Good night!" she said ready to disconnect the phone.
"Khushi..? was that one of those bad dreams?" he asked her. She hesitated and said
"No! nothing like that. I ..I just wanted to talk to you!" she said hiding her emotions.

"Are you scared?" he asked her in a soft assuring voice.
"Its ok! I am here!" he said soothingly. She felt better.
"Ok. Keep your phone on and go to sleep. I am with you!" he said in a low husky voice. She obeyed. 

"Khushi, I miss you too! I miss being with you under the blanket!" he said. Khushi blushed. "Hmm!" she said.

"I miss your fragrance and I miss your warmth....!" he started off mischievously. "No! no. stop!... I am disconnecting!" she said blushing furiously and took the blanket over her head. Arnav smiled looking at the blank screen.

"See you tomorrow, Khushi!" he said switching off the lights.


Next day evening Raj, Shondeep and Arnav were in Nanded and were with papaji. Khushi was happy to see them all. They had a very serious discussion over the dinner. 

"Khushi is going to brief you about the situation here after an hour or so. Take rest till then and come to my room!" Said papaji.

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

Khushi talked about the pathetic condition of the workers, how the union leaders were exploiting, the pending payments ... etc!

You know what? We were talking about keeping them on sustenance package but strangely, the salary/wages figures on papers are different than these people actually get. You know, they get much less than our sustenance package!" she dropped the bombshell.

"What?" all of them were shocked.

"Yes. This is how it happens. 410 workers are on daily wages. They get paid every Saturday in cash. They sign on the full amount and are given only 60% of the total amount. Then every week Rs. 50 goes to union fund, compulsory. So ultimately if a person earns 1000 Rs. a week, he gets only Rs. 550." She showed them the calculation.

"Where does this money go?" asked Shondeep astonished. "Union and Political leaders"! She said. 

There was a silence for a long time. She broke the silence and said.

" The other 500 workers are on permanent basis. Their salaries are deposited in the bank. When they go to withdraw, the money is taken away from them. The moment any of them raises the voice, his job is gone. Only permanent workers have the free residence facility. All these workers are the members of this cooperative mill. They are not sure about their future! Half of office staff has already left"

"We remove the word sustenance and give them the reduced salary in full, still they will have Rs. 100 more a week than they are actually getting now in hand" All of them kept gaping at each other. 

They had to change their strategy now.

"How did you know all this?" asked Arnav surprised, at the amount of data Khushi had gathered and compiled right from the land ownership, the capacity of old and new machinery, the composition of labour, their salaries, their other perks...etc!" 

She smiled throwing her nose in the air proudly. "I have my own sources!"

she said with a glint. Arnav looked away. Shondeep smiled looking at both of them. And Raj thumped on her shoulder sending her off balance.

"Ok Khushi, if you have finished with your data, go to your room and sleep well! You are going back tomorrow early morning!" Papaji said dismissing her.

"What? No! I am not going!" she said adamantly.

"I did not ask your opinion, Khushi! Go back to your room!" said papaji holding her shoulder and driving her towards the door. She went back to her room sulkily. Somewhere after midnight she felt Arnav beside her. 

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

"Dada!" Ramani called up late in the night. Papaji came out of the room.
"What is it?" he asked him surprised.

"Dada, you are in Nanded!" declared Ramani.
"Yes!" said papaji. 

"Dada.... !" Ramani give him the details.
"Yes, I have the idea! I am making all arrangements!" said papaji seriously. 

"Dada, careful!" said Ramani.
"Hmm!" said papaji. 

"Ramani, I am sending back Khushi tomorrow! Take care of her safety. I have arranged for police protection, but you know...!" said papaji seriously. He was clearly worried about her safety.

"Dada, don't worry! My people will take care of her!" said Ramani.

Next day was the test for Balwindar Singh, as a human being, as a businessman and as a negotiator!!

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

"Khushi, wake up!" Arnav was trying to wake her up. She turned and resumed her sleep.
"Khushi, car is waiting. You got to go!" Arnav lifted her from bed. She opened her eyes.

"I am not going!" she said.
"Yes, you are!" he said.

"No!" she was adamant.
"Khushi, go and get ready!" he ordered. She got ready!

"Khushi let us go and meet papaji before you go!" Arnav said.
"No! I am not meeting him!" Khushi was angry with papaji.

Arnav took her to papaji's room. "Bye Puttar, call me once you reach safely!" He said seriously trying to hug her.

She broke away with a jerk and said "I hate you!" papaji stopped dead so did everyone else.
Papaji embraced her forcibly and said "Khushi Puttar, don't hate your poor old papaji!"

"No! I didn't mean it, papaji!" Khushi hugged him tightly letting her tears down her cheeks.
"Its ok, Puttar! Now go!" he pushed her towards the door. His phone rang.

"Dada, I am sending a car and driver. He will take her to Mumbai Airport! Don't use any of your vehicles" said Ramani. 

"Ok!" papaji said. The driver was waiting. Khushi left. Papaji and others came back to his room.

"Hope, she reaches safely. We have sent her back in a nick of time!" said papaji gravely. Arnav nodded.

"Here are the possibilities...." Papaji started off.
It was nine in the morning. Papaji's phone rang. He listened and said "Ok!" disconnecting.

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

Khushi reached home in the evening. She was restless. "Khushi bitiya, you came home and Chote left for some business tour yesterday" said Naniji. Khushi knew, Arnav had not told anyone in the house that he went to Nanded. They all thought that he went to Mumbai for some business deal. She was puzzled.

They were at the table for dinner when Mamiji switched on the TV. She started surfing the channels. Khushi tried to take away the remote to see the news. Mamiji was busy watching her favorite daily soap. Khushi saw a marquee about curfew in some parts of Nanded. She got panic and ran towards her room.

She switched on the TV and started surfing the news channels. There was the news of Sahakaar Spinning Mills. The meeting with the workers and unions got postponed by a day due to disturbance and agitation by the workers before the meeting. The agitation took turned into riots and there was heavy loss suffered because of stone pelting and breakage by the angry union activists. The mob had vandalized the building and furniture. Three cars were set on fire. "Cars? Fire?" Khushi tried the phone but everybody's phone was switched off. She did not know whom to contact. She started pacing the room in panic. No one in the house knew that Arnav was caught in this. She repented having come back. She was angry with everyone.
"How can they do this to me? They sent me safely and themselves are caught in this mess!" she cursed herself.

She remembered her dream. "I knew, I should have stopped them. I knew the cars would be set on fire. I had seen it! HIS car was set on fire!!" she started blurting in panic and crying. "Why didn't I tell about my dream to Arnav ji? Why didn't I alert papaji?" she blamed herself. "No! No.. I have to do something!" 

She dialed Vimal's number. "Hello, Khushi? When did you reach?" asked Vimal from the other end.

"Vimal, is everything ok? Did you meet papaji?" she asked in panic.

"Papaji?' Vimal was puzzled.
"I mean, Sir, Tell me vimal, did you meet him? Is everything ok? What was the problem in the Mill?" she started bombarding the questions.

"ho ho, break lagao, Khushi!" Vimal said casually. "Khushi, don't panic. Everything is fine. Though the office building is ruined and vandalized, no injuries to persons. You know, last minute the meeting got postponed for tomorrow. Sir changed his vehicle at the last minute. They are all safe. Don't worry!" said Vimal to Khushi's relief. She thanked Vimal and disconnected.

Her phone rang. It was Arnav. "Arnav ji, ...!" Khushi again started off in panic.
"Khushi, relax! We are all safe. There were lot of things going on so had to switch off the phone!" Arnav justified. Khushi was not satisfied.

"You all come back! We don't want that factory, we don't want to run it, you all come back!" she ordered hm.

"Khushi, calm down!" Arnav tried to pacify her.
"No! you come back. All of you! I want to talk to papaji!" she said.

"Khushi, stop! Stop it! We are not coming back. We will finalize the deal and come back! Don't worry! I will keep you updating!" said Arnav. But Khushi was not ready to listen.
She dialed papaji's number.

"Papaji, come back!" she ordered.
"No!" said papaji and disconnected.

41

Khushi woke up early in the morning and got ready to take a trip with papaji. Papaji knocked on her door. She opened it enthusiastically. There was a young girl of her age standing with papaji.

"Khushi, she will be your companion today. Go with her and buy some local style dresses for you! She will take you to the factory. She works in accounts department of our Mill!" said papaji coming in.

"And you?" Khushi asked little disappointed.

"I have other work, puttar! I will be back in the evening" he said placing his hand on her head.
"Remember... keep your eyes and ears open!" he said in a whisper. She nodded.

"Do you have money?" he asked her. She nodded.
"I am Vimal Deshmukh!" she introduced herself.
"Khushi!" Khushi reciprocated smiling at her.

"Do you know hindi?" Khushi asked her.
"I know, Hindi, English, Marathi and Punjabi!" the girl said with pride. 

"I only know hindi and English!" Khushi gave her due credit. The girl smiled broadly.
They were walking on a busy road doing shopping. Khushi could see a lot of cotton wear in the shops. She bought a few salwar suits for her. She bought one for Vimal too! 

Vimal refused to accept. "This is a token of our friendship!" Khushi said holding her hand. She had no other option than to accept the gift.

"Since how long you are working in the Mill?" Khushi asked.
"Three years, I got job on compassionate ground. My father died. He was working here!" said Vimal.

They were in the auto. "I have some work before I take you on a tour of our factory! Can I go home and come back in half an hour?" asked vimal. Khushi nodded.

Vimal turned to leave after making Khushi comfortable in the Mills office. Khushi stared at her back and asked her "Vimal, can I come with you?"
Vimal was surprised. "Will you?" Khushi nodded.

They were walking down the street. Khushi could see small workers' quarters along the road.
"Are you related to Sir ji?" asked Vimal. Khushi hesitated.

"I was working in his office. Now I am married, but still work for him!" said Khushi somehow hiding her identity. Vimal looked relaxed. She started introducing her to the acquaintances. Khushi felt better.

They reached vimal's home. It was a typical worker home; a one room and a kitchen! Khushi entered. Vimal's mother came forward. Vimal introduced her and said "Aai, she has come for the union meeting. She works in the office!" 

"yes! I came here as assistant!" said Khushi pleasantly smiling at the middle aged widow lady. Khushi could feel the emptiness in her eyes.

Vimal finished her household work and came out. Her mother had given Khushi a cold Sherbet to quench her thrust. They both started walking. The plight of the workers slowly started unfolding. Khushi was listening and looking around. She could see dull dryness everywhere. Though the skies were over caste, she could feel lack of enthusiasm everywhere. People seem to drag on. She could sense hunger in the eyes of the children. The factory was closed for several months. The workers' wages were pending for months..! They only hung on because of the shelter they had of this one room kitchen quarters. 

"Our leaders try their best to keep us like this, so that they can rule. They come in a big car for the meeting, create a scene, make some fake promises and go away. We are left high and dry! No one cares about us! We are just puppets in their hands". Vimal was blurting out bitterly.
"Nothing will happen in this meeting also! The leaders will not accept any proposal! They will plan for agitation, procession, give inspiring lectures, make a fiasco of this meeting, take money from the new management and go away!... Mark my words, Khushi!" said Vimal in disgust.
Khushi opened her mouth to defend but Vimal held her hand and squeezed.

"Look, Mr Mohite! Our ruling party sponsored Union leader! Look at his car! Now he will go to the office, gather the workers around... give some enticing speech, shout slogans.... Distribute some money and liquor... and push off!" she said bitterly pointing at the White Maruti Esteem!" Khushi stood there like a statue holding Vimal's hand.

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

Khushi and papaji were taking dinner in a restaurant that night.
"Puttar, how was your experience? Did you see the mill?" he asked her. She was very serious not paying any attention to her food. Papaji waited for her to gather herself and then said.

"Puttar, this is the ground reality. Sometimes the situation is beyond our control, sometimes we can do something! I brought you here with me to make you realize the situation here. These are beyond business tactics and profits!"
Khushi nodded. Papaji continued.

"Puttar, this morning I went to meet my friend who is a social activist here. These union leaders are no good but we cannot avoid them. Every worker is a member of some union. We have to bear with this. We just do not have any control!" said papaji.

Khushi still was lost in her thoughts recollecting the pathetic conditions of the families. Children had left school! 

"Papaji, can we not do anything?" she asked painfully.
"Puttar, we cannot do anything directly. The political pressure will not allow us to do anything. But yes, we will surely try to do something!" he said assuring her.

"Tomorrow, I am taking you to one of our ginning Mills; some fifty kilometers from this place. And then you have a task!" said papaji.

"What is it?" she asked astonished.
"Take your friend's help and make a wish list for these workers!" papaji said. Khushi smiled. She hugged him and said 

"You are the best papaji! Good night!" she went to her room. Papaji sat in the verandah for a long time gazing unfocused.

Dealing with the union was hell of a task. He knew only he would handle this. Arnav, Shondeep and Raj had a long way to go. 

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

There was a chaos everywhere. She was at the gates looking up at the Haveli on the other end of the lane. People wearing white cotton dresses and topi on their head were moving hurriedly as is going for a gathering. She kept gazing at the Haveli. Her mother came and whipped her and dragging her, brought her inside the house.

"How many times, do I have to tell you, not to go out!" she screamed. The girl stood there looking down. 

"Look! Things are not good! Anything will happen. You may get killed. Did you not hear the firing yesterday? Stay away. Stay at home!" her mother took her in her arms and stroking her head said,

"I am worried about you!" The girl just gaped at her mother.
"Get ready!" her father had come in and had ordered. She shuddered and looked at her mother frightened.

"I think we should wait till this agitation gets over!" said her mother in a small voice.
"No way! This will not stop! People will get killed. We should move on!" her father said gravely.

"Come on get ready!" he ordered again. Her mother took her inside.

They heard firing again. Her father started shutting the doors and windows of her house. She felt trapped. Tears ran down her cheeks.

Khushi woke up with a start. It was six in the morning. She got ready to go with papaji.

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

They picked up Vimal on their way and went to visit one of the papaji's ginning mills. They entered the factory premises and Vimal gaped at the greenery all around. She kept gaping around in surprise.

"This is a small mill we prepare cotton bales here collecting cotton from nearby farmers and grading them. These bales would go to the spinning mill later on!" said papaji. They entered the porche of the office building.

"You and this young lady, have a look around! I have some work in the office and I will meet you in an hour here!" saying this papaji vanished in the building.

Khushi and Vimal moved around in the workers' residential area. The houses were similar to the ones they saw in Sahakaar Spinning Mill. But there was a marked difference. There were play grounds after every block of quarters. Each house had green trees in the court yard. Each tree was named. Khushi was puzzled. She stopped a kid running on the road and asked about the names of the tree.

"What? These are our names. See these three trees? These are the trees in the name of the children in this house. We take care of the trees!" said the boy proudly. Khushi was amazed. Vimal was enlightened. They looked at each other and smiled. This is so simple .. to ensure the nourishment of the trees. Name them after the children and its done!" Khushi had a broad smile on her face.

"Papaji... you are the best!" she thought. 

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

"No puttar, that is not my idea! My social activist friend suggested me this! It worked like magic. We planted tree, got the required carbon credit (it is mandatory for the factories to plant trees in proportion with the air it pollutes) plus ensured its nourishment!" said papaji smiling at her.

"Now, you two go back to work and prepare the list!" he ordered them. 

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

Something else was cooking not far away from Nanded Sahakaar Spinning Mill and Khushi was oblivious to the danger. But papaji knew what was coming. He had already asked for protection.

Next complete week Khushi and Vimal were engrossed in preparing the wish list. They literally were day dreaming about the ideal conditions. They visited so many places and factories around Nanded to have a closer look at the situation.

"Bass! I don't think any of this will work!" said Vimal skeptically. "I am not going ahead with this. This looks like a mirage and we are running behind it thirsty and hungry!" she had a ray of anger and anguish in her tone. Khushi held her hand and said,

"Agreed! This may not work. But if time comes for implementation, we at least have a list with us! Why not day dream for the best?" she asked Vimal optimistically.

"Yeah! We are not asking anything exorbitant from the management. We are asking only basic needs!" said Vimal. They both grinned at each other putting their heads together to complete the list.

Papaji came in the evening and the girls handed over the list to him. He glanced over the list and gave it back. Khushi was disappointed.

"What? You are not going to study the points?" she asked raising her voice. Vimal looked startled. "How can she talk to her boss like this? So arrogant?" she was surprised. Papaji was calm.

"I will use it whenever needed. Right not I have an urgent matter to discuss with you two!" said papaji seriously.

"Vimal, Thanks for helping Khushi. Your work is over! You may resume your duty from tomorrow. And hope you keep this task confidential!" Vimal nodded. She felt disappointed that she might not meet Khushi again. Khushi looked at her reflecting the same feeling.

"But.. pa.. Sir, the meeting is day after tomorrow! You may require my assistance and Vimal will help me!" Khushi said hopefully.

"No!" said papaji getting up and calling his driver. 

"Vimal, he will drop you at your place. If I may suggest, please refrain from coming to the Mill's office till the negotiations are over. Take leave. I will arrange for your paid leave! And promise me, you will keep it secret that you helped us to know the situation better!" he held out his hand. Vimal hesitated and then giving her hand in his said "Yes sir! Trust me!" Papaji smiled and placing his hand on her head said "Rabb Rakha! May god bless you!" 

Vimal went and papaji turned to Khushi. "Tomorrow morning the other three are coming. We will have a debriefing meeting and you will leave!" 

"What?" Khushi almost screamed. "Am I leaving? Why?" she asked raising her finger.
"Because, your work is over here!" he said calmly.

"No way! I am not leaving!" she said with determination.
"You have to!" said papaji turning his back and moving towards his room.
"Why?" she followed him.

"Because it is not safe!" said papaji turning to face her.

"Good night, Khushi!" said papaji closing the door on her face. She stood there shocked.

40

"Maa, please... !" the girl was pleading with tears in her eyes. Her mother had turned her back. 

"No!" her mother was stern. "I have to take a decision before your father comes back!" she said seriously.

"But why?" she asked in anguish.
"Because your father is more concerned about his reputation than his own daughter!" her mother said deeply. The girl looked up at her mother with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Now, wipe off your tears and get ready!" her mother ordered going out of the room closing the door behind.


She was on the road running towards the haveli. She jumped on the wicket gate and came into the garden looking up at the top floor window. The window was closed with the curtains drawn. She kept gazing at the window for a long time. Tears welling up her eyes, she turned to move dropping her shoulders. Someone was in front of her.

"I told you not to come here!" said a stern voice. She looked up with tearful eyes. Mali kaka was standing before her. "Beti, go back! Go back to your home! He will not come back!" he said gravely.

"Ca... can you send him a message?" she asked earnestly.
"No!" he shook his head.

"Go back! If someone sees you, they will kill both of us!" he said gravely slightly pushing her.
She held his hand. "Mali kaka, Please.... Please help me!" said the girl sobbing.

"No! I cannot do anything, beti! Please go home!" he said wiping off his eyes.

"Nobody can help you two! Go back to your parents! He is trapped in his world!!" he dragged her towards the wicket gate.

"This.... He loved this! i... I used to feed him .. this!" she held out "Imarati"(variation of jilebees) in her hand.

"I know! I have seen you two eating imarati... but beti, its of no use! Please, go home, be safe!" mali kaka's voice cracked. She put imarti in her mouth inadvertently as if feeding him!
"Go... please go! I am sorry, I can't help! Please go beti, go back to your world!" mali kaka pushed her.

There was commotion on the lane. Some agitation was going on. People were shouting slogans!!

"Go back! Be safe!" shouted mali kaka.

She jumped over the gate. Mali kaka kept gazing at the gate with tearful eyes........



Khushi got up and looked at her sticky palms with sweat!


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


"But why can't I go for once?" he was arguing with the elderly person the taste of imarti still lingering on his tongue. 

"Because, they think you sucked out everything from them! You are a cursed boy!!" said the elderly man.

"This is ridicules! I did not do anything! And I am not a boy now, I am a grown up Man!!" he said angrily.

"That's what you think!" said the elderly person.

"But I have to go back!" said the boy with determination.

"No way!" said the man and went out of the room closing the door behind. They boy banged his head on the wall in frustration. 

"I will finish them off! I will drag them on the road!" he muttered furiously.

"I will go back! I will be with her! I know, I must be there with her!" he floundered. 

There was commotion outside. He looked out of the window. Some agitation was going on. People in white were moving in procession shouting slogans! He turned his back on window in frustration. 

...................

Arnav opened his eyes and heard the commotion. 

He came out of his room to see the entire Raizada Household running after Laxmi! She had something in her mouth and everyone was trying to stop her from running. Khushi was ahead of everyone screaming Laxmi's name! 

Arnav stood there flabbergasted. At last they could trap Laxmi and managed to take the packet out of her mouth. Khushi raised the packet victoriously, panting and grinning at Nani.

"Thank god! At last we could get it from her! It's not torn!" she said surveying the packet.
"What was that?" Arnav took her packet from her hand. It was the packet of poisonous pesticides for his plants.

He looked at everyone annoyed. "Chote, we were cleaning the room and this packet fell down!" said Nani taking the packet from his hand. He shook his head hopelessly.

"Can I get tea now?" he asked looking at Khushi. She grinned at him.

**** *****

Khushi and Papaji were in Nanded. Papaji had asked Khushi to land on Mumbai Airport from Delhi and he came a day earlier from Kolkata. She did. He took her along in a car to Nanaded. The rooms were already booked. Papaji asked Khushi to get ready in ten minutes. She did.

They were in a car moving around in the city. She was amazed to see the Sikh population in the city and the number of Gurudwaras. She looked at papaji. "Yes Puttar this is the next big center for Sikhs after Amritsar. Guru Govindsingh declared himself the last guru here! He breathed his last here!" said papaji joining his hands. She followed him. They went to Huzur Saheb gurudwara. She gaped at the golden dome!

"Khushi I have brought you along with me here, with a purpose! Tomorrow we will be visiting the Sahakaar Spinning Mill and I want you to take a look around! Keep your eyes and ears open and your brain sharpened!" he said putting his hand on her head. She nodded. They came back to the hotel in the evening. She could see the Musli sufi shrines and river Godavari! She felt like she was in some part of Lucknow with the shrines around! A smile appeared on her face at the thought of Lucknow, her town! 


Arnav called her in the night. "You know Arnavji, its like a part of Lucknow, Sufi Shrines everywhere!" she told him excitedly. He smiled. She went on describing him about the city.

"Khushi..! take care!" he said in a concerned voice. She nodded and said "yes!" She missed him. 

"Arnav ji! I miss you!" she had tears in her eyes. "I miss you too, Khushi!" he said in a husky voice.

"Now go to sleep like a good girl! And don't see those weird dreams!" he warned her and then waiting for a second said,
"You didn't carry your diary, right?" he had crossed his fingers hoping she had not carried it with her.

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously and said "Oh No! Arnavji, I always carry my diary with me!" a smile appeared on her face. He was disappointed. He thought he had the opportunity to find her diary out and read it! 

"I know, why you are asking this, Arnavji! To tear it off! But I won't give you that chance!" she thought to herself.

"Khushi.. good night!" said Arnav in a deep husky voice. He missed her in his room a lot. This was the first time after their marriage; he was alone in their room. He did not know what to do. He had no desire to sleep on the bed without her, alone. He rested on his recliner, thinking about her and her pranks! His eyes gave way and slowly he drifted into sleep on the recliner!! 

-         ….. …..

He was driving his Austin Car! She was sitting next to him! Suddenly she ducked!

"What?" he asked her. "Babuji's shop!" she said pointing her finger. He took a turn on the corner and they were off the road. He parked his car. 

"You have a car!" she exclaimed touching the car in amazement. He gazed at her.
"I have never sat in the car like this!" she said dreamily.

"Forget about the car! Come!" he dragged holding her hand. She went with him.
They were at the river bank, gazing at the flowing water without a word.

"I have to tell you something!" he broke the silence. She looked at him questioningly..
"Stay away from that boy and be safe.." he paused... and said "while I am gone!" he was serious. He avoided looking at her!

"Why? Why are you going?" she repeated her question.
"Don't ask the same question again and again!" he was irritated. He gripped her hand. She looked at him with tearful eyes.

"He always follows me! Tells my mother about you!" she said in a bear whisper.
"What does he tell about me!?" he asked looking at her piercingly.

"Th.. that you are not a good person! Y..you are wicked!" she said stuttering. He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, his eyes spitting anger, he looked at her,

"And what do you think about me?" he asked her in a deep calm deadly voice. Expecting that she too would say the same thing!

"You are a nice and gentle boy! " he looked into her eyes deeply. She continued smiling, 

"Thought you keep hurting me with your grip on my hand!" her smile transformed into a grin looking at his fallen face. He immediately released her hand. She caught his hand and said

"But I like to get hurt from you! It is much much better than mother's beatings!" she still was grinning broadly. He locked his fingers in hers looking into her eyes.

"Let us go!" he said getting up. She sat there without moving.
"Let us go!" he said loudly pulling her.

"No!" she said "You go! I will come later!" she was determined.

"Why?" he was puzzled.
"Because, I saw that boy on the road. He has seen us in your car! You go and I will walk up the distance!" she said. 

"Damn it!" he was frustrated. He banged his fist and climbed up to leave.

..................

Arnav woke up with a start! "Khushi.. I know I hurt you a lot!" he said slumbering on the bed face down!!