30

"Dada...!" Ramani called up Balwindar Singh from Tihar Jail during his free hour!!
"I will be free tomorrow. The extortion case is withdrawn!" said Ramani.

"Meet me!" said Balwindar Singh.

Four days later they had a meeting in the outhouse of The Mansion!

"Dada, His name is Raghuveer Malik. He is nephew of Shamsher Malik, who became shamsher Singh Thakur, after Adoption. He went into adoption to his maternal uncle Baldev Singh Thakur!... The things changed from that day. He was a neglected child by his step mother. He came to Thakurs and the Maliks days turned to worst. He was considered bad omen by Maliks, killing his mother at his birth; proved to be lucky charm for Thakurs. He took over the business at the age of sixteen as son of eldest Thakur, the 'Karta' of the family and started spreading his wings. Maliks on the other hand went down the hill losing on every front. The properties were mortgaged for the fake affluence. The children, including this Raghuveer Malik's father became addicts. They started spending money on Mujaraas and concubines. Soon they were left with no means of earning. Within a span of eight to ten years Shamsher Singh Thakur had acquired most of the Maliks' properties!!

Shamsher Singh gradually started consolidating on his properties. He paid off the mortgages and got allmost all the properties of Maliks on his name. The residential palace and a land of 300 acres he returned to Malik for their sustenance. He took over Sheesh mahel! Thakur's prospered and Maliks doomed with one single adoption decision. " Ramani narrated the story.
"Dada.. this Raghuveer Malik flares up when someone talks about Malik family. He keeps blaming Shamsher, his uncle for their family's wane and dwindles. The rise of Thakurs was the fall of Maliks. They turned into enemy who once were related to each other. He blurts about Shamsher’s character also, says that he was characterless and indulged in women! " Said Ramani.

"So this is how the property got transferred over to Thakurs!" concluded Dada.

"Yes, this Raghuveer says, Shamsher took revenge for not looking after him well and for giving him in adoption. He says, Shamsher systematically cornered Maliks; Encouraging the children to indulge into pleasures beyond their means and coaxed them into mortgaging the properties and then bought the properties himself!" said Ramani.

"He died early when he was still young. He had one son. Nirmal Singh Thakur!" he said.
"Ok! So shamsher Shigh Thakur is Arnav Singh's grandfather! This makes sense!" Arnav is safe now. No one will touch him. He has clear title. Nirmal Singh is Shamsher Singh's only son and Arnav singh is Nirmal Singh's son! Perfect inheritance!! 

"The only hitch is that Ratan Singh Thakur, who claims to be Nirmal Singh's only legitimate son!" thought Papaji. "But I can take care of this with the help of Dasgupta! We can prove with DNA test, that he is not the son!" Thought papaji with a faint smile on his face!
"Job well done!" said Papaji patting on Ramani's back.

"Dada...! There is another Thakur's story which will interest you!" said Ramani looking at Dada.

"What is it? Go ahead.." he asked piercingly looking at Ramani.

"Dada... There is a mystery and tragedy attached to this Shamsher Malick/Thakur...!" continued Ramani for a long time unfolding the story!

Papaji listened to it carefully and after a very long time sitting speechless said
"This is unbelievable. A revenge, a curse, and deaths!" He was deep in thoughts. This was incomprehensible!! "I have to investigate!" he thought to himself.

"Ramani, I may require your help again" said Dada. "Anything for you, Dada!" said Ramani.
"This shyam is enough nuisances. He has turned their lives into a hell!" said Papaji. "My daughter Khushi and Arnav are entrapped in his tentacles!" 

"I know everything about them, Dada! I have my own sources to find out! I promise, nothing will happen to them. I will take care of that!" said Ramani to papaji's astonishment.
"I can finish him off within no time, Dada! Just give me go ahead and you will read it in tomorrow's news papers!" said Ramani. 

"No! I cannot do that! But yes, if I find it beyond my control ... may be...!" Dada kept that route open!

"Ok. Dada! I take your leave! I have to go back to my world!" said Ramani with heavy heart. Papaji placed his hand on Ramani's shoulder. Ramani turned and left.

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

The next hearing of the case was in July. They had a peaceful month. Khushi's dreams had reduced substantally. So did Arnav's. Rarely he saw Khushi writing in her diary. He talked to Avinash. His theory had proved right. Khushi was coming back to normal. Arnav had to control his senses to stop himself from reading her diary. He was curious to know what she saw. She did not know that he too got the dreams of the girl and the boy sometimes and keeps a secret record of the same.

Payal and Aakash went to Lucknow for the opening ceremony of the shop. Khushi and Arnav could not go! 

Anjali had scheduled a pooja in the house. Khushi and Payal had kept vrat, fasting for the day. Arnav had opposed this idea looking at Khushi's fragile state. She was adamant to Arnav's annoyance. 

"I will drop you to the temple" said Arnav.

"No need Chote! Khushi will take us!" said Anjali smiling. Arnav felt hurt that now he was not required. Aakash came hurriedly and said "Di, let us go! I will have to reach office early!" 

"Are you going with them?" asked Arnav astonished.

"Yes! Why?" he asked. Arnav was speechless. Anjali had a grin on her face.

"Chote, actually we all are going! I thought, as usual, you wouldn't want to come with us to the temple!" she said. Khushi had avoided his gaze.

"Yeah! Right!" he said taking his car keys and went out of the house. 

Khushi was disappointed. She wanted him to accompany her to the mandir. But looking at his attitude she did not pester him to come with her.

"Don't worry Khushi! He will come in the evening to break your fast!" said Anjali. She too looked sad. She had kept vrat but the things had changed. She had to keep it for herself. Her so called husband was in jail and her marriage was on the verge of annulment. Mamiji came out laden with ornaments. 

They went to temple and did pooja. Pandit ji was to come in the evening to perform pooja at home. Khushi kept fast for the day. In the evening Arnav called up saying he will be late. He had a meeting with his client. 

The pooja went on well. Aakash had come home early. He also had got gifts to Payal. Khushi's heart sank. She felt lost. 

"He is like that only, Khushi! Please don't get disheartened. He must have forgotten that you have kept vrat for him!" Anjali consoled Khushi. Khushi brought a forced smile on her face. Aakash broke Payal's vrat offering her water and sweets! They looked so happy and contented! Khushi felt happy for her Jiji. 

"This is the best couple in the world!" she thought.

Anjali was equally tormented. She did not know how to console herself and Khushi. They both were sailing in the same boat. 

"Come on Khushi, let us eat something!" said Anjali in a small voice. Khushi nodded but did not move by an inch. She kept praying her devi mayya closing her eyes. Someone kept a hand on her shoulder. This broke her trance. She looked up, Arnav was waiting with water and sweets in a plate. 

She couldn't hide her smile. He reciprocated and said "Break your fast, Khushi... I am starving!" Khushi looked at him stunned.

"Bhai had kept vrat for you Khushi ji!" came Aakash's voice. Khushi started crying silently.

"Stop it Khushi... and take this!" he gave her water and fed her sweet. She fed him. Anjali had a smile and content on her face. Her wild brother had begun to tame!!" 

"Arnav ji! Khushi was in his arms in their room. 

"Shut up.. Khushi!" he shut her up switching off the lights and pulling her closer.
"Why did you keep vrat for me? You have a sugar problem!" she asked.

"I know, Khushi, I took juice in between! I won't neglect my health!" he said caressing her face and kissing her. She melted in his hug!!

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

"Take this! Prashaad! Gud !" she offered jaggery to him. He looked at her questioningly. They were in Mandir! She was praying and he stared at her.

"We did puja at home, today!" she said cutting a piece with her teeth and putting it on his palm. He looked at her. "Hmm, have it!" she said jerking her head back and smiling. He ate it. 

"You said, you are going! Where?" she asked him. He did not answer!
"For studies?" she asked him again. He stared at her for a while and then nodded.

"Where?" she asked. He did not answer.
"Vilayat? Foreign?" she asked again. He reluctantly nodded. He never wanted to answer any of her questions.

"Not coming back?" she asked looking sad.
"I will!" he said.
"Really? Will you come back?" she asked in excitement. He just stared at her.

"When?" she asked. "Don't know!" he answered.
"hmm! My mother says those who go for studies, never come back!" she said sadly.

"I will!" he said with determination. She smiled broadly and swinging his hand in her said.
"I know, you will come back!" she pulled him. 

"Come on let us go!" she said. 

He did not move! "No! Go home! I don't want you to get beaten up again!" he said. He left her hand and moved away. She sat there for a while and returned.

"Where were you?" her mother was asking her with a stick in her hand. She was stopped in the courtyard of her home.

"Ma... Mandir!" she replied. Her mother started beating her up with the stick.

"No..... Please!" Khushi screamed and opened her eyes only to see Arnav staring at her.

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

The taste of the Gud was still lingering in his mouth. Smiling, the tall boy came back home. The boy went to his room at the top floor and threw himself on the bed. He got up and looked around. It had started raining. He came out in the terrace and got drenched in the rain. He came to the edge, his favorite place and looked down at the end of the lane.

He saw her with her mother. He looked on in that rain. Her mother was shaking her vigorously. She looked small and helpless. He stared at the scene clenching his fists.
Her mother was beating her up with a stick.

"No! stop it!" He screamed and woke up with a start only to see Khushi was looking at him frightened.

"What?" he asked. "Nothing... I just woke up!" she said sheepishly. He took a breath of relief. "She has not seen me waking up from my dreams! " He thought pulling her closer.

"Its ok!" He said hugging her tightly and closing his eyes again with her in his embrace. She slept again feeling secure. She thanked god that he had not seen her wake up from her dream!
After so many days she had the dream of the girl and the tall boy... so did he!