36

"Khushi..." Shondeep had called in the evening. "Hello Shondeep Sir, done the work! I have sent the emails to everyone. Your meeting is scheduled and Arnav ji will also be attending!" she said excitedly. Arnav was lying on the bed feeling much better. He sat up. 

"Shondeep sir, Arnav ji is here!" she said rolling her eyes and winking at him, hinting that he might not be able to talk to Anjali! Shondeep looked little disappointed, but he smiled back thanking her for giving him the hint. 

"Hello Shondeep!" Arnav was behind. Shondeep could see both of them; Khushi smiling broadly at him and Arnav just behind Khushi resting his chin on her shoulder, smiling at him. Shondeep felt happy gazing at this adorable couple. 

Arnav and Shondeep engaged in conversation, forgot that Khushi was there. She tiptoed her way out with her diary and sat on the chair beside the pool. She was at peace. She could write the night's dream as she remembered it completely. "Why can't I forget these dreams! I never remember my other dreams! Then why these dreams of that girl and the boy?" she wondered. But now a days she looked forward to seeing those dreams more and more! She finished writing and looked up startled. Arnav was standing behind peeping into her diary.

"No!" she screamed shutting the diary up immediately. He tried to snatch it. She ducked and ran out. Arnav had lost the chance. He was disappointed. He could not find out what happened at the mela that day!!

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

"What are you doing?" asked the girl.
"Nothing! You liked these Zumkaas, I bought them for you!" he said plainly, handing over the intricately designed earrings to her. 

"But... these were very costly...!" she could not take it.

He held her hand and kept the zumkaas on her palm. She kept looking at those. "So beautiful!" she appreciated the work on the zumkaas. 

"What are you waiting for? Wear them!" he said looking at her brightened up face.
"B..But my mother will...!" she stuttered.

"Oh! Shut up and wear them!" he ordered her. She obeyed. He gazed at the dangling zumkaas in her ears mesmerized. She was looking beautiful. He could not resist. He touched the zumkaa in her ears by his fingers. His touch to her earlobe, made she shiver. She took a step back and drew her dupatta over her head. He looked away in embarrassment.
They sat there speechless for a long time and then she broke the silence.

"Why did you do that for?" she asked him looking at him intently.
"What did I do?" he asked her in surprise.

"At the Mela….!" she said gravely.
"What? What did I do?" he was eager to know.
He gripped her hand.

"You....!" She looked away swallowing hard.
"What?" he almost screamed. He was losing his patience
"As if you do not know, what you did!" she said in mock anger and grinned at him.

"What did I do?" he was desperate.
She blushed. 

"Oh! Come on! Tell me what I did!" he lost his patience. He got up and stood before her grabbing her by her shoulders and shaking her vigorously.

She was scared at his outburst. She tried to break free. He was more desperate. He grabbed her closer and wrapping her with his arm, he asked her with gritted teeth. "Tell me, Damn it!" 

She had tears in her eyes. "You... you.. stopped!"
"What?" he released her immediately. He looked puzzled. He took a step back.

"I stopped?" he asked her.
"hmm... When I screamed!" she said.

"What? What was I doing?" he asked her again.
"You... you.. were...!" she again looked frightened to tell him what he was doing.
"Tell me damn it!" he screamed grabbing her furiously.

...........

"Ouch!!!! Arnav ji! Wake up!! You are hurting me!" Khushi was trying to slide away from under him. He had grabbed her mounting himself on top of her and was screaming ... "Tell me, Damn it! Tell me!" 

"Arnav ji!" Khushi screamed in anguish. She was hurt. Her arms were paining. He woke up. Looking around and then at Khushi... he realized his position. He immediately released her and pulled himself from her. He sat up beside her and stared at her. 

She was still in pain. He whispered... "Khushi...!" and touched her arm.

"Ouch! Arnavji! What happened? What you wanted me to tell you?" she asked him looking suspiciously.

He felt disappointed!! He had lost the chance again. He looked away. Going back to his pillow he slumped on the bed again. "Arnav ji?" Khushi had wrapped her arms around his neck.

"No, nothing! It was just a bad dream!" he said hiding his face in her necknook.

"I too had a bad dream!" she said. He could feel his heart racing faster than ever. Without lifting his head he asked her. "What dream?" 

"That girl and the boy were in Mela!" she went into trance. His heart thumping against his chest, he asked her...

"Mela? ... What did that boy do, Khushi?" he waited for the answer. He could feel Khushi's grip tightening around him, her heart beats louder than ever before! He did not get the answer!
"Khushi...?" he raised his head slightly to look at her. She was sweating...

"He .. He.. was beating up that man like a maniac..." she shuddered. He tightened his grip and hid his face into her shoulder, waiting further....

"He... he looked like you... You drew your gun....and the girl was shouting holding your hand...screaming...! But ... you.. the boy did not stop! ..... gun shot!!!" Khushi was sobbing uncontrollably. 

"You...he... sh... shot... me!" she said shuddering...
"What?" he sat up with a jerk.

She had still closed her eyes tightly. She was still in trance. "the girl shouted....!Stop it... stop it!" she whispered and opened her eyes.

"And...?" he asked her breathlessly.

"And?... and you were on top or me.. suffocating me, gripping me like a maniac!!" she said angrily. He felt relieved. He grabbed her again as if she was running away from him and putting his leg across, said "Khushi....!"

She felt his grip and suddenly coming back to her senses said.... "Sorry! Arnavji! Please don't tear off my diary! I will not share my dreams again with you... please don't tear my diary! Please.. Don't get angry!! Please?" she tried to break free from him.

He held her tightly. "No! Khushi... its ok!" he said "In fact I like your dreams!" he thought, taking a sigh of relief. At least, he had a glimpse of what had happened in the Mela!! He closed his eyes kissing her gently…!