57

"Arnav ji?" payal was surprised to receive Arnav's call.
"Hello Payal! How are your parents and buwaji?" Arnav asked her softly. 

"Yeah! They are fine! Do you want to talk to them?" She asked him.
"No! I mean.. I will talk to them later. Give it to Khushi, I want to talk to her!" said Arnav now desperate to talk to Khushi.

"Khushi? Where is she?" came a question instead of Khushi.
"What? Khushi is not there? She is not there with you?" he asked getting up in a haste. Everybody else in the hall got up too.

"No!? I tried calling her several times... but then Aakash told me she had an appointment!" Payal was thoroughly puzzled. 

"What? I mean... Khushi...!" he couldn't talk further. Aakash again took the phone.

"Payal, is Khushi ji there?" he asked seriously.
"No, Aakash. She is not here!" Aakash looked at his bhai's hollow face. He understood.

"Payal, come back as soon as possible! And don't tell anything to anyone now. Khushi ji has not yet come home!" he said disconnecting the phone.

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

"Bhai....!" Aakash too was shocked. Anjali came forward.
"Where is she?" she asked holding Aakash's hand.

"Di, she is not there at Guptas!" Aakash told her. Arnav was pacing the length thinking hard.
"Where she could have gone? .... She was not there at her usual places. "Mandir?" he thought aloud. Everybody looked at him.

"Yeah! Possible! She might have gone to the mandir. Di tell me her favorite mandir. I will go!" Aakash said.

"Aakash, you go to the bade mandir. I will go to the banyan wale mandir, Di you take the driver and go to the mandir at chandani chouk!" Arnav frantically gave instruction. 

"Hello hi bye bye... there are thousands of mandirs in Delhi, will you search all of them? She will come back. You don't have to be so panic!" Mami did not approve the idea of visiting mandirs in search of Khushi.

"Shut up Manorama! This is a thing to worry! She is missing Manorama!" Nani said half sternly half worried. Mamiji kept quiet jerking her head back.

"I will call up papaji" said Anjali.
"Di, No! wait!" Arnav stopped her. 

"We will wait for some time and then call papaji. He will be unnecessarily worried" She nodded.
Arnav' phone rang. It was papaji.

"Puttar, where are you? Where is Khushi puttar? I called up Guptas, she is not there!" he said in a worried tone.

"Papaji, I don't know!" Arnav was panic. "She might have gone to the mandir. We are going there." Arnav said and promised him to call immediately.

They checked all her favorite temples in vain. She was nowhere to be found. They all came back with dropped shoulders.

********* **

Papaji was panic too. Mummiji tried to console him that Khushi would be alright. But she herself did not have any confidence that Khushi will be alright. 

"Dad, we should inform police!" said raj getting up and dialing Arnav's number.
"What if she again is abducted?" Raj asked Arnav.

"Yeah! You are right. I should inform police!" he said.
He dialed commissioner's number.

"Yes Mr. Raizada, Mr. Balwindar Singh had called up just now. We will look into it.! " said the commissioner.

"Do you want this to be publicized? Like giving photo in papers or in media?" asked the commissioner.

"No! No! Please try to do it discretely!" Arnav requested.
"Yeah, even Mr. Balwindar Singh wanted it to be discrete!" confirmed the commissioner.
Arnav looked at Aakash helplessly.

"Where is she? If she was kidnapped, someone should have called by now. Its almost seven hours since she left home!" thought Arnav.
"Has Lavanya or Sham done something to her?" he was panic struck. He dialed commissioner's number to tell him about his fears. 

Papaji was restless so was everyone in the mansion in Kolkata. Anjali had called up Shondeep. He went to papaji to be with him. It seemed, papaji could not think of any solution. His mind was blocked. He felt paralyzed. Everyone just kept staring at each other for some way out to find out Khushi.

He dialed Dasgupta's number. It was late in the night but Papaji couldn't help dialing his number.
"What is it, Balwindar?" asked Dasgupta little irritated. He was not happy with Khushi. She was the first person to have missed his appointment and had got away with it. And now Balwindar is troubling him.

"Das...!" papaji called out in despair. Dasguta could feel something was wrong.
"What?" he asked this time not bashing Balwindar for calling Das!

"Das... She is missing!" Balwindar could not say anything more!
"What? Who is missing?" Dasgupta wanted the confirmation.

"Khushi is missing!" said Balwindar and Dasgupta got up from the bed with a jerk.
"That's why she missed my appointment! But where is she? The Court case? The kidnapping? Suicide? Murder? Accident? His mind started racing with possibilities. He needed to rule out and zero down on one. 

"Balwindar, don't panic. I am here in Delhi! I will see what can be done! Keep me updated!" said Dasgupta. Papaji disconnected.

"See, if its kidnapping, there would be some demands. We haven't received any, yet. The other possibility could be...!" Elsa spoke finally. They all looked at her with hope. She might suggest some solution. They listened to her with rapt attention.

"The possibility could be... Khushi may have gone away... somewhere on her own!" Elsa blurted out the possibility.

"But, why? Why would she do that?" asked papaji desperately.

"Look at her problems.. a normal person would have collapsed by now. Khushi is a brave and strong girl, but she too has her own limitations!" Elsa deduced the logic. Everyone gaped at her.
"Do you mean she may have done something to herself?" Papaji asked in an aghast voice.

"No! She wouldn't do that. I know for sure, she will not do that!" Elsa assured everyone.
"What I mean is, maybe she may have gone away somewhere, from everyone else, or may be for some work? Or she might have boarded the plane to come here?" 

"You know her... what her buwaji called "Sanak devi!" Elsa had a faint smile on her face.
"She may have gone on her mission alone. She did that before... she strikes alone...I am sure she is on some mission...!" Elsa concluded her logic.

"But how do we find that out?" papaji asked the basic question. Now that Elsa has opened up the topic, the block in his mind was flushed. His brain started working...

"Wait a minute... if she on her own... she might need money...did she carry money?" he dialed Arnav's number

"Puttar, did she carry money today?" he asked Arnav. Arnav had no idea how much she carried with her. But he knew, normally she did not carry more money, not beyond a few thousands.
"Wait..Wait Dad!" Elsa screamed. Papaji looked at her keeping the phone on.

"Dad, can we keep a tab on her card? We might get some clue!! Like if she withdraws money then she is on her own... and we will get her location .. from where she withdraws money!" Elsa was all excited at her own rational solution. Arnav heard it. He dashed to the landline to inform the helpline of the bank.

"Chote, see her messages, if she has withdrawn money, there may be a message of withdrawal in her mobile!" Arnav looked around. The security guard had delivered the mobile.

He scanned through the messages... 

"Yes... she has withdrawn twenty thousand .... From...Rajiv chouk near Cannaught Place, New Delhi... ! Arnav read the message... at 19:21 hours today." Arnav gave the information to Papaji.
Payal had never stopped crying. She was unable to assimilate anything. 

"She didn't even tell me what happened at the court!" Anjali said loudly.
"Di, Lavanya gave her deposition in favour of Sham!" said Aakash growing worried about Khushi.

Its just an hours drive, she should have come back now!" he said. "Drive?"
"Bhai, car? She has taken a car today. She drove!" Aakash looked at his bhai.

"Car? She is driving? Where is her car? We can locate the car!" Arnav's face brightened up.
He dialed the police station to give this new information about money withdrawal and the car number.

"Khushi, where are you? Damn it!" Arnav blurted in frustration.
"Accident?" Arnav's mind thought the worst, panic struck.

"Aakash, Accident?" he swallowed hard.
"Bahi, I will call Aman and ask him to check...!" he dialed Aman's number.
Two families were wide awake the whole night worrying about and trying hard to find out Khushi.

The third family oblivious to these problems was angry with Khushi that she did not come to meet them!!

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

It was six in the morning and still there was no trace of Khushi. Something was wrong! Very very wrong. Arnav was sitting on the sofa keeping his cup of tea untouched. He did not know what to do. He had considered all the possibilities. 

"What if she did not withdraw the money and was made to withdraw by the kidnapper?" Aakash had asked to Arnav's despair.

"Aakash, if kidnapper wanted money it wouldn't be only 20 thousand! Chote what was her limit of withdrawal?" Anjali dismissed the idea of kidnapping.
"Arnav did not know! But he was sure that it was much more than mere 20 K.!" He kept gazing at the floor.
"Chote, here have tea!" Nani ordered him with a fresh cup of tea. He took it absentmindedly, still thinking hard on the possibilities. No one had slept even for a minute.
"Diary?" Arnav had a flash wave of the possibility.

"Diary.... I might get some clue from her diary!" he thought getting up with a jerk. He ran back to his room to search it around. He turned his room upside down in vain again. "She cannot take the diary along with her. That's impossible!" he thought to himself optimistically. I will have to search the diary. That will give me the clue!" he was sure. That was the only thing which would help him find his Khushi. But he did not know that Khushi had taken the diary with her to give it to him. He kept searching it everywhere not ready to give up!!

Arnav was in his room with his laptop open. He opened his personal folder and stared at the photos of Khushi in Switzerland. His eyes filled with tears... he called out in despair "Khushi...!" 

***** ******

After so many months, she was out in the market. She was maneuvering in the market absentmindedly. She did not even look at the bangle shops. She kept walking, all lost.
"See? Do you like this?" came a voice and she nodded without even looking at what was shown to her. 

"Do you think, this will suit him?" came a question.

"Yes!" she nodded again. Her mind was racing faster. "This is my last chance... I should escape...I should end it." She looked around for an escape route. She was held by her arm by an elderly lady and a man was at her other side. She kept glancing sideways.

She had no idea what was she going to do. The crowd started becoming dense.. the lady had lost her grip... she was free... the man was busy buying something and had his back on her... she ...

She broke into a run... without looking back... she was free... but she felt her legs gave way. .. Her knees wobbling... someone held her from behind...

"Khushi....!" Someone called out in despair. Khushi woke up with a start. Something was moving. She looked around... she was in a moving object. It took her some time to know what was it. She found herself in a bus. She looked around in fright. The lights were off and passengers were snoring. She clutched her bag. She had to wait till the bus stopped.

"Arnav ji!" she whispered in despair. The dozed off Arnav got up with a jerk!!

"This is not done!" he blurted and ran back to his room. He kept glancing at the photographs of Khushi again and again. He opened another folder "dreams" He started reading his dreams carefully from the beginning chronologically. He googled on many words he had mentioned in his dream description. 

He typed 'badi haveli' and got lakhs of results with every small or big place in Uttar Pradesh, Harayana, Rajastan and Bihar having a badi haveli. He had hit deadend. He kept glancing at his dreams. They did not give him any clue.

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

Khushi did not turn up at Kolkata also. Papaji was panic like never before. Raj kept consoling him. Mummiji too had lost all her energy to think rationally. Only Elsa had her head on her shoulders. Shondeep was there throughout calling frantically for some clue. Everyone was trying to utilize all the resources to find her out. No one had any clue. 

Police had started their search and investigation, sending her photos to every police station around. This was a high profile missing case. They had to be very caucious. They had enquired with Lavanya and Sham of course was in custody. He was interrogated by the senior police officer about his activities. 

Late in the evening Lavanya received a call. "Lavanya, did you know? Khushi left Arnav for good. She has left the house and no one knows where she is! It's a good news Lavanya... your coast is clear. Do not let go this chance!" Sham went on happily as his predictions were coming true. He did not receive any response on this good news from the other end.

"Lavanya? Are you there?" he asked waiting for her response.

"Yes, I am here and I heard it!" she said. She was confused. If this news is true, then they must have fought, they were not doing well, there was a rift between them. Then why did ASR react differently? She had seen a volcano erupt named ASR. He would have killed her any time. 

"What is wrong with it? Why can't I try for him again?" her mind hoped but her brain slapped her. "Did you not see ASR's rage? He can never be yours. You have landed yourself in big trouble, Lavanya!" her brain started in right direction but her heart pulled her over to ASR. She clutched her head not knowing what to do and where to go? She decided to wait and watch at the same time resolved that she would never talk to Sham again.

But Sham had achieved what he wanted. "Now I will walk free. I will find her out! I will have my revenge!" he thought curling up his lips in satisfaction.

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

"I think we have to publicize this if we want to find her out!" Said the commissioner. But papaji and Arnav were not ready for this. Somehow Arnav felt that she might return soon and she was safe. His initial panicky had vanished. He kept hoping that she would return soon. He clutched the mannat key in his fist for courage and confidence. The warmth of the key gave him strength.
It was almost twenty four hours since Khushi was missing. ...

Police walked in Raizada house with a news.. Khushi's car was found in parking place of AR Group!!

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

56

"How dare you!" ASR Screamed at Lavanya. Aman and Aakash were standing ready to hold Arnav back if he gets physical. Arnav was erupting with rage. He was screaming at the top of his voice.

"How dare you Lavanya, talk about our relationship, like that to Khushi!" he came on to her. She paced back in fright.

"So... Sorry ASR... I..!" She wanted to justify...
"Shut up!" he yelled at her. 

"ASR.. please listen to me!" she said looking at Aman and Aakash wanting them to go out of the sound proof meeting room. They stood there rooted to the ground folding their hands on their chests, loathing her.

"When did we spend the nights together, Lavanya? ANSWER ME!" he yelled. He was stripping her off her exaggerations. He was bringing her to the ground reality. 

"But.. I... thought... I mean I was just ..!" she stammered. She had not expected this outburst from ASR. Sham had told her how to explain her statements to ASR and calm him down. Sham had assured her that this was the final strike on his marriage. Her ASR would come back to her, after listening to her justification. She had done exactly what Sham had told her to, hoping she would get back her ASR. But here everything had turned upside down. ASR had erupted with anger and loathing. She could see loathing in his eyes. She was scared, frightened. This was not what sham had told her, how ASR would react. ASR was all set to kill her. She was confused and frightened. This was not she expected. She hit her back on the wall going backwards. She was scared to death. 

"ASR..Pl...Please..!" she was trying her best to explain. To explain how she thought of freeing her ASR from the clutches of Chamakili, how she wanted ASR to end the relationship, how chamakili herself wanted to be free from ASR.. how badly she wanted her ASR to be hers again...!

"ASR.. i.. I ... did it for you!" she finally gained some voice to be heard. ASR erupted again..
"What the hell are you talking about Lavanya?" he demanded in a deadly voice. She looked around at the duo waiting for a strike.

"ASR.. Please... can we talk in private? I want to tell you about Chamakili!" she mustered up all her courage and said. Arnav looked at the two and said "No! Lavanya, talk to me here!" 

"ASR.. Please...!" she pleaded with tears in her eyes. Aakash felt the need.

"Bhai, we will wait outside!" he gestured at Aman and they both left.

"Lavanya you have only five minutes...!" barked Arnav.

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

Aakash and Aman came out. Aakash wiped off sweat from his forehead. He looked tensed and so did Aman. They were afraid that Arnav night kill Lavanya and that would be a disaster. Aakash's phone rang. 

"Hello!" he answered the call descending the stairs and getting into his cabin. Aman stood there like a guard. He could see but couldn't hear anything. Lavanya had gone down on her knees and Arnav still very stiff, seemed to have calmed down a bit. Aman shook his head in relief and went up to his cabin. 

Lavanya, was crying her heart out in repentance to have done what she had done.
"Oh! ASR... I know I ruined her entire case..!" she felt sorry for Chamakili.

"Oh! Don't give so much of importance to yourself, lavanya, nothing will change the judgment! Your statement will have no effect on the case" he reprimanded her disdainfully. He loathed her, he pitied her brain power, he just wanted to throw her out.

She got up. She saw her last chance approaching... and leapt forward sobbing hard and before Arnav could dodge, she hugged him tightly.

"ASR.. I am sorry! Please.. please forgive me if you can... I know what I did. I cannot bear your wrath..!" she was sobbing and crying hard holding him tightly.

Arnav removed her hands from him and pushed her aside.

"Stop acting Lavanya, and leave the office!" he ordered her in a deadly voice.
She saw at the door, there was no one! She trying to grab him again leapt forward but was stopped by him.

"Leave my office before I kick you out unceremoniously!" he said pressing on the call bell.
"ASR, I am sorry!" she had nothing to say. Arnav dragged her out of the room. 

"OUT!" he yelled at the top of his voice. He saw Lavanya descending and going out of the entrance. 

"Aman!" he called. Aman came out of his cabin. 

"I don't want her in my office again!" Aman nodded.

Aakash came out of his cabin! "Bhai!" he tried to cool Arnav down. 

"Khushi...!" Arnav blurted taking out the phone.
"Bhai, she has an appointment with Dasgupta!" said Aakash.
"Oh! Yeah! I think I should go there with her!" Arnav turned to leave.

"Bhai, she said she will manage!" said Aakash. Even he had offered her to accompany her.
"No! I am going... I want to be with her!" he said desperately and moved out of the office.

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

He reached Deep hotel. Dasgupta had not come down from his room. He waited in the lounge waiting for both Khushi and Dasgupta. 

Exactly at Six, Dasgupta came down. Arnav greeted him rising from his seat.
"Where is Khooki?" Asked Dasgupta looking around.

"um... She is coming... I came directly from the office!" Arnav said guiltily trying her number. "She must be driving!" he murmured.

"Ok!" Dasgupta looked at his wrist watch. He started flipping the papers in his hand and glanced at Arnav.

"Ok! Till then, let me abreast you about the new developments!...." Dasgupta started off. Arnav listened to him half heartedly waiting nervously for Khushi.

It was 6:15 pm and Khushi did not arrive. Dasgupta looked stern.
"I think, she is busy with more important work! Tell her to call me when she has time!" said Dasgupta sarcastically and asked Arnav to leave.

Arnav dialed Khushi's number. "Where the hell is she? How could she be so irresponsible?" Arnav's rage mounted. She did not pick up the phone. He waited at the entrance of the hotel for her. She did not turn up.

He dialed Aakash's number. Aakash had reached home. "Aakash, where is Khushi?" Arnav asked enraged.

"Bhai, she must be with Dasgupta!" Aakash was oblivious.
"I am here with Dasgupta, Damn it!" Arnav shouted. 

"Wait bhai, I will ask Di!" said Aakash moving towards Di's room.
"Bhai, she doesn't know anything!" said Aakash gravely. Arnav did not know what to do. He tried her number again in vain.

It was 7.00 in the evening.. still no trace of Khushi.

"I know, this girl must be up to something. She doesn't care about other's time!" he blurted angrily driving away from the hotel. There was no point now waiting at the hotel. 

Dasgupta, looked at his watch. It was 7 in the evening. He did not see Khushi. "She never does this!.. did she forget my appointment? No ... not possible, cause Raizada was here!" Dasgupta started deducing the possibilities systematically. He dialed Khushi's number. She did not pick up. He grew worried. He knew she was weird but considering the present circumstances she should have been careful. 

"Balwindar, Khooki, did not turn up!" he dialed papaji's number.
"What?" papaji was surprised.

"We had to meet at six and she has not turned up yet. Her husband had come here but she did not!" Dasgupta was little annoyed. "She couldn't do this!" 

Papaji dialed Arnav's number in panic...
Arnav was frantically trying khushi's number. He was worried. Everyone in the family was panic. Someone picked up.

"Hello...!" the person called out.
"Who the hell are you? And where is Khushi?" Arnav yelled at the person.
"I don't know. I found this mobile at our main gate, sir! I am security guard of AR designs!!" said the person from other end. Arnav froze...

"Khushi was missing!"

They had no clue where Khushi was. Papaji and his family in Kolkata were panic too! Arnav's phone rang finally to papaji's relief. 

"Arnav puttar, where is Khushi?" asked Papaji immediately when Arnav picked up the phone. Arnav had no answer.

"Papaji...!" he sounded panic. "I don't know yet. We found her mobile at our office gate!..."Arnav froze again.... It dawned upon him .... He could imagine himself with Lavanya...! All his energy was drained out... 

"She must have seen Lavanya hugging me!" he thought thunderstruck. He sat on the sofa his cell dropping down. Aakash picked up the cell and told papaji that he would call him later.
"Bhai...!" Aakash placed his hand on Arnav's shoulder.

"Oh! Wait a minute!" Nani spoke loudly.

"Khushi's Amma, Babuji and Buwaji arrived this afternoon!" She declared looking relieved.
Arnav took a sigh of relief. "Khushi... you stupid girl... you will definitely drive me crazy one day!" he shook his head hopelessly and drank water picking up the glass from the table.
"Payal has already gone to meet her parents!: said Naniji to everybody's relief. 

"I will not spare you Khushi, for this. You will have to pay me heavily tonight!" smirk appeared on Arnav's face thinking about the sweet punishment he was to give to her. He took the phone and dialed Payal's number. 

"This silly girl must have dropped her mobile in excitement and instead of meeting me must have gone to meet her parents!" he thought in relief.

Aakash called up papaji to tell him not to worry!

All was well!

55

Khushi and Aakash came in the Court Room. Sham as usual was smirking. Khushi had requested Anjali not to come to the Court. "I will handle it Di. I will not be in the witness box, today. I will just see how low HE can stoop and come back!" Anjali reluctantly nodded.
Khushi was waiting for the session to start. The defense appealed to the Court that before continuing with the accused examination, the defense wants to include a new eye witness .
Outside, the call out was made for the name of new eye witness.

Khushi, surprised, looked at Aakash and the prosecutor. They too were puzzled. A figure appeared at the entrance. Khushi turned her face and froze. Lavanya walked in slowly and stood in the witness box for oath. 

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

Arnav was restless. He had asked Aman several times. But Lavanya had not returned. Arnav could not concentrate on his work. He couldn't establish correlation between Sham and Lavanya. He had to get it clarified from her. He tried her number several times which was switched off. Frustrated, he rested his head on back of his swivel chair.

*****
"I am going!" said the tall man determined to go. He could see a gathering in his room. All family members were staring at him. A young beautiful lady came forward.
"Please, Don't go! For my sake?" she pleaded. 

"Its only for you I waited so long, Bahena! Now I got to go!" he said looking at the young lady. The lady looked helpless. She looked at the elderly person.

"That's why I called you, to convince him!" he said sounding equally helpless.
"Bhai, please... Promise me that you will come back!" she held out her hand. He stared at her without moving.

"Please, bhai?" she pleaded again. "I came all the way from Delhi for the celebration.. and you are going!" she said.

"I have to go! I did my duty!" came a deep voice from the tall man. He gulped, closing his eyes.
"I am coming!" he whispered. The gust of wind took him to her. He could see her satisfied smiling face. 

"I am coming .... to you, forever!" he said it loudly.
"How can you do this to me?" screamed a shrill voice.

"I am your wedded wife! You can't leave me!" another lady charged on the tall man.
"Bhabi, please, calm down!" said the young lady in a soothing voice.

The tall man looked at the lady, disdainfully and went towards the window.
"Please, reconsider!" pleaded the old man.

"I did everything you wanted me to! Now don't stop me!" said the tall man turning towards the old man.
The tall man turned towards the door. It was dark outside. He stepped on the threshold of the room and lost his balance in the dark.

*** ***

Arnav slid down to wake up with a start. He was on the flood of his cabin. He got up hurriedly. He had dozed off. His sleep deprived night had tricked him in to a sleep during day time, in the office. He looked around. Everyone had gone for lunch. He took a sigh of relief and dialed Lavanya's number to find it switched off.


Raj Had landed on Kolkata airport and Elsa was there to receive him. The Nanded Project had started taking shape and the training was to be initiated. The things were running smoothly and they had appointed a Senior Marathi person as CEO to handle the day to day affairs of the Mill.
Raj looked serious when Elsa explained to him about Khushi's state and the Court cases. 

"Dasgupta Uncle is taking over! That's something to be worried about. Otherwise he would never handle lower court cases!" Raj thought to himself.

"Elsa, I think I should meet Khushi. I should be there with her!" said Raj. Elsa nodded.
"Even I want to be there with her, but the school and office has tied me down. Mom wanted to go, but Dad did not allow!" said Elsa. "He said it would complicate the matter! You know, Raj, Khushi had been alleged for having relations with Dad by that....!" She said.

"What?" Raj was shocked. "How can one talk like this?" he was anguished. 

"I don't care! I am going to meet her. I am going to go with her to the Court. I am going to stand by her!" He said with determination. "Damn with the complications... damn with the world!" He vented out. Elsa held his hand. She was happy that at least Raj would be there with Khushi. She knew Arnav was under restraint order. 

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

After the oath, Lavanya started her deposition. 

The Prosecution objected to her deposition stating that she had already given her statement in writing and there was no need for her deposition.

"Your honor, there is a need for her deposition as she wants to change her earlier statement. I would like Ms Lavanya to tell everyone why does she want to change her statement" said the defense lawyer looking at Lavanya.

Lavanya glanced at Sham. He gave an assuring smile. She started off.
"um.. I mean.. I was asked to give the statement, and I did!" she said fumbling a bit.
"What do you mean you were asked to give?" asked the defense lawyer little dramatically.
"um... I was told what to tell when the police asked!" she said resolutely avoiding to look at the prosecution side.

"Can you elaborate?" asked the defense.
"um.. I mean... um... Di and Khushi told me what to tell!" she said looking down.

"What?" Khushi's mouth fell open. She felt thirsty ....
She remembered her conversation with Lavanya. 

Lavanya was very nervous. She was literally shivering.
"Chamakili, I am so scared.. I don't know what to say... that.... That inspector gives me creeps... Please Chamakili, I don't want to do this...!" Lavanya was panic.
Khushi had supported her saying... "Lavanya ji, it is just a statement. Tell them what happened and what you know!" Lavanya had nodded still in panic.

"um... I mean... um.. Chamakili, tell me what to tell!" she had asked miserably.
"Lavanya ji! Don't worry! Tell them you were in the room and came out only after the police came in! it is simple. You tell them the truth!" Khushi had said matter of factly. Lavanya had nodded.

The same facts were now described in totally different perspective. Khushi couldn't believe her ears. Lavanya had continued...!

"I mean... I heard the commotion.. I opened the door... I saw Chamakili... I mean...Khushi fighting with Jijaji.. I mean Shamji.!" She said.

"Khushi asked me to stay in the room!" I kept the door ajar and saw what was happening!" Lavanya said.

"What?" Aakash too was shocked with the blatant lie. He looked at Khushi's aghast face.
"Did he carry a gun?" asked the defense lawyer.

"I did not see a gun!" said Lavanya looking down fidgeting with the fingers.
"Did you see his both hands?" came a question.

"um.. I mean... um yes!" came an answer after fumbling.
"And there was no gun...!" question cum statement.

"umm... i... i... don't remember!" she was confusing everyone.
"But just now you said he had no gun!" asked the Defense lawyer little sternly, looking at sham. Sham was staring at Lavanya's pale face.

"Yes.. I mean there was no gun!" she confirmed.
"you said you can recollect the incidence, right? So, can you tell us what exactly happened?" asked the defense lawyer. 

She started narrating in a stutter, stammering and fumbling... losing the continuity several times. But strangely her story was in synchronization with what sham narrated. Khushi felt drained out.
"Does she know what is she doing? Has she gone mad? How could Lavanyaji do this? This is blatant lie!" Khushi felt all her energy had drained out. 

"What is she telling? We were at the table and nothing in the dining hall, can be seen from her room." Khushi knew Lavanya was in the guest room. 

The deposition went on. It came on to the relationship dynamics.
"How long you stayed in Raizada House?" question.

"More than Seven months!" she answered.
"How long you were with Mrs. Raizada?" 

"Four Months!" she answered.
"How do you find her to be?" asked the defense lawyer glancing at Sham. Sham kept his fingers crossed. She better tell what I told her to tell!" he prayed. And she did.
"Objection~" raised by the prosecution.

It was overruled as the defense side assured that the questions were of utmost importance in this case.

Lavanya went on saying Khushi was a poor girl, always in want of money. She had fraud and embezzlement charges and had faced departmental enquiry in  AR group! She always fought with everyone around.  Arnav Singh Raizada hated her to the core.

However, Naniji and Anjali ji adored her as she was from Lucknow. She was brought in to teach Lavanya, values of family system, the rites and rituals and other cultural things. Khushi did it well and finally Naniji had accepted Lavanya !

"Then something happened beyond my imagination, suddenly one night ASR, Jijaji I mean Sham ji and Khushi walked in saying, ASR married her. I was shocked to the core.. " Lavanya went on with tears in her eyes. 

"I don't know what she did to compel him to marry her!" said Lavanya. Khushi sat there with dropped shoulders defeated completely.

"I should have told Arnavji about Lavanya... !" she repented. But it was too late now. The damage was done. The prosecutor wiped off his sweat. Lavanya had completely supported Sham matching her story with his. Sham's smirk grew wider. He thought the case is in his pocket now.

Prosecution begged for time to conduct her cross examination. Lavanya walked out of the court room not even glancing once at Khushi. Lavanya went out and headed towards office. Aakash rushed out dialing his bhai's number. Khushi still sat there thunderstruck. "How could Lavanya ji do this to me?" She was unable to get any rational answer. This was beyond her imagination. 

"I made a big mistake by not telling Arnav ji about Lavanya ji and how she was torturing me. I should have asked Arnavji, about their relationship. I know she was exaggerating the facts. If she can lie under oath, she might as well do it with me!" Khushi clutched her head trying to stop it from spinning.

She got up in slow motion. She looked around, the Court was preparing for the next case on board. She came out dodging the reporters lurking around for some sensational scoop. Aakash was approaching her.

"Khushi ji, don't worry! Our lawyer will take care of this. Just stay calm" Aakash had no words to console her. She simply nodded with a blank face and unfocused stair.

"I will drop you home!" said Aakash placing his hand on her shoulder. She sat in the car still lost in her thoughts. Lavanya's deposition would be a disaster for the case.

"Khushi ji, you have an appointment with Dasgupta at six. I will come with you if Bhai is busy!" said Aakash. He knew Bhai would be busy dealing with Lavanya. He had called up Arnav and told him everything.

"No, Aakash jijaji, I will drive down!" Khushi said faintly smiling at the mention of Das uncle.
"Ahh, Das uncle is there. I need not worry. He will take care of Lavanya .... Ji!" her heart did not allow her to call Lavanya 'ji'!. She felt relieved. She was confident her uncle will handle this and she really need not bother about anything. She actually smiled.

She came home. As usual Anjali was keen to know about the proceedings. Khushi had no energy to talk about it at all. 

"Di, I will just freshen up and come down. I will tell you what happened!" she ran up to her room. She sat on the bed, thinking about the proceedings. She went into the bathroom and splashed water on her face. She kept gaping at her own reflection in the mirror. 

"Why did she say that? Why did she say I trapped Arnav and HIM? How could she think that I would do this?" her eyes reflected pain and sadness. Her heart filled with darkness. 

"Khushi, why do people think, whatever goes wrong in their lives, is because of you? Why do you always have to take the blunt? Is it your fate or your deeds?" she asked her reflection in the mirror.

"But what have I done wrong? I always wanted everyone around me to be happy...!" she said aloud.

"But you always ended up hurting and making them unhappy.... K.H.U.S.H.I?" her devil mind screamed sarcastically stressing upon the word KHUSHI~~!! "The one who spreads sorrows everywhere is Khushi!" the devil whipped her heart again and again. A figure appeared in the mirror.

"Arnav ji?" she turned around to see no one in the bathroom. She again turned towards the mirror. Her Arnav ji had vanished. She took out the diary bending down. She looked at it disdainfully.

"This diary.... I don't need it. I don't want to see any dreams! I don't want anything else! I want peace and my Arnavji... for some time at least!" her heart cried out for herself. 

"I will remove all the possibilities of fights with Arnavji. I will not hide anything from him from now on. I will give this diary to him. Let him do anything with it. I don't want him to be unhappy with me. I will give him whatever he wants... even my life!" she chocked. 

Coughing hard she came out with the diary. She looked at the time. She was to meet Dasgupta at six. "I have to meet Arnav ji and tell him everything and give him the diary!" she thought with determination. She got ready. It was four in the evening. She came down and went to Anjali's room

"Di, I am going to meet Das uncle. I will come back and tell you everything!" she apologized. Anjali nodded. Khushi took out her car keys and drove towards office craving to meet her Arnavji and to tell him everything and to give him the diary and to get support and to forget everything in his arms.