65

"Oh My God! This means it is reincarnation! Oh, Kaali Maa thank you for making me a part of this!" Dasgupta was all lost and had stood up! He had joined his hands and closed his eyes. "Our Khooki... Oh God! This is incredible! Even I must have been a part of their past life!" he went on to the astonishment of others.

"Oh! Come on Uncle, Don't be stup..!" Raj realized what was he about to say. Papaji too was looked all lost.

"Yes, Das! I believe in reincarnation! These two ... I mean she is my daughter!" said papaji proudly. 

"Oh! I am so glad... I feel I was Mali kaka! I couldn't unite them that time... but now! Oh Waahe Guru! Thank you, Thank you, this was my chance of redemption....!" Papaji had tears in his eyes.

"Oh Come On Dad! Please... don't go ranting on this. There is nothing like reincarnation... DAD .. stop being so stup..!" Raj again stopped in the middle. He shook his head hopelessly.
"DAD, this is only a coincidence!" he tried to convince his dad.

"Hi re NandKishore! Mere Lalla ne iss Sanaka Devi ko Hamare Ghar Bhej diya... Hamase yeh sab karavane keliye!" No one understood what Buwaji was blurting... !

Shondeep was gaping at everyone with his mouth open. " If A'mma and Dad were here, they both would have joined Papaji's party!" he thought shutting his mouth and looking away.
"Oh! Stop this! There is nothing like reincarnation! It is not scientifically proved!" said Raj and Avinash together. 

"This is simple. There was a girl and a boy named Shamsher and Nirmala. They fell in love. They couldn't unite. They got married to different people. They both had a son each named after each other. Shamsher Singh Thakur's son Nirmal Singh. And Nirmala's son Shamsher! They died on the same day. Well, that's a coincidence! That's it! Finished! Their story ended! Everything else is only added masala!" Said Raj raising his voice and the psychologist nodded.
"Exactly!" he said.

"Arnav and Khushi met each other accidently and their love story started. These keys and the wooden boxes are very common, in every household that time. Remember? We too have a wooden box in our house?" Raj asked his mother. She nodded.

"The Keys... they can't even be called heirlooms! These keys are common everywhere in Lucknow!" Said Avinash concurring with Raj.

"See?" Raj continued. "Stop this bullshit every one! There is nothing like mystery and all! I agree with this expert in human psychology!" said Raj placing his hand on his Dad's shoulder.
"Stop relating yourself to this story Dad!" he urged. Both Das and Papaji were not in this world to hear any silly explanation from these so called atheists..! They both were sure about this incredible miracle….!!

"But, this is so hard to believe!" exclaimed Shondeep. 

"I mean .. this is a story of some 60-70 years back. And I mean this is incredible that Arnav and Khushi met and their love blossomed!" he went on. Raj shook his head.

"I mean look at them... They are totally contrasting personalities! In normal life they would have never got together!" Said Papaji still looking lost.

"Oh! Dad! Opposite polls attract!" Raj said hopelessly looking at Papaji and Das uncle's enlightened faces. 

"But look at the story and description of the boy and the girl exactly matches with our Chote and Khushi Bitiya!" Nani too looked lost in the story again. 

"I mean... they met accidently. There was no reason they would have crossed the roads. The girl Nirmala would never have met Shemshar, who then was considered princely!" said Nani.
"Yeah! But then they met and fell in love in their childhood. Their love story ended when they were thirty and twenty two!" said Shondeep the reality dawning on him.

"Khushi and Arnav are of the same age!" he said and everyone looked at each other in shock.
"Is this the end of their love too?" everyone had the same scary question in their mind. They kept gaping at each other. Even Raj looked worried. 

"Khushi? Where is she?" Asked Anjali looking around.
"Khushi.... Arnav.....where are you?" Called out papaji loudly.

"We will not allow their love to end here! We will all help them!" Dasgupta declared with determination.

Papaji went out to find his children. He brought them in again.
"How come they got attracted?" wondered Raj.

"Same as Shamsher and Nirmala got attracted to each other! Opposite poles attract…!" said Mummiji.

"You know, in our philosophy, it is said that the traits and features get carried through in descendents in a family. It is said these traits are prominent in the third generation! The grandchild  carries the same features and traits of grand parents" Said Nani!

"Oh! Yes! This is proven scientifically that the traits are prominent in the third generation!" Said Mummiji to everyone's surprise. 

" Gregor Mendel's Theory of Inheritance! Or the theory of genetics states how characteristics of one generation are derived from earlier generations. It is proved that alternate generations have the same dominant genes hiding the recessive genes!" Mummiji said to the astonishment of the psychologist. He merely nodded.

"Khushi and Arnav must have the same dominating genes as that of Shamsher and Nirmala! Arnav drew from Shamsher and Khushi from Nirmala! That's why their traits are similar They got attracted to each other in the same manner Shamsher and Nirmala got attracted!" she said smiling.

"Stop it Everyone!" Raj almost screamed. Leave it... stop this discussion. I mean... my head is spinning...! I don't want to understand how and why this happened! The fact remains is we have Arnav and Khushi !" said Raj. Everybody nodded. 

"So this needs celebration!" Roared papaji and Anjali played the music....
Khushi couldn't stop herself from dancing. Arnav pulled her back.

"Khushi, No! " he warned.

"Why? What’s wrong with her?" asked papaji suspiciously.

"Nothing... she had high fever!" said Arnav looking at Khushi's flushed face.
"What? Why didn't you tell us?" asked papaji.

"I am alright now!" she said still reddened face.

"No way! We are going to the Doctor!" Declared Raj.
"umm... no need! I already took her to the doctor. Its only fatigue and exhaustion!" said Arnav.

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

Khushi, Arnav, Papaji, Raj and Shondeep were in Dasgupta's office for further planning. Dasgupta had taken over all the cases. He studied the papers brought by Arnav from Shamsher Singh's vault. His will clearly stated that Maliks had no right of ownership. Arnav is the descendent of Shamsher Singh! He inherited all the property. But now Arnav was not interested in any wealth. He was preparing himself for the final battle. 

"I want to finish all this once for all. I want to free everyone from Sham!" he kept saying and Papaji grew worried.

"Puttar, tell me what do you have in your mind!" he asked Arnav. Arnav did not answer.
"We all are with you!" Raj assured. Arnav nodded in acceptance.

"I will not do anything in a haste!" he assured them back.

"Aurnob! Don't worry about the cases. I am going to finish him off!" Assured Dasgupta.
Arnav thanked him. They came out from Dasgupta's office. Papaji looked around. Khushi was missing.
.... ..

"Khooki! What about my work?" Dasgupta had stopped Khushi by placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Uncle, I told you! I am working on it!" she said flashing at him. He looked desperate. She had a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

She went and sat on Dasgupta's huge chair put on his spectacles and puffed her cheeks to look like Dasgupta. He just gaped at her.

"Mr. Dasgupta, don't worry. Do as I say. No explanation! No interpretation! Only Facts! Just answer in "YES, NO, TRUE, FALSE, I REMEMBER AND I DON'T REMEMBER!" She mimicked Dasgupta resting her hands on the arms of the chair and shaking her leg merrily.
..... ..
"Whats this? Is he asking her the fees again?" Papaji was furious! he and others barged into Dasgupta's office and stood there like a statue to see Khushi in Dasgupta's chair and he was standing like a guilty school boy in front of the principal.

"What the...! KHUSHI!" Arnav blurted under his breath. "How could she do this?" He came forward to pull her up from the chair. But Khushi ignoring everyone went on!

"So if you do as I say, nothing will happen to you! Everything will be alright!" she said getting up and placing her hand on Dasgupta's shoulder. Surprisingly he nodded.

"What is this? What's going on?" asked papaji looking at the duo.
"Nothing!" Khushi dismissed.

"What?" Arnav looked at Khushi.

"I know, I know! I had promised that there will be no secrets between us!" Khushi said raising her hand and looking at Arnav's face.

"But this is a secret between I and Das uncle!" she said grinning at her Das uncle!
"What?" Arnav could blurt!

"Yes!" said Dasgupta. "And if you have finished interrogation! Leave my office!" he ordered almost driving out everyone.

Khushi lingered behind and spoke something in Dasgupta's ear! His face lightened up.
"So be ready to do household work!" she said grinning at him. He smiled broadly.
"Once I am finished with your work, I am going to take retirement!" he declared happily.

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

"What was that?" asked Raj driving the car.
"Nothing, Raj Bhaiyya!" Said Khushi, thumping on his shoulder from back seat.

"Its Khushi's Advisory Services!.... My new venture!" she said giggling.

"What?" Arnav gaped at her.

64

Sham reported to the police station in the afternoon and went away hurriedly. He had a meeting with his old accomplice, Rattan Singh Thakur. The information was exchanged. Sham had managed to dig out the closed file of Nirmal Singh Thakur of his death some eighteen years ago. He was found dead and the file was closed unsolved. 

Nirlmal Singh Thakur had been to Lucknow and on his return was killed by unknown person for unknown reason. No charges were framed and nobody was arrested. Sham had found out that Nirmal Singh Thakur had been to lucknow to sell a property and the prospective buyer was one Mr. Shamsher Sharma. Shamsher was the last person who had seen Nirmal Singh Thakur, alive. But investigation proved that he had nothing to do with the death of Nirmal Singh Thakur!! Sham and Rattan Singh Thakur filed a petition to reopen the case of "Murder ofr Nirmal Singh Thakur!

** ** **

"The keys... could be heirlooms!" he had a weak explanation which no one could buy.
Papaji got up with a jerk. "That's it! And what about the funeral they saw together when they were awake?" he asked. 

"That's hallucination! They were hungry and were almost unconscious!" said the psychologist.
"Ok. Now I have some facts and a legendary story of a person... which strangely matches the dreams..!" Papaji created enough excitement, curiosity and suspense. Everyone gaped at him. He looked once at Nani and said "Arnav's Nani and Guptsa too have heard about this legend!"
"A boy was a loner since he lost his mother when he was a day old. His step mother systematically tarnished his image and he was called a cursed boy. He grew up alone in a Haveli full of family members and servants. He stayed away from everyone. He had an aura of some mystery around him. His step mother kept him away from her biological children. Only the youngest of her daughter was close to him. Only she could talk to him. He never interfered in family affairs but the family members were scared of him; May be because of the guilt conscious about doing injustice to the child. 

He went in adoption to his eldest, issueless maternal uncle at the age of fifteen. The moment he left his family, the family's downfall began. He went to his adoptive family and that family flourished. He took over the entire family business as the eldest son at the age of sixteen and with his business acumen took the business to the top.

The cursed child became the good luck charm for his adoptive family. He gradually took over the entire business and property of his biological family. The children in his earlier family hated him to the core blaming him for their plight as they were left with nothing, thanks to his step mother who tarnished his image!!... They were dragged on road. 

His business grew exponentially but his mysterious side of life remained in the dark. Though he got married and had a son, he never was emotionally involved as a family man. 

He was a ruthless person with no mercy or kindness in business. He achieved what he wanted at any cost by any means. He always had pursed lips never letting a single extra word leave his mouth. Everyone was scared of him. He didn't care!"

Papaji waited for some reactions. 

"The man I saw in my dreams is the same!" Arnav spoke after a while in deep voice.
"It matches your description!" said the psychologist. No one spoke anything.

Papaji continued...

"But he had a softer side! It was said that he loved a girl. He loved her more than he loved himself. It was said that the girl got married. The man was left heartbroken. His hatred towards the world intensified. He focused on his business and succeeded ruthlessly, killing all his competition with his business prudence. He became one of the top five steel manufacturers in the world. He succeeded in everything he took up with his Midas touch. The softer side of his life remained untold. It was a tragedy conventionally. They could not be united physically. But they were soul mates. No one could separate them. Their eternal love made it to a legend.
At a very young age of Thirty, he left everything. He transferred his business to his loyal associates, Most of the agricultural land he gave away to the cultivators, He transferred his belongings and a huge haveli in Delhi to his youngest step sister and left his adoptive family. He came back to his native and ... it was said .. 

He died of no apparent cause. He was just found dead on his bed with a silk dupatta on his face. It seemed he had just stopped breathing at his will. He had a smile on his face. 

It was said that the girl too died on the same day at the same time, and for no apparent cause of death. She had just stopped breathing....!" Papaji went out of breath and waited for some time to stabilize his breathing and sooth his throat with chilled water. 

Mummiji said nodding her head "This legendary story matches with what these two were dreaming of!" 

"Exactly!" the psychologist was excited too. 

"This affirms my theory. These two must have heard this kind of story in their childhood or infancy for that matter and are now recreating their so called dreams!" He said looking around for appreciation.

Papaji shook his head. "May be! But I know this is not a legend! It is a true story!" he said.
"When I came to know about this, I was not aware of the other side. The girl's story still remained untold. I knew they were cremated at the same time...!" Papaji said gravely.
Arnav got up from his seat with excitement, so did Khushi.

"We saw the funeral. We saw in that outpouring rain on the gomti bank!" Said Arnav looking at Khushi.

"See! Hallucination...!" Declared the psychologist. 

"Agreed! But now listen to Arnav about his journey upto the banks of Gomti river to see the funeral!" Papaji looked at him and he nodded.

"You know, when Khushi went away, I had a strange feeling that we are close to solving the mystery of our dreams. I accidently stumbled upon the images of old structures in Lucknow. When I saw this building of oberoi hotel... I knew that this was the badi haveli I used to see in my dreams. I went to the oberois and talked to the owners. I told that I was here only to ask about the old building. To make them tell me the truth, I talked about the Maliks who sold them the haveli. The manager said, that this was the ghost building and the top floor was still kept intact while everything else got renovated, keeping the look and feel of the old building intact. It was said that the Ghost of the owner still stayed in the room. I asked him to show me the room. He was scared to enter but I took the keys and entered. The moment I entered I got the deja vu feeling that I had been there .. in my dreams!! 

"I knew where the vault was camouflaged and opened the vault and brought the contents here" Arnav stopped to breath so did everyone else. 

"I Looked at the old papers and I found his Will. The property still belongs to his descendents. I found this key in that vault!! " said Arnav.

"When he died no one dared enter his room. The servants just maintained the room as it is. It was said to have haunted. Whoever opened it with malicious motive died a painful death. That's what the legend says!" Said Papaji looking at Nani and she nodded.

He was a terror in his lifetime. No one was close to him. Though married, he always lived alone. He had been ruthless, merciless and full of vengeance when it came to business. He literally brought his opponents on their knees. !" Papaji went on unfolding the story.

"Yeah, this is it! The legend... these two must have heard the stories... Remember this is a story! It need not be a fact. The story running through generations and everyone making his own addition to the story!" Said the psychologist. But papaji stopped him in the middle and said.

"I have the proof of this. "The Pioneer, which used to get printed and published from Lucknow, published the news of his death since he was renowned personality." I dug out the digitized copy of 28th July 1948. And its mentioned there that the cause of death is a mystery. He took out the paper print and showed it. 

"You see, when I heard the story from Khushi, I read the entire paper carefully and see here... in obituary a small mention of Mrs. Nirmaladevi Sharma's death on the same day. The cause of the death again is not known" Papaji looked at Babuji for confirmation. 

"Babuji nodded. Khushi's amma said "Yes, Nirmaladevi Sharma is Khushi's grandmother! She died when Khushi's father Shamsher was very young. When Khushi's parents died in an accident, we brought her with us collecting her belongings from her house!"
Arnav and Khushi looked at each other.

"And Shamsher Singh Thakur died survived by Nirmal Singh Thakur, Arnav's father!" Papaji continued. 

"The keys are heirlooms! They are of our grandparents. And these too!" Khushi was still standing flared up.

She took out a wooden box and looked at Arnav. He took out similar box from his bag and started taking out the things..

She took out dried leaves folded neatly in silk handkerchief, took out zoomkas intricately designed with real stones, took out choodis, took out silk scarf, a wedding photograph.. !"
He took out property papers, some beads, some pebbles, and a small photograph of a girl, a black thread, a broken mirror and some pearls!" 

"Look at the identical boxes... these are the heirlooms too!" she said looking at the psychologist. Everyone just gaped at Arnav and Khushi. "Do you still say It was only a legend?" The psychologist had no answer. He said "Might be.." 

Khushi gave a hollow laugh.
"You know, we were haunted by these dreams for so many months... and when we finally got to know what they were... we found out that we were destined to meet each other and no one can separate us!" she held Arnav's hand. 

"You call it anything... say that we have a psychological problem... but you cannot deny the fact that we found out the identical keys and the boxes, which we used to see in our dreams so vividly" Said Arnav putting an end to the discussion. Everyone else lost in their thoughts did not notice that Arnav and Khushi had left the room... 

63

"Dada, they are in Lucknow!" Ramani had called Balwindar Singh. "They are in danger!" said Ramani.

"What are your men doing then? Watch them in danger?" papaji flared up in rage.

"Dada, I have my people deployed. But that sham has his men all around. A local person is helping him! Before someone gets killed they should leave the city!" Ramani suggested.

"Ramani, keep a close watch and if need be kill him!" ordered papaji.
"Yes Dada, I will bring them home, safe!" assured Ramani. 

*** *** ***

"Biwi, I think we have to go to Delhi!" papaji came into Mummiji's room!
"Oh! You too? I already have booked my ticket this evening with Shondeep!" said Mummiji matter of factly.

"What? You already are going? And didn't even bother to tell me?" papaji was upset.
"You were busy doing other things!" Mummiji snapped back.

Papaji stormed out. "Raj these people are going to Delhi!" he said seeing Raj sitting on sofa in the hall.

"I know Dad! Even I wanted to go with them but decided to stay back with you!" said Raj.
"For me? Who said I am staying back?" papaji barked at him.

"You told everyone not to go to Delhi... it will have adverse effect.. blah blah..!" Raj tried to imitate Papaji.

Papaji gaped at him for a while.. "Never mind! I am going to book my ticket!" he said angrily.
"Wait, Dad! I am also coming!" said Raj getting up to book the tickets.

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

Arnav and Khushi were in Taxi, heading towards Airport. Ramani had deployed his people for the safety. Sham already had boarded the early morning flight to report to the police station.
Arnav reached Delhi in the evening and was surprised to find Raj and Shondeep at the Airport to receive them. Khushi was more than happy.

"Look at you! What happened?" asked Raj concerned looking at her happy but pale face.
"She has fever!" said Arnav wrapping his arm around her shoulder. She smiled.
"Now I am alright!" she said happily. 

"This is the first thing I wanted to do... bring her to safety!" Arnav had other plans ready.
They entered Raizada House to see Mummiji and Papaji waiting for them. Khushi ran forward into Mummiji's embrace and papaji hugged Arnav. 

"You know what.... I was not mad as he thought!" Khushi started off looking at Arnav.
"Shhh,... Khushi, stop it! There is enough time to talk about it!" he said looking at Mummiji.
Mummiji nodded. "Khushi, go and freshen up !" ordered Mummiji. 

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

"Khushi...!" Arnav called her softly. She turned to face him. They were in their room.
"Did you see... Lavanya... in the office ... that day!" he asked her stuttering!
She ran into his embrace and said "Yes, I had seen you two in a hug!" his hands from her shoulders dropped. 

"I.. I felt lost! Arnav ji, I did not know what I was doing. I just kept running away from that place..!" she was crying in his arms. 

"she.. she had told me about your relationship...!" she said during her sobs.
"Khushi... do you believe her?" he asked in her ears...

"Yes... I mean I did, that time!... but now I know she was lying.. !" she said tightly hugging him. She pulled him on the bed and said, "Arnav ji, I am sorry! Please for..!" Arnav kissed her hard to shut her mouth up. 

"Ok! Now get ready!" he released her from his hug after a while and said in a soft voice. She nodded.

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

Khushi and Arnav were at the central place and the family had gathered around them. Raizadas, Papaji and his family, Shondeep, Dasgupta, Guptas , Dr. Avinash and his psychologist friend were listening hard at what these two were saying. Khushi started off first. Everyone had read their dreams.

"You know, I was getting very scary dreams sometimes. Arnavji thought it was the effect of the thriller novels I used to read. But then Avinash advised me to write down my dreams....!" She told her dream journey. Everyone was amazed at the vivid dreams she was seeing... ...!

"Oh! These are not dreams! These are made up stories, in your subconscious mind.!" said the psychologist cutting everyone's imagination off. 

"Look at those so called dreams... they are so vivid, no one can remember dreams so vividly, unless...!" he stopped in the middle to have a careful read. 

"Oh! But natural... every time you woke up with a start feeling paralyzed or shocked.. you woke up during your REM (Rapid eye movement, where your brain flairs up becoming more receptive but your body movements are shut down!" people just gaped at him. 

"But then, why did I see the dreams in sync with hers?" asked Arnav trying to learn something.
"Same with you... you did not have those dreams but just made up stories in sync with hers"
"But then I did not show him my diary. He did not know what dreams I was seeing!" Khushi argued.

"Does she mumble in her sleep?" asked the psychologist. "Yes" was the answer.
"See? That's it. He heard her mumble and made up the stories!"

"But why would I do that? I mean I saw those dreams and wrote them down." Arnav raised his voice.

"That's not possible. Very few dreams are so vivid that we remember them later. 90% of our dreams are lost, as we don't remember them later!"

"These dreams are from those 10%" Papaji believed Arnav and Khushi.

"You know, I completely believe in dreams and that they do send some signals or premonitions..! Read these dreams.... it's a life span of two people deeply in love.. I believe in those....! This is some kind of drama unfolding a love story" Papaji jumped into the discussion.
"Oh! Don't be so sure about these... look at their dreams... All these are related to their present life. .. They saw a boy following her, That Sham followed and made their life a living hell!" said Avinash confirming the theory of the psychologist.

"All the dreams are related to the present life. They fantasized ! That's it!" concluded the psychologist. 

"But we had not seen the boy and the girl in our present life!" argued Khushi.

"That can't be true! No character in your dream is a complete stranger. You got to have seen them somewhere. It could be a person you have seen when you were just a small kid.! Or you must have read or heard stories about them" said the psychologist. Arnav and Khushi looked at each other with a smile on their face. 

"There is no such thing like premonition or signals sent from the dreams... dreams are extension of your awakening or your asleep life. Many a times dreams are outbursts of your suppressed feelings or the subconscious feelings taking a shape of dreams!" said the psychologist.

"Look at this... she was pinned down in a dark room screaming in pain... this is perfect description of labour pains... she was dreaming of giving birth to a child...any married woman would dream of having children! The way she has endured in her present life, reflects her dreams... she dreamed about pain not the joy of playing with the child. " he clarified.

"Look at his dream.. he says he cannot do it... ! It's a misconception that a juvenile diabetic medicines develop impotency... he must have got that fear somewhere in his mind ...!" The psychologist dissected each and every dream to prove them wrong that they saw some kind of past events..That happened. 

"Look at those key events... these two have each other's keys, that's what both of them said... the same they saw in their dreams... Somewhere we feel that those mannat keys protect us! Everyone from this part of the world feels protected!" said the psychologist. Avinash took out his key smiling at everyone!

Papaji was not convinced... he knew another dimension of the story. Khushi got flared up!
"Oh! Is it? You feel we saw our keys..? What we saw were silver keys intricately designed!" she said angrily. 

"That's what I say, you fantasized!" concluded the psychologist.

"Oh yeah? Then what...!" she was stopped by Arnav in the middle. "Khushi wait... let him finish."

"See, there may be some mystery stories your family members must have told you, when you were just kids and you tried to correlate those and concocted these stories. Lot of things happen in our dream state, Out brain projects things buried deep into our memories. It's a rarest of the rare thing that your stories match so perfectly...! This could be a method your brains could have used to vent out your extreme emotions! But that does not mean some reincarnation or something..! "said the psychologist looking at the disbelief on their faces. 

Khushi got up in rage and Arnav pulled her down again.

"But our Upanishad tells a lot about dreams and their significance in our life. They are the link to our past and future...! " said Nani.

"Yes, dreams are significant part of our life. .. but there is nothing like past or future life! Dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being! Your suppressed emotions are vented out.. the unwanted redundant memories are flushed out in dream state!" He dismissed the idea of mystery of dreams..

"The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is on dreams and their meanings... their dreams fit into the ancient philosophy about dreams, It explains the nature of the individual self and the Universal Self, as well as the concept of the transmigration of souls" Naniji was annoyed with such a summary dismissal about the theories of dreams.. 

"In psychology Dreams are the touchstones of our characters.! The psychologist concluded.
Khushi got up with a jerk...

"You think this is all psycho problems we both are facing?" she flared up.

"Then in that case what is this?" she took out a intricately designed silver key from her bag and so did Arnav. They had identical keys with them.

"I got this from my house in Lucknow!" she said raising her voice 

"And I got this from the room which I used to seen in my dreams!" he said with the same tone.
Everyone else was shocked. They just gaped at the mystery getting unfolded. 

62

"Khushi..!" Arnav entered the room. She was still sleeping. "Khushi, wake up and wear this!" he gave her the clothes. She opened her eyes with great effort and he helped her to sit up. She went and changed into the clothes he had bought for her. She looked at herself in the mirror. The clothes were of her choice. She smiled and came out. Arnav was not there. She was confused and sat on the bed not knowing what to do. 

Arnav walked in with another person. 

"Khushi...Doctor!" he said waving at the person. She looked flabbergasted. He just smiled at her.

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

He had hired a taxi and was surprised to see the same driver who drove them to the hotel yesterday night. "See? I had told you, I have seen this bhaiyya somewhere!" she blabbered. 

"This is the hotel car service, Khushi! I must have hired the same taxi!" he dismissed her doubt.

They were out on the streets, visiting the places she visited a day before. She was talking to him nonstop. He just listened to her. "Chaat!" she screamed in excitement pointing at the roadside chaat stall. He made a face. "Chaat? In the morning? Are you nuts?"
"There is no specific time for eating chaat!" she declared and asked the driver to stop the vehicle.

"Bhaiyyaji, Aap chaat lenge?" she asked the driver. Arnav looked at her in surprise. She was inviting the driver to have chaat with them, which he had never done before.
The driver shook his head "No thank you madam!" 

She smiled at him and got down. Arnav automatically was dragged behind her.
"I told you, I have seen this bhaiyya somewhere!" she was still stuck in that driver.
"Forget it, Khushi!" he said and ordered her favorite paani poori. She had it to her satisfaction and forced Arnav too! 

"Khushi, bass Karo.. we are here to investigate!" he reminded her. She packed a chaat basket to his surprise. "What the...!" he exclaimed. They sat in the car and she handed it over to the driver. Bhayyaji have it. This is really tasty. The driver looked at her in the mirror and accepted the parcel.

Khushi took Arnav to the locked house. He looked at her. "I know how to enter!" she said with a glint and next moment they were inside the house from the backyard, jumping on the fence and through the window. She moved faster and filled a big bag with the belongings and said

"Yes, that's it! Let us go!" Arnav kept gaping at her speed. 

They crossed the river again. The rain had stopped and the water level receded. She took him down the lane. They were nearing the house. He looked around mesmerized. 

"Do you remember?" she asked him softly. He had no answer. He placed his hand on the driver's shoulder signaling him to stop the vehicle. They got down and walked down the lane. He stopped in front of the construction site. 

"This is gone. Some builder is developing the property!" she said hopelessly. He gaped at the place and said, "Let us go, Khushi!" He followed him and they boarded the taxi again.
"I have seen you somewhere!" she again said and the driver turned his face. 

"Now, if you say it once again, I am going to change the taxi!" Arnav yelled at her. The driver had a smile on his face. 

"Ok. I change the question... Bhaiyya ji, kya aap ne hame pehele dekha hai? Have you seen me before?" she asked irritating Arnav more. 

"Khushi, have you lost it? We are going back!" he was irked. 

"Sorry...!" she said grinning at him, biting her tongue. He looked away controlling himself from grabbing her.

"Driver, take us to the hotel!" he made up his mind.

"Why?" she asked him "I said sorry!" she said guiltily.

"We are going back!" he said. The driver took a U turn. They were heading back.
Suddenly the driver changed the route and started taking the car in the interiors of the town. 

"what the..? where are you taking us?" Arnav's rage mounted the peak.
"We are being followed by two vehicles!" said the driver maneuvering his way out. Arnav looked back. Indeed they were followed. 

"Don't worry sir. I will take you to the hotel safely!" said the driver! And Khushi screamed.

"You are the one who dropped me at the Mumbai airport from Nanded! And you had said 'don't worry madam I will take you to the airport safely!!" she looked at Arnav. He was bewildered. 

"What?" he asked her questioningly. 

"Yes!" she said looking at the driver from the mirror. He was expressionless.
"Are you ok?" Arnav kept his palm on her forehead. "You have fever!" he told her and pulled her head on his shoulder. 

"You need rest, Khushi!" he knew she was blabbering. Khushi tried to protest but he held her head tightly and said.

"Shh! Khushi, we are going back! Don't worry!" he looked at the driver. The driver nodded speeding up. Arnav kept glancing backward. The two cars were still following. The driver dialed some number and said
"We are being followed... send another car.." he gave a different location.

"Sir, I have arranged for another car for you. You go to the hotel! I will mislead them!" he sped and was moving in the crowded market! Khushi was scared.

"I know, this is the end.... I know this is our end too!" she started blabbering again holding on to Arnav.

"Shh! Khushi, keep quiet. Nothing will happen! We will be safe!" Arnav consoled her. The driver stopped behind a car and they were transferred to another car. 

"Sir, he will take you to the hotel! Please stay at the hotel. Its not safe out here!" said the driver shaking hands with Arnav. 

"Bhaiyyaji... I mean..!" Khushi again started off. Arnav dragged her along and said "Shut up Khushi!" The driver drove off thinking... "She is such a nice and kind girl. Why does anyone want to kill her? And she is right, I dropped her to the Mumbai airport!" he dialed his boss's number to give him the update.

Arnav was pacing the room. Khushi had dozed off. Fever had made her weak and exhausted. 

"For how long I am going to avoid confrontation. I saw him yesterday. He is turning our life into hell and I, Arnav Singh Raizada, running like a fugitive from the reality. Every time he gets away with everything!" he was frustrated. 

"This is not done! Why am I running away from facing it?" he had made up his mind. He would take Khushi to a safe place and go after him for the final battle.

"Khushi, wake up! We are leaving!" he started packing his bag. There was a knock on the door. The room service boy was at the door. Arnav ordered him to get the bill. He packed everything and woke up Khushi.

"Khushi, we are leaving. We got to go! I have booked our tickets!" he helped her get up.
"Wh... what? But you were to take me to that old Haveli and...!" she could not complete the sentence. He already had called the taxi to take them to the airport. . The storm was brewing inside Arnav Singh Raizada's head! He must get ready for the final strike. This time again, 

Failure was not an option!!