69

Shondeep was nervous. He tried calling Khushi in the morning. She was unreachable. He was to leave for Kolkata in the afternoon with Raj. 

Arnav came down in the morning for breakfast. Papaji and Mummiji were talking to Nani. Anjali was in the Kitchen with Khushi and Payal. 

"Mrs Raizada" started off papaji. Mami looked up in surprise and realizing that he was talking to Nani continued her breakfast. Arnav looked up at Papaji.

"What do you think about the proposal?" he asked squinting at Arnav. Arnav was expressionless. 

"If everybody agrees, I will be more than happy!" she said smiling.
"Hello hi bye bye! What propojal?" asked Mami.

"Manorama, its nothing to do with you! You carry on!" said Nani sternly. Arnav still did not respond.

Khushi and Payal came in. Khushi started serving the breakfast. "Khushi puttar, what is your opinion?" asked Papaji. She looked nervous and glanced at Arnav. He still did not respond.
"Ok. Fine! Arnav Puttar, we were talking about the future plans!" he said glancing at Mami.
"I know!" Arnav said looking at all of them and then smiling said "I think we should ask Di!"
Khushi jumped up in excitement and ran to get Anjali. Anjali came out blushing! Papaji dialed Shondeep's number to tell him to cancel the ticket.

"I think tomorrow is the date!" Nani was with the calendar to see auspicious days!
"Khushi, ask Elsa to meet Shondeep's parents with formal proposal and ask her to bring them here!" Mummiji took over the preparations and planning. The entire Raizada House rose up in excitement.

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

Sham was in the police station talking about the closed file of unnatural death of Nirmal Singh Thakur. He started reading the file carefully and taking down the notes. He could see a direct connection between Sharma and Thakur. Sharma (Shamsher Sharma, Khushi's father) was the last person who had seen Nirmal singh alive. The motive could be established as the talked to buy the property were not successful and Sharma was furious on the issues. The deal could not be completed. Sham smirked.

"Khushi, now let me see how your beloved husband treats you when he knows that your father is his father's murderer!!" He was hell bend on establishing the crime. He called up Rattan Singh in a hurry. 

"Look here, the motive can be established and the charges can be framed!" he was all excited.
"On a dead person?" asked Rattan Singh from the other person. Sham closed his eyes to control his anger.

"As I told you, we only have to publicize this issue, under the name of justice!" he said in a deep voice. 

Rattan Singh planned to call the press conference over the week end.

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

Dasgupta was about to leave for his office in the morning when his phone rang. He was invited for the Engagement of Anjali and Shondeep. When he came to the office a couple of reporters were lurking. He initially ignored them. But when they asked him about his opinion on the reopening of the murder case, he stopped. 

"What will happen when the case is reopen?" asked one of the reporter.
Dasgupta took his time to answer. "I am not aware of the details yet!" he said.

"Will it affect any of your cases?" asked the reporter.

"I am not aware of the reopening of the case!" he said again.
"But it will not have any effect on any of the cases!" he said reassuring.

He came into his office and dialed his assistant's number.
"Check whether the application is filed to reopen the file. File a caveat to prevent them from reopening without intimating us!" he gave all the details. He smirked disconnecting the phone.
"Mr. Sham, let me see how far you go!" he opened the file for the DNA case. Mr. Rattan Singh Thakur was in deep trouble now, as Sham's accomplice.

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

Dasgupta was in his office waiting for his assistant. The caveat was filed for the intimation before the reopening of Nirmal Singh Thakur's murder case.

Sham and Rattan Singh Thakur had filed an application for the documents of the closed case under the pretext of new evidence. When the archived file was taken out a copy was sent to Dasgupta's office as an interested party who filed a caveat! The file was on Dasgupta's table and he with his assistant started deciphering each and every evidence. 

Smile appeared on Dasgupta's face when he saw the post mortem report stating that the finger prints of Shamsher Sharms were found on the dead Nirmal singh's right palm. There was a note further that few more finger prints were found on his torso, neck and face. These finger prints went unidentified without evidence. 

"File an application to reinvestigate these fingerprints!" ordered Dasgupta. He saw that there were around three different unidentified persons. He smiled stroking his fat double chin.
"Sorry Balwindar, I cannot attend the engagement. I got some urgent work!" he called up papaji and told him.

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

Anjali and Shondeep's engagement was strictly a family affair. It was done in a simple manner. Shondeep's parents had arrived with Elsa and the kids. Anjali and Shondeep both looked nervous. Khushi tried to cheer them up by cracking some silly jokes to the annoyance of Arnav.
"Khushi, Shut up! Stop your stupid jokes!" he kept telling her. She was not in a mood to listen to anyone. She was in euphoria! 

They were about to exchange the rings and the door bell rang. Arnav himself went to open the door anticipating Dasgupta! But the bailiff was at the door with the summons. Papaji appeared next to Arnav and took the sommons from the bailiff when Arnav got it signed.

"Ok! We need to send this to Dasgupta!" said papaji gravely. Arnav read it through. He nodded. The fifteen year old murder case of Nirmal Singh was about to reopen!!
Arnav had to put his plan to action soon! Papaji folded the summons paper and kept it in his pocket. They both came back.

"Who was it?" asked Khushi curiously. Both papaji and Arnav ignored her.

Everyone had waited for Arnav and Papaji to come back. The couple exchanged the rings and there was petal shower on them. Anjali looked really happy and Shondeep little tensed up.

"Easy, my boy!" Papaji thumped on Shondeep's shoulder sending him off balance. He clutched on to Anjali for support. Khushi giggled with Mami. "Hello hi bye bye, Naye Damaadji, aap hi Anjali Bitiya ka hands holds kar be! Naaki who!, hello hi bye bye!" 

There was awkward silence at this when everyone heard the work Naye Damaadji (New son in law!). Anjali suddenly became serious so did Shondeep.

"Nahi Mamiji.... They both have to hold each others hands... like this!" Khushi placed their hands in a clasp and said giggling. The mood changed! 

Arnav came forward and hugged Shondeep first congratulating him first and then pulled Anjali in a tight embrace. "Di..!" he had tears in his eyes. He was very happy for her... but the idea of leaving her after marriage tormented him. He closed his eyes resting his head on her shoulder. Everyone got emotional looking at the brother sister relationship. 

Anjali kissed his forehead, "Chote...!" she couldn't continue!!

"Chote...!" they heard a teasing loud voice and looked around. Tej was standing near them and uttering the word "Chote...!" in amazement. 

"Aunty, you call him Chote? What does that mean?" he asked her loudly.
"Mere Golu... Chote means a small kid!" Khushi would never miss this opportunity to tease her husband further. Arnav looked embarrassed. 

"Oh! Stop it Khushi!" he barked angrily and picking up Tej barged out of the scene. Khushi stuck out her tongue sheepishly!

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

"Ahh! That was so nice!" Khushi still had the hangover of engagement ceremony. Arnav looked serious. 

"Hmm!" he said.
"But why didn't Das uncle come? I had invited him personally!" she wondered.
"Oh! He had called up papaji! He had some urgent work!" said Arnav changing into night dress. 

"Oh!" said Khushi little disappointed.
"Khushi... What does he want from you?" Arnav asked her suddenly. 

"Oh! That is regarding Karuna di!" She was caught unaware.
"What? Who Karuna di?" he asked confused. She came back to her senses.
"Oh! Don't tell this to anyone!" she pleaded. He nodded, but asked further.
"Who is this Karuna di?" 

Khushi smiled. "You will know soon!" "And by the way, who was at the door?" she was successful in changing the subject.

"Oh! Nothing.. message from Dasgupta!" Arnav had by now learnt to divert her attention.
"Oh!" she got convinced. Arnav smirked. He pulled her into his arms and switching off the lights said.

"Now shut up and go to sleep!"

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

"Have you lost it?" an old man was yelling at Rattan Singh Thakur!
"You are inviting trouble! Who the hell had asked you to reopen the case?" the old man shouted.

"What? I mean this is our chance to put that bugger in trouble! He snatched away everything from us!" Rattan Singh was furious!

"You fool! Now he will snatch away your name also!" said the old man pointing out his gun at Rattan Singh in rage. Rattan Singh was taken aback.

"What?" he blurted.
"Now he will come crashing on to you and prove that you are my son and not Nirmal singh's as you had claimed to take away everything from him!" said the old man loathing. 

"Do anything.... Use all your political power but stop the case from reopening!" ordered the old man roaring in rage.

"Whoo why?" he asked.

"Vinaash Kaale Viparit buddhi!" Muttered the old man. "You have lost your mind completely! Your end has begun!" he shouted in frustration and made his way out of the hall stomping his walking stick.

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