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Khushi did not get Arnav's call. There were no means of contacting him. No one knew where he was. Khushi tried to keep her cool. She knew, she should take care of the family in his absence. She continued. Aakash was puzzled too. He continued with his office work. No communication from Arnav made him to postpone crucial decisions. Anjali and Nani kept asking about Arnav all the time. Khushi had no answer. She knew nothing more. She grew restless. 

In the evening she was driving Anjali to the temple and she saw HIM. He was walking down the street clutching his phone to his ear. She had to control her urge to run him over. "What is he up to now?" she thought desperately wanting to know his plans. 

They both came home. Nani was waiting for them. "Khushi bitiya, Chote had called!" she said happily.

"What?" she took out her cell and saw, there was no missed call. "He called here?" she asked Nani.

"Yes, he had called and he may have to stay for some more days. He is in Mumbai!" Nani gave her the information. Khushi was confused. She just nodded sending back her tears. All the family members seemed to be satisfied with Arnav's call. 

Khushi came to her room after dinner. She was restless, pacing the room. Sleep was far away from her. She tried to assimilate the situation. Arnav wanted to finish off everything once for all. He should have gone after Sham. But Khushi had seen Sham this evening. Then where was Arnav? What was he up to? She couldn't understand anything. "Arnav ji!" she called out in despair. 

Her phone rang. She picked up the unknown number! "Khushi!" she lost her control hearing Arnav's voice. 

"Khushi... stop! Don't cry!" Arnav tried to pacify her.
"Where are you?" she asked gaining her composure. 

"Khushi... I am fine!" he avoided answering her question.
"But I saw him this evening!" she was not ready to give up.

"Khushi... I really had some urgent work! I will be back soon!" he assured her.
"Take care of yourself!" she said. "Yes!" he again assured her. 

"Khushi, take care of everyone!" "Yes!" she said assuring him. "And don't worry if I do not call!" he told her. She merely nodded. 

“Arnavji…” She whimpered in despair.  “Khushi… I will be there, when you need me…!” he said gravely and Khushi smiled with tears in her eyes.  Whenever she was in dispair, he had called her up…that moment! 

"Khushi, take care of your health!" he was really concerned about her health. She again nodded "yes!" she said.

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

"May I call for a new witness, your honor?" asked Prosecutor looking up at Magistrate Kalindi. She nodded. 

The maid came and stood in the witness box. 

"Objection your honor! She has already given her written statement!" objected the defense lawyer. Sham looked nervous. Dasgupta smiled.

"Your honor, her deposition is very important as she was a part of the conspiracy plan and instrumental in the knock down of Mr. Sham that day!" the prosecutor said. Kalindi overruled the objection and allowed the witness.

"Since when are you working with Raizadas?" asked the prosecutor. Dasgupta was sitting next to him. It created the sensation. The lurking media was kept out of the court premises.
"around one year!" she answered.

"Any past experience?" "No!" came the answer.
"Who from Raizadas hired you?" came the question. "Sham ji brought me in!" she answered. Sham grew nervous. 

"How do you know Mr. Sham?" asked the prosecutor. That triggered her. She went on narrating everything about sham and how he blackmailed, how he entered her house, how her husband died, how was her small house mortgaged, how did she lose all the belongings, how he tried to take her child away... and
How Raizadas helped her, how they were kind to her, how they took care of her child's education, how they protected her...!"
"He is the most dangerous man. He gave me some kind of medicine to administer it to Anjali didi. I did not but kept it safe. 

"The packets are tested in the lab and they contain a small percentage of arsenic substance which acts as slow poisoning" The prosecutor showed the exhibit. Her deposition continued.
She narrated "He insisted on creating more accidents for Anjali Didi. I somehow avoided. Madam, he had brought me in to kill Anjali Didi with my help, but I couldn't. I couldn't betray her. She is very kind and pure hearted. I just couldn't do it! He held my son a hostage... i couldn't tell anyone!!" The maid broke down. The prosecutor begged for a break after completion of her deposition.

The defense in the cross examination tried to catch her in details but she was very well rehearsed. She did not budge. She kept to her stance and kept on saying how dangerous Sham was. She alleged that her house was also grabbed by Sham under deceit. This triggered another inquiry against Sham. Dasgupta had a broad smile on his face.

The next cross examination the prosecution requested for was of Lavanya....

She completely broke down in the witness box and kept on telling, that she never intended to hurt anyone and it was Sham who misled her and tricked her to give the deposition in his favor. She even admitted that she gave a false deposition bending the facts. She admitted that she was wrong and that she was ready for any punishment for lying under the oath. Tables had turned! Sham's shoulders dropped! He was left with no ground to escape. He did not know what was coming on!! The storm was brewing!! 

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

"Come in!" said Rattan stuttering. Arnav walked in. He looked around in the hall. Rattan and the elderly person kept gauging Arnav. 

"Baithane ke liye nahi kahoge? Won't you ask me sit?" he asked looking at them piercingly. Both looked thunder struck. 

"Ji... Baitho!" said the elderly person gesturing at the sitting area. Arnav looked around and his eyes fixed on the old wooden carved rocking chair kept at the other end of the hall. He went at the other end watching the oil portraits of his forefathers. He stared at the portrait of his grandfather hung on the wall behind the rocking chair and sat on the rocking chair giving them another shock. 

"I think this is my rightful place!" he started rocking the chair. Rattan and the elderly person looked aghast. The servants had gathered and were peeping to look at this new guest.
"Apane gharwalonse nahi milavaoge? Won't you introduce me to your family?" he asked in a deep deadly voice. 

"umm? Yes!" the elderly person gestured Rattan to call the family members. Arnav had a smile on his face. Rattan was frightened to the core. Something strange was happening. Arnav was sitting on the rocking chair of Shamsher Singh Thakur, which no one else dared touching it. It was said that the chair was haunted!! Arnav looked comfortable on the chair, as if it was his for ages! Rattan was shivering!

Rattan called all his family members... his children, his uncles and the elderly person introduced them to Arnav... He did not know what to call him. Arnav solved his difficulty. He introduced himself.

"Hello, I am Arnav Singh Raizada... I mean Thakur! The only Son of Nirmal Singh Thakur and the only grandson of Shamsher Singh Thakur!" he voice bellowed in that huge hall. The elderly members shuddered. The younger generation looked confused. Arnav looked at all of them folding his hands and bringing a smile on his face. He looked at the elderly person questioningly.

"Women do not come out here!" said the elderly person defiantly.
"And you?" asked Arnav. 

"I.. I.. I am ... I mean..." stuttered the man.

"You are Rattan's grandfather!" declared Arnav in a clear voice. 

"um. Yes!.. I mean... No.. Nirmal Singh.. is..!" the elderly man was sweating. Rattan regained his composure and came forward..

"What is it? What do you want?" he asked staring at Arnav who had started rocking again. That gave shivers to the family members. "He looks exactly like his grandfather!" thought the elderly person. 

"Where is your father, Rattan?" asked Arnav! Rattan shuddered.
"He has gone out! To Delhi!" blurted Rattan inadvertently. Arnav smirked.

"What do you want?" Rattan asked again with fright in his eyes. He had blurted out the truth that the dead Nirmal Singh Thakur was not his father!

"I want to meet the family!" said Arnav smiling. "If the women are not coming out, I will go to them!" he said getting up. 

"Apana Ghar nahi dikhaoge?" he asked the youngest of the Thakur, a school going child! The child hesitated looking at the elderly person. He nodded. Arnav entered the house leaving the hall and everyone, dumbstruck. The thunder storm, cyclone was thundering inside their secure palace!!