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“Khushi Puttar… Do Char Din rahana hamaray saath…! Stay with us for few more days…” Requested Papaji when she too got ready to go with Arnav.  The other family members had already left for Delhi.  Khushi looked at Arnav,  

“Arnav puttar… “ Papaji pleaded.  Arnav looked away disappointed and then gave his nod.  Khushi jumped up..

“Careful…!” he yelled holding her.  She grinned sheepishly.  

“You are still a kid, Khushi!” Arnav said hopelessly.  “Look who’s talking…  A pot calling the kettle black…” Khushi exclaimed rolling her eyes…!

“What the hell… Khushi..!” Arnav twisted her wrist and she screamed in pain. 

“Khushi… May be we will visit Delhi some  time… Now you go with him…” Mummiji said and Papaji exploded.

“What? Why? She is ready to stay…! Why are you sending her?” He frowned and Mummiji smiled at Arnav.

“Ask him…!” She said pointing at Arnav and He turned his face feeling embarrassed.  Khushi looked at Arnav and turning to Papaji, said..

“Papaji… I will go now….!” Arnav felt better.  Papaji sulked.  

“Khushi buwa…..” Tej ran towards her throwing his school bag…!

“Careful…” yelled Arnav again and Elsa caught Tej from behind.

“Careful, Tej… I told you…” she said softly and he said loudly…

“Yeah.. I know.. she is pregnant…!” Khushi looked down with reddening cheeks…!

“But….” He care nearer narrowing his eyes…!

“Where is the balloon?” everyone looked at him surprised.  Elsa giggled.

“Buddhu…. Its inside her tummy….” Meera said nose up…! 

“You mean… the balloon is inside her tummy and the baby is inside the balloon?” he asked surprised, keeping his hand on his Khushi buwa’s tummy.  

“How do we blow the air inside?” he asked again pulling Khushi’s hand. 

“Buddhu…. The baby will blow the balloon…” Meera said in a ‘I-Know-it-all’ tone.   

“Wrong….! Khushi buwa will blow the balloon, then it will burst and the baby will come out…” Tej knew better….!

“Ok.. Alright, kids… we will see that later… Now take your bags and go inside….” Mummiji said seeing Arnav pick up his bags.  Elsa picked up the car keys.  

“Khushi puttar… take care…” Papaji said placing his hand on her head, blessing her.  She nodded with teary eyes…! Arnav walked out….! 

**********  *********  ********

“Bhai…That MOU is pending… Mehta Construction is again in the arena….” Aakash and Arnav were engrossed in the business talks and Khushi folded her arms on her chest angrily.

“These men will forget that I am with them…. Business, business, business…Damn it..!” she muttered frowning…

“Aakash Jijaji… umm… take the car to the office… you two get down there and I will drive home…” she said sarcastically.  But her sarcasm had no effect on the two.

“Yeah.. sounds good… I will arrange for the driver Khushi, you don’t drive…” Arnav said and Khushi’s anger shot up…!

“No Arnavji… I will manage… Aakash Jijaji.. drop me at the next circle.. I will hire an auto or a cycle rickshaw and go..!” She said sweetly.

“Are you crazy? “ Arnav shot up too…! She turned her face and looked out of window.

“Khushi… I am talking to you…! What’s wrong with you?” Arnav turned back to look at her.

“Nothing is wrong, Arnavji… Its already six in the evening… Driver ji must have gone for the day by now.  So I will manage…” she said keeping a straight face.  Arnav glanced at Aakash who was chuckling mischievously and the car turned towards Raizada House…Shantivan….!

******  ******   ****  ****

“Think about it, Sir ji… I am waiting….” Krishna Kant disconnected the phone and the person on the other side turned his back to the window.

“What else does he have in hand…?” The person in the plush office paced his room…! Krishna Kant had played is trump card…! The person in the highest power of Uttar Pradesh had jitters, thinking about the consequences…! 

“How am I going to cover this up?” He had no clue.  Thakur Rattansingh was out of custody on bail for ill health.  He suffered an heart attack and was hospitalized.  Other Thakurs were still in the custody and were to be presented before the court once the charges were framed….!

The thriller story was relayed for several days over media discussion and re running the turn of events.  Sham was on death bed… on artificial respiratory systems….! No one was allowed to visit.  The medical staff was to administer the medicines under strict security.  A high profile criminal was admitted, afterall.

“Why is he given so much of importance, as if he is some kind of king or something…!” Hospital staff wondered.  The unprecedented security was not for his health, but for his mouth to shut or open whenever required….! His survival and revival was of utmost importance.

“I must meet him…!” The person walked out of his office.  He must know, what Sham knew and where he had hidden the proof.

Krishna Kant was bidding his time.  His son would not die…! The entire Party Future was in his hands.  They all had seen the mayhem after the downfall of the Thakurs…! Krishna Kant with his son must not die….! 

The man dialed the number.  The RMO picked it up….!

“But Sir, that person is in coma…” He tried to make his point.  But the other person was not in a mood to hear excuses.

“He must survive… must talk before he dies….” The other person ordered with a hidden threat.

“What am I going to do with the brain dead person?” The RMO was hopeless.  “The moment the artificial respiratory system is removed, the person would be dead…” he thought gravely.

Krishna Kant had a bitter smile on his face.  “You won’t die my son… These people will do anything for your life….” He wiped his lips with the back of his palm  and entered the office of the RMO…! 

“We are doing everything, we can, Sir…” The RMO said with a shadow of fear seeing Krishna Kant stand before him….! 

“We are going to airlift him to US” Krishna Kant said and the RMO took a sigh of relief.  A huge burden was lifted from his shoulders.  He just nodded looking down.  Krishna Kant moved out of the Hospital….!