90

“Khushi….!” Payal stood at the door and Khushi looked up.  Payal dashed in.  Khushi looked away…! Payal gathered her in her arms and patting her shoulder let her rest her head …! 

“Jiji…” Khushi was clearly in distress…! Payal knew, Khushi won’t tell anything now..! She kept stroking her head kindly, cuddling her lightly.  Khushi lost her composure…! Payal let her cry for a while and slowly, Khushi’s sobs subsided…! Payal wiped her eyes letting her rest her head on her laps…! 

“Jiji….” Khushi looked up with tear soaked eyes.  Payal caressed her cheeks…

“Why do I feel trapped in those old memories… that torture… insults… humiliations….I feel so lonely…! Khushi buried her face in Payal’s laps…

“That’s because…. You are missing Arnavji…” she said smiling and Khushi looked up in realization…! 

“But then.. . he is the one who gave me those hurts…” She turned her face…!

“And he is the one… who loves you unconditionally …” Payal reminded her the old days…! Khushi looked lost…! 

“I don’t know…. Jiji… I feel lost in a maze…” Khushi sobbed.  Payal didn’t know how to cheer her up.

“Chal… Khushi… let us make Jilebees…” she tried to get up.  Khushi contorted her face …

“No… No jilebees…” she swallowed her nausea … ! 

“Oh really? Don’t like jilebees, now a days… haan?” Payal teased her flicking her nose.  Khushi turned her flustered face….! 

“Toh.. kay pasand hain, Khushi? What you like?” she asked.  Khushi remained silent…

“Kheer? Methai? Alu puri? Chatpata chat?” she went on with the list to get a ‘NO’ from Khushi?

“Then what Khushi? A pizza or a Pasta?” Payal mocked… And Khushi nodded sheepishly.

“A what?!!” Payal screamed in shock…

“Pasta..” Khushi said in a hushed voice.

“Khushi….!” Payal grinned pulling Khushi’s cheeks and getting up said

“Let me check.. I think I can manage with Pasta… Got to have some packets…” Khushi nodded craving for Pasta…! 

*********  ******

ASR paced the room deep in thoughts.  He had finished reading the file… he must be prepared for the press conference in the morning… A thorough homework wouldn’t put him in tight spot…! He was ready… ready to bail out Rattan Singh…! He hoped… hoped that Krishna Kant doesn’t turn up before the press conference….! He called Papaji ….

“Puttar… Don’t worry… He won’t do anything… he is busy with his son…. I will make the air ambulance available tomorrow morning… and he will be off to US with his brain dead Son…” Papaji assured.   

ASR still lost in his thoughts… the nervousness crept in… The only respite was a light fight with the ever ready fighter…Khushi…!

“Khushi… Itani raat kya kar rahi ho? what are you doing late in the night? Had food?” he barked as soon as she picked up the phone and waited for Khushi’s retort.  There was a silence…!

“Khushi…. Answer me damn it…! Soi kyun nahi ab tak?” he chided.

“Ho gaya aap ka?” she retorted in no time, this time…! 

“Toh suniye… I am hungry and waiting for food..” she said and he looked at the time?

“What? In the midnight? Are you crazy?” he rebuked..!

“Did you call me at this hour to scold me like this?” She retorted in a shrill voice.  Grin appeared on his face…!

“No… I called to you check if you were ok!” he said teasing…!

“Oh yeah? Waking me up from the sleep, to know whether I am sleeping or not? How thoughtful of you…!” she remarked sarcastically…!

“Jilebee bana rahi ho?” he asked her gauging her tone…! She contorted her face…!

“No.. pas… I mean why are you asking me? I will eat whatever I want…. And what are you doing late in the night? Have some sleep… and let me sleep peacefully…” She said and before he could speak…

“Khushi… tera… pasta…” Payal was at the door…!

“Shuu… jiji..” Khushi pressed her finger on her lips.

“Suna mainey…” Arnav said smirking….

“Haan Toh?” she asked defiantly…! 

“Toh? Toh kya, Khushi…! Enjoy your midnight Pasta Party and have a tight sleep…Good night, Khushi…Miss me ok?” he said sweetly and Khushi felt a knot in her stomach.

“Ok.  Good night, Arnavji…!” she said.  It was only a day and she was already missing him badly…! She turned her face losing her apatite.  Payal gazed at her changing expressions..!

“Chal Khushi… eat this ..!” She said smiling broadly.  Khushi had lost her interest in Pasta but she couldn’t say no to her payal jiji…! 

“I will be with you tonight… Payal offered and Khushi slept in Payal’s arms with full belly…!  Arnav tossed and turned losing his grip on his sleep…!

****  ****  ****

“What?!!” The business world was shocked.  The one who turned the big shot Rattan Singh Thakur was bailing him out.  Arnav declared the sting operation was to reclaim the property of his grandfather who had bequeathed it in Arnav’s name.  It had nothing to do with the Economic offences and had no connection with the corruption charges against Mr. Rattan Singh Thakur.  Arnav went ahead and deposited the five lakh bail amount and requested the release of Mr. Rattan Singh Thakur.

He further declared that Mr. Rattan Singh can claim his 10% share in Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada’s AR Designs as a part of the deal….! The release of Mr. Rattan Singh Thakur … was all over the media.  Arnav entered the Thakur Mansion with Rattan Singh Thakur to meet his Dadi…! 

First hurdle crossed successfully…! Arnav sighed and touched Dadi’s feet.

“Main aap ko lene aayaa hoon, Dadi…” he said and Dadi nodded happily…!