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“Are you sure?” Papaji asked and the person on the other side confirmed.

“Humm…!” Papaji said deep in thoughts. 

“Sir..?” Shandeep was worried.  Papaji shook his head a bit and said…

“Nothing… Its just that… this Sham has flown back to India…” Shondeep was aghast.

“What?” he got up with a jerk.  Papaji asked him to sit.

“Don’t worry, puttar… He will be turned in immediately…” Shondeep nodded losing his confidence.

“But… how is it possible…?” his head was all riot.  What will happen to him and Anjali now? He had a big question ….  “We must get married as soon as possible…” Papaji had thought otherwise…!

“Shondeep…. We must postpone the wedding…” he said Shondeep got up.

“No..!” he said digging out his cell from his pocket.

“Shondeep .. wait!” Papaji raised his hand stopping him from calling Anjali.

“She doesn’t know yet…!” he said gravely.  

“Let me talk to Arnav…” Papaji dialed Arnav’s number and Khushi picked up…!

“Arnav puttar….!” Papaji started off gravely.  There was no answer…!

“Arnav… Shondeep is here…!” Papaji said and Khushi chirped from the other side.

“Shondeep Sir? I want to talk to him…!”

“Khushi…?” Papaji blurted startled.  “Where is Arnav?” he asked gathering himself.

“Why? You don’t want to talk to me?” Khushi asked doubtfully.

“No..! I mean.. nothing like that… I thought…” Papaji said tentatively.  Khushi’s eyes narrowed….!

“What do you want to discuss with him?” she asked sternly.

“Puttar… just the routine business matters…” he said trying to pacify her…!

“Business matters? Then why did you sound shocked hearing my voice?” she was right on…!

“No… I mean.. You usually don’t pick up his phone…” Papaji said weakly.. Khushi pounced…

“Papaji… are you hiding something? Give the phone to Shondeep Sir..” she demanded and Papaji regretted having called up Arnav.

“No puttar… Ask Arnav to call me back.. ok?” he was all set to disconnect when Khushi exploded….

“Papaji…! Tell me what it is…!” She waited for a moment and then bellowed…

“Is it regarding some crap news about that dead Sham Manohar Zaa?” Papaji winced at her fierceness.

“No.. I mean…” he stuttered… Khushi clutched the phone and said firmly

“Papaji… That Sham Manohar Zaa is dead… I am telling you… He is dead… and our science has not done enough progress of blowing life into a dead person… He is dead… Stop thinking about his revival and concentrate on his father…” Papaji listened to her with dropped jaw…

 How could she be so confident? He must talk to Arnav.  Coming back to his self, he ordered…

“You just ask Arnav to call me back…!” he disconnected banging the phone.  Shondeep was gazing at him.

“Shondeep… I will talk to Arnav and decide ..” Papaji dismissed Shondeep.  

The Chartered Plane had landed and Krishna Kant had accompanied his son on stretcher accompanied by a team of doctors.  They were taken immediately to the City Hospital in South Delhi with no media allowed….! The watchful eyes had relayed the news and Papaji got panic.  Even Ramani had confirmed the news that Sham was out of Coma, gained consciousness and was recovering faster…! 

“Why Krishna Kant was in a hurry to bring him back, if he was recovering…?” Only Krishna Kant knew the answer.  

“Khushi…!” he snatched his new phone and Khushi turned around thumping her hands on her hips…!

“What?” she asked.  He looked at her furious face and turned his gaze to the screen.

“Nothing…!” he turned moving towards the wardrobe.

“Nothing?” She wondered unable to understand the concern … 

“Papaji had called… he has asked you to call him….” She called from behind and he just gave a nod. 

“And…” she stopped as he turned.  “I am going with Anjali Di..” she resumed.

“Ok. Take care…” he just said.  

“Won’t you ask, where?” she asked scornfully.  “Ok. Where?” he asked irking her more…!

“Kolkata…” she snapped and it was his turn to receive 440 volts shock.

“What? No…!” he gripped her hand.

“Yes…! We are going…” Khushi said jerking away his hand. 

“Khu…” suddenly he was concerned about her health…

“No. Don’t!” Khushi warned, raising her finger….

“I already consulted Dr.Anita…” she said angrily looking at his shocked face.

“So… its already decided…! Why did you ask me then?” he snapped back angrily.

“I didn’t ask you… I told you…! As you always tell me off…” she turned her face.  Arnav couldn’t make out what was going on.  No one seemed to have told him anything…. Khushi had already vanished from the room.  He sat on the recliner lost in thoughts. 

Just last night he had taken her advice and tried to throw away his baggage of worries and this morning Khushi seemed to have picked it up on her shoulders…!

“No…!” he got up jerkily and came searching for Khushi. 

“KHUSHII…” He screamed and….

“Stop yelling…! The Khushis on the road would also come running….! I am here… Tell me!” she snapped and he turned to see her….! He sighed.

“Khushi… You don’t have to go… !” he said softly and she turned red…

“I didn’t ask you…!” she raised her voice and he gripped her arm…

“I said … No!” he dragged her into the room.

“You are not going anywhere…” he warned and she pounced on him…!  He overpowered her and made her sit on the recliner…!

“Now… listen to me carefully…! You are not going anywhere…And that’s final… You get that?” he said in a deadly voice and turned to leave…!

“Its because of that Sham ji, isn’t it?” she asked from behind and he stopped, his muscles flexing…!

“I know what you are thinking… But I also know.. you all are wrong… he is dead… Can’t do anything… “ she said disdainfully and he gaped at her over confidence wanting to believe her…! 

“Khushi..!” Arnav came back.  She held up her hand…

“Ask them… those who fill  your ears with the news… Ask them… Whether anyone has seen him personally… Ask whether they heard him….” She said animatedly. 

“Khushi… He has come back…” he sat beside her.  She looked at him…

“Dead people don’t come back..!” she said gravely and he shook his head.

“He is not dead… he is out of coma…” he held her hand. 

“We got to be careful Khushi… He is a dangerous man…!” he said pulling her closer.

“He was… He was a dangerous man…He is dead…” she again reiterated to his dismay.

“Why can’t she understand..?” he got frustrated with her adamant attitude… ! She was not ready to listen to anything….Kept saying Sham was dead…! 

“Ok..Ok! Agreed! He is dead… but his father is more dangerous… deadlier…!” Arnav said patting on her head pressing her closer to his heart.  She fell silent… His hands caressed her absentmindedly…! She was his biggest stress buster….Easier and reliever…! Teasing her, fighting with her, getting physical, and then.. pulling her closer and making passionate love, eased him out… ! Always…! Next morning he would feel rejuvenated with freshness and new ideas to take on the world again…! His lips traced her hair parting… She snuggled up, moaning, feeling warmth of his breath..! 

“Ummm….!” He suddenly withdrew his hands… He was inadvertently caressing her bosoms feeling aroused…! A few months starvation had overpowered his emotions…! She stirred a bit stiffly and he came back on earth…! Jumping to his feet he moved away trying to control his urges… Another addition to his list of stresses… Controlling his desire….! He must stop …  and he did.

“Arnavji…” she had wrapped her hands around his chest holding him from behind…! He stood still…!

“I will ask Anita Bhabi…If we can...” she kissed his neck turning him to face her.

“No..!” Suddenly he felt caught on the wrong foot.  She had caught on to his mood.  

“No, Khushi…!” he cupped her face…! Tears brimmed ….! He pressed her closer.. She groaned a faint sob….! She didn’t know how to fulfill his desire and he didn’t know how to hide his desire…! Going away from her was the only solution… Distant Relationship…! He couldn’t bear that thought… No! He couldn’t distance himself from her even in his thoughts…! 

Krishna Kant was waiting in PM's office for his turn, clutching a file....! His son was his trump card...!