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“Balwinder come home right away…!” Mummiji ordered and Papaji got panic.

“You Ok, Biwi?” he asked concerned.

“I am fine, Come home… Dasgupta is here…” she said glancing at Das who was sipping tea, relaxing on sofa.

“Das? What is he doing there with you in my absence..?” Papaji snapped suspiciously.

“Some business matters…” Mummiji said vaguely.

“Look… if you two are cooking up something… I am not a party to it.  I stay out of it…” Papaji spat.

“Balwinder, come home before its too late..” Mummiji spat back angrily. 

“What are you planning Biwi…?” Papaji asked suspiciously.  

“And be careful… You are alone with that… that… treacherous man…”

“I know Balwinder, who he really is…” Mummiji said glancing at Das.  Das was unaffected with what was going on between husband and wife.  He knew for sure, that Balwinder will come over once summoned by his wife.  He was waiting…!

“One hour..” Papaji looked into his schedule…

“Ok. Waiting…Das will be with me till then..” she said chuckling..! Papaji frowned at the other end.  A detailed plan to be hatched out to shield Arnav and Khushi from the evil….!

******  ******

“Rattan Saab…” a rustic, hoarse voice echoed in Rattan’s head.  He sat upright clutching the phone.  

“So …  the blood is thicker than …. loyalty…” Came the accusation.  Rattan refrained from reacting.

“Are we breaking this allegiance ?” another question hurled at Rattan.  Rattan waited for the other person to go on.  

“I am coming back..” Finally he declared and Rattan sucked in his breath. 

“How is he?” Rattan opened his mouth to inquire.

“Oh! He is in safe hands.. he will be fine soon…” the other person said and Rattan held his breath.

“You mean, he blinked out of Coma?” Rattan asked apprehensively.  Not a good sign at this point of time! Rattan needed time to make his moves alone and the news that Krishna Kant was returning was unsettling…! The phone got disconnected abruptly.  Rattan sat there deep in thoughts.  “What if they both return?” He must chalk out a fallback plan. 

*******  ******  *****

“Khushi…. Papaji..!” Arnav held out his phone but Khushi looked up suspiciously.

“On your mobile?” She asked taking the phone from him. 

“Hello, Papaji…” she went to poolside.  When she came back, others had dispersed. 

“Where is everyone?!!” she exclaimed and peeped into Anjali’s room to find Nani, Mami and Arnav there.

“What? Is everything ok?” she asked concerned and Anjali looked away blushing.  She gazed at Anjali’s face and turned angrily towards Arnav.

“You told her…!” she flared up her nose and Nani pulled her hand.

“Haan Bitiya.. and now there is no time even to pick up small fights…! Its not even a month for the wedding…” Khushi turned happily forgetting her sulk and coming to Anjali, said…

“So.. Did you call Shondeep Sir?” She squinted at Arnav and arched her eyebrows.  Anjali blushed furiously.  

“Di…!” Arnav took her hand in his and sitting on the bed he pulled Anjali into his arms…!

“I am really really happy for you…!” he said rubbing her back and she broke down in tears in his arms.  Khushi couldn’t stop her tears either…! She suddenly turned and vanished from the room and then reappeared with a plate full of laddoos…!

“Let the celebrations begin…” she yelled at the top of her voice and Arnav picked one laddoo….!

“No… No… not for you…” Khushi would never leave a chance to get even with him.  She snatched it from his hand…!

“Spoil sport…!” he muttered and Payal entered with another bowl…

“This is for you, Sugerfree..” she said grinning and Khushi turned to Nani. 

“Naniji… We should start planning from now on… I will come to your room and we will prepare the check list….” She then turned to Arnav and said in a sweet voice…

“I will be with Naniji tonight…” Arnav gritted flaring up his nostrils..! He wouldn’t let her sleep anywhere else.  He wanted her right beside him…! “There were a few months left for the third person to arrive in their lives and he would never be alone with his Khushi…!” a pain surged in his heart.  “My Khushi will not be mine alone…” he again felt jealous.  Making up his mind he said…

“Yeah… Ok! I will help you around…” he was no less in settling scores with her and Khushi turned to him surprised.  He raised his eyebrow.  

“Yeah…!” he said as a matter of factly and she turned her face to see everyone else grinning. 

“Khushi Bitiya… go have your tonic and iron tablets and come to my room.  We must start with planning for their visit to our place….” Nani grinned glancing at Anjali. 

“Yeah… we will all gather in your room in fifteen minutes, Dadi..” Aakash said chuckling and Arnav looked at Khushi smugly.  Payal would return with Aakash and Arnav would take Khushi along in his room in the night..!