109

“He is trying to mortgage his properties in Kanpur… Including Thakur Haveli…!” The man said and Krishan Kant nodded in deep thoughts.

“But these properties are in litigation… He can’t do that!” he thought.  

“He is ready for higher interest rate…!” the man said reading Krishna Kant’s mind.  There were people who would invest in such properties at throw away rate and wait for the court verdict.  The real owner by the time the judgement was given in his favour, would be squeezed to death with mounting compound interest on the loan, the expenses of fighting the case, the process and lawyers’ fees…! He wouldn’t have anything in hand… The land would be already impounded .. !

Krishna Kant’s face lit up with malice.  “Keep a tab on him.  Let me know who is willing to give him loan.  Send our man as investor… I should know what is in his mind…!” he ordered.  He had literally taken over Thakur Haveli when Rattan Singh had shifted his base from Kanpur to Delhi.  Krishna Kant ruled Thakurs…! 

“And…!” the man said and Krishna Kant again looked up. 

“There is rift between the cousins That ASR and his brother !”

“I know!” He smirked.  His efforts for ASR’s downfall was gathering momentum…!

“Keep an eye on him and keep me updated…!” he ordered dismissing the man.  He already had planted three of his people as employees in AR Designs.  The man had another news…!

“There is some problem between husband and wife…! She has left for Kolkata..!” The man gave another good news…! 

“Keep an eye on her!” Krishna kant dismissed the man. 

“So.. He is in dire need of money…!” Krishna kant stroked his chin gleefully.  

******  ********  ********  

“Don’t call me… I will call you!” he barked and disconnected.  Khushi looked at her blank screen.

“Humm…! He is like that only! He is like that only…! He…i..s… huff…hff..!” her voice trailed as the sobs took over. 

“Chal Khushi… be happy…! He is like that only…!” she got up brightly trying hard to bring a smile on her face, looking into the mirror. 

“He didn’t even think twice, while sending me away like this, and not calling even for once…!” she sulked.  

********  ********  ******

“Bhai… Please don’t do this, Bhai…!” Aakash urged, almost in tears.  But ASR didn’t heed. 

“Bhai… you know, I can’t handle it alone..!” Aakash was a kid again … coming into the room of Anjali Di and Arnav Bhai…! But he needed to grow up.

“This, you should have thought before raising your voice in the meeting, Aakash…!” he said with resentment.  Aakash hung his head.  

“But bhai… I just wanted to stop you from taking disastrous decision…!” Arnav looked at Aakash, thoroughly hurt. 

“Ok. Have it your way, Aakash…!” he held out the paper.  Aakash took it with shaky hands.

“Bhai… No! You can’t do this to me!” Aakash said in a ghastly voice.  Arnav shook his head a bit.

“No Aakash! You know, it is my way or highway..! But in this case, I am quitting…!” he said bitterly.

“Please Bhai… let it be your way.. please don’t quit…! Please..!” Aakash literally begged.  Arnav was unmoved.

“Chote…!”

“Please Nani…!” Arnav raised his hand to stop her from intervening.

“Its final Aakash…!” he said firmly not looking at anyone.  Mami had already taken the paper from Aakash’s hand and was looking at it curiously. 

“This house is still in my name” ASR said indifferently and Mami winced. 

“In his name? Is he going to oust us?” she looked up in fright.

“You take it Aakash, I will do the needful to transfer..!” he stabbed Aakash again and again.

“Bhai..” Arnav again raised his hand…!

“I request you to let Di’s marriage get over peacefully…!” he said in a even tone, mechanically, with no emotions…! Aakash sat down giving up…!

“Bhai.. No!” he tried to hold Arnav but Arnav had moved out of his room, glided down and was out of the house….!

“Payal…! what are you doing?" Aakash asked looking at her phone.

“Calling Khushi…! Why didn’t you tell me this, earlier, Aakash ji?” she asked hurt.  Aakash looked away dejected.

“Hello hi bye bye..! Will it be good to call her in this condition? She needs mental peace…!” Mami spoke sensible, seeing her son getting everything ASR had built.  She would rule Shantiwan…! She wouldn’t let this slip out of her hand.  

“No … You can’t call her…! Remember? What Arnav Bitwa said? Let Di’s marriage happen peacefully…!” Mami stressed on Di’s marriage.  Payal hung her head.  Aakash went out of ASR’s room.

Mami looked around.  “This room could be mine, too!” she turned greedily…! 

*********   ********  ******

“Haan? Then?” Khushi asked in a hushed voice.

“I don’t know, Bhabi… I saw Arnav Bhayya striding out of the house…Aakash bhayya was very upset…!” Ram Prakash was giving her the highlights.  Khushi was in deep thoughts.

“And you know, Khushi Bhabi?  Mamiji sat on Naniji’s place at dinner table and then got up suddenly… ! Mamaji Bahut Ghussa hue…! Mamaji went over the roof…!” Ram Prakash was at his best in describing the Aakhon Dekha haal!” 

“Humm… Batain rahana…!” she disconnected.  

108

“I am not coming home tonight!” Khushi listened to his grave words.  

“But… Tomorrow…!” she didn’t know how to tell him that the next day she was going to Kolkata with Anjali.

“I know! I will come to see you off…!” Arnav said and disconnected.  She sat on the recliner for a long time.  

“He doesn’t want to share his problems with me…! But I understand…!” she sighed ..!

“Chal Khushi… You need to do packing for Anjali Di also…!” She got herself up and went to Anjali’s room.  

“You know, what Khushi…? Sometimes I get worried for Chote…! He is such a jerk…!

“What?” Khushi was surprised.  His Di calling him a jerk? She gaped!

“Yes, Jerk! Sometimes he does not understand the feelings…!” Anjali went ahead keeping her clothes neatly folded, into the bag.

“He never understands feelings..!” Khushi mumbled.

“I mean… Aakash… he was doing everything possible to save the company and Chote just trashed everything…!” Anjali let out…!

“Save the company? Which company?” Khushi asked worriedly.  Anjali tried to coverup stuttering

“I mean… That showroom in Mumbai… I mean that crap company.. Aakash was trying to salvage the situation….” Anjali spoke but Khushi understood unspoken words.  She could visualize the board meeting. 

“Aakash jijaji must have suggested something and he must have blown his head off… !” Khushi thought twisting her nose, sulking…! 

“But what was that… ‘save the company? Crisis?” she grew restless.

“I will be right back, Di!” she hurriedly came back to her room.

“Hello, Arnav ji..!” she started off when he picked up the phone.

“Khushi.. Are you alright?” He asked concerned.  

“Yes.. I am perfectly fine… But.. You..!” But before she could say something, he had hung up.  She threw the phone on the bed in frustration.  

“And on top of that, he is not coming home, tonight..! Not done, Arnavji..! I am Khushi, Mind it!” she turned and picked up the phone.  

“Di.. I will be back soon…!” she said hurriedly and went out with the car keys..! Time to visit office to meet her good old gang and have some fun time with them…! 

*****  *****  *****  *****  

“Take care of yourself…!” Arnav’s mask of a tough man worn off in Khushi’s embrace.  

She was about to leave and Arnav arrived.  He oversaw the packing and went into his Di’s room. 

 Khushi had waited for her Arnav ji, nervously.  She was sure about her gang.  No one will let out anything but Aakash? She was not sure.  He was through and through ASR man.  But ASR was not ready to buy any explanation from Aakash.  Aakash was not a kid… He understood the danger and had put his foot down with the backing of his Mother and Mehra.  He could turn down the proposal and was given the responsibility to clean the financial mess ASR had created.  He had not met his Bhai after the row in the EGM.  He badly wanted to talk to his bhai to sort it out but ASR had cut himself off from the office.  

“You too!” she looked into his eyes and a mysterious smile appeared on her face.  He looked at her gravely and tightening the grip asked gritting.

“What?” she merely shook her head kissing him hard.  He reciprocated reluctantly.  There was something in her mind and she knew a secret about him.  He pulled her apart and holding her at arm's length asked her again…! She again lunged on him and kissed him.  “You are the best!” she said rubbing her cheek on his chest.

“Oh! And you came to know about it now!?”  He exclaimed scornfully.  She giggled mischievously.

“I told you today… That you are the best!” she said giving him a silly grin, irking him all the more.  

“Oh yeah! I am the best! Among how many? How many men you have in your life, Khushi?” he asked disdainfully flaring up his nose.  Khushi just loved his expressions… grumpy, morose, pursing his lips like a kid.  She giggled and the hiccup brought him back…!

“Careful…!” he thumped on her back.  She looked up grinning, secure in his arms. 

“You are a mystery, I never want to solve..Khushi!” he spoke gently in her ears and

“You are a problem, I never want to resolve…!” she bit his ear lightly giving him Goosebumps.  He pulled her closer… He was missing her already.  

“I will be there soon…!” he said letting her go out of his embrace.  She nodded looking into his eyes. 

“Take care… Call me… Miss me…!” she said smiling.  He was all sulking and she was smiling broadly.  

“And Aakash Jijaji is coming with us to the airport…!” she declared much to his annoyance and disappointment.  

 “Humm..!” he said grumpily.  She came back from the door.

“And… You don’t have to go to the office…. Finish off the paperwork, handover everything and come to me…! We have Di’s wedding coming up…!” she giggled again flicking at his nose and before he caught her ran out of the door…!

“How does she know…? Does she know? What? How?” he stood there flabbergasted.  

“And don’t ask anyone, how I know…! I know…!” She held her head high with a glint.  He grabbed her angrily.  She slipped from his grip and grinned…!

“If you think, you are omnipotent, I am omniscient…! I know everything, you mighty ASR!” she teased him sticking out her tongue and the mighty ASR felt powerless before his woman….! He smiled inwardly…! Now he was ready to take on the world, including his other family members…with his Khushi by his side…!

****   ***   ******

“What? Where are you going? Can’t even wait to see us off?” Khushi asked morosely.  Arnav just waved at them..

“Bye Di, Bye Khushi…!” he said turning to leave.

“Bhai…!” Aakash called from behind and ASR’s muscles flexed with his nerves tightening.  He didn’t turn but said…!

“Bye!” Aakash saw him going out of the house with moist eyes with Anjali holding his hand sympathetically.  Taking over was not that simple after all.  His bhai would severe all the ties, he knew…! Aakash would have to handle it all alone.  

107

Aakash, Payal and Khushi had dinner silently.  Khushi sleepily, and Aakash engrossed in his thoughts…! He had taken first step towards taking over his big brother’s business empire.  He needed to be very careful in dealing with his Bhai and all the more, with Khushi ji, once she came to know.  He hoped not!  Khushi ji should not know about this now.  She should be kept busy all the time… in Di’s wedding, in anything possible…! 

“Aakash ji…” Payal kept her hand on his and he came back to his dinner.  Khushi had finished already.

“Goodnight Jiji… Goodnight Aakash Jijaji..” she went up to her room sleepily.  Aakash’s eyes followed her to her room.

“What will be her reaction when she comes to know that I went against Bhai…?” he shuddered with the thought.  He is seen her fierce avatar before…! “No! She should not come to know…! I must warn everyone…!” he went to his room.  Payal began clearing the table.  “What happened? Why were they all so serious? I must ask Aakash ji..” she went into bedroom to find Aakash fast asleep.  

**********  ********

“Where were you last night?” Khushi asked still in the bed when she saw Arnav walking in early in the morning with his bag.  He ignored, threw the bag on the recliner and closed the bathroom door behind him.  Khushi got up and sat on the bed, her head spinning…! 

“Humm… This morning sickness….!” She muttered taking a deep breath.  She heard the flush and got up with efforts.

“Now he will need a strong coffee…!” she came out of the room to see Aakash approaching her.

“Bhai..?” he asked her apprehensively.  She just waved at her room.  

******  ********  ********

“Khushi, you ok?” Anjali asked concerned seeing Khushi sitting at the table with two coffee mugs.  She just nodded.  

“What happened yesterday? Arnav ji came home this morning…” Khushi asked Anjali and Anjali’s heart twisted.  

“He was busy with some clients…” she said tentatively.

“But you had a meeting, right?” Khushi asked suspiciously.  Anjali nodded. 

“That was some general topics on sales and turnover…” she said looking away.  Khushi fell silent calculating…!

“This can’t be annual general meeting…! Must be something else… Extraordinary meeting? EGM?” She thought suspiciously.  Staying with papaji, had taught her the the company proceedings…!

“Was there a problem?” Khushi coaxed again.

“No, Khushi… I hardly understand anything in company matters….!” Anjali dismissed further discussion and got up.  Khushi saw Arnav coming down with his bag.  He took the coffee mug, drank the lukewarm, sugarless, tasteless coffee and turned to leave.  Khushi stared at his back wordlessly.  

“Something is wrong….!” She concluded and got up. 

“Khushi…!” he had turned.  “I will be late…” he said and she nodded.  

“Ok! I will find out…!” she thought.  Time to revive her network in ASR’s office…! 

**********   ********  ********

“He is not picking up the phone…!” Aman had tried calling ASR several times.  Aakash and Aman were waiting for ASR.  He had not turned up till lunch time.  Aakash grew restless. 

Aman looked at Aakash.  “How much he has changed..!” he thought painfully.  The same Aakash, a few months back was the shadow of his Bhai, supporting in everything Bhai did…! Religiously, as if his Bhai was his God!”  Aman swallowed.  “In these few months, he is changed… for better? For worst?” Aman didn’t know.  He only knew, he should support ASR.  No matter where it took him.  

“When will he understand? Emotional decisions land us in trouble…!” Aakash blurted remembering the row in the meeting.  

“He never takes emotional decisions..!” Aman mumbled angrily.  Aakash shook his head.  “Bhai is losing his grip…!” he said gravely and Aman got up.

“I will try his number again…!” he said going out of ASR’s chamber.  ASR didn’t turn up.  Aakash called home several times in vain.  Anjali grew restless.  Aman’s phone buzzed in the evening.

“Aman Bayya…” Khushi started off sweetly.  Aman’s throat ran dry. 

“Khushi…How are you?” he fakes excitement.  Khushi knew him too well.

“Where is he?” she directly came to the point.

“Don’t know!” he said seriously.

“What happened?” she asked and Aman wanted to tell her everything… He needed someone badly…! But… if ASR has not told her anything, then he should not! His loyalties were always with ASR. 

“Nothing… He went out with some clients..!” He gave her the same answer.  ASR had vanished…! His pending work piled up on his table, Aakash waiting for him… He just had vanished in thin air….! Aman grew panic.  

“Where was he?” 

*********  ******  ******

“Now, what do you want?” Mehra asked irked to see Krishna Kant’s face in his office.  Krishna Kant grinned and then kept a file on the table.  

“You did a good job… The contract is yours…!” Mehra hungrily opened the file to see the purchase order from Municipal corporation of Kanpur.  

“Do keep a tab on him, and let me know…!” Krishna Kant said getting up, glancing at speechless Mehra.  Mehra merely nodded.  

“And make sure, he is out of business…!” Krishna Kant warned.  Mehra looked up. 

“I did, what you asked me to..!”  Krishna Kant raised his finger and pointing at the purchase order…

“You got the price for what you did…!” Mehra looked down at the purchase order and nodded.  Aakash was the easy pray, a weak link!  He fell into the trap and spoke against ASR.  The rift between the brothers would soon bring split in the family reducing the power of ASR and by the time he could gather himself, he would be further devastated by bringing down his entire empire using inexperienced Aakash in power.  The strategy had worked out well for this first blow.  Mehra gazed at the purchase order.  Guilt poked his conscience.  He was the closest to ASR encouraging him in his endeavors…! 

“But I acted in the best interest of the company.  Pooling the funds from other companies was an emotional decision, he was able to convince Aakash.  Arnav looked devastated when others seemed to support Aakash.  Mehra was successful in pitching the brothers against each other resulting in ASR’s walk out…!  He knew ASR well! He wouldn’t settle for anything less…. Either everything, or nothing…! 

“He wouldn’t take orders from anyone.. Not even Aakash… So over…! ASR’s regime in AR designs is over..!” he smiled feeling better.  It was a long drawn planning but it worked for Mehra…!