115

"She looks so beautiful...!" Khushi cupped her own face and tears of happiness rolled down on her cheeks.  Anjalil had already hidden her face in her palms...!

"Awwaaa... What is this Di? Why only Shondeep sir should get the pleasure? Let us also see your blushing face once...?" Khushi pulled her hands down and Anjali's face reddened ...! Arnav watched them with moist eyes...

"Bhai..." Aakash kept his hand on Arnav's shoulder desperately.  Arnav turned. 
"Bhai... I need to talk to you..." he clasped ASR's hand.  Arnav looked into Aakash's eyes...!
"Ok!" he said.

*******   *****
"What?" Shock appeared initially and then replaced by anger...!
"Bhai.. Mehra uncle met her in Paris last night...!" he said and Arnav clenched his fists...!
"You were the one to propose her name...!" Arnav snapped.  Aakash hung his head.
"I was counting on Regi.. But he refused ..." Aakash said in a defending tone..!Arnav looked withdrawn. 

"Ok!" he said shrugging as he had nothing to do with it...!
"Bhai.. I am sorry... I never intended to hurt you...And Khushi bhabi.." Aakash said remorsefully.  Arnav shrugged again and turned to leave.

"Bhai..." Aakash stopped him holding his arm.  Arnav stopped and turned.
"She met them there and she offerred her help..." Aakash said hopelessly.
"Ok..!" Arnav said with no expression. 

"I would have stopped her, bhai.. but I couldn't go to Paris..!" Aakash said dropping his shoulders.  Mehra had brought Lavanya on board as consultant when she offerred him her help in Paris.  Regi had refused and also had threatened Aakash that he would quit if forced to attend the Conference and the fashion show in Paris.  He wouldn't do anything without ASR. 

Arnav's eyes softened thinking about Regi.  But he could see the gameplan.  Lavanya meeting Mehra was not a coincidence...! She played her move shrewdly and Aakash fell for it, trapped.  But now ASR had nothing to do with AR Designs... he had moved on... with different plans, new proposals, new dreams, new horizons...!

"Bhai... please... I need your help...!" Aakash urged and Arnav looked at him with resentment. 
"Sorry, Aakash, I can't help you in this...! It was your decision..!" He said pointedly looking at Aakash's guilt laden face. 

"Bhai... Please...!" he pleaded.  Arnav looked lost.
"Talk to Elsa..!" he said thoughtfully.

"I did...!" Aakash said urgently.  Arnav looked surprised.  "He did? When? Before even talking to me?" The bandaged wounds opened.. the ego oozed out..whipping Arnav's heart.  He looked into Aakash's eyes blankly.

"Bhai... She says, only you can handle this...! Mehra uncle is new... That Rattan Singh is a moron... Our team....!" ASR raised his hand cutting him short.  "No!" he moved out of the room.  Aakash hung his head in shame.  He had messed up a big time...! He neither had his business right, nor his family relationships...!
...........   ..........    ......

"What?!!!" Khushi screamed over the phone.  Aman sighed on the other end. 
"Khushi... Do something...!" he urged and she frowned clenching her fists.

"How can this happen? Lavanya ji? Is she planning to make an entry into our lives? And what will Arnavji do? Welcome her embracing?"  She was angry... Very angry...She turned to the kitchen. 
"I need something to munch on... This business dirty games are bugging me...!" she mutterred and collided with Arnav. 

"Careful...!" he held her gently...! she pushed him away angrily. 
"What is going on?" she asked raising her finger.
"What?" he asked confused....!

"What are you planning, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada?" she confused him more.  He grabbed her shoulders....!
"What..?" he gritted.        
"What? Are you asking me, what?" She snapped...! He gaped not knowing the reason for her anger...!
"Khushi...!" Payal gaped at the logger-headed couple.  They broke apart.  Khushi glared at Arnav and raised her finger threateningly irking him more.

"Surprise for you... Laad Governer...!" she said scornfully turning her back on him.  He shrugged hopelessly. 
"Impossible...!" he walked down the hallway...!
"Puttar...!" Papaji called from behind.
"Need to talk to you...!"
"Ok!" Arnav followed papaji into his study.  The door was closed for a long time and curiosity made Khushi restless...! She knocked the door but there was no response. 
"Khushi... What are you doing there? Come here...Anjali Di wants to talk to you...!" Payal pulled her and Khushi was back into the wedding function forgetting her anger...!

******** ****** *******    
"Babuji... " He looked up startled. 
"What is this?" he looked at the thing she was holding and the color of his face drained out.  He snatched it from her with force and barked.
"Who gave you this?"

"It was in Bhaiyya's chest drawer..." she said gazing at the bag in his hand.  He regretted for not locking his son's room.
"Nothing beti... Its just his things I collected and kept it in the bag..!" he said gathering himself...! She looked at him innocently. 

"Babuji, I saw some blank papers with signatures....!" she said pointing at the bag.  He held the bag tightly.
"Nothing beti... These are not of any use... I gathered them at one place to distroy them...!" she just nodded and went inside.

"I will go to the hospital in the evening..." she said and he nodded gravely. 
"Why did she come at this point of time?" he frowned.  Seema was at the door gazing at him...!
"He is not happy that I came over..." she concluded feeling sad.  Her brother loathed her and her father...? but she had all the love for every one in the family. She came to her room and pulled out her bag.... She had got something for everyone in the family.. But where was her family?  Her mother was in Thakur mansion, her brother was in hospital fighting death, her father didn't care for her....! She sat on the bed sighing sadly.

"Babuji looked grave and nervous... Sham Bhaiyya's hospitalization had taken toll on him...!" she mumbled and pulled out a knitted sweater for her father....!

"Babuji... when will amma return?" she came back to his room but he was not there...!
"Where did he go?" she wondered sitting on the bed...! KrishnaKant was already on the road ordering his driver to drive faster... He must reach his son, before she reached....! He sensed the trouble.  Seems had always put him in trouble...This time... he didn't know what clouds she had brought along with her....!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

114

Her tummy gave a kick and she opened her eyes.  

“What the..!” she blurted and with efforts tried to sit up.  Steadying her spinning head, she put her foot on the floor.  

Arnav looked back startled when she placed her hand on his shoulder from behind. 

“Khushi…!” he turned to the bed leaving the window.  She held his wrist stopping him.

“Stargazing?” she asked keeping her hand on the windowsill.  He didn’t answer. 

“Look at the crescent…!” she said pulling him a bit.  She knew the storm brewing up in his mind.  She leaned on his shoulder clutching his arm, gazing at the starts.  

“You know what does it mean?” she asked still fixing her gaze on the moon crescent. 

“Humm..?”

“It means… The downturn will reach its dip and then again… the waves of upturn will storm …” she said and he looked at her. 

“Haan?”

“It’s a cycle, Arnavji… you reach a low and then the revival begins, with new hope, new energy, new plans…. And then again there will be peak..!” she said grinning…1 He looked at her with moist eyes.

“Does she know, what I am going through… the fear… of starting afresh,  of the risk I am bearing,  of failure, of our future…?” he grabbed her arm for support.  She grinned….! 

“So… now tell me, what’s going on between you two..!” It had a right amount of repelling effect.  He suddenly left her and moved away.

“What do you mean?” the familiar reaction lifted Khushi’s spirits.  The emotional moist eyes spat anger and she was at home..!

“Yeah… Tell me, what is going on between you and Aakash Jijaji…” she asked a direct question and there came a direct answer.

“Nothing…!” he said glaring at her, feeling insulted by the question.  She glared back at him for moment and then said…

“Fine! I will find out…! “

“What?” he was angry.

“I have my own sources and my network is better than yours…” she was smug enough to irk him.  He grabbed her shoulders…

“I said, there is nothing…!” he gritted.  She grinned.  He was all the more furious by her stupid grin.

“Shut up!” he said.  She held him for a moment and then turning to go towards the bed said…!

“I know, you don’t want to tell me anything… That’s ok..!” he followed her to the bed, helped her get into the bed…! She held on to his arm.  

“I need to move on…!” he said gravely.

“With me..!” she corrected aptly.  He looked at her with a strange expression…!

“Now you are not alone… Mr. ASR..! You have a family..” she reminded him of his responsibility.  There was a silence for a while with both of them lost in their thoughts…

“Let us not mix up family and business…” she said holding his hand.

“You know? Payal jiji is so worried.. ” he cut her off.

“She doesn’t have to..! She is not losing anything..” he said with resentment.

“She is already…” Khushi continued… “She is losing your support… Everyone ..” she said pulling him a little towards her and pressing his head on her heart.  He sighed…! 

“You know? I just want you to be happy in whatever you do…!” she said sitting up restlessly.  He pulled himself away and said.. “I am happy…” she sighed.. “Humm…! Then why this sore face?” she asked cupping his face.  He looked away pulling down her hands.  

“Ok.  Let us forget about it…!” she said considerately and he sighed a relief.

“So tell me… What are your plans tomorrow?” she asked brightly and he gaped at the sudden change of her mood.  

“What plan, Khushi? We have Di’s wedding in a couple of days…” he pitied her pea head..!

“Yeah… We are going to Shondeep’s sir’s house.. but what about you? Coz all of us are going… and now a days, it seems, you avoid the family like plague…”  She teased him.

“Shut up..!” he held her hand.  She grinned. 

“But you know what? I have planned a surprise for you too… Dulhan ke bhai…” she pulled his nose.  He shook he head hopelessly looking away.

“You are impossible, Khushi… Ab so jao..!” he said pulling her in his arms, stroking her head…!

“And you know?  There will be Aai Budo Bhaat and Aai Budo Bhaat  bachelorette party and Haldi..” she again went on with her mimicking Bengali accent! 

“Stop... “ he clasped her mouth but she was not to be stopped. 

“You know what? We have planned a big surprise for Di..!”

“Enough of your surprises, Khushi... So jao..!” he pushed her gently on the bed.  She held on to the dreamy mood.  He caught on to her mood soon...!

“What surprise?”

“Haww.... men are not allowed...” she pushed him away.  

“Is it?” he arched his eyebrow.  “Ok! Let me talk to papaji...about your silly surprises...” the hidden threat shot her up.

“Hawww..... Even he is not allowed.  You all are out of the house...” he said and suddenly got up.

“God! Hey devi mayya... give me strength... to put up with these men...! These spoil sports will ruin our party.

“She opened the wardrobe and started rummaging... he gazed at her, laid back on the bed...!

“Carry on..!” he said closing his eyes with his spirits lifted.  

*********  *********  *****

“Is it? Are you sure?” Krishna kant asked the other person.

“Yes… He asked his travel agent to book the tickets … This! His itinerary..!” The other person handed over the paper.   Krishnakant scanned.  

“Ok! What about the wedding plans?” he asked.

“No ! Not much… they are having a simple wedding…at his place..” The other person informed.   Krishna Kant stroked his beard deep in thoughts.   His son was on the death bed and his so called divorced wife was getting married happily.  “Not Done…!” he clenched his fists.  But the pressing matter before him was not the wedding of his Son’s wife, but her brother…! The vulnerability of this mighty person, was the rare opportunity.  His pillar Sister was getting married, his family members were turning against his autocratic behavior, he had estranged relations with his wife and she had left him.  He was all along… ! This was the time to strike…! He had made up his mind…! Wedding was not on his plans for now…! 

“Ok! You will get your due payment…!” Krishna kant dismissed. 

“Babuji…!” He heard and got up with a jerk.  

“What? You?” he was shocked.  She came in with her luggage…!  She touched his feet.

“What happened? Where is damadji?” he asked concerned. 

“”Oh! He will come later..” she said casually.  He gaped.  “Why is she here! She will ruin all my plans…”

“Oh! Where is bhaiyaa?” she asked.  He took a moment to answer…!

“He is still in the hospital…ICU… no one is allowed..!” he said gravely and she nodded.

“I know…!” she said mournfully.  He sighed.  No one was allowed to visit him as he was still critical with multiple infections…! He stared unfocused at his younger daughter, Seems.  A young mother, a chirpy young woman was a odd woman out in their family of conniving lot.  She was kind at heart and very outspoken.  A worry and fear surged through.

“Why is she here?” he needed to find out.  At this moment he didn’t want her…! She was at ease. 

“Where is Amma?” she looked around to his annoyance.  A servant came out hurriedly and carried her luggage inside.  He watched her go inside with worry.  

“Thakur Haveli…” he said with a bad taste in his mouth..! She nodded and disappeared inside.  He sat there dialing  Mehra’s number…! The takeover of AR designs was on the threshold, knocking the door.  He would complete the task his son had failed earlier…! He rubbed his palms gleefully…!

113

“Bhai…!” Aakash blurted with his throat going dry, seeing Arnav walking in the hallway.  The family had arrived in the afternoon and Arnav had entered the house late in the evening. 

“Nani..” Arnav sat beside her allowing her to stroke his head.  Aakash looked at them awkwardly sitting right opposite.  Payal and Khushi were inside with Anjali planning for the next day.  Arnav gave a faint smile seeing Aakash staring at him.  

“Hello Everyone…!” Elsa walked in and the tension released.  Arnav got up to lift his buddy Tej…!

“Awweee… Heavy weight.. haan?” Arnav lifted him with faking efforts and Tej giggled with pride.  Meera looked at the guests shyly and ran into her room…! Tej settled on Arnav’s lap and Nani sighed happily.  

“Chote looks so homely… here with the kids…!” he held his shoulder.  Arnav looked away. 

“Aray you came?” Khushi came out hurriedly with a red face and stopped looked at Arnav and Aakash.  

“Aray… Akash Jijaji, go freshen up… They will be coming here anytime…!” Khushi ordered waving her hand and Arnav looked at her..!

“Who?” he asked.  She banged her forehead…! “How will you know? Aap Rahatain kahan ho ghar main?” she spat and then said in a calmer tone..!

“Sondeep Sir’s parents…! “ And mimicking the Bengali tone…said 

“Ashirbaad… heiin!”  Then with a fit of giggle, chocked …

“You know, Naniji? The Bengali is as sweet as their Roshagullas… they speak keeping a couple of them in their cheeks…! “Ashirbaad…Heiin?” Nani burst out in laughter and Arnav got up with a smile on his face.  Aakash walked with Arnav laughing and Payal interrupted…

“Aray? You are still here? Go freshen up…!” she said furiously..

“Yeah… Ashirbaad…!” Aakash mocked and turned to his room.  Khushi ran behind Arnav.

“No business talks… ok!” she warned gripping his wrist and before he could react harshly, pecked on his cheek…! Arnav stood still waiting for some more but she had moved out of his eyesight.

“Impossible…!” he turned hopelessly.  

“Bhai…!” Aakash was behind and Arnav turned on his heels, stifled, with stony face.

“Bhai.. please…!” Aakash stepped closer …

“Not now, Aakash…” he raised his hand to stop Aakash and turning his back on Aakash disappeared into his room.  Aakash stood there helplessly.  

“God…Please help me… send someone…”Aakash prayed desperately.

“Aakash?” Elsa stood before him, looking at him curiously.  Akash gasped blankly and then his face lit up.

“Elsa..!” he sighed a relief.

“Yeah… Elsa…!” Elsa mocked sniggering…! Aakash grinned.

“Yeah… you can help me…You will!” He held her hand in excitement and she was taken aback.

“What? What help?” she asked.  Aakash almost dragged her into a corner…!

“I need to talk to you… its urgent..!” The urgency was audible…!

“Ok!” she said guiding him towards her room…!

****   ***  ****

“Haa… Finally… Ashirbaad over…!” Khushi sighed dramatically in the night when the elders from the groom’s side had gone back.  Shondeep had taken Anjali out for some stupid reason for buying  a gift for her of her choice.  Meera had wrinkled her nose in disapproval… in fact in disappointment as she was not invited to accompany Anjali.  

Khushi stood in the middle of the hall feeling exhausted.

“Look at these…” she turned around looking at the husked rice and trefoil (Triparni) sprinkled everywhere…! 

“Khushi buwa… Gifts..!” Tej couldn’t stop.  He already had started ripping open the gift packets. 

“Humm…!” she sighed but picked up a few packets to open.  Payal was there to help her.  Arnav walked in.

“Khushi…!” he called out rudely and she turned.

“Watch your tone…!” she mouthed wordlessly.  He just walked in, held her hand and dragged her to the room.

“Take rest!” he ordered and she protested. 

“I am fine…!” she flared up.

“You need rest..!” he pushed her inside and closed the door.

“Arnav ji…! Arnav ji…” she banged the door from inside but he had moved away locking the door. 

“Humm…” She turned furiously and locked her gaze on the table…!

“How thoughtful..” she blurted sarcastically opening the lid of the plate. 

“Humm…” she inhaled the aroma and sat on the chair.

“Hawwww… Look at my feet…!” she pulled up her legs and saw the swollen feet.  She tried to them sorely with no success.  

“I think he is right.  I should take rest” She swallowed the iron tablets and sat on the bed, her anger subsiding.  

Somewhere after midnight she felt him by her side.

“Humm…” she tried wrapping her arm around but her bulging tummy gave a frantic kick.

“Awaaa..” she blurted and felt Arnav stroking her head.  She went back into deep slumber keeping him awake all night. 

112

“Aakash..!” Mehra called.  Akasha listened to him with bated breath.

“Sometimes, we have to take some bitter decisions… be strong…!” Mehra said over the phone. 

“I know, Arnav won’t co-operate but you will handle it, I am sure!” Mehra tried to pump some confidence in Aakash.  

“When you want to take a leap, you have to retract a few steps..!” Mehra went ahead.  Aakash did not respond.  He did want to take the leap but not like this, hurting his bhai…! But his bhai had left him with no options…! He had to close down the loss making company or sell it off…!

“Sell it off?” was that an option? He must discuss it with Mamaji, his father.  

“Yes, sell it off on the condition that the new buyer will buy the accessories and apparels from AR group of Industries…!” he thought hopefully.  

“Yes, that can be done.  I can be on board of the new owner and may be look over the collaboration between these two groups.  That way, I don’t have to tell anyone from that staff that the company had changed hands…!” he thought excitedly calling Aman for discussion.  Aman was the only one Aakash had who knew how to do business deals, ASR style! Aman walked in with pale face.   

********   *****   ******

“I will handle it, Papaji..!” Arnav said confidently when the two met in Papaji’s study.  Papaji fell silent for a while.

“Arnav puttar, I can help…!” he said offering Arnav his help.

“Thank you, but I will manage..!” Arnav said dismissively.  

“Ok. We can discuss it later…!” Papaji opened the door.  Khushi narrowed her eyes looking at the duo.   

“What are you planning behind my back?” she barked and Arnav grabbed her arm.

“Shut up!” he said dragging her along.  

“Chote…!” Anjali stood before them.  Arnav’s expressions changed.

“How about this color?” she asked holding up a light pink saree.

“Aap ko jo thik lage di..!” he said softly and Anjali turned to Khushi.  She was not to opine so soon.

“Let me see the other colors also..!” she left Arnav in the hall and went with Anjali.  The functions would start in a couple of days and they all would get busy.  He needed to talk to Khushi before that.  But Khushi was far away, mentally from him to listen to his serious talks.  He sighed and returned to his room.  

*********   ******   ********

“Look…Mehra… !” Krishna Kant threatened raising his finger.

“If you let go this opportunity, you will lose all your business…!” Mehra merely nodded nervously. 

“But I fail to understand…! Why are you trying to crush him? He is nothing before your powers…!” Mehra knew the dangerous intentions of Krishna Kant.

“That’s none of your business… Just do what you have to..!” Snapped Krishan Kant.  Mehra felt trapped.  He always had a soft corner for Arnav and this Krishna Kant was firing at Arnav keeping the rifle on his shoulder.   

“I am sending a prospective buyer…. See to it that the deal is finalized!” he ordered and Mehra gaped.  

“Buyer?” he asked confused.

“With a huge price tag for that kind of business…!”  Krishna curled up his lip disdainfully. 

“See to it that he sails through and not reject it…!” he said mysteriously.  The noose getting tightened, Aakash would soon fell into trap, once ASR was eliminated….! 

***  ****  **

“Khushi… Aakash sir is mulling on the option of sale…!” Aman said and Khushi fell silent.  Moving away from everyone else in the shop, she clutched her phone to her ear.  Arnav glanced at the suspiciously.  She ignored.

“What? Is he out of his senses? How can he sell which is not his? It’s Arnav ji’s company.  He is only a stakeholder…!” she said angrily.  Aman sighed.  

“Khushi… People around are restless… thinking of quitting… They are applying elsewhere.  Regi had called…. I didn’t know what to talk to him…! I avoided saying, I was busy…!” Aman confessed.  Khushi sighed mournfully.  ASR’s baby, his company, on the verge of being sold away…! She couldn’t bear it.  “How would he react to what is going on behind his back…?” she looked at him waiting for his Di’s shopping to get over.  She came back and he raised his eyebrows.

“Parimal…!” She blurted… His eyebrows were still raised.

“Oh! Just ignore it, ok? He is from that event management company…!” she said faking…! He still was suspicious about the phone call.  He tried to snatch the phone from her hand and she snapped back.

“Bad Manners…!” he held her wrist but before he could grab her phone, Anjali called him…! He moved away looking at her angrily.

“Thank you Devi Mayya…. You saved me..!” she hurriedly returned to Anjali.  

*****  ****  *****

“Who was that?” he asked her angrily and she gave him a silly grin. 

“Same, Event Management…!” she said casually.

“What’s going on?” he asked bewildered and she hugged him.

“We are planning a big surprise for Di and Shondeep Sir..!” she said rubbing her cheek on his.  He lost his senses.  This was a big turn on for him, difficult to control.  He gripped her.  

“Yeh Meharbaani kiss liye?” She ran her palm on his clean shaven cheeks.  He looked away embarrassed.  She grinned.

“You know? Another four months for the baby to come out..! Good that you are practicing …!” he looked at her confused.

“I could bear your stubble… but baby won’t…!” she punched lightly into his tummy.  His eyes mellowed down.  She looked up at him dreamily. 

“Humm…!” he sighed.

“You know? Everything will be new… We will have a new life.. You will be a father and I a mother…. “ she said taking him to a different world with her.  He forgot all his worries.  For a long time she kept stroking his head on her laps.  

“You will soon know… Arnav ji… The big surprise is for you too…!” Bending down with her bulging tummy, she kissed his forehead.  He stirred in his sleep wrapping his arms around her.  

*****   *****   *****

“Puttar…. I heard…!” But Papaji was cut off by Arnav.

“That’s ok! I am fine with it.  It took me time to accept the reality.  Things are not the same… Aakash is a grown up man now, with his own ambitions, aspirations, dreams…! He can't grow under my shadow..!” Arnav said it in one breath sighing out his trapped breath.  It was still difficult for him to digest, that someone like Aakash would think differently and go against him...!  Papaji nodded understandingly.  

“Let us not discuss about it…!” Arnav said and looking at Papaji’s worried face said assuring him..

“Kuch na kuch toh kar hi lunga… I will do something… I had started from scratch and will do so again…!” Papaji felt proud feeling Arnav’s confidence.  

“Yes, I am sure… and you will do it better, this time… As Khushi putter is there with you…!” Arnav gaped at Papaji,

“Khushi? Are you kidding? You think she can do anything good? She is a big mess herself…Papaji.. I can’t even think of that…!” he flared up and Papaji roared in laughter forgetting his worries.

“Yeah.. A big mess..! And now with her pregnancy, she has gone beyond comprehension..!” he said as Arnav moved out of the study to join the celebrations of his Di’s wedding…!