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“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…!