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…!