119

"Aray... this phone...!" Arnav's phone kept on vibrating  in her purse.  She had no time to answer the calls or go in search of Arnav to hand it over to him. 
.........  ........

"Puttar, where is your husband?" Papaji asked pulling Khushi back when she hurriedly passing by....!
"Haan? Husband who?..." She asked stupidly.  Papaji sighed hopelessly.

"Haan...! Ok. Ok. Arnavji...! Yeah...! He is..." She turned around and then thumping her hands on her hips, said loudly.. "I don't know...!" Papaji went away...!  The Bidai time approaching with the sun setting and the atmosphere changing with the moods of the people around...! Khushi felt a knot and went in search of her husband so was Aakash and Raj were searching for Arnav desperately.  For more than an hour he was missing and Aakash had a grim thought that he had left all of them...!

"Bhai...!" he kept on asking everyone about Arnav and walked through the rooms calling his name...in vain...!  Arnav was no where to be found...!

The people from groom's side were hurrying up ...!
"Chote?" Anjali looked up for her brother. 

"Yeah... Di... he is coming...! How can he miss his Di's bidai?" Khushi tried to lighten the mood.  Anjali smiled shyly waiting for her chote ...  !
"Where is he?" Papaji now sounded panic.  Raj frantically tried to call Arnav.  It only buzzed in Khushi's purse which she had kept in her room. 

"God! He is not picking up the phone...!" Raj seemed frustrated.  Elsa  tried her best but it seemed Arnav was not around.  "Now that Di's wedding is over, he must have gone..." Aakash sat on the sofa teary eyed...! He had lost the opportunity to patch up with his bhai and explain him his position...! He didn't mean to oust his bhai from the business... he only wanted his bhai to understand that he too can take prudent decisions...!    People were waitng only for Arnav....!

"Khushi...Where are you going?" Elsa called her from behind but khushi had hopped into the car slamming the accelerator...!

"What is going on?" Elsa didn't know ...!    
"Where is Chote?" Nani asked but no one knew.  Everyone was busy packing and waiting for the Bidai...!

*********  ******
He stifled, his muscles flexing....!  She just held his arm.
"Khushi..." he turned to her.

"Chaliye...Let's go!" she said.
"Woh Khush toh rahegi na?" he asked letting down his guard and allowing his emotions to gush out... She cupped his face.
"Haan... Bahut Khush rahegi...!" she assured him taking him in her arms.  He wept on her shoulder.  She kept patting him soothingly.      
  
"Chaliye... Bhai ke bina Bidai nahi hogi...!" she said holding him at arms length.  He sighed preparing himself for the duty.  Robindro Lake was again a witness to their emotional breakdown.  He had brought her here once and now she knew where he was at the time of his sister's bidai.  The evening golden reflections had filled the air.  She pulled him in her embrace. 

"Di kay pagal chote...!" she whispered and broke apart.  The emotions replaced with anger...
"I am not pagal..." he strode ahead and she followed grinning...!

*******  *****
"Where were you?" Everyone asked and Khushi explained that she had taken him to the temple...!

"Chote...!" his Di called him hoarsely.  He hugged her patting on her back.  Papaji blew in his handkirchief sniffing loudly and Arnav broke apart from his Di,  and then turning his back went out to arrange for her Bidai...
.........  ..
"What the..!" Khushi blurted taking out the phone and seeing 47 missed calls.  She regretted having kept his phone and forgetting it in her bag.  Absentmindedly she scrolled through the list and her eyes poped out seeing the number...! His phone rang and she pressed the phone to her ear...

"I am sorry, ASR...!" the phone went on stabbing her ....
"How dare....!" she screamed with her rage shooting through the roof.  Taking a few deep breaths she scrolled through the dialed numbers and sat on the bed shocked to the core.  Her tummy pounding, her heart went numb missing the beats.

"What the hell...!" she got  up clenching her fists and stormed out of the room calling his name ...!
"Arnav ji....!" she stood before him and he just looked up casually at her.  Every one had relaxed after the Bidai and having dinner in the hall....!

"What is this?" she showed him his cell.
"Oh! yeah... I forgot..." he held out his hand to get it from her.

"How could you?" she asked hurt.
"What? I told you... I just forgot the cell..." he said thoroughly confused.

"How could you call her...?" she screamed...
"Wha..t?" he asked again keeping his dinner plate down.

"Why did you call her...?" she asked.
"Call who, puttar?" Papaji sensed the danger and pressing his hands on her shoulder, he tried to make her sit on the chair.  She jerked away....!

"What is hell, Khushi...!" Arnav snatched the phone from her.

"You... You called Lavanya....!" she forgot her Lucknowi politeness...!

"What?" Arnav scrolled through the list.  Khushi was panting, clearly agitated....!

"Khushi...!" he opened his mouth... but then she screamed...
"No... not a single word...! You called her and she called you back ...!" she said framing him.  He gaped in mere shock.

"What?"
She was fuming... she hissed between ragged breath...

"You... you.. still are in touch with her....! Your X-girlfriend... or wait...a minute...! Is she still...your...?" She raised her finger accusingly...!

"What are you talking, khushi...?" Papaji jumped between the conversation...!

"What am I talking? Why don't you ask him, Papaji... What was he doing with Lavanya ji?"

"Sorry ASR... I couldn't answer your call... I miss you ASR... We must meet.... please ASR... I want to meet you....!" she mocked loathing.  Papaji looked at ASR from some explanation.   He stood up in rage...

"How dare you, touch my things, Khushi...!" he came on to her aggressively.

"Oh! Is it? I should not touch your things...?!!! Your wife?" she asked disdainfully. 

"Yes... I haven't given this right to anyone... not even you...!" he gripped her arm.  Papaji had to intervene and separate the bickering couple.  The relaxed party had turned stormy...! Khushi looked up teary eyes, thoroughly hurt, clutching her tummy. 

"Yes, right...! I should have known...!" she said trying hard not to show her hurt on her face.  She continued with chocked throat...

"I should have known... that you don't believe in this rubbish like marriage, wife, family....! you only know, business, money, success....!" she said blinking furiously. 

"Shut up Khushi...!" he yelled coming on to her furiously.  She held the table for support. 

"Yeah... right... I should shut up... Where are those promises gone, Arnav ji... you gave me with every step we walked together....! Where is that trust element, Arnavji...?" she asked and her face reddened with realization...!

"Of course... you had asked me about my trust level... you never mentioned why...! Of course... You were making sure that I remain loyal... You are free to do anything... Right? I am tied down in this relationship... Not you...! You go back to your girlfriend...! Indulging into worldly pleasures... sleeping with her...! Where did those dreams... that telepathy go Arnavji? drained down with Gomti....? Demolished with Gomti nivas? Where did all that we shared go, Arnav ji? " She asked painfully....

"Khushi Puttar...!" Papaji couldn't speak as Arnav held up his hand....!

"Khushi, you need some rest....!" Mummiji intervened and Khushi turned to her.

"Rest? Mummiji... you know? Di was getting married here and this... the great husband of mine.. Di's Chote, was trying to contact his girlfriend....! And...." she chocked with ragged breath...

"And... she was telling him, she missed him and he should meet her..." Khushi sobbed harder...!

"BIL?" Raj jumped into the fray asking his BIL.  Arnav looked at him daring him to speak more.  Raj gulped... but Papaji held up his hand.  These trivial conflicts between Arnav and Khushi were not knew to him.  He knew they will come around with the night gone by.  Khushi was tired and exhausted... Arnav was emotionally drained out with his Di gone to her husband's house.  Both of them had the only way to vent out, was yell at each other....But bringing Lavanya into the fight was a bit too much.  Someone must intervene and resolve...!

"So, when are you meeting her, Mr. Raizada...?" Khushi asked disdainfully and he exploded.
"Its, none of your business, Khushi...!" he barked and Khushi sat on the chair with a thud...!

"Look... Khushi... I had some...!" Arnav was interrupted when Aakash exclaimed...!

"Khushi... It's my mistake... I wanted to bring her on board..." Aakash said and Arnav turned to him angrily.

"Mind your own business...Aakash... I have nothing to do with your company now...!" he declared his disassociation with AR designs and Raj gaped in disbelief...

"BIL..." Arnav again raised his hand... The fight with Khushi was sidelined... Arnav felt cornered from every side.  His aggressiveness resurfaced....!

"It's between us..." he said hinting that no one else had any right to intervene...!
"Chote..." Nani called out sternly.  Arnav turned to nani...
"Nani... Let me handle it..." he turned to the crowd again...! Khushi was crying her heart out...!

"I had told you, Arnavji... that if you meet her... I will forget everything...!" she said getting up in a fighting mode...!

"What will you do, Khushi?" he challenged her staring at her swollen belly.  She clutched her belly protectively.

"I am going back... to my home... my amma babuji..." she said in a spur of moment and the penny dropped....! The realization.. the shock...and they saw khushi going away...! All of them ran after her...Payal crying her heart out holding Aakash's hand for support.  Fight always drained her out...She had lost her senses...! Arnav had left the mansion and no one had noticed...! Khushi had shut the door on everyone...! No one knew what to do next...! Now that the mediater, Anjali gone and her brother going out of his senses, Khushi was left all alone among her entire family... She was all alone... with her baby, kicking harder... !

"Khushi.... Please... open the door..." the frantic calls fell on deaf ears...! One couple became soul-mates and the destined soul-mates were separated...!!

118

“Dodhi Mongol” Khushi nudged Arnav winking at him.

“What the..!” he glared angrily.  

“Bangles…Look at her….!” She turned to Anjali dreamily… “She looks so cute… Happy…!” she blurted contentedly.  Arnav gazed at his sister with moist eyes and turned his face away from Khushi…! But Khushi was already on a different level… and had gone away.

“Anjali Di…” She whispered in her ear as seven women were busy adorning her hands with Shakha and Paula… with pairs of Red and White bangles, feeding her curd and rice.

“Eat to your hearts content Di… This is the only meal you are going to have for the day…” Khushi teased Anjali and Anjali blushed in waves of laughter… ! Khushi with efforts got to her feet and held her tummy.

“Hey Devi Mayya… Isko bolo… Aaj tang naa karain…! “ she looked up feeling the kick inside but her lips smiled without her permission … The life within was also happy for Anjali Buwa, kicking harder…! She looked at Arnav, felt something amiss… “He is not in his elements…Humm..” she thought but consoled herself immediately…

“Naturally… His Di is getting married… He is already missing her…” she tiptoed from behind and held his arm.  He looked back and gave her a faint smile.  

“What is going on?” she asked in a bare whisper looking into his eyes…!

“What?” he asked wincing a bit.

“Here… inside…!” she jabbed her finger on his heart and asked.

“What? Nothing…!” he dismissed her moving away.  She sighed.

“Don’t worry Arnav ji, I will know soon…!” she smiled and went in search of Payal…! The Bor Jatri   (Barat) would arrive at the doors anytime.

“Come on… hurry up…! Baarat would come in ten minutes…” Raj was hauling but no one paid any attention.  

“Jatri can wait….!” An elderly woman from Groom’s side declared…and Khushi looked at Raj victoriously.  Raj went away shrugging… the adorning of bangles continued at its own speed with women singing and giggling, teasing Anjali…! Khushi decided to pay a visit to kitchen…!

The first car arrived…. A messenger from the groom to be ready to welcome him with grandeur… ! Papaji was already ready with his welcoming banjo party and loud band with Punjabi tune.

“Oh! Come on Dad… Its not our type wedding… Look at them…” He waved at the women who were singing melodiously with gentle lyrics…! Papaji just looked at him blankly as if he couldn’t hear what Raj was shouting…! Raj went ahead to stop that loud music….

“Look at them Dad… listen to the heavenly music Dad… feel the serenity…!” Raj urged.  Papaji was silent just for a few seconds and then said…

Hawyy… This music is good in temples…. Wedding?… No way…. “ He signalled the band to blow on…!

“Dad…” Raj stopped them again.

“Please… try and maintain the decorum…” He pulled him inside.

“No need to be a part of welcome party… We will manage…Stay with Mom..” he pushed him inside where Anjali was made to sit in her bridle wear…! Mummiji was arranging the scattered things and Elsa was making Anjali Ready .. ”  Papaji went to her…

“Beta… welcome your future….with open hands… call your happiness… blow away all your sorrows…” he suddenly became emotional…! The women had stopped singing…! 

"Mom... Khushi buwa,,,, Baarat will arrive anytime... Hurry up...?" Meera and Tej darted in screaming their lungs out.  Meera stopped at the door looking at Anjali...!

"Wow... Look at her...!" she turned to Tej.  The otherwise simple sober Anjali was transformed completely with heavy clothes and ornaments...! 

"Aray... what are you to doing here? Arnav uncle is waiting for you two at the gates.." Papaji drove the kids away...!

 

“Don’t you have something happy, joyous, like a bang…like something upbeat?” he asked wiping his eyes.

“I mean… this is good… but you know… too divine… like devotional…!” he joined his hands as if praying god…! The women giggled….! 

“Oh Yes… But not now… Let the jatri come to the gates….” Anjali blushed furiously.

“Promise me that! Or Let me play my music…!... I just can’t bear this sweet… devotional music…Its too heavy…” he went on seriously and the ladies burst out in giggles…! 

They all heard The loud reverberating, blowing of the conch shell and ululation at the gate.  Anjali’s body blossomed with Goosebumps…She looked up with bated breath. Women from groom side got up.  Khushi came hurriedly and said…

“Come on Di… Let me take you inside.  The baarat has arrived…!” Anjali looked around with hazy vision…! She took her to the balcony… smiling broadly signalling Papaji.  Arnav and Raj accompanied by Aakash close behind them welcomed the baarat..opening the door of Shondeep’s car.  He walked on the flower bed and Khushi nudged Anjali.  Papaji coughed loudly and Raj looked up.  The music stopped waiting for the penny to drop.  Anjali looked back nervously and Khushi pushed her forward.  She leaned on the railing and he looked up in surprise…! Blowing of the conch shell and ululation filled the air and the crowd erupted in clapping.  

“Humm… at least one ritual… our style..” Papaji said pulling Khushi closer.  

Mamiji, laden with ornaments with other members, came out to welcome Shondeep and his family by showing the holy earthen lamp, sprinkling trefoil, and husked rice placed on a bamboo kula (winnow) and fed him sweets.

“Hello hi..b..y..e…” her voice trailed looking at stunning Shondeep in his western three piece suit…!

“Belcome….” Mamiji had changed the track suddenly… 

”Bor Boron “ Khushi whispered in Mamiji’s ears …

“Hain?” Mamiji asked turning back.  Khushi turned her around… Ululation filled the air again….! Mami’s vision blurred with tears of happiness….! Nani waited inside for the grand son in law…!

“Welcome…” Khudhi shouted over the loud music to bring them all back… Raj and Arnav brought him in, guided him to the altar…! Aakash was waiting to take him on the Altar…! 

Someone gave Aakash a heap of packets and he handed it over to Shondeep.  Papaji had changed the side once the baarat was inside the mansion.  He was standing in attention position behind Shondeep and took the packets from him.  Helping him to get up, he whispered which boomed into the entire hall….

“Go change into wedding attire….” Shondeep flushed flashing his dimples…!
“Hello.. hiiii…. Najhar na lage….” Mami blurted joining her hands…! 

Potto Bastra Khushi whispered “ for Sampradan…” Anjali looked up confused.
“Wedding dress for Kanyadaan…” she said smiling…! Anjali looked nervous…!
“No… no… you don’t have to do anything, Di… your Bhais will carry you to the altar… Khushi giggled and stopped suddenly feeling the kick.

“See? The baby is also giggling Di…” Khushi hugged Anjali…! Arnav and Aakash were at the door ready with pidi for Saat Paak saat phere…! Anjali looked frightened…

“Di.. don’t worry… we both will carry you…!” Aakash went on his knees helping his Di to sit on the pidi…! They carried her to the altar and took seven circles around the Shondeep boy…!
“You are wound up securely, permanently forever…” Papaji blessed the couple with Shondeep’s father standing on either side of the couple..! Nani and Shondeep’s mother had no time to look at the wedding, busy welcoming the close circle of guests…! 

The bride and groom exchanged the garlands sitting on the pidi and the crowd clapped sprinkling puffed rice and trefoil…! 

“Oh! Come on.. Come on… look at each other… come on…!” Papaji roared and they both looked down shying away…!

“Shondeep… look at her… check if she is the same Anjali…!” Shondeep’s father nudged him teasingly.  He looked away flushing…

“Anjali puttar… is he the same one, you loved?” asked papaji.  Everyone had gathered around altar and canopy…! Anjali was finding her feet in the layer of flexed rice and triparni…! 

“Oh! Come on…!” Pandit said sternly and they looked up at each other for a fleeting second.

“No.. Not done… Stare at each other… and don’t let us down… Let us see who wins…” Papaji threw the challenge and within no time there were two parties cheering up one and booing the other. 
“Oh Come on Hurry up!” the priest said sternly and they looked at each other locking their eyes….!
“Take your seat on the Chandantolla…for Sampradan.” Ordered the priest and Anjali moved to take her seat.  Sacred fire ignited…! The atmosphere  suddenly turned pious…! Mamaji came forward to bind their hands with the sacred thread..chanting Shubho mantra and the air filled with shubho chanting.  Mamaji placed their bound hands on the Shubho Mangal Ghata… 

“Sit in front of the fire…. This sacred fire is the witness of your wedding…” Priest continued with his chanting…! 

Saat Pak… Saptapadi…! They took seven circles around the sacred fire…! 

Give your offerings to the witness…! Arnav came up the altar with puffed rice pouring it in her palms… Shondeep had reinforced her cupped palms holding her hands from behind taking her in his embrace…! He applied Sindoor in her hair parting lifting her bindi.  Khushi’s eyes did not see anything with her teary vision.  Arnav came from behind and she turned hiding her face on his chest.
“Khushi…” he lifted her face and gently blew on her hair parting… 

“Huhh… her trapped breath left her with hiccup… He gazed at her.  His fingers caressed her wound mark on her forehead…! 

“Come on let us go…” he said bending down to lift her and she came back to reality.

“No…!” she broke away from him and wiping her tears smiled at him…!
“We are not in your Foundation Day Function…” she jabbed at his chest. He gave her his reserved lopsided smile…!

“Pagal… laad governer…” she thought turning away from him.
“Suna maine…” he again caught her from behind.

“Isanay bhi suna…” she placed his hand on her tummy and he placed his chin on her shoulder…! 

“Arnav….!” Raj was calling him frantically and Arnav dashed down merging into the crowd for Raj’s help…

“Aray… your phone…” Khushi picked up his dropped phone.  But he was nowhere to be seen.  She sighed keeping it into her batua… pouch..!  

117

“What the…!” he woke up with a start and picked up the wrist watch from the side table… All the lights in the room were on and the stumbling sound was louder and louder…

“Khushi…!” he yelled, irked at the wee hours.  She came out of the bathroom half dressed and covering her upper body with the while towel.

“Aray… Uthiye… Come on get up…!” she pulled him out of the bed.

“What the hell, Khushi.. its only 4:30 in the night…!” he said irritated turning back to the bed.

“No.. Its 4:30 in the morning and get ready… We must reach there by SIX” she showed six fingers.

“Where?” he asked flabbergasted.

“Oh! God…! Hey Devi Mayya… Please knock some sense in his head…” she said dramatically and coming over to him said calmly…

“Its Di’s wedding today… hope you remember… and on Bramho Moohurt… Early morning…! Come on … get ready….” She waved at him going towards the table to pick up her dress for  the occasion.  In the corner, her bag was ready with her and she Laad Governor’s clothes to be changed according to the occasions….!

“Khushi…” He couldn’t stop himself from holding her from behind.  She turned in his embrace…

“Arnav ji… its Di’s wedding…. And you must be ready to welcome the guests… Dulhan kay Bhai…” she pulled his nose, as he repelled.  She smirked and pushed him into the bathroom.  There was no time to ruminate on anything now.  The wedding was all set….!

****   ****  ****

“Oh God! Seema… Ab Bas bhi karo… Stop crying…!” Akhilesh tried to pacify her over and over again over the phone.  She was crying her heart out.

“Ok. Listen to me… I am coming there….. now… Be ready.. I will give you a miscall…you come out…We will come home…Our home…” he said making up his mind.  She looked at the time and sucked her breath…

“Its only two in the night…” she sobbed.

“Yes I know… but I can’t let you cry in this condition for the whole night…” he said calmly.. 

“No…No… don’t come here  in the night… I… I will stay… but come early morning… I can’t stay a second here now… How could he…?” she again broke down crying…!

“Seema… Please… stop crying… I will come there… don’t worry… you be ready, Ok? Now go to sleep…. Keep the phone on… I will put you to sleep…ok? As usual.. talking to you…. ?” he said huskily and she blushed stopping her sobs.

“Humm…” That’s like a good girl… ! He said softly and she closed her eyes….

She had come out to find her father nowhere… The old maid had said he had gone out.  She had taken her bag and the basket and had taken an auto to reach Thakur Mansion….!

“Amma…?” she called out entering the mansion passing the security gate.   She saw a middle aged person sitting on the sofa, humming and shaking his leg.  He stopped to gaze at her.  Then recognizing her silhouette exclaimed….

“Aray Seema bitiya… come… come in…” he hurriedly moved forward to hold her shoulder and bring her in.  She looked around in the empty hall.  A Portrait of Shamsher Singh was staring at her.  She somehow felt at peace.  His portrait … his body posture… his grandeur… his handsome figure… his piercing eyes…. Somehow always calmed her…! She always felt better looking at the portrait.  She had taken a photo of the portrait in her mobile when she had visited the Thakur mansion last time…!

“How are you, beti? Aapney toh yahan aanaa hi chod diya…!” he pulled her closer guiding her inside.  She shrunk nervously.  Akhilesh, her husband had warned her not to enter Thakur Mansion but the pull to meet her mother had brought her to the mansion again.  Manek, Rattan’s cousin was maneuvering with her to his room…! Oblivious to his intentions, she asked..

“Where is Amma?”  A scornful smirk gave her shivers.  She tried to free herself.  He had held her with an iron grip.  She felt someone was sucking her breath out…! She stopped just below the portrait…! He looked at her and then moved his eyes to where she was looking…! Disgust appeared in his eyes…! His hand moved to her waist.  She shuddered in fright. 

“I… I came here for Amma….!” She stammered.  He gave her a sly smile.

“Yeah.. your amma is busy…. Hamare saath bhi kuch batain karo…” he again tightened his grip around her waist.  She lost her balance and he pulled her in his arms…!

“Amma…” she dashed forward freeing herself seeing her amma coming out into the hall with another tall person… Motiram…!

“What are you doing here?” her amma gripped her wrist and she stuttered….

“A.. Amma…” But her amma had already dragged her aside. 

“Aray… your daughter looks more beautiful after her marriage…” Manek said smacking his lips … !

“Amma…” her amma slapped her square on her face.

“Go home..” she ordered showing her the main door.

“But Amma…” she sobbed clutching her cheek. 

“I said go home…” her amma hissed in her ears and she smelled that pungent strong smell…! She turned and was suddenly lifted by strong hands…!

“Aray… why are you so strict on her…? She is such a sweet girl…” Manek had put his hand around her waist again.  She pushed him away looking at her mother expectantly but her amma just stared at her expressionless….! She ran the length of the hall to escape and heard him laugh at her helplessness….! She hit the wall just below the portrait closing her eyes in fright, holding her frame tightly for her dear life…! There was no way out.  Manek had closed the huge main door.  Her mother had vanished somewhere inside leaving her to her fate. 

“Aray… beti… Don’t be scared…” he came forward and before he could touch her again, she moved pushing him on the wall…. She screamed in fright… the portrait hung on the wall had landed on his head with a crash….! She ran towards the main door and with efforts had opened it to run down the length of the garden.. out of the main gates.. on the roads… crying… sobbing…! She just wanted to go back to Akhilesh… who loved her more than his life….! The portrait had saved her…. !

Her mother came home fuming with rage…!

“Who asked you to come to Thakur Mansion?” she roared in rage and Seema cowered in the corner…!

“I… I… thought…” she started off weakly.

“Shut up…” her amma screamed slapping her again, fuming, breathing fire…!

“Where is your babuji?” she asked in a calmer voice after a while waiting for Seema’s sobs to subside.

“D..Don’t know…” she said between hiccups….  Her Amma took out the something tucked around her waist and carefully kept it in the cupboard, locking it securely.  Seema gaped with curiosity….! Her Amma went out dialing her babuji’s number.  Seema couldn’t stop her tears… She dialed Akhilesh’s number sobbing in the pillow….!

116

"Don't go there...You get that?!!" Akhilesh warned Seema over the phone.
"But...She hasn't returned yet..!" Seema was worried.

"You don't have to bother about it... Just be in the house and return home tomorrow morning..!" he said worriedly.  He was always worried when Seema went to her parents' place. 

"I haven't even met bhayya...!" she protested.
"Seema... we will go together... Just come home tomorrow, ok? I miss you...!" he took out his trump card...!

"Oh!.. Mohit ... I miss you too...!" she said kissing the mobile screen. 
"Humm...." she sighed lost in thoughts.  It was late in the evening and neither her amma nor her babuji had returned.  She was all alone with an old maid in the house.   She paced the hallway restlessly for a long time and then making up her mind, crossed the threshold of the house...!

******  *****

"Look... I can't do anything now.... I tried my best...!" CM reprimanded Krishna Kant. 
"The case will be transferred to CBI soon... There is a pressure from all the sides... I can't help it...!" CM said and malice flashed in Krishna Kant's eyes.  The full details of the conversation between Arnav and others in Thakur mansion never came out.  The abridged version was released but now the CM seemed helpless as the orders from Central Government were issed for the CBI probe on the Rattan singh Scams...!

Krishna Kant must act fast to avoid arrest....  !
"But that bugger... ASR has promised Rattan ...  !" He thought but then his face shadowed with apprehension...!
"I will not go down alone... Rattan.... I will pull you all with me...!" he clenched his fists...!
"But before that.... I must finish off this Arnav boy and his so called business empire...!" he smirked murderously...!

"Only three days.... just three days.... and you are gone.... your sister will cry over your dead body....!" he looked out of the car window remembering his son....!
His car pulled over in the proch and the driver opened the door for him.
"Seema..." he bellowed and the old maid came out.

"She has gone out...!" she said adjusting her ghungat and he asked with bated breath...!
"Where?"
"I don't know..." ghungat spoke politely...!

"Did she carry anything?" he asked suspiciously.
"Yes... She carried a bag and fruit basket...." ghungat said and Krishnkant moved out of the house again yelling his driver's name.
"Damn this girl... She must be in the hospital... " he ordered his driver to speed up...!

*******  ******  ******

"A.. What?!!" Arnav gaped speechless dropping the news paper....
"A huge fire, burnt down Commissioner's office : Kanpur Mishap...!" Every Hindi/English  news paper carried the headline.  His mind racing faster he thought of the consequences.  The cases against Rattan Singh and Sham were pending the courts...  The evidences...?" his mind froze..! He hurriedly read through the news and the expected worst fears came true.  All the records were burnt down...!

"Holud Kota..a..a" Khushi's voice faltered seeing Arnav's Ghostly face.

"Whats wrong?" she asked looking at his face.  He gathered himself and said dismissively...
"Nothing...! Its the business news...!" he hurriedly picked up the news paper and marched out.  She shrugged and went away.  Holud Kota... for Anjali was more important than this ASR's mood swings...! But then... "What was wrong with him?" she wondered...!

"Khushi..." Payal called and she turned with the silver plate with bowl of Haldi...! Anjali was looking like fairy with light yellow saree with no ornaments ready for her haldi.  Khushi's vision blurred with tears of happiness.

"Devi mayya... Raksha karana..." she looked up and closed her eyes letting the tears roll down her cheek. 
"Madam ji...!" the servant had brought in a bunch of flowers with an envelop.  She looked at it suspiciously.

"For Anjali Madam...We have done the security check.." he said confidently and she tore open the envelop... Printed photographs fell down.... She hurriedly sat down to collect the papers sending the flowers up in the air. 

"What the...!" Her rage hit the roof.  She waved her hand for the servant to go away and collected the photographs...!

"Yeh.. log bajh nahi aiange...! I will have to teach them a lesson...! The same good old trick... sending photographs... bloody hell..." she clenched her fists, swearing, stuffing the photos in the locker of her cupboard and asked the maid to clean the spread out flowers from the hall way.   She looked at Anjali's happy blushing face and felt a knot in the stomach.  Going out of the mansion, she approached the security officer to instruct him not to send any gifts or flowers without her consent and scrutiny. 

Turning back she saw Arnav at the entrance speaking over the phone.  She stopped thumping her hands on her hips.

"What?" he raised his eyebrows and ended the call...!
"Your sister is getting married and you have all the time to chat on the phone?" she blew her head off.
"What? What happened?" he asked exasperated.  She shook her head in disbelief.
"I can't believe... You just look so aloof... as if its someone else's wedding and you are blessing them with your presence...!" she spat and turned.  He caught up with her.

"Whats wrong with you, Khushi?" he asked looking at her suspiciously.  She turned angrily but his rage also had caught up with hers...!
"What do you expect me to do? Sit by her side and watch her plastered with Haldi...?"" he spat back.  She gaped with open mouth.  Then turned muttering...!

"Yeh toh nahi sudharenge... Look at Aakash Jijaji.. the way he is helping his wife  every which way possible... and this laad governer... always riding on high horses with his temper breaking the roof...!" she went inside stomping and Arnav stood outside glaring at her back. 

******  ******  ******

"What? No! I want to be with her...!" Khushi protested clutching Anjali's arm.  Papaji looked at her sternly.

"No..! Go home and take rest...!" he pulled her up and Khushi glared at Arnav's smirk. 
"But I am comfortable here...!" she said looking around pleading Anjali with her eyes, to support her.
"No! Khushi... go and take rest...! You were running around the whole day..." Anjali also had changed the party.

"Yeah... Chalo..!" Arnav commanded...! Khushi stomped out sulking...! Her pregnency was a big hurdle...!

She felt pain in her feet as she saw the bed.  Sitting on the bed she pulled up her legs and immediately straightened.  Her protruding belly came in the way.

"Damn!" she muttered.  Arnav smirked placing a pillow under her feet.  She turned her face. 
"So? what surprise you had planned yesterday?" he asked.  Distraction was the best way to bring her mood back to normal.  Her expressions changed. 

"You know...? Yesterday night...? We had arranged "Romancing with Stars for Di and Shondeep Sir..!" she said excitedly.  He just raised his eyebrows gently massaging her feet with the ointment...! She was feeling better... She closed her eyes contentedly.  He smiled...!  She had gone to that romancing with star surprise.

"You know? We had arranged boating for Di and Shondeep sir at NalBan...! A romantically decorated roofed boat only for the two...! she smiled broadly...! He gaped...!

"We stood there watching them sail away... I... I felt like... her Bidai..." she said in a trembling voice.  He moved closer to her pulling her head on his shoulder...Feeling the same...! But then.. she wiped her cheeks and said brightly...!

"They both looked so adorable... like made for each other...Di was blushing and he was with reddening ears and hiding his blush inside his dimples...!" She said happily.  "Somewhere in the wee hours they returned home...!" she said dreamily and he remembered his trip to Robindro lake with Khushi crying her heart out on her birthday...! He looked up deciding to take on one such romantic sailing trip...!

"Pata hain? I remembered our trip to Robindro Lake...!" she said looking up and he swallowed hard not wanting those sad memories back.  She hugged him tightly and said I remembered that Gomati ghat in my dreams too... that silvery water flow... the boat sailing on the horizon... the whispering music.... the rustle in the woods..." she shuddered as he tightened his grip around her protectively, lost in his thoughts.  She weapt silently remembering the anguish....!

But sadness was not good for her... they both remembered.
"Khushi...!" he spoke and she looked up questioningly.
"What is your trust quotient?" he asked absurd question.  She gaped stupidly.
"What? which portion?" she asked loudly breaking away from him.  He closed his eyes for a moment and tried to make it simple.

"I mean... how much do you trust me?" he asked.
"What? is there some kind of yardstick for trust?" she asked scornfully.  He looked away.  She narrowed her eyes.

"Why is he asking me about trust? Is he doubting my trust?" she flared her nostrils. 
"Humm... let me see...!" she said stroking her chin cheekily..! He looked up apprehensively.
"Umm... About your business acumen... YES!" she said thinking deeply.
"Umm.. about your people skills... ummm...Zero..!" she said and he flared in rage.
"Humm... About your emotions... I trust only your rage...!" she crossed the line...!
"About you as husband....!" she stopped dramatically.  His grip on her wrist tightened...! He stared at her..... She kept her hand on her protruding belly and said pulling his head on her belly ...
"We sealed our trust with this...." he kissed her tummy.  She stroked his hair dreamily for a while and pushing him away a bit, straightened herself...!

"Now tell me, when are you meeting Lavanya ji?"  He gaped at her in horror! How does she know?  She glared at him...! And then raising her finger threateningly boomed hysterically...

"Not even a bit... I don't trust her and you...if you meet her... I will forget that you are my husband... You understand?!!!" he clasped his palm on her mouth...!

"Shuuu... Quiet...Khushi...!" pulling her in his embrace he switched off the lights. 
"But I will have to meet her,  Khushi... I am sorry...!" sadness filled his heart... It would be the test of Khushi's strength....!

"I know you will meet her.... !" she thought holding on to him tightly...Not letting him go away from her...!