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“Anjali… Arnav had called…” Shondeep said in the night and Anjali got up with a jerk…

“Called…? When? Where is he?” she asked excited…

“Hoo… He is fine and has asked you to take care… And he is in Delhi…” She tried to grab her cell…

“Anjali… No! He is fine… but he doesn’t want to talk to anyone… Please…!” he pleaded…!

“What? I am his sister… his elder sister…” she was hurt.  He had not called her…!

“Yes… He will call you Anjali… Its just .. we need to have patience… “ He said holding her to his heart.  She cried and he kept patting on her back….! 

“Shuuu… Everything will be alright….” He kept assuring her unconvincingly…!

*********  ******

“Khushi…!” Khushi opened her eyes with efforts.  Her amma was at her bed with a bowl of lukewarm oil.

“Come…! Let me rub this on your feet…!” She gently pulled up her dress and started massaging her swollen feet gently.  Khushi felt better.  The heaviness was getting unbearable… She wanted to get it over… 

“How many days, Amma?” she asked losing her patience.  Her Amma smiled…!

“These last few weeks are really difficult… but don’t worry…. !” she consoled grinning.  Khushi sulked…. “These people are enjoying my plight.  But I know what I am going through… This baby is growing day by day and I am getting heavier every minute…!” 

“Aii  Khusi…. Why are you sleeping in the evening…. Come on… get up…!” Buwaji had dashed in…! 

“Aii… Kulfi pighal rahi hain… Come on.. the ice cream is melting…!” Buwaji pulled her up.  For a moment her eyes flashed in excitement. Ice cream was her weak point.  Amma was smiling broadly.  Khushi looked at the Kulfi stick…!

“What?” she looked at the pack and up at his expressionless face.  “Take it!” he thrust the pack in her hand and opened the lid.  It was her favorite Mango Ice cream.  Her eyes flashed but she resisted.  He fed her the ice cream as she clutched her paining swollen elbow….!”

Khushi turned her face, missing him, dropping the melting Kulfi stick…. !”

“What? What happened… Nandkishor?” Buwaji asked bewildered.  Khushi went into her room closing the door behind…! 

*****  *** *****

“What happened, ASR?” Lavanya gaped…! He just froze and after a moment went out without a word…

They were in the restaurant after their presentation.  Lavanya was in a good mood.  The presentation had gone well.  Investors seemed happy… but ASR was upset for some unknown reason…!

“How about Dinner ASR?” Lavanya asked lovingly. He just nodded.  Absentmindedly he was just chewing whatever was served on his plate… Lavanya was on cloud nine… There first ever presentation had gone well…. She was hopeful….! 

“Regi…Where are you?” he asked in a hurry coming out into the lounge…

“Why? At the airport… going back ASR..!” Regi said gravely.  

“Listen… there is a ice cream parlor near the old bridge… go and get a family pack of mango ice cream… Pot ice cream…! …!” he was cryptic…

“But I have a flight to board ASR..” Regi protested…!

“Damn with your flight, Regi… Take the next flight…!” he barked and Regi walked out of the entrance of the Lucknow airport ….!

********  *****  ********

“Aii… Khusi….!” Buwaji was banging on the door.

“What is it, Buwaji? Can’t you see I need rest…!” Khushi yelled irritably.

“Aii… I know, Nandkishor…! But see this… your Regi Sir sent this…!” Buwaji said thickening the suspense….

“What is it?” Khushi opened the door with a disgust on her face and found her Buwaji waiting with the big tumbler of Mango ice cream…!

“Haaa…. Ice Cream…!” Khushi’s mouth fell open secreting saliva…! The mouth watering temptation, made her spirits lift….! 

“Haa… Mango ice cream…! I just love it!” She dug the spoonful in her mouth…

“Thanklu…” her tongue went numb…!

“Nandkishor… look at her…! She wanted mango ice cream… not kulfi… and that too from her Regi Sir..!” Buwaji sulked.

“Regi sir? Where is he?” she asked looking around…!

“He is not here… he sent it through someone…!” Buwaji clarified.

“Regi sir sent it?” she was puzzled…. And then smiling broadly snatched that big tumbler from Buwaji…!

“Yeh sub hamare leye hain…!” she went on eating to her heart’s content…!

“Laad Governor  .. Kahin kay…!” she blurted.

**********  ********

“Suna maine….!” Arnav smiled, sipping his drink.  Lavanya watched happily.  “He is happy with me …” she thought planning for the night.  His phone buzzed.

“Done!” Regi disconnected and dashed through the entrance.  He was already late…. He would miss his flight.  ASR’s face lit up.  

“ASR…! “ Lavanya clutched his hand.  He didn’t withdraw.  She poured another drink for herself… 

“So..! Thank you..!” he said formally opening the car door.  Lavanya gaped…

“Thank you? ASR we are partners…” she said getting upset.

“Partners? We haven’t even started…!” he snapped.

She slammed the accelerator…! He was silent….! 

“ASR I am so happy…!” she looked at him with expectation.  He didn’t respond.  She sulked.

“Wait a minute… Where are you taking me?” he asked looking out of the window.  

“Home…” she said sweetly.

“Home?” he asked.

“Yes ASR… our home… my apartment…!” she said apprehensively.

“Pull over… Lavanya…” he commanded in a deadly voice.

“Why, ASR? We can share the apartment…” she said hopefully.  

“Stop the car, Lavanya..” he said without looking at her, ready to open the door….

“ASR…” hurt in her voice was evident…! Her phone buzzed… She immediately grabbed it before ASR could lay his hands on.

“I will call you later…” she abruptly disconnected.

“It…It was my friend….” She said sheepishly.

“I didn’t ask you any explanation….” He reprimanded.  She turned to him…

“But I want to tell you, ASR.. Tell you everything… share everything with you.. my mistakes… my inhibitions.. my fears… everything… I want to confess ASR..” She said with teary eyes…! His eyes bored a deep hole into her heart.. but the next moment she was on cloud nine again.. when he said Ok!  She turned and raced away with him towards her apartment….! He smirked… his hot and cold treatment managed to confuse her thoroughly…!

“I need some rest in the night… I have to catch a flight early morning…!” he said as she unlocked the apartment door.  “Humm..” she sighed.

“Coffee?” she asked and he nodded absentmindedly. 

She brought in the mugs and he kept it on the table… opening his laptop…!

“Have it first, ASR…!” she suggested…! 

“Can you get me a glass of water?” he asked staring at the laptop screen.  She moved into the kitchen.  He picked up her phone..!

“Ok..! I am staying tonight…I have a overseas call in an hour…” he said relaxing with the empty coffee mug… Her face lit up…! 

“ASR…” she hugged him…! He smiled faintly. 

“Lavanya… I need to prepare for the call…!” he suggested and she got up reluctantly.  She wanted to know more about the call… She wanted all the details…!

“Your cell Lavanya…” he picked up the cell she had left behind.  She came hurriedly and almost snatched the phone.. He smirked turning his face…! 

“ASR?” she was behind the chair again.  He just lifted his head and said “I am fine here, and please do not disturb…” she went to the bedroom and waited for him for a long time trying to keep her eyes open… slowly drifting off to sleep…! She failed to hear the door click… as ASR moved out in the night to his hotel room…!