128

“Amma… did papaji call?” Khushi asked sitting on the bed with efforts supporting her lower back.

“Easy…Khuahi…” Amma tried to sideline the question.  

“No?” Khushi asked raising her eyebrows and Amma swallowed nervously…

“Humm… Let me call him…” She dug out the phone from under her pillow … 

“Khusiii… Look at the time…” Amma showed her the clock but Khushi went ahead and dislled.

In the dead of the night, Papaji’s  phone range and he got up with a start.

“Khushi..?” he picked up with bated breath.

“Yeah.. Khushi… still alive…” Khushi flared up.  Amma tried to pacify her…

“Khushi puttar…” Papaji too tried to pacify. 

“Don’t call me puttar… I am not your daughter… Goodbye…” She disconnected angrily.

“Khusiii….” Amma tried to… but Khushi raised her hand breathing heavily… A small pain surged in her tummy and then she felt the wetness….A bigger pain twisted her heart….

“Awaaaa….”

“Khusiii…” Amma ran forward to support her calling out of Buwaji….Payal got up with a start…

“Jiji….”Khushi groaned in pain… the pulsating pains twisted her face…. 

“Hai.. Re Nandkishor….She is into labor pains…” Buwaji declared rubbing Khushi’s palms…. Amma dashed to the puja ghar to light the lamp.  The entire house woke up… 

“Go get some sheets… or what you call that …pads…. Keep her bag ready… ” Buwaji was issuing frantic instructions…  Payal dialed Avinash’s number… 

“Take her to the hospital…” he ordered turning to Anita… At 4:30 in the morning Khushi was taken to the maternity home in an ambulance…. Phone bells rang in the homes of all concerned….! 

“What?” Nani stopped dead at the threshold of the pooja ghar. Mamiji was lighting the lamp….

“Hello Hi… please bless her…” Mamiji had joined her hands … Naniji turned her back teary eyed. 

“Be in touch ok… and update…” Aakash was talking to Payal getting ready to go to Lucknow…! 

..........  ........

 

“Chote..?” Anjali turned to Shondeep trembling….

“It’s ok Anjali… Don’t worry… We all will go… Even A’mma Abba are coming… He said pulling her closer.  Everyone had tried to contact ASR without his whereabouts known…. He was far away in South Delhi calling on Lavanya to join him for the business meeting early morning…

..........  .........

 

“Where is her husband?” Doctor asked and Amma and Buwaji looked at each other….

“He..He is not here….” Payal said looking down.

“Ok… Who is going to sign the papers?” he asked flipping the consent papers.

“I will… I am her sister…” Payal said taking the set of papers from the nurse.  On the table Khushi was groaning with pulsating pains…. 

.............  .........

 

“What the…!” ASR stopped the car with screeching brakes…! Sweat sprang on his forehead… A stray puppy narrowly escaped running over by his car.  He pulled over…wiping the sweat.

“Easy.. easy… take a deep breath…. Breathe… breathe…” he said closing his eyes….

 

Khusiii… wake up…” Her Amma was slapping on her cheeks… Khushi had passed out in pain…

“Nooo… Khusiii… Hi re nandkishore…. Khusii… wake up…” Doctors busied themselves in preparing for the worst…. She was losing fluids ….!

 

“Wake up… Damn it..!” he banged on the steering wheel and Lavanya shuddered… 

“ASR… “ Lavanya held his arm.   He shirked away…. Closing his eyes…! 

“It was just a puppy… ASR…!” she said unable to understand his mental struggle… For her the puppy was just a nobody… even if it was run over by his car…

“Awaaaa…Ammmaaa…..” Khushi screamed her lungs out, four hours into labor pains…!  

..................  .........

 

“Stay here…” He ordered hopping out of the car.

“ASR…!” She called out puzzled.  He had already crossed the road…

 

“Regi…”

“What the hell….. ASR… you took my breath away…” Regi yelled from the other side…

“Go to Lucknow…” ASR ordered and Regi gaped speechlessly…

“Regi…” he again called out…

“No… No, ASR… She needs you, not me…” Regi was out of bounds in rage… But ASR had disconnected.  Regi tried to dial in vain… it was some STD booth from Delhi.

 

“ASR… you could have used my phone…” Lavanya said sweetly seeing him return…

“Shut your mouth up, Lavanya… we are being tailed…” he hissed.

“What? Who?” Lavanya looked horrified… 

“Just stay calm… I will handle it…” he said slamming on the accelerator…

“Who do you think is following us?” Lavanya asked innocently.

“Damn that Krishna Kant…” he said and she looked at him in shock.

“You take the wheel….” He said pulling over again and she came around to drive.

“I will get down at the next circle…” he said.

“No… ASR… we can easily give them a slip…” she said confidently speeding over.

“Do as I say, Damn it!” he barked and she shuddered.  

 

“God! Where is my phone…?” She had pulled over after crossing the circle at Haus Khas when he hopped out on the busy road and merged into the crowd.  

“God..! I must contact him….!” Lavanya was panic.  Her phone was missing… She tried to recollect Krishna Kant’s number… 

........  .........

 

“Damn this ASR…!” Regi muttered angrily.. though worried about Khushi. 

“Annie…?” he looked up at her.

“Yeah.. you should go… “ She said smiling faintly, worry taking over…

“God..! Hope she is alright…” He said and she nodded.

“Don’t worry… She will be alright… and call me with a good news…” She said hugging him lightly and turned to pack his bag….