129

 

A car pulled over just infront of her. 

“Where is he?” A man hopped out and came to her.

“God..! He he just went away…” Lavanya said pressing her hand on her chest. 

“Where is your phone?” he asked and She got panic.

“I don’t know… I misplaced it somewhere.” She still was searching for her phone in the car.  The man frowned. 

“Saab wants to meet you now… Come with us…” he opened the car door and pulled out the car keys.  She walked with him to the other car.  A little away from that place, he was sipping a sweet, over-boiled strong tea in the roadside tea stall and transferring the contacts list via blue tooth into his cell…..

He waited for the car to move away and dropped her phone near her parked car…!

“You dropped your cell here… Lavanya…!”  he smirked moving away…

“Damn…!!” His heart ached….Somewhere the Temple bells were ringing…. He straightened himself, hypnotized…

........   ..... 

“Look… We are trying our best for the normal delivery… but in case … I need your signatures on the consent form…” The doctor looked at Payal.  She just nodded..dialing Avinash’s number. 

“Sign the papers, Payal .. I will talk to the Doctor…” Avnash assured her.  She handed the phone to the doctor. 

 .........  ......

The Aarati echoed in his ears.  He joined his hands… “Bless her… Shakti Dena.. Devi Mayya…” He inadvertently mumbled…. And he opened his eyes in shock.  Looking at his own miserable state he stared at the idol… Smile brightened his face….

“Pagal Khushi… Look what you have done to me…” He took Teerth and Prashad from the pandit with devotion…..

“I am taking your place…Pagal…” he couldn’t stop his smile….

 ......  ................

“Push…Push…” The nurse was trying her best to keep her awake… The shooting pains grew in frequency… The doctors seemed to be satisfied… Khushi couldn’t bear the pains….

“Noooo….” She screamed for the last time and everything went pitch black ….

“Khushi…Khushi…” She heard someone calling from a distance… Unable to open her eyes she just shook her head….

“Nandkishore…..!” she heard a sigh and then Buwaji’s voice boomed.

“Aaii Khusiii…. Nandkishore… Aankain Kholo… Tanik Dekho toh Sahi….” Khushi turned her face not wanting to hear anything more….! She heard her Amma….

“Amma… She cried out loudly and her Amma caressed her drained out face…

“Khusii… “ She kissed Khushi’s forehead.  Khushi tried to open her eyes in vain….

*****  ****  *****

He was running against time… He must strike before its too late.  He must make sure … his son is safe… Krishna Kant entered the hospital and was suddenly surrounded by the reporters….! He was taken aback…. He couldn’t face them… Not now atleast…!

“No questions please….” He raised his hand.  Now there was no going back… He must see his son…!  He entered the special ICU…! “Make sure nobody enters this room…” he ordered the security guard….!

“CM’s visit… !” Doctors rushed in and he gaped in disbelief…!

“What? No..!” he blurted in shock.  The patients were rushed in.  There was a country liquor mishap…. Hundred and twenty three were rushed to the hospital… many were in serious condition…!  All the hospitals were overflowing….CM’s visit was inevitable…! He couldn’t stop it…! The reports were lurking…! The CM walked in with officials  and channel reporters with cameramen…!

 ........     ...............

“What’s going on?”  Rattan’s uncle, the senior Thakur marched into the mansion…!

“This  notice…to vacate this house…” Said Rattan’s cousin.

“What? Why?” He took the notice…

Arnav’s Dadi had transferred everything in his name and he had sought a decree of specific relief from the Court. 

“B..But Sham and Rattan were to take care of this…!” He blurted and the bailiff smirked.

“We have fifteen days time to respond…” he said….

 ..........    ..........

“Khushi Puttar…” Papaji’s voice bellowed…

“Shuuu… Quiet…!” The nurse on duty warned.  He looked at her angrily...  Hospital and that piculiar smell always gave him jitters....  Khushi opened her eyes….

“Papaji….” She said faintly but her eyes were searching beyond the family crowd in the hospital room…

“Puttar…" He went to the cradle….

“Shuu… use the sanitizer before touching the baby…” the nurse reprimanded again…

“Yeah.. I know…” he frowned angrily.  Nani walked in…

“Wait..wait..” She said lifting that sweet little white bundle from the cradle….! Papaji couldn’t stop his tears…! “Phrewwwn… He sniffed noisily and the baby shuddered.  Papaji grew panic..

“Sorry…Sorry… Baby…” he said touching the baby…! Nani smiled teasing…

“Look… He is crying… look..look…” Papaji turned his face and said puffing his cheeks

“I am not crying… Its just that… I felt like crying…” Shondeep laughed…!

“Papaji has become softy ice cream….. Baby likes ice cream…” Anjali took the baby from Naniji…

“Oh! Come on… How do you know?” Shondeep asked astonished.

“I know… Even Chote likes ice cream…” She said smugly and Khushi turned her face…

“Its since three days… there was no trace of her Laad Governor…!