“Balwinder come home right away…!”
Mummiji ordered and Papaji got panic.
“You Ok, Biwi?” he asked concerned.
“I am fine, Come home… Dasgupta is
here…” she said glancing at Das who was sipping tea, relaxing on sofa.
“Das? What is he doing there with
you in my absence..?” Papaji snapped suspiciously.
“Some business matters…” Mummiji
said vaguely.
“Look… if you two are cooking up
something… I am not a party to it. I
stay out of it…” Papaji spat.
“Balwinder, come home before its too
late..” Mummiji spat back angrily.
“What are you planning Biwi…?”
Papaji asked suspiciously.
“And be careful… You are alone with
that… that… treacherous man…”
“I know Balwinder, who he really
is…” Mummiji said glancing at Das. Das
was unaffected with what was going on between husband and wife. He knew for sure, that Balwinder will come
over once summoned by his wife. He was
waiting…!
“One hour..” Papaji looked into his
schedule…
“Ok. Waiting…Das will be with me
till then..” she said chuckling..! Papaji frowned at the other end. A detailed plan to be hatched out to shield
Arnav and Khushi from the evil….!
****** ******
“Rattan Saab…” a rustic, hoarse
voice echoed in Rattan’s head. He sat
upright clutching the phone.
“So … the blood is thicker than …. loyalty…” Came
the accusation. Rattan refrained from
reacting.
“Are we breaking this allegiance ?” another question
hurled at Rattan. Rattan waited for the
other person to go on.
“I am coming back..” Finally he
declared and Rattan sucked in his breath.
“How is he?” Rattan opened his mouth
to inquire.
“Oh! He is in safe hands.. he will be
fine soon…” the other person said and Rattan held his breath.
“You mean, he blinked out of Coma?”
Rattan asked apprehensively. Not a good
sign at this point of time! Rattan needed time to make his moves alone and the
news that Krishna Kant was returning was unsettling…! The phone got
disconnected abruptly. Rattan sat there
deep in thoughts. “What if they both
return?” He must chalk out a fallback plan.
******* ******
*****
“Khushi…. Papaji..!” Arnav held out
his phone but Khushi looked up suspiciously.
“On your mobile?” She asked taking
the phone from him.
“Hello, Papaji…” she went to
poolside. When she came back, others had
dispersed.
“Where is everyone?!!” she exclaimed
and peeped into Anjali’s room to find Nani, Mami and Arnav there.
“What? Is everything ok?” she asked
concerned and Anjali looked away blushing.
She gazed at Anjali’s face and turned angrily towards Arnav.
“You told her…!” she flared up her
nose and Nani pulled her hand.
“Haan Bitiya.. and now there is no
time even to pick up small fights…! Its not even a month for the wedding…”
Khushi turned happily forgetting her sulk and coming to Anjali, said…
“So.. Did you call Shondeep Sir?”
She squinted at Arnav and arched her eyebrows.
Anjali blushed furiously.
“Di…!” Arnav took her hand in his
and sitting on the bed he pulled Anjali into his arms…!
“I am really really happy for you…!”
he said rubbing her back and she broke down in tears in his arms. Khushi couldn’t stop her tears either…! She
suddenly turned and vanished from the room and then reappeared with a plate
full of laddoos…!
“Let the celebrations begin…” she
yelled at the top of her voice and Arnav picked one laddoo….!
“No… No… not for you…” Khushi would
never leave a chance to get even with him.
She snatched it from his hand…!
“Spoil sport…!” he muttered and
Payal entered with another bowl…
“This is for you, Sugerfree..” she
said grinning and Khushi turned to Nani.
“Naniji… We should start planning
from now on… I will come to your room and we will prepare the check list….” She
then turned to Arnav and said in a sweet voice…
“I will be with Naniji tonight…”
Arnav gritted flaring up his nostrils..! He wouldn’t let her sleep anywhere
else. He wanted her right beside him…! “There
were a few months left for the third person to arrive in their lives and he would
never be alone with his Khushi…!” a pain surged in his heart. “My Khushi will not be mine alone…” he again
felt jealous. Making up his mind he said…
“Yeah… Ok! I will help you around…”
he was no less in settling scores with her and Khushi turned to him surprised. He raised his eyebrow.
“Yeah…!” he said as a matter of
factly and she turned her face to see everyone else grinning.
“Khushi Bitiya… go have your tonic
and iron tablets and come to my room. We
must start with planning for their visit to our place….” Nani grinned glancing
at Anjali.
“Yeah… we will all gather in your
room in fifteen minutes, Dadi..” Aakash said chuckling and Arnav looked at
Khushi smugly. Payal would return with
Aakash and Arnav would take Khushi along in his room in the night..!
