Part 12

Arnav finished his work late in the night after he replied to all his mails.  He finally called Aman to issue instructions for the next day morning meeting and shut closed his laptop and threw himself on the bed.

Jijaji? How could he do this? Why didn’t he tell me?” he was shocked to receive the email late in the night.  His person in Kanpur had confirmed his jijaji’s relations with Rattan Singh, the MLA of Kidvai nagar, Kanpur!  He couldn’t believe it.  “He knows... he knows everything and still works with Rattan Singh?” Arnav was shocked.  “No! It can’t be true!” he dismissed the dismaying email and decided to ignore it completely.  He had a very disturbed sleep.  “If this is true, then surely he is upto something...!” the nightmarish dream gave him creeps.  The hazy face of his Jijaji floated in the air smirking, smiling slyly, laughing, roaring with laughter.  He woke up several times during the early hours of his sleep.  

“This is all because of this crazy girl.  She had snatched my thinking capacity.  I am not thinking straight.  I must stop this.  I must put an end to it.  She is driving me crazy!”  He was tossing and turning in his sleep.  “This is not done, Arnav, Cut her off from your life!” he commanded himself sitting up in the bed for the third time in that hour. His cell rang.

“What the..?” he was again surprised.  “.... ...!” there was a talk from the other side and before he could say anything the phone was disconnected.  He looked at the time and got up to go. 

He didn’t know, why? But something was wrong, terribly wrong.  He had no clue of what!! Within a few minutes he was out on the streets racing away.  

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“I don’t know whether I am right or wrong!” she was not sure.  “But that was the only name I could think of!” she consoled herself, sighing, sitting behind Sham ji and racing away to the temple to her Devi Mayya.  

“Hey Devi Mayya, Rakshaa Karanaa!” she prayed hard covering her face with woollen scarf! Sham was turning his head and talking to her in his sweet acquired voice, slyly.  She knew the truth and was determined to tell the truth, not bothering about the consequences.  She touched her purse securely and put her hand in it.  She could feel the business card of the elderly Sardarji.  She felt safe.

“I will tell him the truth and go away... from his life! Foreever! But I can’t let this slime ruin anyone’s life anymore! I know, he will do something, which I wouldn’t be able to do!” she knew her monster would do something.

“I am sorry for telling you this, Arnav ji! But he is a dangerous man! He can harm anyone! I want to warn you about this man! The decision is yours!” she was rehearsing in her mind.  The bike stopped and she got down. . She knew he was the last person to believe her. He always thought she was a gold digger and if he knew it was his jijaji she got engaged with, he would be wild with anger and he can go to any extent to save his sister.

“Khushi, what’s the matter? Why are you so upset? Is everything ok with your Babuji?” Sham asked with concern.  She didn’t react but kept walking towards Mandir.  All the shops were closed.  The narrow lane looked deserted.  A few sleeping logs turned in their sleep only to go into deep sleep again.  Far far away dogs barked furiously claiming over the territory.  Khushi was ahead walking absentmindedly.  Sham followed licking his lips gazing lustfully at Khushi’s figure.

Khushi was not sure whether he would come or not! She had taken a chance.  She walked with bated breath.  She had called him before coming to the temple with Sham.  She had said "Arnavji, I know I am calling you at this odd hour. But this will be my last request. Can you please come to the "baragat wale temple" right now?" Arnav, surprised at this request started.."What the hell...." But she had hung up without giving him a change to say yes or no.  

She walked the distance glancing around and she saw the white SUV parked outside. She knew Arnav was there. She had no idea that sham too had noticed the SUV.  He understood.  There was no running away, or vanishing from that place.  He had to turn the tables...! It was Khushi’s turn now! He clenched his fists, his eyes reddening, he bit his lower lip.  “So, this is her plan...!” he had to come out of it sacrificing her....!

“Umm Khushi ji, I will wait here.  You go ahead!” he looked at the closed sanctum.  She stopped and turned to face him.  “Are you not coming with me?” she asked loudly and Sham walked with her.  He saw him standing at the top of the flight of stairs at the threshold of Mandir and gripped Khushi’s wrist.  Khushi oblivious to his plans looked at him in shock.

“Sham ji... Chodiye! Leave me!” she could say.  He ignored her completely and dragged her up on the stairs.  She looked around frightened and saw Arnav’s figure in a stiff posture at the top.  Her knees gave way but Sham kept dragging her forcefully.  Her mouth fell open.  

As they approached Arnav, Sham started off loudly in a convincing tone.. "Khushiji I have told you umpteen number of times that I am a happily married man and I cannot fulfil your demands. Please Khushiji, try and understand.... He saw Arnav standing at the top of the stairs waiting for them. He was sure Arnav had heard this. Khushi stopped dead. She could not take in what was going on... She wrenched her hand from his and blurted... “what are you saying.?"

Arnav started.. "What the!..Khushi? What are you two doing ehre?... what the hell is going on...." Anger reaching the peak he stepped forward aggressively looking at the grip on her wrist..!

Sham started off his drama, pleadingly "Thank God, Saale saab I am relieved that you are here. This girl tricked me in and blackmailed me. She wants me to marry her. I only tried to help her father and Buwaji to get her pension. Her Buwaji wanted me to marry Khushiji. but before i could clarify anything, her father  had a stroke... and only for his health's sake we faked the engagement. Khushi ji also knows this. But now she is asking me to marry her and she is emotionally blackmailing me on this."

Khushi stood there thunder struck. She could not even open her mouth to defend herself. Sham went on... eying at Arnav "Saale saab if this happens I will have no other option than to divorce your sister, my beloved wife..." He looked at Arnav for his reaction... and then slowly started dragging Khushi on the stairs.. saying "I cannot even think about this... and you know how much I love my wife ... I just want to be with her, make her happy .. I am trying hard for that by working even at odd hours.. Saale saab... do something ... "

Khushi looked into Arnav's eyes... everything went blur before her tearful eyes.. she looked at him for support. “Arnav ji... huh.!” Her trapped breath left her at once leaving her defenceless and weak.  She looked up at him but could not see his face in that flickering lights and shadows  all around.  She knew, he was the last person to believe her...!

He was glaring down at her.  The dim flickering lights made her more miserable.   He controlled his urge to wrench free her hand from Sham’s grip and pull her into his embrace.  

She was scared... She was unable to look into his eyes... She wiped her eyes... thought of all their moments when she had tears in her eyes and Arnav had melted down.... “Devi Mayya!” she had no one else to come to her rescue...

Arnav stood there speechless...He glared at innocent looking face of his Jijaji.  Anjali’s face flashed before him.  He must save his sister... He knew she cannot live without her husband.  He must save her life sacrificing.....! What?

 What was all this? What should he do to save his sister's marriage... He would go to any extent to save her marriage... was his jijaji telling the truth. He wanted to believe him. He looked at Khushi... with full of hatred and disgust....