Part 34

Khushi could not sleep that night. She sobbed into her pillow, feeling lonely. She wanted to be with her family, with all of them.

 Till now she had accepted the fact that she would not be going back and would not see them. But this new possibility of going and meeting them made her impatient. She could not wait. "Why did he not find me out earlier? What was he doing? Had he come to take me earlier, I would have gone back with him...." She thought. She was desperate to meet them all. 

While going to the office, she had asked papaji, "When are we going to Delhi, papaji? I mean.. do you want me to book the tickets?" 

Papaji, glanced at her and said "Don't worry puttar, we will go soon" but he did not commit any date. He was smiling. She was disappointed and was upset looking at his smile. "He does not understand how desperate I am to go... " She thought bitterly. 

But papaji had understood her eagerness. He wanted to give Arnav some time to sort out his priorities. He wanted both of them to think about their priorities. He knew ... Knew that these two would hurt each other in desperation to be with each other. 

Khushi kept quiet and drove to office without a word. Papaji kept glancing at her. He felt sorry for her. "But this pain, despair, desperation, loneliness would ensure their happy future" he thought. 

Arnav kept himself busy throughout the day. He never wanted to go home. She had not called till late in the evening. She had no news to give him. Papaji had not given any date. Arnav was counting the days. Both of them had not called each other. 

On a bright Thursday morning, while going to office papaji handed over an envelope to Khushi. She looked at him questioningly. He asked her to open it. "Two tickets to Delhi on Friday..." She double checked the date. She looked at him smiling broadly. He nodded and said "Yes, we are going tomorrow afternoon. It will be late in the evening by the time we reach..." She had already started texting the message of their arrival...Papaji, kept staring at her, smiling. When she felt his gaze, she was embarrassed and tried to hide her phone.

 "Its ok puttar, I understand your excitement... but can we talk before we leave for Delhi for some time?" He asked. 

She looked at him and nodded. "What is it that he wants to talk to me about?" she mused. They reached office. She sneaked at her cell. The text message was not yet sent. She decided to wait. She attended to her duties but kept thinking about papaji all the time. In the evening papaji called her to his cabin.

"Khushi, I am glad that you are visiting your family. I am really happy for you. But puttar, please bear in mind that this is not your destination. You will have to go a long way and you need to be strong enough to handle any situation. No one knows what is stored in future but at the same time one can always dream about future and be prepared for the worst" 

She looked confused. "What is he talking about? What worst? What is stored for me in future?" and suddenly her confusion turned into fear.."He has not yet told anyone about the truth..." she remembered. She looked at papaji. He was looking at her piercingly. "I... I won't be able to.... Go..."

"No puttar! We are going and you will meet them all. But you will have to be prepared for this. Understand? You need to be strong enough to face the situation"

"No papaji, I won't be able to meet them... I cannot face the hatred anymore...I won't.." She started in a quivering voice. 

"Khushi, puttar, you are a brave girl... I am sure you can face this."

"But, papaji, I have told him that I won't meet him untill he tells his family members." She was heartbroken. She was sure that he had not yet told the truth, otherwise he would have talked about that to her. 

"Khushi, I know he has not revealed the truth. But try and understand him... he cannot do that without you. His sister means everything to him and he cannot see her collapse. A sense of getting cheated by someone you trust the most is more painful that sense of losing someone. You should understand this. He is not able to digest this fact that someone has cheated him and his sister and is still staying in their house. Probably, he is waiting for the right moment and situation to reveal the truth. He knows no one will believe him if he reveals it now. He may need your support... " she was aghast.

"Khushi, my suggestion is.... You forgo your resolution of not meeting him.. for the time being. You will have to meet him. You will have to try and help him to create the situation for the final revelation. Understand?" Said papaji in a calm voice.

"will you......Will you? Will you help us...Please...will you help Arnav ji to sort this out?..please?" She asked him earnestly. 

"Yes I will, if need be....!but i always feel one should solve one's own problems" He said assuring. 

"Thank you papaji." She hugged him....
She could not decide on sending the message to her Arnav ji. She wanted to tell him that she is coming. But at the same time wanted to give him a surprise by directly standing in beofre him. She smiled dreamily at this thought. She had butterflies in her stomach, her heart jumping out in excitement. She decided not to send the message that night. She went to bed musing on what papaji had conveyed to her. She wanted to think and help Arnav find out a way. Her conviction that Arnav had betrayed her by not revealing the truth, had vanished from her mind. She was thinking from his point of view now.. She was turning to his side…! 

In the morning when she was packing ... she could not resist the temptation... and sent him the message "Coming today..." And she decided not to take his call fearing that she might reveal her arrival time at Delhi airport. She did not want him to be at the airport. "I won't be able resist myself..." she thought.
He did not call. She had no time to brood on that as she was busy shopping for the family and talking excitedly to mummiji about everyone in the family. Whenever reference of Raizada House cropped up.. her heart ached. 

Arnav went to the office that morning and busied himself in the routine work. He had decided not to think about her. She had not called him. He did not know whether she had changed her mind. He remembered she had told him that she won't come back unless the truth is revealed. 

"She won't understand, I am caught in a deadlock and she has the key... she will keep blaming me for this...she does not understand.." He thought miserably.
"I will stop thinking about this and focus on my business." He thought resolutely. He did not even have time to take his lunch. He ordered some salad and coffee during lunch hour and had it in his cabin working on his laptop. He had to formulate strategy for closing the deal with a French garment company. He asked Aman to take away his phone and barred anyone from entering his cabin. He scrutinized the Joint Venture documents and made notes to discuss with his consultants. He was satisfied with the shape the document had taken after carefully drafting it. It was evening by the time he finished his work. He asked for coffee and called Aman for further discussion. He took the phone from aman and asked who all had called him. Aman did not take Khushi's name. He was disappointed. "So she has not yet decided when to come. Its already weekend. I will wait. There is no point calling her again on this. I may sound desperate that way...". He thought to himself. 

He sat in his car to go home. He had put on his Bluetooth and picked up the phone for its paring. He saw some unread messages. He hurriedly browsed through them. Several were some crap marketing messages. Two of them were from his clients, and the last one received in the morning which he had no time to view, was from Khushi...

He winced with excitement. "coming today..." He looked at his wrist watch... it was almost 9.30 in the night. He threw his Bluetooth in frustration. Had he missed her? She had not mentioned the time of her arrival.

Part 34

Chote, have your breakfast..!” Ordered Anjali looking at her borther’s face intently.  He avoided her.  Her searching eyes would find out.  He looked away.

“Umm.. I will have it in the office..!” he said weakly and Anjali got up from her chair.

“What is it, Chote? Why are you distancing yourself from us all?” she asked painfully and he had no answer.

“Who is distancing?” came a sweet voice of Sham and she turned her face feeling better that Sham would handle Arnav.

“I am going Di!” Arnav turned to hide his hatred.  “What? Wait! Have breakfast..!” she came a step forward.

“Chote.. Please have your breakfast!” Nani said seriously.  He turned.
“Bhookh Nahi hain Nani..!I am not hungry!” he looked at his nani.  She could sense anguish.  She understood.

“Chote..!” she pleaded and he came back. 
“Umm.. Saale Saab..!” Sham started off slyly.  Arnav stared at nothing.  Nani could see his clenched fists.

“Damad ji… your talk can wait.  First let him have his breakfast..!” Nani successfully stopped further discussion.  Arnav was thankful.  He looked up at Nani but she looked stern.  

“Aray… Have one more…!” Anjali served her husband one more Paratha.
“Umm.. No, Raani Sahebaa… I am not feeling well…” he played his card successfully to gain sympathy.

“What? What happened?” Anjali asked.  She was panic.  He made a face to gain more sympathy.  She got up clutching his arm.  He looked miserably.  Nani and mami looked on.  

“Nothing.. Raani Saheba… its only a head ache and a little fever..Don’t worry!” But anajli had started dialing the Doctor’s humber.

“Stop Rani Saheba.. I am alright.  I have taken medicine… !” he said sweetly.
“No… I can’t …!” Anjali had tears in her eyes.

“Aray Raani Sahebaa.. nothing will happen .. its only a mild fever.. I will not die of this..!” he took out his trump card and Anjali shuddered.

“Please, for god’s sake.. Don’t say that… I will die… I will not sustain…!” she sobbed.

“Please, Sham ji… Shubh boliye…!” Even nani fell into the trap.  Sham glanced at Arnavs’s flexing muscles.

“Raani Saheba… Don’t say that… I cannot live without you… What if you die? I will end my life if you say like that…!” He got emotional.  Arnav was gazing in shock at this drama.  Sham’s eyes met with his and Arnav felt a glint.  He clenched is fists turning his back on this emotional fake drama.  He di had ran into Sham’s arms hugging him without any inhibitions.  Arnav knew how much his di loved her husband.

“How was he going to tell Sham’s truth?” he had no idea.  

“Khushi….!” His heart cried out for the only one he had his own.  His phone rang…
“Hello…!” he went out hurriedly clutching his phone to his ear.

“Khushi…!” His voice soaked with emotions he took a deep breath.
“Arnav ji? What is it?” she could sense his despair.
“No.. Nothing..!” he said in a heavy tone.
“Arnav ji..! I know…” she said in a soaked voice and he slammed his car door hopping in.
“Khushi… I am going to the office… Will talk to you later….!” His voice faded away with the racing car..!

“Humm…!” she wiped off her eyes.  “Have your breakfast in the office…!” she messaged and came out of her room to start her day.

“Why didn’t you come with me, Khushi? This Sham…!” he clutched the steering helplessly.  “I cannot do anything without you…! Come to me, Khushi…!” he chocked.  Sham’s glint flashed before him… Hopelessness creeped in.  He badly needed his Khushi to take on to Sham. 

“Di… When will you realize?” He had no answer to this.  He knew his di would sacrifice herself for Sham.  She would never believe his deceitful acts… She would never believe he was robbing her… would never believe her life was in danger…! Her Chote flaundered for her happiness, for her safety, sacrificing himself…!
“I just want my Di to be happy…! No matter what happens to me, to my empire, to my Khushi…!” his vision blurred.  He missed his Khushi!  Sham was all set to ruin him again…!

When shyam met his Di and kept meeting her frequently, she was very skeptical. But slowly sham managed to open her out and they fell in love with each other. She was so grateful to him for his care  and to love her despite her limping leg. He always said, he was in love with her and not bothered about her limping leg. Slowly he stared going out with her and one day they had declared their marriage. He was a lawyer and had no family. He stayed alone and one day got entry into Raizada House as Anjali's husband. He was always a loving husband. He had never talked about his family saying he was orphan and he could completely understand the pain of losing parents. 

Everyone in the family had accepted him as a family member and he always kept everyone happy. It was hard to believe he would betray his loving wife Anjali. They had got married three years back and they stayed at Sham's rented small house for a a month. Then they found out that the house was inconvenient for her to move around and work alone, they shifted into Raizada house when Arnav had insisted. Sham had a very good law practice and kept moving around entire Uttar Pradesh working for his clients. He frequently visited places like lucknow, kanpur, Saharanpur and Delhi. He had a good business acumen and used to advice Raizada's on business expansions and policies. Everyone believed him blindly including Arnav. Aranv was happy that his sister had married a person she loved and that all her sorrows had vanished when she was with Sham.

When Sham dragged Khushi and told him that it was she who trapped him, he had prima facie believed sham. But when he had looked at Khushi's aghast face, he felt something was wrong. He wanted to believe both of them. He had never even thought that Khushi would do such thing. He knew she would sacrifice her life for others. But he could not even bear the thought that sham would do something like this to trap and try to marry Khushi. There was something amiss somewhere. He wanted to find out. He could think of the only solution to keep them away from each other was to marry her. 

When Khushi left him that early morning the truth came crashing upon him. His earthen pots had crashed down despite his reinforcement cover.  He was vulnerable… Indeed!  But it was too late. He wanted to talk to sham and ask him about the truth but sham made it sure that he was always in the company of Anjali whenever Arnav was around. A couple of times Arnav had talked to him on phone but he always avoided conversation directly.

All these months, since Khushi and Arnav's marriage in the mandir, Sham was very careful. He had rarely left Raizada House and had become more loving towards Anjali. He also had talked about starting a family with her and about their children. He had tried to meet buwaji but she had shown him the door. Payal had revealed the truth about him. He had blackmailed them that he will malign Khushi's Character and reputation, if they talked about him to anyone. He also had threatened to destroy their reputation completely. With babuji bed ridden, the family could not do anything but only to wait for khushi's return.
Arnav reached office. Sham's thought was always there at the back of his mind. He knew Khushi, would not return unless the family members were ready to accept her. This could be possible only when sham's truth was revealed. He was in a catch twenty two situation. He would not be able to reveal sham's truth without Khushi and Khushi would not return unless the truth is revealed. It was a deadlock and Arnav did not know how to break it.
 
"The only person who can break this is Khushi.." He thought. It seemed that solution to each problem he had was Khushi. Every thought started with Khushi and ended with her. He never had thought that he would depend so much on her.
"Have I lost my thinking capability?" he thought, absentmindedly dialing her number in the evening. She took the phone and said she would call him later as she was driving and was with  Papaji. He hung up in frustration. 

He came home and had his dinner alone in his room. He thought of going to naniji and talk to her. He did not know how to confide the truth about sham. She had once refused to take them in when they had lost their parents. But then she had come to their place and took the two orphaned children under her shelter protecting them from this brutal world. She had given them good education and encouraged them in their ventures. He felt grateful.  But then again, he had a row with her a few months back over Khushi and somehow did not feel like confiding the truth. He was not sure about how she would react. 

His phone rang and he knew it was Khushi. He felt relieved. "Khushi...!" he said in a happy tone. 

"Sorry Arnav ji I couldn't talk to you when you had called I was driving and papaji does not like talking on phone when driving.. so" Said Khushi
"Its ok Khushi! Tell me.. is your flight ticket booked? When are you coming?" he asked eagerly

"I ... I do not know... papaji said he will make the arrangements..! " she said in a small voice.
"Is there anything, he lets you do alone? Or it is that you always depend on him? " He asked angrily. He was upset. 

Unable to understand the reason for his outburst, Khushi asked, "What..? why are you so upset. I am staying with this family. I have to ask papaji before I take any decision. You won't understand, coz you don't ask anyone.... But I cannot do that and I know whatever papaji does is for my good... you know he always thinks about me first..." there was no response from the other end...

"Hello, arnavji... Arnavji... are you there?" She asked in a worried tone looking at the screen of the cell to see if its still alive...

"hmm? Hello... Yes of course I am here and listening to you..!" he said so but had lost in his thoughts. He was thinking about how Khushi felt so secure in Papaji's shelter. He missed someone like papaji in his life... He had his family but all the members of his family looked up to him as a head of the family and would depend on him. He did not have anyone who would tell him what to do and take his responsibility. 

He had taken all his decisions on his own, whether right or wrong and faced the consequences alone. He was a protector and never had the luck of being protected. He envied Khushi...

"Hello Arnavji.. What happened? I will ask papaji and tell you the date of our departure from Kolkata... is it OK, if I call you about it tomorrow? Its late now and I don't want to disturb papaji ..." She went on...

"Its ok. Khushi... Tell me once your travel plans are confirmed". he paused and then..

" Khushi, is everything ok? Are you ok? " He asked hesitantly, in fact he wanted to ask "Khushi, do you miss me?" 

"Yes, Arnavji, I am fine.. but I miss Delhi, my family and everyone .." She said this aloud, thinking to herself "I miss you a lot" There was a silence for some time as both of them did not know what to say. And then both of them started simultaneously "we will meet soon.....!" and they laughed. 

"Yes Khushi, we will meet and then I won't let you go anywhere.." thought Arnav
"Yes we will meet and then I will have all the answers for my questions from you...! Please Arnav ji.. Don’t let me go away from you… I want to be with you, always..!", Thought Khushi. Her heart ached. She missed him so much. She felt she would cry if she continued with the conversation. 

"O...Ok Arnav... ji... goodnight" She said in a quivering voice.

"Khushi... are you ok?" Asked Arnav, in husky voice, catching her emotions. She did not answer. But he could hear a faint sob from the other end. He swallowed hard and talked in a soft voice. "Ok. Khushi, good night and take care..." He looked at the screen removing the phone from his ears and inadvertently dabbed his lips on his phone where Khushi's name had flashed a moment before.
He wanted someone very badly to talk to, to consult with, to confide his secret, sham's truth and his feelings. Unfortunately, he had no one!

part 33

Arnav came with Raj next day. They had lunch. It was time for Arnav to leave for Delhi. He kept on glancing at Khushi. He wanted her to accompany him which was not possible. He could not bear the thought of going back without her. 

Khushi wanted to go with Arnav. She missed her family so much. And now that everything is settled, there was no point hiding herself from others. But she could not ask this. She knew papaji would not agree. She kept quiet. 

“Arnav Puttar, do you want to take her with you now?” Papaji asked piercingly and Arnav winced.  His heart leaped.  “Yes!” he wanted to say… but before he could open his mouth, Papaji went ahead.  

Puttar, after all it is your decision.  You two decide what you want to do and how are you going to face the family! I don’t want to put her in more trouble.  I know, you will handle it but think about Khushi! Can she live where that Sham is…!”
“No!” came the response from Arnav and Papaji looked at Khushi’s ashen face. 
"Puttar.. go back to Delhi. You may want to give this good news to your family and may be plan for your wedding.... " He paused for a while and then said with twinkling eyes.. "May be Khushi will come to Delhi next week to meet her family, with me and I will be honored to meet your family..." He looked at both of them smiling... 

"Khushi and Arnav exchanged looks. He was happy that he would meet her next week again. But Khushi was in a trance. When she heard the name Sham... She remembered the scene when she left Raizada family that early morning and she could not forget the hatred in everybody's eyes. She shuddered and looked at Arnav. 

Unable to understand her frightened looks he asked her.."What..?"
She blurted "family... When did you tell your family? Anjali ji... How is she? When did you tell her about Shamji? How did she rea...? She looked at him and stopped in the middle. He avoided her eyes... 

She asked him in hollow voice... "Did you....?" He said "No..." and hung his head... his shoulders drooping. "What..?" She clutched her mouth with her hand horror struck pacing backwards. He had no answer. “Why? Why didn’t you tell her.... ?” Khushi was hurt beyond limit..

  Arnav had no answer… he had not told his Di…!He had not told anyone about Sham. He reacted.. “Why? Are you asking me? Why did you leave me, Khushi? This is all because of you…! You didn’t..!” he went overboard in anger…Khushi clutched her mouth holding her breath..

“You don’t believe me.. Don’t you?” she was aghast.  “Khushi….!” Arnav chocked. She was in shock. Papaji raised his hand to stop Arnav. Khushi sat there thunder struck. She could not even notice that Arnav was ready to leave, Papaji came to her and said in a kind voice. "Khushi, puttar, he is leaving...would you like to go to the airport? Raj is going to drop him at the airport.."

"hunn? No!" She said coming back to her senses. 

Arnav left, dejected! Again, she had not given him any chance to explain. She was not ready to listen to him. She heard only once side, heard only what she wanted to hear. She did not understand his situation. 

"Khushi... again you have turned your back on me! Again you have hurt me... Khushi why did you not listen to me? Why did you have to leave me that day? I would have handled everything, had you not left me. You don't understand, I cannot do anything without you, Khushi..." He stopped at this thought wondering what he was thinking. For the first time he realized he had not taken any major decision after she left. And the one he took was a failure as Lavanya left him. For the first time he was on the verge of admitting that he is incomplete without her.
He pushed these thoughts away. He, as usual started brooding on the same incident when she left him after their marriage and again thought of teaching her a lesson when ...

"We are at the airport, Jija ji !" said Raj. Arnav got down and Raj went ahead to park the car. When he returned, Arnav was ready to check in. They said goodbye to each other shaking hands. "What magic she has played on this family...!" Arnav wondered.

"He does not know what she has done for us...!" Thought Raj while returning home.

"You should have gone to see him off, puttar" said papaji sitting next to her. She looked at him with tearful eyes and said, "Papaji, he has not told anything. That.. that man is still in the house. Why, papaji...? Why did he not tell? Why can't he understand? He is not saving her marriage, he is putting her life in danger...Papaji, I am unable to understand" she sobbed..

"Puttar, try to understand his condition..." Said papaji in a kind voice. For the first time he was taking Arnav's side. She looked at him shocked. 

"Try and understand, Khushi. I am not saying what he has done is correct. But I can understand his situation. He was left with no support after you left. He had already messed up with your life along with his. He loved his sister more than himself. He wanted to save her marriage at any cost. He did not know how to convey her husband's truth. She has a blind faith on her husband. She would not withstand. She would have blamed Arnav for this and would have left his house. This would put her in more danger. He had cut himself off from the family. He could not take the risk, with you gone and he was left alone. He could not take the decision without you, Khushi... Try and understand... he is very lonely... he is incomplete..."

Khushi looked at him in surprise... "Incomplete?"

"Yes, puttar... he is incomplete without you. He may not admit this but you should understand..." He said kindly. 

Khushi sat there looking at him. She did not understand what he was talking. "Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada... could not take decision without  me..impossible !" she thought. "Papaji, does not know him well, and that's why he thinks like this...I know, Arnav ji  thinks he is almighty.. " She said to herself. 

Arnav sat in the plane brooding over his situation. He repented for not telling his family. He was not sure how they would react. He decided to reveal the truth of Sham to his family immediately. He loved his sister and he could not hurt her. He had no one to talk to except for Khushi. But she had already gone. He could not tell anyone. He had to keep mum. He felt trapped. He could not find his way out.
His anger  mounting. "Khushi! she is responsible for all this. She is the one who put me in this situation. I will not spare her. I will not tell anyone about the truth. I will wait for her and make her to disclose the truth. She should tell this to everyone, not me... and she will. I will compel her to do it. I will...!" He thought. He had made up his mind not to tell anyone anything about Sham.

"Papaji, how can I go and face them? I have seen hatred in their eyes. If that man is still there, he must have poisoned their minds and thoughts. I will not go there unless he clears all this. I cannot go... I cannot meet them." She felt helpless, broken down completely. 

"Puttar, you are going to meet your family. You will meet your babuji and payal jiji. Don't go and meet his family if you do not want to. But think about your family..." Said papaji.

Khushi thought for a while... "Yes, I am going to meet my family. I am going back to Delhi to meet them. To tell them everything that happened during these months. I will meet them and comeback. I will not meet him unless ..." she said aloud and looked at papaji smiling. 

"That's like my child!" papaji said reflecting the same smile on his face and said "Now go and get ready. We need to attend to lot of work before we leave for Delhi, next week" She ran to her room to get ready. 

Khushi went to office with papaji. She had to complete all the pending work. She attended meetings with papaji. It was already late in the evening when they were ready to return home. They had the last meeting to attend. All the department heads of the Kolkata Fashion House were present. Papaji spoke to all of them introducing Khushi as their new Director. Khushi was shocked, she looked at Papaji, not understanding anything. Papaji said, "All the other positions will remain same. The only change will be, She will be the director holding 78% of the shares and that she will be responsible for the business. 

"Sir," Said Khushi in denial tone, "No, I don't accept this. I won't take this responsibility. I cannot".

"Its my decision and that's final. You understand? Gentlemen, please raise the objections now only, if you have any. " He sounded authoritative. No one had any objection, in fact they welcomed this decision as if it was all decided long before. Papaji, asked her to sign the papers and the share transfer warrants. She obeyed his orders wondering, why was he doing that, knowing that she will go home soon. But papaji had this as a fall back plan for her. 

He knew the going would be tough for her. Both of them came home for dinner. She was tired and wanted to go to sleep without dinner. But mummiji forced her. Papaji, gave the news that Khushi would be the new director of one unit of his group. Raj was particularly very happy. He congratulated her. She was flabbergasted. "But.. its you. You should have papaji's shares, not me...!" she said. She looked at papaji and said. "Please, do not transfer them to me. Its his right to have your shares. Please, papaji, don't do this." 

But Raj said, "Khushi, its your right not mine. You have turned the situation around and I do not deserve this. In fact it should be all yours not only this unit but everything, that we have." He went ahead " Khushi, i have ruined so many years of our entire family and its only you who could bring us together. We owe you so much. This is nothing." He said looking at papaji for approval. Papaji and mummiji nodded in acceptance.

Mummiji said "Khushi, you will be always in touch with us and meet us because of this. This will keep bringing you to us. Please accept this." Khushi looked at her and said "Mummiji, I do not need this all to come back to you. I will always be yours and will come here anytime you want me to." 

"No arguments on this... this is final and she has already signed the papers.." papaji said this in stern voice.

She went to her room. She was tired and nervous. She tried to sleep. "Arnav ji must have reached Delhi by now. "She thought. She dreaded to call him. He too had not called. She brooded over the day's events. She thought of papaji's conversation about him. She wanted to believe papaji, that he really wants her, that she would be really happy with him. She wanted to help him, to be with him, to tell him not to worry and everything will be alright. But she was not sure about his feelings. She said to herself "I will not call him. I will wait for his call.."
He landed on Delhi airport and on his way back home he thought of calling her up only to say "He had reached..." but he remembered her refusal to see him off and decided otherwise. "She will call if she has any work..." he thought

He came home late and realized that he had not given any idea to anyone where he was going, except for Aakash. Aakash had called him for some work and came to know that he was in Kolkata. It was really late when he reached home. He wanted to have dinner with the family but it seemed that they all were already gone to bed. He came into the kitchen to see if there is something to eat. He switched on the light and opened the fridge. He found the box of sweets. There were jilebies in it. He inadvertently put one in his mouth remembering Khushi. He desperately wanted to be with her.

"Chote.. what are you doing in the kitchen?" Anjali was standing in front of him. "When did you come? Where had you been, chote? We all were worried about you. Are you alright?" she was concerned. 

"I am ok Di." I just wanted to have some food before I go to sleep" he said.
"Chote... wait at the table, I will get you some food... and what is this? Were you eating jilebies? " she asked in astonishment looking at the box in his hand. He just said avoiding her eyes "I felt little weak so.." 

At the table she served him food. He looked around and asked "Di, is everything ok, here? I mean how are you all?" She looked at him piercingly and asked bitterly "Chote, do you remember when did you last dined with us?... You just seemed to be cut off from us all. You know.. since that episode for your so called marriage with that Khushi..." 

"Please di... stop it!" he said in a stern voice. "I was asking you about our family. How is everyone? Is he .." He hated to take his name and call him jijaji... "I mean is everyone at home?" 

She said, " chote everyone is worried about you. Nani says you are ruining your life. Payal said, she will not get married till Khushi comes back... and Aakash said he is ready to wait... And your jijaji is worried about you too. He always talks about you... he says its all because of that Khushi, she is responsible..."

"Stop it Di... don't blame her. What do you know about her? Why do you listen to people who are.." he stopped, not knowing what to say. "Di, I will go and have some sleep. Tomorrow I will talk to payal and aakash." He thought "Khushi is coming back ...." His spirits lifting, he went to bed to think about Khushi and his life ahead...

He remembered Khushi had not called. He thought of calling her and lifted his cell but then he decided not to call her. There was a new message in his inbox. "When did you reach?" It was from Khushi. A smile appeared on his face and he dialed her number.

"Could you not call me when you reached? I know you never wanted to call me. But you should have at least sent a message that you have reached. You never care about people.." she started off in a angry tone. But she was very happy that he had called. "Khushi... stop fussing... if you are continuing with this, I have plenty of things to blame you for, understand?" he retorted with the same tone, thinking "Why do we have to fight every time we meet or talk?"

"Ok. Now that I know you reached safely.. so... Good night" she hung up. 

"Goodnight, Khushi.." He said smiling ... He knew, she was going to call him back. 

He threw himself on the bed clutching his cell phone in his hand and waiting for her call.

He went back to their last night's conversation. He had called her back. "Khushi..." he had said in husky voice. "hmm" she had replied. "Khushi, do you know, how happy my cell phone was for not flashing your name for such a long time..." he had said in a teasing voice. "What? And now? Ask your cell to delete my name..." she sounded hurt. He laughed and said "Khushi... I am talking about my phone.. not me.. you do not know how I spent all these months without talking you, without fighting with you, without seeing you." He had said in a serious tone. She had said "Same here...I did not have my phone." 

"Khushi its almost midnight and I want to meet you, now...!" he had said longingly. "Oh my god! Arnav ji, hurry up.. low battery ... I may not be able to talk to you for long.." She seemed panic. "What? Don't you have a charger, you silly, stupid girl?" He had yelled. 

"Had I not put it on charge if I had one? She asked angrily. "Papaji game me only the cell and forgot to give me the charger. Now what do we do? Hello... hello Arnavji... hello...?"

"Khushi... are you still there? Khushi... Khushi... damn it... you silly girl...." Her phone had gone dead... He had switched off his cell in frustration.

This time he never wanted this to happen. He had the charger ready and was waiting for her phone call.

He closed his eyes thinking about her and longing for her. When he opened his eyes it was seven in the morning and his cell flashed two missed calls and a text message. He had missed her again. He got up in frustration and thought of calling her but decided otherwise. He had a lot of work to do to keep himself free for next week. 

He had another task on his list. He needed to talk to his family members about Shyam's truth. He had no clue how he would manage this. He could not bear the thought of her sister heartbroken. He knew she would not sustain this blow. She had blind faith on her husband. He was not sure whether that was love or gratitude. "It is not love, its only gratitude towards him" he thought. He remembered the time and circumstance when his sister and shyam got married. when she was just eighteen, her baarat had gone back because of his parents' past. which had shattered her completely. This caused their mother's death. Arnav was just fourteen at that time. He had not understood why his sister's marriage broke. Both of them had gone through a very humiliating and tough time during that period. Since then she was his world and his top priority and he could do or sacrifice anything for her happiness. When he understood what his father had done, he had lost faith in god. Money and Power became the only purpose of his life. He had built this business empire without anyone's help.