Part 35

 "If she has landed, then why did she not call? Or is it a night flight? I should ckeck the timings" he thought. He called up his travel agency and inquired about the timings. By this time he had reached home. The last flight from Kolkata had landed at 5.30 in the evening, he was told.

"Why did she not call? What was the point in sending the text? This silly, stupid small town girl must have thought on saving money..." He thought in frustration, dialing her number, with no response from the other side. "How can I know where she is? Should I call up her home and ask? Or should I wait for her call?"

"Chote, would you like to have dinner?" Asked Anjali. "No di.. only a glass of milk will do." He said and went back to his room. 

"Aakash would know if Khushi has arrived. Payal must have told him about Khushi" he thought and headed towards aakash's room. He stopped on the stair case as he saw Aakash leaving hurriedly clutching his cell to his ear. He called him from behind but Aakash had gone by that time. Surprised, he followed Aakash calling him after. Aakash sat in the car and raced away. He took his SUV and followed wondering where was Aakash headed in this hour of night.
He saw Aakash taking the route to payal's house. He knew, Khushi had come and Aakash is going to meet his saali (SIL). A smile appeared on his face, happiness filled his heart.

"What the hell!!" he screamed applying immediate breaks. His vehicle skidded a bit. He stopped it with a jerk looking ahead at Aakash's car. He was taking a detour from his normal route which led to payal's house. He had turned right a corner before the final bend to her house. Arnav followed. Aakash slowed down and took the car to the parking lot near a garden. He parked and got down. He paced around, looking anxious and glancing at his watch.
Arnav, wondering what was going on parked his SUV far away switching off the lights and engine waited in the car looking at Aakash.

Khushi and papaji landed on Delhi Airport exactly at 5.30 in the evening. Khushi was so excited she almost forgot to pick up her luggage. Papaji reminded her and pushed the trolley. She hurriedly came back and walked with papaji out of the airport.

"Khushi, we will go to the guest house first and then I will take you to your home. Is that ok?" papaji asked looking at her. She was a bit disappointed but knew that it was a statement and not a request. She had to agree. They went to the company's guest house. Papaji dumped his luggate and ordered for tea. She had to have tea with papaji, but was so restless, that papaji pulled her hand and made her sit next to him. "Please... don't be so restless, Khushi. You know we are going to your place. Don't be in a hurry.." 

"You won't understand.. papaji" she thought to herself. Papaji took his time to get ready and then said to impatient Khushi, "Ok. Child, let us go." Smiling.
Khushi had not informed her family that she was coming. She wanted to give them a surprise. When they entered their area, she was so reminiscent that she almost lost her vision. Everything looked hazy and new. She wiped her eyes and looked around. They had reached their home. She ran ahead and knocked on the door forgetting that they had a door bell. Payal pulled opened the door and froze. She kept gaping at Khushi, her mouth fell open. She almost forgot to breathe . "Khu......." she chocked. 

"JIJI!!" Khushi shouted and hugged her tightly. They stood there speechless. Some one came from inside.

"Who is it? NandKishore...! It sounded like Khushi... I am having hallucination..!" She came out and screamed... "Khusi...! Is that you? Hi re NandKishor.... This paramesari is here....!" She too came and hugged her so tightly that Khushi almost choked and went breathless. She pulled herself out of the embrace of payal and Buwaji and ran inside. She saw her ammaji in the kitchen engrossed in her work and then she saw babuji sitting on a wheel chair. 

"Babuji..." she screamed and ran forward to dissolve into his embrace. He cuddled her with one hand.. tears rolling down his eyes. She finaly had come back to her family. This was the moment of her life. Ammaji came into Babuji's room and looked at Khushi with tearful eyes. "Khushi..." she called out sobbing. Khushi, ran to her and hugged her sobbing hard. 

"Hmmm... " Papaji, coughed, smiling. Khushi came back to her senses. She had forgotten that papaji was with her. She came forward and held his hand bringing him inside babuji's room. Papaji came forward and held his hand. Babuji could convey gratitude towards him by looking at him with tearful eyes and holding his hand tightly. Papaji looked at him and then looked back at Khushi. Suddenly the atmosphere had changed. Everything looked so beautiful, even the garage in front of their house looked decorative and clean. Their Khushi was back...

Papaji had dinner with them and went back to his guest house. They continued chatting with each other. The family members took turns to take possession of Khushi and ask her innumerable questions. Payal had revealed Sham's truth in the house but had not confided with Aakash. She also had felt that Arnav should do it. Buwaji had regretted for being snobbish and forcing Khushi into the relationship. Khushi had forgotten all the bitter moments. She was back and that was enough to be happy with her family. She saw Payal dialing a number from the landline. Payal said something and hung up hurriedly. 

Then payal said "I am tired Khushi ... let us go to our room" She went with payal. Payal had not put on her night dress. Khushi kept her head on payal's lap and closed her eyes. Payal cuddled her for some time. She slowly kept her head down on the pillow and slept beside her. 

Payal got up. Looked around and went out of the room. She looked into everybody's room to make sure that they were fast asleep. She slowly removed the bolt and tiptoed her way out of the house. Khushi turned in her sleep and tried to put her hand on her sister. Her hand fell upon the bed. She opened her eyes and looked around. She got up calling out "Jiji?" payal was nowhere to be found. She saw the main door. It was unlocked from inside. She tried to pull it open but it was locked from outside. She was puzzled. She came to the window and pushed it open . She could see her sister going away and turning on the bend and disappearing. ... "JIJI! " she called out and shut her mouth realizing that everyone in the house would wake up. She was furious that Payal had locked the door. She went to the back door and opened it. "Now I will see who does what" she stepped out smiling at her luck.

Payal hurriedly went out of the house making sure she had locked the door. She almost ran towards the garden. She knew Aakash was waiting for her. She was already late. She ran forward on the almost deserted road looking around. She never wanted anyone to see her.

She saw Aakash waiting there restlessly. She ran towards him. He ran forward and held her hands thereby slowing down her pace and putting his arm around her shoulder. 

Arnav saw a figure running towards the garden in his rear view mirror. He was alert and kept low. He saw the figure ran past his car. He straightened himself up and looked. He was surprised to see payal running towards Aakash. "What the hell is she doing here in the night at this hour?" he thought. He saw Aakash putting his hand around her shoulder. "Why are they meeting here? Why not at their place? What has happened to these two? Have they lost their senses? Is this the time for romance? What the hell is going on?" He thought. 

He sensed a movement behind his car. He ducked off and waited. He could see the shadow moving away. He looked out straight and saw a silhouette of a girl with dangling a long, ropelike, waist length plaited hair. He opened the door of his SUV in excitement and jumped out. He tried to follow the figure but it disappeared in the moonlight somewhere. Curious, he went ahead. He saw a movement behind the tree. He knew whoever it was, was hiding behind the tree. He went nearer... He saw her...He moved forward in excitement. "What is she doing here? And why is she out in the night? Why did she not call me..?" his anger started mounting, he moved closer and closer.

She was looking at Payal and Aakash from a distance hiding behind the tree. She was restlessly playing with her plait and muttering something. She could not notice the movement behind her. She swung her plait backwards and tried to move ahead hurriedly. 

He moved closer to the figure. He sensed that she is moving ahead, he tried to catch her from behind but it was her plait of hair he could lay his hands on. He caught hold of it and pulled it with all his might. A muffled scream left her mouth as he had managed to press the other hand on her mouth. 

She turned around and both of them froze. He, looking at her angrily, holding her hair like a halter and she reflecting pain for pulling her hair. The pain on her face had vanished when she recognized him. But he was so stunned, it took him a while to understand what was going on. He had forgotten everything looking at her. Even his anger did not vanish from his face as he was stunned and turned into a statue. She looked at his angry face and her smile faded away with fear taking its place. She looked at him. He kept gazing unblinkingly. "Chodiye...leave it" she said in a whisper... 

"Wh....What?" He looked at her pointing index finger and let go of her hair hastily. Still locking his eyes with hers he moved forward closing the almost non existent gap between them. She opened her mouth to talk... but he whispered with gritted teeth "What are you doing here in the night? Don't you know its not safe " he pressed his hand on her mouth. "Now don't go shouting... you silly girl!" He looked at her frightened face and removed his hand immediately.

"And what are YOU doing here? Following your cousin? And what is he doing at this time with my jiji?" she retorted angrily hissing back at hm. She looked at him in surprise when she did not get any response from him. She looked at what he was looking at... and let out.."What..? what are they doing ...?" She turned to face Arnav who was looking all lost and gazing at the scene ahead. She put her fingers across his eyes and whispered.. "No. don't look at them like that..."
Both of them had seen Aakash almost lifting payal from ground in a hug, kissing and payal moaning in happiness. 

"What? I was looking at them but You were all lost.." pulling down her hand, holding her tightly, and faning her face with his heavy breath, he whispered. She looked at him angrily and tried to break free from him. The more she tried, tighter he gripped her. He gazed at her challenging her to try and break away from him. She felt helpless and gradually lost all her resistance. He was enjoying her struggle. "See I told you, you cannot break free from me like that.." He said looking at her aggressively. She opened her mouth to retort back..

"Bhai... !" both of them turned around in a jerk breaking away.
"What..?" Arnav said absentmindedly looking lost. Then coming back to senses he said "Aakash, have you lost your mind? What are you doing here with payal?"
"Bhai... we couldn't resist meeting each other when payal gave me the news that Khushi ji has come back... "
"And you did not feel like telling me about it!" retorted Arnav looking hurt.
"But bhai, I thought you already knew. Khushiji might have called you.....!"
.....
"KHUSHI..., what on earth, did you think sending sms is the better idea? You silly girl, were you thinking on saving money?" He asked Khushi in a rage turning and facing her. 

Payal and Aakash looked at each other and shook their heads hopelessly.
"And you did not think its necessary to read any of your messages.!" she retorted back.

"Chup... Stop!" he hissed back at her.

"Bhai ... we are going for a drive... are you" Aakash called out for Arnav.
Both of them looked at each other. Payal and Aakash had already reached the car. Khushi and Arnav came pacing behind. Aakash gave him the keys to drive. But Arnav, refusing it, said "You drive the car.." 

"No. bhai you can drive...I know your passion for driving..." Aakas said smiling mischievously. 

"No!" said Arnav in a stern voice. He did not want to lose the opportunity to sit back with Khushi. 

Aakash opened his mouth to say something, but payal held his hand and signaled. He reluctantly opened the door.

They were racing away. Aakash applied breaks on the bend and Arnav grabbing this opportunity, in a swift movement, closed the gap between him and Khushi, sliding sideways, almost bumping on her and pressing her against the window. He was sitting in the middle of the back seat, leaning against her. Khushi nudged him with her elbow saying "Hatiye......Move!" He looked at her angrily and nudged her further with his shoulder. 

"Chup... Quiet!" he hissed at her with gritted teeth. He saw Aakash looking at them through the rear view mirror. Arnav said "Aakash, rear view mirror is to look at the road behind and not the seat behind.. understand?" leaning forward and readjusting the mirror away from their reflection. 

Khushi blushed. Looking at Khushi, he held her in a tight embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder. He closed his eyes pressing his chin on her head.
His heart filled with joy and happiness "Khushi...." He blurted with happiness. He shrugged all the negative thoughts. "Everything is going to be alright. We can handle anything together". He relaxed peacefully in her arms........
It was nearing 4.30 in the morning when the brothers dropped the sisters near Gupta's house. 

"Bhai... I am so happy that she returned.. now Payal will marry..." He looked at Arnav and stopped.
“Aakash, you go ahead.. I will go get my car!” Arnav turned towards the park.

"What the hell is she doing?" Exclaimed Arnav ignoring what Aakash was saying. Aakash too glanced at the sisters. Payal had run towards the front door and was unlocking the door. And Khushi, jumping over the railing was running towards the backyard. Payal tiptoed her way inside and closed the door. Khushi had already disappeared in the backyard. 

Arnav got down from the car saying "Aakash you go ahead I will get my car and come..." and without looking back he ran behind Khushi. Khushi had reached the back door and unlocked the door. She did not see him. He stood there confused. "Why is she doing that?" He heard the scream ... "Buwaji was shrieking. She was shouting at payal for being irresponsible. He peeped through the window. Khushi had entered the house from the back door and had come, rubbing her eyes, to where buwaji was screaming, as if she was fast asleep and woke up just now. 

"What is it buwaji? What happened? And where were you jiji? I could not find you in the house..." She said with a straight face and turning her back to buwaji she winked at her jiji! Payal was furious. She knew she would be blamed for roaming out of the house in the night by everyone in the house and Khushi escaped. She turned her face in anger.

Arnav sat in his SUV smiling and thinking "She is the same Khushi.. naughty and childish.. mad as a hatter.... Crazy girl..!" He thought of all superlative adjectives for her madness. Smiling, he drove away.

“Aray, you too Saale Saab?” Arnav found Aakash standing before Sham when he entered the house.
“What?” Arnav looked at Aakash.  He understood.  “So?” he stood beside Aakash and asked piercingly. 
“Umm.. no..! I mean both of you were out in the night and its almost dawn …!” Sham explained.
“So?” Came a question from Arnav. 
“Where were you, Chote?” came Anjali’s question and her figure appeared from behind Sham.
“Had some work Di!” Arnav said moving towards his room, ignoring Sham’s raised eyebrows. 
“Chote?” Anjali called out and Arnav stopped on the stairs.  Aakash too turned towards Anjali.
“It’s Ok. Raani Saheba! Sham turned to leave so did the brothers.  Anjali looked at her brother and went away.
“He is up to something.. I should keep an eye on him..!” thought Sham planning to visit Guptas with another threat…!!