Part 40

"Good evening Mr. Bawindar singh. " Arnav greeted him. He remembered Khushi. He had not called her at all and she too had not tried to call him.
"Mr. Raizada, sorry to call you at this time. I need to discuss with you. Is it a good time to talk?" asked Balwindar Singh. 

"Yes, of course MR. Balwindar Singh." Said Arnav, gathering himself together and gearing up for a business discussion. His anxiety subsiding, he felt calm listening to Mr. Balwindar Singh. They had a discussion, on filing the papers and completing the legal formalities for their venture. Arnav's face started resonating smile. He somehow, felt comfortable talking to Mr. Singh. 

Mr. Balwindar Singh was concluding the discussion.
"Mr. Balwindar Singh, there is a small hitch in this matter. The board intends to assign another person to handle this matter." Arnav waited for his reaction keeping his fingers crossed.

"I see.... We have already prepared the documents with your name. But that can be managed. If you really want to entrust this responsibility to someone else, we can make the modification before they get registered. So let me know." Balwindar singh said this in a steady voice. But he was thinking deeply, "What could have happened? Why is he assigning another person? Is there a problem in his company?"

"Thank you Mr. Balwindar Singh. I will inform you about it later..."
"Can I ask you the name? Mr. Arnav ?" Mr. Balwindar Singh interrupted him.

"Mr. Sham Manohar Zaa" said Arnav in a grave tone. "He is a lawyer by profession." 

"What?" for the first time Papaji lost his composure.
There was a silence for a while from both the sides. Balwindar Singh had forgotten to react. Arnav was waiting for his reaction holding his breath. Blawindar Singh threw away his mask of a businessman and called "Arnav...." 

Arnav, now on the verge of collapsing under the pressure, stood there like a statue clutching his phone to his ear.
"He is thrown in a quick sand ...unaware..." thought papaji. Then regaining his composure, he said "We need to meet Mr. Raizada before you act upon the board's decision." Arnav felt relieved. He had at least one person to his side. His heart filled with gratitude. After all Khushi was right. Her papaji can help.

"Yes Mr. Balwindar Singh, we need to meet soon!" said Arnav.
"And now if we have finished with our business, I want to talk to you about a personal matter, with your permission, Mr. Raizada.." Said Mr. Balwindar Singh.

"Yes, of course, uncl.. um.. Mr Singh" Arnav waited eagerly, his spirits lifting up and smile appearing on his face.
"Its ok. Puttar, ..." He said smiling to himself. He had succeeded in breaking the ice. "I wanted to inform you that Khushi, is back to Kolkata with me.." He said and waited for Arnav's reaction. 

"What? Why? I mean Aakash's marriage... " and he stopped suddenly. "Is she ok? I mean.. I am sorry for yesterday's outburst. But..." He could not take in anything.

"Oh! She is perfectly alright and has realized her mistake, Arnav... She has a job to do here .. you see..." He said smiling and his eyes twinkling...
"Oh! Ok. " Said Arnav, little disappointed. He knew why she had left. She had not even called him before going. But, He forgot that throughout the day he was busy and would not have taken her call. 

"Ok. Arnav puttar... When would you like to hold a meeting regarding today's development? Let me know the place... I can arrange the meeting here. Take your time and let me know.." He said with mock seriousness, smiling.
"And..Good night Arnav..." He hung up..
******   ********

Khushi got up early in the morning. She went into the kitchen where the cook was preparing for breakfast. She told him to prepare papaji’s favorite lachha parathas. She got ready and went to mummiji. They both went to Kaali Mandir and Khushi decided to skip her class for today. She came back with mummiji and laid the table for breakfast. Everyone gathered. She knew this was the time to open the topic. 

Papaji and Raj were engrossed talking to each other about some political event. She asked “Raj bhaiya, how do you know so much about Indian Politics? I mean .. you were away for so many years but still you know everything”. 

“Oh! I keep myself abreast with everything related to India. That’s why!” He said smiling.
“What do you do in US? I heard you have a business! I don’t understand much about it, but! just out of curiosity!” She went on looking at Raj and Elsa prompting them to elaborate!

“Oh! I have a IT company” He started describing the nature of his work, glancing sideways at papaji. He was engrossed in eating his favorite parathas. 

“But then, if both of you are working then how do you manage now, staying away?” She asked him innocently. He looked at her, she winked. Papaji stiffened. Mummijji looked nervous. 

“Yeah! That’s a bit of a problem. Though most of the business I can handle remotely, there are certain matters require my presence.” Said Raj looking little tensed. 

“You know, like now I am here, there are lot of tasks pending. I don’t know how am I going to clear up these!” he said looking at Khushi.
“Oh. I can understand. you will have to do a lot of work when you go back.” Thank god she has opened the topic, Thought Raj.

“Papaji, Why don’t you go with them for some days? I can take care of mummiji. “ She said looking at papaji trying to read him mind.
“When are you people leaving?” papaji asked looking directly at Raj. He felt nervous looking at papaji’s gaze. 

“Oh! Come on!” Stop beating around the bush..! I know you need to go. Tell me when.” He said.
“Dad¦” Raj chocked, his heart filled with the sorrowful thought of parting again. His eyes were moist.
Papaji looked at him and the kids. He said, “I can understand, thought my heart is not ready to accept. But its ok. I am happy that we will keep meeting. You can go back to your world.” He said getting up.
Raj got up too and coming forward, facing his father.. he called out! “Dad..” His dad hugged him tightly with tears in his eyes.

“IDEA¦”. Khushi almost screamed. Everyone looked at her. She had got up and in excitement was standing on her chair looking down at everyone.
“Khushi Buwa, what are you doing?” Asked Meera. “Ok! Come here kids and you will see” she said inviting the kids to join her.

“Can we do this? Elsa Bhabhi, tell me have you attended any Indian marriage?”
“No! but I would love to!” Elsa said unable to understand what Khushi was hinting at.

“Ok Great! Jiji’s marriage is coming up! Raj bhaiya, can we do this? I mean!You go ahead per your plans. Let Bhabhi and kids stay back. I know bhabhi too has some work but if she can manage it remotely, then may be they can stay back!for some more time” She looked at Raj with excitement.
“Oh! That will be great! I can work from home. Even in US I used to work from home earlier..” Said Elsa excitedly.

Raj looked flabbergasted. He kept looking at his wife. “Does she really want to stay back? Can she handle this? .. Ah! But then Khushi is there with her.”
Elsa was looking at him for his approval. Kids had already started dancing and screaming with the thought of staying. Raj nodded. 

“Elsa, bahu!” mummiji called out with outstretched hands. Elsa hugged her. Raj had tears in his eyes. At last all the past was forgotten. He came forward to hug his father. But papaji had already reached where khushi and kids were jumping with joy. 

He lifted the kids to bring them down and declared “We will baby sit when Elsa is busy working from home!” He looked at Raj smiling. :”Bete, are you ok with this?” Raj came running and hugged his wife. Everybody laughed their hearts out. 

“Dad, I will try to come back as soon as possible. I will miss you all!!”
“And Khushi¦. Thank you! You deserve a treat from me¦! Tell me what do you want?”
“I want you to come back. !” She said smiling at him.
“But a treat and a party is a must. And I will arrange !!” Said papaji smiling. “She deserves more than a treat and she will get it at the party.” He thought remembering his conversation with Mr. Raizada!.
“MUSIC..” Khushi screamed. They played some Punjabi remix and danced their hearts out in celebration! with papaji joining them happily!. And mummiji smiling brghtly hiding her tears!.!
********   ********

It was the evening of Wednesday, and Papaji had arranged a party for Raj and his family. He had invited all his key persons in his office with their families and all Raj's friends were specially invited. Khushi wondered how could papaji arrange such a beautiful party in just a days time and how could he arrange for the invitations. She asked Papaji in amazement. 

"Puttar, there are event management companies who arrange these things in no time. We have a company who does all this and do it for us always. They know perfectly well our invitee list and they manage every other thing. This time Raj had to give them his list of friends.. though the list is short, that's only the new things. Everything else is same. 

The party was arranged lawns outside the mansion using its huge expanse with colorful umbrellas big enough to encompass a table for two, arranged like a maze and invitees were asked to choose a root which would lead them to various drink and food counters. Invitees may have to take the right path to reach their favorite counter. Lot of dead ends were arranged to make it more interesting as the invitees needed to come back to original entrance to take another root. The contour of the garden was beautifully used to make a level high enough where anyone can overlook on the people moving around in the maze searching for the right counter for their favorite food and drink. The Wooden dance floor was waiting for the couples with a melodious music. Each umbrella resonating and reflecting different shades of blue and green color lights and entire scene from above felt like a cloud walk experience. 

Papaji and Raj waited at the gates to greet and welcome everyone. Papaji had put on his pathaan patterned beige color kurta and a blue patiyala style turban with diamond studded Surpech (Turban ornament). Raj looked a perfect westerner with dark blue suit. He looked handsome in his suit and tie. Everyone was delighted to have come to the party.

Mummiji was wearing a dark blue suit and diamond set. She was on the wheelchair but looked stunningly beautiful with the happiness resonating her smile.

Khushi had worn a baby pink saree with ruby set of zumka, bangles, bindi and necklace. She had turned her hair in a slightly wavy style and let it sprawl on her shoulders and back. She had kept herself simple. 

But Elsa was all set to steal the show. She was in a traditional Bengali saree laden with Bengali ornaments from head to toe. She looked so pretty that it was hard to believe that she was the mother of two kids. Raj kept looking at his wife as if seeing her for the first time. Papaji had to put his hand on Raj's shoulder to wake him from his dream state. Elsa blushed and touched papaji and mummiji's feet. Khushi could see people dying to talk to Elsa and Raj. The couple looked so beautiful. Khushi felt she should tie Kaali Maa's protective thread all six of them.

Meera was looking like an angle with her light blue frilled frock and matching apparels. Tej had imitated his father while dressing up. The kids were glued to their Khushi buwa and she was more than happy to take care of them and look after their needs. She was laughing with them, playing with them and keeping them safe from getting hurt.

"Khushi...!" she heard the husky voice and "Oouch!!!..." in a haste to get out from under the table with Tej playing hide and seek, banged her head against the table top.