Part 41

"Khushi...! Are you ok?" Arnav had knelt down and was looking at her holding her shoulder. She forgot to get up. She gaped at him, jaw dropping and eyes popping. He helped her get up and stood before her not taking his eyes off her. A shooting pain brought her back to her senses. She pressed her forehead with her hand. 

"Khushi...." her pain reflecting in his eyes, Arnav brought down her hand and pressed his on her forehead. She got lost with that touch and forgot everything else including the pain. Happiness filled her heart.

He was looking at her, amazed. She looked stunning and he got stunned. He forgot the whole world. Mesmerized, he blurted "Khushi...!" with one hand on her forehead and another on her shoulder. She had held him by his arms. He got his world back with her touch.

"Khushi buwa...look what Tej is doing..!" shouted Meera and both of them came back to their senses. Tej had already started running in the open space and was heading towards the maze. Khushi and Arnav ran after him and Arnav caught him from behind, lifting him on his shoulders he brought him back.
Khushi looked at him in amazement. He looked so homely with the kids around. She looked at him longingly. He came back and put Tej down. The kids had another person to play with. 

But Arnav had never played with the kids and looked nervous. He looked around for an opportunity to escape and got one. Raj was approaching them. He came forward and shook hands with Arnav and then hugged him. The both went away leaving khuhsi flabbergasted. She came back to mammiji with the kids. Mammiji could see everybody from above from level. She smiled at Khushi and said "You can leave the kids here and go. He must be waiting for you."
From above, Khushi's eyes searched for him. He was deep in conversation with Papaji and Raj, holding a glass of wine. She wanted to go but decided otherwise. "He may not like it. They seem to be talking on some important issue." She thought. She did not know what had happened after she left Delhi. Things started coming back to her. "What is he doing here? When did he come? Why is he here? Did papaji invited him? Had he come all the way from Delhi only for this party?" She was lost in thought as if she had entered a maze and was unable to find her way out.
"Khushi puttar... look!" Mummiji brought her back on earth. She looked around and saw papaji was waving at her. She got down from the level and started walking towards the trio. Arnav could not take his eyes off. He kept gazing at her unblinkingly. She came nearer "Khushi puttar, would you like to give company to Arnav? He seems to be hungry. Take him to the food counter of his choice"
She looked at Arnav, he still had not taken his eyes off. "What is he doing? Papaji is around..and he is looking at me like this." She thought blushing.
She started walking with him. "OW,Ow Khushi... this is cheating...you have to take the maze root to reach your destination... called out Raj laughing heartily. She blushed and turned to enter the maze with Arnav to reach their destination.... Arnav like a sleep walker entered with her holding her hand.

Arnav and Khushi entered the maze. They had no idea where they were headed. They just kept walking Khushi looking down and Arnav at Khushi.They somewhere down the road bumped into a dead end and turned back to take another root. She asked him after a while, "Where do you want to go? We have everything; from Italian to Indian, from Thai to Chinese. You may want to visit Italian I suppose... " She looked at him. "Hun? He asked her looking lost" She kept looking at him. He locked his fingers with hers and they resumed walking.
"They have entered the maze of their life together. Hope they find their way out." Papaji thought gravely. He knew they had to go a long way on this winding and bending roads in their life together.
She asked "Did you come here only for the party? When did papaji invite you?"
"No I had some business matter with him and have come here for meeting. He invited me for the party this morning. They had entered the brighter spots in the maze where flash lights emitted to confuse the wanderers. He looked at her facing her and holding her in the bright light. She had a chance to look at him. He was wearing a scarf instead of his regular tie. He was wearing a tweed jacket and a white shirt. He looked so handsome that she could not take her eyes off. He came nearer closing the g and whispered in her ear..."Khushi, what do you want me to do?" She hurriedly pulled herself away, blushing and avoided his gaze. He smiled. She again got lost.The smile on his face made him so friendly; she forgot that he was Arnav Singh Raizada. She clutched his hand in hers and they started walking.
"Should I tell her what happened on Monday at the Board meeting?"He questioned himself. Mr.Balwindar Singh had left it to him to decide whether to tell Khushi about this new development. He wanted to tell her but not at this place. He just wanted to enjoy her company now, having no intentions to hit any counter. But to his amazement Khushi was all set to find out a way out to the food counter. "Foodie!" he thought, looking at Khushi.She was trying hard not to hit a dead end and was almost pulling his hand with excitement.
It started drizzling. They looked at each other, memories coming back on their rain hug, when Arnav saved her in pouring rain. He had regret in his eyes and Khushi smiled. They went under the nearest umbrella waiting for the rain to subside. Khushi started chattering about the food and the arrangements. He said "Can you know thing about anything else than food?" She kept quiet and started looking around. He had to work hard to control himself from pulling her into his arms. They came out of the umbrella when the rain stopped.
They met Raj and Elsa on the way. Both of them were heading to the dance floor. Raj asked, Khushi-Arnav, would you like to join us on the dance floor?Both of them looked at each other and unanimously said "No". Raj and Elsa looked confused. Khushi kept her search for food counter on and Arnav getting dragged behind her.
He suddenly stopped pulling Khushi's hand. She was pulled back unaware and almost bumped on him. He held her and waved his hand towards the dance floor, mesmarized. She looked at them. Elsa and Raj were the centre of attraction and they were dancing so beautifully that all the other enthusiasts were just standing at the edge and watching them."How beautiful! "she blurted looking at them.
"Lets dance Khushi" said Arnav pulling her.
"NO ! I cannot dance on this" she said.
"I know..." he looked at her "Your foundation day  dance..." His voice cracked recollecting her anguish... he pulled her closer holding her hand and came into his embrace. 
"Meera..." he sighed gripping around her waist. 

"I am your Meera and I am your Radha...!" she whispered looking up at him.  He couldn't stop himself from pressing her head on his chest.  "You are my wife... my everything..." only she could hear his heart beating only for her...!! 

 "Come on lets go." He had made up his mind to dance with her.
"No" she said stopping and looking horrified. He dragged her out of the maze and towards the dance floor. Raj and Elsa were dancing on the melodious Waltz music. Arnav pulled Khushi on the floor. "I know you cannot dance on this classy music. Don't try anything different. Keep your feet on mine and I will maneuver you! Do as I say!" he whispered in her ear. She looked at him shocked. But he had already reached the center stage. Elsa and Raj clapped for them giving them the place. Arnav prompted Khushi to put her left hand on his right shoulder and put his right hand on her back and clasped her right hand into his raised left hand. "Khushi, put your foot on my foot" he whispered.She hesitantly obeyed putting her feet on his shoes. He started moving in the rhythm 1-2-3. 2-2-3, 3-2-3, 4-2-3 in circle. Raj kept looking at them. He was maneuvering Khushi so well; soon she started enjoying the dance and moved in a rhythm with him without his help. He had held her so close they  breathed on each other. He was looking at her passionately and she resonated. This was their best moment together.The two couples danced their hearts out on the mild romantic melodious waltz music. "Humm you are not that bad...!" Arnav teased her and she broke away from him angrily.  "Khushi...!" Arnav pulled her back.
"Chodiye humain...!" she nudged him sulkily. "No..!" he locked his fingers with hers.  She looked up in heaven ....
"What? Talking to Devi Mayya?" he asked her curling up his lip.
"No!" She shook her head closing her eyes.  
"I don't talk to her...!" she said looking at him.
"What? Why?" he was shocked and his expressions changed to sadness looking at her grave face.  He understood she might have stopped talking to her Devi Mayya after her marriage under duress in her Devi Mayya's Mandir.  
"Khushi..." he gripped her with moist eyes never to leave her hand again.
"She is in here... with me... always...!" Khushi pressed her other hand on her heart! "Khushi...!" he pulled her in his arms.  His heart heard her Devi Mayya.

 "Come.. Let's have dinner..." he said huskily and led her out of the maze.  Khushi's face lit up with the thought of food!

The party was over and all the family members gathered in the hall. Everyone was very tired. Kids had already gone to bed. Raj, Arnav and papaji were having a cup of hot coffee. Khushi was tired but very happy. She kept chattering with everybody. Arnav kept glancing at her. Papaji had avoided talking about the meeting in the morning. Khushi asked "Papaji, Aranav ji said he had come for the meeting..."

"Oh yes, puttar. We had a good discussion. But we can talk about it tomorrow. Its late now. " Said papaji glancing at Arnav.
"I should leave now" said Arnav avoiding to look at Khushi.
"puttar, you can stay with us" said papaji. Khushi's face brightened up.
"No, thank you um.. uncle! But I should leave." Said, Arnav. 

"ok. I will drop you to your hotel only on the condition that you will be with us tomorrow. I am leaving on Friday!" Raj said looking at Arnav. Arnav looked confused but said OK. Khushi smiled and Arnav left smiling inwardly. .

** **
Back in the hotel room, he threw himself on the bed. The memories of dancing with Khushi kept on rushing. He never wanted to come out of the trance. He had forgotten that he was Raizada and had enjoyed the company of Khushi. He wanted to wipe off the past and look ahead. But the past was haunting on to him. We went into flash back. After the Board meeting with his family members, he was in the office for a long time and then Balwindar Singh had called him up. After talking to him, Arnav had stood there for a while, his spirits lifting up, regaining his confidence. After the conversation with Mr. Balwindar Singh, he knew what to do. He had picked up his laptop and headed for home. He wanted to go straight to his room and started climbing the stairs, but was stopped by a voice from behind. "Saale Saab... "
He turned around with a jerk. Sham was standing at the foot of the stairs. Arnav looked down at him waiting to hear further.

"Saale Saab, can we talk for a while?" He said in disgusting oily voice.
Arnav, took a deep breath, thought for a while and said, "Yes, we can talk. But not now. I need some rest ...We will talk tomorrow" He turned to leave.
"Saale Saab, Its nothing to do with the project...." Sham waited for a while for Arnav's reaction. Arnav stopped and then continued to climb the steps without looking back. 

"I heard that Khushi ji is in Delhi...." Sham said. Arnav froze. He stopped and gathering himself turned back to face sham. 

"So..?" he looked straight into sham's eyes. Sham avoided his gaze. "Did you know about it?" sham asked with surprised look. "I had called up Happy ji garage Wala and he told me that he saw Khushiji. I was shocked and thought of giving this news to you. You were looking out for her, I heard.. She is the one who ruined ...!" He said looking back at Arnav with clear intentions to provoke him.

Arnav was shocked with sham's shamelessness. I felt disgusted. He wanted to put an end to this. "Do not open this topic again in front of me! And mind your business" he said in a stern voice, turned around and left for his room.
"How dare he talk to me about Khushi? What else does he know? Is he a step ahead of me?" He froze with this thought. "I need to find out. I need to sort this out as early as possible. What else he knows about Khushi? Does he know where she is now? Does he know about Balwindar Singh and his relations with Khushi? 

Arnav pacing, restlessly started thinking businesslike. He thought "Being saale saab will not help now. I have to be ASR dealing with him. He surely has some hidden agenda behind all this. I need to find out." He had decided to call for the meeting with Balwindar Singh as soon as possible and till then he needed to pretend that he was happy to assign the venture to Sham.

His mind racing, he drafted a mail to Balwindar Singh to fix up the meeting at his convenient time and place. He desperately wanted to meet him. He checked the booking status of the airlines to Kolkata. It was almost 11.00 in the night.
He was shocked to see the immediate reply of Mr. Balwindar Singh. He had written, "We can have the meeting in Kolkata on Wednesday, if it finds convenient to you and I will arrange for your travel and stay on our account. I Hope everything is alright at your end. Looking forward to meeting you on Wednesday morning. Do let me know!"

Arnav immediately sent reply mail in affirmation and said he will be attending the meeting on Wednesday. Relieved, he went to sleep forgetting everything.
Arnav Landed on Kolkata Airport on overcast Wednesday morning. The onset of monsoon had spread greenery everywhere. The sun peeping through the overcast skies flashing spot lights on the green carpet brightening the patch with golden rays. He was little excited and apprehensive about the meeting. He was received by the driver and was taken to the office of Mr. Balwindar Singh. Balwindar Singh was waiting for Arnav. He welcomed him and took him to the conference room.

"Ok. Mr. Raizada, coming to the point, May I ask you the reason for assigning a new person on this project?" Asked Balwindar Singh, looking straight into the eyes of Raizada. Arnav felt little nervous. He said, "He offered his services in the board meeting and the members agreed to it. He is a lawyer and ....." he hesitated for a while ..."he is my sister's husband..." He said it at once as if eager to release the burden from his shoulders. Balwindar Singh kept gazing at him. Arnav was looking at him for his reaction. "He is the one.....who....Khushi..." Arnav could not say anything more. 

"Ok. We need to discuss on this and I want your frank opinion on this, Mr. Raizada. I know it's your personal matter but since it affects the business relations, I need to be more cautious dealing with this change." Said, Mr. Balwindar Singh gravely. 

"Yes, I agree!" Said ASR. "But then it's hard to convince the board to change the decision. 

"Oh! I can understand but you see, our company wants to deal only with you and not anyone else. I have made that point very clear in my terms of contract. That's why we have prepared the documents with your name and not in your company." Balwindar Singh looked at ASR for his reaction and he got what he wanted. ASR looked happy that sham can be stopped.

"But you should think about it again. Stopping him at this stage will prove to be dangerous. He will be alerted and will try to cause further damage. Have you seen your shareholding pattern Mr. Raizada?" Asked Mr. Balwindar Singh.
Reality came crashing on Arnav. He had to look into that also. This sham can spread his tentacles in his other companies too, as he had the power of attorney from his wife. He looked shocked. 

"Look, Your sister has 30%, you have 40% Aakash, his father and your grand mother have 10% each. Now look at the situation, Mr. Raizada, one person turning his side will make him equal with you and you may lose your position. Do you understand the gravity of the problem?" Said Mr. Balwindar Singh showing ASR's company papers. He was worried about Arnav. ASR was trapped. "You need to think about it." Arnav looked horror struck. 

Mr. Balwindar Singh waited for some time for ASR to gather himself. He said "If you take my advice, just do not do anything harsh now. Keep your cool. Keep him in dark, and keep showing him that you are ok with him and you are preparing papers in his favor. I will make a move and write to you that we are not happy with this arrangement and we would like to interview this new person before taking any decision. I will mention about withdrawing this whole project if our company is not satisfied with this new person." ASR was relieved. He actually smiled at this and said "Thank you Mr. Balwindar Singh. Now I don't have to worry about this problem.." He said gratefully showing his complete faith on Balwindar Singh's ability to turn around the situation.
"um.. I mean... is it ok if I disclose the truth to Aakash and other family members?" For the first time Arnav had left ASR. Arnav wanted to take papaji's help after all. 

"Oh! Let me think. This is not the right time to disclose. Your family members may think you are making up all this to avoid assigning this project to him. But yes, you have to tell the truth to Aakash as he will be the only person who would be of help when the time comes. Arnav, my boy, you need to be very careful about all these things. And I leave it to you, whether you want to tell  this to Khushi." Said papaji.

"Yes, I know. I will take care." He had said resolutely.
"And there is one more point you need to think about. This person may have done more damage behind your back. You need to find out everything about him. Do you understand? Not only in business, he seems to be capable of physically harming people. Have you ever tried to do some background check about him after your sister decided to marry him? Or afterwards, when he tried to trap you and Khushi? " papaji asked piercingly looking at him. He looked ghostly. 

The answer was a clear "No!" "Umm... I tried when I got contradictory statements in the Raw Material theft case involving Khushi... but I didn't pursue it..!" Arnav regreted..

"Oh! Ok. Let me think" said papaji. He thought for a while and said. "If you want I will manage to dig out his past. I can hire a detective agency..."
"Oh, No! The agencies don't work. They fail to give you right information... I experienced that when Khushi..." Arnav stopped. But papaji had a broad smile on his face. "Puttar, the agency you hired was already working for me and I managed to confuse you, give you wrong information and also kept on sending you her photos... Sorry puttar... I had to do this without her knowledge, to see how serious you were in finding her out...." Papaji kept his hand on Arnav's shoulder. Arnav looked flabbergasted. He looked at papaji and smiled.
"And on a different happy note, I would like to invite you to a party at our place in the evening. I am giving it for my son and his family. "Papaji had said smiling at him. 

He had accepted the invitation.

*** ***
Late in the night on Wednesday, Anjali woke up. She looked around. Sham was not in the bed. The door of the bedroom was open and she could hear his voice talking over the phone. She got up and went behind him....

"Find out everything about them...and I want it by tomorrow evening" He was talking to someone threateningly.

"Anjali came and put her hand on his shoulder from behind. He shuddered and turned around. 

"whom were you talking to? And what do you want to know about whom?" She asked looking at him. He avoided her eyes and said. "Its nothing... its about business..."

"At this hour of the night? Do you know what is the time now? What business do you have? Is there anything serious? Are you in trouble?" Anjali asked looking concerned.

He sighed and said "Don't worry rani sahiba.Its nothing. You know, now I may take up new assignment with saale saab's new project. So have to work more to cope up with both the tasks. You see.... But don't you worry about that. Its my duty to help our family members..." He said in fake sincerity. 

"Ok. Now come in and take rest. You have to have a good sleep. Otherwise you won't be able to put in your best.." She said clutching on to his hand and bringing him in.

"Yes, I need to take rest before I go on my mission..."he thought.