Part 56

Khushi ran back to her room searching for her life.. The black thread, everywhere. She was hurt by Arnav's attitude. She was shattered with the missing thread. She searched for a long time and then came back to the hall where mummiji was waiting for her looking puzzled.
"Mummiji... I lost it!" She said almost sobbing and touching her neck. She started crying.

"Its ok Khushi. We will find it out. Don't worry!" Mummiji said consoling her. But Khushi shivered with premonition... Something had gone wrong! Very very wrong... ! She thought of contacting Arnav but knew he might have switched off while on the flight.

She did all the chores mechanically and got ready to go to office missing her daily visit to the Mandir. Mummiji did not insist. Khushi went to the office. She got the message from Shondeep. He had asked her for some information. Khushi thought of Arnav and his reaction when Shondeep talked to her. A faint smile appeared on her face but the next moment it was wiped off when she thought of his morning behavior.

"Why did he behave like that? What was wrong? What did I do to annoy him?" She became breathless at this thought. Coming back to her senses, she took out the file and sent it through the office boy to Shondeep. She started working on the "to do" task list. She lacked concentration and focus, redoing the work and correcting the errors. At lunchtime she saw Shondeep approaching. She immediately turned her back and pretended to be working.

Shondeep came in and said "Ms Gupta, Sir had called and they have reached Mumbai. He has asked you to email him the entire folder of this acquisition.....Are you ok MS Gupta?" He asked concerned looking at her pale face. She just nodded.

"Ms Gupta, is there anything I can do for you?" He asked coming nearer. She paced backward in a jerk and said, "No sir, I am fine. I will do it." Leaving Shondeep puzzled.
"Ok. So they have landed. Let me call him...!" she thought dialing Arnav's number. He did not pick up. She tried several times in vain. She called up papaji. He picked up and said "Khushi puttar, did you get my message? Have you sent the folder?... I want you to upload it to our server so that we can download it through FTP (file transfer protocol)."

"Yes papaji .. I will do that... but .." She started off getting annoyed at him.
"What is it?" At last he asked.
"Papaji, where is he? And why is he not picking up my phone? Papaji what happened? What did you tell him yesterday night? Why he behaves like a stranger? Papaji...." She almost sobbed.
"oye oye... hold on! Puttar, nothing to worry about! He is ok. Just a bit disturbed after our discussion. Don't worry. He is here with me. Do you want to talk to him?" He asked looking at Arnav and extending his cell to him. Arnav had no other choice than to talk to Khushi.
"Hello Arnavji.... Are you ok? I know something is wrong with you. If you don't want to tell me, its fine. But don't do this to me. I cannot sustain it anymore. Please .. please talk to me Arnavji...!" She started crying.
"I am ok. And nothing is wrong with me." He said glancing at papaji. "I will talk to you later... " He hung up leaving Khushi crestfallen.

He gave back the cell and turned his back to hide his emotions from papaji. Papaji did not react. He continued with the business talks. Arnav slowly came back to his composure.
Khushi Skipped her lunch. She was all lost. She went to Shondeep's cabin to ask permission to go home early.
"Of course you can go home Ms. Gupta. But is everything ok? Can I be of some help to you? Should I drop you?" he asked getting up from his chair.

"No sir, everything is fine. I .. I have a headache ...!" she said turning back to leave.
"Wait Ms. Gupta, I will drop you in my car." He said taking out his car key from the drawer.
"No.. its ok. I will manage.." She resisted. But without listening to her he asked her to come with him.
He dropped her at home. She was engrossed so much in her own thought, that she did not notice he too did not utter a single word on their way home. She came in. Mummiji was surprised to see her.
"Mummiji.. headache... I will go and take some rest.." she said without looking at Mummiji and went straight to her room.
Without bothering to change she threw herself on the bed and burst out in tears....

**** *****
Arnav did not speak a single word in their entire joirnay and papaji did not try to break his chain of thoughts talking to him. He too kept quiet utilizing his time in planning for the future. They landed on Mumbai Airport. They had a meeting in "Cotton Corporation Of India" in Navi Mumbai. This was under Ministry of Textiles. They had a presentation and open defense of their proposal. Papaji was all set for this meeting.

Arnav's mobile flashed "Aman2" several times, Every time causing him pain the heart. He resolutely avoided taking her call. She had called papaji and then Arnav could not avoid her.
He almost broke down hearing her painful voice. He again had left her in a mess. But he had no other option... "I am sorry Khushi.... I .. I just can't carry on .... I have to set you free from this relationship.... I am really really sorry... Khushi!" He thought swallowing hard.
He remembered the discussion with papaji.
Papaji had asked him.. "Arnav puttar, My suspicion had proved to be correct. This Sham has an accomplice. Or rather I should say a boss. Sham works at his orders. " Arnav was speechless. He could not think of anyone who could be Sham's boss.
"Arnav puttar... Do you know someone called Ratan Singh Thakur? He is MLA (Member of legislative Assembly) from some constituency from Kanpur District." Papaji had asked looking worried and putting his hand on Arnav's Shoulder.

Arnav froze. Without uttering a single word he had come to his room. He could not sleep. His head was spinning. Sham knew Thakur? What relation do they share? Why are they after me? He could not think of anything. But he knew the gravity of the situation. If sham is accomplice to this Thakur then the disaster was very near, round the corner and he had to save every one else from the storm. He should evacuate every one else from his mind and relationship. He resolutely came out of his room. Came to Khushi's room sometime after midnight. She had not locked the door. He pushed it open. She had curled up on her bed. He knelt down and sat on the floor looking at her breathtaking sleeping beauty, for a long time. He had to fight himself to control his emotions and from kissing her. He slowly brought his hand to her neck and with one small wrench pulled her black thread. He tiptoed his out of her room looking back at her, never wanting to leave her like that. He came out of the room and started walking towards his room. Half way through he turned back and again entered her room. She had kept the lights on. He looked around. The paintings were lying on the dressing table. He took the painting she had drawn for him. "How apt!" he thought. " I am really a storm struck person and have to be a loner." He switched off the lights, turned back and came to his room never to meet her again....

*** **** ****
Arnav and Papaji had a very successful meeting. Papaji had demonstrated his skills in turning adamant and rash people to his side. Arnav was amazed at his contacts in political circles. Everyone in power as well as in opposition had greeted papaji warmly. The project was theirs. The officials had signed the acquisition order by permitting the spinning mill for privatization.

"How do you know these politicians from Maharashtra?" Arnav had asked papaji.
"Puttar, I do not care about these politicians.. They are in power for a very short time. They come and go. What I do take care is the Babus.. Administrative officers of these ministers... They are the key persons. They have a great influence on these politicians. They remain on the post till they retire normally. And if we manage them... they are there to help us."
"Puttar, I have never ever offered any bribe to any of these officers. Everyone has at least one good rare quality, however corrupt they seem to be. I try to find it out. That quality is their switch on button. You push that button while talking to them... and they are there for you to help..." He said looking at Arnav. He wanted to pass on his lagacy, his style of working to the younger generation ensuring a second line of management.

" Like.. you puttar, you are the icon of success. You have achieved so much in your young age. You are dashing, aggressive and gutsy, never afraid of taking risks and turning adverse situations to your advantage. I am proud of you puttar." He said looking straight into Arnav's eyes. Smile and satisfaction appeared on Arnav's face.
"See.... I pocketed you...!" Papaji said bursting into laughter. Arnav laughed with him in realization. He had understood the trick of the business. He had all the admiration for papaji.

After the meeting they were all set to travel to Nanded. Papaji had arranged for a taxi. He wanted to take Arnav to Nanded by road. It was almost an overnight journey of 14 hours.
He kept on talking to Arnav for a long time. Arnav tried to concentrate, but many times he got lost in his own thoughts. Papaji had to nudge him to bring him back.

They had dinner in a hotel on their way. Arnav was still lost in his thoughts. Papaji stopped Arnav from sitting into the car after dinner. He asked the driver to have some rest. He asked Arnav to accompany him for a walk for some time. Arnav agreed. Papaji took him for a walk with him along the roadside fields full of cotton plantations.