Part 76

She entered Raizada House and Arnav followed. He went straight to his room ignoring all the gathered family members. She saw her Jiji smiling at her. Khushi ran forward and hugged her.

"Come on! Pandit ji is waiting for the pooja." Said Naniji and led the gathering.
"Jiji, kaisa raha?" She teased Payal tickling her.  Payal pushed her away.  Khushi raised her eyebrow grinning...! "where are you going for your honeymoon?" Khushi whispered in her jiji's ears. Payal blushed and glancing at Aakash said.

"Mauritius!! Arnav ji has made all the arrangements!" said payal.

"What? Arnavji? He made arrangements?" Khushi asked in surprise.
"Shhh! Khushi!" warned Payal. Khushi looked around for him. He was nowhere to be seen. Khushi saw her shadows entering the house. She was surprised what excuse they would give this time to be with her.

"M'am,your aunt has sent us to help you!" one of them said. Khushi breathed the sigh of relief. She smiled at them. She saw Arnav coming down from his room.

"Di, I need to go out for some business." He said avoiding looking at anyone.
"Saale saab! What is this? Be with us for some time. Have a little fun. Business will wait!" sham said smiling at Arnav and glancing at Khushi. He clenched his fists.

"Chote..! nothing doing! Be with us today and come for the pooja. Your business can wait!" ordered naniji. Khushi smiled. Arnav obeyed reluctantly.

The doorbell rang and Shondeep entered. Arnav greeted him glancing at Khushi. Sham came forward and took charge of Shondeep taking him to the hall and talking to him. Arnav looked furious.

"Please join us for pooja!" Naniji requested him.
Lavanya came forward to guide him. He greeted her shaking hands. Arnav left the place. Sham went ahead to make arrangements. Nani called Lavanya for some work and Khushi and Shondeep were left in the hall. Shondeep handed over the packet to Khushi and told her

"Please give this to mother. She needed some items from Delhi. I could arrange to buy some of them. And please tell her that I will be back by next week. I need to go to Nanded today" He said.

"Give me the list sir and I will buy the remaining items for her. I know the market inside out!" said Khushi smiling at him. He returned the smile and handed over the list to her. Arnav entered with an expressionless stone face.
He took Shondeep inside. Khushi stood there for a while unable to understand Arnav's mood. "What is there in that letter?" asked Arnav furiously coming from behind.

"What?" she turned and looked at him. "Why is he so upset?" she was puzzled and handed over the list to him.

"He wanted me to buy some items for his mother and give it to her when I reach Kolkata. He is on business tour till next week! Ok? Satisfied?" she asked furiously. He looked at her sheepishly.

"Come! Let us go!" he said smiling at her.

Lavanya kept talking to Shondeep and Sham kept interrupting him trying to impress. Arnav stood there glancing at everyone. Khushi sat behind payal, giggling and teasing. Payal blushed furiously and looked at Khushi with a mock anger. Khushi pinched her.

Shondeep glanced at the weak but happy looking Anjali, quite a few times. Khush smiled to herself and looked at Arnav. He was staring at her. He raised his eyebrow, questioningly. She shook her head and looked away. Lavanya seemed to be impressed by Shondeep's profile. Khushi saw them exchanging their contact details. Shondeep left after some time and Lavanya went to see him off to the door.

Pooja got over and Sham made the announcement. Everybody looked happy for them. Mamiji was excited and said "Baby ki arribhal ki tayari kere ki padi! We must get ready for the bady's arrival!" Everyone seemed to be happy. Khushi looked at Arnav, he looked aghast and turned his face, payal was staring at Khushi in shock and Aakash glanced at Arnav's face. Four of them kept looking at each other.

"Saale Saab! Get ready, you are going to be uncle soon!" said Sham holding out his hand. Arnav came back to his senses and shook hands congratulating him.
"You have to take rest Di. Take good care of your health. I will take the appointment of the best gynecologist in this city!" he said taking out his phone.

"No need saale saab! I have already done that" said Sham raising his hand to stop Arnav. Arnav looked at him jaw dropped.... Another blow...!!

It was time to leave for Payal and Khushi. It was only a formality of pug phere as the newly married couple was to leave for their honeymoon next day morning.

Nani ordered Chote to drop them at Guptas. Arnav obeyed. They were in the car and Arnav blurted angrily, "Damn it!" He was frustrated with the things that were happening at the Raizada House.

"But how is it possible?" Khushi asked loudly. "I mean...last month, our plan had worked, right?" she asked Arnav and Payal. "Then how is it possible? I smell something fishy!" she blurted.

"I think I should go for a second opinion! I will do that!" said Arnav resolutely. They arrived at Guptas. Payal and Khushi got down.

"Khushi!" she turned back. He had opened the car door for her. She glanced at Payal and called her out. "Jiji, I will just go to the market. Shondeep sir has asked me to buy something for his mother. I will come soon, jiji!" payal looked at her and Arnav and smiling said "Ok. But be careful both of you!" Khushi hopped into the car and they raced away.

They were in the crowded market. Arnav had held her shoulder tightly.
"Yeh kahan leke aai ho?" he threw disgust. 

"Karol Bagh... Yahan pe kuch bhi milataa hain.... From pin to plane, you get everything here...!" she yelled over the commotion, weeding through the crowd, elbowing her way in the narrow allies.

"Chodiye naa!" She tried to free herself from his grip sensing that people were staring at them. "You have to be careful in this crowd, Khushi! I am your bodyguard now!" he smirked holding her tightly. She blushed, embarrassed. She bought the rest of the items and they were driving back.

"Khushi! Listen! I may not be able to come to the airport this evening. But I promise I will come to Kolkata soon! I want to talk to you!" said Arnav seriously.

"We are talking Arnavji!" Khushi looked surprise. "No Khushi, I want to talk to you at length!" he looked grave.

"What is it? Arnavji?" Khushi looked concerned.

"It's a long story, Khushi!" said Arnav looking at Khushi.
"Well! I love long stories!" said Khushi smiling at him.
"I am sure you won't like this!" said Arnav avoiding her gaze.
"Well! Try me!" She challenged him.
"Not now! Some other time!" he said evasively.

*** ** ***

The news papers had flashed the flamboyant wedding ceremony which had hit the gossip headlines. The photographs and commentary were the talk of the town. The reporters mentioned the sudden appearance of a political leader which made Raizadas look gloomy and the visit of the minister made it to the news. Arnav could read between the lines and realized what was coming. He instructed Aman to be careful about the media and keep them pleased. One dig in the past would hit the headlines. The channels too had flashed the wedding ceremony. They were probing in their usual style like posing a questions like "When would his elder brother, the most eligible in the town think of his wedding? What made him breakup with his old time heart throb? Where is the girl who fell in his arms in the fashion show...What is it that made the Raizadas uneasy with the appearance of the political leader?....

Arnav had to work hard to keep the probe at bay and the coming elections helped him to divert the media attention.

** *** **

A week had passed after the marriage. Khushi had set her routine in Kolkata. Shondeep had returned and started the work in full swing. He missed Khushi in the office. Papaji had forbidden her from going out alone. He had asked her to work from home. It proved to be good in a way as Raj and his family had gone back to their world and mummiji had the company of Khushi the whole day. It was a pleasure to have her around with her energy and innocence she delighted everyone around. Mummiji, though missed her son, was happy to have Khushi around.

Payal and Aakash had not returned yet from their honeymoon. Payal had called her a couple of times and Arnav almost every day. Papaji was busy in his new company with Shondeep. Khushi had visited Shondeep's house to handover the items to his mother. She had a good time talking to his parents.  "They deserve to be happy .... " she resolved smiling inwardly hatching a plan....

It was early morning and mummiji was with her physiotherapist, papaji was taking his morning tea with Khushi and they heard the scream! Khushi ran to mummiji's room and screamed and bending down tried to pull up mummiji.

Mummiji had fallen down banging her head on the edge of her solid wood bed. She was unconscious and bleeding. Papaji froze. "Papaji, take out the car. We have to take her to the hospital!" screamed Khushi. Papaji ran forward. The servants gathered. They took her to the hospital. She had a head injury and Doctors were not happy with her condition. They were waiting for the scanning reports.

Khushi asked papaji whether to call Raj. He shook his head. He looked all lost. He could not think of anything. Khushi took the charge. She took his phone and called up Raj and told him but also said not to worry and she would keep calling him. She did not know what to do and dialed Arnav's number. "Good morning!" Arnav greeted pleasantly.

"Arnav ji.. its Khushi! Mummiji... I mean... hospital.. I .. um.. I mean papaji.. " Khushi was losing hopes.

"Khushi! Calm down! Tell me what happened? And where is papaji?" he too started panicking.

"She is in Hospital! Papaji is here! You talk to him" she said holding out the mobile. Papaji shook his head in denial. "Arnavji... she said on the verge of crying. "Ok. Khushi, I am coming! Take care!" He hung up to inquire the next flight to Kolkata.