Part 84

Sham came home that evening and a surprise was waiting for him. Anjali came rushing to him and holding his hand said, "You know! Chote has decided to accept Khushi ji as his wife!" She looked at Sham's aghast face.

"What happened? are you not happy?" She asked looking worried.

"Hmm? Of course i am happy! but i thought he hated her." He said hiding his disappointment.

Anjali looked lost in her thoughts. but then said "Yeah! but now that he has decided to settle down in his life, i am happy for him!" She brushed away all the doubts Sham tried to seed in her mind.

She wrapped her hand around his arm and said, "You know, there was a phone call on my cell. That lady was saying some nasty things. She told me to ask you about it. She also told me to give you the message that she is coming for you!" With every statement she made, Sham's face shadowed with nervousness.

Regaining his composure, he said smiling at her "Raani Saheba, must be some client.. desperate to know about the case status! Don't worry!" he wrapped his hand around her shoulder and said, "Don't get bugged up with trivial things, Raani Saheba, its not good for your health! let us go and you have some rest." He moved her along with him holding both of her hands and taking away her cell gently. He took her to her room.

Sham took Anjali to her room and comforted her. He came out and went to guest room. He took out Anjali's cell and scanned through the reveived calls list. He could find an unknown number. He dialed back. It turned out to be an STD booth number from Kanpur. He was upset. He was wondering who might have given Anjali's number to the dialer. He knew who had dialed.

"I have to go and settle it once for all! this is going beyond my control!" he thought. He had to plan in detail to move out of this house even for few hours as the things here were turning against him.

He went into the kitchen and signaled the maid to come aside.
"Did you mix it in the juice?" he asked her. she nodded.
"Show me the sachet!" he ordered.
"um.. it got over." She fumbled.
"When?" he asked penetratingly.
"This morning" she said. She had given it to Arnav the other day.

"Why didn't you tell me" he held by her shoulder and asked shaking her.
she got frightened and looked at him "I was about to tell you" she said in a small voice looking down.

"Ok. Listen, you have to keep an eye on everyone. I am going out for a couple of days. Make sure you succeed in this. Take this and mix it in his juice. I want him out of sight when I return.. Understand? And I am taking your child with me. He will enjoy the journey!" he said threateningly. She was scared to the core.

"Why him? he has school..." she said joining her hands pleadingly not to take her child.

He gave a hollow laugh and said, "This is to ensure you do what I say!" He turned and went out. She tried to go behind him but he strode away. He knew she would do exactly as she was told to do.

"Saale saab! Everything will be mine in a couple of days!" He smirked.

*** *** ****
"Hello" Sham's phone rang next day in the morning. It was Anjali sounding very frightened and worried.

"Hello Raani Saheba! Is everything ok?" he asked expectantly.
"Where are you? come home immediately.... i am ... i am... Chote...!" She said sobbing.
"What? Waht happened to Saale Saab? is he ok? Where is he? Hospital?" he asked seriously and bit his tongue..

"What? how do you know?" she asked surprised even in that state of mind.
"No i could feel your panic." He said regaining himself. "Raani saheba! I am leaving immediately.. but tell me what happened?" He asked sounding concerned for his saale saab

"I don't know... he had his breakfast and .. and ... fell down on the floor and .... was unconscious.. and Aakash took him to the hospital.... and " She started crying...

"Don't cry raani saaheba... i am coming... take care of your health..." He said.
He disconnected the phone and grinned hysterically. "Now once you are gone.. Saale Saab... i will be the head handling the family and the business... Why didn't I think about it before?' He thought, inadvertently gripping the kids shoulder. He dragged the kid and boarded the bus to reach Delhi.

** *** ***
Arnav was hospitalized and Aakash sat on his bed. He had asked everyone else including mamaji to go home and take care of Di. "Papa, go home and be with di and nani. They need support now. I will manage here and will inform you!" Mamaji left reluctantly.

Arnav sat up on the bed seeing mamaji going out. Aakash pushed him back on the bed and put on his oxygen mask back. They were in Avinash's hospital. Avinash walked in.

"Tell me what is this all about?" Avinash looked worried. Arnav removed his mask, removed all the tubes attached and said, "Avinash, thank god khushi gave me this idea to get admitted here!" This is a trap. He started telling him the facts.

Sham was in Anjali's room when Arnav entered her room. she was sulking. She said "See Chote, your jijaji is going out for some business!"

"Is it?" Arnav looked surprised.
"But i will return immediately, saale saab!" Said sham smiling.

"Oh! ok. I will take care of Di" Arnav said.

Sham went out. He went to the maids house to pick up the kid from the neighbor. Sham left with the small kid of the maid. She did not know what to do. She was sitting down on the kitchen floor and was crying. Arnav had entered the kitchen to get water for his Di. He looked at her distress and had asked.

She hesitated. she was in dual mind. She never wanted that any of the family members get hurt at the same time worried about her kids's safely also.
"Its my kid... he has taken away...!" she said crying..

"What?" Arnav almost screamed. "Where has he taken and why?" he asked helping her to get up.

She showed him the sachet and said, "He has asked me to mix it in your juice and to make sure i do it, he has taken away my kid..!" she started sobbing. Arnav froze! He came out with the sachet and went to his room to call up a few people. And then the plan was chalked out.

Avinash and Aakash had a big laugh imagining Sham's reaction when he learns that Arnav was poisoned and very critical. Arnav was serious.

"Aakash, i should do something for that kid's safety. She should not suffer again!" he spoke gravely.

"Bhai, why can't we put him behind bars for attempted murder? She can be a witness!" Said Aakash looking at his bhai.

Arnav stared at Aakash and asked "Whom are we doing this for, Aakash?" Aakash gaped at Arnav.

"Di!" said Aakash sheepishly.

"And how are we going to break the news of his arrest to her?" asked Arnav looking frustrated. They heard the sound outside the ICU. Avinash got up setting up the tubes and mask on Arnav's face and said. I will arrange not to allow anyone inside without my permission. Please do not do anything to put me in trouble. You stay here for atleast another 24 hours and then i will shift you to private room!" Arnav nodded.

Aakash went out. His Di had come. She was upset and tensed up. Aakash made her sit on the chair and said. "He will be ok! doctors are attending. Don't worry Di!" and looking around he asked "Where is jijaji?"

"He is on his way. will reach here by evening!" she started weeping. Aakash had an urge to tell her the truth and held himself back.