Part 102

"What do I do now?" Arnav racked his brains.

Sham had turned to leave with Anjali holding her hand. Arnav was desperate to stop him from taking away his Di. He could not think of anything. He saw them going away hand in hand. She was walking towards the danger.

"Khushi....!” He was desperate... What would Khushi do in this situation?" he thoughts recollecting her stupid filmy ideas.
-
"Di....." He called out loudly in pain. "Di..." she turned and looked at her brother.

"Chote!" she screamed. "Di..." her chote was clutching his stomach in pain. He winced. Sham stood rooted to the ground like a statue. Anjali came running towards Arnav who was trying to steady himself at the bottom of the flight of stairs. He was clearly in pain.

"Chote, what happened? are you ok?" she held his hand and asked him in a worried tone She was growing panic. She looked back for the support from her husband. He did not move. Arnav clutched his Di's hand and said.

"Di... its unbearable... “he clutched his stomach again and tried to sit down on the stairs.

"Chote... chote!! wait! We will go to the doctor!" she said looking around for some help.
"Let us go home Di.. I am uneasy!" he said holding on to her tightly.
"Ok! Ok! Steady! We will go home and I will call the doctor on our way" she said panic struck and called out for sham.

"We should go home. Chote is in pain. I have to take him home!" she declared.

Sham looked piercingly at Arnav. Arnav looked at him smirking with a glint. He held her hand and clutching his stomach with the other walked towards the taxi.

Sham stood there furious! He had lost it again. There was very little time left and he was losing opportunities after opportunities. He was desperate.

"This is not done! I will have to do something drastic to stop this marriage! I will do it. I will not let this happen!"He thought aloud resolutely.
"But what? what was his plan? “no one knew!

**** ****
Arnav came home and went straight to his room with the help of his Di. Everyone else was shocked. Anjali told them and dialled the number of the Doctor. Arnav winked at Aakash. Aakash understood.
He took the phone from his Di and said "I will ask the doctor, Di. You go and take rest. He seems to be better now!"
They took a sigh of relief.

*** ** ***
In the evening, the family members had gathered in the hall. Papaji was explaining the wedding plans and schedules. Raj was making changes to papaji's annoyance.

"Raj, don't change the schedule. I have meticulously planned everything" Papaji ordered.
"But Dad, there are flaws in your plan.  Loopholes!  Your programs are overlapping; there is no time even to change!" Raj started pointing out mistakes. Papaji got irritated. He folded his arms on his chest and stopped talking anything.

Mummiji smiled and said "Raj, Puttar, these little loop holes are bound to be there. you do not know the groom's plans. So keep it like that and we will make changes last minute!" she tried to patch up signalling at Raj to look at papaji. Raj glanced and understood.

"Yeah! Ok. This really seems to be meticulously planned. We Will keep it as it is and may be change per the circumstances!" He said grinning at his mother. Papaji looked little better. They continued with the discussion.

To Khushi's surprise, Shondeep and his parents walked in with three of papaji's close associates. Shondeep greeted her and his mother kissed her on forehead. They had their dinner and Papaji, Raj, Shondeep and other heads went into the study for some important discussion.

When they came out it was already late in the night. Raj and Papaji sat on the sofa and papaji took out the air tickets. He have to plan for our travel also. Khushi had already retired to her room. Raj looked at the air tickets and smiled at papaji. Indeed very little time left!! and All the perparations are to be done.

"Raj, bete, the butler volunteered to stay home and take care. I have made arrangements for our other servants. They will reach in time. We are taking four of them with us for our help. Three groups of wedding planners are taking care of the rest. Elsa is supervising over these activities. She has done a great job!" Papaji appreciated. Raj felt proud.

Only SEVEN days to go!!!!!

******   ******

It was 24th December winter morning.

The entire mansion was illuminated and decorated with flowers and plants. Celebrations were in the air and excitement spread all around. Everyone was busy running around with some work or some times aimlessly only to show they are busy. Khushi was sitting on the sofa all lost, not knowing who is doing what. They did not allow her to do anything. The packing was done perfectly supervised by Elsa with her flawless planning. She had packed separately for every occasion, with labels, timings, the index of the contents, the names etc etc. Khushi was amazed at the skills. She had thought herself to be the best planner but Elsa was several steps ahead of her.

Raj and Papaji came out with their bags. Khushi was surprised. "Where are you two going?" she asked loudly raising her voice over the commotion. Papaji ignored her but Raj came nearer and said "Khushi we are leaving now to Delhi for some urgent work. Will meet you soon!"

"What?Why? Is everything ok there? I mean..." She started off in panic.

"Shh! Khushi, everything is perfect. Don't panic! We are going to supervise over the arrangements.!" Raj placed his hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

"when will you be back?" Khushi was not ready to leave them.
"Khushi! We will meet! Don't ask now!" said Raj and they both left. Khushi sat there flabbergasted.

*** **** ****

Arnav got up in the morning and came down for his morning black coffee. Lavanya was already at the table talking to Sham. She got up and came forward when Arnav entered.

"Hr ASR!" she said pleasantly. Aranv nodded. She sat next to him and started chatting with him.
"Lavanya ji! Both of you look so perfect together! You two would have been a perfect couple!" sham said in a articulate manner. Arnav clenched his fists, looking away. Lavanya felt better and she wrapped her arm around Arnav's arm. Aranv gently removed her hand and said
"Lavanya, please! I have an urgent work! I got to go!" he got up and left.

"See, I told you! I think he is repenting on his decision to marry that small town girl!" Sham said silkily blowing hope in Lavanya's mind. Lavanya looked lost in her thoughts. She saw Aranv coming down to go out.

"ASR, Can you give me a lift? I need to go to the spa and then to my friends place. They have arranged a party for me" She said getting up and ready to join.

Arnav stopped, closed his eyes for a second and then said "Make it fast, Lavanya! I don't have time!"
"Yes, ASR! I am ready. I will just pickup my bag from my room! she said hugging him." Sham took their snap and said asking them to smile. Lavanya smiled broadly and Arnav forgot to smile. He felt a surge of annoyance. He removed her hands and said

"Enough Lavanya, I am going!" he did not wait for her. She ran behind him with her bag and they drove away. He dropped her at the spa and went to his office without uttering a word. She kept glancing at him for some response.

He came to the office and had his routine meetings. He had a call with one of the customers and when he finished, Aman told him that Mr. Balwindar Singh had called twice. He hurriedly dialled papaji's number but it was switched off.

At lunch time he decided not to go home. He tried papaji's number and he picked up.
"Puttar, Raj wanted to talk to you!" papaji said. "But right now he is on another phone talking to his wife. I will ask him to call you!" said papaji.

"um... Papaji? I mean, there is a message for Khushi! Lavanya has arrived yesterday!" he said remembering how Khushi fussed when he forgot to tell her about Lavanya last time. He smiled.

"Ok Puttar, I will convey your message to her!" said papaji disconnecting the phone.

In the evening Raj called up. They discussed about business as well as planning for the wedding. Arnav's heart missed a beat every time he heard Khushi's name.

Papaji and Raj visited Roshan Aara club for the reception arrangements. They discussed the security arrangements as very high profile people would attend the reception including the ministers.

They went to Guptas. Buwaji welcomed them. They discussed the wedding arrangements with Khushi's ammaji and buwaji. Papaji went to Babuji and taking his hand in his said

"Your house in Lucknow had been released. Khushi paid off all your loan. Would you like to stay in your house?" Banuji had tears in her eyes. Buwaji could not believe her ears. She looked at amma and they all wished to stay in their own house after the wedding. Papaji nodded. Babuji tried to say something holding papaji's hand. but he could only say, "Khushi... shaadi.. aap!" papaji unable to understand, looked at Amma.

Amma said, "I think he is requesting you to be her parents and perform Kanya Daan!" Papaji looked at babuji and he nodded. Papaji was overwhelmed.

"It will be my honour to do that! After all she is my foster daughter!" he said with tears in his eyes.
Amma said "We only have brought up the orphan girl, but you have given her a rebirth and given her a new life. You are her parents in its true sense!"

Raj came forward and placing his hand on his father's shoulder, looking at babuji said, "you don't worry about anything. I am her brother and I will take care of everything for my dear little sister"
They had dinner at Guptas and went back to the hotel.

SIX Days ....!!