Part 91

He was in a fix. His shrewd mind wanted this to be what the doctor said. That way it would be easier for him to pull his Di out of sham's clutches as there would be no child. At the same time his heart ached for his Di. There would be double disaster for her; Sham’s truth and the disastrous news that she was not pregnant.

She was so happy with the thought of bearing a child. She would be shattered and would break down. He wanted her to be happy even if it was with that cheat Sham. He was thinking from all the angles and the result was disaster for his Di.

"How can I get married and start my new life when my Di is heartbroken?" the thought stabbed him right through his heart, leaving it bleeding. He closed his eyes in despair. All the doors had closed on him. There was no way out.

"Let me first confirm! I will cross the bridge when i come to it." He thought his brain taking over his heart and drove back home.

He saw Sham at the table. He felt disgusted. His Di looked  happy clutching her husband's arm and talking to him dreamily. He felt a surge for pain in his chest. The stress was getting on to his nerve. He could not stand it anymore and went to the study which was his room now.

The knock on the door startled him. He looked up. It was sham smirking.

"What?" Arnav asked curtly.
"We need to talk!" Sham was arrogant enough to irritate Arnav.
"Go ahead!" Sham came in and occupied a seat in front of Arnav.. Arnav looked at him.

"I know, what are you up to!" alleged sham. Arnav raised his eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" asked Arnav coolly.
"Don't act smart Saale Saab! You know what I mean!" Sham got annoyed.

"No Jijaji! I really don’t know what you mean!" said Arnav innocently.

"Don't try to interfere in my personal life!" barked Sham.
"Your personal life? You mean you have another personal life other than with my Di?" he asked keeping his voice soft.

Sham was taken aback by this straight attack.
"Um.. No!.. but do not interfere in my life!" he said trying to sound firm.

Arnav kept looking at Sham waiting for him to speak up. Sham did not for a long time.

"Go ahead Jijaji! What interference?" asked Arnav prompting him.
Sham gazed at him for a while and then said with gritted teeth.

"Fine, if you want this way, take it then!"
"If you want your sister to be happy, do as I say... else..!" he threatened Arnav.
"Else what Jijaji?" he asked his blood boiling. He had an urge to bash Sham as Khushi did.
"Else..." He smirked... "I will finish her off." said Sham staring at Arnav.
"How dare you! Do you think I will keep quiet? " Arnav barked getting up.

"Sham sat there coolly folding his hands. "Saale Saab, cool down, you know you will not be able to do anything. She has faith... a blind faith, you see, on her husband..I am her God!! She loves me and will do anything for me!" Sham smirked. Arnav felt helpless.

Sham got up in slow motion glaring at Arnav and said, "So, my first condition is, don't try to dig out my past. Else you will be exposed with yours. And second, don't you even think of marrying Khushi. She is mine!" Sham looked hideous with the scars on his face and lust in his eyes. Arnav leapt forward and caught Sham by his collar and pushed him towards the wall.

"Don't you dare take her name" he threatened Sham, his eyes spitting fire. Sham looked little nervous with the pressure on his throat. Arnav's eyes flashed disgust. And then slowly Arnav released his grip, brushed sham's shoulders easing out the crease gently, took a step back staring at Sham coolly. Sham looked shocked with this sudden change in attitude.

"Jijaji, I am already married to her. and you were the witness!" said Arnav smiling.

"Married, my foot! That is not a marriage. I won't let you have her! She is mine! and if you marry her, you know what I will do to your sister... I will kill her!" he threatened.


"Ok. Go ahead and do it!" said Arnav sitting back on his chair relaxed. Sham was perplexed at this reaction. He gaped at Arnav.

"Jijaji, Di loves you and thinks you love her too! But once she is disillusioned, remember, she is my sister, Arnav Singh Raizada's Big sister!" Arnav said in a deep threatening voice and waited staring at Sham.

"Do you understand what I mean? You have seen only loving and weaker side of her, JIJAJI! .... So you are better off keeping her like that, a loving wife....” He paused... “ And now if you have finished with your empty threats... I have some calls to attend !" Said Arnav dismissively.

Sham turned to leave frowning. "Is she really that strong? Naa.....! She is blind and naive! But then ...!" he thought.

"Jijaji," Arnav called out from behind. Sham turned

"Who defaced you like this? Khushi?" he pointed at Sham's deformed face smirking...
Sham was horror struck.

"Please close the door when you go out Jijaji!" said Arnav concentrating on his laptop!

** *** ***

He stared at his laptop but his mind was not able to take in anything. He was thinking about Sham's threats. He remembered how his Di stood by him like a solid rock and bashed the boys when they picked up fight with young Chote!

His heart cried out for his Di.  “Please... Don’t let me down Di.... I need you...~”

"Di, you had said you are the only one to know my softer side. But Di, I am the only one to know your stronger side! Di, please don't prove me wrong!" He thought aloud burying his face in his hands.

His phone rang. It was Khushi. He thought for a while and then picked it up.

"Hello, Arnavji" Khushi blurted excitedly. "You know Shondeep Sir will come to Delhi next week" she said.

"I know!" Arnav said feeling little irritated. "Have you called to give me this news?" he asked.

"No! I mean.. yes.. I mean this is one of the news. But you know what? Papaji is going to invite you to Kolkata this weekend. I heard him telling this to mummiji" she almost screamed.

"Khushi, since when did you pick up the habit of eavesdropping?" Asked Arnav smiling.

"Eavesdropping? They both were so loud the entire house heard it." she was angry.

“And there is another news but now i am not going to tell you!" Khushi said sulkily.

"Khushi, tell me what is it? I am not in a mood!" Arnav said honestly.
"What? What happened Arnavji?" Khushi asked softly.
"Khushi, its regarding Di's pregnancy. Doctor is worried about the complications!" he said avoiding giving any details.
"Oh! Do you want me to come there?" she asked.
"No! Don’t even think about it!" he said seriously.
"And Khushi, don't go out alone anywhere. Please be careful!" Arnav said hoarsely.

"Yes, I know. I will not do anything stupid" said Khushi assuring him.
"Arnavji, what are you doing?" she asked him trying to lift his spirits up. Wait.. I will  login. she said and disconnected the phone.

He waited for her. Her image flashed on his screen and he felt relieved. He smiled at her. Her pleasant appearance relaxed him.

"Arnav ji!" Khushi looked at him unblinkingly. He avoided her gaze. He was trying hard to resist his strong urge to hug her. His heart ached. "Khushi..! be careful,,!" He was really concerned about her safety. He knew she is far more safer with papaji, but looking at Sham's desperation, she was his soft target. He felt helpless.

"Arnavji what happened? You look worried" she said.
"Its nothing serious, Khushi! it’s just Di 's problem bugging me up! There are some complications and I am worried about her safety too. He can do anything."

"Arnavji, he will not do anything to her. She is yet to give in. she has not transferred anything in his name. I know, he will not touch her before that" said Khushi confidently.

"Yes !" he said looking confident.

"I will not let that happen. I will finish him before he does anything" said Arnav resolutely.   Khushi smiled..... Arnav’s heart filled with calmness, he gazed at her lovingly....

"Arnav ji! See, I bought this for Jiji!" She showed him the earrings.
"This, silly girl is back on track!" he thought smiling and looked at her image passionately.
"hmm" he said.
"Arnav ji.. Lavanya ji..?" she didn't how to open the topic.
"She went back!" said Arnav looking at the image, trying to read her mind.
"Oh!" she looked disappointed. She had no communication with Lavanya after Payal’s marriage. She felt guilty and decided to contact her.

"Ok. Arnavji I will call you later. and take care" she looked at Arnav. He pressed his fingers on his lips and said "Khushi!" she blushed logging off.

** ** ***
                                                             
Arnav landed in Kolkata for a day to discuss urgent matters with Papaji. He had brought the belongings of his parents with him. He handed them over to Papaji in his office. Papaji looked serious.

"Puttar, the reason to get this privately done first is to make sure we have a prima facie case against these Thakurs. Once we are sure about it with the test, then the final strike will finish them off." said papaji,

"Yes!" said Arnav and then holding out the image from his cell phone said "Have a look at these!" Papaji looked at sham's photos with another woman and looked up at Arnav.

"Do you know who this lady is?" asked papaji "No!" said Arnav. "But I will find out! It was just like I was caught up with crisis in the office!" said Arnav.

"I know!" said papaji. Arnav was not able to decide whether to tell him about Anjali.. He just kept gaping at papaji nervously.

"Puttar, is everything ok? Do you have anything to tell? I mean, if you feel, you can tell me. I may be of some help.." Arnav felt relieved. He told him everything including sham's threats.

Papaji thought for a while and said. "Arnav Puttar, I think you should take her for the tests as early as possible. If the worst fears come true then we may have to take some external help from psychologists to disclose this with minimum shock and help her to come out. I know she is your sister. But you have to do it." said papaji kindly.

"Puttar, this is a very delicate phase of your lives. You both have to be strong to face it. and Don't you worry about Sham, I will take care of him. Now first find out who that lady is. She will be our trump card!" Arnav nodded. They both came out of Papaji's office and met Shondeep in parking area.

"Hello Shondeep!" greeted Arnav shaking hands with him.
"Hello Arnav, and congratulations!" his smile reflected on Arnav's face.
"Sir, gave me the news the other day." he said looking at his boss. Papaji smiled.

"Arnav, Shondeep will be visiting Delhi next week and you will be his host!" papaji ordered.

"Yes! My pleasure!" said Arnav genuinely. Shondeep smiled.