Part 95

The countdown for the wedding had begun. Nani and Mamiji were busy in preparing the check lists for the ceremonies, in consultation with the Guptas. Anjali took very little part in this. She stayed in her room most of the time. Arnav and Aakash, either of them stayed home looking after Di. Sham tried many times to talk to her and turn her to his side. But she refuse to react saying, she needed some time. She had kept distance from Sham resolutely. Sham openly blamed Arnav for his wife's miserable state, even in the presence of Anjali. She refrained from reacting and so did Arnav. Arnav and Aakash made sure that she stays away from sham, every time intervening in their conversation whenever sham tried to trick her.

“Hello..” A deep voice responded.  “I am coming..!” ASR disconnected the phone.  The person on the other side threw his fist in the air with joy.  “Yeah... Waiting...!” he said disconnecting the phone.

“Mother... your Aru is coming...!” he hugged his bed ridden, fragile ailing mother tightly.  A smile appeared on her face.  “Finally.... he is coming...!” she whispered her eyes already waiting for her Aru....!!

“Aakash, I will be back by tomorrow night..! Take care....!” Arnav said packing his bag.  Aakash nodded.  Two days went by in a jiffy...!

A set of wedding planners and designers visited Raizada House from Kolkata, for planning and taking measurements. The family members were kept in dark about the venue. Even Aakash could not get any information from his bhai. Mummiji was in touch with Naniji about the preparations; But refused to give away any information about the venue. She just requested to bear with her and she would come by once the venue is fixed.

Papaji had taken full care of Khushi's safety tightening the security. The "queen" was castled in this game of chess and will be out only for check mate. And the kind was making moves! Elsa had already reached Kolkata with kids and was busy taking her dancing lessons and shopping.

Sham's desperation and rage reached the peak and anytime there could be an explosion. He was out of the Raizada House most of the time, every time giving Arnav a slip. Arnav could not tail him much to get any vital information. Sham was always a step ahead. In office too,  the minor problems continued. Arnav and Aakash could handle the crisis but there was a marked difference in the attitude of employees. Their three key persons left without notice and without attaching any reason. The snowball had started gathering mass...

That night Papaji called Arnav. "Arnav puttar, Khushi is with me and I am going to let you two talk once I finish! Now listen, there is a good news and a bad news! The good news is, The DNA test of your parents confirmed and matches with both of you! We have a strong case and we can compel that Rattan Singh Thakur for the DNA test. I will take care of it. You may have to sign the papers I will put it on fast track." Papaji said.

"Ok!" Arnav felt better. He smiled. He did not know what that smile on his face was for! For the DNA match confirmation or that he was going to talk to Khushi!

"Now the bad news is, It seems we have hit a dead end. The lady in the photographs was found dead with her child, fifteen days back, and apparently committed suicide. Her body was found hugging her dead child in her house. The cause is overdose of sleeping pills. The matter is filed as suicide. We do not have a cause to reopen the case. Though we know who might have done this, there is no evidence. No traces, no fingerprints were found in her room. It was reported in detail in the local newspapers and I am sending the copies to you!" Papaji had stopped talking. But there was no reaction from Arnav for a very long time.

"Puttar? are you still with me?" asked papaji and Arnav came back to his senses. He knew when this must have happened. Sham had burnt the original photographs. He had nothing in his hands.

"Hmm!" Arnav blurted. He did not know what to say! They really had hit the dead end. No one knew, how many lives were at stake. Arnav remembered the maid. He needed to take care of her safety too. There was a dead silence for a long time. And then papaji spoke.
"Ok! Arnav puttar! you may need time to think over. I will see what best I can do. But for now brush aside all your grim thoughts and wipe grimace! Your would-be, is here, so talk to her!"

Arnav's eyes reflected a shade brighter. He waited for Khushi! Only three weeks for their wedding!

"Arnavji" she spoke softly. His heart skipped a beat. He was listening to her voice after so many days and each day was like ten years for him. He longed to see her. His heart thumped against his chest.

"hmm!" he could only speak. "Arnav ji!" she called out in trembling voice.

"Khushi!" he blurted her name. Khushi's heart jumped out of her body hearing her name from him. She pressed her hand on her heart, breathing heavily. He could hear her breath. His heart stopped beating.

"Khushi!" he called out. She could not respond.

They both jumped sending their cell phones flying in the air when papaji shouted from behind khushi's back "You have five minutes to go!" and roaring in laughter he left the room leaving khushi alone.

Arnav and Khushi picked up the phones. "Khushi!" Arnav whispered. He knew she was alone. He wanted to tell her how much he missed her. But ASR in him waited for her to say that first.

"Arnavji" she spoke. "Hmm" he responded.
"Arnav ji, I.. I.." she stuttered. Arnav waited with a bated breath.
"Arnav ji..I.. mean... what should we do now? Now that lady is dead, we have nothing against him!" she said disappointing Arnav. He never wanted to talk about that.

"I will handle it!" he said curtly, sulking. She could not understand the cause of his anger.
The time was ticking away. He grew restless. She was confused and was feeling awkward to tell him how much she missed him. Finally Aranv decided to speak..

"Khushi, do you even know, how much I..." he started in a husky voice.
"I miss you!" He froze listening to her.
"What? What did you say, Khushi?" He wanted to confirm.
"I missed you!" she confessed in a soft voice and his heart took a somersault.

"Khushi I missed you too!" His confession made Khushi cry in happiness. They could not speak anything other than blurting each other's names!

There was a knock on her door. "Warning bell!" said papaji aloud. She flashed an angry look at papaji. He went away.
"Arnav ji! Listen, If we can make him confess his sin, we can make justice to that poor dead lady...!" she blurted out the solution.

"Arnav ji.. Our five minutes are getting over. I don't know when we will talk next... but!" she sobbed.
"Khushi! Don’t cry! Its just few weeks! " Arnav felt a surge of pain in his heart!
"Khushi....!" he called out heavily and hung up. Khushi kept on looking at the blank screen and dabbing her lips on the screen returned her cell to papaji.

Arnav kissed his cell and pocketed it. "Its only a few weeks, Khushi, and no one will separate us!" He blurted.

Papaji wrapped his hand around her shoulder and took her to the hall for dinner, wiping her eyes.

Each day of the countdown was filled with problems and solutions or deadlocks. This was all getting on to their nerve. Arnav kept his cool but Sham's desperation mounting he started behaving erratic. Aakash kept a close eye on him leaving Arnav to handle the minor crisis at home and office. Arnav had asked the maid to shift to the servant's rooms in Raizada house with her child. She was grateful to him.

That small talk with Khushi, tormented him, made him crave for more. He didn't want to break the rule but could not stop himself from thinking the ways to talk to her. He dreamt of her. All future plans were built around her including his business planning. He could not think of anything else when he was alone and kept missing vital details when he was on business meetings. The urge to meet her, talk to her overpowered his brain. That five minute talk made him flounder like a fish out of water!

The wedding planners were irritating Khushi with various trials and dress rehearsals. Khushi and Elsa were busy with the discussion on shopping. Elsa was doing all the shopping on her behalf. Khushi was not allowed to go out. But she had an enjoyable task, take care of the kids. Every time she used to look at Tej, she missed Arnav. She knew Arnav was fond of Tej and they were great together. She felt a surge of pain of separation. Many a times she got lost in her memory. Her mind and body craved for him. She started day dreaming. Every dream of her filled with Arnav and only Arnav. She stopped thinking anything else. The craving was overpowering her. That five minute talk did not help. In fact, it did worst. Her craving reached the limit.

The Raizada family members were clueless. They did not know what was going on. Guptas had the same state. They started planning for themselves not knowing how the marriage will take place and where. They were waiting for the invitation cards to arrive. Nani and Mummiji were in touch and were planning for rituals.

Anjali was slowly coming out of her grief. She had stopped talking about her pregnancy. Her morning sickness had reduced considerably. Avinash's wife visited her almost every day, against Sham's wishes. Anjali paid less attention to her husband. Arnav and Aakash made sure they open the topic of photographs or phone calls every time they saw Anjali and Sham together with other family members. The maid helped them in feeding information. The phone calls to Anjali never stopped. In fact every time, the call used to be from different STD booth making it impossible for Sham to trace out!

Sham felt tied down and cornered. Every time he tried to go out, Arnav or Aakash would accompany him under some pretext. He felt a constant vigil on him. This was making him nervous and angry. He had to finally strike and strike soon! This time he would finish off all the trouble and everyone. He just waited for the invitation card to know the venue.

It was only fifteen days for the wedding, with the nervousness mounting in everybody's mind for different reasons.

**** ***** ***
The board meeting with the sole agenda of selling Anjali's shares was in the evening. Sham was all set to make his move. He had the signed papers ready with his authority. She had applied to transfer the shares in his name.

Arnav and Sham both were tensed up. Arnav introduced the agenda of the meeting. Anjali had made it to attend with Sham. Aakash and other three members were present.

Sham spoke, "As my wife wishes to transfer all the shares in my name, I request this to be with utmost priority. Once the transfer takes place, I wish to sell the shares. Sham got trapped in a haste.
Sham started "I am going to sell the shares as early as possible and in bulk. If anyone wants to buy, buy all the shares. I already have a taker." It was clear that he was not ready to wait.

"At par?" confirmed one of the board members.
"Yes!" said Sham. He wanted to encash this opportunity at any cost. Arnav's strategy had worked. In desperation, Sham was ready to sell them to anyone who gave ready cash.

"Ok!" in that case, I will buy all the shares!" Declared Arnav.
Sham gaped at him. Anjali looked happy. "What? You?" asked Sham.

"Yes!" said Arnav looking at Sham.
"Your bank balance is only half the price of these shares. Even if you sell your property, you won't collect!" said sham disdainfully. ASR was surprised at the financial information Sham got about him and the company. Someone was surely leaking the information.

"Don't bother about it! This is the cheque!" Arnav kept the cheque before Sham. Sham gaped at it.
"Who is your partner, Saale Saab?" he asked scornfully.
ASR stared at him and then said "Khushi!"
"What?" Anjali and Sham got up with a jerk.
"Yes, Khushi! She is my partner and we are buying these shares" ASR said coolly.
"But..how is it possible? Who gave her that much money?" asked Anjali. Sham was growing restless
"I never asked!" said ASR.
"Now if the interrogation is over, Please sign the transfer papers Di, and Jijaji!" said ASR in a flat voice.
"I mean.. I.. mean.. We need some time to think about it!" Said Sham collecting the papers from the table.
"Why? You have a cheque with you! Now complete the sale!" Ordered ASR.
Sham looked desperately at his wife. She had taken out her pen to sign on the papers. Sham caught her hand desperately stopping her from signing.
"No! Not now! I need some time to think. I may get a better buyer!" said Sham.
"Ok! As you wish! Please remember, the members get priority over outsiders... And  the next meeting  will be after a month! Take it or leave it!" said ASR picking up his cheque.

"Thats ok, Chote! I know... your wedding! ... Meeting may not be possible!" said Anjali understandingly and looked at her husband for approval.

Sham was in a spot. He never wanted to sell to Arnav and at the same time he wanted to encash the sale proceeds.
"Ok!" he said "After a month!" Within that period he will find out who is behind all this and how Khushi got so rich.
"Ok!" ASR smirked getting up signalling that the meeting was over.