Part 99

Both of them could not sleep that night. Khushi paced the room like a trapped tigress. She was muttering furiously. She could not bear the though of keeping quiet after such an insult. She recallected the news again and again, every time burning with fury. "These people won't do anything about it. Its not printed against them. Its me who they targeted. I am the one whom they have written about! Arnavji is a hunk, a tycoon, and great man! and me? ... I am the low class, wooing girl? I won't keep quiet. I know who is behind all this. I will strike back." She could not stop thinking about the news.

"Khushi, is very upset!" Mummiji was talking to Papaji. "I know! but nothing can be done now!" he said in a grave tone. "Had i known about this, I could have stopped this news before printing.. but all this came unexpectedly. I failed to anticipate!" he brooded.

"But I will stop further digging, for sure. I have already talked to the chief editor and no news about Arnav or his wedding will be printed! No matter who gives the news!" papaji said.

"You won't be able to stop them! These things are sensational. Some other news paper will print it! And you cannot stop it from going to television either! And once it goes, imagine the after effects!" Mumiji sounded hopeless. Papaji gaped at her.

"I am sure, Arnav can handle this. But Khushi? She is not used to all this. She cannot handle this. In a fit of rage she will go to extreme and land herself in more trouble!" Mummiji made papaji panic.
"What? How do I stop this?" Papaji thought aloud. Mummiji had no answer. She was worried about Khushi. Only a few days for wedding and she was going through the hell.

"I know, she will not keep quiet. I know, she will do something drastic!" mummiji held papaji's hand. "We have to stop her, at any cost!" Said Papaji getting up from the bed.

He saw light in Khushi's room. "Khushi! Are you still awake?" asked papaji softly.
"No! I am fast asleep and having beautiful dreams! Please don't wake me up!" she retorted, still angry with him.

"Khushi! I want to talk to you! Please... open the door!" Papaji requested her. She opened and Papaji entered her room. He gaped at the scattered things all over. The otherwise very neat Khushi had littered her room with all the possessions. She looked clearly upset. She hurriedly started collecting her things and putting them in places avoiding to look at Papaji.

"I was cleaning up and tiding my room" she muttered in justification. Papaji ignored.
"Khushi, come and sit here!" Papaji pulled her hand. She sat on the bed.

"Khushi, puttar, listen to me!" he started off.

"Papaji, No! I have heard enough from all of you and I promise I will not do anything in haste to put all of you in more trouble!" she said in a steady voice. "No matter what happens to me! I will not put YOU ALL in trouble!" she thought.

"Khushi! Stop reading the news papers! Its only a few days for your wedding! Keep your cool Khushi!" This sensation should die out! People will forget everything soon. Don't worry!" he tried to console her with his words! But khushi had gone beyond listening.

"Khushi, Please...!" papaji looked at Khushi desperately. "You know, people will forget, they get diverted and will gossip on some other sensation the next day! So you just forget what was written!" Papaji said earnestly. Khushi nodded. Papaji knew she has not forgotten anything and she has not forgiven him for not able to do anything about it. He felt helpless. Nothing can stop media from bringing out the sensation. He came out of the room hearing her banging the door shut!

*** *** ***

Arnav could not sleep that night. He was thinking of Khushi and only Khushi. He could feel her pain but felt helpless about it. His heart wanted to strike back but his brain got better over his heart! He knew he had to refrain from reacting. He knew he should keep his head down. But how could he convince Khushi? She was upset and felt that no one was there to stand by her and retaliate. He spent the night gazing at the ceiling.

Next day morning Arnav came down after his workout for the breakfast and saw sham smirking. He was at the table reading the morning news paper. He was turning pages as if to search the awaited news.

His blood boiling, Arnav clenched his fists. He had his breakfast silently. He desperately wanted to scan through the news paper. Sham was waiting for him.

"Saale Saab! Are you going out today? I mean ...I saw the reporter lurking outside. Do you want me to send them away?" He asked smirking.

"No need! I know what to do!" said Arnav and left.

** *** **

Khushi came out of her room in the morning looking in good mood. She had not slept the whole night but still looking bright. Papaji gaped at her. She had a glint in her eyes. Papaji knew, she was upto something. "I have to a keep a watch on her! She might do something dangerous!" He thought to himself.

She actually smiled at him. "Hello papaji!" she said brightly. Papaji was thoroughly confused. "She is unbelievable!" he thought smiling back at her.

The day passed peacefully. Khushi was humming through out. She was indeed in a very good mood, making papaji more anxious!

**** **** ****

Arnav did not go out but Aakash had been to the Office. Aman and Aakash took care of the routine work. Arnav had a couple of conference calls. There was no news in continuation of yesterday's stunt. He signed relieved.!

Sham scanned the entire news paper several times but he could not find anything about sensational about Raizadas! He was disappointed. He expected a detailed news with photographs.. he had supplied! He did not go out anywhere to keep an eye on Arnav!

In the evening, the intercom rang. The security at the gate had called. Arnav took the call. He looked puzzled and worried and asked the security to send the persons at the gate in.
Sham smirked. He knew the reports and the crew must be there for the hunt. Arnav grew restless. He could not avoid this.

Four people came in in Uniform. Sham froze! Everybody had gathered in the hall. Arnav came forward, shook hands with the inspector!

"Hello Inspector! How can I help you?" he said politely. He did not want another trouble. He was raking his brains for a clue remembering Sham's smirking face.

Sham slowly backing away, went to his room and shut the door. He pressed his ear to the door to listen to what was going on in the hall. There was a bang on his door. He opened the door with a jerk looking nervous.

"JIJAJI! they are here for you !" Said Aakash staring at Sham suspiciously. Sham came out with shaky legs. Arnav was talking to the Inspector. The inspector came forward. He handed over the paper to sham.

"You are required to come with us for inquiry!" said the Inspector authoritatively.
Anjali looked shocked."Why? What has he done?" She asked looking at Arnav for support.
"Di. Please, let them do their dury!" said Arnav holding her hand.

Sham had come back to his senses. He read the summons and slowly smiled appeared on his face.
"Yes, of course, Inspector. I will be happy to help!" he said looking at the other family members.
He came to his wife and said "Raani Saheba, its regarding one of the cases. They may require my testimony in the matter. I will go and come back once it is done! Don't worry, Raani Saheba! I will be fine!" He said holding her hand and glancing a disgusted look at Arnav, turned to leave.

"Oh! No, Mr. sham Manohar Zaa!" said the inspector. "Its not regarding one of your cases, its regarding the suicide case of Mrs. Rama and her child. We found new evidence and are reopening the case. You need to come with us!" He came forward to escort Sham to the police Station.
Aakash and Arnav gaped at each other. Aakash ran back to his room and Arnav waited for Aakash in his room.

"Bhai, same case. The lady in the photographs... see this note!
""Sham ji, this is to remind you, in case you forgot!" Rama He threw a scanned copy of the note on the table.

"Ok! So new evidance hun? And they took him...!" Arnav blurted smiling.
"Interesting...!Should I follow them under the pretext of being with JIJAJI?" asked Aakash. Arnav thought over and said  "Yes Aakash, I think you should go!" Aakash left immediately and Arnav came down to be with his Di. She was in shock.

"What has he done now? Why don't these people leave him alone? she looked agitated.

"Di, let us wait and see. Please take it easy Di. He will be back soom!" Said Arnav giving her a glass of juice. He waited for Aakash to come back.

*** *** ***

"Bhai, It was regarding the same case. It seems someone tipped them off about her relationship with Jijaji. They had taken him for further inquiry. He is very shrewd, bhai! he answered all their questions confidently. But somehow, the inspector who was from Chandighar, where she lived looked skeptical. It seems he arrived in the evening with the summons and they immediately called Jijaji. He may have to go to Chandighar for further inquiry. He looked so confident, bhai! He may not have a hand in the case. He had answers for all their questions! They let him go for now! The could not have his custody~" Aakash sounded impressed with his Jijaji's shrewdness.

"Aakash, you will never know! Let us wait and watch. But you try and accompany him wherever he goes, ok?" Arhav said putting his hand on Aakash's shoulder.

"Yes, Bhai.. But he will not like that. He was upset to see me in the police station and asked for privacy while they were interrogating him. but then I somehow managed to hear their conversation" Aakash took his share of credit.

"hmm!" Arnav said "Who could have tipped them off and about what?" he wondered.
Anjali knocked on the door. Sham had come back. "Chote! I am holding a pooja tomorrow and I need your help!" she said.

"Yes, of course Di!" he said glancing at Aakash,

*** *** ***

Khushi was smiling and humming till the evening. As the time passed, she grew restless. Papaji looked worried. "What is it Khushi? Are you alright?" He asked her.

"I am perfectly Ok, papaji!" but her eyes told different story. She was waiting for something desperately.

The dinner went on peacefully. She sat on the sofa pretending to watch the TV show! but her mind was somewhere else. Papaji sat there watching her.

It was around midnight and Papaji's phone rang. Khushi looked startled. Papaji took the phone.
"Hello!" he said.

"Ok! .. what?" he got up from his seat. Khushi cast a look at papaji and got up to leave. Her work was done. Papaji had received the call at last.

"Are you sure?" asked papaji in surprise. He looked at Khushi's back and understood. "Khushi, come back here! I want to talk to you!" he called out. But Khushi had already reached her room and had shut her door behind her.

"Puttar, I think I know who has done that. I will get back to you!" said papaji disconnecting the phone.

He knew who was behind it. But he wanted to be sure and sure that whoever it is, is safe!!

"Khushi, open the door!" papaji ordered. She opened the door reluctantly.

"What is it, papaji? I feel sleepy" She said standing at the door not allowing him to come in.

"Khushi, let me in! And your sleep can wait!" he said and came in.
"Khushi, tell me what are you up to?" he asked piercingly.

"Nothing! What is it papaji? Why are you asking me? Who had called just now?" she asked innocently.

"Khushi, don't try my patience! Tell me what did you do?" Papaji was upset! Khushi stared at papaji for a while and,  "I sent the photographs!" she said looking down at the floor.

"What? How?" he was surprised.
"Oh! Simple! I sent them from my mobile to the police station. Sent them to both, Delhi and Chandighar.

Simple to get the numbers now a days, right?" Papaji gaped at her.

"But it is not evidence!" papaji blurted thinking why did he not think about it.

"Thats what we know. But the photographs and the note I sent was enough material for an inquiry! gathering evidence is not my work!" she said looking up at him. His eyes flickered.

"Papaji, I sent the photos and sent a message, "This should be enough to reopen the case which was hurriedly filed as Suicide! - Friend of Rama"

"Khushi, it did work. They had taken Sham for interrogation!" Papaji smiled.

"I knew it!" she said smugly.
"I know, Khushi! I am sorry! Good night Puttar! and I am proud of you!" said papaji hugging her.

She sat there for a while and then thought aloud! "You should be, papaji! Let us wait for tomorrow morning!!" She went to bed peacefully.

Only 11 days left.