Part 6

Sham had disappeared.  Khushi went out alone to get everything per buwaji’s list.  She wanted to forget everything, even her Devi Mayya.  Everyone in the house too had come to terms with the situation.  Khushi was getting married to sham was for sure, and that too soon.

“Khushi... ambulance will reach your house in fifteen minutes.  I will accompany your father.  Get him ready, bahatii naak!” Avinash said laughing and Khushi sulked pursing her lips and touching her nose.  It wasn’t running.  She came home hurriedly.  Her jiji was waiting.

“Khushi, Avi had called she said in hushed voice at the door.  Khushi opened her mouth to say something loudly.  Payal squeezed her hand and said, “Sham ji has come!” Khushi understood.  Shutting her mouth at once she went to babuji’s room.  Sham was in and Amma was on the bed beside babuji. 

Babuji, get ready.  We are going to the hospital.  Avinash wants you there for tests...!” Khushi said broadly smiling.  She had seen some hope..! Sham looked up startled.  

“Babuji... Avinash is coming!” Khushi added picking up the bag and helping babuji sit up.

“Where are you taking him?” Sham asked holding babuji’s hand.  “Hospital!” came an answer from Payal.  Sham stared at Khushi piercingly.  There was no effect, as she was not looking at him.  

“Why do you have to take him to the hospital?” he asked again.  There was no answer. Khushi was impatient.  She called up Avinash.

“Hello bahatii naak... think of the devil and here comes her call!” Avinash was in a good mood.

“When are you coming?” she asked him directly without any preamble.  “Leaving now with the ambulance..!” he said disconnecting the phone.  Grin appeared on her face.

“He is coming now!” she declared and adjusted Babuji’s hair.  Sham frowned.

Avinash came and checked babuji with a pleasant smile.  Automatically smile appeared on Amma’s face which was missing since babuji’s illness. 

Avinash came in as a pleasant breeze.  A faint smile appeared on babuji’s face which went unnoticed bin the hustle and bustle of the people around.  Sham glared at Avinash who ignored him completely. 

“Yeh Hain Khushi Kay Honewalay Pati, Nandkishore! He is Khushi’s would be husband, Sham Babua!” Buwaji was the only one to introduce Sham.  Avinash gave a broad smile and shaking hands with Sham said “Congratulations! Yeh Bahatii Naak is a lucky girl!” Sham smiled smugly.  Avinash turned to Babuji.

“I know, but I would like to change the line of treatment.  I suspect some adverse reaction of this medicine.  So let us go and have some more tests...!” he held babuji’s hand.  Babuji blinked once.  “Thats great!” Avinash looked at Payal and Khushi.  Payal nodded.  

“Hehe, this is great! I can communicate with babuji now!” Khushi was more than happy.  “For yes blink once, for no blink twice..!” Khushi said grinning at Avinash.  “Hain naa babuji?” she bent over to ask babuji.  Babuji blinked once and Khushi hugged Avinash happily.  He patted on her head.  “Why didn’t i think about it earlier?” she wondered loudly.  “It requires this...!” Avinash pointed at her head.  And she sulked.  Payal laughed and pulled Khushi nearer.  No one noticed frown on Sham’s face.  

“Now I don’t have to worry about Babuji.  I know he is in safe hands of Avinash, Doctor Avinash...!” Khushi declared raising her hand.  

"Hum babuji ka ilaj kar rahain hain... ab agar dusara doctor aa gaya to inaki halat aur bigad sakati hai" (Our doctor is already taking care of babuji and if another doctor starts his treatment then there will be more health problems for babuji"  He spoke to Khushi’s shock.  Avinash looked worried too.  But his professionalism held him back from reacting.  He looked at Payal and Khushi.  Amma had brought in Tea and snacks.  

“He is not dusara doctor, he is like our family member...!” Khushi spat angrily and Payal nodded for this too.  “Yes! Avinash is like a family member!” she confirmed.  

“The one who is treating Uncle ji, is a very experienced and senior doctor...!” Sham protested looking at Buwaji for support.  Avinash gazed at Sham’s furious face and got up.  

“It is up to you, to decide!” he stopped the conversation and got up to go.

“No, Avinash!” both Khushi and Payal ran behind him.  Khushi held his hand.  “I am going to decide who should treat my babuji!” she said firmly and bringing Avinash back said “Babuji ka ilaaj aaj say Avinash hi karenge!”  Sham wore a frown and disgust on his face.  He needed some drastic action to stop the situation slipping out of his hands.

“Yes of course! He is your babuji!” he said shrugging.  “Yes!” Khushi declared with determination.  “Let me ask him!” she bent over babuji.  “Babuji, Do you agree?” she asked and to her relief, babuji blinked once.  “See? Babuji trusts Avinash...!” she looked piercingly at Sham who looked away in frustration, frowning.

Khushi declared, "Its decided, Avinash will take care of babuji's treatment and she has full faith in him. She looked at Amma and her jiji. Both nodded in acceptance. Shyam looked at Buaji for support but she just shrugged.

Arnav buried himself in work, in the office shouting at people around him. He was particularly in a very bad mood. After lunch he came back to his cabin.  He had locked his private room.

“What the hell?” he picked up the sample table top calendar.  His eyes fixed on her photo, his fingers ran over the photograph.  Regi had taken some sample shots and had inserted a couple of them in the calendar.  

He couldn’t take his eyes off.  The acqua green dress competing with her eyes, she looked stunning and he was stunned.  “Look at her beauty, ASR... on the threshold of womanhood...!” Regi’s words gave him heart stab.  Indeed, on the threshold of womanhood! He thought pressing his right hand on his heart.

“No! This is not done, Arnav! She means nothing..! Just another girl worked in your office..!” he commanded himself.  Inadvertently, he dialled her landline number.  Amma picked up. 

“Umm Khushi is not at home..!” Amma said stuttering.  “Ok. Ask her to call me back!” he ordered and disconnected regretting for calling her.

He did not receive any call from khushi till night. He had to work hard to control his rage. “How dare she doesn’t reply!” he forgot that she no more worked in his office.  He had relieved her.  At one point of time he was happy that she did not call as he had nothing to talk to her. He just had called her impulsively. But he was angry that she had not called him even after getting his message.

“Damn it!” he clenched his fists for not receiving her call. “Agar Shaadi Kar Rahi hain toh kya? Why can’t she call back?”  he was desperate but had nothing actually to talk to her.  His impulsive call had made him worried.   “Am I missing her?” his heart asked.  “No!” he dismissed the thought immediately, still waiting for her call back.   He missed her, grabbing her, fighting with her like a child, pushing her, teasing her, staring at her pursed lips, caring for her, he missed being upset when she was upset.  

“Damn with this calendar...!” he picked it up again and threw with full force.  “For once I should meet her.  Ek baar milanaa hain...Bass ek baar!” he clenched with vengeance again.  

“Why did I call her?” he had no answer.  He glanced at the calendar.  “Yeah.. Ok..  About this photo shoot!” he consoled himself for calling her.  After all he had some work with her.  His fingers dialled her number again but he disconnected it hastily.  “No! She should call!” he said to himself caressing his ego.  He glanced at her photos.  The glance turned into an unblinking stare... his eyes went dreamy... “Khushi...!” he couldn’t stop running his fingers on her photo as if touching her creamy skin, her juicy lips, her long curvy eyelashes, her hair locks..! He suddenly stopped holding the calendar tightly in his grip.  “This girl is driving me crazy..!” He concluded keeping the calendar aside and closing his eyes. 

There was a knock on the door! Automatically he said "yes, get in.." The door opened & he saw Khushi at the door. He got up mesmerized . Khushi came in .

“Did you call?’ she asked looking away.  He was desperate.  “Yes!” he said in a dream state.  She waited.  He forgot what he wanted to say.

“What?” she asked looking up.  He gaped at his angel.  She fidgeted nervously, still confused as he had not said anything.  She looked up at his lost gaze.  He came back on earth with his big ego.

He said in husky voice "umm.. I mean you have earned this money for photo shooting for our calander... i mean I have to pay you. I don't take any favours from anybody... I know, these were taken without your knowledte... um the photos are really good and go well with our company motto.. I am writing this cheque for you..." As he started signing on the cheque.  His pen slipped from his grip and fell down. Both khushi andArnav bent down at the same time bumping on each other. Both got up pressing their hands on their foreheads. They started simultaneously speaking angrily at each other. He said "Why do you have to bend to pick up the pen when I was picking it up.. or did you take this opportunity to bump on me as you do it every time we meet.. I know people like you will seek....." Cutting him she retorted.."Why would I do that? I don’t work for you now! You are no body... Who are you that I should be dying to touch you. I am engaged and getting married soon.." His anger went over the edge.

He came forward aggressively and held her by her shoulders and pulled her closer.. "Don't you dare talk to me like this..." he said with gritted teeth .. She looked into his rage spitting eyes .. she wanted to say something.. he was so close to her that his nose almost rubbed with hers... tears started welling up in her eyes.. he closed his eyes.. whispering "Khushi...!! Why...?" 

He woke up with bang on his door. There was no Khushi.. He looked at the cheque book in his hand... he had written Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada on every leaf of that book.... Hurriedly he hid it and went to open the door himself.