Part 43

Arnav had to come up with a strategy to keep sham at the bay and try and find out more about his plans. "Puttar, do not do anything in a haste" Papaji advised.

"Yes papaji, tell him! His brain stops working when he is angry and he always is angry with someone or the other" Khushi said concerned. She had Pressed the trigger and shown him his face in the mirror.

"Oh! Shut up Khushi. I am a lot better when you are not around" Said Arnav angrily raising his voice. 

"What do you mean I am  not around? Do you think I was responsible of your anger? Did you not get angry when I was not with you?" Asked Khushi angrily.

"Khushi, grow up! And stop yelling at me!" Said Arnav yelling at her.

"What do you mean grow up? What do you think I am a small kid? Don't you think you are underestimating me? Ask papaji about my abilit....." She stopped suddenly. Arnav too turned and faced papaji. Papaji was sitting laid back folding his arms on his chest and looking stern...

"If you two have finished bickering, I want to take the discussion further." He said looking upset at the behavior of Arnav and Khushi.

"Sorry papaji" said Khushi touching her ears. "Sorry" Arnav said hanging his head.

"Ok. Now I advise you to be dormant till payal's marriage. Arnav will keep him hopeful about giving this project to him. I will assign a top level person from our company to deal with him and to interview him. I need to put myself at the background. Arnav will pretend he has not met Khushi at all"

"Does this mean I cannot attend jiji's marriage?" Khushi asked in a sad tone on the verge of crying.

"I have not said so, Khushi, we surely will find out a way to bring you in at the time for  your sister's marriage. And you have to take Elsa with you, remember?" Papaji asked smiling at Khushi. Somehow Arnav felt very happy within, though he did not show it on his face. He looked relaxed. Khushi's face brightened up with happiness.

When they came out of the study, Khushi still looked shattered. Papaji was deep in thoughts and Arnav was back to Arnav Singh Raizada, confident and proud. He knew exactly what he was going to do. He had gathered strength from his strong life partner, Khushi and for the first time in his life, from a fatherly figure, papaji! 

Raj took them out for lunch. Arnav enjoyed the continental food. They had a peaceful lunch. Raj had a plan to go to the talkies for a masala hindi movie. But everybody else voted against. All of them wanted just to go back and rest for a while. 

Coming home they went to their rooms except Arnav. He wanted to go back to hotel as he had some work. But Papaji offered him his study and his desktop to work on. Arnav reluctantly agreed. But then Raj offered him to take him to his hotel to pickup his luggage and check out. He said without looking at his father for approval, "You are staying with us!" Arnav looked at papaji. Papaji shrugged.

Both of them went to get the luggage. Everybody else had a nice afternoon nap. Raj and Arnav came home and Arnav was given a specious guest room. He worked there till evening and when he came out of the room, everybody was getting ready to go to the mandir. Khushi looked little tensed. She knew Arnav did not believe in god. She was afraid that he would say something or refuse to come and hurt feelings of papaji and mummiji.

They were about to leave and Arnav not knowing what to say lingered back. Khushi came back and looked at him pleadingly. He said "Ok." He joined the family and headed to the mandir. 

Panditji gave Aarti after they all prayed. Khushi tied the thread on everyone around the wrist. She was not sure about Arnav's reaction and she avoided him. 

She joined her hands and prayed. "Hey devi mayya, protect him. He does not understand your power. Please forgive him and bless him" She had tears in her eyes. 

When she opened her eyes, she was shocked. Elsa was tying the thread around Arnav's Wrist and he accepted it with devotion by closing his eyes. "He has changed a lot!" thought Khushi. Elsa came forward and tied the thread around khushi's wrist too. She beamed at Khushi. Khushi reciprocated. She glanced at Arnav and found that he was gazing at her unblinkingly. She quickly looked away. 

Both Elsa and Raj touched the feet of Mimmiji and papaji followed by the kids. Papaji lifted the kids and kissed them on forehead. Khushi signaled to Arnav, but he did not understand what she was hinting at. She kept on signaling at mummiji's feet. 

Meera pulled Arnav's coat and said, "Uncle, Khushi buwa is telling you to touch their feet and take blessings from them." Givng him a 'can't even understand simple things' look. Arnav looked embarrassed. He came forward with Khushi and they both touched Mummiji and papaji's feet together. Mummiji hugged Khushi and papaji patted on Arnav's shoulder with wet eyes.

"Now another round of devotion" declared papaji. "I am taking all of you to Gurudwara!" I have something else to do there. They went and prayed at Gurudwara. Papaji declared his wish to do Kaar seva (Service rendered to the devotees visiting the temple) at the temple over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Arnav mused. . 

“How come a formidable person like him does Kaar Seva; lifting footwear of people, serving them food, cleaning the temple complex and anything that is required?” He admired papaji and felt lucky to have him on his side. He looked at Khushi. She was looking at papaji with all admiration. 

"I do Kaar Seva before I start any of my missions.." He told Khushi and Arnav. 

They came back home for dinner. Raj took out his old guitar and started tuning it. He asked Arnav about his interests in music. 

"Arnav Singh Raizada and Music? They are far away from each other.."Khushi thought. But to her astonishment, Arnav said he used to play mouth organ.

"Oh! Is it?.. Greeat! Wait a minute!" said Raj in excitement and hurried inside in his mother's room. They could hear rumbling sound for a while and Raj came out with a velvet box. There was a Carl Essbach's French piece, beautiful mouth organ in there. Arnav's eyes widened. He took it in his hands and ran his fingers on it dreamily. He touched it with his lips and exhaled through the up tuned reed resonating a beautiful high pitch sound and when he inhaled it resonated beautifully through its down tuned reed, He looked at Raj.

"I just loved Larry Adler" he said.. 

Papaji started singing his favorite hindi song "Hai apanaa dil to Aawara...na jaane kis pe aayega..." and Raj and Arnav played the background music on guitar and mouth organ. Then there was a series of hit hindi songs with interludes of mouth organ or guitar. 

When Arnav played the Titanic song on his mouth organ, looking at Khushi...

"My heart will go on...

Every night in my dreams I see you, I feel you.

That is how I know you...go on....

Near, Far, wherever you are,

I believe that the heart does go on...

....

You are here, there's nothing I fear and

I know that my heart will go on.....

... you are safe in my heart and

my heart will go on and on....

Khushi forgot to breath.