Chapter 23

Have written this update in a mad rush! There was so much to say and so little time! Hope its not all crap! 😳

Since I was short of time, my dear friend ArshiHamesha made the above title pic for me in a jiffy! Thankyou Guruji! I can always depend on you to solve my problems ! 🤗

Chapter 23

The Mystery Unfolds

"Hello Di! How are you? How is everyone else at Gosak?" Arnav sounded worried on the phone.

Anjali was surprised. She had spoken to Chhote yesterday. Why was he calling so early in the morning to check on her !

"I am fine Chhote and Naniji is doing pooja. I was about to join her."

"Oh! Okay! And what about others?" Arnav continued in an insistent manner.

"Others? Well Laxmi is grazing around somewhere, Chhote! Don't tell me you are missing Laxmi and can't live without her !" Anjali guffawed at the other end.

"Please Di !" Arnav rolled his eyes. "I mean where is Kh...Khushi ?"

Anjali fell off her chair! She asked him tongue in cheek, "Kyun kya hua, Chhote? (Why what happened, Chhote?) Khushiji left for Lucknow at dawn today."

"Okay. Thanks Di." Arnav disconnected the phone and dialled Khushi's number immediately.

There was no response at the other end. Her phone was switched off! Arnav panicked and he kept redialling her number, pacing up and down in his room, raking his hand through his hair, his brown velvety eyes darkening with concern. He stopped only to receive Aman's call.

"ASR, I called you because I think something is amiss. My men were keeping tap on Shyam. But since yesterday,Shyam seems to have disappeared without a trace."

"He is definitely up to something Aman. I hope it has nothing to do with Khushi," Arnav said in a ragged voice.

Khushiji! Aman rolled his eyes! My boss has lost it! He has become a ping pong ball! Why can't he decide for once and all whether he cares for Lavanya or Khushiji !

"Aman !! What the! Couldn't you choose another time to suddenly become deaf!" Arnav's voice roared over the phone.

Aman collected his thoughts. " Sorry, Sir! What were you saying?"

"I said Shyam's bail was given by a driver, right?"

"Absolutely, ASR."

Arnav's Harvard brain raced and he made a conection.Yesterday... Mamaji was evasive about Lavanya... she was in Mamaji's car...who the heck was driving that car...

Suddenly he barked, "Aman, quick. Find out the name of Mamaji's driver."

"Okay ASR. I will ask our driver Mohan. I am sure he will be able to give me the information."

After a few minutes Aman called his boss again,"ASR, your hunch was right. Mamaji's driver's name is Billu. It could be the same Billu who bailed out Shyam."

"What the! Mamaji has some explaining to do! I am going to his house now."

"I am coming with you!" Aman said promptly.

Arnav raced his SUV to Mamaji's house and stormed into it with Aman following at close heels. The house was fairly large and it seemed empty.

"Shouldn't we have contacted the police...," Aman looked around anxiously

Arnav raised his right hand to quieten him. There were voices coming from upstairs. Arnav ran towards the stairs and took them three at a time and reaching the first door at the top of the stairs, pushed it open and barged into the room.

Two women, Manorama Mami and Lavanya, turned to look at the intruder with angry faces. But their jaws dropped in shock and fear to see Arnav Singh Raizada standing in front of them, fists clenched, eyes bloodshot!
"What is going on? How do you know each other? Has something happened to Khushi?" he thundered.

Lavanya was the first one to regain composure. She said scornfully, "Manorama rather Manu Auntie is a distant aunt of mine. Is that a problem with you, ASR? Or am I the problem? Why didn't you turn up for the dinner date yesterday? That middle class small town Khushi stopped you, did she? She is out to destroy you and me, can't you understand? She even asked her partner to burn down your factory, while she kept you busy, do you know that?"

"That is not true, Lavanya. Anyway who told you about the fire?" snapped Arnav. "Shyam? No other person could have told you these detalis!"

"Yes, Shyam did! " Lavanya retorted, her eyes flashing angrily " I would have never believed Shyam as he had betrayed Anjalidi. But earlier Manu Auntie had also seen Khushi trying to trap you in the Only Beds' showroom. That is what these small town girls do ASR, trap rich men for their money! That is why she broke up our relationship, can't you see ASR?"

Arnav was aghast! "This is all nonsense. I can see Shyam has brain washed you. You would have done well not to keep in touch with him, Lavanya."

Then he shifted his gaze to Mamiji. "So Mamiji, you and Mamaji knew I was Arnav when you met me in the showroom but you pretended not to recognize me."

Manorama was perspiring profusely.She had not expected Lavanya to tell Arnav all this.

"Arre nahi Arnav bitwa... Hello hi bye bye! Yeh Labhanya to paglai gayi hai...kuchh bhi bolti ja rahi hai... ...Hello hi bye bye! Humka bhul mat samjho...wo to hum tumka surprisewa dewat vaste tumko nahi pehchhane."(Oh no, Arnav...Hello hi bye bye! Lavanya has gone mad...she is saying whatever she feels like...Hello hi bye bye! Don't misunderstand me...I just wanted to give you a surprise so I pretended not to recognize you.)

"Aur kitna jhooth bologi Manorama !"( How many lies will you say, Manorama) Mamaji's voice boomed from the doorway.

"Aap to Shut uppiya hi kar lijiye (You Shut up) !!" Manorama was very cross with her husband..

"No, you shut up, Manorama!" Mamaji said in a stern voice. "It was because of your pleadings that I kept quiet for so long. But no more."

Manorama started wailing at the top of her voice, "Haan ab to sab hum hi ko blamewa karenge! Sasuma aur sabRaijada jaise humko get outwa kiye waise hi humari bhatiji Laabhanya ko bhi pichware main kick kiye! (Yes, now everyone will blame only me! Just like my mother in law rejected me the Raizadas have also kicked my niece Lavanya in the back!)"

Arnav's temper soared. "What the, Mami! We have nothing against you or Lavanya. Nani was angry with you because you left us and settled in the U.S. when we needed you most."

Mamaji nodded gravely, and he was about to say something when Arnav's phone rang.

It was a call from a number in Lucknow, and Arnav's breath hitched and his insides churned as he connected to the incoming call.

There was silence at the other end.

"Khushi, is that you?" Arnav whispered softly.

Shyam laughed evilly at the other end. No it is me, Shyam Manohar Jha. And Khushi is here with me! She is looking very calm and very pretty in her sleep. I wonder how I will resist her..."

Arnav balked. "What do you want you bloody slimy snake? Release Khushi at once! Dammit! "

"Ofcourse I will release your sweetheart, ASR! But first I want the fortune you denied me by putting a spanner in my plans of marrying that crippled sister of yours!"

"Shyam! Mind your words. Or you will wish you were never born," Arnav said in a dangerously low voice.

"Okay,okay, I am feeling so scared." Shyam laughed in mock fear . "I will quickly tell you what I want ! I want ten crores tomorrow in return for Khushi. You, Raizada, will come alone to an address that I will tell you later."

Arnav smirked and said in a cold voice. "I will give you a better deal Shyam. I will give you twenty crores. The condition is that you will release Khushi today, not tomorrow and without harming even one hair on her head. You get it !"

There was a shocked silence at the other end before Shyam laughed again. Yes I get it! You have the hots for her, Raizada! So do I..."

"Shyam, you b*****d ! Don't you dare touch her, or I will break every bone in that dirty hand of yours! One more derogatory word from you and the deal is off! Understand?"

"Hey cool it Arnav! Twenty crores today in return for Khushi is fine! I will tell you where to deliver the money after two hours. And don't waste your time trying to trace my call! And need I say, don't involve the police in this!" Shyam laughed a devilish laugh and disconnected the line.

Arnav turned to Aman, "Shyam has kidnapped Khushi. Arrange for the money Aman. And tell your men to keep an eye on Mamaji's driver. He does not know we suspect him and he might lead us to Shyam's hideout."
"Billu?" Mamji said in a shocked voice, " Is he a criminal? But Manorama did you not tell me that he was highly recommended by a friend of yours!"

"Recommended by Shyam no doubt!" Arnav gritted his teeth.

Mamiji sat down on the bed with a thud. "Hello hi bye bye! Ooo Shyamwa humka boootiphool se Aapril phoool bana diya!" (Hello hi bye bye! That Shyam turned me from beautiful to April fool!)

Lavanya who had been listening to Arnav's conversation with Shyam in disbelief all this while, suddenly shrieked, " But ASR,Shyam told us Khushi was a gold digger, he knew her from Lucknow! And if we give Billu the money for his bail, he will help us teach Khushi a lesson. But kidnapping her and demanding ransom from you...this is just not done !" Lavanya started shivering. Mamaji put his hand round her shoulder and helped her to sit down on the bed besides Manorama. Both women looked shattered.

Khushi woke up with fright in a dark dingy room. She immediately recalled how she had been forced into the car, the large rough dirty hand, the smell of chloroform... Where was she? She ran to the door. It was locked from outside. Her heart sank.

"Raksha karo Devi Maiyya. I hope my family is safe." Khushi shuddered and leaned her head against the door. "Babuji says think of the most beautiful moment of your life when you are feeling miserable," Khushi said aloud, closing her eyes, trying to calm her senses.

And it flashed before her eyes. The most beautiful moment...their first kiss! The brown pools of desire, the warm lean body, the strong arms...how he had removed the pallu from her shoulder, pulling her in his tight embrace, pleading with her lips to give him entry and plundering her senseless.She remembered how a hundred fireworks had burst inside her as she floated on scented water with roses beneath her feet and stars above her heaven...

Khushi opened her eyes breathing heavily."Devi Maiyya, I know I told you to keep Arnavji away from my life but can I see him just one more time, before something happens to me here?" she pleaded.

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In this chapter, the reference to Arnav as a ping pong ball has come from shruti46's comments and Arnav's desire to do something drastic to the dirty hand that touched Khushi from indi52's comment on my last update! Thankyou both and all others whose comments log into my grey cells and influence the direction of THE BROKEN BED!

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wiwy2013-10-18 16:42:24