Chapter 17
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OS 1 : Knowing Khushi
Arnav looked at her, disarmed. Her worried eyes looked into his.
Finally he said, softly, "Because... because it happens to both of them..."
"Acha? It happened to you too?"
Arnav nodded, his eyes intent on her face.
She stared at him for a while, and then said softly, "This world is a very ajeeb place. Or I am very ajeeb. Jhoot moot ki girlfriend-baaifriend, dhak dhak & acidity, panting for breath as though I just climbed the Himalayas..." She placed her hand on her head. "I am going home. I have panted enough for one day. Bas."
"I will drop you home.", Arnav said.
"Haaan, and that rascal will see you dropping me home. Then what will I tell him?"
Arnav inclined his head, admitting that her concerns were legitimate.
"I will get you a rickshaw.", Arnav stepped closer to her.
"No! Aaap door rahiye! Don't come close to me. It is bad for both of our hearts."
Arnav looked at the child dressed in a woman's clothes, trying to run away from him. He had to try very hard not to laugh at her indignation and worry over her physical response to him.
"Tomorrow evening at 5, Khushi. We will come to your house.", he promised her.
Khushi nodded.
"Give me the way to your house."
Khushi did, describing everything in great detail.
"I will park the car in the next street.", Arnav told her.
"That would be better.", said Khushi. She looked at him silently for a few seconds. "Poor Anjaliji. Her world will collapse tomorrow ...because of us..."
"Because of Shyam.", Arnav corrected her. "Because he never loved her, but tricked her into thinking that he did... because he married her for money ...because he lived off me for the past 3 years, using the huge amount I paid into his account every month, but still didn't learn the meaning of the word 'gratitude... because he is immoral enough to commit bigamy..."
"Still...", Khushi wept in her heart for Anjaliji.
"She has gone through worse & survived. She will survive this too.", Arnav vowed.
Khushi nodded. "She has you. She will survive. You will make everything alright."
Arnav stared at the girl who was reposing her trust in him in a matter-of-fact way.
"Hum chalte he, Arnavji.", she said.
"Call me tonight.", Arnav said.
"I don't know if I can.", she sighed. "Woh kya he, that... that rascal is following me around the house. Everywhere I go, there he is. He is always looking at me with those big, round, cold eyes... How can I hide in the bathroom or bedroom again?"
"Then I will call you.", Arnav said.
"He Devi Maiyya! Don't! I will have to answer a hundred questions from Buaji about who is calling me, why, how, when, what, where..."
"You look beautiful in sari, Khushi.", Arnav distracted her.
Khushi looked at him, astonished. His fiery eyes ran up & down her body, lingering on her figure.
Khushi clutched her thudding heart. "Don't look at me! Don't come near me! I know karate!", she threatened him.
Arnav choked with laughter. "Really?", he drawled.
"Really.", Khushi lied. "And don't use black magic against me. I will put poppy seeds in your drink and make you cough all night."
Arnav burst out laughing, watching Khushi scurrying away.
That night, Arnav called Khushi.
Khushi was stuffing her face with her Amma's pooris when her phone rang.
The display showed 'Banke Lalji!'
The poori went down the wrong way, and Khushi started coughing, clutching her throat.
Payal quickly passed her a glass of water, & Buaji rubbed her back. As soon as she could breathe, she grabbed the phone.
"Banke Lalji! How can I help you?"
"What the!", exclaimed Arnav.
"Who is calling you at night, Sanka Devi?", he could hear Buaji ask.
"Banke Lalji, Buaji!"
"Who is that? And why should he call at night, Nandkisore?", Buaji wondered.
"He..I mean, Banke Lalji, runs a dress shop near the temple. I..I had asked him for a... a pink lehenga. Then he had said that if I leave my phone number, he will call to let me know when his next load arrives..." Arnav heard Khushi tell the tale to her family.
"Khushiji...", he heard Shyam speak. Arnav's fingers caught his phone in a death hold. "You must not give out your phone number to every man who asks for it."
Arnav heard Khushi reply, "Shyamji, he is not any man. Banke Lalji has always kept his word. I trust him."
"Khushiji, your knowledge of the world is small. And the world is full of cheats and tricksters...", Shyam continued.
Buaji nodded, but said, "Titliyaa is sanki, but not an idiot. She is careful. She must know Banke Lalji well." She turned to Khushi, "E Titliyaa, Banke Lalji must be middle aged?"
"Haan, Buaji. With a paunch. And big mush. Now let me talk to him.", Khushi got up and left the room.
She walked into her Babuji's room and shut the door. He was asleep.
"So I am middle aged?", Arnav asked.
"Ji, with a big paunch & mush. Happy?", Khushi asked.
"You stored my number under Banke Lalji? Excuse me?", Arnav asked.
"You are excused. If you have something to say, say it fast, Arnavji. That rascal is yelping at my feet like a mad dog. I am hiding in Babuji's room. Soon he will come & knock on the door to make sure that I haven't flown out through the window with Banke Lalji!."
"Poor Khushi...", Arnav smiled.
"Very poor Khushi! How does your sister live with this man? Two minutes in the same room, and I am ready to run away."
Arnav sighed.
"I am sorry, Arnavji. I didn't mean to make you sad."
"It is not your fault. I just called to say that you needn't worry about tomorrow, Khushi. I will take care of everything."
"I know.", Khushi said.
"Take as many photos as you can of the rascal sitting and smiling with your family."
"I will."
There was silence. Both of them did not want to cut the call.
Finally, Khushi said, "Thank you, Arnavji. But for you..."
"No, thank you, Khushi. If you hadn't taken the trouble to find me, made me listen, braved my anger..."
Both remained silent.
Then Arnav said, "Remember, Khushi, you are not alone."
Khushi nodded. Arnav smiled.
"Shubh Raatri, Arnavji!", she said.
"Good night.", he said.
Tuesday noon saw the Raizadas dressing up to go to Khushi's house to claim her for Arnav.
"Will this sari do, Arnav Bitwaa?", Mami asked.
Arnav blinked at the bright yellow, and nodded weakly.
Nani & Anjali came bustling into the room. "We are ready, Chotey."
"Bhai, I am ready.", sad Akash, a serious look on his face.
"Me too.", said NK, straightening his jacket. The laughter was missing from his eyes.
"Di, did you call Jiju in the morning?", asked Arnav.
"I did, Chotey. But his phone was switched off.", Anjali frowned.
"Maybe he will call before we leave.", Arnav said mildly.
As if on cue, her phone rang. It was Shyam.
"Aap! I am angry with you. I called you in the morning, and you didn't even attend the call!", Anjali pouted.
"Rani Sahiba, I was travelling..."
"Where are you now?", she asked.
"Kanpur."
"Oh!"
"I had to meet two people here, Rani Sahiba."
Anjali grimaced.
"I called to say that I will be very busy today. So don't call me today, whatever the matter may be."
Anjali frowned.
"Rani Sahiba, hum phone rakhte he!" He cut the call, but before he did, Anjali heard a lady say, "Shyamji, your tea!"
Anjali paled.
"Kya hua, Di?", asked Arnav. All the others looked at her anxiously.
"Nothing.", Anjali forced a smile on her lips. This was a big day for Chotey. And Khushiji had to be rescued from her unwelcome suitor. "Shyamji was just telling me that he will be very busy today, & that he would speak to me tomorrow. That he is in Kanpur right now."
All nodded, uneasy smiles on their faces.
"Shall we leave?", Arnav asked.
"Haan, haan, let's go.", Mami said, and herded all the others out.
The ladies in the neighbourhood were all gathered at Buaji's house to witness the sagai between Khushi & Shyamji.
Shyamji, in a red sherwani, looked regal, like a bridegroom.
"Looks like you are ready to get married today itself, Shyamji!", Vimla Maasi teased him. All the ladies laughed.
Babuji glared at Shyam.
Shyam smiled wanly, & wiped the sweat off his face. He had asked Buaji to keep the function family-only, but when had that witch ever listened to him?
Buaji sighed. "It is a great pity, Shyam Babua, that you are an orphan. How wonderful it would have been, Nandkisore, if your family could have joined us on this happy occasion!"
Amma & Payal led Khushi out into the hall.
Dressed in a red lehenga, her hair put up, her body adorned with old jewellery, she looked a treat.
Buaji led Shyam to a seat in the centre of the crowd, and Amma & Payal made Khushi sit by him.
Khushi panted, looking at the clock. Five to five.
Shyam smiled his oily smile at her. Khushi stretched her lips & showed him her teeth. The seconds passed.
Amma & Buaji laid out the rings on two trays covered with rose petals.
The clock struck 5.
"Shall we begin?", asked Buaji.
All the guests nodded.
With a triumphant smile, Shyam took a ring and reached out to capture Khushi's hand...
The front door of the house was pushed open as Arnav, NK, & Akash walked in, followed by the ladies.
Khushi's breath left her in a rush of relief. Her eyes caught Arnavji's. He nodded at her.
"Who are you, Nandkisore?", asked poor Buaji.
"Shyam Manohar Jha's family.", said Arnav.
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