Chapter 9
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[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
RECALLING ARNAV
Part 5
Section 2
"Turn left here, Nannav," NK repeated the instructions of the navigator. "Two hundred metres and you will see the temple on the right. Yes, here it is."
ASR parked his vehicle in front of the temple, feeling his heart beating very fast. His fingers trembled on the steering wheel. He looked up at the steps leading to the temple. She was here. He could feel her in the air.
He unlocked the door and alighted.
The Raizadas looked at each other, uncertain. Slowly, they left the huge vehicle and stretched the cramped muscles of their limbs.
"I.. I will meet her first," Arnav muttered, covering his eyes with his sunglasses.
The others nodded.
They watched him walk up the steps.
"Nani..." Anjali whispered, fear in her voice.
"Whatever has to happen will happen, Anjali bitiyaa," the elderly woman murmured.
Khushi finished praying to Devi Maiyya, laying her long list of demands for everyone she knew at Her divine feet. She bid farewell to her best friend and turned to walk down the steps to the lower level and then the road.
A gentle breeze played with the strands of her hair.
Khushi smiled, looking around. It was a beautiful morning, with mild, golden light falling on the ancient temple and the trees encircling the hallowed structure, pigeons cooing, devotees thronging to the shrine, ringing bells in piety...
The naughty wind blew her red and yellow dupatta over her head, blinding her. Smiling, Khushi pulled down the flimsy cloth to see a man dressed in dark blue coat and trousers, a pale blue shirt and a dark blue and gold tie standing before her.
Why was this man dressed like this? she wondered, taming her dupatta to fall around her neck. Was he a foreigner?
As she watched, he lifted his hand towards her as though seeking help.
Khushi caught hold of his hand. A frisson of disquieting sensation travelled down her spine. Khushi frowned and looked up at his pale face.
'Khushi, the man wants help. And you are standing here staring at him like the village idiot?' she chastised herself.
"Aayiye," Khushi led Arnav by the hand to a bench. "Please sit down."
Arnav sat.
"If you are blind, why can't you bring someone with you to the temple? What if you fall down these steps?" Khushi asked.
Arnav's mouth fell open.
Slowly, his hand removed the glasses, letting her see his shocked caramel orbs.
Khushi frowned, feeling uneasy, the nerves of her head tightening painfully, the muscles of her stomach cramping.
"You are not blind?" Khushi asked. "Acha. That's good." She looked around to make sure that she was in familiar surroundings, desperately wanting something to anchor her trembling limbs to the ground.
"Khussi bitiyaa, who is this?" Ramu chacha came to stand by her, a frown on his face.
"I don't know, Chacha. Lagta he pardesi he. He was not feeling well. So I.. so I just..." Khushi stammered to a stop.
"Bitiya, don't worry your head about this stranger. I will look after him. You have to go to the shop, right?" Ramu chacha asked.
Khushi nodded, frowning.
"You go, bitiyaa," the gruff voice carried a caress. "Don't frown. It doesn't look good on my gudiya's face."
Khushi smiled at the elderly man, stole one last glance at the stranger and left them.
The Raizadas watched Khushi walk past them, adjusting the dupatta around her neck, her face wan, her pace fast. Her eyes fell on them.
Nani raised her hand to summon her but lowered it in shock as Khushi walked past.
There was no sign of recognition in her Khussi bitiya's eyes.
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