ArShiFF: Bas Ek Tu Hi Hain Kahan Part 20 Pg 53 - Page 24

Part 15

One month has been passed. Arnav went back to his base.From there he had to go to some other mission.So taking Khushi to Khemkaran would have been meaningless.

" You will come in Diwali..won't you?"

Arnav looked at his wife while packing his bag.It had been two days since they returned to India.

" I am not sure, honestly..I will try.."

" I will come, if you ..."

Arnav face got brightened, "Really..you will?"..

Khushi nodded.

"Sir..your tea Sir..Sir..."..

***

Arnav came out of his thought.They were patrolling along the valley near the Himalayan Range.Right now they were standing before the Om Parvat.It looks just like the Om symbol.It was mesmerizing..

Arnav took a deep breathe.The symbol of Shiva, the symbol of eternity, the symbol of creativity, the symbol of the union of Shiva and Shakti. The Ardhnarishwar Form of the Divine, both are incomplete with each other. Somewhere in the universe they meet, they create , they destroy, they become unified, they become separated , and the cycle goes on.

He felt as if soon he will get a glance of Shiva and Shakti.He is not a very religious person.But he appreciated the love of the divine for the other half.He realised that everyone in the universe has another half, which makes him or her complete.Which is irrespective of anything, even sexual orientation becomes meaningless.

If light is the source of life, then darkness is also necessary, if good is necessary then evil is also necessary to distinguish between good and evil, if heterosexuality is normal, then we must admit that homosexuality is also normal.It is the soul who remains at the end that is free from any inhibitions.

He thought about Khushi. She made him complete.He cannot think his life without her.

There is one secret in his life unknown to everyone.When he was posted in forward area, he used to go for regular patrolling.In such search operations arresting people, abusing them , rape are usual practises in every Armed Forces in the World.

Arnav was leading the troop.People were taken into custody.Men were being beaten.They were suspected as spies which they were, genuine proof were there.There were two girls in that group, aged between 17-20.They were crying like hell. Giving electric shock in their private part, brutal rape etc..these were the things they apprehended.They were already checked by the male soldiers. That checking consisted of touching everywhere, humiliating and hurting them .

Then they were taken to Arnav's tent.Those girls were shivering.. they were with folded hands.Other soldiers were abusing them verbally.

" Saab..look at these bitches..bloody traitors, they are the spies..I tell you, they pass our whereabouts to the enemies, last week our 3 Jawans died, because these swines gave the information..just tear them apart.."

" They are the daughters of those bas***ds..Saab, have the younger one, she has really nice curves, she will taste good, have her..then give her to us..look at her..she is the real treat...just knead her, mash her..."..the Jawan could not complete and he got a massive blow from Arnav. That time he was Major Arnav Singh Rathore.

" Haramzade..have you ever thought of your own sister at her position?" ..Arnav shouted..and he turned to those girls, said ," Your father will be in custody..but you will not be here..go..and if my soldiers do anything wrong..any time you need me, contact me..but mind it, I will inquire about the whole incident, I will not hesitate to shoot you if I find you are also guilty..now get out..."

" My father is not guilty..."..the older one said.

"We will give a fair trial to him, I will make sure that he won't die an unnatural death in my custody..now go..before the beast inside me starts to dominate me...go.."

That day, Arnav stopped himself from being a rapist.Being superior in position doesn't give the right to anyone to do anything with the weaker section.Those girls showed the defiance, they reminded him about someone, his love of life. The girl who refused to surrender because of the inferiority in her social status.

Khushi..his other half.She controlled him,not even being with him physically. She stopped him from being a beast. Arnav looked at the mountain again.It was huge, it was scary, but it was providing safety..it was divine.

And then Arnav heard the sound of firing.It was a sudden attack.

**********

Two of his unit members were injured, other than there was no casualty .Arnav shot three terrorists from point blank range, in between their eyes. They were taken into custody, but in the name of fair trial , Indians are not supposed to pay for the maintenance of those terrorists.He just shot them. In his maximum missions, he just killed them.

" Sir, any report we need to make?"..ask one JCO.

" Be environment friendly, stop wasting paper damn it.."..Arnav marched him out and headed to his base camp.

He called his wife..

" Hello.."

" Sweetheart..how are you..?"

" I want to tell you something..I was going to call you.."

Arnav frowned.."What happened..?"

" I had a pregnancy test, nobody in haveli knows that..not even Jijee..and report showed ..it's NEGATIVE...I am not pregnant.."

Arnav took a deep breath.." So..?"

" I am sorry.."

" For what?"

" That I am not pregnant.."

" Why are you being sorry? What is your fault? It happens..we have plenty of time..we are just married Khushi..we will try again..don't worry.."

" You are not angry with me..right?"

" Sometimes you also can talk nonsense..I can see..stop bothering yourself honey..it happens..tell me, how your work is going on?"

" Good..four new cases..working really hard.."

" Carry on..just do what you are doing..everybody is fine in haveli?"

"Yes..when are you coming back to Khemkaran?"

" It will take a week.."

" You will be coming in Diwali..right?"

" I can't promise Khushi.."

"Why?"

" Arre..why are being so stubborn? You know the nature of my job..what is the matter? You are not happy in haveli?"

" I want to go to...Amma..."

" What?"

" Solankini Hukam.."

"All of a sudden?"

" I don't know..I just want to meet her.."

" If you are asking for my permission..then let me tell you, you don't need that, you can do whatever you want to do, you are not my slave.."

" Then you don't have any problem .."

"No...but make sure , you will not get upset.."

"What you did the whole day...?"

" I killed three terrorists, point blank range.."

"Were they real terrorist?"

" They made the attack..we just replied..two of my soldiers are in ICU.."

" Point blank range means they were in your custody.."

" Yes, but what is the use of taking them in custody and starting a trial, we have enough of them, in our jails, I must take care of the money paid by the taxpayers, they pay for our salary, the uniform we wear, the arms and ammunition we use, we must not burden them for more..that money can be used for development.."

" Are you afraid of the Human Rights Activists...?"

" I really give a damn, those people also know their limits, they know that they are having that luxury because we are being "inhuman"..anyways , I have a good lawyer who will take my case for free..my wife..correct me if I am wrong.."

" You miss me?"

" Always..you miss me?"

" Yes.."

There was a silence..

" I have to wake up at 0300 hrs..patrol duty.."

"Hmm..good night.."

*******

Ambar came back from Office and found his wife engrossed in files.

" You have time to talk to me?"

Payal looked up.."Yeah sure, arre..actually our Administrator is on leave,so I had to take the charge, I am not alone, there are two other Doctors who is sharing this responsibility..tell me.."

"Let's go to terrace, weather is nice, we can have our tea.."

"It's 8 in the night, dinner time, why don't you get fresh and join us for dinner.."

"Yeah..has Khushi come back? We get to see her very less, what is she doing now a days?"

" She has gone to meet Solankini Hukam.."

Ambar was surprised, " What are you saying?"

Payal gave a low laugh, " You won't believe , she said, she wants to meet Amma..she was calling Hukam as Amma.."

Now Ambar was really surprised, said, " Not bad, I am not being judgmental, but don't you think that it is so very unlike her?"

" I find nothing abnormal in that, see she had no mother all her life..Bapu was there..but a mother's love cannot be replaced .."

"You don't feel bad..that suddenly she is finding peace in her Amma.."

" I am relieved Ambar, that she is finding peace, finally..over the years I have seen her torturing herself badly..days of starvation, hitting herself with the belt she uses for dressing..she was a kid of 6 six years, when Amma burnt her hand, over the years, she scratched that part and kept that injury alive, she wanted to live with that scar on her own will.."

Ambar became horrified, " Arnav knows that?"

" Everyone knows..including Solankis .."

" When did this happen?"

" Her father,means Solanki Hukam..wanted to give some property to her..and Adhiraj reacted badly..not because of Adhiraj, but because of her father ..she felt insulted..I had to give her injection..sedatives..I had to call 2 nurses..to hold her tightly..she was out of control..not that she was harming anyone, no..she was harming herself..I had to apply force to medicate her.."

"How did your father react ?"

" Bapu was ..I cannot describe..cursing Amma..that dead lady to the core..that was a time..! Everyday was a struggle..Ambar..whom we blame? My mother..? My father...?..Or anybody else? I came heavily upon Adhiraj..his father..in medical term Khushi had an anxiety attack..but as a sister I know, it was much more than an anxiety attack..one day she came back from Court, her eyes were red, face was colourless..perspiration was high, breathing problem..she was suffering like a goat who just have been beheaded..blood came out of her nose..."

Ambar just managed to say.."Arnav knows?"

" I myself told everything to him.."