ArShiFF: Bas Ek Tu Hi Hain Kahan Part 20 Pg 53 - Page 25

Part 16

"You are happy with Arnav, aren't you?"..Garima said.

Khushi nodded..said, " You have no grudge against the woman who brought me in the world?Against me?"

" No..I know what was the situation that time..if anything is to be blamed, is the circumstances."

"Hukam..I am.."

" If you do not have anything against me..then..you will call me Amma.."..Garima said firmly.

"Yes..Hukam..sorry..Amma..."..Khushi corrected herself.

Outside ambiance was very breezy, it was about to rain.Garima dialled a number, started to speak.." Hello, Nirmal Kanwar..Garima speaking..is it okay with you if Khushi stays here for the night, the weather is not good to go outside.."

" You want to keep your daughter with you for few hours, why should I mind... please..don't embarrass me..wish her good night from my side too.."

"Thank You.."

Nirmala cut the phone.And got back to the dinner table.

" She is not coming back tonight.."..Nirmala informed.

" She said?"

" Nah..Garima Kanwar insisted ..it's okay..let's eat.."

Arvind didn't miss the hint of annoyance in Nirmala's voice.Ambar was not unaware too, Payal kept silence.

"Arnav will not be upset, Taijee.."..said Ambar..

" You know your brother very well Ambar, I agree...but I brought him in the world, I know when he will get upset..things are leading to that way.."

" You are being scared for nothing..",,Arvind supplied in a light tone.

" You seem to have forgotten that we came heavily upon Arnav when he insulted Khushi, we refuse to help him when he wanted to marry her, we promised to Khushi that we are not asking anything for Arnav, Arnav does not show any interest in our property, estate revenue..in such case, if Arnav does not get full attention from his wife..."

"Khushi is giving that..I know...she calls him everyday..if Arnav will not come home for diwali, Khushi expressed her interest to go to Khemkaran."..

" That girl doesn't even know what she wants from life...she acts on the waves.."..

Payal's face became dark, is her Aunt-In-Law not pleased because of any action of Khushi?

Nirmala cleared all her doubts.Arnav talked to her, to tell her take care of his wife. He also told about the negativity of the pregnancy report of Khushi and how she was upset.Nirmala felt bad that since childhood Khushi shared everything with her even her biggest shock of life, but after the marriage, not for a single day she shared anything with her.She went for a pregnancy test without even informing her, she didn't share with her about the report either.

" You are upset because Khushi didn't share with you, you are more upset because she went to Solankini Hukam.."..Payal said in a low tone.

" No, I mean..suddenly she agreed to to stay for the whole night.."..Nirmala..said in a frustrated tone..

" She had a hard talk with Ambar, she went to Car Rally, suddenly she was summoned, Bapu was in deathbed, no matter who insisted, but she was in a tight position..she didn't invite the Solankis in her marriage, she was almost forced to touch their feet to take blessings, Bapu made her take an oath that she will not disrespect Solankini Hukam or Adhiraj Solanki.. ...what is she doing now? Just trying to arrange the pieces of her life..I am not favouring my sister Taijee..no.. don't think that way..all I am saying that we need to be patient ..because she always had been patient with the conducts..rather misconduct, I would say...and getting married to someone is not any solution to any misery..pardon me if I am being harsh, but..I am just saying that we don't need to be judgmental...let them decide their issues, if there is any..."..Payal stopped herself.She was annoyed to the core after seeing the attitude of Nirmala.

"When you had a cross talk with Khushi ..?"..Arvind asked, the question was for Ambar. In reply , he only bent his head.

Without a word Ambar's Uncle and Aunt understood the nature of the conversation , they remembered Khushi was absent when Ambar got engaged to Payal. They knew Khushi went to Delhi, to appear for a case in Supreme Court, now they came to know that she was in Khemkaran.On the other hand, it dawned on them that it is very certain that Arnav had some private moments with Khushi. Else it would have been impossible to convince Khushi for the marriage.

"There are so many things happened behind the back..I see.."..Nirmala said..

" Taijee..please..who will share their private meetings..I mean...come on.."..Payal could not stop herself for smiling..Ambar pinched her under the table.

Arvind broke out with loud laughter...Nirmala blushed furiously.." Ambar, tell your wife to behave herself in front of her in-laws..I mean..this..is..."..anyhow she managed to say..

" Well...I must thank your wife Ambar, I mean after so many years I got to see her blushing...when she blushed for the last time..I still can remember..it was..." Arvind said..

" I think you two need a vacation..Kerala will be nice if not abroad..what say Taa Hukum.."..Ambar continued to tease..

Nirmala gave a deadly glare..and immediately Ambar shut himself up. But after so many days, the family had a joyful dinner.

**********

Ganraj looked at the sleeping figures on the bed.Adhiraj was on night duty so Khushi was sent to Anjali.The door was open, they slept in between their conversation. He sighed and headed to his bedroom.Garima was also sleeping. Ganraj missed the dinner knowingly. Khushi is still not comfortable with him.That is not possible also.

But Vaidehi left her beauty with Khushi. Most shameful part of his life is he could not legitimise his relation with Vaidehi. Even,if Vaidehi would have been a widow or unmarried, then also there was a way out. He could keep her and provide for her livelihood.It's not that he didn't love Garima. He went to Vaidehi just to fulfill his unmet needs, but after having encounter with Vaidehi, he didn't want to lose Vaidehi either.It sounds selfish, but he really coudln't help.

Situation was vague would have been an understatement.Ramchand was known to Ganraj, as a servant of his friend, Arvind. Ramchand was not in a situation to work for a long time.Vaidehi didn't want to live on charity.She was appointed as private servant to Garima. Nirmala sent her there.Usually Vaidehi maintained her veil.

One day her veil fell from her head..and revealed her beauty to his Master, Ganraj Solanki.

The days became pain, nights became misery for Ganraj Solanki. Before that, he never felt his need so badly. With every passing day his desire, to claim her, got increased.A paralysed wife and a 5 years old son, those were all he had.He thought many times that what if he got paralysed instead of his wife, how would he have felt in this role reversal . Every rational, moral, ethical thought went into drain whenever Vaidehi came in front of him.

One day , in a man to man talk with Arvind, Ganraj came to know that Ramchand is no more competent to fulfill his marital duty on bed.That swept every morality away from Ganraj.He made himself determined to have Vaidehi .

****

One fine day, he got what he wanted. Ramchand was not unaware about his feelings about Vaidehi.Ganraj offered him money to have Vaidehi.Ramchand refused to take money but helped him to get Vaidehi.

Ganraj still can remember his first night with Vaidehi.It was in the out house of the Solanki Haveli.Vaidehi came inside the room. She was dressed in a typical Jatt attire.Her jaw was tight.Eyes were full of hate.

"Ghani Khamma..Hukam.."..she said.

Ganraj felt a jerk, "Come to me..", he managed to say.She took a long stride and stood before him.

"Can you make it fast, my child is waiting for me.."

"Are you hating me at this moment? For this moment?"

" No, not at all, you are the Master, it is my duty to fulfill every need of yours, my husband met an accident when he was serving his Master and he lost his everything. You are my Master, I am here to lose ..myself..",she couldn't complete, tears welled up..

Ganraj took her in his embrace, "Don't cry, life has been very unfair to both of us, but we can help each other.."..

" I know my place Hukam, I am your wh**e now, you don't have to be that nice to me, why don't you make it fast?"..

" Don't use that word for yourself again, Vaidehi, you are not that...it's not my request, it's my order..."

Vaidehi wanted to free herself from his embrace, but he didn't let her.Gradually, she embraced him back.One thing led to another, both of them were not getting enough of each other.

When it was about to dawn, Vaidehi got up from the bed, started to dress herself up.."Where are you going, stay with me for some more time.."..Ganraj said.

" I need to feed my daughter, my chest is feeling heavy and painful, I need to feed her right now..."

Ganraj looked at her intently, "When we will meet again...?", he asked.

" Never...don't come to me ever again.."..Vaidehi hissed..and ran from there.

Ganraj smiled, he knew very well that she was lying.She wanted him as much he wanted her.Needless to say they met again, again and again.And then came the consequence , she was pregnant.And she hated her pregnancy and herself too.That was the most painful part of their story.

****

Garima stirred in her sleep.She was wincing, "Thakurjee..it's paining very much..", she was referring to her backbone.For ,almost three decades , she is living with this injury, which snatched everything away from her, her life, her fun, her husband's fidelity.

Ganraj rubbed a balm on her back, " Is it better? Garima..you are crying..what happened?"

" You should have brought her long back, I missed her childhood , what harm would have happened if she would have come to me just after her birth..Vaidehi had every right to get angry upon us, but she had no right for what she did to Khushi..."..

Ganraj hugged her, " She became insane Garima..what else the reason can be? She did nothing in her full sense.You can remember those days, when she used to take care of Raj,you were bedridden,she was more than a servant, she was insane, otherwise she couldn't have done such thing with her own child."

Ramchand had guts, indeed. It takes a great deal of courage for what Ramchand did.He fulfilled all his duties. Duty of a servant, a bodyguard, but what he did as a husband was incomparable to anything. Vaidehi had grudges against her husband that he showed Ganraj the way to get into her life.She wanted to hate her husband, but she could not.