Smita,😊
Here is the interpretation to Section 2 of Part 5.
This update is about quality of audacity, CHUTZPAH.
What exactly is Chutzpah?
It is an ancient word pronounced as hootspa (mind you I have not written with phonetic terms but how it sounds to ordinary mind) An Yiddish word, derived from the Hebrew word, hutspa, meaning insolence and audacity. The modern English usage of the word has taken on a broader meaning. The word is also now interpreted as meaning the amount of courage, mettle or ardor that an individual has. However in more traditional usage, chutzpah is invariably negative.
So the usage of Chutzpah is the quality of audacity for good or for bad.
As Shyam knocked on the door, Arnav who was waiting by the closed door, looked up at his Mami who was waiting at the top of the stairs and nodded as if to say, let the games begin. Mami silently mouthed her heartfelt wishes, All the best, Arnav Bitwa. Arnav nodding at her, with a determination to put an end to the farce phase called Shyam Manohar Jha in their life went to open the door. Mami, who was in her mettle, happy to be a part of saving the family from the clutches of Shyam, first warned Khushi and then went to Anjali's room to get her. Arnav opened the door to see a smug Shyam, resplendent with his brazenness and a churlish snigger, reminding him of a simpering idiot. His hands were feeling a passionate itch to teach the avaricious moocher a painful lesson. Clenching his fists to control himself, displaying great fortitude, stood back, let the apple-polishing selfish cad in. Shyam, too presumptuous of a hearty welcome, leisurely ambled in looking around with a complacent smirk. The house seemed empty and his smile vanished like vapour before the sun and was replaced by a frown while his feet faltered. He wondered, had Arnav invited him to an empty house to beat the living daylights of him? He turned around to take a flight, only to find a barricade by the name Arnav Singh Raizada in his path, who stood fearless and firm. In a low voice that was laced with steel, Arnav told Shyam to sit as the others would be down in a minute. Seeing the lout and reading the coward's mind, Arnav felt disgusted with himself for not having seen through the crook earlier, for having given him the respect and position of his Jijaji and for having called him Jiju with love and reverence that one accords to one's brother-in-law, for having believed him to be as wondrous as he had projected himself to be.
Seeing Arnav so, Shyam was an unnerved man and complied by sitting on a cushy chair. Arnav stood looking at him, his eyes spewing contempt on the con-man who was nothing but a crook, swindler and a hustler who had dared to fool his gullible, naive wife who would swallow whole, all the rubbish he dished out and made a living off her like a parasite. As Shyam saw Anjali coming down the stairs, helped by Payal and Mami he stood up. Nani was trailing behind them while Khushi, NK, Akash and Mamaji were missing. Seeing that all eyes were focused on him, Shyam with impudence exclaiming, Rani Sahiba! with all the right emotions, in right proportions in full throttle, beamed like the splendor of an eastern sky, as though he was delighted to see her after a long time yet was pained to see her looking wan pining for him in his absence. With tears streaming down her face, cheeky Anjali realized that her Shyamji's clever plan of starving herself to make Chotey agree to invite her husband back, had worked beautifully without any one's knowledge of it as a ploy. She was one relaxed lady who in pertness thought now she could stay happily with her beloved Shyamji awaiting the birth of their daughter. Her Chotey had promised, to talk to Shyamji of taking the responsibility of his wife and daughter, and maintaining them without depending on Chotey and his money. As she saw her Shyamji stride up to her, her heart brimmed over with love for him. Her thoughts, seeing her Shyamji day in and out when under one roof, her Chotey would realise that the accusations made against her husband were never true. Khushiji, Payalji and NK Bhai would understand that they had mistaken, and everything would become alright. Her life that had been as sweet as perfume and pure as prayer, had been arrested, the way the finger of watchmaker arrests the ticking of the clock, would now go back to being the dream it once had been. Her selfishness had made her shameless with audacity. She thought that her picture perfect world would once again fall back in place with the perfect life, with her perfect husband, the perfect brother, the perfect Nani and Mami. She hugged her Shyamji and wept as though she was a river herself, making him as wet as the slush of a swamp. Her behavior had Nani, Mami and Arnav hopping mad and clench their jaws not to go off at the deep end. They felt like pulling her out off his arms and knock some sense into her bird brain. Missing her amore-propre, a sense of self-esteem and self-respect, she had the gall to think that her world would set itself right and if not her brother would do it for her irrespective of the loss he has to bear.
Shyam managing to calm her led her to the chair next to his. Words, sweet as honey came out from his lips, as he greeted Naniji and Mamiji, which was acknowledged with a forced smile. Arnav had instructed them not to let Shyam latch on to what was about to happen, but lull him into a false sense of security. Nani with determination, forcing herself to be a good host told him that it was good that Damadji had returned and Mami with a put on zeal, added with her typical Hinglish that Anjali Bitiyaa had been crying to see him. Nani further told him that she had put her foot down and told Chotey that things could not go on as they were. Mami added that with the amount of tears that Anjali Bitiyaa was shedding, it was bound to hurt the baby and they could not let it happen. Shyam smiled with presumption that he had Mami and Nani to thank for Arnav's decision to call him back. With Nani and Mami seated on a sofa, Payal sitting behind them, at the back of the room, Arnav sat on another sofa, leaving the space beside him for Khushi. She quietly slipped in to it, while all eyes were focussed on the Shyam-Anjali teary reunion. Shyam, seeing her look like a newly bloomed rose in clouds of pink, boldly took in his fill of Khushi in pink anarkali. He thought of the added advantage to staying with Rani Sahiba. He could see Khushi everyday.
Arnav, seeing his ravenous eyes on Khushi, was filled with fury, running all through his blood and bones like an electric flood, was all set to rip him to shreds. It was just the gentle touch of Khushi on his arm, who with spirit and spunk was facing Shyam and his lecherous look, reminded him of their plan, of the fact she was with him and not that scoundrel held him back. With Arnav relaxed, Khushi sat back, sending a prayer to Devi Maiyya to set things straight. Though getting mad at the sight of his Di clinging limply on to the leech, while the lecher's sight was latched on Khushi, he decided that it was time to get the ball rolling. Arnav began saying that after he was thrown out, Di was upset and took to her bed. Shyam threw Anjali an anxious look and said, that Rani Sahiba should not have exposed the life of their Choti Rajkumari to risk. What would happen where he was? Whether he remained there or elsewhere, she should have taken care of their Rajkumari. Having been censured, Anjali was at a loss for words to reply, for she had only wept, not refused food till Shyamji had asked her to starve. She was just left staring at him. Arnav as though intervening to keep peace between them said with firmness, that it was touching to note his concern for his Di, Ji-Ja-Ji. It must have been his concern for her and his unborn child that made him steal in to the house at noon, across the terrace, down through his garden, and then to the door of his wife's room, a couple of days after he was thrown out. His words left Anjali and Shyam slack-jawed. They wondered how was it he knew about their rendezvous? Mami and Nani played surprise, with Nani addressing Arnav, Damadji came here at noon? To see Anjali Bitiyaa? Then her condition should have improved, Chotey, not deteriorated. Arnav explained, that what she says was true, but his need was that her condition to deteriorate. That is why he asked her to stop taking food. Hearing out the mystery behind the deterioration of Anjali's health, Mami nodded and eagerly joined the fray in stressing that was the reason then. Till noon Anjali Bitiyaa was having her food on time but it was after that she refused even a drop of water!
Arnav querried, how could Di take water or food when her husband had asked her to starve without a care as to whether it affected their unborn child or not? had Mami and Nani hitch a breath, taken aback by such sheer effrontery. Shyam and Anjali broke out in cold sweat at being caught out. Their well laid plan was going awry. Khushi and Payal sat still and silent like statuesque figures, behaved as though an invisible curtain had fallen between them and the ongoing, unfolding drama. As Nani gasped, Mami in all concern asked, what if something had happened to his Choti Rajkumari? Arnav's simple reply, that Jijaji was willing to risk the child, had both the ladies gasp stunned, at the cold-blood attitude of Shyam. It had both Anjali and Shyam squirm in their seats and Arnav continued with, his Di was a willing participant. As all eyes turned towards Anjali, she wished she could scoot away from the eyes that were accusing her. Arnav continuing his explanation said, that she had tried to kill the child while at the hospital and he had stopped her in the nick of time. Then she tried to kill the baby by not eating, all out of her love for her husband. Mami put her hand over her mouth and rolling her eyes as though in astonishment exclaimed, such love between the couple? Arnav affirmed it and said, a love so unique and pure that has defeated even the hard headed businessman, Arnav Singh Raizada in to letting Jijaji stay with his wife. The couple silently heaved their breath in relief at the thought that, even though Arnav came to know of their plan, they achieved their result and his Di's transgression was bound to be forgiven. Mami with a smile quipped that after Romeo-Juliet, Heer-Ranjha, Sohni-Mahiwal, and Sahiban-Mirza, Anjali-Shyam Manohar Jha will take the place.
Nani smiling at Anjali and Shyam, said that it was good that they had managed to change Chotey's mind with such a display of love. It made the couple smile back shamelessly. Nani looking at Chotey, said that it was good that he was letting them stay together as they should not be made to live apart. Arnav acknowledged it with a nod. Anjali chirped, Thank you, Chotey, for making his Di happy by keeping his promise. Her face had lit up like a thousand suns, forgetting Chotey had accused her of being a heartless woman who could kill her child. Her words of gratitude was followed by Shyam's vociferous praise like a noisy wave, that was good that he has taken his sister's feelings in to consideration, given her fragile state. His audaucity to spout out such words was beyond Arnav getting riled for he had a bigger goal to achieve. With Khushi by his side, his Nani and Mami matching him word for word, his brothers waiting in the wings, and the belief that his deluded Di would see sense when it was presented before her, he would not waste getting brownie points with that four year itch. It showed his caliber. In a toned down voice, Arnav accepted that his Di's feelings were of very importance to him. His words, giving Anjali a curious satisfaction, as when a coin, tested, rings true gold, made her sag in her chair with relief and let a hushed breath out.
Seeing her so, Shyam like an all concerned husband said that it must be time for her rest and offered to take her to their room. He stood up and bent over Anjali. In his arrogance he thought that as presumed, his plan had worked perfectly, with a small hitch of being caught out while sneaking in to the house, but that was of no consequence as long as he had Anjali under his thumb, Arnav was gullible to his plots. With Nani and Mami on his side he was quite invincible. He had nothing more to worry about. He was safely inside RM and the distance to his pot of gold was closing in. While he was giving himself a pat on the back, Arnav's words broke him into awareness. Arnav had told softly that he had been misunderstood. All except Khushi turned to him in surprise. He told Shyam, that he would allow them to live together but not allow to live at RM with them. His words dropped in, a deep silence, like the fearful calm, that slumber's in the portentous pause. The only sound that broke that silence was the gasps from Anjali and Shyam. Nani and Mami were filled with curiosity. Arnav's words, that Jijaji, could take his wife to his own house and look after her in the manner she is accustomed to, were rendered with gallantry grit but without an inflection in his voice. It was a rap on the knuckles. Anjali looked uncertainly at Arnav and then at her husband. One look at her Shyamji's face that was growing red she knew he would soon throw a wobbly. Arnav's statement elicited a mild protest from Nani. Arnav explained to his Nani, that Di can't stay without Jijaji, Jijaji can't stay without Di, making Nani nod. If they stay, the problem is that, here they will have to stay with him and his wife, Khushi, who accused Jijaji of kidnapping him and trying to kill him for his money, trying to marry her under false pretences. Along with that, they will have to stay with Akash, Payal and NK. Payal and NK had backed up Khushi. Anjali's face changed with each turn of their talk, like a wheat-field under a summer breeze. Both Nani and Mami nodded in agreement while Anjali and Shyam were mesmerized by his words and looked at Arnav like mice looking at a snake. Arnav further justified to his Nani stating, it would disrupt the harmonious home life, Nani. Then, it would be facing fights and arguments on a daily basis. It will not be a conducive environment for Di's choti rajkumari. Nani and Mami nodded their agreement while Shyam gulped knowing that the wind had backed around Arnav gathering the clouds, and all he could do was be dismally mute as at a funeral. Nani and Mami agreed whole heartedly. Arnav placing his argument before them the very reason of him asking Shyam to do so, was that he cannot leave this house and move away, as he had built it. It is his home and it would become a point to gossip among their neighbours if Khushi and he left. But Jijaji has every right to take Di to his home, as it should have been after their marriage. Anjali's protest was overshadowed by Nani and Mami's earnest vociferous approval. Mami told him that he was right and their acquaintences had been asking her for three years as to why Anjali had not moved from her maiykka and set up her own house? And Nani with a benevolent smile said, it was time that the love birds move to their own nest without the disturbance from the rest. For their arrogant audacity, Shyam and Anjali were being paid back with great fervor. Facing such unequivocal support for making them move out, Anjali and Shyam were left with no choice but to move out. Shyam thought furiously that it was Arnav's way of trying to keep him away from Khushiji. That seemed to be the whole plan.
Shyam running his fingers through his hair, his nose twitching, he nodded to himself that Arnav was fooling the two hags in to agreeing, in the belief that they were helping him and Anjali. But what Arnav did not realise was, that his obsession with Khushiji was secondary to his need for Arnav's money and his entire property. If they moved out, Anjali would be totally at his mercy, to be manipulated at will. In his impudence, he thought that they had the option to stay in one of the many houses Arnav had given Anjali on her wedding, and get Arnav to foot the bill for their expenses. Or he could make the excuse that the houses had been let out and get Arnav to buy them a new house near RM. Shyam almost rubbed his hands in glee at his own temerity. He could make her ask Arnav for more money and property that her fond brother would oblige with. Later, once the furore had died down, he could get Anjali to plead with Arnav for their return to RM, citing his frequent absences and her loneliness and successfully inveigle their way back into the fold. As Anjali tried to talk to Arnav to change his mind, Shyam butted in thinking that it was a good strategy to give in now with one step backward for two steps forward later. Concurring with Arnav he said, that he was right and they would be better off in their own house, with Shyam giving his benevolent smile to Anjali. Anjali bit back her words remembering Chotey's views on responsible parenting and her trust in him. Shyam grandly declared that they could move into their house in Ashok Vihar but with a frown stated that it was let out. The house in Roseville Estate would be fine then, but that too has been given on a lease. His thoughts, received a nod from Anjali. But Arnav intervened saying firmly, that he does not have to worry about those two houses, or any other house he had given Di. This statement had Shyam and the rest curious. Shyam, quivering like an eager race horse to start, rejoiced with the brazen thought that this was the turning point where Arnav would offer to buy a new house for his Di. Moreover, he saucily thought that he would make sure that it was close to RM so that he could see Khushi often unobtrusively, unaware of the what lay ahead.
Arnav smiled, his grim smile, like the lion that has found a way of exit, looking directly into Shyam Manohar Jha's audaciously expectant and greedy face. He knew that it was time to drop the bomb, the time to see the true face of Shyam Manohar Jha in its full glory by his Di, the time to show the true mettle of Arnav Singh Raizada. The clock was ticking, tick, tock, tick tock...
Arnav, Khushi, Shyam, Anjali, Mami, Nani all possess remarkable chutzpah. But the quality of audacity that amounts to certain chutzpah decides whether it is admirable or not.
That is why this update is titled CHUTZPAH.
"There's a fine line between audacity and idiocy"
~ Jim Butcher, Turn Coat
That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.
CID
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