Smitar's: Saving Khushi#1 Part 7 Pg 122 Link to # 2 on Pg 1 - Page 25

Originally posted by: rulama

Smita,😊

Here is the interpretation for Part 1.

This update is about sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, it is about PANIC.

As Khushi rushed out of the house frantically looking around for an empty rickshaw, the security guard ran after her offering his help. He asked her whether he could get her a rickshaw or call Mohan from the office to take her out. Khushi in her anxiety to reach Arnav, waved wildly at a rickshaw that was speeding towards her as she told the guard, Biharilal, that she was in a hurry and she needed to get a rickshaw. The rickshaw came to a sudden halt by her and the screech of the brakes and tyres were deafeningly grating. Out came the familiar beaming face of Happy Singh from the driver's seat exclaiming, Khushiji! He asked her was she looking for a rickshaw. He had been on a test drive and was on his way back to Laxmi Nagar. Was she going there? Khushi, thanking her lucky stars, got into the rickshaw requesting him, could he take her to Arnavji's office as it is imperative that she reaches there as quickly as possible. Happy Singh was only too happy to oblige and told her, of course, he would, he would take her wherever she wanted to go and started the vehicle chattering ten to the dozen. He sped towards the centre of the city his usual reckless frenzy way, darting in and out, weaving through the traffic with utter ease. As he stopped reluctantly at a traffic light, Khushi noted a small shop with a photocopier. With the flash of an idea along with the change in the signal lights, she asked Happyji could he stop for a moment in front of the shop. Happyji complied and parked near the shop. Khushi jumped out and ran in to get two sets of copies made of the documents that Shyam had given her. Paying for it she hopped into the auto with the copies and asked Happyji to take her to Laxmi Nagar as she needed to go to Buaji's house and from there she would later go to Arnavji's office after meeting Buaji. Khushi was panting out of her breath with all the dashing around and being on pins and needles about Arnavji's safety and well being she broke in a cold sweat. Happy Singh with a bright smile put the pedal on the metal and the auto like a greased lightning headed off to Laxmi Nagar.

As Khushi ran into Buaji's house, Buaji was surprised and she exclaimed, Titliyaa! and asked her What was she doing? Khushi breezing past her with trepidation, hoping that they would not stop her, explained that she needed something from her room and as soon as she was inside shut the door behind her and rolled one copy of the document and pushed it under her clothes in her wardrobe. And the other into the small drawer that was exclusively hers, that was in the table that housed her Devi Maiyya idol. It was a drawer where all her trinkets like her collection of stars, lamps for Diwali, some old bangles, the wrappers of some gifts she had received, and others were kept. Khushi pushed the second copy under her stars and an old dupatta. Hugging Devi Maiyya and seeking her blessings and strength she ran out of her bedroom in a state of nerves, holding the file with the original documents safely.

Seeing Buaji, Amma and Babuji in the drawing room, staring at her extreme disarray and wondering what was happening, Khushi looked at the file in her hand and the astonishment on her family members' faces. She knew that she needed to get the file to Arnavji in a hurry but she also needed to explain to her family the reason for her breezing in and out. But Arnav's safety took precedence and with a stuttered brief rushed on explanation that she needed to hand over a file to Arnavji, she was in a hurry and would see them later, she hugged her Babuji and crushed her Amma and Buaji in a hug, she rushed out and jumped in to Happyji's waiting auto. Buaji, Garima and Shashi were at a loss as to what happened. They were left floundering. Buaji thought out aloud, that Arnav Bitwaa must have forgotten to take his file to the office! Amma consoled herself saying that he must have needed it urgently otherwise Khussi would never run off like that! Both Buaji and Shashi nodded. With this thought they calmed themselves. As Khushi ran in through the main entrance of the huge office site, she heaved a sigh of relief knowing that she had finally reached her destination. She thought with apprehension, that now all she had to do was walk in to the building and ask for Arnavji. She beseeched her Devi Maiyya to let Arnavji be free and not in a meeting. She was dreading of Arnav being tied up with work and unable to meet him.

Khushi took a step towards the office to hear a screech of tyres of a car, coming to a stop right behind her, scaring the daylights out of her. The bumper was just inches from her and as she glared at the general direction of the driver all set to give him her piece of mind for reckless driving and endangering the life of a pedestrian, the door opened and out stepped Shyam Manohar Jha with a glint of determination in his eyes and a smile plastered on his lips. Her breath stopped, her heart skipped a beat and made her blood run cold to see the very man that she wanted to avoid. Panic washed over in waves to see the object of the abject fear stand right in front of her and she tightened her hold on the file. Heaving a huge sigh of relief to see the file still in her hand, Shyam deduced that she had just reached and had not yet been able to meet Arnav. Taking advantage of her shock, he walked up to her casually, to her horror; he caught hold of her arm and ordered softly to go with him. Though a smile was on his lips, his serpentine eyes were spitting balls of fire at her. Khushi stood rooted to the ground in fear but managed to whisper a no. Shyam looked around and seeing that no one was watching them, pushed her towards the car and bundled her into the passenger seat with a vice like grip bruising her arm with his brute strength. As she opened her mouth to scream and seek help he twisted her arm so hard, putting in fear in her that she had to quell her shout within her throat and it came out as a low whimper. Shyam, excessively irritated by Khushi's attempts to slacken his hold on her, frightenedof attracting attention covered her from being visible to the casual observers with his huge body such that the use of his brute strength on her and her pain filled face was not visible. Once she was pushed in to the seat, he bent over her, blocked her vision and pressed a handkerchief drenched in chloroform over her nose. Despite her struggle, Khushi was out in a second and sagged against the seat. Shyam took the file from her limp fingers, fastened her seat belt, and scuttled behind the wheel and drove off from the scene, with the belief that he was unobserved.

When a weary Arnav arrived home late in the evening after worrying over Khushi all day long and attending back to back meetings, it was HP who attended the door and the ladies of the family sans Khushi were seated in the living room. He felt uneasy not seeing her. His query, where was Khushi had four perplexed faces turn towards him. Mami rising to the occasion to tease him countered, where is Khussi? He was asking them? After calling her to the office and keeping her with him all day long? Turning towards her mother-in-law, chuckling heartily she told that the cat that stole the milk and drank it was pretending as not to know how the vessel was broken! Anjali, Payal and Nani smiled at her wit. Akash and NK who were coming down the stairs heard the last bit and NK exclaimed, cat stole the milk! He asked his Maasi to show the culprit and he would teach a lesson never to be forgotten before driving it away. It had all in giggles but Arnav frowned. As he was about to utter, to his dismay Mami spoke up saying, that she would show NK and pointing towards Arnav she told, that the cat was six footer with a black coat and without whiskers. NK scratched his head to understand what was going on and asked, Nannav stole the milk and as he was about to ask further, out came the shout, enough, from an excessively irritated Arnav and told them that he had not called Khushi to his office. It silenced all. Payal paled realizing the implication. Anjali told her brother that Khushiji had left at noon and had told them that she was going to his office to see him. She was even carrying a file with her and all the ladies nodded in agreement. Arnav emphatically stated that she had not turned up at his office and he had not seen her. His heart started to beat quicker and he saw anxiety written on all the faces.

He made a quick call to her number, seeing that it was not being picked up even though it was ringing, Nani in a wobbly voice suggested that she may have gone to Laxmi Nagar. Arnav was already trying to get connected to Buaji's number. Hearing Arnav's voice so late at night, Buaji got worried and asked was Nani alright? He told her, that she was fine and with an unholy dread asked her whether he could speak to Khushi, while his instincts were shouting out that something was absolutely wrong with her. Buaji was puzzled and much to his consternation repeated Khussi? She was with him was she not? She had come earlier in the day in Happyji's auto, went away immediately telling them that she had to reach him, as it was urgent, would visit them another time and she was carrying a file. Arnav's heart sank to the bottom and could not say anything. Buaji, with an anxiety ridden voice making it thin reed like queried, did she not come to his office? When a confounded Arnav managed to croak a no, Buaji with a trembling voice asked, whether she was not in his house. His answer, no, had Buaji tremble and whisper, Titliyaa was also not there, where could she be? It was dark and so late and she was all alone... Arnav reassuring a panic-stricken and distressed Buaji swore that he would find her. As he cut the call Buaji nodded, sinking in to a chair. Nani, Mami, Payal, Akash and NK stared at each other in horror and Mami held on to Nani's hand tightly. Arnav informed his family that he was going to look out for Khushi and as he moved towards the door NK and Akash too moved with him to lend a helping hand in search of Khushiji. But Arnav stopped them asking them to stay back with the family and to let him know if she gets back. The stress he was under could be heard in his strained voice. Saying so, he skedaddled out to his car. As he took his seat in the car, he called Buaji again and asked was Happy Singh in his workshop? Buaji hurried off to the window to find out. As she peeked out she saw Happy Singh tinkering a vehicle and she reported so to Arnav. He told her that he would be there in ten minutes to talk to Happy Singh and cut the call. Soon he stepped on the gas making his car zip towards Laxmi Nagar.

At Laxmi Nagar, a confused Happy Singh told him, that he had dropped Khushiji outside his office as she had said that she wanted to meet him. Arnav was alarmed and felt helpless. Happy Singh too added that she was carrying a file with her. Happy Singh, who was very fond of Khushi, looked at Arnav with tears filled in his eyes, hoping she was fine, wondered, where could she be? Much to his astonishment, Arnav asked him not to tell anyone that he gave a lift to Khushi as he may put himself in danger. At his look of bewilderment, Arnav informed in a hushed voice that may be Khushi was kidnapped for a ransom. Happy Singh appalled by this thought gulped and agreed to keep silent.

Arnav raced back to the office, and summoned the security guards on duty at the gates during the day. One guard revealed that Khushiji had entered the gates and he had seen her heading towards the office entrance. He questioned them with a cold face but stormy eyes then how it was she did not come in and what happened. The guards were at a loss to explain. At that time, Aman rushed in to the office with his tie askew, a clear sign of hurriedly changing into office wear as soon as he got a call from ASR to hurry back to the office. Arnav, dismissing the guards explained the situation. He told Aman that Khushi had come to their car park but had not entered the building. Where could she have gone? Arnav was worried as to know what happened and rubbed the back of his neck feeling weary, disturbed and worried. Aman told him that he thinks that he saw Khushiji, that is if she was wearing a bright blue suit and faltered for confirmation from his boss. A startled Arnav perked up, sat upright, as he confirmed that she was wearing that particular colour dress that morning. Aman told him that he had gone to car park for a smoke and there in the car park he saw a lady dressed in blue heading towards the office building... Arnav asked him and..., in a voice that was a mere whisper conveying to Aman the gravity of his answer. He had turned walked towards the dustbin to discard the butt. When he turned back a white car was leaving the spot, with the lady in blue, most probably Khushiji, in the passenger seat. All he could see was a flash of blue. Arnav stared at him flabbergasted. He could only move his lips but words would not come out. Aman told him that he had not noticed the number plate but it was a white luxury model of a particular make. Hearing the description of the car, Arnav felt as though somebody had twisted a knife in his heart. To his horror the description fitted the one he had gifted to Shyam a week before Payal and Akash's wedding!

As soon as Aman left the room Arnav felt all his sap drained out and collapsed in to his chair. In an attack of nerves, he wondered had Khushi and Shyam run away together? Shyam had been suggesting that and more on the terrace, and had informed him many times on that fateful night of his desire to live with Khushi after abandoning his Rani Sahiba! But his logical thinking asserted why would they meet in his office car park, that too right under his nose, if they had planned to runaway? Why would Khushi carry a file if she was planning to abandon him for Shyam? Why would she inform all their relations his as well as hers that she was going to meet her husband if she was planning to elope with her lover? Her supposed lover? All these did not make sense and did not add up to her behavior too. Khushi would not do that. Her sense of righteousness would not allow it to happen. She would neither hurt his Di nor shame her family in an immoral manner. She would never dishonor the mangal sutra and the sindoor that she reveres upon, even though it was forced on her by him with Devi Maiyya as the sole witness. He rubbed his chest to ease out the uneasiness he felt.

His anxiety made it impossible for him to sit still. He called his Di and asked whether Jijaji was there to confirm his presence. When she confirmed that he was very much there in the house and followed it with a plethora of questions, did he need Shyamji's help? Should she call him? Did he find Khushiji? Hearing that Shyam was with his Di, he drew in a breath of relief. That meant eloping could be ruled outrightly. His discomfit eased out to an extent. With a sense of relief he told his Di that he would manage and there was no need to involve his Jeejaji.

Sitting alone in the dark in his office he wondered about Khushi... Where was she? Aman had told that he had seen her in a car that was similar to the one he had purchased for Shyam. If she had runaway with Shyam, then what was Shyam doing at home and where was Khushi? His heart went out to her. It was constantly murmuring her name. As he looked around it registered in his mind that it was getting very dark and Khushi was scared of darkness. He clenched his fists feeling helpless for he was certain that in darkness Khushi would be shelled by the attacks of panic and wished wherever she was, there was light and she was not alone or hungry. He hoped she could see stars that at least would make her feel warm and protected of being with her parents and under their eyes. These thoughts made him realize that she could be terrified and feel that she might be all alone and in dark without being able to see the stars and feeling hungry. Feeling apprehensive he picked up his phone as he knew he would not be able to trace her out alone and he needed help that too urgently.

In this update we see Khushi getting agitated and changing her decision to go straight to Arnav. She gets the file copied in two sets and hides the copies in her cupboard and drawer at Gupta House. She is in a state of nerves all along and when Shyam blocks her from reaching Arnav she is terrified.

Shyam is terrified that Khushi has handed over the file to Arnav and breathes out in relief as he finds her just outside the office building. In his nervousness to get the file from her, he makes her unconscious and takes her away in his car. In his agitation he does not realize that there was a witness to his actions, watching from a distance.

For Arnav it was a premonition since morning that something was amiss and he was on a nervous stomach all through the day. When he reaches home and does not find Khushi he fidgets. When he comes to know she was not at Gupta House too he is startled as to where she was after telling all that she was going to meet him at his office. The confirmation from Happy Singh that she had entered his office premises and later corroborated by his guards on duty at that time, makes him a bundle of nerves filled with trepidations. Aman's narration as to witnessing Khushi in the car park brings on panic fear in him for her safety. When Aman describes her to have gone in a particular car resembling that of Shyam the one he had gifted sometime back, it was a nerve-racking ordeal. But his own logical thoughts that substantiated, Khushi could never stoop so low and cause unhappiness to both the families, soothed him. Di assuring that Shyam was at RM beside her too went a long way in soothing his fragged nerves. When he realized that Khushi might be in dark, and her darkness phobia and how it affects her spurred him into seeking help knowing very well that immediate action was imperative.

That is why this update is titled PANIC.

"It is a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up"

~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.