Arshi FF#3 The Seed of Passion, Chapters 17 to 23

Chapter 17

The Faceoff

Before Ajit could think of taking the gun out of his pocket, Arnav took two long furious strides and grabbed him by his neck and lifted him off the floor. Arnav's eyes burnt with rage as Ajit thrashed his hands and legs in panic.

As Arnav tightened his hold on his throat, Ajit tried to scream for help but could only gurgle. His eyes bulged. He started trembling in pain and tried to reach for Arnav's throat in a last ditch effort to free himself but failed miserably. Ajit then brought both his shaking hands together and folded his palms together pleading...

Arnav's anger gave way to contempt and pity and he released his uncle abruptly. Ajit fell on the marbelled floor of the terrace with a loud thud!

He lay sprawled at Arnav's feet, slithering on the floor, trying to reach for the gun that had fallen out of his pocket. Arnav noticed it with a grim face and kicked it out of his reach, at the other end of the terrace and shaking his head said,

"I can't believe this chacha, you have no qualms about killing your own nephew! If I hadn't lunged at you, you would have shot me easily, right? If I had the slightest doubt about your intentions earlier, I have none now! You are absolutely the pits, a low life..."

Suddenly Dadi's agaitated voice rang out behind them. "What's going on here?"

Arnav swivelled on his feet with a dark face.

"Ask your son, Dadi? He tried to kill me!" he said in a steely cold voice giving Ajit a hateful look as he tried to sit up.

"What! What is Arnav saying Ajit?" Dadi was shocked.

Ajit coughed in an attempt to speak.

"Why Ajit why? For the property? Didn't I tell you you will receive ample!" Subhadra Mallik raved at Ajit.

Ajit eyed Arnav angrily and found his voice at last.

"I have told you this before Maa, I don't want a part, I want all, every bit ! Why should I share even an inch of Mallik property with this boy whose obnoxious mother completely destroyed my elder brother !"

Arnav's blood boiled and took a dangerous step towards Ajit, "How dare you utter my mother's name with your foul mouth?"

Ajit snorted at him!

Arnav in a swift motion, bending down, roughly hauled up Ajit by the scuff of his collar and landed a solid punch on his right jaw!

Ajit yelped as blood splurted out of his mouth and two his teeth landed on Subhadra, tainting her spotless cream saree in blood and saliva!

"Arnav! Stop it!" Dadi said trying to free her son from the clutches of her grandson! But she was no match for her powerfully built grandson who landed another punch, ythis time on his nose!

Dadi's tone was furious."Go back to Delhi right now Arnav! I will deal with Ajit later!"

"Go back to Delhi? Is that all you have to say after knowing that Ajit chacha tried to kill me in cold blood! And how dare he talk this way about maa!." Arnav was angry and perplexed by his Dadi's attitude.

Ajit guffawed with his mouth full of blood like a devil!

"She won't tell me anything! Your grandmother has a lot to hide from you! Ajit smiled devilishly.

"What does he mean Dadi?"

"He is a mad man Arnav! Otherwise why would an uncle do this to a nephew. You go now. I told you I will deal with Ajit !"

Arnav stared at his Dadi for a few seconds and then said in a flat voice. "Its now clear to me that like in the past you are going to support that devil of your son Dadi. I remember Nani had once told us that Ajit chacha is more dear to you than anyone else. That's true I realize now.You don't even care whether your own grandson lives or dies!

Subhadra put a hand on Arnav's shoulder. "Of course I care for you beta! That is why I am asking you to leave. As long as you are here I will not be able to make Ajit see sense."

"I don't understand you Dadi!" Arnav stepped back from her.

Subhadra spread out her hands and said frustratingly,"What do you want me to do? To call the police to Sheeshmahal?To report to the police that my son tried to kill my grandson? What would the people say? The society, the media..."

Arnav said in a cold voice, "I get it Dadi! For you it is always "What will others say? Sometimes I think that is the only reason why you brought me and Di back to Sheeshmahal when Ajit uncle had thrown us out after..." he choked.

Subhadra was about to protest. But Arnav raised his palm to stop her.

"Its alright Dadi. I have anyway decided to not to take anything from the Malliks any more. I am quitting AR and I intend to set my own company soon!"

"What are you saying Arnav? You can't leave AR in the lurch like this!" Dadi screamed.

Ajit staggered up to his mother to calm her and said blood oozing out the side of his mouth,

"Let Arnav go! Let me see what he can do on his own! He will come running back to us Malliks in a few days!"

"Arnav Singh Raizada kabhi thook ke nahi chatta! (ASR dies not lick what he spits out!)" Arnav said disdainfully and walked away without giving either a second look!

Arnav walked slowly down the stairs drinking in the glory that was Sheeshmhal. It had so many happy and sad memories for him. That is why it was so much a part of him!

"I will come back for you one day!" he promised the beautifully engraved marble walls of Sheeshmahal and walked out with his head held high.

He stopped for a moment at the threshold as the first ray of the sun illuminated him.

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NK drove Khushi to the hospital as fast as he could. Khushi tried Babuji's number once again. She had already done so several times but could not connect.

"Hey Devi Maiyya! I wonder who is hospitalized?!" she threw the phone on the dashboard and fretted.

"Khushi don't worry. Hum abhi kaan khayengey (We will eat ear!)" NK assured her.

In spite of herself Khushi shook her head and giggled, "Kaan khayengey nahi NK, jaan jayengey! (We will not eat ears NK, we will know what happened!)

NK was happy to see Khushi smile. He grinned sheepishly and held one ear in apology as they drove into the driveway of the hospital.

Khushi was relieved to see Payel standing outside the main door of the hospital and she jumped off the car and ran towards her sister.

NK stuck his head out and asked Payel, "Jiji has something happened to Shashi uncle or..."

"No, no NK don't worry. Its no one in the family. Thanks for dropping Khushi. You needn't wait!" Payel assured him.

"Okay call me if you need me!" NK nodded and waving at both the sisters and drove off.

Khushi immediately began her tirade of questions. "Jiji if it is not family then who is in the hospital? When did it happen? How did it happen? What's wrong with Babuji's phone?"

Payel slapped the back of her head and stopped her. "Khushi calm down. There is no charge in babuji's phone. We have all come to the hospital because of Pankaj's mother. She has had a massive heart attack. Pankaj is on his way. He will be arriving soon."

Khushi stared after her Jiji, as Payel led the way to the lift. She blinked rapidly.

"Pankaj ji!" she exclaimed as if she was hearing the name for the first time!

Oh! So Pankaj ji's mother was in hospital with a heart attack! Pankaj ji must be terribly worried. She felt very guilty! Ever since the hot air balloon accident she had not thought of him even for a second ! Yet only two days ago she had talked to him over the phone and he had said he was looking forward to meet her...

But was she?

Only one man was on her mind. And he had said she was special to him. He had kissed her so passionately...She blushed! Her heart raced! What did it all mean?This won't do. I must stop thinking about Arnav now!

She sighed and hurried after Payel.

In the waiting room upstairs, outside the ICU ward Buaji was sitting along with another genleman. Buaji was relieved to see Khushi and she introduced the pale and tired looking elderly gentleman as Pankaj's father. Khushi was glad that Babuji had taken charge and was talking to the doctors for Pankaj's father, looked totally lost.

In about half an hours time the doctor informed Babuji that the patient had finally regained consciousness and they could meet her. Pankaj and his brother Niraj arrived just then and they rushed into the I.C.U. to see their mother. After they returned

Buaji got up to see her along with Pankaj's father and Babuji.

Pankaj thanked Khushi and Payel for being so supportive and introduced his brother, Niraj, who had just landed from Dubai, to them.

Suddenly a beaming Buaji emerged from the ward followed by the two men.

She exclaimed Hayye re Nand Kishore' several times before announcing, " Its is sad that the boys' mother is unwell. But it is also a very happy day because she has appealed to me to fix the engagement of Niraj to Payel and Pankaj to Khushi in a day or two ! She says that will be her best recovery! How can we refuse her! Thank Devi Maiyya she is fine! Hayye re Nand Kishore!"

Khushi's stood rooted to the spot. Had Buaji just announced her engagement to Pankaj?

At the other end of the room, Niraj smiled at Payel shyly. Payel smiled back at him and lowered her eyelashes. Babuji hugged both of them.

Pankaj walked up to Khushi and said,

"I know this is sudden Khushi but I hope its okay by you!"

"Yes yes of course Khushi likes you, son. She had agreed to this match herself!," Buaji interjected.

That was true Khushi thought as she felt hot and claustrophobic.. Why had she said yes to the match she wondered. Maybe to get back at Arnav! Damn him! He was responsible for all pitfalls in her life! Laad Governor!

Khushi jumped up as Buaji growled into her ears.

"Aur um yeh kya kapda pehni ho Sankadevi? (And what sort of clothes are you wearing Sankadevi?)"

Khushi looked down at her attire. She was wearing the same jump suit Arnav had given her to in the helicopter.

She was reminded of the scorching look in Arnav's eyes as he brazenly checked her stole covered body before handing the jump suit to her and turned crimson.

Why did everything boil down to him again and again she blistered!

Hadn't Arnav said he would hang Pankaj by the toes if he so much so as thought of marrying her! Where was he now, she thought angrily!

Hope you liked the new twists in the chapter.😃 and thank you for your continuous support my friends🤗