Ashi FF#4 THE SEED OF PASSION, Chapters 24 to 33

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Chapter 24

All that matters

"Nani Anjali di had called. She wants to meet us immediately, "Aakash said excitedly.

"I told her I will take the afternoon flight out of Kolkata and meet her in Delhi."

"I will go too beta," Nani said her eyes filling with tears.

"Naaahhhiii sasuma!" Manorama screamed scaring everyone. "That izz dushman territoreez. Aap ka to Hello Hi se Bye Bye hoy jayi sasuma! (No! Sasuma!That is enemy territory. From Hello Hi you will become Bye Bye!)

"Manorama tum bhi na!(Manorama you are too much!) Nani shook her head.

"No maai for a change my wife is right!" Manohar Singh Raizada said surreptiously ignoring Manorama's glare.

Aakash kneeled before nani and hugged her.

"If all goes well I will bring Di back with me to meet you, Nani, I promise."
" Devi Maiyya kripa karo ! (Bless us Devi Maiyya!) Nani said closing her eyes and folding her hands in prayer to DM.

Then she asked hesitatingly, "What about Chhotey? Is he willing to talk to me?"
"Di did not mention him," Aakash pursed his lips, his forehead creasing .
"I am not surprised," Nani said dejectedly.
"Maai at least meet Anjali bitiya. I am sure she will persuade Chhotey soon," Manohar held his mother's hand in assurance.

"Yes I hope so," Nani murmured wiping away her tears. And then suddenly smiling whimsically said, "Tomorrow is Chhotey's birthday. Wish I had been there to bless him personally! It has been so long since I have seen him..." Nani sighed.

"Haan sasuma, aap akele thodi, hum bhi Arnav bitwa ko meetingz greetingz ke liye dyingz! Manorama joined in excitedly. (Yes sasuma. Not you alone, I am also dying to meet and greet Arnav bitwa!)

"Aur samjhat rahey bhy magazine ma Arnav singh Raizada ko HOTWA bolat rahey!( And I want to understand why the magazines refer to Arnav Singh Raizada as HOTWA!)

Suddenly there was pindrop silence in the Raizada drawing room in Kolkata. And then everyone burst out laughing, much to Manorama's chargin.

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Chottey Chottey, Anjali 's voice rang out in the passageway in Shantivan in Delhi.
Khushi tried to emerge from the whirlwind of pleasure that Arnav's lips and hands were creating on her senses and focus on the voice.
"Arnav," Di is calling you she whispered against his lips, making a half- hearted attempt to free herself from the circle of his strong warm grasp.

"Hmmm..." Arnav murmured, sucking her lower lip and drawing her closer to his taut frame.
"Arnav!" What started out as an indignant cry turned into a pleasurable moan.
He smirked, well aware of the affect he was having on her.

"Arnav... what?" he drawled, his eyes twinkling.

"Take... me?" he teased.
That riled her!
"No let me go," she hissed furiously pushing him away. "Can't you hear Di?
He looked deep into her angry hazel eyes and tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear smiled slowly, maddeningly, "Yes...I can..."

And then with an infuriating lopsided smile plastered on his face he called out to Anjali,
"I am in the guestroom. Come here Di!"
He almost burst out laughing at Khushis horrified expression. He drew her closer by the waist as she struggled to set herself free again.
Arnav please khushi whispered urgently, " Di dekh lengi!(Di will see us!)"
Dekhne do!(Let her see!), Arnav smirked nonchalantly.
"Arnav pleeeaaasse!" Khushi pleaded, unable to free herself from his vice like grip.
"Okay, will you promise to do what I want," Arnav said thoughtfully, scratching his chin.
Khushi looked at him suspiciously. "No, ofcourse not!" she blurted.

"Arrey Chhotey what are you doing in the guestroom?" Anjali's voice sounded very close.

"Arnav!" Khushi panicked.

"You agree then to do as I ask?" he blackmailed her.

"No!" Khushi hissed and looked towards the door desperately. She could now hear Anjali di's footsteps.

Then suddenly making up her mind said in an exasperated voice, "Okay I agree! Now let me go!"
She noticed he had slackened his hold on her. When she stepped away he did not stop her.

"It's a deal!" his eyes gleamed as he whisked past her just in time o stop his sister in her tracks and prevent her from seeing Khushi!

"Chottey! There you are!" Anjali said exasperatedly as her brother sauntered out of the guestroom.
Then noticing that he was clad in a towel shrieked,

"You will catch a cold! Really Chhottey you are too much!
"I can't Di! I have heard I am hot!" he muttered smirking.
"What are you muttering Chhotey?" Anjali scunched her eyes.

"Anyway," she said shaking her head, "Lavanya left in a mad rush and told me to give maa's locket to you. She said you had lost it and she found it for you. You losing maas locket...hows that even possible Chhotey?" Anjali stared at him surprised, handing him the locket.
"Rest assured Di I treasure maa's belongings more than my life..."
That is the last thing that Khushi heard as she darted out of the guestroom and tiptoed down the stairs.
She made her way quickly towards the main door when Hari Prakash blocked her way.
"Khushi didi," he smiled, "please teach me how to make jalebis for the pooja. Anjalidi told me you are an expert at making jalebis!"
"But HP, I have to go..." Khushi looked up the stairs furtively.
"Please didi..." HP sounded disappointed.
"Okay," Khushi smiled gently at HP and followed him into the kitchen.
She made the batter for jalebi and the kesar syrup. She put the oil to heat in a kadahi and putting the dough in a fine cotton cloth showed HP how to make the perfect jalebi concentric rounds.
"Arrey wah didi!" HP cried ecstaticly as she dipped the jalebis in the syrup.
Khushi grinned at him and without thinking said,
"Okay now I will make some sugar free syrup for Arnav's jalebis."

She immediately bit her tongue. Why did she want to make jalebis for that Laad Governor! Didn't she hate him for the affect he had on her, he nevervlost a chance to humiliate and embarrass her...
But oblivious to Khushi's thoughts HP was rattling on,

"Of course Khushiji after all the pooja is for Arnav bhaiya..."
Suddenly he had a brilliant idea!

"Maybe we can make a makeshift jalebi stall for Arnav bhaiya when he gets married. Won't he like that Khushi didi?" HP beamed, maybe Arnav bhaiya will double my salary he thought dreamily.
Khushi stiffened immediately.
"Arnav is getting married?" she questioned HP in a limp voice.
"Not now maybe but one day he and Lavanyaji will get married won't they? They are so much alike..." HP's voice oozed confidence.
"Arnav and Lavanya..." Khushi choked on the words
"Me and Lavanya what?" Arnav's husky baritone sounded behind them.
Khushi turned around her temper soaring suddenly at the sight of the smile playing on the lips!

Khushi spat at him,
"You and Lavanya make a great team! Both of you enjoy insulting people! Especially you! You are good at nothing else!
Arnav raised an eyebrow.
"I am good at nothing else am I? That is not the impression I got a few minutes back," he smirked.
Khushi blushed at his implication but grew angrier!
"What do you think of yourself? I had only come to return Ratna aunty's locket. But you were all over Lavanya and she had the audacity to accuse me of not having manners! You never stopped her from humiliating me, rather you just gawked at us..." Khushi's fury was unstoppable!

"Hey hold on Khushi, you have got your facts all wrong!"Arnav said shaking his head vigorously.
"I was not all over Lavanya...she was coming on to me. Without trying to be rude I told her I was not interested in her. And when you walked into my room I was glad to see you. But before I could realize anything you two had launched into a war of words! Its very difficult for a man to put in a word edgeways when two females are eh...well...conversing!"
"Arnav bhaiya ekdum correct bolat rahe! (Arnav sir is absolutely correct!)" HP spoke up suddenly!

Khushi had forgotten about HP's presence and looked at him astonished for siding with Arnav out of the blue!
Arnav too was amazed to receive unexpected support and nodded in approval at HP who was mighty pleased.
Khushi glared at HP and Arnav!
What happened Khushi are the boys ganging up against you?" Anjali hopped in shaking her finger at her brother and household help.

"I am on your side don't worry," she smiled broadly winking at Khushi.
"Di please!" Arnav rolled his eyes. "I did not come here to argue with Khushi. I only wanted to return this.. to her." He opened his fist to reveal his maa's chain and locket.
But nothing could ebb Khushi's rage.

" Why should I take it? Go give it to Lavanya," she huffed .
"She is right why should she take maa's chain?!" Anjali tried to control her smile.
"Unless of course...Maa had kept it for her bahu, you know that Chhotey," Anjali reminded her brother and had the pleasure of seeing Khushi go red. Something is definitely going on between them she thought smiling inwardly.
Arnav however, shrugged his shoulders and said,

"I don't believe in marriage you know that Di. So I guess this piece of jewellery will stay with me..."
And without glancing at Khushi he walked away.
For some unknown reason Khushi felt her heart plunging.
Anjali was watching Khushi closely.

She cleared her throat, "By the way Khushi after consulting Panditji I have postponed the pooja to tomorrow morning ...please ensure
Diwanji, Buaji and Payal come...I have already spoken to Buaji...tomorrow is an auspicious day..."
"Yes Di," Khushi said nodding her head mechanically.

"I should go now..." Saying that Khushi left the house her mind far away...
Aww she looks so forlorn, Anjali thought. I hope she remembers tomorrow is Chottey's birthday, Anjali grinned to herself as she moved out of the kitchen.

"What are you grinning about Ranisaahiba? Shyam spoke up besides her.
Anjali turned towards her husband and smiled sweetly.

"Uh uh nothing Shyamji... Do you remember its Chotteys birthday tomorrow. You know he does not like celebrating his birthday. So I have kept the pooja tomorrow so that Devi Maiyya can shower her blessings on him."
"Yes he can't refuse that Shyam said hugging her sideways. You are such a lovely sister Ranisaahiba and a wonderful wife," he smiled into her eyes.
"Really Shyamji, aap bhi na!"Anjali jerked his hand off and hobbled away to her room.
She shut the door behind her and leaned against it.
"What I am doing is wrong Devi Maiyya. I am suspecting my husband only because he has appointed a lawyer to defend Ajit chacha," she murmured.
She recalled... the night before Chhotey had returned from Stockholm. She had taken her bath early in the morning and finding Shyamji sleeping had proceeded to Chhotey's room to check on him but he was not there. So she had returned to her room and unknown to Shyam overheard the conversation between him and Dadi about releasing Ajit chacha from the prison.

She had been surprised that her husband was trying to help Ajit chacha by fixing a lawyer for him inspite of Ajit chacha's attempt to shoot her brother.

She had decided to clear her doubt immediately. So walking into the room casually, she had asked her husband,

"Good that you are awake Shyamji. I wanted to know if Ajit chacha will be released on bail..."

But Shyam had interrupted her immediately saying, "I hate the amn who had tried to kill my saale sahib. I don't even want to talk about him!"

Anjali was rather taken aback and her eyes filled with tears. Why was Shyamji lying to her! Only moments ago he was talking to Dadi about Ajit chacha's bail!

What hold did Dadi have over her Shyam! She hoped Nani would be able to provide the clue! Aakash's plane would land soon and she would meet him tonight, she sighed.

Anjali had decided to investigate into the matter herself for the sake of her Chhotey who was more dear to her than anyone else in this world.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

In his room Arnav dialled Lavanya's number and waited impatiently for her to pick up the phone
"Hello ASR!" Lavanya's cheerful voice floated in. "I knew you would call me! That middle class gold digger Khushi was up to her tricks and given half a chance she would have never returned your mother's locket, but I put her in her place! I knew you would also see through to her acting! You don't have to aplologise to me...

"Shut up Lavanya!" Arnav barked into the phone.

"I had called you to tell you Khushi is a very dear friend of mine...as precious as maa's diamonds. Don't even think of insulting or humiliating her ever! Have I made myself clear?!" his voice was cold and grim.

On the other end of the line a crestfallen Lavanya swallowed hard.

"Yes ASR..." she said tearfully.