IPKKND FF: JALEBI by Jalebi Jane Thread 1: EPISODE 001-042 - Page 73

JALEBI by Jalebi Jane (EPISODE 034)

HAD OUR HEROINE WITNESSED ARNAV'S DISPOSITION during these visits paid to his sister and niece, her opinion of him would have been more charitable. Not that he became a changed man (no, never that!) but she would have realized that she had been hasty in characterizing him as incapable of feeling and returning love. She would have seen that love had power over him even though his expression was not sentimental. His complex life history had made him brusque, but his heart was not closed.

Far from it.

Indeed, Anjali and Asha were so assured of the strength of his love that they took countless liberties with him. When he was pensive, they teased him mercilessly. When he was overbearing, they ruthlessly squashed him. Anjali would say: "Oh, Chotte! Stop being so imperious!" While Asha's favourite comeback was "you're not the boss of me!"

And he took it all with surprising grace and humour. Why? Because that foundation of love existed.

Aman too enjoyed a certain liberty with Arnav.

Because Aman's loyalty was indubitable, because his understanding was developed, Arnav always gave him room to speak freely. Even to criticize. How much influence Aman ultimately had on Arnav's decisions, I cannot say. Perhaps very little because Aman often had to execute actions which he personally disagreed with. But to his credit: once he made his dissenting opinion known to Arnav, he performed all assigned tasks with unconditional commitment. There was none of this passive-aggressive nonsense of doing a job in a half-hearted way.

But you know this already, Sisters---you know there is nothing half-hearted about Aman.

When he returned to his desk upstairs, he telephoned Arnav to brief him on his earlier meeting with Mr Chopra. This is that conversation:

Arnav: Yes, Aman.

Aman: Hello, Sir. How are Di and Ash?

Arnav: Both fine. United against me. As always. Apparently, my hair is too long. And I wear too much black. They've decided to improve me.

Aman: (laughing) If you're in the midst of a makeover, I can call back later.

Arnav: Is this why you called, Aman? To insult me? Because you're wasting your time. I've already had my share of insolence today from your new assistant.

Aman: Miss Gupta? Actually, the reason for my call relates to her. I spoke to Mr Chopra this morning, instructing him to prepare a dossier on Jha. He called back a couple of hours later and said he had information to share.

Arnav: Impressive.

Aman: Truly. Main to fan ho gaya.

Arnav: (with a laugh) What did he discover?

Aman: There is no Shyam Jha registered with the Law Society. Nor with the Bar Association. He is either not a lawyer. Or he goes by another name.

Arnav: Or both. Is he having Jha followed?

Aman: It was too late to set-up post this morning. But there will be 24/7 coverage starting this evening.

Arnav: Have him post two men. One to follow Jha. Another to guard the house. With discretion. The family should not suspect they are being watched.

Aman: I'll let him know. While Mr Chopra was conducting a name search in the public records, he found out that a Shyam Jha recently sold some residential property. The address matches Miss Gupta's aunt's home in Janakpuri.

Arnav: She had sold him her house?

Aman: No, Sir. This is the strange bit. She gave it to him.

Arnav: That's quite a dowry.

Aman: I'm beginning to doubt the chaiwalla's story of a marriage alliance between Jha and Miss Gupta. The records indicate he sold the house immediately upon receiving it. What's more---the house has been flipped six times over in less than three weeks. An obvious tactic to bury the money trail.

Arnav: So what allows them to remain living in a house they no longer own? Are they paying rent? And to whom?

Aman: Mr Chopra is now tracking the chain of ownership. It may still be in Jha's hands but under his real name. And he is allowing them to live there because---

Arnav: ---Because he's in love with Miss Gupta?

Aman: And wants to impress her.

Arnav: Impress her by allowing them to live in a house her aunt gave him? Not exactly a grand gesture. (Pause) I think he tricked the old woman into signing over her property. When the sisters learnt this, they broke into his room to search for the deed. Or to execute some revenge scheme.

Aman: That would match Miss Gupta's account.

Arnav: You discussed this with her?

Aman: Not in this context. But Miss Khan had requested the morning off and when she was delayed in returning, Miss Gupta was clearly anxious. She blurted out that Miss Khan was on an errand on her behalf. She then admitted that it was an errand related to the incident last night.

Arnav: What else did she say?

Aman: Nothing. At that very moment Miss Khan returned. Her fears were over and I suspect she realized she had revealed more than she intended to. Whatever it is, I feel she is out of her depth. I have a bad feeling about this, Sir.

Arnav: Have Mr Chopra research the aunt. Personal and financial history. She must have received something tangible in return for signing over the house. Either that or she is being blackmailed and signing over the house represents hush money.

Aman: Right.

Arnav: And also make arrangements for the jet. I'll return to Delhi this evening.

By Jalebi Jane

JALEBI by Jalebi Jane (EPISODE 035)

I AM OF THE SAME MIND AS AMAN, SISTERS. I, too, am of the opinion that Khushi Kumari Gupta is out of her depth. Shyam has shown there are no limits to his duplicity. False friend. False profession. False identity. Such a man cannot be overcome by faith and virtue alone. To fight him requires worldly resources which Khushi simply does not have. It's not a case of her being ill-qualified; it's a case of being ill-equipped.

And failing to engage those who are equipped to help would be a triumph of pride over sense. Was not pride the very failing she had lectured Arnav on? Was it not a form of idiocy to do everything except the very thing that could make a difference?

Yes, I understand Khushi's reluctance. To beg Mr Raizada for assistance---especially after that vitriol this morning---would be a Heroine's mortification-absolut. But it would be nothing compared to the anguish of visiting Buaji in prison.

Buaji in prison!

That phrase was enough for her to decide.

"You are right, Pari---" she said, her voice catching with emotion. "I just want Buaji to be safe. I'll confide in Mr Behl. And if he says Mr Raizada must be consulted, I'll do that too."

Pari's features showed immediate relief. "Go to him now," she urged, pushing Khushi in the direction of the door.

Reaching for Pari's hand, Khushi requested, "Please come with me."

"If you wish---" Pari began, and then stopped in her tracks. She lifted Khushi's hand to her widened eyes. "What? Shyam forced a ring on your finger? How can you wear it? Remove it, Khushi!"

It was not spoken softly. It was as near to a command as sweet Pari could approach.

Khushi, embarrassed by her carelessness, pulled her hand out of Pari's grip. "It's stuck," she said, demonstrating by twisting-pulling action that the ring could not be removed. "And it is not from Shyam."

Pari waited in puzzled silence.

"It's from Mr Raizada."

"Oh My Allah!"

"Mr Raizada proposed to me yesterday. I didn't believe he was serious," Khushi rushed forth into explanation. "But then he put the ring on my finger." (She did not mention the scorching kiss which had preceded the act.)

"I'm astonished!" said Pari. Quickly adding, "Not that I doubt anybody being in love with you. The entire world would love you if they knew you. But to think that Mr Raizada has been in love with you all this while. How very romantic!"

Khushi immediately stopped Pari's flight of fancy. "This is not like the novels you read, Pari. Mr Raizada is not a Hero. I am not a Heroine. And we will never be a Jodi. I've refused him."

"Refused him?" frowned Pari, as though it was the most incomprehensible thing in the world.

"Obviously!"

"How is that obvious, Khushi? What's obvious is the courage it must have taken for him to come to you with a proposal."

"Does it follow that a man's courage to propose should be rewarded with acceptance? Why should I accept the man who has made me suffer all these weeks?!" Khushi's eyes flashed with resentment as she recalled each and every incident.

"Oh, Khushi! I know how he has behaved," cried Pari, taking her friend's hands into her own and drawing her closer. "And if you care nothing for him then you should absolutely refuse him. But---listen to me---if you are turning him down because of his past actions, then I urge you to rethink. It's obvious that he's been conflicted. It appears to me that he didn't know what to do with all his burning-churning desire, and so he behaved opposite to how he felt. Men are very-very odd creatures."

Khushi could not respond immediately. Indeed, she could not overlook the fact that Pari had given Arnav the same excuse for his conduct as he had himself. (Though Arnav of course had not called it "burning-churning desire.")

"And also being such a proud man---" Pari was still explaining "---he would have found it difficult to declare his feelings to the woman who is always so hostile towards him."

Here Khushi had to defend herself: "My hostility is not a nakhra. It formed because of his behaviour towards me. I know this isn't a school playground, Pari---but may I be allowed to say that he started it?"

Pari gave a knowing smile, as though she knew exactly how it would be. "This happens in all the best novels. And it always ends happily." She caught Khushi's fingers in her own and examined the ring more closely. "It seems to me that your Devi Maiyya has given you an opportunity to discover the truth of his heart. As soon as Aman Sir informs him of your difficulties, Mr Raizada will cut short his trip and rush to your side. Mark my words."

Here Khushi's telephone rang interrupting Pari's fantasy. It was Payal. She connected the line. "Yes, Jiji?"

It wasn't Payal. But Buaji using Payal's phone.

"Come home!" Buaji shrieked. "Come at once, Khushi! You must stop Payaliya---"

"---What's happened? I don't understand!"

"She's packing, Nandekishore Knows! She says you two are leaving for Lucknow. You're leaving me behind to rot in jail---" And nothing further could be understood except noisy sobs and Nandekishore Knows.

Khushi looked to Pari with frantic eyes. "Something's happened to Jiji. I can't make sense of Buaji," and into the phone she said, "I'm on my way, Buaji."

Pari took over here. She instructed, "Get your bag and wait at the desk. I'll be right back." And with that she raced away.

Khushi could scarcely think. She could not even seem to act in that moment. She did as she was told. She waited at the desk with clasped hands, pleading to Devi Maiyya. Please-please-please let Jiji be fine!

In no time Pari was back at her side. She guided Khushi towards the lift, which carried them to the underground parkade.

Khushi turned questioning eyes to her. "Where---?"

"Aman Sir has paged one of the drivers to take you home. It will be quicker than rickshaw or taxi," Pari explained, leading her towards the row of vehicles which conveyed clients from Headquarters to the mill.

A liveried driver hastened towards one of the cars. He was clearly not expecting to chauffeur this afternoon; he was still buttoning his jacket, straightening his collar.

Pari helped Khushi into the back seat.

"Call me once you---" "---I'll call once I know." The girls spoke on top of each other. And within moments, the car was speeding towards Janakpuri.

By Jalebi Jane