Ashi FF#4 THE SEED OF PASSION, Chapters 24 to 33 - Page 31

banner credit dearest Soni⭐️

Dear friends

As a Diwali gift I am getting rid of Pankaj as many of you had suggested! Thanks for your suggestion!🤗

Do bid him farewell girls!😛 😃

And a Happy Diwali to all of you. May the glow of diyas brighten up your lives always!😃

Chapter 28

Goodbye Pankaj !

Hey Devi Maiyya

Arnav was moving towards her! In a jiffy he will see Pankaj ji who was standing behind her!

Khushi wrung her hands nervously.

"Arrey Buaji, what took you so long? And who is this young man with you?" Anjali di's voice sounded behind her and she turned around flustered. Anjali di had seen Pankaj!

And her remark had carried to Arnav!

Hayye re Devi Maiyya! He had noticed Pankaj too!

Khushi stood like dead wood as she watched Arnav's expression change from disbelief to surprise to shock and to raging fury!

Khushi trembled.

Arnav's nostrils flared and he clenched his hands to his sides as he watched Buaji introducing Pankaj to his Di.

"Anjali bitiya I got late because I wanted to bring Pankaj along with me." Buaji beamed at Anjali before dropping the bomb shell...

" He and Khushi bitiya are getting married soon."

Khushi could have sworn that Anjali's jaw dropped as she quickly turned around to spot her brother.

As for Arnav he looked as he would smash Pankaj's face and throw his body flying out of his mansion in tatters! Khushi shuddered.

"Isn't he a fine young man?" Buaji grinned at Anjali while smacking Pankaj on the shoulder blade.

Khushi watched Arnav's eyes narrowing dangerously with fury and Pankaj's eyes dimming with terror

Khushi gulped! Raksha karna Devi Maiyya she prayed! And taking strength from her beloved deity and taking her life in her own hands decided to explain the matter to Arnav before he began his inevitable onslaught on Pankaj!

She moved towards him with trepidation.

"I...I... can explain Ar...Arnav," she stammered as she approached him.

But he raised his hand signaling her to stop and simply walked past her towards Pankaj.

Khushi whimpered and chewed on the end of her dupatta in her nervousness as Arnav stood tall in front of Pankaj.

But nothing had prepared her for what came next!

There was a resounding whack as Arnav punched Pankaj on his right jaw, followed by a thud as Pankaj lay sprawled on the hard marble floor.

There was pin drop silence in the huge hall.

Anjali was the first to react!

"Chhotey!" she shrieked in disbelief, "You can't do that to a guest!"

"Relax Di ! There was a mosquito on his right cheek! How dare a mosquito infiltrate RM and bite my guest!" Arnav said with a straight face

Khushi was totally flummoxed! She opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish! What in Devi Maiyya's name was Arnav saying! A mosquito!

There were some murmurs among the guests.

Someone said, "Arnav bitwa is right! Imagine a mosquito in the haloed grounds of Raizada Mansion!"

Another piped, "Mosquitoes are dangerous! They cause dengue, malaria..."

A third interjected, "Look Pankaj is already looking pale and feverish!"

"Hayye re Nanad Kishore! Pankaj babua ko malaria ho gawa kya!(Has Pankaj contracted malaria!)" Buaji shrieked as she watched her dear Pankaj shivering on the floor with pain, trying to figure out what hit him and when!

"Don't worry Buaji, he is fine," Arnav assured Buaji.

"Here Pankaj sip some orange juice and you will feel better!"

Khushi rubbed her eyes as Arnav picked up a glass of juice from the nearby table and bending down offered it to Pankaj with a smile.
Khushi gasped! She couldn't understand! What was going on! Had Arnav turned over a new leaf!
No way! Splash! Flowed the juice down Pankaj's shirt and wetting his trousers ended up in his shoes! Pankaj yelped!
"What the!" Arnav exclaimed. "The glass just slipped," he explained ruefully.
"Not to worry. Come up to my room Pankaj. You can change into my shirt!"

He ducked behind Buaji's back using her as a shield to fend off Arnav!
"Arrey jao Pankaj babua, Arnav bitwa tumko kitna pyaar se bulawat hai! (Go Pankaj, Arnav is calling you so lovingly!)" Buaji cajoled Pankaj and beamed at Arnav. She had heard so much about Arnav's arrogance. But the boy was being so sweet with Pankaj!
Pankaj was left with no other option but to follow a smug Arnav up the stairs.

"Poor pankaj ji! Arnav is such a bully!"Khushi thought. She had wanted to explain Pankaj's presence to Arnav! But he had simply dismissed her by the wave of a hand! As if her explanation was of no consequence!

And what gave him the right to treat Pankaj this way! Now he was dragging Pankaj to his room probably to carry out his earlier threat of hanging Pankaj by the toes!

She would not let that happen! After all said and done Pankaj was a harmless creature! It was not his fault that Buaji had tricked him into coming to Arnav's house.

Khushi pursed her lips and with a determined chin stuck out and eyes blazing ran up the stairs to Arnav's room to save Pankaj from Arnav the laad governor and bully rolled into one!

"Arrey where are you going sankadevi ?" Buaji shouted after her.

"Let her be. She must be going to help Pankaj! Please come and have lunch with me. Pankaj and Khushi can join us later." Anjali took Buaji's arm and smiled sweetly at her.

"Come Payal..." she held out her other hand to Payal.

Payal nodded and took Anjali's hand but her mind was somewhere else. Khushi seemed very angry about something. Did she still have reservations about marrying Pankaj. I must speak to Khushi once we get home, she made a mental note.

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Khushi pushed open the door and stormed into Arnav's room. And stopped dead in her tracks. Pankaj was floating in the air! Hey Devi Maiyya! When did he learn the spiritual art of leviation!

A second look and all was clear to her! Poor Pankaj ji was not levitating like a holy man! Arnav was holding him up by his collar above the ground and the poor guy was struggling to set himself free!

Really Arnav was too much! Khushi's temper soared1

"Put him down Arnav!" her angry voice crackled across the room.

"Not before he answers my questions truthfully!" Arnav growled at her.

"What questions?" Khushi glowered at him as she strode towards them.

"That is between him and me, Khushi. You go!" Arnav dismissed her again.

"Put him down Arnav! At once! And ask whatever you have to ask in front of me!" Hand on her hips Khushi hissed at him and stamped his foot!

"What the!" Arnav rasped at Khushi. But released his hold on Pankaj which was not so good for him because he fell down on the floor again with a loud thud once again!

"Poor Pankaj ji!" Khushi rushed to his side.

"Leave him Khushi. You don't know boys like him!" Arnav barked, putting himself between the two.

"What do you mean?" Khushi scrunched her eyes.

"I mean has he taken advantage of you? Has he touched you, has he kissed you on the pretext of marrying you?" Arnav's voice was strained, his face ashen. The very thought was obnoxious to him!

"Is that what you wanted to question him about?" Khushi asked him incredulously. "Well, then let me tell you that Pankaj ji has never even thought of touching me, or holding me or kissing me!" Khushi retorted.

And then turning to Pankaj for confirmation asked innocently, "Isn't that so Pankaj ji?

Pankaj gulped. Of course he wanted to kiss Khushi. She was so pretty and sweet...how could he not want to hold her tight in his arms. And after marriage...

" You B******!"

In an instant a very very furious Arnav jumped upon Pankaj and knocking him down with a thunderous kick of his long legs! Then he straddled him, raining killing blows left, right and centre!

" No more hanging by the toes for you! I will skin you alive, you worm, you rodent... You are dead meat!" he punctuated his words with hard hitting punches.

"Stop it Arnav! Stop it!" Khushi screamed, worried for Pankaj's life.

"Will you kill him?" she shouted at Arnav.

"Yes I will! How dare he even think...!" Arnav continued with his task of making mince meat of Pankaj.

"Arnav!" Khushi screamed again.

Arnav stopped abruptly, his clenched fist suspended in air and eyes spitting fire asked in a low guttural voice, " But why are you defending him? What relationship do you share with him? Will you allow him to kiss you?"

"No, of couse not!" Khushi retorted enraged.

Arnav got up and pushed Pankaj away abruptly. Advancing menacingly towards Khushi he mutterd under his breath, "But with me..."

Khushi felt her heart had been sliced with a knife. Her eyes watered with hurt as she retreated from Arnav. Just because she could not resist him, did not mean that went around kissing other guys too!

"Just because...with you...that does not mean with every one..." Khushi pain tumbled out of her mouth.

Arnav's heart leapt with fear and remorse. He had succeeded in pushing her away from him yet again! He had unintentionally accused her of being promiscuous!

He ran shaky fingers through his hair as he moved towards her.

"Please Khushi, please...I didn't mean that! Pl..please.." He pleaded, his breath came in shallow pants, heavy with guilt and pain at hurting her.

But Khushi was not in a mood to listen. She was livid at his insinuation!

"Go to hell!" she shouted, tears flowing down her cheeks.

She turned around and ran out of the room.

He was feeling claustrophobic. He needed to get out of the house, drive his SUV, go for a long drive and think clearly.

And without giving Pankaj a second glance he dashed out of his room.

Pankaj who had been a witness to the altercation between Arnav and Khushi smiled... although his right jaw still hurt badly!

After this fight, any proximity between Khushi and Arnav was over for good he thought ! Arnav did not deserve a girl like Khushi!

He had no doubt that Khushi will now realize that he, that is, Pankaj was her real hero and Arnav was only a worthless kabab main haddi (The third person, the obstacle in the path of love)!

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Every part of his body was aching with the drubbing Arnav had given him but Pankaj was happy! He stepped on the accelerator and smiled inwardly as he drove khushi home.

She had insisted on leaving RM immediately.

"Buaji and Jiji are having lunch with Anjali ji. I don't want to disturb them. Will you take me home Pankaj ji?" she had asked him in a broken voice.

Of course he would! Why would he leave a golden opportunity like this!

He glanced at her. She was looking outside the window pensively but he didn't mind! She was with him and not Arnav and that is what counted!

Khushi's phone rang and he saw her ignoring it.

"Hey Khushi ji why are you spoiling your mood for a person who obviously took advantage of your goodness..."

Khushi interrupted him. "Please don't comment on someone you don't know Pankaj ji. Anyway I don't want to discuss Arnav!" Khushi's tone was firm.

Uh-oh Pankaj thought. I have to tread carefully here!

Khushi's phone rang again and she picked it up absent mindedly.

"Hello?" she said in a tired voice.

"Is this Khushi?"a distraught tone floated in.

"Yes. Who's calling?"

"Look you don't me but a certain young man by the name of Arnav Singh Raizada has crashed his SUV ! I was the first to drag him out of his car. He has been taken to the City Hospital! He gave me your number and wanted me to inform you before losing consciousness.

For a second Khushi sat numb. Nohing registerd. Arnav had an accident! He was injured! He was in hospital! He wanted her to be with him!

And then suddenly she screamed at a bewildered Pankaj

"Pankaj ji turn the car towards the City hospital! Quick quick, quick! As fast as you can!"

"Arnav ki Raksha karo Devi Maiyya!" she prayed from the bottom of her heart as Pankaj took the road that led to Arnav.

Her eyes bloodshot, her body quivering with shock at the thought of losing him, Khushi cursed herself!

Hadn't she asked him to go to hell! No, no, no Devi Maiyya don't listen to me! You know I didn't mean that she prayed for Arnav's life, tears streaming down her cheeks.

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Payal paid the auto driver and looked up at the hotel building at the display sign. Yes that is the name a distressed Anjali di had whispered into her ear urgently before leaving for the hospital in tears.

She had pleaded with Payal to meet a gentleman in Room 312 of the hotel. And among other things to let him know that Arnav had met with an accident so unfortunately Anjali would not be able to meet him before he left.

Payal sighed. Arnav's accident was really shocking. Khushi had informed Anjali about it. She hoped Khushi was okay. She did not sound good at all.

Payal entered the lobby and looked around. There was no one at the reception.

The hotel was really rundown. The paint was peeling off and the furniture looked worn out and ready to crumble! Payal could not believe that a gentleman known to Anjali di could put up in such a hotel.

Anyway she had come here to help Anjali di at a time of crisis. She would do what was required of her and leave immediately she thought as she took the elevator to the third floor.

She emerged out of the lift. 312 was the last room on the left.

For a moment she stood hesitatingly outside 312. Then she knocked on the door.

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Bright lights pierced Arnav's eyes and he turned away his head to avoid them.

That was his misdoing for immediately his head started swimming and he felt like throwimg up.

"Arnav! Arnav!" A voice penetrated through all that haze, pain and dizziness! Khushi! That was her voice! He had to open his eyes! He had to apologise to her! He had to make her understand...

Khushi saw Arnav's eyelashes flutter! He was trying to open his eyes! He was alive! Dhanyavad Devi Maiyya! Bahut bahut dhanyavad! She thanked her Devi maiyya, tears of joy wetting her rosy cheeks.

And then she was staring at the most beautiful eyes in the world! Brown liquid chocolate with flecks of gold glittering in them.

"Arnav!" she whispered in awe.

"I am sorry Khushi. I am really really sorry!" For a man who had lost so much blood Arnav's voice was surprisingly steady and firm. But he closed his eyes in pain.

"Oh Arnav!" Khushi held his palm in her own tightly and bringing his fingers up to her lips kissed them reverently. "Its okay!"

Arnav shook his head and pain exploded in his head like a bomb.

"Madam you must leave now! The patient should not be talking! Doctor will be here soon!" the nurse addressed Khushi sternly as she administered Arnav an injection.

"Khushi we must leave," Pankaj insisted.

"I can't Pankaj. You go if you want to. I will stay in this hospital as long as Arnav does not recover fully! Thank you for bringing me to him..." Khushi answered.

"But Khushi his sister will arrive soon, you are not needed here...why let this affect you.." Pankaj began.

Something snapped inside Khushi! She shrieked,

"Why is it so difficult for you to understand Pankaj ji that I can't leave Arnav alone like this! If something happens to Arnav, I will die, do you understand I will die!" She broke down sobbing.

"What the! Shut up Khushi! Nothing will happen to you or me!" Arnav barked from his stretcher, wincing his pain! And then he drifted into unconsciousness again as the morphine began to kick in.

"What the!' and Shut up!' had never sounded so sweet to her ears!

She laughed through her tears and kissed his hand again.

Pankaj staggered back. Khushi did not and would never belong to him. She was and would always be Arnav's.

There was no doubt who was the real hero and who was the kabab main haddi (the third person/ the obstacle in the way of love).

Pankaj looked at her one last time before walking away.