Ashi FF#4 THE SEED OF PASSION, Chapters 24 to 33 - Page 68

Superb update dear please update soon

Loved it

32...

So shyam is angry with anjali... for threatening subdra malik
at least aman knows...

very went arnav hold akash and warning him...

before knowing that is his brother..

at least khushi made him listen...

hope you update soon...
thanks for the pm...

wonderful update loving the way its going😃

Gif banner credit: my dearest friend Faiqu (ArshiHamesha) 🤗

Sorry friends I could not update earlier because too many things in my AD had taken their toll on me. But all the likes and comments and words of encouragement by you on the last chapter egged me on to write this one. Hope you like it dear readers.

Chapter 33

Home is where I belong...

Arnav glanced back one more time at the fading orangish light that enveloped his Maa's rose garden and hands in his pant pockets sauntered slowly towards the SUV and the girl seated in it. He looked at Khushi from the corner of his eye! He had lain in her embrace a long long time it seemed...though it may have been a few minutes only...he didn't know what had overcome him...he hoped he had not made a fool of himself. He brushed back the lock of hair that had fallen on his forehead and slipping into the driver's seat of the SUV cleared his throat.

"So Khushi what were you saying about Aakash?"

Khushi reacted as he had expected her to...breaking into a tirade about all she knew!

Arnav sighed in relief! Khushi was behaving her usual self. She had obviously not taken him seriously when in his moment of weakness, his face buried in her breasts he had pleaded with her not to abanon him ever!

It would have been embarrassing for him if Khushi had questioned his behaviour but he needn't have worried because she was relating the life and times of Aakash ingh Raizada with gutso!

How Aakash had contacted Anjali secretly, how Anjali had sent Payal to meet Aakash, how Aakash's hotel room had been ransacked by goons...

Ransacked by goons! Did it mean aakash's life was in danger!

Skid! Thud! He brought the vehicle to a sudden stop!

"What happened Arnav? Your fractured arm...is it still hurting! You have just recovered from the accident ! Hey Devi Maiyya! I knew you shouldn't have driven the car..."

"What the! Shut up Khushi will you?" Arnav rolled his eyes. "I am perfectly fine..."

"But did you just say that Ajit chacha sent his goons to ransack Aakash's hotel room...maybe to kill him like he tried to kill me..." Arnav roared

"Yes, yes Arnav that is what Jiji thinks...she was there with him when it happened..."

"Unbelievable! How dare Ajit...! What harm has this boy done! Dammit! As long as he is in Delhi his safety is my responsibility. Nani had deserted us alright but I am not the person to sit back and allow her grandson to be beaten up..."

Khushi stared at Arnav and chewed her lower lip thoughtfully as he started the car.

In order to clear her thoughts she took some chanas from her jhola(bag) and popped them in her mouth.

Chewing them vigorously, she said "Yes you are right Arnav, we have to, have to help Aakash ji!".

"What do you mean we'?" Arnav asked her. "Listen Khushi Kumari Gupta, you have done enough for our cousin, and I thank you and Payal for it, but no more..."

"But Arnav..." Khushi interrupted, popping some more chanas in her mouth.

"No buts Khushi!"Arnav brought the SUV to a screeching halt in front of the Gupta house and ordered, "Now get out and forget all this! Ajit chacha is a dangerous man!"

"But Arnav..." she pouted.

"I said go, Khushi. And also tell Payal I will take care of all matters related to Aakash from now on," he repeated a tad impatiently.

"Oh! Okay.. I am going home now... but Arnav..."

A finger came crashing on her soft moist lips to silent her...

She shivered slightly, confused and amazed at the sensation surging through her at the mere contact of his finger!

Arnav slowly withdrew his finger from his lips! A strange feeling of loss overtook him! Dammit! Here he was dropping her to her house when all he really wanted was to whisk her away with him to RM, to keep her safe in his arms, to kiss her... the lips he had felt quivering under his touch ...

His voice was low and husky when he said to her, " I can't afford to have anything happen to you, so please be safe for me...okay Khushi?"

Her heart lurched at his words, the tenor of his voice, the way his molten eyes bored down on her, hiding something in their depths...

She nodded slightly and stepped out of the SUV before it was too late...before he saw in her eyes the treasure she had locked away...the unforgettable moments they had shared in the rose garden...

She could still feel the weight of his warm head, as she cradled it on her breasts, whispering in his ears again and again that she would never let him go...

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

"Di where are you?" Arnav's gentle voice floated into Anjali's phone.

Anjali almost dropped the phone with relief! "Chhotey! Are you okay? Are you still angry with me? Please come back home...I can explain why I wanted to meet Aakash"

"Di, calm down. I am okay and you dont have to explain yourself to me. I understand...I am sorry, I behaved badly..."

"Oh Chhotey I don't know what to say! I thought I had lost you forever! Like maa..."she sobbed silently. "Nothing matters to me more than you Chhotey. If you dont want to meet Aakash again its okay..."

"Di, where is he? Arnavs voice cut in gruffly.

" Who Chhotey...?" Anjali asked.

"That...that Aakash..."his voice dropped to a whisper at the other end.

Anjali was quiet for a moment, then she said in a choked voice, "I dropped him at a motel. He told me he will catch the first plane to Kolkata tomorrow."

"Which motel Di?" Arnav's tone was emotionless.

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

At the motel, Aakash sat down on the edge of the bed and then leaning back rested his tired head on the bedrest. He took a deep breath and sighed.

"I have failed you Nani...totally . Instead of bringing bhai to you I alienated him completely," he muttered shaking his head sadly.

The sound of the phone on his bedside table startled him. No one knew he was here and he had told the motel people not to disturb him.

"Yes?" He inquired.

The lady at the reception cleared her throat, "Sir, a gentleman is on his way up to see you..."

"What! I told you I dont want to be disturbed at all..."

"Sorry Sir he wouldnt take no for an answer,"the flustered receptionist said, "And he said he was related to you..."

"Related to me..." Aakash repeated after her...Could it be...he jumped up and sprinted to the door and threw it open...

Sure enough! Arnav Singh Raizada stood at the threshold, his fist raised to knock at the door!

Aakash's heart leapt with joy! He adjusted his spectacles over his nose with his index finger and flashed all his 32 teeth and their respective gums at his bhai!

"What the!" Arnav scowled, "Why are you gaping at me! Close your damn mouth!"

Aakash was taken aback at his bhai's words. He blinked his eyes and his mouth opened wider still!

"Unbelievable!" Arnav muttered in disgust.

"Pack your bags! Now!" he ordered Aakash clenching his fist.

"Sorry , sorry bhai, dont be angry, I will leave tomorrow by the first flight, I promise..." Aakash stammered.

"Now! I said," Arnav gave Aakash a steely look and walked away.

I am done Aakash thought, he is not going to wait for a second before throwing me out of his city!

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

The SUV sceeched to a halt.

"Get out!" Arnav turned to Aakash.

Aakash gulped. He got down from the car gingerly and looked around weide eyed. The SUV was parked in front of a huge mansion.

"Where am I?" wondered Aakash

"Welcome home Aakash!" Anjali's voice sounded besides him.

Aakash turned in surprise. Di was standing outside the door with a pooja thali in her hand, a big smile on her face.

A strange contentment filled Aakash. Arnav bhai had brought him home!

He looked at Arnav reverently. Arnav ignored him and strode briskly towards the house. But Anjali stopped him at the door.

"Please Chhotey don't go. I want to do aarti to both my brothers together."

Arnav raised his eyebrow but did not step away.

"Aakash come forward,' Anjali beckoned him with moist eyes.

It was.an overwhelming feeling to see both her brothers, standing in front of her together! Her eyes welled up with happy tears.

Anjali did aarti and put tika on their foreheads.

"Nazar na lagey mere bhaiyon ko! (May no one cast an evil eye on my brothers!) she said with a heart bursting with pride. And then taking kaajal from her eyes put tiny black dots on the them.

"Are you done Di?" Arnav said impatiently.

"One minute more, Chhotey ," Anjali smiled up at him and tied a raksha dhaga on his wrist and then Aakash's.

Finally she took a tiny bit of a big laddoo and fed it to Arnav and then stuffed the rest of the laddoo in Aakash's mouth and giggled!

Grow up Di," Arnav rolled his eyes and sauntered past her inside.

Poor Aakash was spluttered over his laddoo.

"Are you okay Aakash?" Anjali giggled again though her eyes held concern

"I am fine Di, Aakash hugged her. "I love this ladoo, it is just like the one Nani makes at home. Did you make it?"

"Yes I did Aakash," Anjali hugged him back. And don't forget this is your home too."

Taking his hand affectionately, Anjali brought him inside RM.

Aakash looked around, "Your home is beautiful Di..."he whispered admiringly.

"Yes isn't it?" Anjali said proudly. " Chhotey started building it a year and a half ago, brick by brick, after he returned from Harvard, the youngest MBA ever at the age of 22. And now he is building his own company, AK! And..."Anjali stopped embarrassed as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Aakash hugged her sideways. "Its okay Di, I understand...it must have been so difficult for the two of you on your own, but by his very grit and determination bhai has made it big! And above all he has given you the love and respect you deserve. I am so sorry that my family walked away from both of you when you needed them most...yet bhai brought me here..."he choked on his words.

Anjali wiped her tears and smiled broadly. "Let bygones be bygones Aakash...when Chhotey told me on the phone that he was getting you here I could not believe my ears!"

"Do you think he has he forgiven us, Di?" Aakash asked her

"I don't know that Aakash but he has accepted you as his brother because he told me he is not going to sit quietly twiddling histhumbs while the Mallik goons threaten you! He said, if they have the courage let them come to RM and try to lay a hand on a Raizada!"

"He said that!" Aakash said excitedly.

"His very words!" Anjali grinned at Aakash.

"Oh thank you, thank you Di...at least the ice is breaking, I might not have failed in my mission to bring the Raizadas together after all!"

"Don't thank me Aakash. The only person who really convinced Chhotey is..."

"Khushi ji!" Aakash interjected.

Anjali looked at him astonished.

"Both the sisters are wonderful..."Aakash continued with a far away look on his face.

"Both sisters?" Anjali looked at Aakash curiously.

Aakash grew red in face.

"Di I hope bhai will like me.."he said changing the topic.

"Of course he will! " Anjali smiled at him reassuringly.

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

"Shyam, where are you? Still in Lucknow with that s*** Sheela, while your wife and her brother are challenging my guts!" Subhadra Mallik hollered over the phone.

"Calm down dadiji, calm down and tell me what has happened?"Shyam tried to pacify her wondering what was going on.

"I tried to scare Devyani Raizada's grandson out of Delhi so that he would not be able to contact Anjali! But Arnav has not only got in touch with him but has actually given him shelter in his own home! It is no longer a cat and mouse game, you understand Shyam! Arnav is challenging us openly!"

Shyam was rendered speechless. "What...what...," he spluttered.

Dadi's temper soared " Go back to Raizada Mansion at once and see what the three cousins are upto!"

"Aakash will try to convince them to meet their Nani...and that is what I am afraid of!" Subhadra Mallik said in a quiet voice and disconnected the line.

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

Anjali looked from one brother to the other and sighed. They had sat down for dinner 5 minutes ago and neither had uttered a single word. In fact Arnav had studiously avoided Aakash ever since he had come down for dinner and this attitude was making poor Aakash nervous by the second. He was playing with the food on his plate while looking at Arnav with doleful eyes.

Chhotey is too much! Anjali thought. He is deliberately making Aakash uncomfortable. Yet he is the one who brought him home.

She tried to make conversation with Aakash.

"Aakash why are you not eating? Didn't you like the food?" Anjali asked gently placing her hand on Aakash's shoulders,

"No no Di, I love Alloo paranthas!" Aakash said with a nervous smile, "And these are very delicious!"

"To ek aur lijiye Aakash bhaiya...garam garam alloo parantha, makhan lagai ke!(Then take another hot alloo parantha with butter!)," HP beamed dropping another parantha on his plate.

"Arrey arrey I can't eat any more Hari Prakash bhaiya..." Aakash shrieked through his frazled nerves.

And then he made what he thought was a brilliant move. He took the parantha from his plate and put it in Arnav's plate. "Bhai...please have this!"

HP gestured frantically at Aaksh! Arnav bhaiya and aloo paranthas! Aakash bhaiya to gaye! (Aakash bhaiya is done for!)

Anjali was terribly nervous at this faux pas by Aakash! Chhotey would be furious! He was so fussy about his food!

"Err...Aakash, Chhotey hates oily food!" she shook her head in despair.

"Oh dear! I didn't know..." Aakash sprang up from his chair.

"What the! Stop this nonsense everyone! " Arnav's voice boomed above the din!

Suddenly there was pin drop silence!

Arnav stared at Di's, Aakash's and HP's drawn faces one by one and his lips puckered in a barely visible smirk.

"Aakash sit down and finish your dinner," he commanded. "And eat the paranthas! You need all the strength don't you to fight Ajit chacha's goons!" He smirked.

Anjali smiled inwardly. She knew this was her Chhotey's back handed way of saying he cared for the well being of his cousin.

"Excuse me," Arnav said getting up from the chair, "I have some pending office work..."

He had turned to go when Aakash blurted rather loudly, "Bhai...!"

Arnav stood still and looked back sideways.

"Bhai, " Aakash repeated this time more confidently,"Nani told me before I came to Delhi, once you take me under your wing I will have nothing to fear..."

Arnav's eyes clouded for a second, but his face remained impassive. He walked away without any comment.

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

A slight breeze ruffled his hair as Arnav stood by the poolside and gazed into the inky black sky and the glittering stars.

Anjali stepped up behind him. "Chhotey...what are you thinking?" she said gently, looping her arm into his.

He shrugged his shoulders but did not answer immediately.

Then letting out a deep breath he whispered,"What is Maa telling me Di?"

" You tell me Chhotey..."

"I don't know..." he shrugged his shoulders defeatedly.

"But you do Chhotey, you do, "Anjali turned him towards her and holding both his hands continued gently... "Maa is thanking you for accepting Aakash and I think she would like you to meet her mother, our Nani..."

"Why Di why? Why now?" he said in a strangled voice.

"There is always a time for every thing Chhotey, I don't know why, but there always is...and I believe what Devi Maiyya does she does for our good...she has bought us this far..."

"No Di we have come this far in spite of your gods, I have written my own destiny..." Arnav said in a cold voice.

Anjali opened her mouth to say something but she glanced at his grim face and realized it was no point arguing with Chhotey. She had wanted to share something with him...a moment from the past...but that would have to wait too, she winced.

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

Khushi lay wide awake in her bed, her eyes focussed on the dangling stars above her bed.

Was he staring at the stars too...she wondered.

Hey Devi Maiyya why am I going on thinking about him with this...this...wistful longing...ever since we left the rose garden...

She turned on her side and sighed.

Her phone vibrated. She looked at the big wall clock. It was 2 a.m. Who was calling her at this time of the night...

Unless...

She saw his name flash on the screen and her heartbeat raced.

"Arnav why are you calling me at this time of the night, is everything okay?" she tried to sound casual.

She was not expecting his strangled,"No...nothing is...without you...I wish you were with me now..."

Her lips parted and wavered, but no words emitted.

The line went dead.

She clutched her heart as it burst with a strange painful pleasure! He needed her! Right then she would have given everything in the world to run to him in the night and throw herself in his arms with abandon...and soothe him on her heart shamelessly without a care as to who thought what about them...

wiwy

nice chap!!

Loved d update