ArshiFF#6 THE SEED OF PASSION,Ch 53,p.134, 20Feb - Page 59

Dear friends🤗

Chapter 52

Khushi smiled at Arnav as she approached him...a smile that bounced in her eyes like the bountiful sunshine growing all around them.

Arnav sharply withdrew his breath and stood rooted at the spot , his eyes seeing only Khushi's beauty and innocence and drowning in her smile, oblivious to Aakash and Aman who were trying hard to suppress their knowing smiles.

Arnav and Khushi...their eyes locked as if for eternity...

Till Arnav remembered that he had to meet Rahim chacha whom his men had removed to a safehouse in Darjeeling and above all ensure Khushi's safety from Shyam's marauding men.

"Khushi," he whispered...

"Hmm..." Khushi murmured.

"Khushi" he said more forcefully, "Listen this is important! You must leave Darjeeling with Aman and Aakash. I will follow later.."

"What?" Khushi said incredulously, her eyes flashed panic, "I am not going anywhere without you..." she stated.

"Khushi, please you must go...I have some important work...I will catch up with you..."

Khushi rolled her eyes at her Laad governor and folded her hands over her chest in defiance.

This isn't working Arnav thought in despair...how can I make her leave and go to the safety of her home...

And then he said, "Your Babuji and your family members must be very concerned Khushi, so..."

Her expression changed and she clamped her palm to her mouth which had turned into a nice round saucer just like her big hazel eyes! In all the time she had spent with Arnav since their glider accident she had hardly thought of how worried her Babuji, Buaji and Jiji must be for her! They must be worried sick! How come the thought did not occur to her!

"Hey Devi Maiyya! They must all be very tense. I hope Babuji is okay ...

I must return home immediately!" Khushi said in a shaky voice.

Aakash stepped forward, "Yes Khushiji , I will take you back at once..."

"Yes that would be best Khushi. Also get NK released from the hospital in Darjeeling and take him with you..." Arnav suggested.

"Oh yes poor NK!" Khushi made a sad face.

"Great! That is settled then! You are going back!" Arnav said with aplomb.

But inside the very thought of Khushi leaving was suffocating him and he suddenly he turned around without so much so as glancing at her and took long strides that carried him inside the lodge.

He looked around the lodge which held the memories of last night...they had never been... rather never felt so close like last night...a night when he had almost lost her...

And that is what he did not want, he thought resting his head on the wall, Shyam's men were close by and he wanted Khushi to leave...

The air in the lodge softened with her presence and Arnav turned around quickly to see her eyeing him thoughtfully.

"You cannot get rid of me so easily..." she pouted, her eyes swimming with unshed tears.

How he hated to see those painful tears in her eyes! But he did not know how else to make her go to a safe and secure home...that is something he could never give her...

"Khushi.." he said in a strangled voice and reaching out tucked the waving strand of hair behind her ear.

She brushed his hand away brusquely and demanded angrily, "Why can't we go back home together?"

" Those those men attacked you here...what if something happens to you?!" she shuddered, remembering how Shyam's men had attacked them in the lodge and suddenly she turned around and crashed into his chest, hugging him tightly, tears now flowing ceaselessly...

"Khushi," he embraced her and kissed her soft hair, "I will be fine, I promise. Aman will be with me. If this work had not been important I would have never let you go..."

"No, no..." she sobbed into his shirt.

Arnav sighed and cupping her face lifted her tearful eyes to meet his promising ones. He kissed away her tears gently, one by one, and said softly... "Okay wait for me at NK's hospital, we will take the flight out of Darjeeling together...theek hai ?"

Khushi pouted at first and then seeing the pleading look in his eyes nodded her head in affirmation slowly.

"Good girl..." Arnav smiled at her charmingly and taking her hand led her out of the lodge...

They glanced back, just one last time, treasuring the wonderful memories of their time spent in the lodge.

Aakash parked the jeep in the parking lot of the hospital and jumped out. He looked back. Khushi was still sitting in the back seat of the jeep, lost in thought.

"Khushiji?" he addressed loudly.

Khushi turned towards him abruptly startled.

"A penny for your thoughts, Khushiji..." he grinned at her.

Khushi smiled back weakly. The person she was thinking of was worth many such pennies...

Suddenly he heard NK's loud voice. He was sitting outside in the hospital garden, soaking in the morning sun and was pleasantly delighted to see his friend at long last!

"Khushi, main tumhara mazhar kar raha tha! (Khushi I was making your grave!)" NK shouted happily.

Khushi giggled. Mazhar nahi NK intezar! (Not making your grave but waiting for you!)"

"Yes yes," NK saud scratching his head sheepishly. "The news of your accident was on tv and I was so worried. Is Arnav okay too?"

Khushi just nodded her head slowly, hope he was okay.

"He had some work, he will be here soon..." she said trying to smile.

"But what have you done to your leg," she said pointing at the bandage on his feet, "you were admitted with an appendicitis NK...!"

"They mistook my toe for the appendix...".NK said somberly.

"Hey Devi maiyya!" Khushi shrieked.

"Relax Khushiji. He is just pulling your leg!" Aakash laughed behind her.

Khushi sighed in relief!

NK grinned, "I foolishly slipped in the bathroom and cut myself badly, but my wound was taken care of immediately"

"I wish bhai had also got his bleeding leg treated..." Aakash sighed looking around at the hospital.

"What do you mean Aakashji? What happened to Arnav? His leg was bleeding? " Khushi asked anxiously.

"Oh its nothing Khushiji, he walked so many miles carrying you, he must have stumbled and hurt himself somewhere..."

"What? He carried me for miles? He was hurt and bleeding! " Khushi's tears clouded her eyes! Why hadn't she noticed that he was hurt too! He had tended to her wounds but had not cared about his own...

"Arey Khushi don't worry Arnav ka bhi pyaaz ho jayega! (Hey Khushi don't worry Arnav will also get an onion!)

"Pyaaz nahi ilaaj NK!(Arnav will not get an onion but a treatment, NK!)" Khushi answered in reflex.

" But how?" she wailed, " Arnav is not here and he needs medicines..."

"Later Khushiji...after bhai joins us..." Aakash said cursing himself for opening his mouth about Arnav's wound.

But it was too late!

" No not later . Take me to him now!" she said stamping her foot and glaring at Aakash...tears trickling down her soft flushed cheeks.

Aman adjusted the binoculars to his eyes and murmured, "Something is wrong ASR.."

"What, what is...?" Arnav asked him shading his eyes against the sun and staring at the the house in the distance, nestled strategically between two mountains.

"Our,men should have been on guard. I had left strict instructions with them that you did not want Rahim chacha to be left unguarded and alone for a single moment..."

"And? " Arnav was apprehensive.

"I can see no one on guard..." Aman's face fell.

"Well we must move in quickly and get to Rahim chacha..."

"But what if Shyam and Ajit's mem are in there, waiting to pounce on us...?" Aman reasoned.

"Great!" ASR said clenching and unclenching his fist, a slow smirk glinting dangerously on his lips, "I would like to try my punch at some more of Shyam's men!"

Aman who was feeling a bit down suddenly grinned, "Yes good idea ASR!" he said springing up besides him.

"My ideas are always good, Aman!" ASR reminded Aman.

"Yes sir," Aman muttered and followed his boss as he moved stealthily towards the safe house.

Rahim chacha was awakened by someone shaking him roughly. He sat up on the comfortable bed and peered at the silhoutte standing near his bed. " Where, where is he? Has he come? '" Rahim chacha said excitedly rubbing his eyes.

"Who are you talking about, old man?" the man snorted.

"Arnav...Arnav bitwa has he come? Where is he? How long do I have to wait for him? You said he will be here soon."

The man in the dark did not answer but swiftly left the room and dialled a number.

"Boss, I think ASR will be here soon. This old man is eager to meet him. ASR's men must have told him that ASR will see him soon."

"Splendid," Shyam smacked his lips, "so now Rahim chacha is no longer with ASR's men but in your hands?"

Rocky smiled like a wolf. "Yes boss! We have rounded up ASR's men and locked them up! They will be of no help to ASR if he comes here to fetch the old man!"

"Ha ha! Now ASR will fall into my trap at last! And that will be the end of him! Then winning over gullible Ranisaahiba will not be a problem at all !" Shyam cackled.

"Pass me the revolver Aman, I think I saw some movement near the window," Arnav whispered, hiding pushing Aman down behind a big boulder and sinking down besides him, planning the next plan of action in his shatir dimaag.

"Be careful ASR! They could be Shyam's men!" Aman whispered back urgently, his face dark, removing the revolver from his trouser pocket and handing it to his boss.

"Aman shut up ! This is the hundredth time you have asked me to be careful..." Arnav growled at him.

"I promised Anjali ji I would look after your well being..." Aman replied defensively

"Is that so?" Arnav looked at him curiously, as if for the first time, taking in his embarrassed expression...

Suddenly Arnav clapped Aman's shoulder and said somberly, "You are a good man Aman. If something happens to me remember to take care of Di won't you?"

Aman blinked his eyes rapidly in astonishment but before he could say anything Arnav turned away and made his way towards the safe house, sprinting from behind one boulder to another, so that he was not visible from the house standing between the mountains.

"Yes I will always care for Anjali ji..." Aman muttered happily.

"Who are you? Where are you taking me?" Rahim chacha struggled, trying to free himself from the grip of the men who were dragging him towards another room. But his pleas fell upon deaf ears. Something was definitely wrong! The men who had brought him here were nice and caring and had provided him with all the comforts and had promised him that he would see Arnav bitwa.

But these men were rough and mean. Rahim chacha was frightened.

It was foolish of him to believe that he would be able to meet Arnav bitwa after so many years. He should not have left without informing his niece, Naira. Would these men kill him. Why?

"You are hurting me! Let me go!" Rahim chacha screamed as the men tightened their hold on him.

"Didn't you hear what Rahim chacha said! Let him go!" Arnav's voice wascommanding! at the door. The men looked up startled. A tall man was leaning against the door, his legs crossed, his arms folded on his chest, a smirk on his lips.

"Who are you? Get out of our way!" one of Shyam's men shouted and whipped the gun off his shoulder and pointed it at Arnav.

Arnav slided off the door nonchalantly and said, "I am Arnav Singh Raizada!"

"Arnav bitwa..." Rahim chacha gasped... "Is that really you?"

"Yes! He is!" Rocky announced walking up close behind Arnav, " And now he is our prisoner! I was lying in wait for you in the shadows...You think you are very smart, don't you ASR?" Rocky said pointing his gun at Arnav.

In a split second Arnav turned around and kicked the gun from Rocky's hand and it went flying. Arnav grabbed Rocky's neck with one strong arm and whisked his revolver from his pocket and pointed it at Rocky's temple.

"Tell these scoundrels to release Rahim chacha...otherwise...Arnav Singh Raizada ka nishana kabhi nahin chookta...!(never misses his aim...!)"

In the blink of an eye the tables had turned in Arnav's favour.

"Hold your fire and let the old man go, you dumb fools, do you want ASR to kill me!" Rocky screamed in panic at his goons.

The men hesitated but pushed Rahim chacha towards Arnav...

Tears of relief rolled down Rahim chacha's face and he wobbled towards Arnav, his arms outstretched chanting, "Arnav bitwa, humarey Chhotey...Chhotey..."

Arnav kept his revolver pointed at Rocky but unwound his arm from his neck and grasped Rahim chacha's outsretched fingers...a touch that reawakened many happy childhood memories in him...

"Rahim chacha, my man Aman is waiting for you in his car, you go down first, I will follow you..." he said glancing at Rahim chacha for a brief second before returning his focus to Rocky and his men.

Rahim chacha looked up at the tall handsome young man, towering and shining over all others and smiled and left the room.

"How long can you keep your gun pointed at me? Do you think you can overpower all of us alone? You think you are very smart?" Rocky laughed at Arnav.

"I don't think I am smart! I know I am smart!" Arnav smiled charmingly. "Because befor I came to this room, I unlocked my men in the other room..."

The sound of footsteps behind him confirmed his words and Rocky's face fell.

" I warn you, they are now a very angry lot..." Arnav said in a low dangerous voice and threw back his head and laughed throatily, before coolly turning on his heels and joining Aman and Rahim chacha outside.

Payal dialled the number of Gupta household and waited. The phone kept on ringing.

"Hand me your phone..." Naniji took Payal's phone, her heart raced as the phone got connected and a woman's loud voice boomed at the other end,

"Hayye re Nand Kisore!! Payal bitiya where are you? I hope you have left Anjali's Nani's house and are coming back home immediately along with Khushi bitiya..."

Nani cleared her voice, "Madhumati is that you? I am Arnav-Anjali's nani, Devyani Raizada, you remember me don't you from our Lucknow days?

There was a pause before Buaji spoke, "Yes Devyani I had called up your home sometime back. Your daughter-in-law picked up the phone and she was rather unconcerned about my nieces..."

Nani said quickly, "I am sorry Madhumati. I apologise on behalf of Manorama... I will send Payal to Delhi as soon as I can..."

"And what about Khusi bitiya? Where is she? Is she still in Darjeeling? Why? And what is all this...on television? People are saying things...about our Khushi and your grandson..." Madhumati sounded terribly distressed.

"Its all rubbish Madhumati! My grandson would never harm your niece or take advantage of her in any way...!" Nani explained.

"I understand Madhumati, society is mean on girls...but don't panic. Also tell Shashi. Kamlesh Khabri is making a mountain of a mole hill. Aakash and Aman have found Khushi and Arnav. Aakash has informed me that no harm has come to Khushi bitiya and he will be returning with her from Darjeeling today..." Devyani said in a rush.

"Are you giving me your word?" Madhumati asked in despair

"Yes, I promise...she will be with me in Kolkata tonight." Devyani said confidently.

"She better be or we will be forced to go to Subhadra Mallik! Subhadraji has already contacted Shashi babua and wants us to go to Sheeshmahal to sort out the matter!" Buaji hung up the phone.

The jeep climbed up the mountain...and Khushi said once again tearfully, "How far Aakashji? Where is this place? Where is Arnav?"

"Khushi yaar gobar karo! (Dear Khushi have cowdung!)" Nk said trying to console her.

"Gobar karo nahi sabar karo, NK! (Not have cowdung NK, but have patience!)", Aakash said rolling his eyes.

NK winked at him and Aakash realized that NK was just trying to make Khushi laugh but traces of any smile had been wiped away from her grim face and her eyes were despondent. Only one person could bring that smile back...

Aakash glanced at his watch. The safehouse was still half an hour drive uphill and they were bound to miss their flight out of Darjeeling in Khushi's mad insistence to go after Arnav! She had put her foot down...she would not leave without Arnav! And honestly speaking, Aakash was also worried about his bhai ! And NK looked distressed too.

Suddenly Khushi shouted,"Hey Devi Maiyya! Look ahead! There they are!"

A vehicle was coming downhill at top speed! Oh God! It seemed Aman was on the wheels! And yes that was bhai besides him! And in the back seat...? Gosh! Was that...was that Rahim chacha! Aakash screeched the jeep to a halt!

A smile more dazzling that the twilight orange sun lit up Khushi's eyes! She had seen him...Without waiting for a second she leapt out of the jeep and ran towards his car.

Arnav stared at the dainty figure rushing towards them!

"What the! Khushi! Dammit! What is she doing here!" he muttered to himself and and gestured to Aman to stop their jeep.

Four pair of eyes watched in relief and happiness as he jumped out of the car, rushing towards her, his heart in his mouth.

Time stopped.

... And then the clock ticked again...slowly, savouring every moment...

Her dupatta billowing after her, in the soft evening sun, her soft fragrant body wrapped in layers of tissue of sunshine, she crashed into his hard chest, rocking him off his feet, bursting the dams of his heart... He wrapped his arms round her, steadying her, cocooning her in his love while she sobbed over his heart, trembling in his arms, promising never to part ever... till his lips sought hers and they became one in the molten sun...

My apologies again for posting late. Thank you for reading and encouraging me always, readers and friends.⭐️

Do click 'like' 👍🏼if you liked the chapter😃. And I will be back...with more of our Arnav Khushi as their life takes a new turn...😉

Love you all !❤️ Have a great year ahead!

wiwy😊