Disclaimer:
The characters in this fiction are taken from the TV show Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon for Star Plus TV channel by The Four Lions Productions. However, the entire story line is my work. The added characters, their names, businesses, places, events, and incidents are the products of my imagination and used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental.
Pics Credit: Google
Banner Credit: Me😆
Chapter Twelve
Khushi waited for Harshbardhan Kashyap to speak. The man who was legally her father but couldn't make their relation better than the far-off relatives. But she didn't hold any grudges against the man because at least she had a roof over her head, good food to eat good clothes to wear and the bonus of getting a good education because of this man.
She wanted Lav to see it as simply as she saw it. But that girl was stubborn on her point if he had taken you in as his daughter then at least he could try to be a friend if not a father. Did you ask him for this favour? Then why he is so self-satisfied and why my mother is so imposing? I will make them see.'
And Khushi feared how far the girl would go in her goal to show her parents what she thought their fault. When that girl would understand that maybe her father had pushed her to this job but she was okay with what she did. Sometimes she even enjoyed what she did. Moreover, this way she could live a life she had known since she was a child. Life of a nomadic. The only drawback of this life was she missed her friend sometimes by her side but that's okay she had been living with the feeling of loss since she had known life.
"The man had been tight-lipped since he was brought here." He finally looked up from the screen of his laptop.
"That can be changed if you let Nik talk to him," Khushi replied confidently.
"And make the man a mess of torn skin and broken bones," Harshbardhan stated with his eyebrows pulling up.
"We cannot leave him alive anyway. If he goes back to his people, they would know what we are up to. We have to stage his death as an accident so little bit torn skin and broken bones will only help us to establish our story," She said simply.
Mr Kashyap looked away smirking before he nodded his head and called Nik giving him permission for the interrogation.
"How did you crack what those mail suggested?" Mr Kashyp asked out of curiosity.
She left her seat and walked to one of the windows of the plush leaving room of the Kashyap residence. She saw Mrs Kashyap gardening in the frontier. Her beloved hobby. Of course with the gloves and apron.
The lady was something. An upstart with a sense of kindness towards the poorer people until they stayed out of her house. She was compassionate towards the ones she wanted to be otherwise she was painfully polite. She was a perfect mother, mentor, caregiver for the daughter she shared her blood with otherwise she pretended to like a next door snooty aunty who liked to keep her concern for the neighbour girl as much as courtesy called for. And if she was grateful to the girl for some reason then she was little more accommodating.
She was brought back from her musing when Mr Kashyap came to stand beside her and when he followed what she was watching he said with a smile that clearly showed how much he was taken by the lady in the talk, "She has planted some new exquisite plants. They need extra care and she is working hard to keep them growing."
Khushi saw his face and then Mrs Kashyap an exquisite beauty herself even in her 50s and smiled. A smile that expressed the unsaid and good that Mr Kashyap didn't notice or else he couldn't have met her eyes again.
She went back to what they were talking previously and answered his question bluntly, "all those emails had a very short message along with a phone number, which for any normal people would look like sex invitation. For simple people, they would ignore and if some jerk called in the numbers then I was sure the calls won't get through. But again they would not have bothered why the call didn't connect." She turned to face Kashyap "And that's what intrigued me. Why send such number which won't work? They have to be something significant. The messages were so small and to the point that if those numbers meant nothing then those messages didn't make any sense." She took a pause to breathe and then continued to explain, "Then when I was watching the company parking from my office window when it clicked me as I saw a car leave from gate number 1 from the parking spot 1 and I absentmindedly checked the time on my watch which was set in 24 hours format and showed me 14:20."
She walked back to seat in the couch she was sitting before and concluded "and then it was very simple to decode actually. Wanna meet me tonight. Call me 402-2140= Meet me tonight at parking spot 2 near gate no 4 at 9:40/ Wanna have some fun after work. Call me 110- 2030= Meet after work at parking spot 10 near gate number 1 at 8:30/ Have fun after the sun down. Call me 511-1700=Meet me this evening at parking spot 11 near gate no 5 at 5 o'clock, from where we have caught our man. Luckily the last mail was sent that day only early in the morning and the employee had come complaining to Lav."
"Why those spots, because they were secluded and little darker part in the area where nobody really parked their car." She answered before Mr Kahshyap could ask. "I think when they found out that the employee is back before the time they decided to cancel the meeting though not soon enough. Good for us."
He nodded his head and Khushi knew it was as good as a compliment coming from him. She checked the time and left the couch saying that she needed to go.
Before she could leave she heard him say You all are making good progress but I would appreciate a little more dexterity"
Khushi nodded her head without turning and left.
Mr Kashyap went back to his laptop.
**
When Khushi was outside the house she came face to face with Mrs Kashyap who out of integrated politeness and mannerism hugged her air kissing near both her cheeks but before she could continue her formality Khushi made her excuse and exited the place faster than a thief.
**
As she drove out her car out she thanked God that Lavanya wasn't home before she took the route to the hospital. Mr Kashyap's resident was just a pit stop as Nik was cribbing since last night that how he wanted to make the man talk.
If she didn't make it to the appointment she wouldn't hear the end of it, Lavanya would make sure of that.
A small fond smile played on her lips as she drove towards the hospital
**
Arnav saw Lavanya standing near the window, watching the traffic outside. The screen saver dancing on the laptop indicating she hadn't been working for a while. He came to stand beside her watching her profile from the side.
What do you want to talk about Arnav? Lavanya asked straight.
"Khushi," he whispered. It came out like a gasp of breath which was caught in the throat since sometimes in a need of release.
Lavanya turned to him astound. He hadn't talked about her she can't tell since when, but little more than one and half a year maybe, with anyone in the family let alone friends. She was a part of him that he kept private only for his to cherish and grieving. So it came as a complete shock for Lavanya when he expressed his wish to talk about Khushi with her.
She kept looking in his eyes and before she knew it her eyes filled up. She turned to the window to hide her emotions. It was crumpling.
Earlier, she wanted to talk to Arnav to ease her heart because they were going through same loss but he never gave a chance and now when the sense of loss had changed into a conflict between finding relief and loyalty he comes asking about her.
She gulped the urge to scream and howl and asked slowly "what? What do you want to talk about, she gulped before she could say, her?"
"All about her." Arnav croaked.
Lavanya turned her head to peer in his eyes. To understand the reason behind this sudden change but all she saw was a bleakness. Sighing she turned to look out again and asked what she wanted to know "I was there in the same house as you for the last two years if you haven't noticed?" she couldn't help the sarcasm. "When you never came to me then what changed suddenly?" she was sceptical too.
"I heard you talking to your father last evening" Arnav accepted little guiltily.
Lavanya's turned sharply to his direction. She had heard of the expression heart drop into your stomach but never she felt so acutely. What did he hear? Stupid stupid stupid!! She should have been careful. What had he heard? Oh God, Khushi would be so disappointed in her if the truth of her being alive reviled to Arnav before time. And Arnav what he would be feeling? Betrayed! But wait a minute if he would have heard all of their conversation he couldn't have been waiting for 24 hours to come and talk to her. He would have barged in then there.
The thought calmed her rapidly beating heart somewhat and in a blink her face wore the composed mask as she asked with feigned authority "what did you hear?"
"Where you were accusing your father of not being fair to Khushi" then he hurriedly added "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I came there to say hello to uncle and you were loud enough for me to hear. Then I heard what you were saying and for several moments I couldn't move but as soon I realised what I am doing I left." He finished and lapsed into fidgety silence.
Lavanya breathed to let her inside settle. Then she said to make things light, "It's okay Arnav. It wasn't intentional and I wasn't really quiet, was I?" She smiled to put him at ease. But he hardly noticed.
"Please tell me," he pleaded.
She thought for a moment that how far she can reveal her friend's life to Arnav. And also how she can keep Arnav away. For him her friend is dead. And now if he wanted to know something about her she cannot really give the excuse of invading privacy. But if she revealed too much then when Khushi comes to know she might not like it.
Again she felt like she was standing in the centre of a tug of war. Whichever side she fell she will have to face the music from another side.
Helplessly she looked up and her eyes fell on Arnav's face. It looked eager, disturbed and agonised. His face made her decision. She could not tell him all but she could sure tell him the beginning which only she knew from the start.
And then she started...
"I had been kidnapped when I was seventeen and had been taken to a brothel you know for what and there I first met Khushi," she ignored his colourless face because she knew it was only the start of a dreadful story which only gets worse as it continues.
She told him about their first meeting and conversation. She told him how Khushi was sold to the brothel after she had served her period as a child beggar and child labour. She told him how she had taken a risk so that she could save her soul. She told him how they were rescued.
"Then when my father reached the place he was told how Khushi had been instrumental in saving me and freeing all the girls. For the first time, I saw my father being grateful to someone."
"When I came to know that Khushi will be sent to official custody until the case hearing and then to an orphan I was horrified at that thought knowing what had happened to Khushi when she was sent to one before. I asked my father if we could take Khushi home and for some reason, my father agreed. So when the case hearing was done my parents legally adopted Khushi. I was so happy to have her in my life. I was happy that Khushi had found a home in mine."
She sighed as she looked up to see Arnav's stone face "But I was wrong to think that. It was never a home for her because home is where your family is. And she never had one in that home other than me as her sister and friend. My father had been a well-wisher and responsible guardian for her but never a father to her and my mother, well she was a different story all together. Let's say legally she had parents and a home but personally, she had a room in a house where she was a non-payed guest who was treated decently because she had saved the daughter of the house from a harrowing fate. So as soon as she completed her college she moved out and not surprisingly other than me no one protested."
She released a long breath after talking so much, Turning, she walked to the work table to grab the water bottle from there. She dared not to look at Arnav's face because she knew it would look devastated and she did not feel like witnessing that. So she drank the water from the bottle taking her sweet time.
While turning the cap of the bottle she wondered what Arnav had been thinking. It had been more than a minute that she had stopped talking and now she had finished drinking water as well. But the man did not utter a word neither he moved out. She contemplated whether to turn and ask or just turn and comfort him when she heard him ask quietly, "How her parents died."
What happened? Did his taste change?
No, he died
A part of a conversation he had long back played in a loop in his head as he heard the heartbreaking tale of a small girl who hardly got a chance to live.
Lavanya whirled towards him and saw him looking steadily at a point on the opposite wall. His face was white. No wonder. as it looked all the blood from his body had stored into his eyes. His hands shook but she knew it was due the emotional storm within.
She gulped fearing he would pass out if she said anymore but as he asked again in a harsh tone she knew he wouldn't rest until he knew so she told him.
"Nobody knew not even me until one day I saw Khushi searching the internet for some old news. As I peeped on the screen I saw her reading an 11 years old news about an honour killing. When I asked her why she was reading such disturbing old news she said bluntly. The victims who were killed in this news were my parents.
Arnav dropped on the nearest chair like a log but Lavanya was in a trance to notice that otherwise she wouldn't have continued. "And then she had told me what had happened on that day and how her mother finding no other way to save themselves chose a less painful death for their child. But she was saved that night only to land in a murkier life."
"She told me that she did not remember much of her parents other than their names. She wanted to know who were they and why they had been mated such fate and that's why she was searching the net for some news. And then both of us had read it together,"
"Garima Gupta a girl from Varanasi had fallen in love with an Anglo-Indian Adley Grover who came to supervise a construction near her colony. But when the story fell in the ear of Garima's family they tried every trick in the book to stop them. But one night Garima eloped with Adley and went to West Bengal where Adley took a job of supervision in A power plant. He would have taken her out of the country buts she hadn't carried any document to apply for a passport. They thought when they were in Bengal no one can find them as no one knew them here. So they thought to settle down before they could leave the country. But as luck would have it after six years peaceful married life with a five years old daughter, one day one of her far off relative saw her there and informed her family. Soon they arrived with shining swords and burning torches."
"Adley Grover's slain body in was found in the quarter they used to live in. Two days later Garima's body was too found when it floated to the nearest river bank and got stuck there. Their baby girl was missing and was assumed dead. Rest of the story you already know." She said rubbing her face with both hands to get rid of the annoying tears that flowed non-stop from her eyes.
"Aleen was her Christian name given by her father which she used mostly. She was Khushi for her mother and me until she met you" with that Lavanya ended her story and heard the quiet bang of the door of her cabin announcing Arnav's departure.
**
Arnav restlessly paced the length of his office. She didn't come. Is she really that unwell?
The thought made him restless. He wanted to call but if she wasn't really feeling good and resting he didn't want to disturb. He then thought of asking La, but then left the idea as he remembered how pissed she looked yesterday when Di insulted Khushi. He wouldn't be welcome nicely if he went to her. She wouldn't know that he already had apologised.
After another round, he swore loud "f**k it" and grabbed his car keys. He moved towards the door fast but stopped about to put his hand on the knob.
The doubt came from nowhere, why he was so worked up thinking about her? About her well-being? He had been attracted towards the woman before but never had he been so mindful about their feelings and health. What happened this time?
Is it more than what he thought? Is it what he had accepted almost playfully that evening?
Little unnerved by his train of thought he curled his fingers. Taking back his hand from the knob he stepped back from the door to go back to his seat and cool his head. He was almost near his table when the door behind him opened with a click. He whirled back only to see the reason of his distress standing in all her glory.
For a moment he thought he was hallucinating, but as she walked in slowly, overcome with all going in his head he closed the gap between them in 2-3 quick steps and took her in a welcoming hug, taking her by surprise.
He didn't even know when he whispered "I missed you" But the effect was instantaneous because soon he felt her hands come around him awkwardly before she said, "It took me some time to reach."
In response, he pushed her a little more in his embrace near the organ that beat loudly in her presence and sighed in kind of pleasure that he never felt before. He was right that he is falling in love or already have.
Khushi didn't know that her right hand was resting on top of his heart, but as she heard him breathe out and felt his heart beat, automatically, her finger curled on the fabric of his shirt and maybe for the first time she felt somewhat peaceful.
**
Arnav drove out of the office speeding like a jet. He didn't know how far and how long he drove. His head was buzzing with what Lavanya had told about her.
He didn't know how to express but he felt an acute pain in the region where his heart lay. He felt distorted. He felt the desolation of that child, who was wronged by the society and bereft of every little thing a child required in growing up years, mostly love. He felt her longing, her pain and rueful acceptance of her life and how she might have trained herself to be satisfied with what she got. Now he understood why she was so wary of accepting his care, concern and love.
He had a chance to change it all give her all that she was missing her in life but, he had lost it. The fate named bitch had caught up with her once again and took her away when they both had just started dreaming a life together.
Today more than grief he felt the remorse. If only he could have little more time with her.
The car ground to a halt as he pressed the break hard. Throwing the door almost out of its hinge Arnav jumped out of the car on a lonely road. He paced around the car restlessly trying to control his emotions, that were all over the place. Unbeknownst to him his eyes were flowing continuously.
Tired, he dropped on the ground on his knees near his car and sobbed loudly, grieving for the lost child and the woman he had lost.
His every howl of anguish echoed in the place as he wept for his lost chance and lost love. His bent head shook violently. He pushed his face more and more into his hands as he got louder.
**
"I am going in there. Make sure Alee doesn't know." Aby cut the call as he cut the call. Lavanya had called him after Arnav had disappeared from office fearing his safety.
He had tracked down Arnav soon and followed him till here. He had watched from afar standing behind a stiff rock as Arnav vented all his pent up emotion.
He had given him time to come to terms with his knowledge about what he had learnt about Alee from La, which he had an idea about, but not the full story. In the meantime, he had called La and informed that he had found Arnav, also instructing her not to tell Alee about what happened. He didn't want to cause an additional worry for when she already had her plate full.
Seeing that Arnav had calmed down considerably and was sitting leaning on his car with his eyes closed, he slowly crossed the distance between them.
He saw how Arnav was staring at nothing with unseeing eyes. He knew he didn't know of his presence till now.
He sat down beside him making enough noise for Arnav to notice his presence.
**
Arnav turned to his left startled and was surprised to find Aby sitting beside him.
"La called. She saw you pull out from the office parking and drove away quite recklessly. She feared your safety and requested me to check on you. Alee once told me that you come to this place when you are upset. I took a chance." Aby said truthfully.
Arnav nodded but said nothing. He didn't feel like talking. He went back to his grazing hoping that Aby will leave seeing fit if not fine. But to his dismay, Aby stayed put. Watching the sun dip with him.
"You don't need to babysit me you know. You can go I promise I will reach home in one piece," He said sarcastically.
Aby didn't mind his cutting word and only smiled pissing Arnav a little more.
They both again sat in silence for few minutes.
Suddenly Aby said, "You know I had a wife."
Shocked Arnav faced him turning his head sideways, but Aby steadily stared ahead and continued to speak, "I loved her like she was my life. And why not? For an orphan getting someone in life, who loved you above all is an elating feeling and I rejoiced every bit of it until one day she left me."
He turned to see Arnav's questioning eyes and answered before Arnav could voice his query, "She died." He saw Arnav's mouth open and close like a fish out of the water. "I was devastated. You know what I mean." Arnav nodded understandingly.
"I was inconsolable. Even violent at some points." He shook his head thinking of the unthinkable thighs he had done in his grief.
"I have known Alee for few months then and I remember clearly that time how she used to come to my house regularly after work."
Arnav's curiosity peaked. He listened eagerly from there.
"She wasn't welcomed. I feel ashamed when I remember some days I didn't open the door for her asking her to go away. But she waited until I felt bad and called her in. She didn't say any word just sat by me for hours, for days, until one day, I asked why she said nothing but stayed by me. And you know what she answered," Aby finally turned to face Arnav. A serene smiled on his lips.
And I quote her exact words "Sometimes all we need is someone's presence to take our loneliness away, than any made up consoling words. Sometimes all we need is a shoulder to cry on than someone patting your shoulder for showing support. I am waiting for the day when you will realise that and take my shoulder to vent it all out. So both you and I can go on with life like rational people."
Arnav gulped. Aby's words already working its way to his heart. And a few moments later he had hugged Aby fiercely crying over his shoulder saying, "It wasn't enough. It wasn't enough. A few months were not enough with her. I wanted a lifetime."
Aby swallowed and whispered, "I know."
**
Khushi looked out through the only window in the room and thought all she had gathered so far.
When they took the case they had a lead that few companies around the world are involved in helping an underground kingpin who in turn helped the various activist and terrorist groups who wanted to create buzz through violence and gruesome killing.
This underworld Don had his unique way of making money. He didn't kill, loot or smuggle. He simply listed some companies who weren't as big to come in public and business media radar every day yet had a 200 to 500 crore turnover. Then he planted his men and also made confidence in the companies' internal system. From ground level worker to top boss. Then he made a business out of those companies' business. Squeezing money out of deals, rigging companies' finances, Selling contracts and tenders.
Ferocious criminals and terrorists who wanted a hide he also gave them shelter in these companies through his confidences. Planting them in offices par their qualification making false id and proofs to support them. And his confidences made sure not to verify them ever.
As they researched they found out how huge this network was. And this man, whoever he was, had a computer in the place of his brain. He had thought of everything in detail.
Though he didn't shed blood unnecessarily, but didn't back off when his business was threatened. In simple words, the man was dangerous if poked.
So they did their investigation as subtly as possible and finally found out a few names of the companies that might be involved with him. They also informed Interpol about their findings who in turn found out few more names around the world and started their investigation.
They spread their men in these companies, who would work to find out if the company was involved or not. If it was then their job would be to find out the men involved and also try and break the chain. The logic was simple, if they could not drown the ship altogether, they could at least try and make a few hole making it sink slowly in future.
RH was one of the prime suspects. And to their luck, they already had a link there, Lavanya. So when Arnav's previous PA took leave she helped Khushi to get inside.
She found out that their suspicion was true. They got more members involved but what came as a shock to them all was Shyam and his involvement in IB's work. Later boss explained that he was one of the many odd members of IB, who worked in the background.
He was one of the senior and capable members and was stunned himself to find out that something like this went under his nose.
No one was out of their suspect list, even Arnav.
Her train of thought broke with a knock on the door. She went to open the door to find Shyam waiting outside.
Her face hardened showing her dislike and unbound anger towards the person, but keeping your composer in the most difficult situation was a part of their training, so she ushered him in calmly and closed the door behind.
She didn't say a word and walked towards the mat on the floor and sat down on it, waiting for Shyam to speak, who at that moment looked very fidgety.
**
Arnav entered the mansion quietly and was in the way to go to his room when Anjali appeared before him.
She looked radiant and quite excited about something and for some reason that grated on his nerves. So when she opened her mouth Arnav harshly interrupted her showing his hand and gritted out "not now" before leaving the place in fast step.
Unable to stomach the harsh treatment from her small brother Anjali's eyes welled up and she hurriedly retreated to her room.
**
She was 7 years old when her mother died and with Dadi's insistence after a year his father married Ratna Ma. She was a great lady almost like a ma to her.
It was all going well until one day she came to know that Ratna Ma was pregnant. She thought once the brother or sister came she wouldn't be as loved as she was then and created a ruckus over it.
When everyone berated or chided her, Ratna Ma understood her fear and told her that she will be as loved as before, but with the new brother or sister coming, with the love she would get the respect of being the elder sister. She would be almost like a mother to him/ her. So she need not worry.
And then when Arnav came she took Ratna Ma's word too seriously and pretended to be his mother taking care of all his needs and loving him like her favourite doll, whom she thought her daughter and wanted to marry off to her chosen groom.
Family adored the way sister and brother bonded. Ratna was happy and relieved.
So when Akash came and all were busy caring for the new member Anjali still gave more priority to Arnav and stayed in her position of being his mother figure, loving and caring for him more than anyone.
Arnav too loved her no less sometimes making Ratna jealous and complain well naturedly "Yea mera beta nehi hain. Yea toh bas apne Di ka Nannav hain" making Anjali smile in proud affection while Arnav showed his toothy grin.
These were the few moments that made her believe that she was equal to Ratna Ma in his life, maybe she believed she had more rights than Ratna Ma, and she could direct him as she pleased.
And when Ratna Ma died saying now Arnav and Akash were her responsibility she took it as her cue to be their life director and Arnav's to be particular.
That was her mistake, she realised just about a couple of years ago, a little too late.
But even though she understood her mistakes were great and maybe unpardonable yet it hurt when her first child behaved rudely with her or ignored her presence altogether.
So that evening Anjali cried like a baby over everything that had gone wrong in last two years, especially in her life.
**
I don't know what I have written today made any sense to you all, if not do ask your doubts and I will try my best to answer you all.
Thank you
Mou.
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Edited by _Oorja_ - 9 years ago
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
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