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CHAPTER 8
Khushi returned home after some time. She glanced around to see whether there was someone present. She went round the bungalow, just to confirm, and then unlocked the door. She couldn't stop thinking about the letters. If not Arnav, then who? And why? The thought of someone keeping an eye on her was troubling her. "I will find out who it is!" she said to herself, "He gave me a letter yesterday in the train... And I got another today... I am sure he will come again, maybe tonight... I will be ready this time!"
*****
Khushi thought of cleaning the house. But it was a huge place to clean everything by herself. She thought of calling a maid, who worked in the neighbouring houses, for help. That way, it would be easier and faster. Khushi went to the neighbouring bungalow to ask for the maid.
Khushi rang the doorbell. An old lady opened the door. "Yes?" she asked seeing Khushi.
"Aunty, I am Khushi... I stay there..." she said pointing to her home.
The lady looked at Khushi suspiciously. "You stay in that bungalow?" she asked. "But I have never seen you here before..."
"Actually, we shifted to Mumbai 15 years ago. Since then I haven't been here... I returned to Pune yesterday..." replied Khushi.
"15 years?!" asked the lady confused. "Well, I have been here since past 12 years... I always thought that the owner of that bungalow came here frequently... Like every 3-4 months or so... I see light there for a day or two every 3-4 months..." the old lady said mysteriously.
Khushi stared at the lady thinking, "What is she saying? We haven't been here for 15 years! Is she crazy?"
Just then another younger woman, about 50, came from inside, "Who is it Maaji?" she asked the old lady. The old lady glanced at Khushi and just turned to go inside. The younger lady then came to Khushi and asked, "Yes?"
"Hello aunty, I am Khushi... I stay in your neighbouring bungalow... Have come back after 15 years..." replied Khushi.
"Oh okay... I am Nalini... Please come inside..." said Nalini with a smile.
Looking at the old lady walking slowly into another room, Khushi replied, "No, I am fine, thank you!"
"Oh, don't worry about her... She is my mother-in-law... She keeps saying things, just ignore her..." replied Nalini.
The old lady heard this. "I only say what I see!!" she replied from inside.
Nalini looked at Khushi and said in a low voice, "She is 89. Don't take her too seriously... You know how old people are, right?"
Khushi just smiled. And then she came to the point. "Actually, I came here to ask for a maid... I want to get my house cleaned... So, I just thought of asking you" said Khushi.
"Oh... Yes, I will tell my maid, Rani, to come to your place once she gets done with her work here... She will be here by 12-12:30. So, she will come to you by around 1:30" replied Nalini.
"Great!" said Khushi, "Thank you so much Aunty!"
"Ah, no problem dear..." replied Nalini, "Why don't you come in and have some tea or coffee?"
"No, thank you aunty... I have a lot to clean at home... And I just had breakfast" replied Khushi.
Khushi turned to leave when she remembered something. She turned to Nalini again and asked, "Aunty, may I get your contact number, please?"
"Sure beta..." said Nalini. Khushi saved the number in her phone. "Do tell me if you need anything..." said Nalini with a smile.
Khushi left for her home. "Nalini aunty is so sweet..." thought Khushi. But then remembered Nalini's mother-in-law. "That old lady seemed weird!" thought Khushi as she walked to her home.
*****
The police had arrived at Khushi's home in Mumbai. Ajinkya was busy talking to the inspector as Lavanya, Karan and the others watched on.
"Did you get to speak to Khushi?" Karan asked Lavanya secretly.
"Yes, she had called..." she replied, "She is fine, nothing to worry"
Both stood silently as Ajinkya walked past them with the inspector.
The interrogation was going on. The police were taking statements of the people near and around the house. The inspector asked Ajinkya for Khushi's mobile number so that they could track her. Ajinkya requested them to find out about Khushi soon. He was acting in front of them to be very worried for Khushi. With fake tears, he said, "Where will my dear Khushi be? Hope she is fine... God bless my child...!"
The inspector patted on his shoulder saying, "Don't worry Ajinkya ji, we are trying our best... We will find Khushi soon"
*****
Arnav was constantly trying to call Khushi but wasn't able to reach her. He became restless. Amar and Veena exchanged glances looking at Arnav's condition. Amar came closer to Arnav and said, "Arnav, why are you so desperate to meet Khushi... Relax..."
"How can I relax, Papa! Her phone is not reachable. I am worried for her. Where is she? Is she alright?" said Arnav, trying to call Khushi again.
"Arnav, listen to me! You can do nothing sitting here in the ambulance... There is no use thinking about all this right now. Don't trouble yourself. Just relax... We will see afterwards what to do..." said Amar in a serious tone.
"I agree with your Papa, Arnav..." said Veena, "Taking so much tension is not good for you at the moment..."
"But Ma..." Arnav was about to defend himself when Amar cut in.
"I don't want to listen to anything! Just lie back on the bed silently and take rest" said Amar firmly.
Arnav remembered Lavanya. She will know something! He knew Khushi and Lavanya's numbers by heart, along with his family members'. He called Lavanya at once.
"Hello, who's this?" said Lavanya, receiving the call. As Arnav was calling from Amar's phone, Lavanya couldn't recognise the number.
"Lavanya... Arnav here" he said.
"Oh" Lavanya's voice suddenly lowered. "Hold on for a second!" she said. Lavanya had to make sure she was away from Ajinkya. Arnav had to wait for a while before Lavanya returned on the call.
"Where is Khushi?" asked Arnav.
Lavanya was surprised at the question. "What?" she exclaimed, "Is she not with you???"
"No Lavanya, I couldn't go with her... I will tell everything to you later... Is she fine?" asked Arnav.
"Khushi is in Pune... She had called me today morning... She is fine" replied Lavanya.
Lavanya told Arnav about Khushi buying a new sim card and about the police looking for Khushi. Now Arnav understood why he wasn't able to call Khushi. Arnav was angered knowing about Ajinkya's drama. He assured Lavanya that he would be with Khushi soon. And he also told Lavanya to take care. He quickly dialled another number murmuring, "Hope he knows where Khushi is..." But there was no response from the other side.
Arnav tried to get up in frustration and his head hit the edge of the window of the ambulance. He winced in pain as his wound began bleeding. The nurse was quick to treat the wound but the blood loss was enough for Arnav to slip into unconsciousness.
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So sorry for a short chapter đ
But it's an important one đ
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