From the author's desk: hello peeps! how are you all? thanks for all your wonderful comments, its really made my day, each one of them! some of you really surprise me- with so many minute things that you notice.
Here is another one- truly filled with Arhi moments. Let me know how you liked it in the comments.
Happy reading!
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Chapter 13: Clouds with silver lining
Part 3: Leads and trails
Khushi heard footsteps behind her and knew that Arnav was following her.
āDamn himā she thought as she quickened her pace. What was he thinking, rubbing off that attitude on her in front of everyone? As if there werenāt enough events for them to start pulling her legs.
She quickly took the turn down the second floor, hoping he would turn to his room and not follow her. Her room was in the first floor. But no, she heard him follow her to the first floor.
She almost ran to the safety of her room. She didnāt want a confrontation now, not that she was cowering, but she was not in mood for an argument, not today.
But, thanks to his long legs, his movement was swift and fast. She could sense him close behind her and when she huffed and finally turned to confront him.
āLook!ā she started to say, but his reaction was totally unexpected. He crossed her, reached the fridge and took out the water bottle and started to walk back towards the stairs.
She covered her head with dupatta immediately remembering a past experience. But he seemed to give her the silent treatment. Without even glancing her way, he crossed her with a grim expression and started to climb up the stairs.
She stood there with her jaws opened wide in surprise and seething in annoyance as she just realized that he had ignored her completely.
āWhat the hellā she blurted out as he went out of sight.
She ran back to the stairs and looked up to see if he had really gone. He had. Stamping her foot at the display of evident indifference from his side, she huffed her way to her room, muttering to herself.
***
Ten minutes later, Khushi stood in front of his bedroom door. She grew so restless at his silent treatment towards her, that she found herself standing here to sort out the issue.
She hesitated before she softly knocked at the door. There was no answer. After a wait of few seconds, she knocked again, wondering if he was inside at all. Trying the door, she found it was locked. She was about to move away when she heard the TV switching on inside the room.
Now that it was clear that he was inside and he was acting fussy, she banged at his door. After pausing a bit she raised her hand to bang even more harder when the door suddenly opened, forcing her to stop inches before his face.
He stood there crossing his arms and glaring at her as she lowered her hand.
āWhat do you think of yourself?ā asked Khushi āDonāt you behave as if you are aā¦ā she didnāt complete what she felt that he exactly behaving like.
He had coolly walked back to his recliner by the bed and had returned to watching the match, leaving her to stand by his room door, gaping at him in disbelief.
āDonāt you give me this treatment!ā she called out from the door, reluctant to step into his room, the thought of anybody else (Dadi) finding her in his room at this hour flashing across her mind.
He simply raised the volume of the television.
āDamn youā muttered Khushi as she threw all caution to the winds and stepped into his room.
Snatching the remote from his hand, she turned off the TV and glared back at him.
āYou are no different than an 8-year-old. I canāt believe you can be so sulking!ā
Arnav looked at her with a nonchalant expression. It was in a spur of the moment that he remembered from his encounter with her long back at his office cabin, that ignoring her would tick her off. Not that he wanted to do so. He was angry and so badly wanted to confront her and give her his piece of mind. But he also knew that if he argued with her, she was as good with words and would return back a good measure and it would end up in another big bout of disagreement. More than anything else, he did not want to risk giving her a reason to pack her bags to Vizag.
Honestly, he hadnāt expected that she would grow so restless with his refusing to talk to her. Controlling the need to smirk at the situation that had undoubtedly boosted his ego, he picked up his mobile, browsing through it.
As expected, that blew her fuse. Plunging forward, she angrily snatched his mobile from him and glared at him with her hands on her hips.
āI am speaking to you, Dumbo Laad Governarā
He returned to frown at her.
āOk, I know why you are angry, but wonāt you give me a chance to explain?ā asked Khushi exasperatedly.
āyou better doā he said finally, crossing his hands across his chest, leaning back on his recliner.
āBetter do?ā Khushi fumed āI donāt owe you anything, Donāt you take that tone with meā
āYou are the one who wanted to explainā he replied calmly.
āHell! I donāt know why I am standing here wanting to explain you all this so badly.ā
He heard her swear and at that moment he understood that they both were in the same boat. Their relationship was complex. It was hard to explain. It was a kind of bond that was so familiar yet so strange. They shared a kind of understanding that sometimes was scary to the point that they understood each otherās thought process without the other needing to explain too much. There was definitely a factor of underlying attraction and of course the dissimilarities with their approach to think through mind and heart. Adding to the glam was their need to take control of the situation, giving raise to their numerous infamous rows that neither cared to keep in check even in public. And with a jolt he realized that this relationship was as complicated for her to comprehend as it was for him.
āI was concerned about your safetyā told Arnav.
āI know you wereā replied Khushi with a calmness that she didnāt have moments before. āI wanted to meet him alone. Moreover, he was in the lockup. There wasnāt anything to be worried aboutā
āOh really?ā he asked coldly.
āI am not belittling your concernā she explained urgently āItās just that you should understand that I donāt take my safety for granted. I had given a thought to it and I knew what I was doingā
āDid you? Do you realize that he was involved in a conspiracy? If he was involved, his gang may be around.ā
āIt wasnāt anything like that.ā Said Khushi āSee this is why I wanted to go alone. If you approach him with prejudice, you will not get anything from him. Didnāt Rajesh and Abhi confirm that he wasnāt forthcoming? I wanted to try and get anything that would be of any help. We are without leads and I thought if there was any chance, it was via some empathy from an old friend that will persuade him to open upā
āDid he?ā
āHe did. He admitted that he did it for some money and obligations. But I donāt think he is anyway related to the scam that is going onā
Arnav gave her a sympathetic smile
āHow easy is it to convince you of his innocence Khushiā he said sarcastically
āDonāt underestimate my intelligenceā She said crossly.
āWhat else should I conclude? That man impersonated your father. He tried to defame him. That call landed us in more trouble. And you still say that he is innocent?ā
āI didnāt say he is innocent. I am only saying that I understand the circumstance that pushed him to do that. There are two kinds of people who do wrong things- the ones who are motivated by strong needs of desire and others who are forced due to circumstance. Sameer falls under the second category- mostly.ā
āWhat exactly drove him?ā Arnav asked mockingly
āHe admitted he was tempted with a movie offer that was promised, but mostly, it was for his childās treatment that he was raising fundsā
āNow I get it. Child sympathy was also thrown in? No wonder, you came back feeling sorry for himā
āNot just that, I want you to help me release him from lockupā
āWhat the fffā said Arnav āAre you crazy?ā
She didnāt flinch at his outburst.
āYou should trust me. Itā important that we earn his trust. Moreover, his child is at the hospital. I went there to confirm. His wife was all alone, struggling to meet the medical expenses. The family needs himā
āYou are crazy!ā he said shaking his head
āI am just being empathetic. Everyone does a mistake, but when they are repenting, they should be given a chanceā she pleaded.
āyou want to be empathetic with him. Does he know that his one action spurred all our lives into so much trouble?ā Arnav said angrily as he got up from the recliner āFirst of all- Do you even realize that he played with your fatherās reputation? That you and I had to pay the price for his so called mistakeā
Khushi was quiet for a while. For once, her head was bowed as she kept looking at her feet.
āThatās exactly why I wanted you to help me with his releaseā her voice came as a bare whisper.
Arnav stood there out of words. Something in her voice told him that he had touched a nerve and she was deeply troubled with that thought.
āKhushi?ā he asked tentatively. She was still looking at her feet. Was she crying? āAre you alright?ā he asked stepping forward tentatively. All his anger gone in a jiff, he wondered if he had gone too far.
āYou know Arnav ji, I always had this guilt clinging to me that I drove my father to his death. This feeling haunts me to this moment, it wouldnāt even let me mourn for him the way I should. I have been kind of using all the escapism instead of grieving but then it will all come and hit me when I am aloneā that I was the most responsible for his death.ā
A drop or two drops of tears rolled down her cheeks which she frantically tried to wipe away.
āShit! Khushi, donāt cry. Please!ā Arnav said desperately. āYou are not responsible for his death; this is baselessā
She gave empty laugh.
āEvery night, I try to convince myself to sleep with these very wordsā
āPlease stop cryingā he pleaded.
āI am sorryā she said wiping away her tears again āI am a mess; What should you be thinking of me⦠Cry babyā¦Normally I am not this emotional. My tears just donāt seem to stop.ā
āItās not thatā He said urgently āI am not judging you. I just donāt want you to ⦠toā¦ā he couldnāt complete what he felt. He looked at her painfully, her tears were something that he couldnāt handle. He was himself fighting against this urge to pull her into his arms and wipe away all that grief along with the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
āWhen I got to know that my father may not have had a normal death, I wanted to get to the bottom of it, but somewhere⦠down there, there was also hope that it was perhaps not me nor my actions which was responsible to snub him of his lifeā
Arnav nodded at her encouragingly.
āI am again telling you, you are not responsible Khushi. May be I am. I was the one who forced you into that situationā
āI had a choice to say noā
āKhushi, Donāt blame yourselfā
āI donāt want to and thatās why I ask you to help me release Sameerā
āI fail to understand how that will helpā
āI know Sameer. He is not basically bad. But his needs drove him to do something that he is now ashamed of. If only satisfying a part of his needs can turn him this loyal to the other side, he will definitely turn favorable to us if we take care of his desperate need to protect his familyā
Arnav thought for a moment.
āWhat ifā¦ā
āPlease Arnav ji, trust me in this⦠please?ā
Arnav nodded. āDonāt worry, I will take care of it in the morningā
Khushi smiled weakly and he returned her the smile.
āThanks.ā
āGo get some sleep. Will help you with your headacheā
āGood nightā
She had almost walked towards the door when the phone in her hands rang.
Jumping at the unfamiliarity of the music in the phone, she jolted raising the phone into view, then realizing she still had Arnavās mobile with her.
With a prick, Khushi noticed the caller name Sheetal flashing in the screen
āThatās mineā she heard him call out
āSorry, I forgotā she mumbled before she handed over.
There ensued an awkward moment when Arnav noticed the caller too as he took the phone from her, briefly pausing to look into her eyes.
āGood nightā she smiled as she called out and turned away from him quickly trying to get past the floor to the confines of her room.
***
āHi Arnieā Sheetalās voice reached him over the phone as soon as he received the call
āHi Sheetalā he said still looking at Khushiās departing back.
āI was trying to reach you to confirm if our meeting tomorrow morning at 9 is confirmed. I messaged, but you hadnāt repliedā
āOh, I am sorry, Havenāt checked by messages. I have something else that has come up, I have to push our meeting to little later. We will have the meeting at 11. ā
ā11? Hmm wait a min, I am just checking my calendar. Hmm alright. I have to meet another client at 3 and this is atleast an hourās drive from your office. So I have a hard stop at 1pm. 2 hours should be fine?ā
āYeah. Will do I think.ā
āFine then. I will meet you at 11. Even if it prolongs, we can have a business lunch.ā
āFine by meā
āGood nightā
As he finished his call, he heard voices by the lounge and peeked out to find his siblings ganging up around Khushi.
***
As luck would have it, Khushi was trying to get away, Sheetalās call to Arnav this late still in her mind, she didnāt first notice the gang was also getting down the terrace until they called out to her in the floor.
āhi Khushiā Payal called out āLost again?ā
āWhat are you doing here at this hourā Anjali asked peeking towards Arnavās room
āI just came to return some booksā
āBooks? Study room has changed location is it?ā NK asked bewildered. āVery strange yaarā
Anjali giggled.
āHow is your headache?ā Akaash asked staring at the others to leave her alone.
āBetterā
āGot some therapy for your headache ah?ā Anjali teased again as Payal and La giggled.
"Perhaps a massage" Payal commented.
Cursing her luck, Khushi was almost at the point of telling them to stop teasing her with Arnav ā it was not sounding right. He was in relationship with someone else and it wasnāt helping with her thoughts as well.
But then, the group suddenly dispersed muttering quick good byes and good nights. She looked up but they were all looking somewhere beyond her and she looking turned back to see Arnav peeping out of his room, glaring at the others pointedly.
āGood nightā He called out as he gestured at her to go.
She gave him a thankful smile and she started down the steps.
***
āArnav, this is ridiculous! This is not the first time this is happening⦠You did the same thing with Shashiās arrest too. What do you think we do? Arrest someone for your fantasies and release them two days after? Do you want us to investigate or not?ā Abhi was furious.
āAbhi, do this for me.ā
āBut why. Give me one good reasonā
Arnav was silent
āIs it Khushi?ā
āIt is complicatedā
Abhi could only shake his head at his friend
āYou are losing your head manā
āTrust me, I know what I wantā
āYou know we are working on this really important case of child trafficking thatās in the news? And in amidst that, I send people to arrest this guy and you want his release because she wants that?ā Abhi said gesturing outside the windows of his first floor office towards Khushi was standing near Arnavās parked vehicle. āItās just like last timeā
Arnav was thankful that Khushi was standing out of hearing distance.
āLast time was not because she wanted itā
āSo this time is for her?ā
āAbhi, you are making me sound so cornyā
āIrrational is the wordā
āYou want me to take back the complaint?ā
āHopeless!ā he said as he picked up his landline and called Rajesh.
āRajesh, release that Sameer guy.ā ā¦.. āYeah. Thatās right.ā ā¦. āArnav will be there in sometimeāā¦.āGet all the formalities done.ā
He placed back his receiver and looked at his friend.
āAt a later point, donāt tell me that I didnāt warn youā Abhi told Arnav
āI will not hold you on thatā Arnav replied cheekily. āBy the way, you could have agreed on this when I called you this morning. You made me come all the way for thisā
āYou were ready to comeā Abhi pointed out laughingly.
āWhateverā
As Arnav walked back to Khushi who was standing by his car, she looked at him expectantly. He smiled at her with a quick nod and that earned him a big smile from her.
As the SUV left the office premises, Abhi who was watching this exchange by the window shook his head as he muttered.
āThis guy is falling for her⦠head over heels. Hope he realizes it soonā
***
Khushi placed a glass of tea in front of Sameer in the hospital canteen. The man looked up with repentance and gratitude at Khushi.
āFirst eat Bhai, we can speak laterā she instructed as she sat beside him.
Arnav was standing by the table with one of his handās casually resting on the arm of the chair close by. But his glare was all but casual and it was aimed at Sameer.
āKhushi, I canāt thank you enough for what you have doneā Sameer told her earnestly.
After they got him released from the lock up, Khushi had made Arnav take him to the hospital where Sameerās son was admitted.
After a quick chat with the doctor, Khushi had dragged him to the billing counter and enquired about the outstanding amount for the kidās treatment.
She had then demanded for Arnavās wallet to settle the amount.
āArnavji, do you have 6000 with you?ā she had asked.
āI have my credit cardā he had said then, reaching for his wallet.
āOh the credit card swipe machine is not workingā she told him āHow much cash do you have?ā
He had then taken his wallet out, which she so rightfully taken from him, leaving him gaping at her audacity. She quickly browsed through the wallet pulling out 2 notes of 2000.
āCan you withdraw another 2000 for me?ā she asked gesturing towards the ATM in one corner. āI will settle this later, I donāt have that much nowā
āMay I have my wallet back pleaseā
āOh sorry. I didnāt realizeā she bit her tongue.
āGetting into the habit of snatching all my things eh?ā he said smirking at her obviously reddened face.
After the amount was settled, Khushi had taken Sameer to the canteen to get him some food, after she heard that he hadnāt eaten anything after he was arrested.
Now he stood facing Sameer as he ate his food.
āKhushi, you have a big heart just like your father. He was a very kind man, After all he did for me, I betrayed himā
āSameer Bhai, if you donāt help us now, we will be so lost. Help us now pleaseā Khushi started to say
āHow can a poor man like me help you?ā
āJust tell us why did you impersonate my father?ā
āI was asked to do that Khushiā
āWho? Roy?ā
āI donāt know his nameā
Arnav showed him Royās picture
āThis is Roy. Was he the one who contacted you?ā
āYes. He is the oneā
āWas there any one else Bhai? I mean how did he know that you do mimicry?ā
āVicky was with him. I think he should have told himā
Khushi nodded in comprehension.
āVicky?ā Arnav asked
āVikrantā Khushi told him.
āThat ogre?ā
āHe was flaunting that he will get you Khushi- but this was before your wedding news came. I think he tried to visit your father- he was talking to Roy about itā
Khushi glanced at Arnav
āWe saw him in the hospital the other dayā
āIt was a misunderstanding planted by Roy Khushi.ā
āHe was directing all of us according to a story that he spunā said Khushi
āSo you did it for money?ā Arnav asked him āor were you threatened?
Sameer nodded. āBoth. but I wouldnāt have done if I was not in urgency for Bituās treatment. And alsoā¦ā
āAlso?ā
āThat person promised me a chance in moviesā
āMovies?ā
āHe said he knew Film Producer Sharad Sharma... Sharma Production house...ā Sameer said āHe even spoke to him recommending meā
Khushi and Arnav exchanged glances at this.
āSo got your chance?ā
āNo. I went there at the time when the director had asked me to. But I couldnāt even meet himā
āRoy double crossed youā Khushi told ābut still you want to protect himā
āIt wasnāt that. I felt bad the moment they left. I wanted to meet Shashi Bhai. I went to the hospital. But I couldnāt meet him. Then Roy saw me there and started to threaten me. He threatened the safety of my family. He even sent Bentoās men to threaten me. I had to keep quiet. ā
āBento? so Roy operates with that fiend too?ā said Khushi
āWho is Bento?ā asked Arnav
āA local donā Sameer said. āI kept my silence with the police too because of him. But Khushi, I have repented ever since. My son is suffering because of my bad karma. I have realized that. I am very sorry Khushiā
āSameer bhai, you have redeemed yourself with trusting us with all that you knowā Khushi told kindly. They were walking back to the hospital corridor.
As they approached the common ward where Sameerās son was, Sameerās wife rushed forward in gratitude.
āKhushi thanks so much for all your help. The doctor has told that we can get Bitu discharged nowā
āthatās ok Seema Bhabhi, you should have called me beforeā
āHow can I Khushi? After all, that Sameer did to you, how will I have a face to call you? But you have shown us what true kindness is. And so has your husband. A truly God sent man! Thank God you got him Khushi. Your husband is a good human being who willingly spent for someone who was your acquaintance of the past! That too without even asking a questionā¦I am very happy for you. Imagine if you fell into that Vikrantās hands. Your life would have been hell. I heard he even hit Vikrant the other day, felt so good. Itās your good Karma Khushi, you got such a brave man for your husband. The entire colony was speaking about his daring act that day about how he protected you.ā
Khushiās who had widened her eyes at Seemaās misunderstanding about Arnav, quickened to clear the misunderstanding.
āSeema Bhabhi, you have mistaken about Arnavjiā
āWhy, he didnāt hit Vikrant?ā
āNo not thatā¦ā Khushi started to say
āHe hit right? On his face?ā
āNo, on his nose. But Bhabhiā¦ā
Seema was ecstatic that she went on
āIt would have squashed his already blunt noseā
āSeema jiā A nurse called out āCan you please come here?ā
āSeema Bhabhi, listen to me, all I wanted to say he is not myā¦ā
āKhushi, I will be backā
Khushi turned back to look at Arnav standing a little away speaking on his phone. Thanking her stars for this little respite, she looked back at Seema. How was she even going to clarify to Seema about her misunderstanding?
Her thoughts were momentarily broken by Arnav
āKhushi, I completely lost track of time. I had a meeting today at 11. Its already 10.30, I need to rush. Shall I drop you back at home?ā
āNo Arnav Ji, you carry on. I want to visit the Devi mandir and then I will head homeā
āOk come, I will drop you at the mandirā he said walking ahead. āBut promise me one thingā
āI am not stupid enough to run and meet Vikrant or Bento, if you are worrying about thatā she said.
āthank god, you have that much senseā he said laughing to himself.
Khushi turned to look back at Seema. She and Sameer were still in conversation with the nurse. Even if she corrected her marital status with them, what about the entire colony? Sameer finally looked at her, directing Seemaās attention at her as well.
āKhushi, I am getting lateā Arnav called out
Khushi waved a quick bye at them and left with Arnav.
***
To be continued.
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Done! Now that I have given you a completely arhilicious update, You ought to be extra nice to me and give me extra nice comments. Will meet you soon with another update, Tata.
Edited by abavi - 6 years ago
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