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Chaptr Six : Ye Shaam Mastani
(The Intoxicating Evening)
A beautiful evening when the sky was laced with pink, golden red and blue belts, one upon another; and its beautiful reflection mirroring in the famous lake, around which the beautiful city was coiled, brimmed with tourists.... most of them being the honeymoon couples as love bloomed in the air!!!
Arnav Singh Raizada might have never enjoyed the evening walk so well in his numerous visits to the Lake-city... as he was doing today!
Of course today was an exception!
Having a beautiful company...
The lady in the simplest of suits, which he knew was hugging her body perfectly but right now hidden in the bright red shawl, hair bound in a low pony, with some rebellious tendrils falling on her pretty face, the milky skin glowing in the setting sun, the supple lips curved straight, and deep gorgeous eyes... only if they weren't drowned in sorrow!!!
"Kitna Qoobsurat hai na?"
(Isn't it beautiful?)
The painter in him spoke suddenly, even if the shrewd businessman would have loved to keep quiet.
They were walking ahead, by the side of iron railings, as she snapped her wide eyes towards him.
O damn!!! Did he ruin the comfort built between them in last few minutes?
But his apprehensions proved wrong as she nodded at him lightly, moving her eyes back to her left side, towards the lake where a few boats could be seen sailing.
"Haan..vo to hai! Dil ko chhoo lene wala Manzar!"
(Yes....it is! A heartwarming scene!)
Only if she knew what he was referring to!!!
About an hour ago the trio had started together from his home! He, Neema and Khushi. A few steps later, the fresh aroma of food hit their nostrils and they realized that they had skipped lunch..
Thus a late lunch followed with Niharika telling Khushi about herself, about Shantivan-the charitable institute where she was the Chief Trustee....and how they provide counselling and training to the one with mental stress and trauma!
And the information had helped Khushi, to be in ease, to get her guards down.
But then at the restaurant, Niharika got to meet one of her old acquaintance with whom she had gone busy.
"Arnav, aap donon chaliye aage! Main aahi rahi hun!"
(Arnav, why don't you two walk ahead! I'll follow soon!)
Neema had suggested.
Maybe one of her ways to end the cold ice between Arshi!
And it had worked.... we can say!!
Khushi had shown no sign of hesitance around him, in these few minutes of walk together, matching his steps side by side.
With Niharika's discourse, Khushi had got the answers why Arnav had brought her to Nainital, all the way from Delhi!!! And why she was being helped!
So she was not given some special attention!!!
The handsome charming businessman had a heart of gold! Had been helping hundred of people like her...
A little wrong she was to doubt him!
But that was not her fault completely. She was too ruined by Shyam to trust strangers!
But this stranger here was a kind-hearted man who just wanted to help her! At least that's what she had realized by now!
"Pehle kabhi Nainital aayi thi?"
(Haven't to Nainital before?) He asked again, huskily.
Well if she was comfortable then he better use the opportunity to make her open up!!!
Khushi raised her eyes to him, as he now came to a halt by the lake, keeping his both wrists on the railings, leaning his well-built body ahead while his perfectly carved face glowing under the saffron rays...
"Nahi...!"
(No...!) Her short reply came, in the same soft sweet voice.
"Lagta hai tum kabhi Delhi se bahar gayi hi nahi?"
(Seems you never went out of Delhi?) He mumbled, in his usual low dry tone, trying his luck again.
"Asal me..." (Actually...) She took a deep breath, "Bachpan Lucknow me guzra hamara. Chaar saal hue hain hamein Delhi aakar. Aur kahin, kabhi gaye nahi!"
(My childhood spent in Lucknow. then It had only been four years since I moved to Delhi. Never went anywhere else!) She had her hands folded under her shawl... as she faced the lake, giving out details, in order to correct him.
While Arnav had a hint of smile with her answers. Well the place had something magical. Years ago, he had blurted out everything to Neema and now she to him!!!
"Padhai ke liye? Delhi me!"
(For studies? In Delhi!) He interrogated in his deep voice.
While she felt a raise in her heartbeat, as she took some deep breaths while eyes went glassy with the question.
He sighed looking at her unease. So her trauma was linked to it...He needed to give her some time.
The hustle bustle of people, the chirping of birds and soft waves of lake filled the silence around them for a good few moments before she spoke gain.
"Shaadi! Chaar saal pehle...hamari Shaadi hui thi us se, aur humein Delhi aana pada!"
(Marriage! Four years ago...I got married to him, making me come to Delhi!) Her voice was wavering, with the buried emotions clutching her heart tightly.
Two large tears followed her big almond shape eyes, trailing the soft skin of her beautiful face...involuntarily.
While for Arnav, he felt the atmosphere going colder, a shiver running his form!!!
The woman...no a girl with an innocent face, who seemed to be not more than twenties in age...she was already married and that too for four long years!!!
Was her husband reason of her such condition?
That's when he saw Neema behind Khushi, who seemed to have also heard them. While Khushi spoke again...
"Aap ko is tarah pareshan karne ke liye ham maafi chahte hain Arnavji!"
(I am sorry for troubling you like this Arnavji!) She gulped the lump, raising her big lashes to him, only to find his intense black orbs trying to read her brown eyes, as they stared at each other, under the soft cool breeze.
Their sweet eyelock although was broken by Niharika, who kept a hand on her shoulder, making Khushi aware of her presence.
"Aur agar tum hamein sab kuch batao to un ki preshani zaye nahi jayegi beta!"
(And if you tell us everything, his trouble won't get wasted dear!)
The old woman gave a nod to Arnav as she talked to Khushi. "Arnav to yahi chahte hain ke tum is sadme se bahar aao! Isi liye vo tumhari madad karrahe hain."
(What Arnav wants is to get you out of this trauma! That's why he is helping you.)
Indeed the time was here, that they ask the questions directly.
"Khushi, main janti hun ke apni zindagi ki kahani saajha karna kitna mushkil hai tumhare liye, aur vo bhi un do ajnabiyon se, jinhein tum kuch din ya minute pehle mili ho.."
(Khushi, I know that it is difficult to share your lifestory with two strangers, whom you met just days or minutes ago..) Niharika's soft words followed while Arnav took few steps towards them.
"Par ise apne andar samakar rakhne se, tumhein is se chhutkara nahi milega!"
(But keeping it inside won't help you to get rid of it!) The old woman pushed her while Arnav looked impatiently.
In fact, somewhere, even Khushi was expecting these questions from them. It was common sense, that when these people were helping her, giving her shelter, then they might also want to know about her... her background, her past!!!
But how could she share those parts of her life which could only give her scars! And what if all this alerted Shyam and he came finding her...
"Daro mat Khushi! Yaqeen mano mera...main bachaunga tumhein us shakhs se. Boldo sab kuch!"
(Don't be scared Khushi! Trust me Khushi...I'll save you from that person! Say it all.) Arnav had studied her anxiety.
He didn't know what should he name this desperation but he was worried for her! Or maybe he was looking a mirror of his own personality, his own pain, inside her...
He was aware that she was scared of someone. The same person who had physically as well as mentally tortured her.
The physical scars visible on her fragile body while the invisible mental scars... hidden from world but which he could feel...matching that of his own.
"Kaun hai iske peeche Khushi? Kya ye tumhara...husband hai?"
(Who is behind it Khushi? Is it your...husband?) He mouthed his feelings, nearing her, words escaping his gritted jaws, as involuntarily he fisted his palms, while Khushi shuddered, large breaths coming from her mouth... being traumatic again.
The flashes of that man had already started coming to her...and even the beautiful atmosphere wasn't helping.
But Arnav had now loosened his cool as he ceased all the distance between them, holding Khushi by her both shoulders, although not too hard to hurt her, but enough to make her look directly in his eyes...as she squirmed with those memories.
Niharika knew the impatient man Arnav was. And before she could stop him, he had already started in dangerously voice, biting on his each word.
"Bolo Khushi! Bahot dabakar rakh chuki tum ...bahot bacha liya us behoodah insane ko. Vo jo bhi hai, batao hamein...BOLO...BOLO DAMMIT!"
(Speak Khushi! Enough of bottling up ... enough of saving that freaking person is. Whoever it is, tell us ... SPEAK...SPEAK DAMMIT!)
"Hann han ham...hamare pati!"
(Yess yes m..my husband!)
Khushi blurted out under Arnav's persistence, breaking into fits of cries, shaking fervently."Vo pagal rakshas jisne jeeteji nark dikhaya hamein, hamara pati hi hai vo!!! Shyam Jh..."
(That insane monster who had shown me hell in this life, he is my husband!!! Shyam Jh...)
She managed to speak amid the sobs, but soon her body went limp in his warm embrace, before she again lost her senses, falling unconscious in his arms, her heavy head falling on his hard chest, his heartbeat directly in contact with hers now!!!
._._._.
Shyam Manohar Jha, the psychopath man who might have his issues of personality disorders, but he wasn't someone to be pitiful...as his actions were just ruining the lives of people around him.
Specially lives of two innocent women!!!
Khushi might have escaped his exploitation... but Anjali...she was still in his clutch...the victim of the shrewd lawyer's cunningness and manipulations! Only difference was that Anjali was not prone to violent and criminal offenses yet.
"Are Jamai Babu, kuch chahiye tha aapko?"
(Are Jamai Babu, do you need anything?) It was the old servant, Hari Prakash who asked him, seeing him in the kitchen.
While Shyam, gave his sinister smile. The white bandage on his head, after that blow from Khushi, was looking just perfect... showing how much injured he was by his mind!!!
Only if people around him knew it!!!
"Hari Kaka...voh jo lehsun wali chutney thi kal subah nashte ke table par...kisne banai this voh!"
(Hari Kaka...that garlic chutney on the breakfast table yesterday morning...who made it!) He asked, trying to be as normal as he could, hiding his doubts.
He strongly had this feeling that the familiar chutney was made by her...Khushi! But he needed to confirm it.
"Vo to Kh...!"
(That was made by Kh....!)
"Hari Kaka... Di ke liye ek glass juice le jaiye please!"
(Hari Kaka...please take a glass of juice for Di!) Payal on very right time stopped the old man as she entered the kitchen.
While Shyam frowned on her! Even yesterday, Payal had changed the matter, when he had asked about it.
"Lagta hai aap ko vo chutney bahot pasand aayi Jeejaji! Sirf oosi ke baare me pooche jarahe hain. Hum ne bataya to tha ke hum ne banai thi!"
(Seems you liked the chutney too much Jeejaji! Have been asking only about that. I told you na I made it!) Payal offered with a sweet smile that of matching Shyam.
'Jhooti!' (Liar!!!)
"Han kya Payal Bhabhi. Baat ye hai ke Rani Sahiba ko vo bahot acchi lagi. To mai bas seekhna chahta tha...agar unhein phir se khaane ka man kare...aap to janti hain aapki Di ke pregnancy hormones ko!"
(I see Payal Bhabhi. Actually, Rani Sahiba liked it very much. So I just wanted to learn...in case she wanted to eat it again...you know pregnancy hormones of your Di!)
While Payal nodded her head, without giving any comment.
'Daal me kuch kaala hai!'
(Something is fishy!)
Shyam on the other hand excused, not before giving one last look across the kitchen.
._._._.
Arnav made the intricate Belle in his arms to lie on the bed. While Niharika put a comfortor on her.
"Tumhein oose itna uksana nahi chahiye tha Arnav! Vo bahot tooti hui hai!"
(You shouldn't have triggered her too much Arnav! She is too much broken!) She spoke to him as they came out of room, thinking about what happened at lakeside.
Well, Arnav had gone a bit overboard but he didn't regret it.
"Neema...mujhe lagta hai ke Jeejaji ka similar name sun kar hi, vo kal ghabragayi hogi!"(Neema...I think it is after hearing Jeejaji's similar name, she got panicked yesterday!)
Arnav was still stuck there. Thinking that only name is shared between the two men.
Shyam ... she had said name of her husband!
"Hosakta hai! Laikin aaj rat oose thoda aaram karne dete hain! Aur ye sari baatein hum apne tak hi rakhte hain!
(Maybe! But let's give her some space tonight! In fact let's keep all these things to ourselves.) Niharika suggested to keep her secrecy intact.
"Haan! Waise bhi mujhe wapas jana hoga! Di ki tabiyat kuch theek nahi hai!"
(Yeah! Anyways I needed to go back! Di isn't doing well!)
Neema nodded at him before sharing her other concern."Arnav, kya tum ne Khushi ke bare me kuch pata lagane ki koshish ki thi?" (Arnav, have you tried to do any background check on Khushi?) She asked him after a minute.
Well ASR was a protective person. And for a stranger woman to be hired in his home, he should have! But seems the circumstances and the undefined attraction between them had stopped him.
"Nahi...abhi tak to nahi! Main Aman se kehta kun!"
(No...not yet! I'll ask Aman!)
Arnav nodded, typing straight to him.
Background check of Khushi. Some Shyam's wife of four years from Lucknow!
While Arnav's chopper got ready, he gave a last glance to the sleeping beauty.
If Payal hadn't called, he won't have gone back before knowing exactly what happened with her.
But he had to go now. Yesterday, he had not even greeted her Di and Jeejaji well before leaving with Khushi.
Sensing Niharika behind him, he turned back.
"Main, Sunday ko wapas aaunga Neema!"
(I'll be back on Sunday Neema!) He gave a short hug to the mother figure, very well knowing that Khushi would be safe with her!!!
While Neema was having a feeling that Arnav won't wait till Sunday! He would be back tomorrow itself as soon as the Background report reached him.
'Umeed karti hun ke tab tak Khushi bhi sab kuch bata dene ke liye tayar hojaye!'
(Hope Khushi is also prepared by then to speak everything out!)
._._._._._._.
Hash....well, we can only hope!
Anyways Shyam's name is out. But don't know what will happen next😉
And...Snakewa also got doubtful with Chutney😒. But our smart Payaliya also gave a hint😛
And Aman's background check....what will happen😈
I don't know anything😎. Let's see how the upcoming writers shape it up...specially our Velentine Day Chapter 😆
Take care all then❤
Bhai mujhe to bahot maza aya aise beech se likhne me. Was a wonderful experience. Thankyou very much to all smart organisers 😊❤️👍🏼🥳🤗👏
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Edited by Pinnkiswan - 4 years ago
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