IPKKND FF: Trial by fire Part 33 updated on Pg 84 - Page 14

He entered Raizada house after being let in by the security guards. He walked in looking around...Mostly everyone had retired for the night except for Akash who he knew would be waiting for him. It was almost 11 PM. Most lights had been turned off except for some subdued recessed lights that highlighted a sleeping figure on a couch. A woman dressed in a pale blue saree with crystals, lying on her side, her back supported by lots of soft and firm cushions - He could not look away from her. The lights above turned those crystals on her saree into mini lights casting a soft glow on this Madonna - one could not call her anything but that. Her hands curved lightly over her round, swollen belly, protecting that precious life inside. Her soft, pink lips were curved up in a small smile and she seemed to be sleeping very peacefully. He could not believe he was admiring a pregnant woman, he must be getting soft in the head to be ogling anyone. She was doing things to him inside, things he had long since suppressed. Fertile, luscious, sexy, beautiful, innocent, ripe as a mango - Adjectives kept flying about in his head as he tried to control his thoughts and bring them to some order. He was furious with himself and quickly erased all thoughts of the sleeping figure. He was not allowed to feel. He did not have a heart that could have those kind of feelings. He had long since cremated it.

"Hello Karan!", Akash said after noticing him. "Thank you so much for the quick way you have organized everything for us here. I really appreciate you stopping by personally". He looked at Karan Shah, the CEO of Treadstone Services and saw a tall, rugged and no-nonsense man, whom some might call handsome.

He was wearing a black shirt, sleeves rolled up over dark blue jeans that fit him like a second skin. Akash had never met Karan before but Arnav had and it was Arnav who had called Karan direct when Shyam had not turned up. Akash held the phone that contained the evidence of Kamala's murder (had not been turned over to the police yet). He had called Arnav immediately when he had received a phone call on that phone from a number that said "Private". He had not answered the phone but something told him that this could be Shyam dialing from Kamala's phone - He no longer under-estimated the cunningness of his soon to be ex-brother-in-law.

Akash introduced himself to Karan and when Karan glanced at the sleeping figure on the couch curiously, Akash said, "Yes, that is Anjali - Our sister and currently, Shyam's wife. She had talked to you earlier today about organizing the extra security. Karan was mildly taken aback. He had not expected the rich, cultured voice on the phone earlier to be this vision of beauty, pregnant at that. "I should stop thinking of her on a personal basis", he mentally castigated himself. "We talked about this on the call very briefly but let me explain in detail what's going on.", Akash said and described the problem of Shyam. Since Shyam had not yet been apprehended, they had to be open about the fact that he was now a murderer on the loose, someone who could pose a risk to the entire family.

Akash and Karan sat down and discussed possible ways of enticing Shyam into the open in order to apprehend him. It was almost 1:00 AM when Karan left.

***

It was 7 AM. The pale fingers of the sun clawed away at the darkness to usher in a new day. The nurses bustled in and out taking Khushi's vitals, changing her IV bag and sprucing up the spacious and luxurious private room. Arnav and Payal had freshened up in the ensuite bathroom and waited for Khushi to open her eyes again. Shortly, Khushi's eyes opened. She looked around curiously. Her eyes were still pain-filled but seemed to be better than last night, Arnav thought. Her wandering eyes looked straight through him as though he was invisible and settled on Payal. Payal was smiling and crying as she talked to Khushi telling her how happy she and everyone was about her good news, how she could name the babies Poori Kumar and Jalebi Rani (if she had a girl and a boy), or Laddoo Devi and Jalebi Devi (if both girls), etc. Khushi just stared at her sister, her mind was a blank. "Jiji, Amma...Bauji...", she started. Immediately, Payal launched into how well Bauji was doing, how Anjali di had been helping, how he had walked in to see his titaliya last night.

Arnav just stared at her ...He was at a loss for words - Between them, Khushi had been the talkative one...He just didnt know where to start and stared at her helplessly, his eyes drinking their fill of her like a man lost in a desert happens on an oasis. His heart constricted seeing the IV and the purple marks around her hands.

Arnav recollected that incident and how horrid he had felt that Khushi had been hurt and to have to pull the tiny glass piece out via his sharp teeth. That tiny cut was nothing,was miniscule compared to what she was going through now and will be going through in 6 months. He felt like smashing something. He was bad luck for her, he thought. Because of him, she was hurt and would continue to undergo pain.

But it seemed weird how Khushi was reacting to Payal ...She had not smiled or cried or done any of the things she normally always did at the drop of a hat. Arnav mentally resolved to ask the doctor about this when she came for the day. After living with Khushi's non-stop chatter, smiles and laughter, her emotionless silence was deafening for Arnav. He, who had always liked silence, started yearning to hear her voice, her tinkling laughter again.

It was around 11 AM now. Akash had picked up Payal earlier and the plan was that she would come back later with food for Arnav and to keep Khushi company. Dr. Kulkarni checked Khushi and found her doing better. She still did not think that she qualified for walking around, but atleast could eat and drink and did not need the IV. Khushi had fallen into a tired nap as Arnav followed the doctor out to ask her about his other concerns. "It is too early to say ..but she does look like she has had a trauma or some shock. I agree with you that she seems emotionless - But you must also remember, she almost lost her pregnancy yesterday...That shock alone is enough for a first-time mother to behave unusually, abnormally. Give her time, after she comes home to normal surroundings and she will start enjoying her pregnancy and will start responding normally."

Arnav walked out of Dr. Kulkarni's office and ran into Karan. Karan thought that Arnav looked very tired and sad, but didnt comment on his appearance. He just gave him a man-to-man hug and they both went down to the lounge discussing their options. "I want that s.o.* behind bars, chaahe mujhe kuch bhi karna pade.", he told Karan.

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I am just worried about Khushi. I hope she becomes normal and gets back her happiness.

Thanks for the PM.