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Part 22 - Trial by fire
Khushi stirred and looked around. She saw Arnav sitting front-to-back, on an uncomfortable-looking chair by her side, his head resting on his arms that were loped around the back of the seat that he was hugging, his eyes closed, the lines of strain visible on his face. It was almost 10:30 ... She had slept for 5 hours she realized but it felt like she has been born again, her mind and heart were feeling very light. Her hand went around automatically to her middle to feel the slight mound. The small flutters in there were reassuring.
"Arnav ji..", she hesitatingly murmured. Arnav immediately woke up as though someone had poked him. "Arnav ji..humein toilet use karna hai, kya aap utne mein thoda madadh karenge?", Khushi asked hesitantly. Arnav immediately came closer, lifted Khushi up as though she weighed nothing and carried her to the ensuite toilet. He gently let her go inside the bathroom and watched her closely ..He wanted to make sure that she didnt topple over. "Kya aap yahi rahenge? Humein thoda privacy chahiye.", Khushi declared exasparated. Arnav reluctantly stood outside as Khushi completed her activities and freshened herself up. She opened the door and came out. Her husband was behaving like a "patni vrata" pati and this was throwing her off completely. She knew how low he could sink and was just waiting for his loving veneer to fall off. His anger and irritation she could tolerate, she didnt know how to handle a loving Arnav.
At that moment, the external door opened and the psychiatrist doctor came in. He had Arnav wait outside as he asked questions and consulted with Khushi. "What are they talking about for so long?", Arnav wondered stifling the urge to burst in and demand to know what was going on. He paced outside for a while, noticed the plainclothes guards that Karan had stationed. The object of his thoughts strolled by with his son Suraj after meeting Anjali and the baby. NK, Lavanya had left for office while Payal and the Guptas had gone home with the driver. Karan conveyed the negative news of Shyam escaping once again, "It is like he had some sixth sense that we were there...We had covered our tracks so well. My men are trying to trace his whereabouts now."
The psychiatrist came out and asked Arnav to walk with him to his car. "Much better, much better. Khushi has made a lot of progress. The emotional moments of seeing the baby after making so many sacrifices for this baby's safe delivery and Anjali's wellbeing, the breakdown was just what Khushi needed. Now I understand, there are still some trust issues that she has towards you...But even that will resolve itself out when you show her that you are in this for the long term, are committed and this is not some "nautanki" as she feels now.", the doctor advised.
"Can I take her home doctor? what about her fainting? Is that normal?", Arnav asked anxiously. "You can take her home. The fainting was to be expected after what she had gone through, just make sure you are in touch with her obstetrician to rule out any anaemia - I am sure Khushi must be taking some pre-natal vitamins now. So dont worry about the dizziness", the doctor assured as he got into his car. "Stay in touch...I think its just a matter of time before she is completely normal, just be patient with her."
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"Mrs. Anjali ...Is it true that you are divorcing your husband Shyam Manohar Jha?"
"Anjali ji, kya yeh sach hai ki aapke pati ne aapko paison ke liye kidnap kiya?" (Is it true that your husband kidnapped you for money?)
"Kya Shyam Jha kisi doosre aurat ke saath bhaag gaye?" (Did your husband run away with some other female?)
Anjali was thrust into a bevy of camera-wielding journalists who were all trying to get a sound bite from her. Anjali raised her hands to cover her face from the flashes from the cameras and turned around to make sure Maamiji and Buaji were okay with baby Aarushi. She had not expected this commotion even one whit. And was wondering, how she was going to make her way to the car that Arnav was bringing around. He had asked her to wait at the reception and had just given her call to come out to the front entrance. She wished Karan had been here ...He would have controlled this mob so easily...She thought. It was like her thoughts had reached out to him and beckoned him and he was by her side. He was a head taller than most people there and it was like a calm had descended for a few minutes. For a moment, it seemed like he was Moses and the sea of journalists had parted in front of him ...However, the more unscrupulous journalists who had been at the back of the crowd took over and pressed for Anjali to make a statement.
Arnav saw the crowd gathered - "Damn...These vultures had to come circling today of all days. Don't they even realize that there is a baby we are trying to bring home. All they want is a sensational story." He thought as he got out of the car to help his Di and the family.
Anjali raised her hand...Karan leaned into her, his right hand gently touching the small of her back..."You dont have to say anything, you know. Just say 'No comments' and let me handle it."
"Ma'am - Yeh kaun hai?"
"what is his relationship with you?"
"Is he the reason that Shyam left you?"
The volley of questions came fast and furiously. Anjali, who was just getting out of the hospital 6 days after her ordeal, was ill-prepared to deal with this barrage of probing questions. But she had to prove that she was made of stronger stuff, had to show off her Raizada mettle. She straightened her back, raised her hand in an imperceptible halting motion. The questions and the chattering noises slowly died down. "I am prepared to make a statement but will not take any questions after that. I want myself, my family and friends to be left alone after this statement. I promise you that any reporter who violates that request will get a stalking order slapped on them. Are we all in perfect agreement?" Most of the reporters were dumbstruck and slowly nodded their heads.
"Shyam Manohar Jha is an unscrupulous trickster who does not hesitate to kidnap or kill to meet his objectives. He had been systematically deceiving my family and abusing our trust. We have even discovered that he killed a key witness who stood in his way of attaining the Raizada family wealth. We are cooperating with the police and we are hopeful that he will be caught very soon. I have initiated divorce proceedings the day Shyam's misdeeds were unmasked. We request media cooperation in revealing information about Shyam to the public so that he can be caught at the earliest.", Anjali crisply concluded. "Off the record, I request all of you assembled here to please employ some humanity and ethics in covering what you think is this sensational story. This is a painful and sad time for me personally and my family. At the same time, its a joyous occassion as we welcome a new life. If you are even thinking of taking this story to the next level and digging deeper, please think first whether you would want to do this to your sister, or an innocent child. Beyond the "hot, breaking story" rat race, I am sure all of you are human beings first and will consider my humble and sincere request.", Anjali added, reiterating the family's request for privacy. Everyone there was completely bowled over by Anjali's charm, her grace in the face of adversity and her sincerity and openness. Many of them shouted their thanks to her for her statement and conveyed Congratulations to her on the new baby. One of the veteran paparaazzo's there assured media cooperation with Anjali's request for privacy. Anjali silently conveyed her thanks. The crowds parted and Anjali walked through, undisturbed, with Maami and Buaji following behind, Karan leading the way to a stunned Arnav waiting near the car.
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I hope everyone likes this stronger Anjali. Please comment and Like.
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