OS:It's A Deal! (Pt 2:Don't Do This To Me, Khushi)

Next morning:

Arnav got dressed.. he was on his Blue Tooth when Hari Prakash came in.

Just a minute!" Arnav said on phone and looked up at HP.

HP said, "Arnav Bhaiyya, breakfast is served!"

"OK, I will be down there!" Arnav said and resumed his conversation on phone.

"Okay, within the hour! I don't want any delay!" he instructed the person on phone as he walked down the stairs and approached breakfast table.

Everyone was around... except Anjali and Khushi.. Arnav looked at Nani, "Nani, Di..?"

Just then Nani looked over her shoulder and said, "Here! Khushi bitiya, very well done! You brought Anjali bitiya downstairs for breakfast with all of us!"

Khushi smiled brightly.. then said to Anjali, "Be careful.. sambhal kar, Di!"

Anjali smiled at Khushi sweetly and said," I am alright, Khushi ji!"

Arnav could guess that Anjali had come to know about Khushi's try to bring Shyam back home..

Khushi looked at Arnav.. his cold stare gave her chills..

"Hmm. He is still upset!' thought Khushi..."Hey, Devi Maiyya, grant me energy to deal with him.."

Arnav did not stop Khushi from serving him breakfast.. their eyes would meet intermittently but did not stop to communicate.. Nani noticed the uneasiness between them.. On the other hand, Dadi was happy to see Arnav give Khushi a cold shoulder but she had to push the agenda..

Dadi said, "Arnav, so what have you decided?"

"About what?" Arnav asked in a stern voice.

"Damad ji ke bare mein?" Dadi asked.. "Regarding Dadmad ji.. son-in-law?"

Pin drop silence ensued around the table... Anjali dropped the butter knife afraid that Arnav was going to scream.. Everyone including Mami looked at Dadi and Arnav with their jaws open and eyes wide.

Arnav looked up, took a sip of his tea and said to Aakash,

"Aakash, I want Shyam here within the hour!"

Aakash was shocked to hear it!

Arnav got up and looked at NK, said, "NK, you come with me!"

NK rose to his feet, followed Arnav. He knew better .. he did not ask any questions..

Everyone was stunned.. wide eyed... questions in their eyes..

Arnav turned around and said to everyone,

"We all meet in the lounge area in one hour!"

Everyone looked at him puzzled.. not knowing what to expect..as he walked out with NK..

Aakash pulled out his phone.. to make arrangements..

Dadi smiled at Anjali. Anjali smiled at Khushi and said, "Khushi ji... suna aap ne?.. Chhotey Shyam ji ko wapis bula rahe hai!.. did you hear that?. Chhotey is getting Shyam ji back!"

Khushi smiled and hugged Anjali from behind in the chair, smiled and said, "Ji, Di!"

Nani put her hands together and looked up.. "Hey Devi Maiyya! Take care of my Chhotey!"

Everyone was gathered in the lounge area... Anjali was happily sitting with Shyam.. her head resting on his shoulder.. Dadi watching them with happy eyes...

Nani and Mami were sitting looking at each other.. their faces still apprehensive.. Aakash and NK were standing behind the sofa .. everyone's eyes waiting for Arnav.. Khushi was to be seen nowhere..

NK asked Nani in whisper, "Khushi ji.. where is she?"

Nani shook her head, "Don't know!.. must be somewhere around."

Just then emerged Arnav.. he walked in through the main door.. still on his Blue Tooth, "Okay, alright! .. All set!.. Great!... Thank You!"

Arnav switched off the phone as he approached lounging area. Shaym stood up in pretense hesitation.. put his hands together, and said, "Saaale Sahab, before you get angry with me, let me apologize!"

Arnav raised his hand and said in a stern but calm voice, "Shall we talk business?"

"Business.. ? You mean?" Shyam was taken by surprise.. not what he expected to hear...

Just then appeared Khushi from kitchen.. HP in tow with tea and snacks for everyone...

Unaware of circumstances, she said chirpily, "Here you go! Chai and Nashta.. snacks for everyone..." As her gaze met with Arnav's stern eyes she lowered her eyes and without a word she went and stood behind Nani ji.

"Chhotey, what are you saying?" Anjali asked.

"Di, this is between me and Shyam!..." Arnav said..

"Jijaji.. Arnav, he is your Jijaji... " Dadi reminded Arnav..

"He has lost that right long back!" Arnav declared. His eyes not leaving Shyam's, staring him in eye.. Shyam the shrewd person that he was.. looked at Arnav with a "poor" face and said, "Dadi ji, it's alright! Whatever Saale Sahab thinks right is OK with me! I am here for my Rani Sahiba only.. ! I will take whatever comes my way for her.."

Arnav clenched his teeth at the pretense Shyam was putting on.. Anjali's eyes welled up as she looked at Shyam with admiration.. Shyam looked back at Anjali with affectionate eyes and then looked at Arnav with challenge in his eyes..

Arnav controlled himself.. Khushi had gradually moved next to Arnav...

Arnav looked up and said to everyone. Making his gaze steady over Shyam,

"So, you claim that you are here for Di only, right?"

"Koi shaq?.. any doubts?" asked Shyam in a shrewd manner.. Dadi and Anjali all smiles.. Nani worried.. NK and Aakash as well as Mami watching Arnav with narrowed eyes..

Khushi looked at Arnav as he started speaking, "Okay then! I have a solution... A deal for you!"

Then he looked around, said, "Listen to me carefully...!" then he looked back at Shyam and Anjali..

Shyam had sat down with Anjali, their arms around each other, Anjali resting her head on Shyam's shoulder.. looking happy..

"I will allow Shyam to stay with Di.. but.. on one condition!" Arnav announced.

Everyone's eye brows raised..

"Di and Shyam will stay in the house next door I purchased for Di!... After that Shyam can take care of Di'"

Shyam was stunned to hear that.. Nani too.. Khushi was shocked..
"But, Chhotey!" Nani intervened..

Mami jumped to say, "Arnav Bitwa, Anjali.. in this condition.. living alone..?"

"Relax, Mami!.. She will be just next door... I am not letting her go too far.. but I think, if Shyam is so much interested in taking care of Di, he should do it his way.. he seems to know what she needs better these days anyway!"

Nani was surprised at the cunning remark Arnav made.. But Nani knew better.. she said, "Whatever you think is alright with me, Chhotey! As long as Anjali bitiya is close by I don't have a problem' "

Anjali was shocked.. but she said excitedly, "Chhotey! You never told me that you bought a house for me!... I have dreamt all my life of having my own house,.. decorated my way.. It will be so much fun!" she said excitedly to Shyam..

Shyam frowned.. he saw that he was losing the grip here..

He said, "But,.. Saale Sahab.. Your Di is so used to having all of you around.. and I stay busy with my work'"

Arnav's eyes twinkled as Shyam reacted the way he expected. He said with a cunning face, "Take it or leave it!... You said you wanted to take care of Di! You should be able to figure it out.. after all.. " he swallowed rest of his words... he did not want to start another argument.., "Deal or No Deal?"

Dadi immediately jumped in, "Damad ji! This is very good! Both of you will be right here next door.. it's almost like staying together.. and you can live the way you want.. You won't have to ask anyone's permission..!"

"Yes, Dadi!" Anjali said excitedly.

Shyam thought quickly, he had to come up with something,.. he said, "Rani Sahiba!..Won't you want to stay here until the marriage is done?"

"Arey haan!.. Oh, Yes!" said Anjali. She looked at Khushi, chirpily said, "Khushi ji, come here!"

Khushi walked over to Anjali.. Anjali cupped her face and said affectionately, " I have to welcome my Chhotey's bride the proper way this time.. then only..."

Khushi smiled affectionately.. Watching Anjali so happy had made Khushi very happy...

Shyam was looking at Khushi with winning eyes.. Arnav's eyes missed nothing..

Arnav cleared his throat.. everyone looked at him. He said, "Nani.. Di.. whatever rituals are remaining, speed those up!.. Let's get this marriage thing over with sooner than later.."

Mami chirpily said, "Yes, Arnav bitwa! I have everything planned for Haldi.. "

Dadi once again gave a look of ambivalence to Khushi...

Arnav looked at Khushi and said,

"Khushi, come upstairs with me! I need to talk to you!"

Taking long strides, he headed towards the stairs.. then he looked back over his shoulder.. Khushi was still standing next to NK.. His eyes asked, "Are you coming?"

Khushi hesitantly followed Arnav up the stairs..

As soon as Khushi entered the room, Arnav closed the door behind her.

Khushi got worried that he was about to have another outburst...

But Arnav surprised her... he came over.. took Khushi's hand ever so gingerly in his. Led her to the poolside .. Then he held Khushi's shoulders and turned her to face him.. looking her deep in the eye, Arnav said, "I am sorry, Khushi!"

Khushi's eyes welled up.. she hugged him.. rubbed her face on his chest and let her tears trickle.. Arnav looked at her and said in a soft voice, "I should not have screamed at you like that... forgive me!"

Khushi smiled through her tears, looked up and said, "But.. you were not wrong... you were right in your place..."

Arnav said, "But.. still.. I should not have.." wiped off Khushi's tears ..

Khushi smiled as she pulled away.

"I am so happy that you bought Di this house next door!.. Now she will be happy.. but.. can I ask you why in a separate house?"

"Khushi, I want to see how much Shyam is invested in taking care of Di! This will be his test to see if he has really changed as you think he has.."

Khushi gave Arnav a sweet smile..

Arnav said in his heart, "You are so innocent Khushi.. you don't even realize how shrewd and dangerous Shyam is... even though you have suffered because of him.. He will never change...! "

*******

Now the present scenario:

NK and Arnav in NK's room:

NK looks at the papers Arnav hands to him.. reads them carefully.. his eyes first go wide.. then they narrow down.. he looks up at Arnav..

Arnav nods at him, "yup!"

"Nannav...mere Bhai.. this is disgusting!" NK blurts..

Then he says, "Is that why...?"

Arnav interrupts him.. ."Exactly.. ! This stays strictly between the two of us... we need to complete our investigation and gather proof..."

NK adds, "Yes, no mistakes like last time! We will have to be very careful.."

Arnav responds, "NK, don't say anything to Khushi. She will be worried sick.. She always thinks about others first!..Can you promise me that?"

"Nannav.. mere Bahi.. You and Khushi ji.. are you kidding me? Anything for you!"

Then he narrows down his eyes and asks, "But how did you even think about this?.. what made you think?"

Arnav started talking as images flashed back in front of his eyes... of the discussion with the doctor...

"Remember.. I went to see another specialist for Di? ... While discussing the case, she told me all that we never knew about... But it was in the report given to this doctor... Di was not wearing her brace when she fell down!.. Her feet were smeared with pieces of broken glass that took almost an hour for the doctors to clean... her blood and urine test had revealed labs consistent with major muscle breakdown... that fits with her getting electric shock.. thankfully, Di did not get hurt bad.."

NK said, " So, you mean, Nannav.. that.. this was done purposefully?.."

"Exactly!... and the only person who could benefit from this..,"Arnav said..

NK interrupted him, "Is Jiju!... Oh My God!.. Nannav... "

NK held Arnav over his shoulder as he shook his head with shock..

Then he looked up and asked, "So, what do we do now?"

Arnav said, "There are more things that I have pending investigation at present..." his voice trailed off as he started whispering ... NK listened carefully as Arnav explained his plan...

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