Having left Lavanya and Khushi behind at the mall, he drove his car like an automaton. He had no idea where he was headed. He only remembered what he had once said to Nani and Di, "I don't believe in love, and if I'm ever in love, I will stay away from her."
Now the time had come. He wasn't sure he loved her, but it sure as hell hurt to be near her, to watch her cry, knowing well that he had caused those tears. So he would stay away, he would close himself up in a place no one and nothing could reach.
He kept driving and found himself parked near the temple where they had parted the last time, swearing never to see each other again. But she was in his home the very next day, and fallen in his arms a few minutes later in the kitchen.
He smiled at that thought. She felt so light and soft in his arms, and those eyes stared back at him with so many questions, with anger, fear, and maybe just a little longing.
He sat there, dreaming, till he saw a familiar figure at the steps of the temple.
What was Jijaji doing here, talking to the priest? This was not their family priest, not the one Di called for all the ceremonies at Shantivan. Looking closer, he saw Jijaji pass a bundle of notes to the priest, who nodded and smiled as he took them.
He wanted to step out of the car and wave to Jijaji, but something in the demeanor of the kurta-clad figure warned him against it. What was he doing here anyway. He should e
He watched as Jijaji walked out and hailed an auto-rickshaw. Intrigued, Arnav followed in his car, maintaining his distance. Soon, the auto led him down familiar roads. But this is the alley that leads to Khushi's place!
He remembered how he and Di had met Jijaji near this very road. He had some work with a client he'd said. Curious nonetheless, Arnav crawled his car further, and gripped the steering wheel hard when he saw his Jijaji pay off the cab and walk in to Khushi's place. He did not ring the bell or wait outside, just pushed the door and walked in...as if he lived there.
Jijaji knew Khushi? But why was he visiting her here? He doesn't know she is at Shantivan? He knows her family?? Why has he never mentioned this before?
Arnav's head spun as he tried to recall when he had seen Jijaji and Khushi at the same time at Shantivan. At Di's anniversay party? On Diwali? A lot of images swirled into his head, How Khushi had lost her payal at the party and he had found it, how he had returned the payal to her ankle on Diwali. He closed his eyes, clearing his head. Now wasn't the time to dream about Khushi. What was Jijaji doing in Khushi's house?
He wanted to get out of the car and barge into the house to confront Jijaji, but the survival instinct that had served him so well all these years kicked in. He backed his car and kept watch instead, restless, fuming. He called up his office to make sure everything was going well, and asked Aman to send him a list of well-known detective agencies. It always paid to have a back-up plan.
After about half an hour, Jijaji walked out with Khushi's aunt and mother, they were nodding and smiling at him. They definitely knew him very well indeed, and the way the aunt held up her hand beside Jijaji's face to ward off the evil eye, this was no professional relationship. What the hell was Jijaji up to?
Jijaji hailed another auto, and Arnav followed him to a seedy little hotel outside Chandni Chowk. As he sat waiting for him to emerge, he went over what he knew.
Jijaji was walking about town talking to priests and paying them and meeting Khushi's family, when Di needed his help at Shantivan.
He knew Khushi's family! And probably Khushi herself, but wasn't...wait, what did Di say her fiance's name was?
Did Khushi mention his name? What the hell was his name? He must call Di and ask her…but what would he tell her? Why did he need to now Khushi's fiance's name?
Arnav felt his neck stiffen, and a sliver of pain in the back of his head. He knew he was in for a massive attack of migraine. But he had no time for that now.
This needed to be resolved...why was Jijaji now in a hotel in Chandni Chowk instead of Shantivan? Was he Khushi's ….? Impossible!!
He dialled one of the numbers Aman had sent him.
************
"Aap log itni jaldi ghar aa gaye?" asked Nani, sitting on the sofa with Lakshmi on her lap.
"Ji Naniji, woh ASR koh kuch kaam that isliye woh chale gaye, phir Chamkili bhi accha feel nahi kar rahi this to hum ghar aa gaye. Di kahan hain?" said Lavanya.
"U toh apne kamre ma hongi, kah rahi thi ki kuch kam hai. Khusi bitiya, aap theek to hain na?", said Nani.
"Ji hum bilkul theek hain, zara Anjaliji ko dekh kar aatein hein ki kya unhe koi madad chahiye." replied Khushi, beginning to walk off.
"Theek hai, bitiya, jaiye"said Nani.
I'll come with you Chamkili, Di ko shopping bhi toh dikhani hai, come!" said Lavanya.
They found Anjali on her bed, sobbing, a picture frame in her hands.
"Di kya hua?" Lavanya rushed to Anjali.
"Anjali ji…aap ro kyun rahi hain?"
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OS:
Bindi
Udne Ki Aasha
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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