Smita,
Here is the interpretation for Part 5.
This update is about being essential part of a thing, following from the essential nature of a thing, belonging naturally, essentially that can be depicted by the word, INTRINSIC
When Arnav woke up he was disoriented. It took him a moment to get his bearings and as he looked down at his chest seeing the mass of silky tresses splayed across his chest, and the pleasant cozy feeling that the warm bundle draping on him emanated, his Universe settled in place. For Khushi was wrapped around him, her head on his chest, her face upturned, her arms around him, the fingers of her left hand clutching the waistcoat just below his neck, her legs coiled tight around him as though afraid that he would vanish in a puff of smoke while she shut her eyes. He could sense the rhythmic beat of her heart that brought in a smile on his lips with contentment glowing on his face. He thought that it did not matter that they were so far away from home, it did not matter that were stuck in a cow-shed, lay sprawled out amidst bales of hay, it did not matter that they were on the run from kidnappers, for as long she was in his arms, nothing else mattered. He felt at home as she was with him. He felt that he could fight the world and win hands down if she was by his side. Seeing her all warm and cozy and her innocent beauty that was aglow even in her sleep, her face devoid of all the trauma that she had to undergo but, relaxed showing just the implicit trust in him, Arnav gently smoothed the silky strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek thanking his stars for having brought her into his otherwise barren life. She was like a whiff of fresh air in his life. That was a fact and a deep-seated thought he was never able to shrug off even when he had tried his hardest. Just like a magnet he had been attracted to her and it had shaken his very being. Khushi, his wife, had meshed into the very fabric of his life was the intrinsic truth and an essential reality.
Khushi felt warm, all wrapped under the cloak of love that had made her relax. The feathery glide of the fingers that was soft and light brought in warmth within her and a feeling of being cherished. She opened her eyes slowly her long lashes that were curved like the petals of lotus opened up with a flutter to see the love filled gaze of her Arnavji resting on her. It made her heart flutter like the wings of the doves reverberating loud in her ears. She quickly skittered her eyes unable to hold his gaze. She remembered the cow-shed, the hay, Shyamji, the kidnappers and then the kisses making her cheeks burn. A flushed up Khushi jumped up from the bed she had made of Arnav's body, and her fingers with great reluctance released their hold on his jacket. She sat up, looking down at him, her gaze homing on his lips for a moment before she veered it away. For Khushi, being with her Arnavji was not only an unquestionable act but also one of belonging naturally. She was much more relaxed with him than anyone else. And for her too, it was an absolute essential factor. His place in her life was distinctively marked now and was quintessential without any doubt.
Arnav who was observing her quietly, understanding her dilemma told her softly, that they were in dire need to find a safe house with a proper roof over their heads. Khushi nodded knowing that they could not sit there hidden over two cows all day and night till the police nabbed Shyam and his band of hooligans. The intrinsic reality was that the abductors were on the lookout and they needed to keep themselves safe, away from the shyster and his band of followers. They freshened up using the remaining water and had their fill with the leftover sandwiches. Arnav peeped through the bales to ensure that they were unobserved and once he confirmed that the coast was clear, he got ready to make their escape. As he slid down the loft to the hard ground, his leather wallet too slipped out of his pocket on to the cow dung pit and vanished into the bottom that would come out only as a part of compost! The slight plop was not heard amidst the sound of the munching of the hay and the cud coming from the cows (Oops! The raksha daaga was in it!! 😲It too has merged with the cow dung! That's alright. It was given by Shyam and it too got purified with cow's urine and dung!!!?😉 Lucky Arnav! His Di was not there! Or else a shanti havan would have been arranged for both her brother and her hubby dear!😆) Arnav helped Khushi to slide down not realizing that his branded leather wallet had met its ignominious end. Grasping her hand tightly he led her away from the cow-shed in to the jungle. The peculiar trait in Arnav and also in Khushi was when the two were together the rest of the world got shut out and the two dwelt in their own world until they were shaken out of it. This inherent trait was the one that showed that they were into each other. However much they had denied they were made for each other was an unchallengeable fact. That was, is, will be the reason, why they could sense each other and their feelings. It was just a part of them and natural too.
Reaching the road, they hid behind a thicket and watched the road for quite a long time till an open truck heaped with bales of hay came along. With Khushi's hand clasped in one hand he hitched for a ride. The truck stopped. The kind driver obliged and asked them to hop on behind amidst the stacks of hay. Both of them sprawled on the hay looking at the bright clear sky with the sun blessing them with its warmth and light while the wind washed over them, caressing their skin and ruffling their hair with its gentle hand. The nature gave its blessings to the couple. As the rattling old truck hurtled away, Arnav looked at Khushi and in a voice full of concern asked, was she fine? Giving him a brilliant smile that showed her happiness, with her face vying with the sun that was shining above their heads she said, yes. Her response brought out a smile on his face. When Arnav cut a light joke, that he was going to get a hay stack done at Shantivan in remembrance of the day, it brought out a genuine smile on her face. Seeing her smile, Arnav's smile fell away realizing that too many days had passed since he had seen her smile. He recalled that it was Holi when he had last witnessed it. The effect of bhang had made him forget his nafrat. Then mohabbat had ruled his head, and hatred had vanished like mist in the presence of sunlight. They lay silent, looking at the sky. Too many changes were happening in their lives; their future depended on too many unpredictable factors. But one thing both were sure was that they did not want anyone to stop their soaring heart. It felt like they were given a new life and they wanted a life together. Both felt that their heart was elsewhere and they were elsewhere and the path that they were treading was new, escaping from the darkness of yesterday. They felt they were slowly opening their eyes only to see that the life had turned into the spring time and flowers abloom everywhere and that thought had made them look forward to a wonderful life. Time and again they gazed at each other observing every minute nuances. The fundamental fact was that their built-in radar was focused on the other and their actions and reactions, underlying the fact that they wanted their life in sync with the other.
Soon they heard the bustling sounds of a town and as Arnav sat up and looked around he felt that it looked familiar. His eyes widened as they passed a dhaba, for it was the same dhaba that he and Khushi had spent a night in on their way to Nainital! Khushi, who too had sat up by then, shouted out over the din of the rattling truck, Arnavji! The dhaba! Her face was wreathed with smile, happy at the prospect of meeting old friends. His heart soared seeing her pleasure and knocking on the wooden slats behind the driver's seat he asked to be let down. The driver obliged with a smile. After helping Khushi alight, Arnav strode towards the driver to offer his thanks. Khushi who had followed him expressed her gratitude with folded hands and saying, Shukriya, Bhaiyya! As Arnav put his hand in to the pocket of his trousers to pull out his wallet, the driver refused his offer of money with a smile and drove away with a wave. But Arnav lost his pallor. Khushi looked at him in anxiety and asked him what happened and was he feeling giddy? Arnav words that he was not able to find his wallet, made Khushi gasp. He frantically looked in his pockets, patting both the pockets muttering, that he had it while they were in the cow-shed, and tried to recall if he had felt it later. Khushi completed his thought that maybe it had fallen when they were getting down from the hay-loft and she wondered aloud, what were they to do now? It made her scrunch up her eyebrows, the frown lines marring her smooth forehead. Arnav pursed his lips irritated and said that they needed to pay for their boarding and lodging. Khushi whispered, that they both needed a change of clothes too and they could not walk into the dhaba looking like a pair of castaways. Arnav nodded, worried that all his money, all his cards were gone and thought that the cows must have had one heck of a feast. The brighter side of it was at least his wallet had not fallen where the kidnappers could get their grubby hands on. Once he returned home, he would have to inform the banks. Arnav by now has realized that, despite all that he had accused her, of being a gold digger, of being after money and of being a home wrecker, her innate character was nothing like the things that he had accused her of. Her joy lay in small and simple things and people were of real and utmost importance and it was an inborn trait in her. For him, after putting her through the grueling time, it was a time to make up for all the wounds he had inflicted. He was of singular mind, ready to give in to her wishes for he knew that he was the cause for her smile to vanish. When Shyam had been persecuting her, she had not broken down but had fought back. But the minute she had realized how low he had held her in his opinion she had become like a rag doll, limp and lifeless. Bringing her back to her old self, the one with the spunk and verve that kept challenging him at every step and gave him joy was what he wanted to see and he was single-mindedly devoted to restore that Khushi.
Khushi, who was thinking what to do, broke into his introspection calling out, Arnavji, and told him that she has two hundred rupees with her but she has kept it hidden and to take it out he would have to take her somewhere, where there were no prying eyes. She blushed to the roots of her hair and stuttered while saying, that she has stashed it under her clothes and he would have to turn away. Arnav bit back a smile and he had his phone with him. He could call Aman and ensure sufficient funds but this was more fun. Anyway his phone was there as a stand-by. While Khushi tried to focus her eyes on the ground to escape his smile, it fell on the bangles that Mami had forced her to wear. With sparkling eyes she asked him, whether there was any place where they could sell those bangles. Arnav stared at her and thought his Khushi was a bundle of contrariness. She who could be very inventive and practical, could also be so dopey at times too. She really boggled his mind, though her idiosyncratic behavior was never in tandem to his practical self, would always throw in a pleasant wobbly unexpectedly. That was her uniqueness and with her around it was difficult to predict what would happen next. That was what distinguished her from the rest. She explained that Motilalji had brought jewels to RM the previous day and Mami had selected these for her. If they sell them, they could buy clothes and stay at the dhaba without any problem. Arnav nodded realizing that it was a blessing in disguise as it was better to sell the bangles than contact Aman. It would be better to have less number of people knowing the location of their safe house. As he looked around, he saw two clothes shops, a grocery store, two restaurants, a temple, a police station, a bank, a newsagent, and a jeweler all small local shops intrinsic to the small towns. Once again Khushi running true to form had come up with a solution that was unchallengeable in its relevance.
Khushi chose a few items that included a purple suit and a fresh set of underclothes and went on to try them. Arnav quickly picking two shirts, one in dark blue and the other in brown, selected other accessories and looked around. Adding a red sari to the pile of clothes that they wanted to buy he asked the salesgirl to pick out the matching blouse and underskirt and then added a pink suit to Khushi's pile. By then, Khushi appeared in her purple suit and they proceeded to pick night and casual wear. Soon Arnav's phone vibrated and as Khushi watched with trepidation, his face relaxed and before cutting the call she heard him thank the caller and say that, they would stay where they were and would meet the next day. Turning towards Khushi he informed her that the kidnappers had been apprehended and have been taken for interrogation to collect evidence against Shyam. Khushi heaved a sigh of relief and felt as though her limbs were about to give away. The connate characteristic of Khushi was to hide her feelings. So was also the case of Arnav. Both were good at it too, for life had made them learn it the hard way. When Arnav got the call that all the abductors were arrested except Shyam they heaved a sigh of relief. For they knew, if things were not done quickly Shyam would smell something fishy and it would trigger another set of events. They now would have to stay away as it was elemental for the safety of their loved ones.
Arnav called Akash and informed him that the abductors have been apprehended. But the police wanted them to keep a low profile for a few more hours and they were most likely to be back at RM the next day. When he enquired what Shyam was up to, Akash told him that he was asked by Shyam where Arnav was as he was not to be seen around. Shyam was told as per his instructions that as he had received the ransom call for five crores and had gone out to arrange it. It earned Arnav's approval. Akash continued to narrate what was going on at RM. He told that Shyam seems to be disturbed and as per NK he was seen constantly pacing the floor in Di's room while his hand was unconsciously running through his hair mussing it up. Judging by the rate he was pacing it would not be any wonder if the carpet was found worn out and thread-bare. NK was keeping an eye on him from the terrace using a pair of binoculars. Arnav smiled knowing that like him Shyam who had immaculately groomed hair at all times. This gesture of his was not in character was a sure sign of being in a turbulent mood. It looked as though Shyam was at his wits end and was bound to commit mistakes as he has been thrown off-balance by the knowledge that a chit of a girl had outwitted six seasoned abductors and was still at large! His implicit faith in himself and his prowess must have been shaken! He told Akash that the abductors must have told their boss that Khushi was missing, that she had runaway. And now with all the rest behind bars, his calls must have gone unanswered and having no idea as to what was happening he must be one worried man! And how can he not be so? After all his life and living was at stake. A concerned Akash asked his Bhai, whether he was safe? He reassured Akash that they were very safe and now it was time for Shyam to add to his basket of follies. If he leaves the house, he asked Akash to make sure that he does not follow Shyam and ensure that NK too does not do so. He asked Akash to drill it into NK not to follow Shyam at any cost as the police would be doing it anyway and if they do so it would result in hindering the police and nothing else. The police were expecting Shyam to make an appearance at the house they had held Khushi captive, to find out what was going on. Akash assured him that he would comply and make sure NK too followed the instruction. Studying Shyam and his characteristics, Arnav knew that Shyam would try to analyze what went wrong and would go in person to check things out. It was a peculiar trait of Shyam for he really was a small time crook who got lucky so far!
Geared with bags of new clothes, Arnav and Khushi walked in to the dhaba. The robust hostess was stumped to see them. She was so happy that she rushed to Khushi and enveloped her in a big bear hug with a vociferous call to her husband, Come here, Bittu's father! See who has come to visit us. As the fond husband left the kitchen and peeped out, his eyes widened with pleasure and said, oh, it is a good day that brings our old lovebirds to us again! Enveloping Arnav in a hug, the large hearted man loudly called out to his wife, Bittu's mother, arrange the honeymoon suite for them! The genuine warmth in the welcome of the Punjabi couple was seen by both Arnav and Khushi. They were happy to see them. The loud welcome they got was natural and came from their heart. The couple led Arnav and a blushing Khushi to the honeymoon suite. The effervescent lady, holding Khushi by her arm asked it had been a year since they had seen them and has their problem with her parents' been sorted out? Have they accepted their marriage? Khushi with a smile on her face told her that everything was fine now. The hostess leaned forward to whisper in Khushi's ear, whether her husband treats her well now? Has he changed and was he kind towards her? Was he responsible? Or does he get angry for small things like he did last year? The Sardarni was particular to know whether Khushi was really happy. Khushi bit back her laughter, and answered raising her voice a bit that ensured Arnavji heard her reply. Keeping a poker face she told Auntyji that, marriage had brought in an immense change in him. He is very kind now, never got angry, not even when she teases him. He is very loving, very sweet just like jalebi. Arnav listening to her singing his praises, had to fight to keep his smile hidden. He knew that his Minx would not let go of such a golden opportunity to pull his leg! Arnav was relieved to see the naughty side of Khushi emerge out after the unsavoury silence he had seen. He was happy to see that her basic trait, the capacity to bounce back quickly had not vanished.
But more was in store for Khushi. The hostess asked, Puttar, it has been one year since their marriage. Is there any good news? Her sweet query had Khushi flush and Arnav rub his hands with glee at her predicament. He wondered how would she get out of that and was all agog to hear what she had to say! Khushi lowered her head as though it was of great disappointment shook her head in the negative. The lady consoled her not to worry over that matter saying, that they had been married for three years before their Bittu made his appearance in their life and now they were blessed with four sons. God willing her lap too would be filled with children and laughter in a few years. As Khushi silently nodded acknowledging the ladies kind heart and words, Arnav was filled with glee and had a silent chuckle seeing her discomfiture. The Sardarji showed them to their room, and left, asking them to call him if they wanted anything. The lady whispered in Khushi's ear asking her to stay in the room and use the time wisely. She would have their food served there itself. As Khushi blushed, Arnav turned away to hide the smile blooming on his lips. Khushi told the lady that her husband was not able to take food with a lot of chilly or spices. So could she avail the use of their kitchen and prepare dishes for him? The inbred nature of Khushi, that is to see to the comfort of her Arnavji, the genuine love for him, could not be suppressed and her request showed it. Sardarni was highly pleased to hear it and pinching Khushi's cheeks told that she was an extremely good wife and turning to Arnav she told him, that he was extremely lucky to have such a loving wife. Arnav, who of late, had realized how really lucky he was agreed with her with a content smile playing on his lips. Arnav knew, what one needs, what one wants and what one gets need not be the same, but, he was one of the lucky few who had all the three. This knowledge was central to his happiness. Seeing the smiles of his caramel eyes sparkle like the sea when first lighted up by the rays of the sun Sardarni placed a hand on her ample bosom and invoking God told that he was such a handsome fellow when he smiles! She asked him to smile all the time like that and his wife would sit all day in front of him drinking in the lovely sight and soon the life would be spent without even them being aware of it passing by! So saying, she blessed the couple and went away. Her words had both Arnav and Khushi in stitches. The lady came out with the intrinsic beauty of life that a smile can be like a drop of water in a desert and it is wonderful to watch it. But it is still more wonderful to be the cause of the smile. According to her, the art of being wise is, knowing what to overlook. That was the intrinsic truth.
That is why this update is titled INTRINSIC.
"We are happy when for everything within us there is a corresponding something outside us"
~ William Butler Yeats
That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.
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