Hari Prakash had come to Delhi in search of job when he was just 15. His father had died a few weeks ago leaving the small boy with a mother and sister to care for. There had been not much of work available in their village. So, as so many before him, he had come to Delhi in search of jobs. The absence of any recommendations had shut many doors for him. Had Devyani Singh Raizada not found him when she did, he would have simply died out of hunger. She had saved his life that day and given him a job and a place to reside. He would forever be grateful to her for that. When things had gotten worse in the house with two more mouths to feed and with only one earning member, Devyani had asked arranged for a new job for him with a better pay. But he had refused to go. This is his home. They had given him a new leash of life and had opened their doors for him. He was not going to leave them when the situation was dire. He would stick to them till the end. He had foregone his salary for 2 years. He had seen Arnav grow his company from scratch. When the company had reaped the first profit, Arnav had given him a salary hike. His salary exceeding that of even a chef big hotel. He had watched Arnav struggling to come to terms with the reality, that he had to depend on someone for survival at least till he establishes his company. He knew Arnav never meant the threats he gave him. He knew he would do anything for his Arnav Bhaiyaa.
If there was anyone who had treated HP with respect it was Khushi bhabhi. She had never made him feel like a servant. To her, he was one in the family. She had tied him a rakhi for rakshabandan in past two years. They had shared many a stories while they had cooked meals for the people of this house. But the past few days, she had been silent, very silent. She had done all the works dismissing him with an authority she had never shown him before. She was not eating properly too bluffing to Arnav that she had had her dinner as he had asked her to without waiting for him. Hari Prakash was afraid that it will come to this one day if she keeps on neglecting her health. And she had fainted today. To see her suffering was something he could not digest. He had to somehow let Arnav Bhaiyaa know what had happened in the kitchen.
HP stood in front of Arnav's room not knowing how to broach the subject. Though they treat him as family, he was a servant. Arnav looked at HP standing near the door. HP had never lingered near him for even a second more than necessary. If he is staying back, it must be something important. But he was tired. He did not have time to wait for him to shore up enough courage to talk his mind. So he did what he did best to make him spill the beans.
"What?" Arnav asked irritated.
"Bhaiyya hame aapse kuch baat karni hai" (Bhaiyya I need to talk to you)
"Not now HP"
"Bhaiyya Bhabhi kebaare me..." ( bhaiyya its about bhabhi...)
Now that got his attention.
"Baat kya hai HP?" (What's the matter HP?)He asked, his expression guarded. Khushi spent most of her time in the kitchen and knowing what a chatter box she is, she might have told HP something. He waited for HP to continue.
"Main iss ghar ka naukar hoon. Par main Khushi Bhabhi ko aise nahin dekh saktha. Woh hamari behan jaise hai. Main kuch adik nahin keh saktha. Aap zara kitchen ke camera dekhiye Arnav Bhaiyaa." (I am a servant in this house. I can't say much. You please see the kitchen camera.)
"What?" Arnav asked in an incredulous tone.
"Aap woh dekenge tho aapko samaj aayega Arnav Bhaiya..."
"HP don't play games with me now. I am not in the mood. Muje saaf saaf bathao" His voice filled with anger and irritation.
"Bhaiyaa hum such bol rahe hain. Uss din Khushi Bhabhi aur Payal Bhabhi ne anath ashram gaye na? Uss din ki video dekhiye. Aap ko pata chal jaayega." HP said, his voice shaking with fear but his eyes pleading Arnav to trust him in this as he had trusted him all those years back when he had slipped out of the house unknown to all to take part time jobs to support his education.
Arnav looked at HP keenly making the man squirm under his gaze. But the sincerity in his eyes told him it was something of utmost importance. Else he would not have stayed back risking the wrath of Arnav. And Arnav knew HP would not speak a word against any member of this house. If he wants to see the video, then it must be about someone in the house.
"Main dekh loonga HP. Tum jao."
"Teek hai Bhaiyaa."
HP left the place feeling lighter after days. He had informed Arnav Bhaiyaa. He will now take care of Khushi Bhabhi. He just prayed that his one action does not end up splitting the family as Arnav would go to any lengths for Khushi.
Arnav was tired. All he wanted to do was get into his bed, snuggle with his wife and drown into a peaceful slumber that he had been missing for the past week. He had never understood how she had managed to drive away the nightmares of his past. It had plagued him so much that he had lost all hopes on peaceful sleep. But just her presence in his life had given him hope to live, to love. Her undying happiness had affected him even when he had tried his best to stop it. Now his happiness depended on hers. The past week had brought back the nightmares. He had a tough time at office trying to wrap up a deal with a particularly difficult client. And when he had come home at late nights, he had found Khushi doing some work or the other. She would serve him dinner and then start cleaning the kitchen. He had tried calling her to the room but his stubborn wife had got her way as always. He had tried waiting for her but his tired body has not cooperated. He would start having nightmares of his past and before he could wake up, he would sense a calm spreading over him like a blanket and he would fall into a disturbed sleep though devoid of nightmares. It was like they both had an internal radar which was attuned the others emotions. He had always known when she needed him and she had always been there when he needed her.
Today he knew he would get a good night's sleep only if he finds out what was disturbing her, dimming the child like joy and happiness in her life. Arnav sat on the recliner and switched on his laptop. He connected to the LAN and opened the folder containing the video feed from the kitchen camera. He had installed it when Shyam had been in the house, to protect his wife and keep an eye on him. He started looking through the videos of the past few days. What he saw in the video made Arnav see red. He clamped his fingers into a tight fist and clenched his jaw to stop himself from doing something that he would regret later.
Damn. Damn. Damn. Why the hell did he enter her life? Two years and still the echoes of his thoughtless actions affect her. He had stripped her of her dignity, her respect, her family everything by his thoughtless actions. Not once but twice; once by marrying her forcefully and the other by leaving her alone for a long time at the mandap. Even now when he thought he had brought a semblance of normalcy to their lives, it seemed he had only dreamed of it. Will there ever be a day when their lives would be free of the past? Will there ever be a day when their happiness would not be eclipsed by the shadow of the hurt and guilt? If he ever voiced this out to Khushi, she would give him 100 reasons as to why she is happy with him easily forgiving the 1000 things as to why she should be sad with him in her life. But that is not going to stop her from admonishing him for thinking such thoughts.
"Arnavji..." Khushi mumbled in her sleep. Her soft voice calling him was enough to calm down the angry Arnav and awaken the smart ASR in him. He went near her and caressed her head and cheeks. She snuggled into his palms and sighed. He adjusted her on the bed and lied beside her. Khushi immediately moved closer to him placing her head near his heart. Arnav hugged her closer to him, the hurting words of mami echoing in his ears. He pulled her closer still, as if trying to shield her from all the pain and hurt. But he knew he cannot do it. He had to think of something that will give her a position of respect. He understood why Khushi wanted him to give Payal a job. He gave into his tired body's plea and closed his promising to himself that he will make everything alright and will give her the respect that she deserves.
Arnav woke up early and was leaning on the head board waiting for Khushi to wake up. She had a smile on her face and mumbling something. Her hand searched for him. And when she found his hand, she moved towards him and placed her head on his lap and held his palm tight with both hands. Arnav smiled seeing her. But his mind was making plans to ensure his mami did not hurt his Khushi. But before that he had to talk to her first. Know what all had happened behind his back. He was sure what he had seen was not a singular event. He schooled his features to that of a thoughtful one when he felt her stirring awake beside him.
Khushi opened her eyes to look at the thoughtful face of her husband. She was content to lie down and look at his face. She thought her husband looked handsome than ever. Slowly waking up she turned to look at the time on her bedside watch.
What she saw made her gasp, get up with a startle, rush to the washroom tripping at least 5 times before she crossed the short distance from the bed.
Arnav looked at her amused. She was back to her clumsiness after a very long week. He smiled and shook his head thinking of the days they had fought to use the bathroom first. He lounged on the recliner thinking of how to broach the subject with Khushi, when he heard the shower running. And right as he guessed, he heard her calling out to him a few minutes with hesitation.
"Arnav ji..."
"Khushi tum teek ho? Kya hua?" (Khushi are you ok? What happened?)
"Arnav ji aap please darwaza band karke poolside me wait kariyena? (Arnav ji please lock the door and wait in the poolside).
A/N:
Thanks a lot for your comments. I loved every single one đ Hope you like this updateđ
Udne Ki Aasha
Cricket
138