Arshi FF#7: THE SEED OF PASSION, Ch 55, p.23, 9/4/16 - Page 4

Rahim Chacha's Secret

Ajit slapped Shyam right across his face! Wham! "What do you mean Shyam? You have lost track of Rahim chacha? He must be still in Darjeeling or has he disappeared into thin air? Rahim chacha was your responsibility!!"

Shyam staggered to the ground, pain shooting through his body! Anger surged along with pain! He wished he had not bribrd thr judge and got Ajit released from jail.

"Is this how you treat me after I got you released on bail from the prison?" Shyam grumbled in pain.

"Shut up! You s***! As if you have given the judge all the money Amma gave you!" Ajit scowled at him. "You must have pocketed some of it for sure, I know you shyam!" " Ajit's vile laughter echoed in Sheeshmahal.

Shyam gulped the bile of fear in his throat and stammered incoherently "Ajit ch...chacha...that is why I got you bail! None of my plans against Arnav seem to work! He has hidden Rahim chacha somewhere. And since he hasn't returned from Darjeeling, I think that is where Rahim chacha is!"

"This Arnav is a lucky ba*****! All my attempts to get him killed have failed too! But this time there should be no mistake Shyam, get it? Or I will kill you personally! And get me Rahim chacha immediately! Before he discloses anything to Arnav!" Ajit chacha spnappedd at him.

"Discloses what? Ajit chacha? What can the old man probably know?" Shyam asked his curiosity getting the better of him.

He lifted himself up from the ground and stepped back from the scowling man in front of him. There was something going on in Ajit's mind which Shyam could not quite understand. There was a strange look in his eyes! Was it fear?

"You must tell me Ajit chacha, I am your lawyer!" Shyam said licking his lips, "What does Rahim chacha know?"

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The grey cloud concealed the moon in its bosom and Khushi felt a surge of joy as Arnav lowered his head on her lap, settling there comfortably, his eyes closed, deep in thought...

Khushi ruffled his hair, her heart burst in tender love and radiance of the glimmer of moonshine through the illuminated cloud. She looked up at the canopy of stars the sky and smiled contently.

He had promised her there would be no secrets between them anymore and he had remained true to his promise sharing all he knew about Rahim chacha with her for starters.

But he moved his head restlessly and when he spoke his voice was strained. He brought their interlaced fingers close to his chest and said in a voice choked with emotion, "Khushi ,I don't think... I want to know... Rahim chacha's secret..."

She understood what he was going through and decided to ease his mind by diverting his attention.

"Arnav...I have also kept a secret from you...don't you want to know it too?" she said tongue in cheek.

"What the!" he exclaimed and sat up straight, his eyes reflecting his fury.. "What is it? Is it NK? Do you love him? I will beat the s*** out of him...!"

Khushi rolled her eyes! "Uff! Arnav! It has nothing to do with NK, so relax! And why are you always super ready to beat him up! Now, do you ant to hear what I have to say or..."

"Oh, okay okay..." he said sheepishly, "Go ahead...I am listening..."

"Remember I told you the reason why I haven't returned to my hostel in Shimla?" she said looking at him intently.

Arnav looked at her curiously..."You told me your examinations had been postponed..."

"No Arnav that is not the real reason. I left my hostel because the Interior Decoration course was becoming too expensive! Because Babuji had taken a big loan for my studies and boarding and could not pay it off...!"

Arnav looked at her in astonishment.

Khushi continued. "Buaji was against the idea of borrowing money for the course but Babuji believed in my dreams, he told me often he often dreamt of me becoming the best interior decorator in he world..." Khushi smiled slightly.

"But when the loan sharks began knocking at his door, he took up many part time jobs inspite of his ill health. That is also the reason he agreed to work for your Dadi as her Diwan...

He warned Buaji and Jiji not to disclose anything to me but one day when I was in hostel, Buaji called me up and told me everything, crying on the phone! I was shell shocked and immediately took the decision to leave my studies and return home! I realized that our financial condition had gone from bad to worse and that is why I took up the job of decorating the Raizada farmhouse.

Arnav stared numbly at her sad face...

"Khushi..." Arnav's voice choked as he jerked her in his arms and held her secure in the warm protective circle of his arms...

"Why did you not tell me all this before Khushi..." he groaned, hugging her tightly, "I could have..."

Khushi laughed hollowly, "What could you have done Arnav?...Helped Babuji monetarily?" she asked him bluntly. "Babuji would not have taken any charity from you...you know him..."

"But Khushi it makes no sense to discontinue your course like this...you must fulfill your and your babuji's dream of becoming the best interior decorator ...and that is what I want for you too..."

"Maybe I will some day, " Khushi sighed laying her head on his shoulders and then whispered in his ear, "Similarly Arnav, it also makes no sense to come this far, seek out Nani and Rahim chacha and then back out..."

Arnav smiled. He realized why she had told him her secret. He caught the errant wisp of hair swishing around her lips, his fingers just grazing her lips. Khushi's breath hitched as he tucked hr hair behind her ear and whispered "You always make me see the right path Khushi... Let us talk to Rahim chacha..." He said getting up and pulling her with him. But not before making a mental note to tell Aman to make arrangements for Khushi to continue her interior decoration course...

"Er...umm... Khushi ...this is for you..." he said in a soft voice handing her a beautiful full blooded red rose from his jacket pocket..., looking at her sheepishly with hooded eyes...raking his long fingers through his thick hair.

"Oh thank you Arnav!" Khushi said delighted and suddenly kissed him on the cheek and running past him towards Rahim chacha's room.

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"Ajit what were you doing confiding in Shyam?" Subhadra Mallik thundred at her son. "If I hadn't walked into your conversation with Shyam you would have told him everything...the secret of Sheeshmahal is only ours...yours and mine!"

Ajit just pursed his lips and looked away. She was right for a change. She had done well to stop him and send Shyam away on some work. He was just so rattled with the Rahim chacha business.

Subhadra Mallik understood the worried look on her son's face and tried to pacify him. "Why are you worried so much about Rahim chacha? He has kept quiet all his life and is not likely to blabber anything now. After all you have always paid that woman, what's her name... Naira Usman...to keep him out of our hair!"

"Yes I know but Arnav is trying to extract information from him!" Ajit growled like a wounded animal.

"Who will believe anything Rahim has to say?" Subhadra Mallik shrugged her shoulders.

"Arnav will!" Ajit insisted. He walked up and down the room like a caged monster.

"I should have shut him up Rahim chacha for good for ever on that day itself! Ajit thundered his eyes burning fury.

"Are you mad, Ajit ? You would have unnecessarily drawn attention to yourself and I would have never been able to bribe the police not to question Rahim ..."

Ajit just grunted loudly.

"You know Ajit, I am much more worried about the relationship Arnav is forming with this girl...our ex-Diwanji Shashi Gupta's daughter...she is beaneath our status, how dare Arnav...he should be stopped..."

"Do you think he is serious about her to marry her Amma?"

"I hope not! How can my grandson marry a low down ex-employee's daughter!" Subhadra Mallik screwed up her nose and snorted.

But Ajit of thinking of something else...his father's will...all the Mallik property would go to Arnav's child...

No way could he let that happen!

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Moonlight spilled into the room as Arnav and Khushi drew aside the curtains and entered Rahim chacha's room.

"Why is the room in dark chacha? Shall I switch on the light?"

"No bitiya. Let it be. Secrets are best revealed in the dark. And now the time has come..." Rahim chacha said in a tired voice.

"I have to unload something off my chest Arnav baba...about Ratna bhabhiji's death" he said faltingly...approaching Arnav slowly. He caught his strong hand in his wrinkled one and said softly, "Are you ready...should I?"

Khushi noticed the despair that filled Arnav's eyes and said quickly, "Yes...its okay chacha...Nani has already told Arnav that Ratna auntie was...murdered," Khushi glanced at Arnav anxiously, her eyes brimming with tears, her heart going out to him as she felt him shudder slightly.

Arnav let out a long breath and said in a determined tone, "Yes I want to know the truth about what happened in sSheeshmahal on the day of Di's wedding... and that is why I sought you out Rahim chacha..."

"But since you haven't said anything in so many years, I will understand if you don't want to say anything now, you are under no compulsion..." he said, holding Rahim chacha's hands with both hands, his eyes sincere.

"No beta...my niece Naira kept me quiet for so many years...she made a deal with the Malliks and used me as the golden goose...I have been a living corpse since I left Sheeshmahal.." Rahim chacha's lips quivered to say something, his eyes stung and then he turned away quickly to wipe away his tears.

Khushi touched Arnav's sleeve and urged him with her big luminiscent eyes to talk to Rahim chacha.

Arnav moved forward and put his hands Rahim chacha's shoulders and squeezed them slightly saying, "Please sit down chacha, take it easy..."

Rahim chacha trembled and suddenly swirling around looked straight at Arnav with wild restless eyes and said in a whisper...

"I heard voices in their room...yet I heard later that both of them were dead..."

Both Arnav and Khushi knew immediately that he was referring to that night at Sheeshmahal. They were stunned into silence in the room with only the moonlight shimmering into the room. Yet nothing was clear...as yet...

"Wh..What do you mean chacha?" Arnav said in a strangled voice. He gently seated him on the edge of the bed and took his shrivelled shaking hand in his large steady one. He looked deep into Rahim chacha's eyes which were full of pain and sadness and fear... "When did you hear voices in my parent's room?" Arnav inquired trying to keep his voice from choking with emotion.

Tears spilled out of Rahim chacha's eyes and dropped on Arnav's knuckles...he had a distant look when he continued reliving the past, that fatal day...

"Ratna bhabhiji had been so happy that day, bustling around the mansion, getting all the preparations done for Anjali bitiya's wedding...," he said, his breathing heavy, his eyes dull, "And then her mangalsutra broke when she was getting dressed for the wedding... She called me immediately... she was in tears...she said it was a bad omen and I should get it repaired before Anjali bitiya's baraat arrived!

She placed the broken mangalsutra in her sindoor box and told me to take it to the jeweller immediately. I made haste but it the streets were jammed with traffic and when I returned Anjali bitiya's baraat was almost on the doorstep and instead of wading through the jubilant crowds of people, dancing to the tune of the deafening band I took the backstairs ...

As I was running up the stairs I heard the door to the room open...I hurried my pace thinking it was Ratna bhabhiji and I could give the mangalsutra to her...as I turned into the long corridor, I saw a flash of white as someone dashed out of the room and took the stair case on the other side...

I looked across to the other side...It was Naniji...she was sobbing and running down the stairs. Why was she crying, I thought. Maybe she was teary because her grand daughter Anjali bitiya was getting married, I thought. I felt saddened too. I walked towards the room with a heavy heart..."

"No no..." Khushi cried suddenly, "Naniji was in such a state because she had seen..."she choked on her words and looked at Arnav anxiously. He was also looking at her his eyes red in distress and pain and both went back in their minds to what Nani had disclosed to them...

Anjali's baraat had been at the door when Naninji went looking for her daughter and son in law frantically, so that they could welcome the bridegroom with the accompanying rituals...

She had been climbing up the stairs towards their room when she heard her daughter Ratna shout and then there was the sound of a gun shot...

"Nani heard a gun shot Rahim chacha...,"

Arnav said in a strained voice. "When she entered my parents' room she saw maa in a terrible state, her appearance was dishevelled and there was fear in her eyes...and then she saw on the huge bed...him...his eyes were open...there was a revolver on his chest...he was dead..."

Rahim chacha seemed to shrink on his bed, he closed his eyes trying to digest all that Arnav had said.

Khushi felt a cold chill run down her spine...and this time it was not so much the story that was not troubling her but it was Arnav's impassive face and blank eyes...the careless way he referred to his father... the pain hidden in his heart...was accumulating, piling up higher...and there was no outlet...

She should stop him from hurting anymore...maybe Arnav was right, the truth was too bitter to digest, the past was the past and they should ley bygones be! Oh why had she forced Arnav to listen o Rahim chacha's secret...

"Arnav..." she put a hand on his sleeve tentatively...salty tears stung her eyes.

But there was no going back for Arnav. He was like a tiger who had tasted blood. His was not a thirst which could quench so easily and he cared not for anything...least of all his heart and soul that was ripping to shreds inside him...

The strange dangerous glint in his eyes warned her not to stop him from getting to the bottom of the truth and he snapped at her... "I have to understand what happened! Whatever it takes, I have to!"

"Let me think... Maa asked Nani to help her, then she passed out and Nani ran out of the room to ask for help...and that is when Rahim chacha saw Nani rushing down the stairs. But when he reached their room, he found the door locked and voices inside...how could that be possible...dammit!" Arnav cursed under his breath.

Khushi saw the flash of surging rage in his eyes and then once again a curtain fell over his brown orbs making them dull and listless. Khushi felt her breath hitch...she wanted to touch him, soothe him, keep him away from the evil past that had ruined his heart and soul forever...whatever it took...

Rahim chacha's forlorn voice broke her reverie " As the room was closed and I heard raised voices I thought Anjali-Arnav's parents were fighting again...I sighed and pocketed the mangalsutra...I even thought of knocking at the door once...and that is when I heard the commotion downstairs. I rushed down... Nani was saying something agitatedly to Manohar mamaji and others and then she fell unconscious...We all ran up the stairs and broke down the door and there they lay...both of them...dead...bleeding from the gun shots..."

Rahim chacha shuddered.

Hey Devi Maiyya! The poor old man! How traumatic it must have been for him too. She edged towards him, keeping one eye on Arnav...she knew he had seen his mother in a pool of blood...but unlike Rahim chacha he seem unaffected, that worried her...

"Carry on Rahim chacha..." were his only words, steely and cold.

Rahim chacha shook his head from side to side...

"And then I made the biggest mistake of my life...I told Ajit I had heard voices in the room when his elder brother was supposedly dead and his sister in law was lying unconscious...!"

Rahim chacha pulled his knees under his chin. "Ajit screamed at me and flew into a rage, calling me a madman, and told me to retire to my room immediately. I was surprised that the police never questioned me! I feared the worse! In the middle of the night Ajit send for my niece Naira Usman and I was forced to leave Sheeshmahal for good! Naira saw to it that I kept my mouth shut about the matter at Sheeshmahal. I knew she had come to some financial arrangement with Ajit...but I was helpless and scared for my life!"

Arnav hit the wall with his fist in anger. " I am sorry chacha... I had no idea so much was going on in Sheeshmahal...I could not come to your aid..." he said in a guilt-ridden coice.

"Don't say that beta, you were just a child! What could you have done! I am the one who has been carrying the burden of guilt for so many years...I did not know whom to trust...Ajit was very powerful and had influence over people in high positions..."

"He will pay for his sins Rahim chacha!" Arnav said in a low dangerous voice.

"Right now all I need to know Rahim chacha...are you sure about the voices...that would mean there were other people in my parents room!"

"But how is it possible Rahim chacha?" Arnav looked at him perplexed.

"Only my parents were present in their room that fatal night in Sheeshmahal..."

"But I am sure I am not mistaken!" Rahim chacha said his face grim.

"And if Rahim chacha had been mistaken Ajit chacha would have never paid for his upkeep for so many years...!" Khushi reasoned.

"Yes, I was thinking the same Khushi..." Arnav nodded his head thoughtfully.

"I am just surprised I am alive to tell this tale...I could have been bumped off too!" Rahim chacha laughed. But his laughter was filled with sadness and hopelessness...

Khushi immediately hugged Rahim chacha. "You are with us now Rahim chacha, everything will be fine..." she said softly, her eyes brimming with tears.

Arnav felt a lump rise in his throat. He had not been able to save his maa but he would not let anyone touch even one hair on Rahim chacha's head...

He clenched his fist in anger! The time for showdown had come! He had to go to Sheeshmahal! That was where all the answers were!

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Khushi tossed and turned in her bed. The night was going to be a long one for all of them she knew...but she had ensured that Rahim chacha took his medicines and had gone to sleep after drinking a hot glass of milk.

It was Arnav she was very concerned about...he had insisted he was fine and after telling her to look after Rahim chacha he had simply marched away to his room! The laad governor!

But Khushi knew the pain he was feeling inside.

Her phone vibrated...the thin beam light eerie in the darkness of the room. She was surprised who was calling her so late at night? It was Payal!

"Hello! Jiji ! what happened? Why are you calling me so late in the night?"

"Khushi shut up and listen to me!" Payal's frustrated whisper sounded at the other end. "Why were you not picking up the phone? Babuji and Buaji were most distressed. I lied to them saying you had called me...and somehow managed the situation...but no more..."

Khushi clamped her palm to her mouth, her eyes wide...she had been talking to Babuji when Arnav had interrupted her and kissed her...and then they were with Rahim chacha...

"I am so sorry Jiji...I should have called..."

"Listen Khushi...Babuji and Buaji want you home before Holi and they don't want you to have anything to do with Arnav ever again...just forget Arnav!"

"What ? Hey Devi Maiyya what are you saying Jiji ? I wlll be home by Holi! But what do you mean forget Arnav!" Khushi was agitated, her voice incredulous.

"Look Khushi , I don't know...but after that Kamlesh khabri's news everything has turned topsy turvy. Buaji created such a furore that I had to rush back home from Nani's house...and now you must come back too immediately..."

"But Jiji I can't leave Arnav in this state..."

"Khushi try to understand matters have gone worse...Subhadra Mallik has herself told Buaji and bauji that Arnav is not a good guy...he is taking you for a ride..."

"No that is not true jiji...and there is no way I can live without Arnav..." a tone teardrop trailed down Khushi's flushed cheeks.

There was a pregnant pause at the other end and then Payal spoke in hushed tones "Oh my God what are you saying Khushi? You can't live without Arnav...matlab?"

"Jiji...Arnav is...my life..." Khushi clutched the phone tightly, her knuckles white, her eyes luminous and truthful, simply putting in words what her heart already knew...

Khushi heard a scuffle at the other end, followed by her Jiji's shriek, "Nahi, no, no Buaji...!"

And then the voice that boomed on the other end of the phone was not her Jiji's but her Buaji's!

"Hai re Nand Kisore! So this is what the sisters are talking about! If I hadn't spied on Payal, I would have never known! These girls will totally destroy the good name of the Gupta family! Khusi have dragged your Babuji's good name in the mud! Is this how you are rewarding you for taking care of you ever since your mother died? Everyone in the society will spit on us! Pagla gayi ho kya Sankadevi! Have you gone mad! Come home immediately! And I don't want you to even utter that Arnav Singh Raizada's name again! Samjheo? Have you understood?

The phone slipped out of Khushi's shaking hands and clattered to the floor of the hotel room. Khushi sat trembling for a moment...and then she had this immense urge to see him..to be with him...how could she live without him...

She had no idea when she got up from the bed and opened the door of her room and with tears streaming down he eyes ran towards Arnav's room as fast as her feet could carry her...her heart thudding...

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Arnav ran gentle fingers around the beautiful ornate silver box of vermillion...his maa's sindoor box...that Rahim chacha had taken out of his pocket and given to him, tears of relief pouring out of his soul...at last he had returned it to its rightful owner...

"I have always kept it on my person since that day..." Rahim chacha had said softly, "Take it...it was your maa's" he had said handing it to Arnav.

Arnav opened the box hesitantly and there it lay...His maa's mangalsutra...in a bed of vermillion...he slowly lifted it up to the soothing moonlight...washing over him...

When suddenly the door of his room burst open and he felt Khushi's presence before she crashed into his chest sobbing...

The box went lying into the air and the sindoor rained on them like the colour of Holi...filling her maang with its fire of the sun in the silver night...

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What turn is Arnav-Khushi's story going to take? Find out in the next chapter😛

Hope you liked the chapter and the way this story is progressing. Thank you friends for your time and love.👍🏼