Opposite Poles .. Part 7

Part 7

He came into the lounge area.  Some people were waiting for him.

“Give the documents to my assistant.  I will have a legal opinion and get back to you” said Arnav. 

Sham had followed him.   He came and sat beside Arnav.

“My Jijaji..!” Arnav introduced.

“I am a lawyer!” sham introduced himself further. 

“Oh! That’s great! You can get the documents checked here itself!” the other person was more than happy to have a legal opinion on his papers.

“No!” Arnav cut him off. “I have my legal advisors..!” he added further.  Frown appeared on Sham’s face.  He smiled slyly.  “Yeah! I don’t interfere in my saale saab’s affairs!” he said smiling.  Arnav nodded. 

“Saale Saab,  about Sheesh Mahel…!” sham whispered.

“No discussion!” Arnav said sternly and turning to the guests said “Ok.  Once this paper work is over, we will go ahead with the deal!” he dismissed them all.

“But Saale Saab.. you said..!” Sham started off when they were alone.  Arnav got up from the sofa and said “No! Jijaji, you need not worry! I will handle it!” Sham smirked and getting up said.

“Yes, I know…!” he patted on Arnav’s back and went away.

Arnav stood there for a while and went out of the building to have a last look at his Gomti.

He was glaring at The Sheesh Mahel building from the river bank.  The building towering over the river looked like a palace.  Arnav stood there mesmerized by its beauty.  

“Dekhna Di! Mera hi ped subse bada hoga! My tree will grow bigger!” Chote told his Di jerking back his head in pride, while planting a tree.  His Anjali Di looked at him sulkily and went to her mom for support.  “The one who nourishes it properly will get the fruits..!” his mother said laughing.  The two big mango trees on either side of the porch took away Arnav's breath taking him back to his childhood.  He closed his eyes.

“This was my house…!” The interiors of it flashed before him.  He clenched his fists.  He stared at it unfocused.  A gunshot echoed in his ears and he shuddered.  “No!” he blurted.  Faces of his parents flashed before him.  “No!” he said loudly brushing away the grim thoughts of his mother’s death.  He looked at the silvery glittering water for the last time and turned.

He stopped in his tracks.  He saw a figure on the old bridge.  A woman was about to jump down.  Pair of green eyes reflecting pain, hurt and defeat flashed before him.  He felt his grip on the fragile shoulders…! A surge of panic ran down his spine…

“No!” he screamed and broke into a run.  He reached the old bridge and stopped.  A relief spread on his face.  A fisherwoman was throwing the fish net.  He turned with a sigh.

A beautiful face flashed before him with questions in her eyes.  He closed his eyes to flip her off.

“No! This is not enough… She will have to face the worst!” he dialed a number.

“I want that house!” he ordered.  Aman was confused.  “Which house, sir?” 

“ That Gomati Nivas, Damn it!” he said under his breath.

“Make him the offer…!” he said disconnecting the phone.

*****   ********  *********

“Khushi, Khabardar, jo bahar gai! Tum mera mara muh dekhegi! You will go out over my dead body, understood?” her Amma dragged her inside her house “Gomati Nivas”.  Khushi looked miserable.  She was suffering for no fault of hers.  She was smoldering within.  

Her babuji felt helpless.  He couldn’t help his daughters..! he remembered when he brought an eight year old orphan Khushi  into this house.  Since then, she had become his daughter.  He had adopted her legally.  He had tried his best to give both his daughters a better life.  His daughter, Payal was happy to have a readymade younger sister, Khushi!! Payal was always a silent, timid girl and Khushi, a smart, talkative, bold girl.  Khushi had assumed the role of a protector for her elder sister, her jiji! And payal grew more and more dependent on Khushi for everything.   

“I am worried about payal bitiya…She cannot sustain this shock, Jiji!” Shashi was talking to buwaji, his elder sister.  She sighed. 

“And this Sanaka Devi, Khushi has worsened the situation…!”  buwaji started off.

“I think Gopal ji was right! We should send both of them away for some time!” He looked at buwaji hopefully.  She nodded. 

“I will take them to Delhi!” she said gravely to his relief. 

Something unexpected was waiting for them all..!

*********  **********   *************

“Do as I say!” threatened Sham.  “Yes!” the group nodded. 

“I will inform the time ..!” said Sham turning to leave..!

“Our Advance..?” asked a bouncer like person.  Sham threw a bundle of notes to him smiling..!

His smirk grew into a grin when he walked away from the gang. 

“Saale Saab.. once you go from here.. I will have my share of the cake!” he said loudly.  

He came back to the hotel and helped his wife Anjali to pack her bag.  

“Raani Saheba, don’t worry.. I will finish the work here and come back to you!” he hugged her tightly.  She smiled  faintly.  His phone rang. 

“What? What do you mean, you can’t?” he asked in shock raising his voice.  He looked worried. 

“What? What happened?” Anjali asked curiously.  He raised his hand to stop her.

“How do you expect me to do the work then?” he asked lowering his pitch.

“Yeah… I understand, you can’t afford… but the court fees and process fees you must deposit..! without that we cannot file the case..!” he was convincing someone.  Anjali looked at her loving husband fondly.

“He cares for his clients so much!” she thought.

“Oh! I understand.. and if I had that much money, right now with me, I would have paid the dues..!” he said glancing sideways at his wife.   She turned…!  He disconnected the phone.

“Dekhiye na Raani Saaheba… that poor old lady wants me to fight her case… but does not have money to pay the court fees..!” he said sadly.  

“How much?” she asked him.

“umm.. Fifty thousand!” he replied and continued… “Raani Saheba, don’t worry, I will manage! I may lose the case but can’t help!” he said putting his hand around her shoulder. 

She took out her cheque book!