Opposite Poles..Part 15

Part 15

Crowd gathered.  He took a step forward aggressively.  She glared at him. 

“Are you out of your mind?” he yelled.

“Oh! I didn’t know you inherited this road..!” she retorted back.  “This is a public property! You were driving recklessly!!” she came on to him raising her finger. 

“Haath Neeche! “ he warned her under his breath looking at her pointing finger.  She immediately took it back and regained her stance.

“Reckless? You called ME reckless? Had it not been for my reflexes , you would have been a sticker by now!” he came head on.

“What?” she did not understand.

“You would be from three dimensional to two dimensional by now… sticking like a poster to the road… oozing out Blood everywhere!” he gave her the horror picture.   She winced and paced back horror struck.  “A poster of her soaked in blood on the road flashed before her eyes..” her jaw dropped in fright.  Arnav enjoyed this fright.  

“Who gave you the driving license..?” she was not ready to give up!  “That RTO must be out of his mind while issuing you the license…!” she said sarcastically. 

“Shut up!” he shouted at the top of his voice.   The other member travelling in that car got down.

“Aree.. Khushi?” Came a sweet voice and Khushi looked at the figure.   Her jaw fell open and eyes popped out.

“Aree, Aap? With him?” she brought disgust on her face.  Arnav gaped at her.

“Chote… !” Anjali tried to pacify her younger brother.

“Yeah! Tell your chote to drive safely…!” Khushi was not to leave this opportunity.

“SHUT UP!” He yelled.  She looked at him shuddering.   He glared at her with hatred.

“Oh! This must be your new trick of extort money.. Is it?  Pretend to have run over by a car and extort money from rich people…!” he took revenge.  Her mouth fell open in shock by this allegation.

“What?” she blurted.  Anjali too looked shocked.  “Chote…!” she tried to hold his hand.

“You stay out of this, Di! I know these girls…! They can go to any extent for money..!” he gave a loathed look at Khushi.   Khushi inadvertently took a step back.  Her eyes filled with tears, her lips quivered. 

“Chote.. stop it! Please!” Anjali held his hand and pulled him back.  Khushi regained her composure and  grabbed the opportunity.

“No Wonder..! People like you, understand only money language.  Not bothered about someone’s life, are you? “ she came aggressively forward.

“What happened?  Beti… do you want any help? Are you hurt? We will not leave him…!” someone came forward from the crowd to help Khushi.  Few more came aggressively closing in, all set to pick up the fight for her.  

“Yes.. we will not leave him.. call the police…!” someone shouted. 

Arnav took out his cell and said “I will call the police…!”

“Chote…Jaane do!” Anjali was desperate to end the fight.

“Yeah .. Call the police… Don’t leave them.  Snatch his car keys …!”  a youth came forward and Arnav caught hold of his collar. The crowd closed in more…

“Stop it!” Khushi yelled at the top of her voice.  The crowd fell silent.

“ Yahaan Par Tamashaa Chal raha hai? Its between us! We will handle it..! No one will come in between…!” she yelled.  The youth backed away.

She glared at Arnav.  “Calling the police? Ok.  I will wait… I will show them how reckless you were to run over a pedestrian!”

“Pedestrian?  Look at your position… you are in the middle of the road!” he said with a smirk.  He had caught her on wrong foot.   She was taken aback.  

“So what?” she tried to defend herself.  “Were you blindfolded?” she retorted. 

“Khushi… thank god, you are not hurt!” Anjali came forward and placed her hand on Khushi’s shoulder. 

“Forget her, Di! Let us go!” he said glancing at Khushi and turning his back on her.

“Next time, don’t meet me selling yourself…!” he  was very nasty.

“Enough, Chote! Stop it!”  Anjali was furious.  She couldn’t take Khushi’s insult. 

“Think twice before you speak!” she reprimanded her brother.   He looked back at Khushi.  She was turned into a statue with tears rolling down her cheek.  He gazed at her unblinkingly.  The setting sun turned her tears into pearls streaming down her cheeks.  He closed his eyes for a second and turned his face. 

 “Khushi.. I am sorry!” Anjali apologized.   Khushi looked at her and pointing at her brother.. said disdainfully...  ! “Its strange,  a nice and kind person like you have a brother like him…!” she turned and started walking down the road. Arnav turned glaring at her.

“Khushi… where are you going? I will drop you..!” Anjali offered.  Shocked Arnav opened his mouth  to refuse… but before he could utter anything, Khushi retorted..“No Anjali ji, thank you! I will travel in a bullock Cart.. but not in his cart.. I mean car!” she turned and marched away.

Anjali couldn’t stop laughing looking at Arnav’s shocked face.   “Chalo Chote…!” she said laughing.  Her unspoken words “You lost it!”  made Arnav furious wanting to settle the scores….! He raced away, really reckless this time…!

**********    *********    *********

“You know, Nani! She is a true Lucknowee… A typical character.. good with nice people and Nasty with…!” Anjali looked at her dining brother.

“Shut up di! She picked up the fight!” he retorted.  Nani looked at him.  First time he was boyish in his arguments.  She smiled.  Anjali was narrating the incidence to Arnav’s annoyance.

“And what did YOU do Chate?” she asked sternly.  He looked away.  She was still upset with his insulting words for Khushi.

“You should have seen her, Nani.  She is such an innocent girl.  You know? She thinks aloud.  Prays Devi Mayya, pouring her heart out.. muttering… !” said Anjali Laughing.

“Hello hi bye bye! Exham main bhi aloud karake likhati hain kay? “ Anjali laughed her heart out imagining Khushi muttering the answers in the exam while writing the paper.   A line of smile appeared on Arnav’s face imagining the same.   He immediately straightened his face and looked away.

“How do you know, Manorama? Did you give any exams in your life?” asked Mami’s husband, Mamaji.  She looked furious sending waves of laugher.