Opposite Poles..Part 45

Part 45

“Khushi ji, I was so worried.  There was no means to communicate.  The riots broke out here.  I couldn’t go out in your search” Sham said in a worried tone.  She didn’t respond.  

“Nandkishore! Sham babua was a great support to us !” Buwaji fell short of words in praising Sham.  Sham smiled politely.  

“Yeah, Khushi… we were so scared, when Happy ji’s garage was burnt down..!” said payal wincing. 

“Khushi, tell me where were you when the riots broke out?” Payal and Khushi were in the kitchen.

“I hid in a temple, jiji.. then sir came..!” she said in a small voice. 

“Hmm… !” Payal said dreamily remembering Aakash.

“How did you reach Raizada house?” Sham asked her taking a cup of tea from the tray.

“You seem to be more interested in knowing about Raizadas..!” Khushi said irritably.

“Khushu!” buwaji reprimanded her.  She turned and went inside.

“Its ok, buwaji! She is upset!” said Sham reasonably.  Buwaji looked at him in admiration.  He was relieved that his relationship with Anjali was not disclosed to Khushi.

“I must do something…!” he thought.  The sisters must go back.

**********    **********

Anjali gaped at the persons coming in with metal vases with brass and steel cylindrical enclosure.

“Yeah! .. Keep them here!” Arnav was at poolside when the enclosures were off loaded.

“What is all this, Chote?” Anjali asked bewildered.   Arnav was picking up earthen pots and keeping them in the enclosures one by one and rearranging them neatly.

“Chote…!” Anjali came forward.

“Reinforcement, Di!” he said.  She was more confused. 

“So that, the earthen pots will not break!” he said seriously.  She had a smile on her face.  But he was serious. 

“Chote..!” Anjali held his hand.  He stopped.  “What is it?” she asked.  “What?” he wore a question mark on his face.

“You have built a wall around you! An invincible wall!” she said gravely.

“I am invincible!” he declared without looking at her. 

“Why are you upset?” she asked him directly.  He looked away.  “I am fine Di!” he said in a deep voice. 

She pulled him inside his room again.  “Tell me!” she demanded.

“There is nothing..!” he said avoiding her gaze. 

“I know,  Chote, you are upset!” she said making him sit on the recliner.  He gaped at her.  “You cannot hide anything from me!”  she said.

“You didn’t like Nani asking you about Lavanya!” she said.  He didn’t answer.

“But, you have to tell Nani, one day!” she said holding his hand. “You love her!” she declared.

“Who?” He asked in a shock.

“Lavanya! Who else?” she asked him looking into his eyes.  He didn’t answer.

“You love her, don’t you?” she raised a doubt.

“No Di! I stay away from these poetic concepts..! I am a practical person.  There can’t be any relationship without motive..!”  

“What?” she was shocked.

“Its simple and practical for me.  I won’t mind living with her, so long as I am comfortable.  I am free to move out, so is she!” he said plainly.  She gaped at him.  He had already moved out of the room. 

“I should ask her!” she resolved.  

**********   ********   *******

The office was reopened after a couple of days when peace was restored. 

“ASR, you didn’t even bother to answer my calls!” Lavanya was furious.  He didn’t respond.  Her rage went over the edge.

“ASR, I am talking to you! This is not done, ASR! I want an explanation..! you took that girl home!”  She started off raising her voice.

“Shut up, Lavanya.. I don’t owe you any explanation.  “ He yelled flaring up.  She had tears in her eyes.

“How can you talk to me like this, ASR?” she said quivering.   He looked at her.

“Look Lavanya, this is how I am! Take it or leave it!” he said looking straight into her eyes.  She was shocked.

“No! ASR, I didn’t mean it! Please…!” she hugged him tightly without bothering about anything. 

“I love the way you are!” she said planting a light kiss on his cheek.  He removed her hands.   She broke away and sat on the chair. 

“Lets come back to business…!” he started off.  

“Sir!”, Khushi was at the door!

“Out!” he screamed.  She shuddered and ran down to her cubical.  He looked at her. 

“Chote,  this will not be tolerated in this house.  You got to decide … This, your so called modern arrangement will not be accepted in this house!” Nani had reprimanded him.  She was annoyed over Lavanya’s issue.  

He clenched his fists in hatred. 

“Lavanya!”  He called out.  “Yes, ASR!” she came out of her cabin.  He had reached down.

“We are going out!” he held her elbow.  She was more than happy.  Khushi shrugged and buried herself in work.

“Oh! ASR! I am so happy!” Lavanya had wrapped her arm around his and was resting her head on his shoulder.  They both had a romantic lunch and he had bought her expensive gift.  Then he had declared.

“Lavanya, you are moving in!” she looked at him startled.

“What?” she blurted.

“You are moving in my house! Pack your bags and I will come and pick you up in the evening..!” 

They came back to the office.  Khushi was not at her place. 

 “KHUSHI…!” he screamed in rage.

“ASR, she will be around!” Lavanya was little softer towards Khushi now.  She was moving in with ASR after all!  She was on the top of the world.

Khushi came running.  “Sir!” she stood before him.  He looked at her with disgust. 

“You will work for twelve hours a day for ten days to catch up with the backlog!” he ordered.  She looked at him. 

“Only you!” she knew, before he could add.  She nodded and turned.  “I haven’t finished!” he said raising his voice.  She turned to face him.

“A vehicle will be arranged for your transport..!” he said pompously as if making a big favor to her.

“No need sir, I will manage!” she was no less in retorting back.  The volcano was about to erupt.

“Ok.  Your working hours are between 10am and 10 pm” He declared. 

“What?” she was shocked. 

 “No need, right?” he asked her disdainfully.  Her mouth fell open.

“RAKSHAS!” she muttered under her breath.  His phone rang.  

“Yeah!” he was rude enough.  “Yeah, Nani! I will..! His voice was soft now! “.. What? Khushi?” he asked in shock.

“Nani, this is my office!” he protested.  “Ok. Fine! Your wish!” he thrust his phone in Khushi’s hand.  “Nani!” he said with red face.  She looked at him sheepishly.  Lavanya gaped at her.  

“Ji, Nani ji, Namaste!” Khushi turned her back on them.  ASR’s rage went overboard. 

“Ji Naniji! Hum karenge! I will do it!” she said and gave the phone back to ASR.

“Yeah, … ok!” he said disconnecting the phone.  Khushi waited for further orders.  He didn’t issue any.  Lavanya gestured her to go.   She ran down.

“I should get a new mobile..! and hide it from this Monster!”  she muttered. 

He glared at her figure downstairs in rage.

He opened the power point presentation modified by Khushi.  Wicked smile appeared on his face.

“Now I am going to add some slides at the end, Ms Khushi Kumari Gupta!” he smirked.

The added three slides of the existing old buildings he had bought recently in Lucknow with images and added the new elevated proposed high rise building design drawings  in place of the old building.

One of them was Gomati Nivas…! Khushi’s house, in Lucknow!