Opposite Poles..Part 66

Part 66

“Hurry up!”  He was in a hurry to leave.  The driver had brought his car and had taken Uncle ji’s car the next day.  He saw the time and calculated. 

The door opened and Lavanya walked out with her own luggage.  He looked at her smiling.

“Chalo, ASR!” she said coming up to him.  He waited.  “ASR, Chalo…!” she said forcefully.  He gaped at her.

“Where is she?” he asked her getting angry.  Lavanya looked at him and said

“She took the first bus to Delhi, early morning..!”  He was shocked.  “Took the bus?” he couldn’t comprehend. 

“Yes, ASR! She’s gone!” she said not looking at him.  “What?” he blurted and the next moment, blew off his head in rage.

“Again?” he clenched his fists.  “You will be punished for this, Khushi Kumari Gupta!” his heart filled with anger.  Lavanya held his hand.

“Let’s go ASR! We are getting late.  She must have boarded the bus by now!” Lavanya walked past ASR with her baggage.  

“Wait..!” he said dialing her number.  “No, ASR!” Lavanya held his hand.

“Please, don’t!” She said gravely.  ASR looked blank.  She pulled his hand.

*********   *********   *******

Khushi woke up early morning.  She came up to Lavanya and woke her up.

“What is it?” Lavanya was sleepy.  “I am going!” she said seriously.

“Are you mad? Going? Where?” Lavanya was thoroughly confused. “I am going by the first bus to Delhi” she said picking up the bags.  She held out a packet.

“Lavanya ji,  give this to everyone… hope they like it!” she said.  Lavanya knew what the packet was.  Khushi had bought gifts for nahi, mami and Anjali.

“Tell them you bought it!” she added turning her back.  Lavanya gaped at her.  Khushi called up the reception to enquire about the vehicle to the bus stand. Lavanya didn’t stop her.  She knew the magnitude of Khushi’s hurt.  

**********   *******   ********

“Arree Chote? ITANI JALDI?” Anjali asked when she saw her Chote and Lavanya coming in.  He didn’t speak and climbed up to his room with his bag and the basket. 

“Di, we reached in record time, less than four hours, non stop!” Lavanya looked tensed up.  He really was driving dangerously down the Ghats.  They had traveled without a word, both engrossed in their own thoughts.  Lavanya skeptical about his reaction and khushi! He had no thought other than Khushi and the ways to punish her for going against his wishes..!

“What? Why?” Anjali asked bewildered.  “Don’t know!” Lavanya shrugged going towards her room.  Anjali stood there and then moved towards his room limping. 

He was pacing restlessly.  “Chote? You dropped Khushi at her place?” she asked looking at his upset face.

“No!” came a monosyllable answer.  Anjali looked confused.  She opened her mouth.

“No Di!” he raised his hand.  “I want to be alone!” He sat on the recliner with a thud.  Anjali came near..

“Chote…! You fought again!” she stated.  “She did!” Arnav retorted sulkily. 

“And you left her?” Anjali was panic.  “No! She took a bus !” he said morose.  Anjali looked at his grumpy face. 

“Why do you have to fight, always?” she asked him placing her hand on his shoulder.

“I don’t know!” he was helpless.  Anjali thought for a while. 

“May be..  Because she is from Lucknow!” she said gravely.  He gaped up at her.

“May be she reminds you … of your days in Lucknow…!” she said looking away with tears.

“Mazaar flashed! A dog wagging its tail… A girl holding the earthen pot… the dog following him everywhere..!”  He remembered moments with her not his childhood!  He held her hand.

“Don’t worry, Chote… just for few days… once that inquiry is over, she will be out of your life… ! Aakash told me…” she said smiling at him little uncomfortable.  The thought of not meeting Khushi again made her uneasy.

“She is such a sweet girl..!” she mumbled.  Arnav looked away.  “Nani likes her very much!” she added tormenting him more.  Arnav gazed unfocused.  Anjali stared at him.  “You are worried…!” she said.

“No!” came a firm answer.  He got up, and went out.  She gazed at his back.  

**********    ***********

“Jiji…!” Khushi screamed getting down from Auto.  Payal helped her bring the bags in.  Khushi had reached home in the evening with the age old bus stopping everywhere.  She was tired but when she saw her home, her spirits lifted. 

“Khushi… !” Payal looked at the Auto.  Khushi read numerous questions in her eyes.  “Jiji.. Chalo!” she ran inside. 

“Jiji… Bhookh..! Hungry!!” she screamed.  Payal came into the kitchen.  Khushi had already started preparing to make jilebees..

“Khushi…!” Payal screamed.  “Jiji.. I haven’t had Jilebees for so many days..” Khushi avoided Payal’s gaze. 

“Aree Sanaka Devi.. This house was at peace for last few days…NandKishore..! Now earthquake named Paramesari  has returned….!” Buwaji said banging her head.  Khushi was frantically making jilebees and stuffing them into her mouth.

“Aahaaa! Such a peace…Jiji.. I can’t survive without jilebees..!” she said stuffing one more into her mouth.  Payal gaped with open mouth.  Khushi stuffed one in her mouth too.

 Khushi gave everyone the small gifts she had bought.  She pulled out a big plastic bag as if it was very heavy and carried it on her back bending forward.  Everyone gaped at her.  She kept the bag on the floor and declared…

“This is for Amma and Buwaji..! a lot of wool yarn… I got it for off season discount…!Now start knitting a beautiful sweater or shawl for me and Jiji…!” she threw her hand in the air.

“Hi re NandKishore…! YEAH SANAKADEVI           ..Kabhi Nahi sudharegi…!” Buwaji pulled her cheek fondly.  Khushi smiled broadly and declared further…

“Now I am very tired… so Do not Disturb”   She went into the room and threw herself on the bed.  Tears waiting for so long came out to kiss her cheeks …!”

*********    **********

“So… Khushi Kumari Gupta…! What will you do tomorrow?” he blurted apprehensively throwing himself on the bed.  He closed his eyes with anger and anguish…! He was not sure about Khushi….!

“Its so easy with Lavanya… Give her an expensive, exclusive gift and she is happy!” he thought. He looked at the plants… “Bring the sun in your room…!” he looked at the blossomed clivia plant.  A smile appeared on his face.  He got up, placed the basket on the side table, rested his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes.

*******   *******

He was in the office at eight in the morning.  Lavanya decided to go late.  She was sitting at the table. Nani was looking at her serious face.  She had refrained from passing any remarks about Lavanya, but had never allowed her to come closer.  But today Nani wanted to know what happened between Khushi and Arnav.

She kept staring at Lavanya. 

“Umm Nani ji… I mean… I know, I don’t know anything! Umm… I mean I am ready to learn..!” she said stuttering.  Nani looked at her questioningly. 

“Umm… I mean, I should learn all these rituals, poojas and the norms of this house..!” she said it genuinely.  Nani waited.  “Umm I mean, if you teach me..!” she looked at Nani hopefully.  Nani got up and said “Wish I could do it..! You should have known at least the basics..!” Lavanya felt bad. 

“Hmm..!” she said and got up to go to the office.  “And you don’t have time to learn..!” Nani added.

********  ********

ASR gazed at the entrance and his heart leapt.  Khushi entered the office exactly five minutes to nine and without looking or greeting anyone came to her cubical.   She saw her empty desk and went straight to the accounts department.  She picked up the files and came back.  She did her everyday rituals, like keeping the tiffin, praying, and then…. No but she did not do the last thing - look up at his cabin.  He had got up from his chair to have a better look.  She turned her back and put down her head in work. 

“So? You are not going to look up? Haan?” he smirked and waited for her to look up.  Every day she used to look up every now and then frowning, but today she didn’t even look once.  He grew restless and picked up the intercom.

Her intercom buzzed and she picked up the receiver.  “Khushi, come to my cabin!” he said in a husky voice and waited for her answer.  She kept the phone without a word and started closing the open programs on her system, picked up her note pad and pen and got up from her chair..!

“Chamakili..! come with me!” Lavanya pulled her hand.  Arnav clenched his fists in frustration.  Khushi did not look up and went with Lavanya.

“Lavanya ji, Sir had called me.. !” she said in a small voice.  Lavanya looked shocked.  She was determined to save Khushi…

“What? Wait.. don’t go.. I will manage..!” she said and picking up the intercom spoke to ASR.

“ASR, I need Khushi for some time.. its urgent!” she said.  ASR banged the phone.  Khushi and Lavanya grinned. 

“Chamakili, can you do me a favor?” she asked holding Khushi’s hand.  Khushi wore a question mark.

“You can teach me the basics..!” she said brightly remembering the conversation with Nani.

“Basics?” Khushi was confused.

“Chamakili, you know, I don’t know anything about those rituals and all… you teach me the basics..!” she looked at Chamakili hopefully.  Khushi’s face brightened up.  “Yeah, why not?” she said.  Lavanya looked more than happy.

“Done?” ….. “Done!” they clasped their palms in excitement.  

“Chamakili.. Jao! ASR must be waiting for you..!” Lavanya looked apprehensive about his outburst again.  Khushi felt doomed again.  She came out and started climbing the stairs..!  He looked at her unblinkingly climbing up the stairs…!