Opposite Poles..Part 109

Part 109

The driver was at the door and Arnav came down from his room.  Khushi was still at the table helping Anjali to prepare a list of shopping.  Lavanya was on the phone talking to her friend.  Mami had gone back to her room.  Nani ji was in the kitchen supervising over Ram Prakash. 

“Here is the address.  Arrange to take both the vehicles to the garage!” ordered Arnav and turned.

“Chalo!” he barked.  Anjali looked up.  Khushi still was trying to remember the things to be purchased.  

“Khushi!” he yelled,  taking a step forward.  Everyone startled.

“Chote?” Anjali was surprised at his furious face.  Khushi got up from the chair struggling.  Lavanya disconnected the phone.  Nani came out.

“Chalo!” he again said and Khushi looked back not knowing whom he was talking to.

“I am talking to you Khushi! I will drop you home!” he said finally.

“Wh..? Why?” She looked at the clock.  There was still time.  He waited.

“Woh... I have my scooter..!” She resisted.

“Yeah.. that broken down, scooter!” he said disdainfully walking towards her.  Khushi shrunk remembering her fall.

“What?” Anjali asked.

“Nothing, Anjali ji.  Woh... my scooter ... I mean.. brakes are not working... I mean..I couldn’t stop the vehicle..!” she started off weakly.

“Yeah! Stop the vehicle by colliding with the other..!” he again barked.

“What?” Anjali still had not understood.  Lavanya had dialled again to resume talks. 

“Woh.. Kuch nahi...!” Khushi looked at him angrily.

“Chalo!” he again ordered.  She took a step back.  “No! I can ride the scooter..!” she argued.

“Khushi bitiya, don’t ride the broken vehicle.  Go with him.  He will drop you home!” Nani advised and Khushi nodded reluctantly.

 

“Where is my scooter?” Khushi was shocked.  “Gone!” he said walking towards the car.

“Gone? Where? Police station? Why? I told you, I will pay for the damage! Why did you complain to the police..!” She couldn’t complete.

“Shut up!” he yelled.  “I have sent it to the garage..!” he said and she opened her mouth again to start off.

“Happy ji’s garage!” he clarified and she closed her gaping mouth.

“What? Where are we going?” she asked surprised looking around, when he took a different route.  He didn’t bother to answer her.  She looked at him angrily.  He stopped at the clinic.

“What? Why?” she was surprised.  He pulled her dupatta to expose her wound on her swollen elbow.

“This is why!” he said getting down.  She reluctantly got down.  He held her right hand and she winced in pain.  “Shhss!” he released his grip.

“Chup Chap chalo!” he ordered walking with her. The Doctor checked her swollen elbow asking her to move her hand and fingers, and cleaned her minor bruises. “There seems to be no fracture.  Just an impact!” he said.

“Let us give her Tetanus vaccine!” the doctor took out a syringe and needle. Khushi looked at it in shock.

“What Suiii! Injection? Nooo!” she reflexively started walking towards the door.  He caught her left elbow.

“Shut up!” he said under his breath.

“No.. No injection..! Suii  Nahi  Lagavanii  Hain! Please... ” She was frightened to the core.

“I.. I get scared.. Please.. no syringe..!” she looked at him pleadingly.  He wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“Chup chat Khadi Raho! Stand still!” he ordered.  She closed her eyes shut....”Ram Ram Ram Ram...!” she was praying wrapping her left hand around his.  He pulled her closer releasing her left hand from around his.  

“No!” she said on the verge of crying.  “You are a brave girl...!” the doctor said soothingly sucking the liquid from the bottle.  He had held her tightly.  The doctor applied spirit on her arm and Khushi sprang into action.  With a jerk she freed herself and ran towards the door.  He was quicker to grab her.

“No, please... Arnav ji.. i will take medicines.. please .. no injection..!” she struggled.

“Don’t worry.  You wouldn’t even notice..!” The doctor signalled ASR and he pressed her head on his chest. She closed her eyes in fright screaming silently.  The doctor had done his job.  Arnav and Khushi still were standing there with her head pressed against his chest.

“Done!” the doctor said pressing the cotton ball on her arm and they broke apart coming back to senses.

“Done?” she asked the doctor and turning to him angrily asked “Satisfied? You sadist! Doosaron  Ko  Sataanay  Main  Mazaa  Aataa   Hain  Na?” He smirked.  The doctor laughed. Her eyes twinkled with tears.

“Ok, Mr. Raizada.. I will give some pain killers.  If the swelling does not subside by tomorrow we will have to x-ray her elbow and put it in sling.  The doctor scared her more.  She barged out of the clinic.  ASR followed after five minutes by paying bill and buying the pain killer tablets.  She sat in the car frowning.  He drove without a word.

The situation was getting worst for her.  Her swollen elbow was paining, she knew, she wouldn’t be able to make Jilebee with such a paining elbow, the scooter would take at least a couple of days to get repaired.  She was worried about Happy Singh’s reaction.  

“What if he doesn’t give me his scooter anymore?” she winced in worry.  He glanced at her.  The situation overwhelming for her.  Every day she had to face a new problem with more financial loss.  She didn’t know how much it would cost her to repair his car.  The situation at home was no better.  She would have to face Buwaji..! Everything was going out of control, against her.  She couldn’t stop her tears from rolling down her cheeks.  She turned her face to hide them from him and preferred to look out of the window.  

He was watching her.  Her helplessness and anguish reflected in his heart.  He desperately wanted to help her.  He knew she wouldn’t agree.  He didn’t want her to break down like this. 

“Khushi! What happened?” he touched her shoulder gently stopping the car.  

“Nothing! Nothing is happening! Nothing is working for me!” She was trembling, clutching her paining elbow, still looking out of the window.  He turned her to face him.  She still avoided his gaze, looking down.  He wiped her cheeks with his fingers.  She broke down hiding her face in her palms.  He couldn’t control himself and wrapped his arms around her.  

“Shuu!” he cupped her tear soaked face and looked into her eyes.  

“Khushi..!” he felt her anguish. His heart cried out for her.  All his vengeance dissolved in her tears.  This was not the Khushi he wanted.  He desperately wanted her back in fighting spirit, back in her original form!

“Is there anything, I can do for you?” He asked gently running his thumbs on her cheeks.  That was enough to trigger her rage.  She jerked his hands and pushed him away.

“For God sake, don’t do anything for me! I have had enough from you!” she yelled.  He turned his face.  A line of smile appeared on his face.  She was coming back.  His warrior Khushi was back in full form. 

“I mean, if you need any help...!” he stretched it further she flared up again.

“Help? Do you think, I am that dumb to ask for help from you? I know what do mean by help.  More insult, more humiliation, more torture..! No Mr. Raizada!” He got down from the car and banged the door to stop her abruptly.  “What?” he had disappeared locking her up in the car!  She looked around in fright.  He was nowhere to be seen.

“See? Help! This is what his help is! Lock me up and disappear! Hey Devi Mayya, why do you have to send  him to my lot?” She was furious with her Devi Mayya too, for entangling her with him! She waited for him frowning.  Finally he came with a packet.  He sat in the car again taking out a jumbo ice cream pack.  “Have it!” he said holding it out to her.  She gaped.

“What?” she looked at the pack and up at his expressionless face.  “Take it!” he thrust the pack in her hand and opened the lip.  It was her favourite Mango Ice cream.  Her eyes flashed but she resisted.

“No, I don’t want!” she pushed it away and he clenched his fist.  “I said have it!” he yelled at the top of his voice and she made some involuntary actions in fright to get up and run away.  The tumbler was about to fall and he held it tight, dug the spoon and put the spoonful of ice cream in her open mouth.  

The ice cream did the trick.  She fell silent enjoying the taste.  She looked at him.  He had brought only one pack.  She frowned.

“You?” she asked angrily.  “No!” he looked at her hand busy stuffing ice cream in her mouth. 

“Aur  Ek  Chammch  Nahi  Laa  Sakatay  The? Couldn’t you get an extra spoon?” she asked angrily, holding out a spoon full for him too.  He looked at her and holding her hand, opened his mouth for her to feed him.  Her cheeks grew red and he smirked staring at her reddened face.  He sat back relaxed watching her eat ice cream.  Her face lit up.  She was back.  He sighed.  

“Thanllu..!” she said.  “What?” he asked raising his eyebrow.  “Thanklu!” she again tried to speak clearly in vain.  She pointed at her tongue... ! “Moy Tungh  beshoms  numbh” (My tongue gets numb) wheon  I eath  isheshkleem!” she could manage to say.  He had to try  hard to control his laughter.

She looked at him sulkily and turned her face to concentrate on finishing the ice cream.  He drove on with his spirits lifted too!