Opposite Poles..Part 127

Part 127

He pulled out his laptop.  Opened his bag and pulled out the file containing Mishra’s report.  For a long time he was reading and re-reading Mishra’s report and the email he had received.  

“I was right! Someone else is involved...! But Rattan Singh?” this was hard to digest.  “Why would he do that? Risking his political career?” he had no answer.  He pulled out the copy of the call list of Prashan’t mobile.  Sham’s number was dialled several times on the day of his death.  He searched further, pulling out the report!... an unknown number was dialled just after the thefts, the police had highlighted! ... ! Police had reported that the number was untraceable.  They couldn’t trace the number.  The SIM was deactivated, immediately after Prashant’s death...!

“Jijaji?” he was confused.  “Can’t be! He is only a lawyer...! But then who is this Vakil Saab? Who had a dealing with Prashant? Rattan’s man? And why did Jijaji advised me to close the enquiry?” he was not sure! He clenched his fists.  However he tried, his past had caught up him...! 

“No!” he got up with a jerk.  A gunshot echoed in his head.  “No, Mumma! Please.. don’t!” he screamed! “I am not helpless this time... I am powerful enough...!” he paced his room in that darkness.

“He took away everything...! Our dignity, respect, wealth, happiness... my Di’s ... ! I won’t let that happen again... ! I can’t leave my past behind...! I can’t forget the gunshot!!”  He clutched his head with nerve wreaking agony!! “The world is same, selfish and heartless, as was fourteen years back.. when.. my mamma died...!” he clenched his fists digging his nails in his palms bleeding, trying to send back his tears.

“I am sorry, Mumma! I couldn’t do anything..! I am sorry!” he couldn’t hide is agony...He slumbered on the bed with his face down.  He had no salace...

“Look, Devi Mayya has sent the brightest star... to make this world beautiful again!  The dark night is over....!” the hazel green eyes spoke happily.  He turned on his side...

“Khushi..!” he sat up with a jerk...!

********   ******   ********

“Don’t talk to me! Where were you all the day?” Anjali asked banging her fist on his chest.  He smiled slyly.  They were in their room late in the night, when Sham had sneaked into the house.

“Raani Sahebaa, I had some work...! Urgent work!” he stressed on the word.

“Now a days you don’t have time for us!” she said.  He pulled her in his arms. 

“Raani Saheba.. I am doing this for you! For your happiness!” he kissed her passionately.  She lost herself in him.  

“Ok! Tell me, how was the party?” he asked trying to cheer her up.

“Oh! It was just great! You know? Everyone envied the couple.. they both looked just made for each other..!” She said dreamily.  

“Like us?” he asked pulling her closer.  “And you know? Latika Aunty, Nani’s friend was curious about Khushi...! Oh! She is such a sweet girl..!” Anjali broke apart from him.  His expression changed. 

“And you know what? She is staying over!” Anjali said in excitement.

“Who?” Asked Sham.  His enthusiasm drained out!  “Khushi! Who else? She is so adorable..!” Anjali rested her head on his shoulder.  

“Come.. if she is awake, I will introduce you to her!” She dragged him out of the room.

“Um.. No Rani Sahebaa! Not now! May be tomorrow morning? Look at the time now..!” she showed her the wall clock. Anjali agreed!  Sham pulled her in the room again.  

“Raani Sahebaa... Don’t you want to wish me Happy Diwali?” he asked pulling her on the bed.  She giggled happily in his embrace.  He frowned resting his chin on her shoulder, hugging her. 

“Khushi..!” he gritted his teeth, thinking about some excuse to vanish early morning before anyone woke up!  He stroked his wife for a long time till she slept peacefully.  He was wide awake planning his next move.

***********   ********  *****  

“Arya, Laxmiji.. Aap So Jaaiye! Go! Sleep, Laxmiji...!” Khushi drove Laxmi to her place and sitting on the floor stroked her head.  “Myeee~” Laxmi was happy to have Khushi as guest in her room.  Nani smiled.  Khushi helped Nani in changing the bed spread and tidying the room.  

“Umm Nani ji, why was that friend of yours asking so many questions?” she asked sitting on the bed.  Nani sighed.  “May be she liked you!” Nani teased her.  Khushi blushed.  “In the first meeting?” she asked astonished.  Nani nodded. 

“She has a grandson, of Aakash’s age!” Nani said looking at Khushi.  Khushi still looked confused.

“Oh! What happened to him?” she asked innocently.

“Nothing..!” Nani said taking out clothes from her cupboard.  “They have a retail business!” Nani said closing the cupboard.  “She is my childhood friend..We literally grew together..!” Nani said dreamily reminiscing.  Khushi smiled dreamily too.  She remembered her friends.  She missed her Lucknow.

“You are from Lucknow?” she asked and Nani nodded.   “Haan.. My grandfather had a big house near Hussaina Imambara,  was working for Navab..! You know? We had fifty two rooms in my house.  He was a very respectable person in the princely state.  Then my father took over.  I had a brother and two sisters.  Then I got Married to Raizada. I was only fifteen. My elder sisters were already married! Raizadas  were Landlords..!” She was lost in her childhood memories.  Khushi kept looking at her intently keeping aside the saree Nani had given her to wear in the night.  She too was lost in Nani’s life story.

“My husband, your nanaji,  was a disciplinarian.  My son, this Mamaji was ok with the studies, an average boy.. but Arnav’s mother was brilliant.  He had all hopes on her.  He wanted her to become a learned lady.  He had an ambition that she should become a professor...! He gave her all the freedom...” Nani looked unfocused clutching the edge of the bed.

“Then? Did she become professor? And  married to Raizadas?” Khushi asked and Nani said at once..

“No! Its a long story, Khushi Bitiya...! Chote’s mother was not marri..e..d t..o....!” her voice trailed as she got up and froze... He was at the door.

Khushi got up confused.. She looked from Arnav to Nani and Nani’s expressions changed from Shock to fright.  The color of her face drained out... she trembled in fright... Khushi looked at Arnav again... His muscles flexed.. his posture stiffened.. he clenched his fists... his eyes spat anger... he looked at Nani with hatred and his eyes travelled to her intensifying his hatred.  He came in, pulled her up in one jerk, holding her arm ...

“Apani  Aukat  Par  Aa  Gayi  Tum!” He was deadly spitting loathing.  She didn’t understand anything... 

“How dare you ask about my parents..!” he yelled at the top of his voice and Nani shuddered.  She ran forward and closed the door tightly.

“No, Chote.. Please.. It was not her..Please..!” Nani tried to free Khushi from his clutches.  He already had tightened his grip on her neck.  She chocked.  

“No.. Chote please...Stop!” Nani pleaded with weak resistance trying hard to free Khushi.  Khushi went blue suffocating..

“Mar  jayegi   woh! Please chote... leave her! She didn’t do anything!” Nani was trembling.

“You broke the promise...!” he turned to Nani, still strangling Khushi pressing his thumbs on her neck. 

“I am sorry Chote! I am really sorry! But please leave her... Please!” Nani broke down before his force.

“No!” he said with hatred.

“Khushi Kumari Gupta! How dare you ask about my parents... What are you up to?” He asked in a deadly voice, gritting his teeth, all set to kill her.  She chocked... struggled to free herself and then lost all her resistance.  She looked at him for the last time before closing her eyes.

“Stop it! Stop it, Chote!” Nani screamed pulling his hands apart with all her might.  He pushed her away.  She could see the ghost of his past possessing him.  He had gone beyond his senses.  He leapt forward holding on her again.  She was powerless, had lost all her strength...!

He wrenched out her necklace and threw it away! “What is your next plan, Khushi? Blackmail? Extort money? Dig out my family tree? Haan? You...! “ he pushed her away with all his might and she banged her back on the wall with a thud.  

“Chote.. Stop! Everybody is sleeping... Please Chote!” Nani sobbed.  “No!” he pushed her away.

“Is it not enough that you have the costliest gift? Not enough of the jewellery? Do you even know the cost? It would run your house for the whole year... and you! You bloody.. Damn greedy girl... digging into my past? To hell with you, Khushi! Out of my house!” he yelled.  Nani looked at drained out Khushi.  She tried to support her meekly.  He pulled her away from Khushi and Dragged her.

“Chote ... please..!” Nani pleaded.  “No.. You broke the promise Nani... You have lost your right!” he yelled and Nani sat on the bed with a thud hiding her face in her palms. 

Sham had sneaked out of his room and was going towards the door.  He heard the argument in Nani’s room.  His wicked mind pulled him towards her room but he stopped.  He knew Khushi was inside.  He heard Arnav, his saale saab yelling ..! Stroking his fist and licking his lips he waited outside the door for a fleeting second and turned.  He knew, he need not go out.  Khushi will be out soon, of this house.  He was safe.. he was winning.  

“Carry on, Saale Saab!  Thank you!” he smirked wickedly and closed the door of his room,  hugging his wife happily!

“I knew it... Apanay  hee  badaa  dard  detay  hain!”

Arnav dragged lifeless Khushi down the hallway and up to the main door.  He pushed her out of the door.  “Don’t you ever show your face again...!” he banged the door shut on her face.  She dropped down on the floor in a heap.  He came back.  Nani was at the door crying.

“Chote..!” Nani tried to hold his hand.  He raised his hand to stop her.  “No! You have lost the right! You broke the promise! You discussed my parents...!” he said standing before her for the last time.  He strode back to his room and Nani followed.  

“Chote.. please! Don’t do this... Please!” Nani was in his room.  He looked at her.  “Do you want me to stay in this house?” he asked her in a deadly voice.

“Yes.. yes chote! Please!” she held his hand.  He took her out of his room and closed shut the door on her face.  She came back.

“What have I done?” she cried her heart out.  Laxmiji.. was on her bed licking her tears...!

“Ratna...!” she wept for her daughter silently... she couldn’t take her name and cry out ..! She was forbidden from taking their names in this house...! She had broken the promise, given to her grandson... She didn’t know what he was going to do now...!

“What have I done?” she cried her heart out.  Laxmiji.. was on her bed licking her tears...!