Opposite Poles..Part 132

 Part 132

“Chote?” Anjali looked at her younger brother stopping at Khushi’s place.  A smile appeared on her face.  Lavanya and Anjali got down and he didn’t know what he should do.  No one asked him to get down.  They assumed that he won’t come in.  Lavanya and Anjali walked into the house holding hands and he got down from the car not able to decide.  He frowned blaming it on Khushi..!

“Damn it!” he locked the car and followed his sister.. after some time.  He was at the door only to find Buwaji sitting on the chair clutching her head muttering.  

“Yeh Sanaka Devi.. God knows when she is going to grow up! NandKishore! She should get married as soon as possible..!” She looked up at the door and got up with a jerk looking at Arnav at the door.

Anjali and Lavanya had vanished inside.

“Khushi, why can’t you take care of yourself?” Lavanya asked holding her injured hand.  Khushi smiled.  “Lavanya ji.. I was very careful.. but that boy.. no one like you was there to tell him to take care of himself..!” she said giggling and teasing Lavanya for getting worried.  Anjali looked at this brave girl.  Lavanya was sitting on Khushi’s cot and Anjali on the nearby chair. Lavanya touched her bandaged foot.  “What did the doctor say?” she asked concerned.

“Doctor?” Khushi went back to the clinic the boy took her to. 

“Nothing much! You will be alright with one pain killer!” The doctor had said.

“Umm.. Doctor.. my ankle is paining.. I think it will be swollen soon.. she winced in pain and the doctor examined her foot.  “Ok..! let me see... um no fracture.. only a sprain.. What I will do is ...!” he took out a syringe and Khushi jumped at once.

“No..! No injection! Bandage will do!” she screamed and the doctor smiled.  Ok! He said and wrapped a stretch bandage on her foot.

“The bruises on the hand are minor..!” he said only cleaning them up.  “Umm.. if you could tie the bandage..!” she asked sheepishly.  “Ok!” the doctor smiled at her. 

The frightened boy had peeped in worried.  “See? I have to tie a bandage... ! look at my wound.. you boys drive without licence putting others’ lives in danger..!” she yelled angrily at the boy.  He shuddered.

“Promise me! You will drive carefully and get a driving licence first... by the way, how old are you?” She asked the boy.  “S..Sixteen!” he said stuttering.  “Sixteen? Sixteen!”[i] she yelled looking at the doctor.  “S.. Sorry!” the boy joined his hands.  “Ok!” she said.. “But promise me!” she held out her hand.  “Yes didi, I promise.. i will get the licence and then only will drive!” he had learnt his lesson. 

“I should have been an RTO agent!” she muttered looking away.  The doctor couldn’t stop his laughter wrapping white gauge bandage on her hand.  She smiled happily.  

“No going to see the new flat, no engagement ring..!” she said happily... “Better luck next time, Shamji!”

“Khushi...!” Lavanya poked her and Khushi came back in to her room from the clinic .. “Haan  Doctor said, nothing to worry.. ! I will be alright soon!” Khushi said smiling.  

Payal came out of the kitchen and saw Arnav at the door.  Her blood boiled.  She came forward angrily and Buwaji spoke coming forward...

“Aray, Nandkishore! Aaiye! Please come!” she offered him a seat.  He glanced at Payal and she turned her back on him angrily and went into Khushi’s room.  He didn’t know what to do.  He was stuck up with Buwaji listening to the giggles from inside.  Payal didn’t even offer him water.

“Khushi, get well soon!” Anjali said getting up.  Payal brought in snacks and water.  

“Chamakili... I was so worried! Thank god! ASR brought us here..!” Lavanya blurted out and Khushi shuddered.  “Is he here? Where? Must be sitting in the car..! Ruthless person..!” she clenched her fists in rage.  Payal was frowning.  “Now what happened to Jiji?” Khushi was puzzled.

“Di..!” Arnav couldn’t stop himself.  He got up and without anyone’s permission walked upto Khushi’s room.  Buwaji just gaped at him.  He didn’t bother.

Everyone turned! Khushi heard his voice.  “He had come in?” she didn’t know!

“Don’t you ever show your face again...!”  Khushi winced.  Lavanya was on her bed.  Anjali was standing near her bed.  Payal had walked in and he was at the door.  Khushi hurriedly covered herself in blanket and drawing it over her head turned to her side away from the door.  He walked in.

“Yeah.. Chote!” Anjali was ready to go.  He looked at the thing covered in a blanket.  He took a step forward.  “Khushi..!” Lavanya poked her again.  She didn’t remove the blanket.  

“Kya hua?” Anjali asked concerned.  Khushi was Khushi a moment before and suddenly she disappeared under the blanket.  Anjali was puzzled.  “Khushi, what happened?” she bent down.  Khushi clutched on to her blanket.

“I won’t see his face again..!” she was determined.   “He heard it!” he winced.  ““Don’t you ever show your face again...!” he remembered his last words.

“No!” he blurted.  He desperately wanted to see her face, her twinkling, mischievous eyes, her smile! He had to stop himself from leaping and pulling her blanket.

“Di!” he took a step forward to have a better look at the blanket, Payal stood in between having her back on him.  

“Aray... Aap log! Have Tea!” Amma brought in tea.  “Bahar chaltain hain! Let us go out!” Payal almost ordered.  Arnav came out so did Anjali and Lavanya! Amma gave him his sugar free tea.  Payal wore a frown on her face.  She wanted to yell at him. 

 He didn’t even had a chance to look at Khushi’s injury.  He clenched his fists in desperation.  “So you don’t want to see my face!” he gritted his teeth. “Let us see!” he stood up resolutely.  

“Di, you wait here! I go get the doctor for second opinion! I think she needs a pain killer injection...!” he said loudly and Payal looked at him angrily.

“No!” came a groan from inside and his feet turned to her room.  He knew the effect of his statement.  “Let me see her wound!” he was in her room followed by angry Payal.  Lavanya didn’t know what was going on.  Anjali gaped at her brother’s concern for Khushi..!

“No need! The doctor has already given her the medicine..!” Payal stood in his way angrily.  He gaped at her.  Khushi held her breath.  

“let me see!” he was all set to push aside Payal.  “Ok!” she said resolutely.  

“Khushi... first show him the finger marks on your neck!” Payal was astonished by her own bravery.  “Shabash, Jiji!” Khushi was still clutching on to her blanket.

Arnav froze! He glanced at Payal’s furious face, at Khushi inside the blanker not wanting to see his face and at his own hands that strangled Khushi last night. He winced in realization.  He turned and came out.

“Di..!” he said and went out.  Anjali and Lavanya got up.  Lavanya came to Payal.  “Tell her I will come tomorrow!” she whispered and Payal nodded.  

For a long time, Payal kept staring at the gaping door.

“Jiji..!” came a desperate call from under the blanket and Payal ran inside.

“Jiji?” Khushi wanted to know.  “Yes!” said Payal pulling the blanket from suffocating Khushi’s face.

“Hushhhh! Jiji.. I was suffocating inside..!” Khushi sat up and Payal sat on the bed looking lost.

“By the way, Hats off to you Jiji... Kya baat hain? Haan? Show him the marks on the neck? Haan?” Khushi tickled Payal fondly.

“Stop it Khushi, I am serious!” Payal got up angrily.  Khushi too looked lost. 

“Jiji... why can’t my life be normal like other girls?” she asked miserably.  “Why is it complicated?” she had no answer.  The one she wanted to avoid was behind her all the time, forcing himself on her and the  one ... had strangled her and threw her out of his house.

“Jiji...!” she wanted to tell her jiji that she wanted to sever all her ties with Raizadas but then she remembered Aakash and Payal.

“No! Not possible...! Hey Devi Mayya..! You again played your trick, isn’t it? Whenever I pray to avoid shamji, you bring up these Raizadas in front!” Khushi frowned looking up at her devi mayya.

“Khushi... have this Khichadi.. aur so jao!” Amma brought in her plate and Khushi sat up. She  loved Khichadi and Papad! Her Amma fed her.  “Chalo.. Ab So Jao!” her Amma tucked her under the blanket and Khushi closed her eyes.  Her Amma sat by her side for a long time stroking her head.  Khushi was in her dreamland moving in the woods, playing in the streams..!

 

******   *********   *******

“Bhook Nahi Hain Di! I am not hungry” he said and went back to his room.

“Aray, Saale saab..!” Sham called out in vain.  He looked at his wife.  She was worried.  She was worried about everyone.  Her Chote, her Nani, Lavanya everyone around! She looked at her husband for support.  He placed his hand on her shoulder.  “Don’t worry!” he said assuring her.  She felt better.  She knew, her husband will set right everything.  He had done that before. She rested her head on his shoulder.  He smiled slyly.

He was pacing the room! “What have I done?” he had no answer.  The night’s turmoil winced him again.  He was out of control... “How did I lose my control? Why was I so angry?” he again had no answer.  “How dare she ask about my parents..! Damn it! She deserved it!” he muttered justifying his actions to himself.

“I strangled her, Damn it! She could have died..!” he banged his fists on the wall forcefully hurting himself.  “I should have thought before bashing and strangling her.  I dragged her out of this house..! Damn you, Arnav!” he banged his head in rage.  

“I couldn’t even see her.  I was so close! She refused to see me!.. What was Buwaji saying.. her marriage?” he was tormented. He banged shut his laptop.  He threw himself on the bed, face down completely defeated.  He switched off the lights. He buried his face in the pillow! “No! You can’t do this to me!.. Don’t do this to me!” his heart cried out for Khushi.

“Khushi..!” a faint scream left him before he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

*****  ******

Khushi got up with a start from her deep sleep.  “Arnav ji?” she sat up with a jerk, switching on the lights.  “Khushi..what happened!” Payal woke up at once.  Khushi looked around and said..

“I don’t know, Jiji.. I am feeling weak! I am not well, Jiji!” she hugged her jiji.  Payal held her tightly and Khushi broke down.  The turmoil of the day and last night took a toll on her..!

“Jiji.. hold me!” she wept on her Jiji’s shoulder, shuddering with the tormented feeling.  

“So jao Khushi! Don’t think about it!” Payal switched off the lights and pulled Khushi in her arms, suppressing Khushi’s sobs!   

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