Opposite Poles..Part 136

Part 136

“Bhai...!” he opened the door to see the shattered room.  He froze and looked around.  His bhai was at the pool side.  “Humm!” he sighed and took a step back.  Closing the room door carefully, he went back to his room.  “There is no point in talking about bringing Khushi ji back, now!” he thought gravely.  His bhai was in a particularly bad mood that night.

**********   *********   *********

“Hai Re Nandkishore! Kaun Hain?” Buwaji took time to wake up and open the door. 

“Ji.. Aap?” She was puzzled to see Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada at the door late in the night.  He stood there glaring at Buwaji.  

“Ji.. Aaiye!” she called him in.  He stood at the door.  “Sub thik toh hain, Nandkishore?” she asked worried.  He stared at her and said, “Nani is not well.  She wants to meet Khushi!”

“Aray, at this hour of night? I will tell her tomorrow!” He clenched his fists. 

“Main ussay lenay aaya hoon.  I came here to take her with me!” he still was at the door.  She gaped at him.  “B..but she is sleeping now!” she stuttered.  “Wake her up!” he ordered.  She went inside.

“Khushi...Khushi...!” she banged on Khushi’s door and Arnav stepped into the house.

Buwaji woke her from her deep slumber.  She was shocked to see Arnav behind Buwaji.  “Nandkishore! See! Your Sir has come...!” Buwaji muttered pushing her in.  What happened in next few minutes, she didn’t understand and now she found herself in the car with him.

He raced away with Khushi sitting sulkily, still rubbing her eyes.  “Kapaday to badalnay ...! At least I would have Changed the clothes...!” she said angrily, looking at her night dress  “shut up!” he spat and she fell silent.

The clock struck midnight and he was at the door of Raizada House, with Khushi, clasping her palm, opening the door!!

“Nani..!” he called out from the door and Nani opened her eyes.

“Khu...!” she was shocked to see Khushi with Arnav.  “W..What?” she sat up.  He pulled Khushi inside.

“I threw her out at midnight, I brought her in at midnight!” he said leaving Khushi’s hand and taking a step back.  

“Lekin Chote..!” Nani was flabbergasted so was Khushi.  He left the room without a word closing the door behind.  Both Nani and Khushi gaped at each other.  

“Nani ji..!” Khushi looked at Nani’s condition and sat on her bed clasping her hand.  Nani smiled faintly.  “Khushi bitiya... I am sorry!” she apologized.

“No, Nani ji.. please!” Khushi had tears in her eyes.  Nani pulled her in embrace.  Khushi smiled with satisfaction.  “Nani ji!” Khushi hugged her tightly and Nani said,

“Ab So Jao hamare paas! Sleep here with me!” Khushi smiled happily.  

He came back to his room and cleaned the mess up himself.  Khushi was back.  Nani called him Chote.. and the peace was restored again.

*******   *********  *****

“Do you know, any other Sham Zaa?” Anjali asked her husband resting her head on his chest.  “What?” he was shocked.

“No..actually.. I want you to do some detective work..!” she created enough suspense. 

“Raani Saheba.. Is this some kind of joke?” he asked sitting up.

“No!” she pulled him back on the bed.

“I want to know more about a lawyer named Sham Zaa! Do you know anyone?” she asked giggling.

“What?” he looked shocked.  She looked up at his face and said.. “How many Sham Zaas are there?” He looked at her suspiciously.  “Aray.. I am not talking about you! I am talking about some other Sham Zaa, who is also a lawyer!” she tried to clarify looking at his furious face.

“Why?” he asked her.  “First tell me, how many Sham Zaas are there? Do you have any idea?” she asked him.  

“why?” he asked her again before saying “I am the only one!” she looked at him.

“Actually, Payal had called me up.  She needs help.  She wants to know about a lawyer names Sham Zaa!” Anjali dropped the bombshell. He froze!

“W..What?” he looked drained out.

“Aray, why do you look so tensed up? You just have to find out who is Sham Zaa is and see if you can get some information..!” she said patting on his shoulder.

“But why?” he asked her again.

“She wants to know more about this guy! She couldn’t give me the details but it seems Buwaji wants Khushi to marry this person!” Anjali gave the opportunity to her opportunist husband.  He stroked his fist and licked his lips and said.

“I know a person by this name.  I will find out more about him and let you know soon! Don’t worry!” he assured her and pulled her back on the bed switching of the lights, smirking wickedly.

“So Payal ji, you are asking me about myself..!” he closed his eyes.

*********   *********  *********

“Arya, Khushi didi?” Ram Prakash was surprised to see Khushi in the kitchen at six in the morning.

“Woh, I am preparing tea for Naniji!” she said avoiding his questioning look.  She took the tray upstairs.

“Nani ji.. Good Morning.. Your bed Tea!” she said pleasantly smiling.  Nani got up from the bed with her help smiling broadly.  “Winter has set in.. Garam Kapaday nikalnay padenge!” she murmured. 

“Take this shawl Khushi bitiya..! Oadh lo! Wrap yourself!” Nani threw her Favourite shawl at her.  Khushi’s eyes flashed.  “Nani ji!” she whispered in her ears and Nani nodded.  “Yeah I will come down for tea!” she said. Khushi smiled broadly winking at Nani.

It was seven in the morning and people in Raizada House started gathering at the table for morning tea.  Surprisingly, Nani was the first one to arrive.  She had assumed her seat wrapping herself tightly in Shawl.  

“Hello hi bye bye, Saasumaa... Its very cold and why did you come down? You are not well!” Mami was first to react looking at Nani sitting there putting her head down and sipping tea. 

“Aray, Amma... Why did you come down? But its nice to see you at your place!” Mamaji said happily sitting next to Nani ji.

“Aray,  Nani ji..! Good morning!” Sham sat next to Anjali and Nani shivered in cold. 

“Where is bhai?” asked Aakash.  He had a mission to accomplish.  Anjali looked up at him.

“He will come anytime from now after his workout!” she said.  Ram Prakash served tea and biscuits.  Arnav walked in looking around.  He saw Nani sitting at the table and line of smile appeared on his face.  “So, she is back!” he thought, his eyes searching for Khushi.  “Where is she? Must be in the kitchen..!” he went up to keep his gym bag and came down hurriedly to sit with nani. 

“Good morning, Nani!” he said sitting next to her.  Nani nodded.  Ram Prakash poured tea in his cup.  He still was searching for Khushi.  

“How are you Nani?” he asked in a soft voice and “I am perfectly fine, Chote!” came Nani’s  exhuberant voice from behind and everyone turned to look at the kitchen door.  Nani was standing with Ram Prakash holding the tray of snacks.  

“I prepared halwa for you all!” she said smiling and everyone turned to Nani’s seat.  Khushi opened her shawl to show her face and colored hair style like Nani, wearing Nani's saree her style,  giggling happily.

“You!” Arnav reacted first.  “Khushi..? Phati Sadi? Aray... you? Khushi ji?” exclaimed Anjali, Mami, Mama and Aakash at once.

“Yes its Khushi..! Khushi laut aai hain! Happiness has returned..!” Nani came forward and Khushi got up from the seat.

“Aray, Aap .. where are you going?” Anjali called out at Sham’s vanishing figure, thoroughly puzzled. 

“Khushi.. and her pranks..” he poured the tea once again to while away time with the family with Khushi vanishing inside the kitchen giggling.  

“When did she come?” Aakash asked the embarrassing question.  Arnav looked at Nani.  “Early morning..!” Nani came to his rescue.  He looked away with twinkling eyes. He wanted to take a day off today from the office.

“Chum...!” Lavanya came down to see what was going on and why was everyone so happy.  He hugged Khushi happily.

“When did you come?” she asked surprised.  Khushi opened her mouth.. “woh  kal raat..!”

“She came this morning!” Nani spoke glancing at Khushi and Khushi looked at Arnav surprised.  He as usual looked away not wanting to see her questioning looks.  She gazed back at Nani and gave a curt nod.  Khushi smiled broadly.  “Yeah, early morning..!” she said pouring tea for Lavanya.

“Lavanya ji... good morning!” Khushi glanced at Arnav.  He was gazing  at both the girls.  Lavanya sat next to Arnav. “Aray, Nani, how are you?”   “I am fine and happy!” Nani answered glancing at Arnav.

“Hello hi.. sub  bye bye karanay say pahale... ! Before you all say bye bye..! I want Aakash to see these!” Mami fanned out photos again.  Aakash looked panic.  Khushi was looking at Aakash’s reaction and Arnav had a smirk on his face.  Anjali was all excited to look at the photos.  “Carry on!” Mamaji got up but Arnav stayed put.

Mami passed one photo to Aakash... he passed it on without even looking at it.  Anjali glanced at the photo admiring the beauty.. Lavanya peeped .. Oh! She should be little slimmer ... she looks bulgy..!” Lavanya gave her opinion.  Mami frowned.  Anjali passed on the photo to Arnav and to everybody’s surprise he took it to have a better look.

“Oh! Kapoors! I know.. they are sickly rich.. only hitch is... they are snobbish... will always want to keep their daamad under their control... Aakash you better be prepared to become Ghar jamai!” he said throwing the photo on the table.  Nani didn’t bother to see it.  She knew Mami’s choice.  She turned her face in disgust.  Aakash looked relieved.

“Hain? Ghar Jamai? No way! Bye bye to this girl!” Mami took out another photo.  The girl looked like a super model.  Even Lavanya couldn’t find fault.  Arnav looked at it.  “Oh yeah.. miss india finalist... got disqualified at last minute... she is a drug addict!” he said placing the photo on the table again.

“Oh! She is a divorcee, twice!” Arnav had all the information about the girls, to Khushi’s shock.  

 Aakash looked at his bhai and he winked... Khushi smiled broadly!

“Mami.. these so called hi fi girls won’t suit Aakash! Think over it!” he said getting up.  Khushi looked at him with gratitude, so did Aakash!!

“Woh I should be going now!” Khushi said coming back to her senses and Arnav turned.  He realized, Khushi had not come to stay.  

“I will drop you Khushi ji, I am going that side!” Aakash said enthusiastically. 

“No need, Aakash Bitwa.. give her money for auto!” Mami came back to her character.  Arnav came back.

“Aakash will drop you!” Arnav said authoritatively snubbing the resistance from Mami.  He looked at Aakash.  Now that she was in, he was happy to give this duty to Aakash and give him the opportunity to meet Payal.