Opposite Poles...Part 3

Arnav came out of the room and was bombarded with the questions.

“What happened in the room, Sir? Could you get the name?”

“Who was that girl?”

“What is your relationship with that girl?”

“Did you know her before?” asked the reporters.  Arnav gave a stern look at the crowd and made his way out ignoring all the questions. Security guards kept the reporters at bay.  

“Sevurity! Yeh sab clean karo..! Clean this mess up! ” he ordered looking at the torn dupatta , an earring and some pearls scattered on the floor!”

It seemed the entire Fashion show turned into a fiasco.  Lurking reporters were more interested in this spoiler story rather than the actual fashion show.  Arnav clenched his fists. 

“What the hell! She has spoilt everything… I “ his anger and vengeance took over.  He dialed his assistant’s number.  “Aman, nothing should leak out.  No press release unless I moderate it!” he ordered.   He came back to his hotel room.  His Di was waiting for him.

“Chote…! How was the show?” she asked in excitement.  He stared at her blankly.

“Chote…!” she placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Good!” he gave a curt answer and went away.  She looked confused.

“Chote, what happened? Why are you so upset?” she asked concerned.

“Nothing Di! Everything is fine!” he said looking straight.

“Chote…!” she opened her mouth.

“Di Please… leave me alone for some time!” he said turning his back on her.

******  ***************

Khushi ran out in the darkness and when she sensed that no one was following her, stopped.  She turned to look at Sheesh Mahel …..! Hatred took over. 

“Samajhata kya hai woh apane aap ko? Who the hell he thinks of himself!” she muttered angrily flaring up her nose and inadvertently running her fingers on the coat she wore.   “I will not leave him like that! He tried to lock me up! What did he think he was doing? “ She went out of control in anger.  She kick started her  scooter and raced away from the venue. 

She reached home, to find deserted Mantap… All the guests had returned.   The fairy lights were put off.  The decorations were pulled off. Deadly silence prevailed everywhere.

“Amma? Babuji? …. Jiji?” she called out scared to the core.  Only her voice echoed back.

“Amma?” she raised her voice moving from room to room…!

She saw her Jiji removing her jewelry…! She had already changed into her normal attire.  Her Amma, Babuji and buwaji were looking at her helplessly.

“Amma!” Khushi was at the threshold of the room.

“Khushi….!” Her babuji called out helplessly.  Her Amma came forward and slapped her square in the face.  The sound echoed in her ear.

“Maine kahan tha na? Unse milane mat jaana! Kyun gai tum? I had warned you not to go! Why did you go Khushi?” her Amma had lost control.  She slapped Khushi again and again.  Her babuji tried to shield Khushi but her Amma had gripped Khushi tightly.

“Amma….!” Khushi started off weakly.

“What Khushi? You ruined everything… who had asked you to go there? Why did you do this Khushi? “ Asked her Amma.

“What difference does it make to her, Garima?” asked her Buwaji calling her Amma.

“After all she is not your blood.  Why would she care for your honor?” whipped her buwaji…!

“Buwaji…!” Khushi  looked crestfallen.  “Buwaji.. please don’t say that!” she pleaded crumpling on the floor in a heap.  Her buwaji took out all her anger on Khushi.

“I had told you, Garima.. This girl will bring only disgrace to the family! She is the bad omen… ! Apane maa baap ko to pahele se hi khaa chuki hai! She was the reason for her parents’ death! ”

“Jiji.. Please …Stop!” Garima held buwaji’s hand to stop her from doing further damage.

“Khushi, maine kasam di thi na? why did you break the promise?” asked her Amma.

“Nahi Amma! Please, listen to me! They demanded dowry last minute… ! how was that possible Amma? We already have mortgaged this house… I thought Abhishek Jijaji will understand and convince his parents…!” Khushi tried to justify.

“He is not Abhishek Jijaji, Khushi… the marriage is called off!” came a hollow, empty voice of Payal…!

Khushi ran forward to her Jiji…”Jiji… I am sorry… Jiji!” she couldn’t stop crying.  But her jiji had no tears in her eyes.

“Stop it Khushi… its over!” she said blankly. 

“No! Jiji….!” Khushi couldn’t continue. She sat there embracing her jiji for a while and then got up suddenly, she got a slap again from her buwaji…!

“Where were you, Khusi?” she asked stunned Khushi.

“Tell me, where were you all this time? With whom?” she pulled Khushi up gripping her shoulder.  Khushi stood there shaking from head to toe.

“And what is this you are wearing…! Where is your dupatta?’ buwaji asked her narrowing her eyes in suspicion.  Khushi had no answer.   The memory of grip of the person with brown piercing eyes made her wince. 

“Khushi, batao… Kahan muah Kaala karake aai ho? What have you done to yourself?“ Buwaji was screaming at the top of her voice.  Khushi looked helplessly at her babuji.

“Dekho Shashi, look at this girl! Kahi jaay ke.. Khch kar  ke aai hain!” Buwaji started off again.  Khushi took out her coat immediately and repented having done that.  A deep scratch on her arm was bleeding.

“Khushi, bata? Who did this?” her babuji was holding her.  She trembled,  thinking about the trauma and feeling the grip on her shoulder again.

“Umm… Babuji… Hum galati se wahaan chale gaye…! I went there by mistake..!”  She said looking down.

“Where? Where did you go Khushi…?” her Amma had flared up again in rage.

“Amma… woh… Fa… Fa..!” Khushi stuttered.

“Fa? Fa what?” her buwaji screamed.  “Fashion show!” came hurried answer.

“What?” her babuji glared at her.

“No.. Babuji… please…!” she held his hand.

“Stop it Khushi…! I never thought you would do this?  As if, this humiliation was not enough…!” He turned his back on Khushi banging  fist on his forehead.

“You..?  You went for the fashion show? Why? To earn money?” Buwaji went out of control in anger.  She shook Khushi vigorously. 

“No.. Babuji.. I did not do anything…!” she was all lost, had no justification for her deeds.

“Enough Khushi…! Go to your room!” ordered her Amma.

****************   ********************

“She spoiled the entire show! I should find out!....” he paced his room restlessly.  

“How did she enter the green room?” he wondered.  He had never failed in his security arrangements.  He turned away in frustration.

“Damn it!” he banged his fist on the table.   His eyes spat anger,  when her frightened face flashed before him…! 

“You destroyed me show…. Now face the music!” he took out his phone.

He was all set to destroy her completely…..!

***********   ************

“I will not leave him! He did this…! That.. that monster…! I…I will hunt him down…!” Khushi threw the coat in the corner…!

Smile appeared on her face… “I know… I know what to do…! You.. you.. whoever…! I will show you who am I..!” she joined her hands looking up in the sky.

“Hey devi  mayya! Shakti dena! Oh God! Give me strength…! Use ek baar phir se milana…! I will show him his place!”  She prayed closing her eyes.

Her room door opened with a bang.  Her buwaji was at the door with furious face.  Khushi shrunk.  She knew what was coming…!

***********     **************     ***********

“Raani Saheba…! Don’t worry! He is little upset…Everything will be fine!” Sham, Anjali Di’s husband was consoling her.  He had narrated the whole incidence to her and looking at her worried face said…

“Raani Saheba.. I will handle it.  Don’t worry!” he stroked her head pulling her closer.   She rested her head on her shoulder and closed her eyes.  She knew her husband will handle the situation properly.  Smirk appeared on Sham’s face.  He knew exactly what to do.

He came out of the room and dialed a number.  “Hame saari Janakaari chahiye… juld se juld!  I want all the information ASAP! Understood?” he disconnected and turned to see his Brother in Law, Arnav Singh Raizada staring at him.

“Saale Saab, don’t worry!” he placed his hand on Arnav’s shoulder.

“I don’t care!” Arnav turned away.  Sham smirked.

“Saale saab, forget about her…!!” Sham knew how to put oil in the already burning fire.

The image of a fragile girl with frightened light green eyes flashed !  Arnav winced in hatred.  Clenching his fist he said under his breath…

“I will hunt you down….!”