Opposite Poles.. Part 12

Part 12

“What happened, Khushi?” Payal asked gently.  Khushi turned her face.  The train had started moving away from the platform, towards Delhi.  Khushi felt a lump in the throat.  She swallowed hard and chocked. 

“Khushi, its only for few days!” Payal tried to console her.  Khushi nodded. Wiping her eyes she said..

“I don’t know, Jiji! But I feel … I will not come here again…!” she said heavily.

“What? Why do feel so, Khushi? Its only for few days!” Payal said placing her hand on Khushi’s shoulder.  Khushi gazed out of the window. 

“Hope so..!” she muttered gravely.  Emptiness filled her heart.  And then hatred took over. 

“This is all because of HIM!” she clenched her fists in rage.  

“Wish… I..”  Khushi blurted..and

“No Khushi, don’t think about him.  Don’t wish… no ..!” she reprimanded herself.  Train had gathered speed.  Khushi closed her eyes.  A tear drop rolled down on her cheek.  

*********   ********    **********

Shashi, Khushi’s babuji was pacing the room restlessly. 

“What is bothering you so much?” asked Garima in concerned tone.

“I am surprised, Garima ji..! The Dog..He looked ferocious when he saw Sham babu..!” he blurted.

“Yes.. That dog created problems.  I think we should drive him away.  After all it’s a stray dog!” said Garima.  Shashi did not answer.  He was lost in his own thoughts.

“Why didn’t you go to the police station? That Sham babu was ready to help..!” Garima asked him.

“I don’t know… but that dog..!” he again blurted looking lost.

“Forget about the dog! Its useless..!” she said angrily.  But Shashi was on a different track .

“The only other time the dog behaved like this was, when Abhishek entered this house… and now for the second time, when this Sham babu entered our house.   Look what happened with Payal…! That Abhiskek …!” His voice trailed.  He looked at Garima for confirmation.  She looked confused.

“I don’t know… but somehow… !” he did not complete his sentence.   He somehow felt very skeptical.  Garima couldn’t understand his feelings.  

“Where is the dog, by the way?” she asked.  “It chased Khushi’s auto and has not returned yet.” 

“Must have wandered off somewhere… Will return..!” she answered her own question.  Babuji looked out of the window.   It was almost five hours since Khushi, Payal and Buwaji left.

********   ********   *********

“Hello, Babuji…! How are you? Where is Amma?” Khushi had called her Babuji.  It was a week since they came to Delhi, 

“We both are ok, and your Amma is here..!” Said Babuji,  and her Amma was on the line.

“Hello Amma…” Khushi started off excitedly.  She had set her routine… she had a lot of things to talk..

“And Amma, how is everyone in Lucknow? How is my Devi Mayya? Did you go to her Mandir? And Moulaji?” she talked nonstop.  Her Amma smile and answered.

“And Amma, how is my Kutte ji?  Did Babuji  feed him? He loves roti…Put some ghee on it and give him…!” she said missing the dog badly.

“Umm… Khushi….No!” her Amma suddenly became very quiet.

“What? What happened Amma?” Khushi’s heart sank.  She clutched her phone tightly.

“umm… Khushi… two days back…on Thursday,  umm your kutte ji… um… he… he died…!” her Amma’s voice trailed off.

“What? How?” Khushi’s heart cried out.

“Someone had beaten him  up badly.  He came to our door… and … and breathed his last, Khushi! We tried everything we could! ” her Amma sobbed.  Babuji took the phone.

“How? Who did that?” Khushi asked sobbing hard.  Buwaji and Payal came nearer.

“Don’t know…!” her Babuji had lost words.  Khushi kept the phone.

“What? What happened?” her Buwaji  asked.

“Kutte ji died..!” Khushi ran to her room sobbing hard.  Buwaji took a sigh…

“Kutte ji…!” she turned and went into the kitchen.  Payal didn’t know how to console Khushi.  

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

Arnav woke up with a start.  He had a weird dream.  He was on the Ghat… he was climbing up… the dog followed him… he turned to pat the dog and it vanished… two mournful green eyes glared at him… He got up with a jerk!

“What?” he blurted, turned on his side and went back to his sleep.

***********   **********  ******

Sham came to the threshold of Gomati Nivas.  Smirk appeared on his face.  He could enter the house freely.  There was no one to stop him.  He caressed his fist with his other hand and entered.  Only Garima was at home.

She welcomed him and he made himself comfortable.   Shashi was at the shop, getting it repaired.

“Auntiji.. I will come some other time..! I think uncle ji is not at home!” he said politely. 

“Aree Nahi bitawa.. he will come for lunch.  Stay  for lunch..!” she said fondly.  He looked around. 

“Where is Buwaji?” he asked.  “She went back to Delhi!” came the answer from the kitchen.

Garima brought tea for him.  He took it getting up from his chair.  His eyes searching,  he said.

“Actually I wanted to talk to uncle ji !” Garima looked at him questioningly.  He looked away and said..

“Umm.. about the incident … its very unfortunate..!” he stared at her grave face and continued..

“Is there anything I can do, auntiji?” the genuineness in his voice brought tears in her eyes.

“No one can do anything, bitawa… the disgrace we faced is beyond repair..!” she said wiping her tears.

“Auntiji… please… Samghaliye Apane Aap Ko! Please auntiji be brave…!” he consoled her.

“How, Bitawa?” she asked in despair.  “I had to send my daughters away with Jiji..! how can I be brave?” she broke down in tears.   

"Oh! I didn't know that!!" he said.  Garima sobbed.

"Auntiji.. Buwaji will take care of them.. in Delhi... where in Delhi?" he asked softly.

"Laxmi Nagar.  Jiji has a house there!" informed Garima. 

Sham suddenly got up.

“Auntiji.. please take care of yourself…! I will come later!” he turned to leave.

“Please, beta.. stay for lunch!” she invited. 

“Nahi, Auntiji… I will come some other time…!” he went out of the house, smirking, stroking his fist with other hand..

**********    **********    *********

“Have you lost it Lavanya?” ASR was yelling at her.  She stood locking her fingers guiltily.

“Do you have something in here?” he pointed at her head sarcastically.

She stared at the floor guiltily.

“ASR.. my friends forced me … I am sorry!” she came nearer and wrapped her hand around his arm.

“What was important, Lavanya? Party or Client..?” he asked her sternly.

“But ASR… yesterday was Sunday…!” she tried to justify.

“And I had told you to meet Mr. Mehra and send him design images in the evening…!” he flared up in anger.

“ASR..! Sorry!! “ she held his arm tightly.  He did not answer.   He seemed to have clamed down.  Lavanya took this opportunity and placed her head on his shoulder.  He did not move.  Office boy came with coffee.  Lavanya took the tray from him.

“ASR, Coffee?” she asked smiling.  He nodded.