Opposite Poles..Part 57

Part 57

“ASR!” Lavanya called out.  He looked at them and continued talking.  Khushi and Lavanya made their way up to him.  He looked at both of them and then said...
“No vehicle available.  All are gone …Damn it! Why couldn’t you walk faster?” he came on to Lavanya. 
“Why are you upset with her? You should have come ahead and booked the vehicle..!” Khushi flared up her nose defending Lavanya.
“And do what? That snake ..!” he stopped looking at aghast Lavanya’s t face.
“What?” her voice cracked.
“Nothing Lavanya ji… nothing… I just talked about snakes in this jungle..!” Khushi hushed up looking at ASR angrily.  Lavanya looked confused but let it go.  “What do we do now?” Lavanya asked losing hope.

Khushi looked around.  “Whose vehicle is this?” she asked loudly.
“Oh! That’s not a taxi, damn it!” ASR answered.  She looked at the other person for answer.
“That’s my boss's vehicle.  He is the fleet owner... he has ten taxies... and all are booked!” he gave the detailed information.  Her eyes brightened.

“Where is Uncle Ji? I mean your boss?” she asked authoritatively.  ASR gaped at her.  She ignored completely.  He showed the bungalow behind and said that’s his house and this is his Dhaba.
“Where is he now?” she asked taking charge. “Dhaba!” came an answer.  Her two partners gaped at her.
“You two wait here!” he ordered them and went inside.  

“Uncle Ji!” she called out.  A corpulent, plump, huge person with turban came out.  “What?” he asked in a rough voice.  She gaped at his huge body and shuddered. 
“Uncle Ji… DEKHIYE  NA?  HAMARI  MADAM JI  KITANI  THAK  GAI HAI..! BEEMAR HAIN,   BECHARI..!” “Look at my Madamji, Uncle Ji… she is exhausted and sick..!” Khushi started off her drama.  He looked at Lavanya struggling to stand on her feet on the road. 
“HAI   KAUN   YEH? Who is she?” Uncle Ji asked in a rough tone.  “She? She is a very renowned model… she must reach Nainital by afternoon…!” she said opening the topic.  She saw ASR gazing at her.  She had to finish the negotiations before his arrival.  She knew for sure, he would spoil everything with his rudeness.  

An equally fat lady came out.  “KI   HOYA? What is it?” she asked in a heavy voice.  Khushi came running to her.
“Aunty Ji.. Look at her condition.  She will fall any time.  We must reach Nainital…!” she urged  “Look at her pathetic condition..!” she pleaded with tears in her eyes.  Aunt Ji looked at her and Uncle Ji..! He shrugged.
“But Puttar, there is no vehicle available..!” she said placing her heavy hand on Khushi’s shoulder.  Khushi held on to it.
“Aunty Ji please do something… She will faint and she has a program to attend.. Aunty Ji, help me.. If she misses the function.. She will kill us!” Khushi looked helpless.  Aunty’s eyes emitted kindness.  She looked at her husband. 
“What? What can I do? There are no vehicles available..! Wait for another three hours” Khushi glanced at his car. 
:Uncle Ji,  Please?” she looked miserable..!  She saw ASR approaching her.  She prayed her Devi mayya… !

“KHUSHI…!” he screamed.  She winced.
“DEKHO  PUTTAR, TUMHARA  PATI   BULA   RAHA   HAIN..!” Aunty Ji waved at him.  Khushi shuddered again.  “Pati?” she thought in horror..She looked at his mud soaked shirt and trouser, the bags on his shoulder.. Then coming back to her senses and taking advantage of his looks too…
“DEKHIYE NA,   INAKI   HAALAT  BHI  KAISI  HO  GAI   HAIN..! Look at his condition.. And he is carrying all her luggage and he has to drive also..!” she said hurriedly… glancing at approaching ASR.

“Khushi..!” he called out again.  The couple exchanged glances…
“Uncle Ji, WOH  GADI  KISAKI   HAIN?” she asked her in a hurry to close the negotiations before ASR spoiled the show.
“Aree come here Puttar..!” Aunty Ji called him.  He approached.  Khushi felt doomed.
“Hey Devi Mayya, Raksha karana…save me!” she prayed. 
“Uncle Ji… please..!” she joined her hands.  ASR was a few feet away.  Lavanya was behind.  Khushi had set the stage but was sure that Laad Governor would spoil the show.

“Ji, look at him.  He is exhausted… but what to do? DUTY HAIN!” she winked at ASR startling him.
“Come Puttar, you really look exhausted.  Sit here with your wife for some time.  I will arrange something for your Madam Ji..!” Uncle went ahead shocking ASR.
“What?” he yelled.
“Please… don’t spoil it now.. Please!” she urged with her eyes.  He gaped at her. Uncle Ji went away with his wife and Khushi was left to ASR to be eaten alive.

“What? Wife?” he hissed.  “You told them…?” he couldn’t complete. 
“I didn’t tell anything.. But the way you yelled at me, he thought you are my husband..!” she hissed back.  He gaped with his mouth open.
“Now don’t shout at me! I didn’t tell him that you are her driver.. He assumed…looking at you..!” she gave him another shock.  
"What? and what about you?" he asked her angrily..
"I am her maid..! they assumed...!" she grinned.
"Driver and maid!" she said brightly.

  He gripped her wrist and twisted it in rage.
“How dare you!” he hissed gritting his teeth.  She looked frightened.
 “Sass! She winced in pain.  He looked at her palm.
“What happened? How?” he looked at her wound.
“Nothing..!” she withdrew her hand immediately.  “Let me see!” he pulled it back.  “No! I am alright!” she said hiding her hand behind.  He leaned forward to grab it again. "Khushi..!"

 “Aree, Puttar… !” Uncle Ji had come out..! “Please …!” she pleaded looking at ASR.  He looked away.  Lavanya had reached by then and was struggling to sit on the cots laid there.  Khushi went running and helped her. 
“Chamakili…!” Lavanya was tired.
“Ji, Madamji… Uncle Ji will do something..!” she continued with the drama.  Lavanya looked confused but didn’t have the energy to ask.  She nodded.  Khushi bent down and again rummaged in her bag taking out a shawl.  She wrapped shivering Lavanya with her tiny clothes in her Amma’s knitted shawl.  Khushi came back running.

“JI, UTHIYE… UNCLE JI KUCH NA KUCH KARENGE.. AAP   UNAKE   SAATH   JAIYE ..! Please go with Uncle Ji, he will do something to help us!” she held his hand.  He gaped at her in disbelief.  

“ARREE   PUTTAR, TUM  CHALO MERE SAATH, TUMHARI BIWI DEKH LEGI MADAMJI KO..! You come with me! Your wife will take care of Madam Ji!” he thumped on ASR’s back.  ASR walked away glaring at Khushi angrily.  Khushi took a sigh of relief.  

Aunty Ji brought Lassi for the three of them.  Lavanya refused to have anything.
“Lavanya ji.. Don’t hurt them by not accepting.  I am trying for his private car ..!” she whispered.  Lavanya took the glass.  Khushi gulped hers in one go.  And said “Mastt…!” wiping off her lips with the back of her palm.  Aunty Ji looked satisfied.  “Food?” she asked.  Khushi wanted to order food but was not sure about that Monster.  She looked around.
“Oh! Right.. You are waiting for your husband..!” Aunty Ji said smiling.  “Husband?” Lavanya looked confused again.  Khushi leaned forward and said, “Nothing Lavanya ji… she is talking about her husband.  He has gone with …!” she said winking at her.  Lavanya nodded without understanding head of tail of anything.  

ASR came back with the car keys.  Khushi grinned.  He looked at her angrily. 
“Laad Governor KAHI KAA! Doesn’t even bother to thank me!” she muttered angrily gulping another glass of Lassi. 
“CHALO   PUTTAR,   HAATH   MUAH   DHO   LO, AUR   KHANA   KHAO! Come on! Wash your hands and eat the food!” said uncle.  ASR looked at Khushi.
“Go, help him!” ordered Aunty Ji.  Khushi reluctantly went with ASR.
“What the hell did you tell them?” he asked angrily.
“I didn’t tell them anything.  They assumed… I was desperate to arrange for the car…!” she retaliated.  But then smiling, said.. “It worked, Sir! You got the car keys..!” she was victorious.  She looked at him with glint enraging him more.  He came back and said..

“No! I don’t want anything.  Let’s go!” he was in a hurry to move out.  Khushi had already started ordering food.
She ate without any inhibitions.  ASR had only rice and dal, Lavanya refused to eat anything after a glass of Lsssi and kept gaping at Khushi’s speed of stuffing food in her mouth. 
“Chamakili, how can you eat so much, and keep yourself so lean at the same time?” Lavanya asked wondering.  Khushi grinned.  “That’s the secret!” she said smiling from ear to ear.

“Chalo..!” ASR picked up the bags and Khushi helped Lavanya to get up.
“My driver will come and deliver the car!” he said taking out his wallet.  Uncle Ji looked confused.
“He means, another driver will come..!” she clarified glaring angrily at him.  

"Laad Governor KAHI KAA! ITANI HEHENAT PAR PANI PHER DETA..! He would spoiled everything...!"  She muttered under her breath.  

Khushi opened the  back door to sit and looked back.  The uncle aunty couple was glaring at her.  She came out

“umm.. Lavanya ji! Please.. for some time… Please sit at the back..! They are looking at us.  It doesn’t look good that you sit next to your driver..!” Lavanya looked surprised but had no energy to resist.  She sat back.  Khushi opened the front door and looked at ASR pleading.  He didn’t react.  He raced away driving Uncle ji’s car.

“Stop.. Stop!” Khushi said after five minutes. He looked at her in surprise. “Mission accomplished! We got the vehicle..”  She blew a strand of hair on her face with a blow pouting her lower lip.  He gaped with his mouth falling open.

“Lavanya ji,  come! Take your seat..!” she said looking back.  Lavanya had already curled up on the back seat and was fast asleep under the shawl with the day’s exertion.  Khushi gaped at her.  Arnav raced away having Khushi on the passenger seat with him.  A perfect Driver and a Maid for Madam Lavanya!!