Opposite Poles..Part 93

Part 93

“This is not done Khushi…! Try something different…!” Khushi was determined to find out the reason.  She was walking down the street lost in her own thoughts.  Payal couldn’t catch up with her.

“Khushi.. Ruk Naa! Khushi wait!” Payal called out and Khushi stopped abruptly.  She had forgotten that Payal was with her. 

“Jiji, Such  Ugalwane   ke   liye  woh   Kaun   Sa  Test   Detain  Hain?  Sarko  Test…” Khushi asked her holding her hand. 

“Pagal… Sarko   nahain   Norco   Test!”  Payal answered bewildered.

“Yeah, that one! Where can we get it?” she asked innocently.  Payal laughed.

“Khushi… its not a toy, to get it in the shop!  But why do you want it?” she asked bemused.

“I want that …Mon  …  umm… Arnav ji to tell me the truth!” she said controlling herself from giving him another scornful name.   Payal shook her head hopelessly.

“Forget it, Khushi..!” she said and walked ahead.  “I tried everything.  He is not telling me.  No one knows the answer.  Only  Regi Sir and this.. M.. Arnavji!” she muttered furiously. 

“Jiji… I tried to use his weapon on him; yelling and shouting at him.  But he wouldn’t budge.  I tried to be nice and asked him… but no words have any effect on this… umm.. Arnavji!” she sulked.  Payal was busy buying vegetables.  Khushi stood there deep in thoughts. 

“Jiji, chalo naa, Golgappe Khatain  Hai!”  She pulled her hand.  They were sitting on a bench and enjoying the spicy golgappe!  Khushi gazed at the statue.   “Satyagraha! Agitation…!” she screamed raising her hand in the air.  Payal gaped at her.  “Aandolan.. hum  Aandolan  Karainge!”  She looked at Payal.

“Pagal Khushi… against whom?” she asked.  “Against that.. barbe.. umm.. Ruler…umm.. Arnav ji!” She again refrained from calling him names.

“Bhookh  Hadataal…! Fast until …de..at..h…!”  her voice trailes … as she saw impossibility in her own statement.  “No..! not possible..! No  bhookh Hadataal..!” she shook her head stuffing a Golgappa in her mouth.  Payal laughed, pinching her puffed out cheeks.

“Khushi, leave them alone..!” Payal urged.  “No Jiji, I want to know! You should have seen his mother, the way she hugged that  ASR.. . I mean Arnav ji, like her own son.  And he looked so human ….!” She revisited the Airport in her thoughts.

 “If words have no effect… then no words???” she looked lost.

“Silence has more power than words..! Somebody has said!” she said dreamily. 

“Jiji… This might work!” she jumped in excitement.  “Yeah! Mounvrat.. Total Silence!” she raised her hand like a sage closing her eyes, smiling broadly.  Payal pulled her. 

“Practice your Mounvrat at home in front of Buwaji, Khushi.. Let’s see!” Payal challenged her. They both came home.  Surprisingly Buwaji was very quiet.  Sham was sitting next to her waiting for the sisters.  Babuji was taking rest in his room, and Amma was busy in the kitchen.  Khushi went in to keep the bags. 

“NandKishore! Ai Khushi, come out!” Buwaji’s steam engine whistled.  Khushi came out. 

“I need an answer!” she said sternly.  Khushi understood.  She prayed her Devi Mayya. 

“Yes Buwaji, even I need an answer!” she said looking at Sham.  Sham looked at her puzzled.

“I mean, I need some time, to think about it.  I need to talk to Sham ji!” she smiled at him.  Sham’s face lit up in excitement. 

“Yeah! Buwaji, she is right! We need to spend more time with each other….!” He was ready to go out with her at that moment.  Khushi smiled sweetly.  “Yeah! I think we will spend some time with each other, if I get some time from my busy schedule and we will decide…!” She came and sat next her Buwaji and holding her hand said.  “Buwaji.. don’t worry! We will decide soon!” she looked at Sham and he nodded in acceptance excited about spending time with Khushi alone.  Buwaji was more than happy.

“Haan! Haan! NandKishore!” she said nodding her head.

“Right! So tell your NandKishore to shut up for some days till we decide!” she said hugging her Buwaji.  Payal admired Khushi’s spark!

“May be we will go tomorrow if I come home early!” she offered false promise.  Next day was the enquiry day and she knew she would be late, for sure!  She smirked. 

*********  *********

Khushi looked up to his cabin and took a sigh.  She dialed Regi’s number and could hear only beeps.  She tried again and again. 

“What is this? What happened to his phone? “ she blurted puzzled.  She tried again in vain.

“What happened? Why Regi sir is not picking up the phone?” she blurted aloud

“Regi has a new number now!” came a rude voice and she looked up in fright.  He smirked.  She opened her mouth and immediately closed realizing her power of silence.  He was standing before her looking at her changing expressions.

“What?” he asked confused.  She refrained from opening her mouth.  He shrugged and left for his cabin. She frowned. 

“Khushi..!” he called his usual way.  She got up and stood before him silently.  “You have to be present for the Inquiry!” he commanded.  She nodded.  He looked at her puzzled.

“What?” he asked.  She only looked up at him.  He stared at her and gestured her to go!  She bowed and went back to her cubical.  He shrugged again saying “Strange!”

*********  ****  ******

At five in the evening, she stood before the inquiry committee.  ASR broke the silence. 

“As discussed earlier, all the reports are ready and we know the magnitude of pilferage in these years.  The security needs to improved and a better inventory management system need to deployed.  We are working towards it and will get it in place soon.

“The known person behind this is dead.  We are keeping this suspended for next round of investigation.  We are not probing further in this matter.  The enquiry ends here..!”

Khushi stood there dumbstruck.  She didn’t know her status.  She wanted to ask.  Her power of silence was fading away…! She felt weak.  She looked up at the committee avoiding his gaze.  Aakash was looking at her intently.  She had not spoken a single word.  First, he thought it was fright but then he saw her fidgeting, dying to say something, opening her mouth and closing it shut resolutely.  He raised his eyebrows.  She had a question mark on her face.

“Umm.. What about the main witness, Ms. Gupta?” asked Aakash.  Khushi looked at him with gratitude.  Her power of silence was intact.  Arnav gaped at both Khushi and Aakash.

“What is going on? Why is she not talking? Is there a problem? Does she have laryngitis? “ He looked at her intently.  Everybody else was looking at him for his response.

“Uhh.. umm.. yeah!” he came back to his senses.  He cleared his throat.  “ It is yet to be decided. After the paperwork of closure of this enquiry, she may be released on personal bond!” he declared and Aakash smiled broadly at Khushi.  Khushi gaped at Arnav.  She wanted to scream in joy.  She will be cleared of all the charges!!! She wanted to blow her head off screaming and jumping with joy. She opened her mouth excitedly and clenched her fists trying to stop herself from uttering a word. 

“Power of silence, Khushi…!” she pressed her lips tightly.  ASR was still staring at her furrowing his brow.  She avoided looking at him. 

“I think you can go, Ms Gupta!” Aakash came to her rescue and she turned immediately to leave..

“No! Wait!” ASR stopped her.  She froze her.

“Now he will start firing questions, then I will have to open my mouth and answer and then power will fade off and I won’t get what I want…!” she wanted to run away from that place.  She turned again crushing her dupatta in her clenched fists.  He stood before her ignoring the inquiry panel.

“Are you ok?” he asked her narrowing his eyes suspiciously.  She nodded counting the tiles on the floor.  He opened his mouth to fire a question at her again, but

“Yeah Right, Bhai…!” Aakash intervened getting up from his seat taking the file.

“Umm.. Ms. Gupta, you may have to sign on the minutes of this meeting..!” he said and ASR turned to his little brother questioningly.

“What’s going on?” he asked opening his palms and staring at Aakash. 

“Umm.. Nothing..Bhai, she needs to sign on the minutes!” he pointed out at the requirement.  ASR again turned to Khushi and again Aakash intervened. 

“Umm Bhai, maybe we can call her later, once the minutes get ready!  Umm.. Ms Gupta, you may go!” He took a decision on his Bhai’s behalf and Khushi disappeared from the room in no time.

“What the..!” ASR couldn’t comprehend.  He looked at Aakash angrily and Aakash avoided his gaze guiltily. 

Khushi came to her cubical and ran towards the rest room first.  She closed the door securely and screamed at the top of her voice jumping in joy. 

“Haaa! Finally! I can talk here…! Hehehe! Good… Mirror Bhai, I can talk to you! I didn’t break my resolution… Hmm!  Power of Silence…! His head must be spinning..! I won’t talk until he tells me the reason!”

Aakash avoided his bhai’s gaze smiling.  He had met Payal in the morning and she had mentioned..

“Umm Don’t know… but I think Khushi will again make some Gadbad! I am worried..!” Payal  said sipping tea.  Aakash looked at her questioningly.

“Umm I don’t know exactly… Khushi has gone crazy this morning..! Silence.. Power of Silence.. something she was blurting!” Aakash looked puzzled.

“I don’t know, Aakash ji… but … I mean… will you please take care .. I mean… something happens in the office?”  she urged.  He assured her holding her hand and said “don’t worry, Payal ji, I will take care and let you know!”

He was happy that he saved Khushi from breaking her silence vrat… and earned another chance to meet Payal to tell her how he saved her sister Khushi from his bhai’s wrath!”  He smiled dreamily.  He did not notice the committee members had gone and ASR was staring at his younger brother suspiciously folding his arms on his chest. 

“Umm .. I think we should also leave!” Aakash came out of the room hurriedly before his bhai caught him.

“Whats going on?” ASR blurted unable to assimilate. 

*********   *********   **********

“Khushi…!” he yelled and the entire office looked up.  She came hurriedly out of the rest room and went to his cabin.  She stood looking down.

“You haven’t yet cleared, understand? We haven’t completed the paper work!” he warned her.  She nodded.  He moved around her gauging her silence. 

“Behave yourself, Khushi… else you will be liable for punishment!” he threatened in a deadly voice and she inadvertently touched her mark on the forehead and he clenched his fists.  “Damn it!” he looked away.   His phone rang!

“Yeah!” he picked up in one ring.  She stayed put.  He looked at her angrily she looked away. 

“Ok.  Yeah!... Ok!” he listened hard.  She still was there fidgeting.  “Stop it Regi! Just Shut up!” he yelled and she winced.  She looked at him curiously.  He gestured her to go away.  She shook her head pointing at his phone.

“Regi… Stop! You don’t have to! “ He said closing his eyes.  She couldn’t stop herself and came forward holding out her hand.

“What?” he asked her confused.  “She pointed out at his phone, asking him to give it to her!

“Stop it!” he yelled.  “N..No! not you Regi! Its her!” he gritted his teeth.  “Hold on!” he said and turned to her.

“What? You want to TALK to him?”  he asked looking at her lips.  She opened her mouth to speak but thought of her resolution and shook her head.  He turned his back on her.  “Regi, I will call you back!” he turned abruptly and grabbed her.

“What is hell is going on? Why are you not talking..?” he asked her pulling her closer.  She winced in fright but then pointing at the phone she wore a question mark..!

“Why did I do that?” he repeated her question as if reading her mind.  She nodded and looked up at him.

“You won’t talk until I tell the reason!” he stated.  She nodded again with a smile.  He released her.

“Good! Keep it up!” he said smirking.  She frowned raising her finger and looking at his face brought it down immediately.  She looked at him pleadingly.  He smirked again…

“Good Khushi! You can go now! And enjoy!” he said curling up his lip in a lopsided smile.  She turned her back clutching her fists.

She came back to her seat and her phone rang.

“Hi Senior Khushi, this is Regi!” he had called her up.  She jumped and ran towards the restroom.  ASR’s eyes followed her till she disappeared behind the door.

“Pagal!” he turned to his laptop smiling!

Opposite Poles..Part 92

Part 92

“Umm,  Khushi,  I will drop you to Laxmi Nagar!” Ranjan offered hesitantly looking around at the crowd.  Rekha raised her eyebrows.  Khushi didn’t know what to do.

“I have a bike!” he said looking at her.  Rekha nudged her.  “Khushi I am going the opposite way, otherwise I would have dropped you! And these three are with me!” she said looking at her colleagues.  Khushi nodded.  Ranjan’s face lit up.  They all turned hearing screeching brakes.  Khushi gaped.

“Chalo!” he ordered opening the passenger door.  Khushi looked at Rekha, confused.  She raised her eyebrows with a style and said.

“Go Khushi, Sir is calling you!” Rekha pushed her.  Khushi ran around his SUV and sat in closing the door with a bang.

“Kya  Soch  Rahi  Thi  Tun? What were you thinking? Kisi  Aur  kay   Saath   Jaanaa   Tha? Wanted to go with someone else?” He asked her sternly slamming the accelerator.  She frowned.

“Lock the seat belt!” he ordered.  “Pataa  Hain..!” she retorted wearing a seat belt.  He glanced at her.

“Sorry, Boss! You lost the opportunity again.  May be some other time?” Rekha patted on Ranjan’s back sympathetically.

He looked at her when she turned to look at him.  Their eyes met and his eyes travelled up to her forehead.  She automatically tried to hide the dark mark on her forehead.  He looked away gripping the steering wheel.  She turned her face and looked out of the window, feeling the same burning sensation on her forehead.  His heart ached.  He focused on driving.

He was driving at comfortable speed.  She dying to fire the questions.  She kept glancing at his grim face opening her mouth and closing it again in fright. 

“Sabra  Kar  Khushi! Have patience!” She commanded herself.  But her curiosity was killing her.

“Tell me!” She started loudly turning to him.  He looked at her sternly.  “umm.. I mean… I wanted to ask…!” she stuttered with trailing voice.    He raised his eyebrow.

“What was that?” she asked him finally.  He was focusing on the traffic, ignored her.

“I am asking you, Mr. Raizada!” she was angry.  “You are asking ME?” he retorted disdainfully, showing her, her place.   She fumbled.

“I mean… I wanted to know..!” she was not to keep quiet. 

“Shut up!” he said in a deadly voice. 

“Why? Why did you send him away?” She asked him angrily.

“It’s none of your business!” he snapped.

“Ok! So you don’t want to tell me, what did you do to them!” she folded her arms and looked straight ahead.

“Fine! Do you think I will keep quiet? I know you well Mr. Raizada! When you don’t have the justification for your actions, you shut me up like this.  But remember, I will find out.  And when I find out the reason for sending Regi Sir away, I will not spare you, ASR!” she paused and then said “Sir!”  

“What do you think? You can get away with anything?” she raised her finger and banged her head on the dashboard ahead as he stopped the car with screeching breaks.  She looked around shocked.

“Bus stop!” he pointed at the bus stop.  “Get down and take a bus!” he ordered unlocking the doors.  She looked around and frowned. 

“Yeah! Typical of you Sir! I should have known!” She opened the door.

“I wish I had gone with Ranjan Sir! “ She spat banging the door closed and he slammed the accelerator. 

Khushi had to change two buses to reach home and get scolding from Buwaji for being late.  She blamed ASR for everything and stomped into the room.

******  *****   *********

“Jiji, why can’t a person look as he is actually?” Khushi still had not come out of the trance.  What she saw at the airport was beyond her comprehension.  She needed answers.  She had seen an altogether different ASR.  “Aru?” he was not ASR, he was Aru to someone.  She was lost. 

He was a monster to her, cruel, brutal, heartless person! He had left her half way through… ! But he was something else to others..! She was puzzled.

“How can one be different to different people? How many faces he has? How many masks he wears? Which is his true face?” Khushi lost the track. 

“Jiji, how do I see his true face?” Khushi asked all lost.

“Why do you want to see his true face, Khushi? The way he appears to you is his true face for you!” Payal said practically.  Khushi gaped at her.  “But jiji, he is not the one, the way I see him, the way he appears to me! He is someone else, something different..!” Khushi didn’t know how to explain her riddle to her Jiji.  Payal shook her head.

“Khushi, stop running after a mirage!! You will get nothing!” Payal was very serious.  She wanted to stop Khushi from thinking about her Sir.  Khushi looked at her and shook her head too.  “I think I am really an empty headed girl, as he says! I don’t understand anything..!” she got up in a trance and went into the kitchen.

“No! Stop, Khushi… you are not making Jilebees!” Payal held her hand running behind her. 

“I am confused, Jiji?” Khushi had taken out sugar container to prepare syrup.  “Khushi, Stop!” Payal stopped her.  She forcibly brought her to her room.

“Listen to me,  its of no use thinking about the things we do not know! Stop thinking about him “ Payal commanded and pulled her on the bed.

“Listen to this! Buwaji was talking to babuji giving him ultimatum about you and Sham ji!” Payal dropped the bombshell.

“Why Jiji? Why is she after me? I can’t think of marriage! How many times do I have to tell her?” Khushi asked in anguish sitting up. 

“Don’t know, Khushi! But you need to be prepared. Start thinking about it, Khushi!” Payal pulled her back.  Khushi lost her sleep.

“I think, I will have to do something..!” she said resolutely drawing blanket over her head.

**********   **********   ********

“No!” Khushi sat up in the bed with a start.   Payal was still sleepy. 

“Jiji, I must go to the office!” Khushi shook Payal.  “Khushi… its five in the morning! You want to go now?” Payal asked irritably.  Khushi slept back again.

“But I will go!” she said resolutely.  “It’s Sunday, Khushi!” Payal pointed out.

“Yeah! But I have to! Regi Sir had gifted me something and I left it on his table, that day …! Hope he didn’t throw it away!” she swallowed the words “in a fit of rage!”

“Why did you do such things, Khushi? Why did you leave it on his table?” Payal sat up.  She had lost her sleep now.

“Umm… I … I  was yelling at him..!” she confessed.  “Khushi…!” Payal slumped back on the bed.

“I have to find it before he throws it away!” Khushi was determined.  “He must have, by now!” Payal muttered.  Khushi winced.  “Hey Devi Mayya! Give him some good sense! Please!” she prayed hard.

********   *********   ******

Khushi was frantically searching the gift in his cabin.  It was Sunday and the office was empty.  Only the security persons and some in Accounts department  were working.  She looked around everywhere.  It was not there.  She frowned.  “Hope, he didn’t throw it!” She joined hands praying Devi Mayya.  She went behind his table.  And pushed the glass door.  He had a small private room behind his cabin.  She stepped in.  It was a small neatly arranged room with same mono gray combination.  A small table had two chairs with a desktop system, A book shelf, wash basin, refrigerator, a fitting bed with plain while sheet on it, a writing pad and a locked small cupboard.  She looked into the bookshelf.  It was a small book like gift, she remembered.  She tried to open the cupboard.  It was locked.  She banged on it frustrated.

“What the hell are you doing in here!” she was so engrossed in the search operation that she failed to sense the foreboding trouble.  She froze.  Then slowly straightened herself up and faced him.

“Can’t you see? I am searching!” she said continuing her search.

“What? Here?” he looked astonished.

“Yes!” she was determined.

“And may I ask you, what?” he asked her with mock politeness.

“Yes, you may!” she said with equally mock authority and continued… “I am searching the gift, Regi Sir gave me!” She looked at him.  He stared at her. 

He remembered Khushi while yelling at him, had banged the gift on his table and later on he had picked it up and curiously had opened the wrapper.  It was a duel photo frame with Khushi’s close ups from the foundation day party! One smiling happily with all her glittery ornaments and her white churidar and the other one when she was drinking bowl of poison in anguish!  Both the close ups had stabbed his heart!! He couldn’t take his eyes off.  He didn’t know which one stabbed him more.  He couldn’t help holding it to his heart!

He couldn’t resist and had hidden it in his cupboard.  Now she was in his private room claiming it! He wouldn’t give!

“I threw it away!” he declared and she blew her head off!!

“Threw it? .. I knew it! You would do the same…!” he came on to him like a wild cat.  He stood his ground.  She clenched her fists… ! 

“You threw it..! Yeah… right… you can do only that..!” she said disdainfully walking past him and coming out in his cabin again.  He followed.

“Only person like you can throw away someone else’s gift!” she yelled freely as there was no one in the office.  He gaped at her furious avatar!  She was revisiting the same blaze!

“Yeah! It was of no use to you! So threw it! Isn’t it? Throw away things which are of no use! Use people and throw them away! Isn’t it?” she had changed the track in rage.  ASR looked shocked for a moment and then coming on to her said “Yes! I throw away unwanted things and unwanted people, Understand?” he said in a deadly voice giving her shivers of fright.

“So you threw Regi Sir away,, after using him..she concluded!” looking at him with hatred.  Tears of fury welled up in her eyes.

“You can do that Sir, use and throw!” she said trembling in rage.  He turned and went inside.  She stood there furiously not knowing how to take out her anger on him.  She felt like hitting him with whatever she could lay her hands on!  He came back with the frame and thrusting it in her hand said.  “this is it! Your gift given by Regi! Take it and go away!” he turned his back on her.  She gaped at the gift and looked up at his back, his muscles flexing, he was clenching his fists.  She had seen him like that at the airport, trying to control his emotions…!

“Why?” she asked in anguish.  “Because I had to!” came a painful answer.  She took a step ahead and he turned.

“Go, Khushi Kumari Gupta, before I lose my temper!” he clenched his fists gritting his teeth.  Khushi turned her back and descended the stairs thinking resolutely.  “I will find out the reason… of your anguish, Arnav ji!” 

Opposite Poles..Part 91

Part 91

 “Khushi, you should have thought before saying all this to your Sir?”

“Think? You think I did wrong? He needed a bitter dose Jiji..!” Khushi still was very angry. 

“Khushi, you know,  anger makes your mouth work faster than your mind! And you end up hurting someone!” Payal said gravely.

“Hope you have not done that with your Sir!” she muttered.  Khushi gaped at her.

“What? Jiji? You think I was wrong in questioning him?” Khushi was furious. 

“Why can’t you people understand? Someone had to do it.  Someone had to tell him how wrong he was!” Khushi flared up.

“That someone need not be you, Khushi! Why can’t you leave those two alone? You said they are friends, then why do you have to interfere?” Payal gave her another dose of wisdom. 

“Yeah! You are right.  But I am sure they are enemies.  This could be done only with enemies.  You know? I wouldn’t do this, even to my enemy.  But this, Laad Governer! He takes sadistic pleasure in ruining others!”  Khushi muttered angrily.  Payal shook her head hopelessly.  There was a knock on the door and Sham appeared.

“Sham ji?” Khushi got up.  Buwaji came from behind Sham.

“Aray Sanaka Devi, come on get up! Prepare tea for Sham! He is staying over!” she said pulling Khushi’s hand.

“Tea? Now? In the night? Buwaji we had our dinner!” Khushi looked at Sham. 

“You know what? I am  nocturnal … my work starts after dusk.  You know, lot of reading and paper work, I prefer to do in the night peacefully.  But its ok.  You must be tired!” he smiled sweetly at her.  But she had got up and was moving towards the door.

“No, Shamji.  I will prepare tea for you..!” she said smiling at him.  Buwaji felt better.  Khushi went into the kitchen and Sham followed. 

Khushi lit the stove and kept the water for boiling.  She turned to take sugar and tea containers and was shocked to see Sham playing with the flame of matchstick.  His eyes reflecting the flame he had curled up his lip in a smile. 

“Sham ji? What are you doing? You will get burnt!” she screamed.  Sham held the flame in his fist to put it off.  He gazed at Khushi.

“I love it!  You know?” He turned to the stove and put his finger through the flame.  Khushi ran forward.

“You know? Once you control the fire.. its nothing like it! You rule the world.  Anytime you want, it burns down everything for you! Once you get it under control.... and I do!” he stared unfocused dreamily.  His eyes flashed menace. 

“You scare me, Sham ji!” Khushi turned her back to put sugar and tea in the boiling water. 

“Do I?” He was very close behind her.  She felt insecure and called out.  “Buwaji… do you want to give company to Sham ji?”  She was so loud that sham paced backwards.  He again lit the matchstick.  Khushi turned.

“This craze of controlling fire may backfire on you some day!” she snapped and took the tray of the tea cups. 

“Stop shouting, Khushi.. Babuji is sleeping!” Payal took the tray from her and went out.  Sham followed.  Khushi remained in the kitchen, puzzled. 

“He really scares me!” she shuddered with a sigh and went out.

*********    *********    ********

“Rekha Madam, when is he leaving?” asked Khushi in a small voice,  Rekha looked at her.

“You know Khushi, this Saturday! That is tomorrow!” Rekha too was very serious. “We couldn’t even give him proper farewell!” Rekha felt sad.

“Yeah! But he didn’t want to! He said he wouldn’t bear it.” Khushi said looking at his locked cabin.  “I am going to the airport to see him off!” Rekha said and many of her friends nodded.  “We too!” they said.

“I will also come…!” Khushi said and got up from her chair.  Lunch time was over.  Everyone had lost interest in eating together.   Khushi looked up at his cabin.  He had disappeared.  She had not see him after her outburst.  She still was smoldering and still wanted to yell at him for asking a person like Regi to leave!  “Heartless monster!” she strangled him in the air again opening the file to resume her work.

********  ******  ******

Khushi looked around and she located Rekha in the crowd.  “Rekha madam!” she yelled over the crowd and weeded her way through the crowd.  A busy Delhi airport was buzzing.  Khushi reached.  She saw lot of her colleagues gathered to see him off.  For the first time she saw his family and the little Khushi!

“Regi sir!” she chocked.  He patted on her back introducing her to his family.  His wife Annie, his three year old son Robert and his little one Khushi!  An old fair lady was sitting on the bench. He took her to the lady.  “this is my mother! And Mother, this is senior Khushi!” he said.  Khushi joined her hands and said “Namaste!” the lady nodded smiling.  She was wearing a golden bifocal spectacles.  A cross hung on her chest with a thick golden chain.  She was wearing a white cotton handloom saree with light green small border.  She looked pale and fragile.  Her curly, graying hair looked frizzy thought tied in a knot.  She was wearing thick gold bangles and was carrying a small bag.  Khushi gaped at her.  Her smile was captivating.  Khushi couldn’t take her eyes off.  Khushi sat next to her still staring at her.  “She looks divine!” thought Khushi.  Mother was glancing at the entrance searching for someone.

“Regi..!” she called.  “Mother.. we need to hurry up.   We need to check in..!” he said holding her hand.  She shook her head. 

“Aru…!” she looked at the entrance again.  Regi sighed shaking his head. 

“Your Aru is not going to come, mother!” he said gravely. 

“No.. E Will!” she said with an  accent.  Khushi gaped at her.  “Ende makan!” she said in malayalam in a heavy tone!

“I know your Makan, mother he will not come! He cannot see us going!” he said turning his face away.

“No sonny! He will come.. to see me off! He can’t forget!” she had tears in her eyes.

“Oh! Stop it mother.  I know him.  Your Aru will not come!” he said fidgeting with the trolley. 

“Regi we better hurry up! She was carrying the baby with her bag!” Khushi stood up and looked at the baby curiously.  The pink ball wrapped in pink woolen was sleeping sucking her little thumb. 

“Aweee! So cute!” Khushi held out a packet.  Annie looked at the packed. 

“Its not heavy, but its bulky.  Amma, my mother made a quilt for the baby!” Khushi said.

“Oh.. Thank you!” Annie smiled and looked around to stuff the packet in one of her bags.  Khushi held the baby in her hand smiling broadly at everyone.  She touched her cheek with her finger and the creamy, soft, tender sensation tickled her.  The baby churned a bit and went back to her thumb sucking.

“hehehe!” Khushi couldn’t stop her giggle.  “She is so cute!”

Regi hugged everyone with tearful eyes.  Annie shook hands. The kid was restless. 

“Come on mother.. we have to go!” Regi supported her to get up.  She got up but did not move an inch.

“He had promised me! He will come!” She again searched in the crowd and cryed.. “Aru…!” everyone turned.  ASR was striding over to them.  Khushi clenched her fists in rage.

“What is he doing here? Making sure that Regi sir leaves?” he muttered furiously and the next moment her mouth fell open in astonishment. 

“Aru..!” Mother had hugged him tightly kissing his forehead.

“I knew, nee varum  you will come!”  she had tears in her eyes.  This was beyond comprehension for Khushi.  “Why is she so overwhelmed ?” she wouldn’t know. 

“ASR!” Regi hugged him tightly.  ASR patted on his back.  Everyone gaped at them. 

“ASR!” Annie hugged him too.  “Thank you, ASR! You did this for us!” she too was overwhelmed. 

“Someone had to, Annie and I took the decision!” he said gravely looking at Regi with moist eyes.

“Aru.. “ Regi’s mother held his hand.  “valiya upakaaramaayi! Thank you, Son! Now I can die peacefully in my house!” she said sobbing.

“Shuu! Don’t say it.  You will be alright! He will take care of you.  And the little one!” he looked around and saw the baby in Khushi’s arms.  Khushi still gaped at everyone with her mouth still open.  He came and took the baby from reluctant Khushi.  “Careful!” she blurted.  “Shut your mouth up!” he hissed.  She shut it immediately.

“Ok, now! Go!” he pushed Robert a bit giving him a big chocolate.  Annie picked up the baby from his hand. Regi couldn’t control himself.  Khushi looked at ASR.  He clenched his fists looking away, trying to control his emotions too.

“Stop it Regi.  Don’t make her feel guilty.  Keep her happy!” he said sternly stealing a glance at his mother.  She was talking to other colleagues and shaking hands with them. 

“Ok! Senior Khushi… hope to see you again..!” she said smiling.  Khushi nodded.

“Aru…! You will come to meet me!” he nodded.  “And soon! Before I die!” she added.

“No..! you are not going to die!” he hugged her tightly.  “Take care!” he said taking steps back and the next moment he was merged in the crowd.  Khushi wanted to run behind him.  Her head was spinning with numerous questions.  She saw Regi and his family going behind the glass wall….!

“Who is he?” Khushi still had not got the answer!