Opposite Poles..Part 75

Part 75

“For sham ji, Buwaji!” Khushi yelled excitedly blowing buwaji’s head off in rage.  She came around and snatched all the material from her.

“Chup! Ekdam Chup! You are not going to make Rakhi for Sham Babua, understand?” she yelled at Khushi.  Payal stood at the corner looking scared, without a word.

“Why Buwaji?” Khushi asked in a small voice.

“Because, you are going to marry him!” she declared and Khushi was doomed.

“No!” she yelled.  “How many times do I have to tell you? I cannot think of marriage …!” she too blew her head off and in turn she got a slap square on her face.   She put her hand on her cheek and looked at Buwaji, thoroughly hurt.

“Why Buwaji? Why are you after me?” She asked in despair. 

“Because you are ill-omened, unlucky!” Buwaji spat back.  Khushi froze

 “You are unlucky for everyone.  You caused your parent’s death.  You will be the reason for your in-laws death also.  So you should be married to an orphan…!” Buwaji whipped her with her venomous words.  Khushi collapsed on the floor in a heap.

.  Her Amma came running from the room and held her close, pulling her up! 

 “No, Jiji...Please don’t say that! She is my daughter..!” Amma too was in despair.

“Daughter? You call her daughter? She will besmirch our family!” Buwaji yelled back at Amma.  Khushi shuddered.  

“Jiji... please! YEH    UNDAR  SO  RAHAIN  HAIN..!” Amma pleaded with a small voice.  Payal ran towards Babuji’s room hearing him coughing. 

“Ok.. Jiji, you don’t want her to make Rakhi for Sham babu, she will not!” Amma made amends with Buwaji.  Khushi was unable to understand buwaji’s outburst looked at her Amma.  Her Amma took her inside between buwaji’s ranting.  

“Khushi, listen to me! Please, for God’s Sake don’t go against her wish..! Please Khushi, try to understand, we have nowhere to go!” Amma opened out with her inner fear.

“Why Amma? We will go back!” Khushi looked surprised at Amma’s helplessness.

“And what, Khushi? What do we do there? We have no shop!” she said with tears.  Khushi looked lost in thought.  She nodded.  “Hmm At least we can do something here and earn!” She looked up at her Amma.

“Don’t worry Amma, we will go back soon.  Once we pay off the loan!” she said optimistically.  Amma sighed. 

“So, till then, Khushi, put your head down! Ok?” she asked a promise.  Khushi nodded reluctantly.

“But Amma…!” she started off.

“I know, Khushi! We will find some excuse at that time.  Please don’t go ranting on this!” Amma said in a bare whisper.  Khushi was totally lost. 

“May be Buwaji is right! I am unlucky for everyone..!” She blurted.

“No, Khushi! You are an angel..! Remember, what babuji said?” Amma caressed her face with love.  Khushi hid her face on her shoulder.  Amma patted on her back.  Payal broke into tears.

“You are the most precious thing in our life!” Amma hugged her tightly.  “Don’t bother about others..!” she said with tears streaming down her cheek.  

“CHAL  KHUSHI,   SO  JAATAIN  HAIN!”  Payal pulled her out into their room.

“JHAGADAA   MATT   KARO   KHUSHI,   HUMAIN   DARR  LAGATAA   HAIN!”  Payal said holding her hand.   Khushi nodded closing her eyes, tears rolled down!

“SHAYAD  MUZE  BUWAJI  KI BAAT  MAAN    LENI   CHAHIYE! I think I should listen to Buwaji!” she said gravely.  Payal gaped at Khushi. 

“And Sham ji is not that bad! “ She concluded drawing a blanket over her head.   She again heard growling…! She sat up with a jerk.

“JIJI,  PATA  HAIN?  JAB  BHI  SHAMJI  KI   BAAT   NIKALTI   HAIN,  TAB  MUZE   KUTTEJI  KI  AAVAZ   SUNAI  DETI  HAIN..!” She said smiling.

“KHUSHI,,, SHAITANI   MAT   KAR! Stop making fun of him, Khushi!” Payal pulled her on the pillow again.  

**********   ********   ******

She entered Shantivan.  Mandir in Shantivan was decorated beautifully.  Anjali was supervising over.  Khushi joined her.

“Anjali ji, I will take over.  You go,  get ready!”She said smiling.  She went inside to keep  the Mithai, her Amma had prepared.  She kept a container of sugar free Laddus.

“Chamakili… come here!” Lavanya pulled her. 

“Yeah! Let us prepare Laddus!” Khushi remembered promise. 

“Forget it! Teach me how to drape a saree!” Lavanya pulled her out of Kitchen.  Nani saw them going to Lavanya’s room and smiled.

Khushi gaped at the designer saree.  “Chamakili!” Lavanya brought her back from her dream state.  She smiled and said.  “This is a beautiful saree!” 

“Yeah, Di bought me this…!” Lavanya said picking up the saree.  Khushi draped it neatly on Lavanya and Lavanya’s eyes lit up.  Khushi took a step back and gazed at Lavanya’s beauty. 

“You look stunning…!” Khushi complimented.  Lavanya looked into the mirror.   Khushi looked at her with moist eyes. 

“Come, Lavanya ji, let’s go!” she said turned.  Lavanya was still in front of the mirror admiring herself. 

She remembered something. 

“Lavanya ji, I will be right back! You wait here! Don’t come out, Ok?” she said and ran out of the room.  She opened her bag and took out the gift box.

******   ******   ******

“Raani Sahebaa, where are my clothes?” Sham asked little loudly from the bathroom.

“Aree, I have kept them on the table!” Anjali was getting ready.  He came out wrapping a towel. 

“Listen,  don’t go anywhere, today! You know ..!” Anjali started off facing the mirror and wearing her makeup.  She was wearing a red saree with matching jewellery.  Sham came from behind and hugged her.

“Raani Saaheba… AAP    KI   BAAT   HAMANE   KABHI   TAALI   HAIN  KYA? Have I ever said no to you?” He asked looking at his wife’s face in the mirror.  She smiled closing her eyes feeling the warmth of her husband.  

“Anjali ji??” Khushi knocked on her door.  Sham startled and looked at him wife. 

“Aree, Khushi, come in!” Anjali called out and Sham dashed to the bathroom again, frustrated. 

“Shit! What is she doing here?” he paced hitting his fist on his other palm.  

“Anjali ji,  this is for you!” she held out a box.

“What is it?” Anjali asked bemused.

“Its not expensive,  but …!” She stopped as Anjali had already started unwrapping the gift.

“Wow!  This is just beautiful!” She said with wide eyes.  Khushi felt relieved.

“You liked it?” Khushi asked excitedly.  “Liked it? Loved it!” Anjali took out the saree.

“Jiji, made it for you! Jerdosie work with stones and beads!” Khushi said and Anjali was surprised.

“What?  This is just amazing… such a fine work..! Your jiji has a magic in her hand!” Anjali didn’t stop praising.  Khushi smiled broadly.  Anjali unfolded the red saree with silver Jerdosie work on it! 

“Aree, Suniye…! See how beautiful it is!!” Anjali called out her husband, turning back.  There was no response.  “Where did he go? Just now he was here!” Anjali wondered shrugging.

Khushi turned to leave.  “But Khushi ji? Why ?” Anjali asked.  

“Umm, just like that!  Jiji started making it and finished it yesterday! So she has sent it !” Khushi said smiling.  Anjali thought for a while and understood. She remembered her torn designer saree!  “Hmm, thank you Khushi and I will call your jiji later!” she said smiling broadly.  Khushi went out! And Anjali followed wondering where her husband went!

*****  ******

“I have to get out of this place..! What is she doing here? Why didn’t anyone tell me about it? “ He was frustrated and angry.  “This Khushi ji is creating more problems.  I should send them back as soon as possible.. And then…!” he looked into the mirror in the bathroom dreaming about Khushi getting married with him in Lucknow!  He smiled and then coming back from future racked his brains to find the safest route to get out of this house.

*********  ****  *****

“This is over! Now the second task!” She thought smiling broadly.  She tiptoed her way up through the mazelike Raizada House.

“Aree Khushi bitiya? Where are you going?” Nani intercepted. 

“Umm.. Nani ji… Preparing for Raksha Bandhan for Anjali!” Khushi lied.  Nani looked at her and smiled.  “Ok! Carry on!”

Sham was peeping through the ajar door.  Khushi took a turn and vanished.  He came out and took the shortest route to sneak out of this house without attracting anyone’s attention.

Khushi peeped in his empty room.  “GAYAB?” she exclaimed.  “Where did he go?” She looked around.

“I want him to see Lavanya ji first!” she blurted dreamily.  

“Sir?” she called out apprehensively entering his room.  He was nowhere to be seen. 

“I think he has gone out!” she said stepping into the pool side area.  She was lost again looking at the blue water reflecting on the walls and the green plants everywhere.  

“Ahaa! Kitana Sundar hain yeh!!” she closed her eyes revolving.  She heard the footsteps.

“LAGATA   HAIN  RAKSHAS  AA  GAYA!! CHAL  KHUSHI   BHAAG! Come on Khushi Run!” She saw a shadow and turned … but before she could see who it was, was pushed with force!  And the next moment she was drowning in the pool 

“Ah.. ahew…awaa.. buduk..buduk..akwaa..!” she couldn’t breathe with her head inside the water! She was gulping water instead of breathing.  She tried to stand on her feet in vain slipping on the pool floor. 

“Awaa!” her hands were up in the air!

Someone pulled her clutching her hand.  Her head popped out of the water when she stood on her feet.  She was standing in the pool like a statue of liberty raising her hand, which he had just left seeing her head out of the pool.  She breathed finally, coughing hard, water dripping through her nose and mouth.  

“What the hell are you doing in my pool?” He asked her angrily to blow her head off. 

“You pushed  me!” she could spat back between her uncontrollable coughing.  “You…You!” she tried to walk through the pool in vain.  She was slipping again.  He stood there unmoved  enraged at her allegation.

She looked at him with hatred and tried on her own to climb out of the pool.

“I didn’t push you…!” he said bending down to help her out of the pool.  She looked at him angrily and without even knowing what she was doing pulled his hand with all her might.  The inevitable happened and he found himself in  the pool with her.

“What the hell!” he yelled gripping her shoulders in rage!

“Tit for Tat!” she pushed him to free herself and in the process slipped badly.  He held her from falling, pulling her into his arms.  She struggled in vain and his grip around her tightened.

“Chodiya, Humain…!” she tried in vain.  She could feel his breath on her face.  She felt weak.  Her struggle died out.  She was safe in his arms..!

“CHUP   CHAP  KHADI  RAHO! I will pull you out”.  He moved away leaving her and in one jump climbed out of the pool. 

“Hold my hand and come out!” he ordered bending down. 

“What happened?  What are you two doing here?”  Anjali dashed to the pool side.  Khushi was still in the pool and Arnav had bent down pulling her hand with dripping water from his cloths.  Anjali couldn’t control her laughter.  

“Bring her out!” she said and Arnav pulled Khushi up with extra force causing her fall on him.  He held her again and then pushed her back in repelling effect.  He stepped back and Anjali came forward to hold Khushi’s hand.  He looked at her from behind Anjali.  Anger in his heart replaced with some unknown feeling.  He couldn’t take his eyes off her dripping figure.  She was shivering with lips quivering and strands of hair sticking clumsily on her face.  She was coughing and breathing heavily.  His eyes gazed her from head to toe…!

“No!” he turned his face to go to his room.

“He pushed me in the pool!” Khushi pointed her finger at him and he turned in rage.

“I didn’t push you! I saved you!” He came on to her angrily. She shuddered. 

“Khushi… its ok!” Anjali tried to pacify.  “I didn’t push her!” Arnav was furious.

“Then who pushed me?” Khushi asked angrily.

“How do I know? And you don’t have to be pushed to land in a pool.. you can do it by yourself!” he spat back.  Anjali burst out in laugher.

“Ok. Ok. Stop bickering..! go and change, Chote! And Khushi, you come with me!” she said separating them.

“Di..!” Arnav started off. 

“Stop it Chote!” Anjali whispered to pacify her brother.  His eyes again were locked on Khushi.  He couldn’t control himself from thinking… Regi’s words echoed in his mind… “On the threshold of womanhood!”  He gaped at her water soaked beauty. He had never felt like this before…! He clenched his fists to control his wandering mind.

“Aree,  Chote? What happened?” Nani had entered the scene and Chote coming back to his senses left the scene.