Opposite Poles..Part 78

Part 78

“Buwaji… !” Sham entered the house laden with bags.  He had bought gifts for everyone.

“Aree NandKishore..! What is all this?”Buwaji asked bewildered. 

“Nothing much, Buwaji… Felt like sharing my happiness with you all!” he said glancing at Babuji.

“Uncle ji, this shawl is for you! And this is for you too, Buwaji!” he said.

“But, why, Sham Babu?” Babuji asked narrowing his eyes.

“Nothing much, uncle ji.. I just won a case.. For a very rich client!” Sham said smiling broadly.  Buwaji was like on the cloud nine..!

“See! How assiduous the boy is! NandKishore! AISE   HI  TARAKKI  KARANA,  BABUA!! Keep it up my boy!“  She looked at babuji.  He nodded.  Sham looked around.  He had brought gifts to everyone.

“Aree where is Khushi ji?” he asked hiding a packet.  Payal smiled.

“Yeah!  Here she comes!” She said.  Khushi entered the house..!

“Aree? Sham ji when did you come?” she asked in surprise. 

“Aree.. Ask him, what gift he has for you!” Buwaji danced her eyebrows glancing at Sham.  He flushed.

“Umm nothing much!” he held out a packet.  Khushi ripped it open.  There was a mobile.  She gaped at it.

“I feel you require this.  I know, you are using Uncle ji’s phone! This will be of much use to you!” he said looking at her face.  Buwaji gaped at the expensive mobile.

“NandKishore…! You care so much…!” she had tears in her eyes.  She kissed his forehead.  Khushi looked at Babuji.  He looked shocked.  He had a new shawl on his laps.  Khushi looked at the latest model of the cell phone. 

“You liked it?” Sham asked apprehensively.

“Who wouldn’t like it, Sham ji.. But …!” She looked at Payal and Buwaji.

“Aree,  Sanaka Devi… lei lo! Take it! I would have jumped in joy if I was given such a beautiful and useful gift..!” She pumped.

“Then you take this, Buwaji..!” She thrust the mobile box in Buwaji’s hand.  “Because…!” she couldn’t continue.

“Are you mad, NandKishore… you are refusing to accept the gift? That too from Sham Babua?  Remember what I told you?” Buwaji blew her head off in rage.  Khushi opened her mouth to retort.  Amma sensed the danger.  She came forward.

“Khusi,  ley lo! Take it.  It’s a nice gift!” She said glancing at Sham and wrapping her arm around Khushi as if to protect her from wrath.  Sham stood there folding his hands.  Anger flashing in his eyes, he said “May be she didn’t like the gift!” his hands twitched in a clench.  His mood changed.

Khushi heard a growl and she winced.  She again had experienced her Kutteji’s growl when Sham was around.

“The gift is really beautiful, Shamji.  I would have loved to accept it.  You know, it is a coincidence ….!” She took out a packet from her bag.  “I bought it just now! From my salary! For babuji!” she said opening the box.

He looked at the cheap inexpensive model with disgust.

 “Umm.. this has a big screen, so that babuji can read the names..!” Khushi said smiling and moving towards Babuji.

“Babuji, I am not going to give back your phone.  I have lots of numbers stored in it and it is lucky for me!” she said smiling sweetly killing all the arguments.  Sham bit his lip in frustration and pocketed the new phone.

“Umm.. I will return it then!” He looked at Buwaji for support but she was busy feeling her new shawl.  Payal was holding a packet of a new saree and Amma was appreciating a pooja thal.

Sham had no supporter.  Babuji was more than happy to have a new phone with big keys and large screen.  He hugged his daughter and patted on her back.  “Keep my old phone with you, Bitiya! I got a new one from my daughter!” he said fondly.  Khushi smiled broadly.  Sham turned his back on them clenching his fists.

“Now, the only gift from me to you will be Sindoor in your Maang, Khushi!” he smirked.

****   ********  ******

“Where is he?” she wondered.  She couldn’t find out even at home.  They all said “Business Tour!”

“What kind of person is this? Doesn’t even tell where he is going!” she frowned. 

She saw Anjali moving towards the garden. 

“Anjali ji? What are you doing?” she called out while teaching Lavanya how to arrange the flowers and lamps for pooja. 

“Aree, Khushi ji.. I have to take care of his plants!” mumbled Anjali.

“I will water the plants..!”Khushi offered.  Anjali smiled. 

“It’s ok. I will manage!” she said.

“No, Anjali ji! I will do it!” she said and asked.  “All the plants?” Anjali nodded.  “Only indoor! Mali kaka will look after the other plants out in the garden!” Anjali clarified.  Khushi took the watering can from her hand and moved towards the pool side. 

She looked around, this place always lifted her spirits.  She started pouring water from the watering can.  Her heart ached.  “He must have thrown my plants away..!” she thought but her eyes kept searching for the plants.  She watered every plant meticulously, differentiating the shades of green of every plant. 

“Hmm, how well he has nourished every plant!” she exclaimed with dreamy eyes. 

“Why did he throw my plants?” she muttered sulkily.  “At least he should have kept the earthen pots, if he didn’t like the plants.  There were so beautiful..!”  She muttered looking around feeling bad. 

“He has no heart!” she concluded clenching her fists.  She sat on the edge of the pool looking around at the plants and greenery. 

“This is the best place..! Water and Plants!” she blurted dreamily which transported her back to Lucknow on the Gomti Ghat. 

**********  ******  *******

He was gazing at the silvery water flow, lost in his thoughts.  He felt someone accompanying him sitting on the stairs.. gazing at the silver flow with a dreamy smile in hazel eyes.  Somewhere far away a canoe was floating downstream aimlessly, like his wandering mind.  He looked back at the looming image of sheesh Mahel from the woods.

“Water and woods!” he blurted. Young chote ran around laughing with his mamma running behind him trying to control him.  “Chote.. you will get hurt! Careful..!” Chote was screaming in excitement and running down the Ghat stairs.  “I want to swim across…to that side..! I want to go there..!” he pointed at the huge building far away down the stream on the other side of the river…!  No chote.. you will not go there… “ his mamma yelled.  She tried to pull him up from the last step.

“Mamma, I want to see that haveli..! he pulled her hand defiantly.  “No!” she said sternly and brought him up the Ghat.  “Why not?” he shouted back freeing himself and running down to the river with speed.

“Chote, Stop!” his Di screamed in fright. He was on the edge!!!

Arnav got up with a jerk.  “Why did you stop me Di?  I wanted to swim across or drown myself..!” he blurted clenching his fists.  He turned and climbed the Ghat.  He looked at the river from the top turning his face. 

“Why do you want to go back?” The girl sitting on the stairs turned to face him.  Her hazel green dreamy eyes pulled him towards her. “Why can’t we stay here forever?”  He turned his back on her resolutely to go back to his world.  He missed something.  He didn’t know what.  He looked around.  A stray dog was carrying something in its mouth.  He remembered Khushi’s Kutteji.  He felt relieved that he missed the dog and anyone else!  His growl echoed in his head. He sighed blurting “Good bye!”  He looked at the old bridge.  The huge old monumental structure was still looming on the horizon.  He had lost his urge to visit that place, as he lost his childhood.  He looked back for the last time to find the Ghat deserted.  The girl had vanished.  He turned came back to his ruthless world. ASR had returned! 

The deal was finalized.  Architectural plan was sanctioned.  Financers meeting would be last step in kicking off the project.  ASR was satisfied.  His business acumen had paid off. Soon the cluster of old buildings in Lucknow would be demolished and a posh condominium will shape up! 

**********  *********  *********

“Chamakili, what are you doing here?” Lavanya pulled her out from her dream state.

“Lavanya ji… Baithiye naa aap bhi!  Kitana Sookoon milta hain!” she again closed her eyes. 

“Sookoon? Chamakili, come out of your cocoon! Nani is howling..!”Khushi got up with a jerk.

“Why? What happened?” she asked running towards the hall.

“How do I know?” Lavanya was clueless.  Khushi reached.. Nani was holding Laxmi in her arms and patting her.

“What happened, Nani ji?” she asked getting worried.

“she fed cake to laxmi…Shiv shiv..! Anarth ho gaya!” Nani was furious.

“But Nani ji, it was eggless cake!” Khushi covered up.  Lavanya opened her mouth to say no!

“Lavanya ji, Hain na? It was eggless cake!” she turned to Lavanya and winked.  Lavanya nodded.  Khushi saw Mamiji enjoying the cake.  She dragged Lavanya to her room.

“Khushi, it was not eggless cake..! I ordered it for myself.  That goat ..!”  Lavanya started off.

“shuu! Lavanya ji, for God sake don’t bring in anything of that sort in this house!” Khushi urged.

“Ok!” Lavanya agreed reluctantly.  Khushi took a sigh of relief.

“Ok! Lavanya ji, my time is up! I will meet you tomorrow morning!” Khushi picked up her bag.

********    **********    *********

The weekend was approaching and he had not turned up.  The routine work in the office was going on. She was on new assignment to assist the purchase department on vendor rating, based on the report she had submitted earlier.  She was kept busy throughout the day.  She was told that it was only a temporary arrangement.  She also had received instruction that her transport arrangement was done and she should not move out alone.  Her old driver ji was on duty, overprotective!

She frowned. “YEH   VIKRAM  BETAAL  WALA  BHOOT  TOH   HAMARE  KANDHE  PAR  HI   BAITHA  HAIN! JAISE   KI  HUM  KAAMCHOR  HAIN!  GALATI  KI?  CHALO.  BHUGTO   SAJA..!  This monster is stalking me remotely… as if I am a skiver, shirking the work! “ She muttered furiously raising her hands as if strangling him.

“SUNA  MAINE!”  She heard a voice and winced.  “Bhoot?” she looked up at his cabin and ran towards Rekha’s cabin in fright.

At home, her training was going on well.  Nani seemed to be mellowed down a bit.  She was happy that Lavanya wanted to learn our culture.  Khushi’s days were without any trouble. 

She had a cease fire with Buwaji not poking her and behaving like a good girl..!

She was missing something.  She didn’t know what.  Her smile was fading away.  “Hmm Maybe.. I haven’t landed myself in problems these days..That’s why..!” she smiled inwardly. 

******  *****