Opposite Poles..Part 102

Part 102

“Umm.. Happy Singh ji..!” Khushi was in his garage.  He looked up with a spanner in one hand and an oil can in the other.  

“Umm... i mean i want to buy a second hand scooter on instalments...! it will save my time...!” She said looking around at the broken and dismantled vehicles all around.  Happy Singh stood up.  She looked nervous.  

“I mean.. you know our condition... i can’t buy ... umm .. i mean if i could get it on instalment, i will pay every month..!” she said hopefully.

Happy Singh thought for a while.  “But Khushi beti.. you have a convenient bus to your office...!” he was puzzled.

“Umm.. Happy Singh ji... i mean ... my contract is over.. i don’t work there now..!” she looked away with a lump forming in her throat.  She swallowed hard. 

“Oh!” Happy Singh understood her problem.  “Happy Singh ji, Ek Scooty Dilwaa Dijiye naa! Help me get one scooty... please!” she said earnestly. 

“Kuch  naa kuch  toh   karanaa  hi padegaa naa! I have to do something..!” she blurted.  Happy Singh thought for a while. 

“Beti... I will help you...! Look this is my scooter.. i come here every day at seven and i am here till nine in the night.  You can use this scooter during the day...!” he said smiling.  Khushi jumped in excitement!!  

“Really? Can i do that? Oh! Thank you, Happy Singh ji! You solved my biggest problem...!” Happy singh smiled.  

“Umm... i will pay you rent and fill the petrol..!” she went into details of this proposal. 

“Petrol is fine, Khushi beti... but I really don’t expect any rent.  Only condition is use the vehicle carefully..!” he said looking at her excitement.  Khushi thought for a while..!

“Ok. Done! Now, Tell Bhabiji that I am giving her more time to sleep in the morning..!” Khushi grinned.  Happy Singh looked confused.

“Babbi ji?” He asked.  “Haan, Happy Singh Ji.. she need not get up early morning to give you Tiffin..! Its on me, from now on! Your breakfast is on us!” she said smiling broadly. 

“No need, Khushi Beti..! ” he said embarrassed.

“Yes need, Happy Singh ji...! Aap  Kaa  Breakfast will be with Gupta!”  She declared and ran towards the scooter.  

“Can i?” she asked with bright eyes.  He nodded and there she went out of the garage on her scooter.  “Hehehe... this is great! Thank you Devi Mayya... if the door is closed, you opened a window for me...! Thank you!” she stopped at the Mandir to thank her Devi mayya.

“Ok now the next one...! She turned her scooter to the nearby school...!  “Namaste Teacher ji, i had called you..!” she joined hands.  The long bell hinted that the school time was over.  The children poured out.. noisily..!

“Haan, Gupta?” Teacher asked and Khushi nodded. 

“Yeah as you said, there are some weak student who may require tuition.  I will enquire with their parents and let you know in two days... ! The teacher cooperated.  Khushi smiled.

“I can take batch tuitions or individual home tuition...!” she gave her options and the teacher nodded.  “Yeah i will ... !” the teacher assured and Khushi went to meet the teachers from another two schools.

“Even if i get around 10 students from each school ... i think major problem will be solved..! Jiji can help me out!” She thought to herself.  

Now the third task... she checked her list.  “But this, i will be able to do tomorrow morning...!” She turned her vehicle and came back.

“Happy Singh ji! You have solved my biggest problem... thank you, thank you, thank you!” she screamed happily and Happy Singh grinned at his cleaner boys. 

“Ab Jao Beti...!” He told her taking the vehicle from her.

**********   *********   ********

“Khushi, what’s going on?” Payal was worried.

“Nothing Jiji.. i am looking out for alternatives..!” she said seriously.

“Khushi..?” Payal didn’t understand head or tail of what Khushi said.  Khushi held her hand. 

“Jiji.. I am cleared of all the charges.. i am declared innocent...!” She said smiling.  Payal gaped and then grinning back said..

“That’s great Khushi.. Finally, they understood you were innocent..!” She hugged Khushi.  Khushi pulled apart and holding Payal’s hand tightly said..

“The fall out of this is.. my bond is released and i need not work in AR designs anymore!” she said still smiling.  Payal looked aghast.  All the happiness was wiped off from her face.

“Wa..what? You don’t have a job now?” She couldn’t control her tears.  She broke down.

“What we will do now? Babuji’s treatment, house hold expenses, loan instalments,...Khushi..!” she sobbed hard.

“Shuuu! Jiji.. stop!” Khushi wiped off Payal’s tears...

“That’s why i said i am trying for alternatives..!” Khushi was serious.  

“Jiji.. we have to earn... on whatever we know better... No one will give me job on the same salary... ASR sir was kind enough to offer me that much pay... but with my education.. i have no chance...!” she said to Payal’s despair.  “What we can do?” she started crying again.

“Stop it Jiji... i have a plan.. it should work...!” she started narrating the plan.  Payal’s face brightened up.

“Yeah Khushi... i can take tuitions at home... you know while continuing my embroidery and stone work... i will work more... hope  Aakash ji gives me more order...!” Her face again shadowed...

“What if he too stops giving me work?” her eyes filled again.

“Jiji.. Aakash sir will not stop giving you orders... and even if he does.. we have our old shop wale Seth ji... he will give us work... We will find out few more shops where we can display our work..!” Khushi was optimistic.  Payal felt better.

“Haan.. we can do that...! Listen Khushi... you know.. i cannot .. i mean i get scared talking to people... i mean you know... i can’t even move in the crowd... i get scared...So Khushi... you take care of outdoor work.. i will do household work... i will manage here everything...!” Payal too started thinking and planning.  Her initial panicky had vanished.  Khushi smiled.

“Jiji... chalo so jaatain hain.. Let us sleep.  We have to get up early morning...!” she said pulling Payal on the bed.  “Haan! And one more thing.. Happy Singh ji will have breakfast with us everyday...!”

*********   ***************

“Di, even i didn’t know about it!” Lavanya was shocked to know about Khushi.  She looked at ASR for some explanation but he ignored completely.  

“What will she do now?” Lavanya was worried about Khushi, so was Anjali.

“Di..!” Lavanya’s face brightened up.  Anjali looked at her.  ASR glanced.

“Why can’t we ask her to come here full time? We will pay her...!” Lavanya asked excitedly.  Anjali stole a glance at ASR.  He refrained from reacting.  

“Yeah! That’s a great idea... Nani..?” Anjali looked at Nani for her approval.

“Yes, we can do that...! I think this is a better idea!” Nani for the first time appreciated Lavanya. 

“Done! I will call her and tell her this...!” Lavanya picked up her phone and Arnav got up from his chair.  

“Hello, Chamakili.. come soon..! I am back! We want to talk to you. Its urgent!” Lavanya did not give her any chance to speak.  Arnav did not wait to know Khushi’s response.  He got ready to go to office with lifted spirits.

“So Khushi Kumari Gupta... you will still be working under me!” he smirked with the thought.  

*********   **********

“Hai  Re  NandKishore...! What are you two doing?” Buwaji screamed looking at the scattered things in the kitchen early morning...

“Jilebees... Buwaji...!” Khushi said brightly.  Khushi was preparing Jilebees and Payal was packing them.  Buwaji gaped at her.  “Itani  Sari? These many?” she was shocked.

“Haan Buwaji... !” Khushi stopped frying as the batter got over.

“Payal still was packing.  Khushi started placing the packs in the containers.  

“Wait Buwaji.. i will make tea for you!” she said and turned. Sham was at the kitchen door.

“What?” he asked looking at Buwaji.  She shrugged.

“Aray  titaliya... what are you planning to do?” she asked loudly looking at Sham.

“Will tell you later...!” Khushi shouted from the bathroom.  Payal was preparing tea and cleaning up the kitchen.  She had packed in fifty zip lock bags... and kept them in five containers..!  

Khushi came out after bath and got ready.  Sham was staring at her.  She looked fresh and beautiful. 

“Ok! I need to go!” she picked up two containers and waved at Payal  She came back, dashed to her babuji’s room.  “Jiji.. Breakfast for Happy Singh ji.. don’t forget... and answer the steam engine..!” she winked...!

“Babuji.. i am trying out this.  Bless Me!  Devi Mayya, you too! You only gave me this idea...! So you take care of the rest, ok?” she warned her Devi mayya raising her finger and dashed out.

“Khushi...!” Sham called out from behind.  Khushi stopped and without looking back.  “Please, don’t call me out from behind... that is bad omen... !” she said angrily and walked five steps backward.  Sham clenched his fists angrily.  Khushi had vanished from the main door to get the scooter.

********   ********

She was on the road and her phone rang.  “Chamakili...!” it was Lavanya.  Khushi smiled from ear to ear.

“Ok Lavanya ji.. i will come!” she said and kick started her scooter again.

“Dekhiye... i am offering you at 120 rupees a KG.  You are selling at 200... And taste the sample.  I have brought with me.  Give it to your regular customers also.  I will come tomorrow for the feedback.  If you like it, please give us the  order...! This is my contact number..” Khushi kept two packs in that big shop and left.  She had written “Guptas Halwai” and written her babuji’s mobile number on a small piece of paper and had stuck on each pack.  Her target was to visit atleast twenty five halwai shops to distribute smaples...!  ” Even if five people give the order... its good to start with!” she calculated.

*****   ******  ******

“Chamakili.. why are you so late? I was waiting for you..!” Lavanya hugged her.  Khushi kept the pack of Jilebees on the table.  And kept a smaller one saying..” Sugar free!” Nani smiled in acceptance.  Mami had already opened the packet ...!

“How was your assignment, Lavanya ji..?” Khushi asked getting ready for her role of a teacher.

“Forget about it, Khushi.. tell me, why didn’t you call me?” Lavanya asked sulking.

“There was no time.. and you were busy...!” Khushi held her hand.

“Let it be... Chamakili... you start coming here full time... we will pay you...!” Lavanya started off without preamble.  Khushi gaped.

“No!” she said.  “What will i do here full day?” she asked astonished.  “When you will be in the office?”

“Hello hi bye bye!  Ram Prakash  ko Chutti... and Phati Sadi ki entry!” Mami said scornfully.  Nani looked at her sternly.

“Manorama.. stop it!” she reprimanded.  Mami twisted her nose..!

“No Nani.. i think , Lavanya ji has learnt the basics... there is no need...~” her voice trailed as she saw him on the stairs, with his bag, ready to go to the office.  He was already late. Both of them were gazing  at each other after almost a week.  Her heart ached.  Everyone, including Mamiji had visited the hospital... but he had not even bothered to make a phone call, leave aside visiting the hospital.  She looked away.  He was gazing at her unblinkingly.

“Chamakili come, I want to show you my snaps on the beach..!” Lavanya climbed looking at ASR and making a detour around his standing statue.  Khushi followed putting her head down avoiding his gaze.  As she climbed, he stepped in and she almost bumped on him.  He held her shoulder.  She remembered her last day in the office, those magical moments... A sweet pain surged in her heart.  She looked up at his stern face and came back to her senses.

“Woh..  Lavanya ji had called... That’s why i came here!” she said in a small voice justifying that she was not uninvited...!  He stepped aside and she disappeared in Lavanya’s room. 

He turned suddenly deciding to take a day off from the office... and went into his room!