Opposite Poles..Part 107

Part 107

“Jiji, look at my bad luck... the one whom I want to meet desperately didn’t turn up and the one who I try to run away from falls in my lot...!” Khushi frowned.

“What? You wanted to meet Sham ji?” Payal asked in surprised.

“Yeah Jiji..! After all we have to spend more time with each other, to know each other..!” Said Khushi brightly.

“How did it happen, Khushi? A sudden realization, that he is the one for you..!” Payal asked her wondering about the change of attitude about Sham.

“Yeah Jiji.. I have realized... He is the one..!” she said loudly! Buwaji was at the door.

“Aray Khushi... He will come ...!” She said considerately.

“What Buwaji? Your NandKishore...! I think he chickened out! This Sham with silent e at the end! Sham(e)” Khushi pulled buwaji’s legs. Payal swallowed her giggle chocking!

“Khushi.. Shutup! He is your would be husband, don’t talk about him like this..!” Buwaji reprimanded.

“What did I do, Buwaji? He didn’t keep his promise!  Umm.. Anyway.. I am going to babuji’s room ..!” She went to her babuji.  His evening physiotherapy was over.  Amma was sponging him.

“Give it to me, Amma! I will do it!” she said taking it over from her Amma.  She changed his clothes and helped him sit for some time.  His lopsided distorted face was unbearable.  Khushi cupped his face and said, “Babuji, I am sorry.. I want to be with you all the time.. take care of you! But you know... I am helpless.  I have to work..!” she was in tears.  Her babuji too had tears in his eyes.

“But, don’t worry babuji..! We will manage everything together... You will be alright soon! Everything will be restored back to normal..! Believe me, Babuji...!” she said brightly, wiping her babuji’s tears and smiling optimistically.  

She utilized all her free time with her babuji, telling him some silly stories about her steam engine.. Buwaji!

“You know what, babuji? This buwaji’s NandKishore is a flop show... but my Devi Mayya is solid... she is the strongest!” Khushi said boastfully.  “You know? The other day I was talking to her... and she told me not to worry and everything will be just fine..! She has promised me, babuji that she will give me strength and protect me!”

“But this NandKishore..! Buwaji keeps calling him all the time and doesn’t even talk to her... NandKishore..!” she said scornfully.

“Khushi.. !” Buwaji yelled angrily from the door.

“See? I told you... steam engine whistled.. ! No NandKhshore! He has forgotten Buwaji..!” Khushi giggled and Buwaji came and pulled her ear..!

“Awaaa, Buwaji,  leave me! It hurts..!” Khushi screamed freeing herself and ran out of reach of Buwaji.

“Shashi Babua, this sanaka devi has finally agreed to marry Sham Babua, NandKishore!” She said taking a sigh of relief sitting on the bed.  Babuji’s eyes shed tears...!

“See, how happy he is?” She asked Khushi and khushi’s heart ached. She nodded hanging her head. 

“Tell him, that you are ready!” Buwaji ordered and Khushi came forward.  She looked into her babuji’s eyes.  They were expressionless but never stopped tears...

“Babuji, I don’t know what is in your mind.  But I remember your words, Babuji! I will do anything for this house, for us all... but unless I am sure, I will not take any decision... Unless you get well... I will not marry anyone!”  She tried to convey silently holding his hand and then winking at him said loudly, smiling..”Yeah babuji, I am eager to get married..! I will leave you all, once I get married... then Buwaji will be happy to say goodbye to the trouble named Sanaka Devi!”

“Khushi... don’t say that!” Buwaji pulled her in her arms getting sentimental.  The thought of sending away Khushi tormented her.

“Aur Nahi To Kya, Buwaji! Babuji is ill here, and you are talking about Marriage.  I told you, I am ready for this marriage.. but not so soon Buwaji!” she said angrily.

“Yeah, I understand NadKishore! You have agreed, and that’s enough for me!” She said smiling.  Khushi took a sigh of relief. 

***********   **********  ********

“Stop it Lavanya, you already had three!” ASR said sternly when she ordered another round. 

“Hmm..!” she blabbered.  “ASR! Let us book a suite here and stay..!” she was out of her mind.

“Have you lost it Lavanya?” ASR asked under his breath. 

“Yeah, ASR! I am losing it.  What is this relation, ASR?” she raved.  He looked around in embarrassment.  

“I want to stay with you, ASR!” she held his hand. 

“Let us go Lavanya, you are already drunk..!” he got up.  She didn’t move.

“Drunk? I should be, ASR! Look at me... What am I doing? I wanted to stay with you, I ended up in your house... staying in a guest room..! Chamakili was right, ASR! This relationship..!” She couldn’t complete.  He held her shoulder and pulled her up.

“I don’t know, when this crazy girl is going to stop interfering in my life..!” he gritted his teeth.

“Yeah, Khushi... she too is a pain in the neck.  Marry me, ASR to stop her from interfering..!” she said laughing deliriously. 

“Shut up, Lavanya!” he held her by arm and moved her walking along.

“This Nani will not stop calling her home.. and Di also.  I don’t know what’s so special in these so called sanskaar!” she threw her arms in the air in frustration.  ASR was descending with her from the entrance.

“ASR, No! I want to spend the night with you! We are neither in Live In nor a married husband and wife! I can’t go on like this! I want you, ASR! Now!” she hugged him tightly in the porch itself and he jerked himself apart.

“Stop it Lavanya! We are in public place!” he stared striding over to the car park.  She didn’t move.

“Public place? So what?” she blurted.  He came back and pulled her.

“Let us go to a private place ASR... I want you to have me!” she had crossed all the limits..! ASR’s rage saw no boundary.  He dragged her to the car and raced away with Lavanya still raving in a drunken state.  Stopping at a medical store he got down locking the doors and brought water and tablet.

“Swallow this!” he ordered irritably.  She looked at him still delirious.  He contorted his face in rage.  He stopped the car in a secluded place again waiting her for to gain some sense.

“Behave yourself Lavanya!” he said sternly.  Lavanya was coming back to her senses.

“Sorry ASR!” she said sheepishly.  His anger had not subsided.   “But I want to stay with you, ASR! In your house, in your room!” she said holding his hand. 

“That’s not possible!” he said sternly.

“Marry me ASR to make it possible..!” she wrapped her arms around his neck bending forward.

“Stop it Lavanya, I am not going to marry you! “

“Why ASR?” she asked pulling herself away feeling doomed.

“Lavanya, this is the last time I am telling you.  Remember what we had decided in the beginning?” he asked.

“Yeah, ASR but I am a changed person now.  I want all these things.. i want a family..! Chamakili was right...!” She again was cut off after taking Khushi’s name..

“Let us break it up Lavanya... Now!” he yelled and she shuddered.

“Have you lost your brain? Stop thinking with other’s brain, Lavanya..!” he yelled. 

“I have not changed ... so let us stop here...! I will leave you at your apartment..!” he was determined.

“No, ASR! Please don’t do this! Please .. No break up, ASR!” she urged.  He drove silently.

“Where are we heading with this?” she asked one sensible question.  ASR had no answer.

*********   ********  *****

“What happened Khushi bitiya..did you get any orders?” Asked Nani looking at her.  Khushi’s face shadowed with sadness for a fleeting second and then she said..

“Yeah, Nani.. Five KG from one shop..!” she forced a smile.

“And others? All tien tien fiss? Hello hi bye bye! Phati sadi, your fate seems to be equally torn!” she said scornfully.   Anjali looked at Mami with shock.  Arnav smirked.  “Let me see how long you will pull on, Khushi Kumari Gupta!” he thought sipping tea at the table.

“Its ok, Khushi!” Lavanya consoled.  Khushi smiled broadly.

“Doesn’t matter... It’s a start after all!” Nani too sympathized with her.  Khushi nodded glancing at his smirking face.

“Why can’t he understand? He gets sadistic pleasure in seeing me in trouble!” she swallowed hard.  He looked at her fallen face and his smirk disappeared.  “Come back, and I will reinstate you in my office!” his heart cried out. Everybody fell silent.  Khushi was the first one to break the silence brightly, after a while.

“Koi  Baat  Nahi, Naniji! I got eleven students from just one school.  I have to visit another three!” she said smiling broadly.

“How much will you earn, Phati saadi?  Phew...!Thousand Rupees? “ Mami took sadistic pleasure this time.  

“Yeah, Mamiji! May be, but it’s a start!” Khushi said optimistically and went into the kitchen.  She was breaking down from within.  Only one shop ordered out of twenty five she gave samples to.  Only ten students she could gather for tuition.   She knew the going would be tough.

“No problem... I will try more shops...more schools..!” she blurted commanding herself not to give up and turned to find him at the kitchen door.  He stared at her tearful eyes and she turned her back on him. 

“Do you want anything?” she asked still with her back at him.  He came in.  “Hmm! Water!” he found out some reason controlling his urge from holding her hand and telling her that “Everything will be alright!” He took the glass of water from her and marched out of the kitchen frustrated with himself.

“Its ok, Arnav ji! I understand..! Aap sochate Ek Ho  Aur  Karatay  Kuch  Aur Hi!  What you think is different  from  what you do! Always!” she thought to herself.  “I know you well by now! And my Mission Two is still on! I won’t give up!” she blurted and came out.  He still was at the table and Lavanya was clutching her head.  

“What happened, Lavanya ji?” Khushi asked concerned.

“This headache..!” She pressed her forehead.  ASR looked at Lavanya and his eyes travelled to Khushi.  She was surveying Lavanya narrowing her eyes.  She Looked at Arnav questioningly and he looked away.  Khushi understood.

“Don’t worry, Lavanya ji, Buwaji Ka Kaadhaa Hain naa?” She said winking at Lavanya.  Arnav looked away hiding his smile.  Khushi again went into the kitchen.  

“Such a sweet girl!” Nani exclaimed.  “Yeah!” Said Anali aloud.  “Yeah!” thought Arnav getting up to go...!