Opposite Poles..Part 121

Part 121

“We are going to the temple.. then lunch and then we will get ready for the evening party..!” Nani declared.  “Chote..!” she called out.  His figure appeared on the top and she ordered. “Temple!” 

“I am not coming..!” he said equally forcefully.  “Oh yes, you are!” Anjali said authoritatively. 

“Di..!” he looked at her.  She ignored him.  “Aakash you take Mama-Mami with you. And we will come with Chote!” she planned everything.  Aakash was ever ready.  Arnav reluctantly nodded.

“Hum.. Peeche  Jaatain Hain? I will sit at the back” Khushi went behind the SUV and he opened the hatch for her.  She hopped in before he could give her a helping hand and banged her head against the upholstery! 

“Careful!” he gripped her.  “I ..I am ok!” she said quivering.  He stared at her and she shrunk shyly.  He locked the hatch.

“ASR! Lavanya started off sitting next to him.  He adjusted the rear view mirror! Anjali and Nani engrossed in their talks.  Khushi was alone at the back looking around aimlessly.  Lavanya kept talking about her shopping and spa plans.  ASR focused ahead on the traffic.  

 The two cars stopped at the Mandir and everyone got off.  Nani started walking with Anjali and Mami through the narrow lane towards Mandir.  Lavanya followed.  Aakash and Arnav drove off to park the vehicles.   Lavanya looked around.   

“Chamakili? Where is she?” she asked loudly.  Everyone looked around.  Aakash and Arnav were walking behind after parking the cars.

“What?” he asked. 

“Khushi?” Anjali asked concerned.  “What?” he too looked around.  She was nowhere.  Everyone started searching for her.  He dialled her number.  She didn’t pick up.  

“Damn it! Where is she?” he grew worried as the time passed.  He dialled her number again.  “Pick up the phone, damn it!” he gritted his teeth. 

“Ok, Aakash.. you go with them.  I will look around..!” he said and turned back.  

“This girl will drive me crazy, one day!” he shook his head hopelessly.  “Where is she?” He didn’t know.  

“Must be on the road... eating some roadside food or buying some silly things, or gaping at some fancy, glittery thing!” he concluded.  He turned and paced towards the parking lot.  He hopped into the car and ignited the engine putting it in reverse gear.  He stopped with screeching breaks and car skidded.  

“Awaaaayiii!” there was a thud and she screamed.  He got down from the car and opened the hatch.  She was on the floor getting up sleepily pressing her forehead.

“What the hell?” he gaped at her.  She was still on the floor.  She looked at him and struggled to get up.  He still was holding the hatch door looking at her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked shocked.  She took support of the seat to get up and sat on the seat looking around.

“We reached Mandir?” she asked surprised.  “Fifteen minutes back!” he barked.

“What?” she got up to get down.  He still was holding the hatch blocking her way.  “What were you doing down, there?” he asked calmly and  looked at the floor.  

“I fell down with your screeching brakes!” she said angrily.  “Why didn’t you get down?” he asked calmly clenching his fists, trying to control his anger.

“Everybody got down?” she looked into the empty car.  “Fifteen minutes back!” his voice rose.  She winced.   “what? Why didn’t you wake me up?” she asked stupidly and he looked away in frustration.  She came back to her awakening state and understood her stupidity.

“S..sorry! I must have slept off.  Woh  Actually  I got up early in the morning... woh... I...!” she was cut off..

“Shut up!” he yelled.  She winced and looked at him in fright biting her nails furiously. 

 “Come!” he held out his hand and she looked at it scared to the core.  His anger rising, he pulled her with all his might.  She fell on him screaming.  The hatch door went up making a room for him to hold on to her.

“Careful!” he wrapped his hands around her and lifted her to put her down on the ground.  She broke apart struggling and tried to adjust her saree.  He looked at her closing the hatch door and locking the car again.  “S..S..Sorry!” she had no courage to look at him and started moving ahead holding up the plaits of her saree a little.  

“Wait..!” he was close behind.  “Apanay baal thik Karo! Your hair...!” he couldn’t resist running his fingers through her hair.  She blushed furiously with her cheeks growing pink.  He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear! A hot wave of shiver ran through her spine and her ears grew hot.  He still had his hand on her shoulder.  She stepped back looking around and he came back to his senses.   

Walking ahead of her he barked.. “Ab Chalo ..!” she followed him close behind.  He dialled.  “Di, Khushi mil gayi...!” he said. 

“What? Where?” Anjali asked taking a sigh of relief.

“So gayi Thi..!” he said angrily disconnecting.  Khushi’s cheeks grew pink again in embarrassment.  She slapped herself walking behind him.  

“Abhi  So  Jaana  Tha? Kuch  der  nahi  jaag  sakaty  thi? ” she was angry with herself.  They ascended the stairs of Mandir together to see all the Raizadas gazing at them.  She was embarrassed stealing a glance at him.  He was looking ahead frowning.  

“S... Sorry..1” Khushi could only say in the giggles and grins of others. 

“Hello hi bye bye... don’t drive, phati sadi.. Khud Sokar.. baki sab ko hamaysha ke liye sulayegi..!” Mami couldn’t control her giggle.  Khushi again stole a glance at Arnav.  

“Kuch  aur  bataa  nahi  sakatay  thay? Hum  soye  thay  yeh  bataanay  hi  kya  jarurat  thi? Why did he have to tell everyone that i was sleeping! Couldn’t he tell something else?” she was angry with him.  He had walked in along with her into the Mandir unknowingly.  He stood with his Di gazing at her embarrassed pink face.  She had no courage to look at anyone.

“Chalo..!” Finally Nani took control and they went inside the sanctum.  Nani notices ASR in the Mandir and she smiled.  

“Aray wah! Chote? In Mandir? Without any arguments..?” Anjali was giggling to his embarrassment.  Now it was his turn to look away with reddening ears.   

Nani looked at his face with content.  “I know, you will change Chote... ! My little Chote will be back soon, from the darkness..!” she prayed joining her hands and closing her eyes with full devotion. So did everyone else.  Arnav kept gazing at Khushi unblinkingly, uninterrupted, till the prayer was over. 

 Then he turned his back and went away, without bothering to take Aarti.  Khushi frowned.  She took Aarti and blessings twice, Once for her and the second for him.  She ate the Laddu thinking.. “This is too sweet, not good for his health.  I will eat it on his behalf..!” she smiled inwardly.  

*************    ***********    ***********

“Why did you let her go?” Sham asked ‘n’th time to Buwaji.  She shrugged again.  “Yeh  Sanakadevi  Sunati Kahain hain, Kisikii, Nandkishore! She doesn’t listen to anyone..!” Buwaji said sulkily.  Sham clenched his fists in frustration.  He couldn’t see her in that Lemon yellow saree.  He couldn’t go back to Raizada house since Khushi was there the whole day and even for the evening party.

“Woh Aaaj Poora  Din Vahi  rahanay wali Hain! She will be there the whole day!” Payal had informed and Sham banged his fist on the table in frustration.

“I will call her back!” he dialled her number, hell bent on spending the day with her.  She didn’t pick up.  He looked at Buwaji angrily and asked.. “Why did you let her go?”  Buwaji gaped at his furious face.  She was helpless, so was he.  

“Chalo Babua, let’s have breakfast, NandKishore!” she said holding his hand mildly.  Payal hid her grin.  Khushi had again escaped from spending time with Sham ji!! Sham had nothing else to do.  The day was wasted.  “I should call her back..at any cost..!” he thought and looked at Babuji’s room.  Smirk appeared on his face.  “Budha kis Kaam Ka? What’s the use of this uncle ji, after all?” he thought moving towards his room to play his old trick.  

The physiotherapy was going on.  He waited patiently.  Amma came with his new clothes and he grabbed the opportunity.

“Give it to me, Aunty ji.. I will do it!” he said sweetly taking the clothes from her.  She looked at him smiling and went away.  He went inside smiling wickedly to put his devilish plans to action.

“Ab  Dekhana... Khushi will come home running... when he...!” smirked Sham and bent down to lift Babuji.

“Aray.. Babua..! Wait!” yelled Amma from the door and he dropped babuji with a thud.  She screamed running inside to hold her husband.

“Sorry Aunty ji! I was startled!” he justified.  She didn’t bother to look at him and bent down to caress her husband’s immobilized hand.   He should take rest atleast for half an hour after his physiotherapy she said angrily.  Tears rolled down from Babuji’s eyes.  She wiped his face sitting next to him.

“Its ok Babua.. you go! I will do it!” she collected the clothes.  He went out sulkily.  Everything was going wrong for him, today.  

He was not happy with his surprise gift.  “Holiday! With Raani Sahebaa! My foot!” he exhaled scornfully.  He was expecting something expensive, which he could sell later and pocket the money.. He couldn’t see Khushi on Diwali day in a saree gifted by him...! He couldn’t manipulate with Babuji to call her back.  She was not picking up her phone... He was stuck up with Buwaji to his irritation.  She was talking non stop praising him and cursing her SanakaDevi for going out on a festival Day.  Her sanaka devi was hiding her face from Raizadas in embarrassment for sleeping in the car.  Everyone was making fun of her including Mami.  She was angry with her Laad Governor for exposing her in front of everyone. 

“Humay  Sataanay main  Mazaa  Aataa Hain! Sadist!” she muttered angrily.  “Sumaa Mainay!” only she could hear his whisper in her ears and winced. He opened the hatch for her.  She moved away from him angrily and hopped into the SUV again to go back.  They all were talking animatedly on their way back.

“Khushi...!” he yelled and she jumped in fright.  “Haan?.. wh  what?”  she was frightened to the core.  “What did I do now?” she thought looking around.  A pin drop silence prevailed in anticipation of some fireworks from him again, yelling at her.

“Ok.  Just making sure, you have not slept off again!” he said seriously and the car erupted in laughter.  He had had his share of fun.  She hid her face in her palms shyly.  He gazed at her through rear view mirror and smirked.  Nani closed her eyes feeling contented.

Lavanya gaped at her ASR! This was new to her.  He looked homely.  She held his hand bringing his attention back to her self.  He looked at her calmly.  

“I am so excited about the evening party!” she opened the topic.  “There is nothing to be excited about, Ms Kasyap! Every year we hold this party!” said Nani matter-of-factly.  

“Yeah.. but this time, Lavanya ji is there to grace the party with Chote!” Anjali took her side smiling fondly at Lavanya.  Khushi looked in the mirror to find him staring at her.  She looked away wiping her face!