Opposite Poles..Part 134

Part 134

“Khushi...!” Amma was calling her in a hushed voice.  Payal got up with a jerk.  “Amma?” she opened the door.  Amma looked at sleeping Khushi.  “Humm.. I came to talk to her!” she said and turned to leave.

“Talk to me?” Khushi sat up.  Amma looked at her seriously.  Payal closed the door again and Amma sat by her side.  Khushi kept her head on Amma’s laps.  She didn’t know how to open the topic,

“Bitiya.. I know.. you don’t want to marry Sham Babua!” she finally spoke the truth.  Khushi looked up.  There was silence for some time and then Khushi spoke.

“Amma, he may be a very good person, but  I don’t know... I don’t feel comfortable..!” Khushi hid her face in Amma’s laps and Amma sighed.

“Khushi bitiya, I know... Sometimes I feel so helpless.. You know, your Buwaji! She is hell bent on this proposal...!” Amma felt hopeless to talk about the helplessness.  “Your Buwaji wants this wedding to happen as early as possible... I don’t know... but you know how she behaves with you... I am so helpless Khushi, I don’t know what to do...! We are living in her house..!” Amma spoke her inner fear that they had nowhere to go if Buwaji asked them to leave..!

“She has a blind faith in Sham Babua! He is a good person, but Khushi.. I too feel that if you are not comfortable..you shouldn’t marry him!” Amma stroked her head.  Khushi looked up with hope.  

“Can we not go back to Lucknow? We will do something there, Amma! We will work hard!” Khushi said with determination.  Amma shook her head hopelessly.  She knew the truth that they had no house in Lucknow too! And taking the girls back to Lucknow would mean more humiliation and disgrace to the family.   “No Khushi.. now there is no going back!” she said gravely.  Payal started weeping silently.  Khushi couldn’t bear their helplessness.

“Don’t worry Amma.  I will marry him if need be! Please don’t cry! I know I have been unreasonable.. he is a good person... May be Devi Mayya wants me to marry him...!” she hugged her Amma who broke into tears.

“Amma.. Don’t worry! Devi Mayya is there... She will show me the way...! If my Devi Mayya wants me to marry sham ji, I will! Otherwise, she is there to pull me out of this...! Stop thinking about it Amma.  She is there for me! I will do what she wants me to!” Khushi looked at her Devi Mayya’s smiling face. 

“See? She is smiling... that means she has something in her mind...! She will do which is best for me, Amma, Don’t worry! And please don’t cry for me! I will be fine wherever I will be!” Khushi consoled her helpless Amma.  Amma sobbed and then wiping off her tears said..

“Khushi promise me!” Khushi looked up at her.  “Promise me, that you will not take it to your heart, whatever your Buwaji says...! Promise me! Remember your Babuji.  You are an angel! Hamari Pari !! “ She grabbed Khushi and hugged her tightly.

“Amma!” Khushi didn’t understand what was all that but she felt her mother’s anguish.  “Don’t worry Amma, I know Buwaji..!” she assured her though confused herself.  Amma got up from the bed and said.. “Now go to sleep like good girls!” she patted Payal and left the room.  Khushi slumbered back on the bed pulling Payal along.

“Jiji...!” Khushi woke up with a start from her dream state. 

She was walking on the road with Sham holding her hand.......  She was looking around at the lurking shadows.  The shadows looming and dancing and she heard Sham’s laughter and she was thrown in quick sand....  She drowned, suffocated.  She couldn’t see him in the shadows.  The shadows loomed.  ........... A strong hand pulled her up she tried to look at him.. the blinding blaze pulled her apart and she was thrown in an unknown world.  She tried to find out... Her Amma, Babuji, Jiji.. Everybody had vanished.. she was alone on unknown street full of strangers..... she was sacred.. she tried to call her jiji ...!”

She looked at her sleeping Jiji and hugged her tightly.  “I don’t want to go away..!” she  murmured in anguish.  

********   *********

“Khushi, we are already running late.  Tuitions will start again from tomorrow...!” Payal was muttering working in the kitchen.  

“You know what? Seema is not coming today for embroidery work... I have to do it myself with others...I have to deliver it tomorrow!” She muttered.  Khushi’s eyes twinkled. 

“Jiji.. Aakash sir ko call karo naa!” She said nudging Payal.

“No, Khushi!” Payal was determined.  Khushi grew panic.

“Jiji.. if you don’t call him, he will go to his big brother... and that  monster will come here barging in...!”  Khushi knew the consequences..! Payal gaped with open mouth.

“You know, jiji..what happens then..!” Khushi gave a clear picture to payal.

**********   ******

“Bhai..!” Aakash was in Arnav’s room.

“Yeah.. Chalo Aakash! Let’s go!” Arnav picked up the car keys.  Aakash’s phone rang.

“Hello.. Payal..!” Aakash went out hurriedly and Arnav clenched his fists.  

“Khushi Kumari Gupta!” he gritted his teeth. He waited. Aakash came in.

“Bhai.. Payal had called.  She is meeting me in the evening..!” Aakash was more than happy.

“Humm!” Arnav said turning his back. Aakash went out happily.  There was no need to go now! He had patched up with Payal.

****  ******  ******

Khushi sat on the chair munching namkeen and sipping tea, shaking her leg and listening to radio.  She had done it! “Mr. Raizada... Aap Hoshiyaar ho to hum Saat Hoshiyaar hain! I am a step ahead of you Mr. Raizada...!” she winked at her Devi Mayya.  

Sham walked in.  “Aray Sham ji?” Khushi got up from the chair.  Sham looked grim. “What happened? Are you not well?” Khushi asked concerned looking at his still red eyes.  He ignored her and went out without a word.  Khushi was surprised.  

“Buwaji, Sham ji ko kya hua?” she asked her Buwaji.  Buwaji too looked serious.

“Aray, kuch nahi, sanaka devi.. tumharay shaadi ki tarikh pakki karanay jai rahain hain Sham Babua, Nanikishore..! He is going to fix your wedding date!” she said smiling.  Khushi’s heart twisted in pain. 

“You didn’t go with him?” Khushi asked putting up a brave face.  Buwaji looked at her.  “Eager to know the date? Haan?” she asked pinching her.  Khushi smiled with tears in her eyes and turned her face away.  

Payal came in.  Khushi raised her eyebrows.  Payal blushed.  “What?” Khushi whispered.  “We are meeting in the evening..!” Payal said with pink face.  Khushi giggled.  

“You were right! They were about to leave to come here!” she whispered and Khushi sat upright.

“I knew it..!” Khushi said with glint and then looked lost.  

“He won’t keep quiet, Jiji, he will find out something else..!” Khushi said in panic.

“Woh aise Nahi maanainge! I know it.  Woh tumhay dantanay ke liye jarur kuch karange! He will anyhow scold you for not calling Aakash Sir, I am sure!” Khushi was thinking hard. 

“He will somehow come here and scold me and Jiji..!” Khushi got up with a jerk.  “Awaaw! Her foot pained..!” she frowned.

“Jiji.. I am off to Mandir..! I have only this option. I know he won’t come there! Call me when the coast is clear and I will come back!” Khushi grinned at Payal.  

“Khushi.. wait!” But Khushi was out of house in no time.  Sham walked in “Where is Khushi?” he asked looking around.

“Mandir” Payal said.  “Mandir? So early?” he asked puzzled all set to go behind her.

“Yes.. Raizadas are coming!” Payal said inadvertently and Sham’s face lost its color. 

“Where?” he asked.  Payal looked at him suspiciously remembering Khushi’s words.  “Here and in Mandir too!” she said not wanting him to go behind Khushi.

“When?” came the next question.  “Don’t know!” payal shrugged and went back to her work.  Sham remembered some urgent work and he pushed off in no time.  Payal smirked.  She had saved Khushi this time. He wouldn’t dare going to Mandir.  

**********    *********    *********

Khushi was at peace in Mandir.  People had started gathering for Morning Pooja and Aarti.  Khushi sat there happily looking at her Devi Mayya.  

“Humm... I didn’t understand what Amma said yesterday! But you were there naa? You  know what she said...! So now its your responsibility to pull me out of this mess.  I know, you will put me in more trouble and have a good laugh! But I don’t have anyone else.  Babuji had told me, that those who lose their parents, Devi Mayya takes care of them.  That is you, Devi mayya! You sent Babuji to take care of me on your behalf.  But now I am back to you!” Khushi hid her face in her knees suppressing her sob.

“You know babuji’s condition..! So take care of me and my babuji, now! Do something...! Its up to you now!” Khushi looked up angrily at her devi mayya.  “You have put me in this..! Why did you have to call my parents to you and leave me alone on this earth?” she sobbed.  

“Bitiya.. Chalo.. Aarti!” Pandit ji woke her up from her trance and her connection with devi mayya broke.  She got up and stood there for Aarti wiping her eyes..!” 

Her phone buzzed and she turned stuffing Prashad in her mouth.  “Hello jiji..!” She said in a hushed voice and someone snatched her phone away.  She looked in the direction raising her hand to hit the person.  He held her wrist and glared at her.  She turned her back on him.

“Don’t you ever show your face again..!” they both winced. He turned her to face him with a jerk and she lost her temper.  She wrenched her hand free from his grip and he spat.

“Akelay Kya kar rahi ho? What are you doing here alone?” she gaped at his arrogance.

“Aap yahan Kya kar rahain ho? What are you doing here in Mandir?” She questioned back angrily.

“Answer me! I asked you first!” he fought like a boy not giving up.  She frowned.  

“Give me my phone back! And I don’t owe you any explanation..!” she said holding out her other hand.  He saw the adhesive tapes on her left hand and released his grip on the wrist.  She took a step back.  He kept the phone on her palm. 

“When you can’t walk properly, why did you come here alone?” he changed his question pattern.  She looked at her foot and remembered that she had left her stick in the Mandir.  She hurriedly tried to go inside.

“What?” he stood in her way.  “My walking stick!” she said trying to avoid him.  “I will get it!” he went inside to get her walking stick.

She tried to snatch it from him.  He held out his hand to support her.  “No!” she shirked his hand and started walking away.  He caught up with her.

“I will drop you!” he said walking with her.

“No!” she retorted back angrily.  He glared and next moment she found herself lifted in his arms.

“Put me down!” she yelled.  He didn’t even bother to look at her.  Passersby looked at the couple, her bandaged foot and adored, smiling at them.  Khushi was embarrassed.  She tried in vain to free herself.

“Chup!” he said sternly taking her to the car. Pushed her bundle inside and drove away.  She looked out of the window wiping her eyes, folding her arms on her chest tightly.  He glanced at her.  

“Doctor ko dikhaya? Did you go to the doctor?” he asked after some time.  She refrained from answering.  

“Ok! We will go to the doctor then!” he muttered and she exploded.

“No! I swear I will jump out of the car!” she yelled. Her eyes filled with tears of anger.

 “Ok! Relax!” he said smirking.  She looked away..! He felt her pain.. “Khushi... you...!” he said in a soft voice.

“No! Stop it! I have had enough humiliation for my life..! Now no more torture.. !” she said looking away.  He took the vehicle aside and stopped.  She tried to get down.

“Khushi.. I  mean.. I ...!” he had no words to justify his actions.  She refrained from looking at him. He chocked.

“Ghar Chalo! Nani is not well!” he said at once and Khushi winced.  She looked at his face in disbelief.