Opposite Poles..Part 141

Part 141

 “Chalo Biwi...!” Balwindar Singh was all set to airlift his wife to his Pind in Punjab Hussainiwala! He felt better.  At least she was ready to come to Pind after a decade.  He held her hand bending down to plant a kiss on her forehead.  She smiled faintly.

“Ab Chalo!” she said pushing him lightly.  He smiled.  The car took them to the helipad and they were off to their Pind.   

“Blawindar.. I wish to go to Bhagat Singh Memorial first!” she said and he nodded.  He had a piece of agricultural land in Tediwala village near Hussainiwala.  He craved for Satlaj.  

“Are you ok?” she asked him and he nodded smiling with tearful eyes.  “Biwi!” he gripped her hand in the helicopter.  They were flying to their Pind.  “I know, good things are round the corner... Something good is going to happen... I know!” he prayed Wahe Guru hoping for the best..!

“Balwindar..!” his wife called him.  “Biwi, we will stay there for as many days you want.. and then come to Delhi.  I can even postpone my meetings and cancel my appointments..!” he was overwhelmed.

“No need, Balwindar, we will come to Delhi in time..!” she said knowing the importance of his business.  He nodded looking at his wife.  “Biwi.. promise me! We are not going to miss them...!” he said gravely and she turned her face.  “I can’t! “ she withdrew her hand.  “But I promise, I will not mention their names..!” she consoled him.  He looked at her wiping off his tears.

***********    **********    ********

“Khushi..!” Payal had tried everything to cheer her up in vain.  Khushi was all lost.  Buwaji had not spoken anything.  Amma had refused to come out from Babuji’s room.  Babuji had never stopped crying.  Sham never went out.  Khushi had stopped talking to anyone.  Her mind racing for the solution, she seemed to give up.  She never resisted to whatever sham said or asked her to do.  Payal floundered.  She knew what Buwaji must have told Khushi.  She felt Khushi’s helplessness and anguish.  She couldn’t do anything.  She couldn’t go against Buwaji.  She had no confidence in herself.  Her Amma was equally helpless. “What would they do if Buwaji asked them to leave the house?” Payal had no answer.  She was cornered from everywhere.  She couldn’t find any solace in Khushi’s company as Khushi herself was helpless.

“Khushi... you can invite your close friends, in the neighbourhood!” Sham gave her the concession.  He was not for, for inviting the Raizadas, as they were sickly rich and that would mean more spending on the guests..!

“No, Sham ji, you are right.  I am not inviting anyone!” Khushi had given up.  “Khushi..!” Sham looked very happy.  Khushi smiled but it didn’t carry to her eyes.  Sham didn’t bother.

“Umm.. Khushi, once the engagement is over, we will go to Lucknow!” he said holding her hand.  Khushi’s eyes lit up for a second and then looking down, she nodded.  “And we will take those Property Papers from the locker.  Buwaji’s house and Gomti Niwas..! We need to see what best can be done to save both these properties..!” Khushi still was looking down.  

“Khushi.. I am sure you will take a wise decision...!” she remembered her babuji’s words and she looked up.

“I mean.. we need to do something.  Don’t worry! I can manage everything, Khushi! But I need to see the original papers..!” he said assuring her, his full support.

“I will not give you those papers, Sham ji! I will fight till the end, but will not give you those property papers!” she thought with determination and got up to go.

“Where are you going?” he asked.  “Mandir!” she said.  He too got up but she already had gone out of the house and hailed an auto.  He sat back knowing that Khushi will return soon.

********  ******  *********

“Do you really think, Devi Mayya? Should I do it?” she kept on asking her Devi mayya.  Finally she made up her mind and came out of the Mandir deep in thoughts.

“I have only one person to turn to.. ! I don’t know what will be his reaction.  But I need to ask him...!” she said loudly hopping into the auto.

“Hello?” Khushi called with bated breath, on phone, after dialling the number and was picked up!

“Khushi?” Came Aman’s voice and Khushi was puzzled.  “Aman Sir! I wanted to talk to Arna.. ASR Sir!” she said stuttering.  

“Khushi, he is in a meeting!” Aman said.  “On a Sunday?” she was puzzled.  “Yes, he is talking to the financers..!” Aman mentioned its importance.   “Ruko  ruko..!” she tapped on the Auto wala.

“What?” asked Aman confused.  “N..Not you, Aman Sir, Sorry!” she apologized.  Aman smiled.

“How are you Khushi?” he asked relaxed.  After a long time, he was talking to her.

“I am fine, Aman Sir! I mean.. umm.. do you have any idea when the meeting will get over?” she asked desperately.

“In fifteen minutes or so.  I mean thats what ASR sir said that he has another meeting after that..!” Aman informed and Khushi disconnected feeling more desperate.  “If I reach there in time, may be I will be able to talk to him between his two meetings.. if he agrees!” she calculated instructing the auto wala to turn.

She reached office to find ASR still in the meeting.  She waited in Aman’s cabin for some time, but had to get up when Aman got ready to push off for the day.  It was a Sunday afterall.  The office was empty except for the security guards.  

“Khushi, you can wait in Sir’s cabin..” Aman suggested and Khushi climbed up ASR’s cabin.  She looked around.  Nothing was changed.  She could sit there for few minutes and got up restlessly.  “What if he starts the next video conference call immediately? I should tell him that I want to talk to him..!” she thought and entered his private room which connected the conference room and his cabin.  She pushed open the conference dark room to see the illuminated display screen.  ASR was busy with his presentation  “Oh! I mean I am sorry... This Last slide.. I am sorry genglemen.. Please ignore this slide.  It is by oversight... This is not a part of the project...!” and she looked at the screen to freeze!

ASR had not seen her yet.  “What? Gomti Nivas? This is my house!” she said aghast looking at the slide displayed on the screen; and he came he turned around !

“Khushi...?” he was shocked to see her figure at his room door and looked at the screen again.  He leapt forward not bothering about the glaring financers.  “You ... you are demolishing my house?” she spoke in shock and turning her back broke into a run.  He ran behind her and caught her from behind in his cabin.

“Khushi..! Wait here! I will be back!” he dragged her struggling figure into his private room.

“You are ... you are demolishing my house... huh..”she sobbed hard..!

“Khushi..Thats not ...... Stay here! I will be back! I will explain!” He knew that the Financers were waiting for him in the conference room. He knew what blunder he made by leaving that slide in the presentation...! He must explain!  He locked Khushi up in his private room and returned to the conference room.