Chapter 48

It was mid-night and whole Raizada house woke up because of the scream of Muskaan. Khusi who was sleeping beside Muskaan woke up and hugged Muskaan not knowing the reason for her scream. Arnav switched on the lights instantly to see Shyam standing near the foot of the bed nervously.

Arnav: "Jijaji... what are you doing here...?"

Shyam didn't know what to answer. He had woke up because of some itching in his boils and was going to the kitchen to get some water when he saw the door of Arnav's room not closed properly. He got inside the room to have a look at Khusi who would be sleeping peacefully. But what he saw made his blood boil. Arnav was sleeping hugging Khusi from back and Khusi was holding Muskaan close to herself. He felt like strangling Arnav and was about to touch Khusi's hair when Muskaan stirred in her sleep and screamed seeing someone hovering above her.

"Jijaji... I asked you something... what are you doing here in my room?" Shyam heard Arnav asking again.

Shyam: "I... I... was..." he stammered not knowing what to answer.

Muskaan had begun to cry loudly and Khusi was hugging her close to herself trying to calm both herself and Muskaan. The whole Raizada family by now had gathered in the room and were confused to see both Muskaan and Shyam in the room.

Anjali: "Shyamji... you here..? And Muskaan... beta what are you doing here... you were sleeping with Nani... then how come you are here?"

Khusi: "Di... Muskaan was scared... and as Naniji was already asleep she came to sleep with me... and about Jijaji... I don't know what he is doing here."

Akash came inside the room along with NK and said: "Papa, I asked the security to check the compound... but they say they haven't seen anyone... why did Muskaan shout?"

Muskaan hearing her Akash Mama's voice and seeing him ran to him and hugged him. Akash picked her up and said: "What happened dear..? Why did you shout..? There is no one to fear..."

Arnav: "No one entered inside the house Akash... Muskaan is scared of Jijaji who has entered my room... (looking at Shyam) ... Jijaji you still didn't answer to why you are in my room."

Shyam: "Wooh... I wanted to see Muskaan... I hadn't seen her properly... don't know why she is so scared of me... she was sleeping here so I came into the room to have a look at her... you don't know how much I love her... she is my daughter..."

Akash: "You should have waited till morning to see her if you are so interested to see her... you shouldn't sneak into anyone's room like a thief." He felt like punching Shyam for scaring Muskaan again.

Mamaji: "Dadmadji, Akash bitwa is right... you shouldn't have come into Chote and Khusi bitiya's room like this... it isn't good.. sneaking into a married couple's room in this way is really bad."

Shyam making a sad face: "I am sorry Mamaji... just couldn't control the urge to see my daughter."

NK: "But jiju, how did you know that Muskaan was here? She usually sleeps with Dadiji."

Shyam was now bowled: "Wooh... NK Bhai... I first went to Naniji's room, Muskaan wasn't there and then saw Saale Sahab's door was open and Muskaan was here... so..."

Arnav: "You could even see in dark... have you got owl's eyes..?"

Shyam not having any answer said: "I will go to my room now... sorry for disturbing you all... I didn't had the intention of disturbing anyone." saying he walked out of the room cursing his fate.

Khusi: "Muskaan beta... come and sleep... no need to get scared now."

Anjali: "Khusiji, you and chote sleep... Muskaan will sleep in Nani's room... I will stay with her tonight. (turning to Muskaan who had her head buried in Akash's shoulder) ... beta come let's go to badi nani's room and sleep... let other's sleep too."

Muskaan agreed to her Maa and with her went to Nani's room with others following them.

Khusi: "Arnavji... I will be with Muskaan for some minutes and be back." Getting a nod from him she left.

Arnav asked NK and Akash to stay back as he wants to talk to them. After everyone left Akash closed the door and said: "What do you have to say Bhai?"

Arnav: "Do you know the reason Muskaan is so scared of Shyam?"

NK: "No... she said he is bad... don't know why..?"

Akash: "Even I asked her... but she said nothing and continued to cry... so I didn't ask her more."

Arnav: "She told Khusi... she is scared of him because..." he told them everything that Muskaan had told them.

Akash was enraged: "THAT bas***d... HOW DARE HE THREATEN MUSKAAN.. IWILL KILL HIM..."

Arnav: "Control yourself Akash..."

NK: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CONTROL YOURSELF..? He is threatening Muskaan and you want us to control... I wish I could strangle him to death..."

Arnav: "Even I felt the same as you two... but we can't do anything now... think about Di..."

Akash: "Di needs to know the truth... we can't let that leech stay in our home... what if he tries to harm Muskaan again?"

Arnav: "Akash... for now we need to inform the whole family about him... today morning we will talk to Mamaji and Mami... then will think about letting nani know... we can't risk Nani's health."

Akash: "Dadi is strong Bhai... she has faced so much in her life... she is strong enough to bear this news..."

Arnav: "If you say so... ...now you go and sleep, we will talk to family in the morning."

It was morning and Arnav and Akash were in Nani's room along with mama and mami.

Nani: "What do you want to talk that is so important Chote? You asked us all to come here."

NK came in and said: "Nannav... Shyam is in his room and Di is there too. Muskaan is with Khusi Bhabi studying and Payal Bhabi is in kitchen working... you talk here, I will be outside and let you know if Shyam or anyone else comes." Saying he went out of the room closing the door.

Mamaji: "What is happening..? Is there any problem?"

Akash: "Yes Papa... there is a lot of problem in this house now... and you all need to know the truth about someone."

Mami: "Whichone?"

Akash: "Shyam."

Nani: "Shyam..? You mean Damadji..!!"

Arnav: "Yes Nani... no need to give him so much respect... he is nothing but a slime..."

Mami: "Arnav bitwa..!! what are you saying..? he is your jijaji... your Di's husband..!!"

Arnav: "That is the problem... that he is Di's husband... had it been anyone else at his place... I would have killed him."

Mamaji: "What did he do that you are so angry with him?"

Arnav and Akash both took turn in narrating about Shyam and his deeds. And all the rest could do is gasp and shed silent tears listening to them.

Nani: "What is happening to my children..? First Ratna and now Anjali bitiya..."

Akash sitting beside her: "Dadi, control youself... you need to stay strong for Di... you can't break..."

Mamaji: "All those days we kept on thinking that he is an ideal son-in-law... we loved him so much... and what he did..."

Mami: "Hello Hi Bye Bye... no need to think about the past... we need to do something about him... so that he says bye bye to our house and hello hi to jail..."

Arnav: "Yes Mami... we need to do something... but let the trimester of Di go... don't you remember what the doctor said... there is so many chances of Di losing her baby if she takes stress in the first trimester... we will act after that."

Mamaji: "You are right... but for now, he needs to stay out of this house... I can't tolerate him for a moment now..."

Akash: "Papa... we have to act carefully... don't want Shyam to have an ounce of doubt on us... we also don't know whether he is faking being sick or not... we have to be very very careful."

Nani: "You are right bitwa... what should we do now?"

Arnav: "Nothing much... behave normally with him and try that he stays in his room... don't want to scare Muskaan more."

Akash: "Yes... someone needs to be with Muskaan and Khusi bhabi everytime... he will try to harm them only and need to keep Di away from him."

Mami: "Anjali Bitiya now-a-days is not spending much time with him... either she is busy with Muskaan or at the destitute home."

Arnav: "That is good... let her be involved in that... so that she doesn't get time to be with Shyam."

Later in the day Khusi and Arnav went to the mental asylum to meet Dadi and decide on the plan. They discussed with the doctor about what to do and it was decided that they will be putting their plan into action tomorrow.

In their room Arnav hugged Khusi and kissed her with all the love he had for her.

Arnav: "I can't tell you Khusi... how happy I am... if what you are planning succeds... then Dadi will become fine... she will begin to recognize everyone... you are a blessing in my life... had it not been for you..."

Khusi: "Woow... the great ASR is praising me... I am humbled." Saying she giggled.

Arnav: "You deserve all praises Khusi... you deserve it..."

Khusi: "I am tensed Arnavji..."

Arnav: "Why..?"

Khusi: "What if it doesn't work out... what if Dadiji is not able to recognize anyone... or what if she forgets everything... I am so scared... don't know what will happen and what not..."

Arnav: "You always have told me Khusi... to be positive... let's think positive... I just hope it succeeds... once Dadi is fine... I need to find the culprit behind Papa and Mama's death."

Khusi: "I too hope Dadi comes home... not liking it a bit that Dadi is the asylum and we all are here enjoying."

Arnav: "She will be with us soon Khusi... very soon."

In Shyam's room, he was sitting angrily on the bed. Don't know what has happened to everyone in the family... they was something amiss... but what he was not able to lay a hand on... first of all this Muskaan sees him with the nurse... but that was not his concern... because he knows that he wouldn't breathe a word about it to anyone as he has threatened her and she was so scared that he wouldn't even dare to talk about it... but yesterday before the whole family when he was trying to be a good father... she said... he is bad... and look at the nerve of Akash, he walked away with her even without apologising to him... but he has got a weak point of the whole family now... it's Muskaan... she is the life-line of the Raizadas... in future if he needs to do anything then just harm Muskaan and they all will agree to whatever he says. He smiled evilly proud of his discovery.

Next day at the mental asylum, Khusi and Arnav were with Dadi in her room with a projector on.

Khusi: "Dadiji... today I will be showing you some photos... will you see?"

Dadi: "Whose photos?"

Khusi: "Your Chote's childhood photos and..."

Dadi cut in: "My Chote's phots..!! I want to see... (looking at Khusi for a moment) ... will you be there in the photos?"

Khusi sighing dramatically: "Dadiji... I met you Chote when he was no more Chote... how will I be there in the photos..? But yes... there will be others too."

Dadi: "Who others..? Will I be there..?"

Khusi: "Of course. You will be there... and others you will have to identify... you know na how gussa wala is your chote... he never let me identify other persons in the photos... will you let me know who were they?"

Dadi: "yes... yes... show me the photos..." she said with urgency.

Arnav switched on the projector and a photo of his flashed in the large tv screen.

Dadi like a child squealed: "That is my Chote..."

Then a photo of his as a month old baby was shown and Dadi with the same excitement identified the photo... one by one Arnav showed different photos of his and Dadi got lost in the photos and narrating stories to Khusi of how naughty Arnav was as a kid... Arnav looked at the doctor who was behind them and monitoring Dadi's reactions, getting a nod from him... he displayed the photo of both Arnav and Anjali as kids... Dadi looked at the photo for a moment as if trying to recognize them and after few minutes of constant looking with wide smile she said: "That is Anjali bitiya... my poti..."

Arnav now pressed the buttons to show various other photos of his and Anjali and getting signal from the doctor he now displayed the old family photos where his parents were present and Arnav and Anjali were kids. Dadi talked about her family and her happy memories which like a open box were returning back to her.

Arnav couldn't help but smile seeing his Dadi getting back her memories. Dadi still had held Khusi's hand in hers and was lost in the memories.

Now a photo was displayed in which Anjali was grown up and it was taken a couple of days before the death of her parents. Dadi took some time but recognised Anjali. Then a photo showing Arnav as a kid and as adult was shown and Dadi remarked: "hamare chote bade ho gaye hain... lekin gusssa abhi bhi waisa hi hai..."

The doctor was relieved listening to it as he was scared that Dadi might loose her present memories after remembering her past. Then a photo was displayed of Anjali's marriage day... the fateful day when their parents had committed suicide. Dadi kept looking at the photo and doctor kept looking at Dadi's face to judge the reaction. She still kept looking at the photo but was mum. Arnav now displayed another photo in which there all the Mallick's were present with their extended family.

Dadi kept looking at the photo her face twitched and she screamed "MY CHOTTE... SAVE HIM... THEY WILL KILL HIM... SAVE HIM... ARRVVIINNNDDD..." and she fainted.

Arnav and the doctor rushed to her and checking her doctor said: "We need to move her to ICU and need to call a heart specialist... ...you please wait outside."

Outside the ICU, Arnav and Khusi were looking through the glass wall at Dadi who was lying on the bed with wires attached to her body and the doctors treating her. After an hour or so the doctor came out and Arnav nearly pounced on him. "Doctor... how is Dadi... is she fine..?"

Doctor: "Can't say anything now... don't know if she is recovering or her condition is deteriorating... I told you before... brain is a complex thing... we can only wait and watch... I just hope her condition doesn't degrade." Saying he left and Arnav dejected sat down on the nearby chair.

Khusi came to him and keeping her hand on her shoulder said: "Arnavji... Dadiji will..." Arnav removed her hand from his shoulder roughly. Khusi was shocked with this. "Arnavji... aap..."

Arnav: "NOT A WORD MORE KHUSI... DON'T YOU SEE WHERE MY DADI HAS LANDED IN BECAUSE OF YOUR SUGGESTION... you can't always be right... Don't know why I trusted you with my Dadi... I shouldn't have let you work out on your plan... then my Dadi wouldn't have been in this condition."

Khusi now had tears because of Arnav's outburst: "Arnavji... I..."

Arnav: "Go from here Khusi... I don't want to talk to you." He looked away from Khusi and kept looking at Dadi through the glass door.

Khusi stood there for a few minutes and knew it is not the right time to talk to Arnav. So, instead of standing there she went to the small temple in the asylum and sat before the almighty to pray for recovery of Dadi.

Arnav got a call on his cell and without looking at it received the call and hearing his Di's voice he came to his sense... which he had nearly lost seeing the condition of his Dadi.

Arnav: "Haan Di... boliye."

Anjali: "Where are you Chote..? You and Khusiji left early in the morning and now it is 10pm... where are you two..?"

Arnav at that point realised that Khusi is not with him and he remembered the way he had shouted at her for no fault of hers... she has not gone home and also not here... he panicked thinking about her and said to Anjali: "Di... today I and Khusi are not coming home... you please pack a spare cloth for me and Khusi... Aman will get it from you... and don't worry about us... will see you soon." He disconnected the call before Anjali could ask anymore question. Then he called Aman to inform him what to do and having another look at Dadi he went to search for Khusi.

One thing he knew for sure was Khusi must be present nearby, reason being she can never leave him alone... especially not when Dadi is in this condition... and true to his thought he found Khusi at the small temple sitting with palms joined and eyes closed praying... he was confident that she is praying for Dadi. He cursed himself for shouting at her and went to her.

Khusi felt Arnav's touch on her shoulder and instantly turned back and asked: "How is Dadiji...?"

Arnav guilt rose even more. He blamed her for Dadi's condition and here she instead of getting angry on him is worried for Dadi's health.

Arnav: "I am sorry..."

Khusi: "Sorry for what..?"

Arnav: "For shouting at you... I didn't mean to... I was..."

Khusi cut him: "...worried. I understand Arnavji... I know how much you love Dadiji... no need to say sorry... you tell me how is Dadiji."

Arnav cupping Khusi's face: "How could you be like this Khusi..? I always take my anger on you... but you never get upset with me... you understand me so much..."

Khusi holding his palms and kissing them: "I am your better half Arnavji... If I won't understand you then who will..?"

Arnav smiled at her: "Di had called... I told her that today we are staying out and has asked her to pack a pair of spare clothes for us... we are staying here till Dadi recovers."

Khusi: "Did you tell her about Dadi?"

Arnav: "No, I didn't... let's go and have some food... I at least had my breakfast but you haven't anything all day..."