Chapter 7

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

RECALLING ARNAV

Part 4

Arnav sat hunched on the recliner and looked at the phone lying on the floor, his fingers clasped together between his knees.

Khushi"he had heard Khushi's voice. His heart clenched in pain and pleasure at such unexpected good fortune.

Khushi... Khushi... She had sounded well, happy. She had imagined him to be Akash. She had meant to tease Akash. Silence from his side had unnerved her... no, his silence hadn't unnerved her. Her voice had conveyed only mild confusion.

He frowned, perplexed.

Arnav ran his fingers through his hair.

How come she hadn't suspected that it was him? How come she had been so cheerful?

And how come she hadn't known that it was him? When he had called her from Shyam's dungeon, she had known that it was him even before he had uttered a word. How had she become so oblivious, so carefree?

He grabbed the phone and called Payal. The phone rang but a Payal, singing Bheegi bheegi raaton mein in the shower heard nothing.

He called Akash.

"Bhai?" Akash's calm voice filled his ear.

"Akash, give me the landline number and address of Payal's house in Lucknow. Now." ASR was back in full force.

Akash did not even try to demur.

A moment later, ASR called the Guptas at Gomti Sadan.

"Hellooo, kaun he, Nandkisore?" Buaji asked.

"Buaji, it is me, Arnav," he said softly, but with a sense of urgency in his tone.

Buaji's hand tightened on the handle of the receiver.

She looked around. Khushi was out in the front yard instructing Munna & Krishna on their work. Drawing in a deep breath, she whispered, "Arnav babua, kaisen ho?"

"I am fine, Buaji. How are you?"

Buaji said, trying to smile, "I am old, babua. Feeling the aches and pains of old age. As are Garima and Sasi babua." She tried to cut him off before he asked about Khushi. "You called to see if Payaliyaa has reached here safely, didn't you? She reached here on time and is now taking a bath. Are you in your office, babua?"

ASR refused to be distracted. "Buaji, can I speak to Khushi?"

Buaji felt her heart stop.

She said, "Bitwaa, she is trying to forget all the terrible things that happened in the past. It will be better if you don't talk to her."

"Buaji..."

"And she is not here, Nandkisore. She has gone out to her sweet shop," Buaji found excuses.

Arnav swallowed hard in disappointment.

"Hum phoone rakte hein, Nandkisore. You take care of yourself," Buaji made haste to cut the call.

"Buaji!" he heard Khushi's sweet call before Buaji could cut the call.

His fingers firmed on the phone.

Buaji dropped the receiver in its cradle in a hurry, not noticing that the receiver hadn't fallen fully in place.

"Who is it on the phone, Buaji?" Khushi asked.

"It was... woh... it was Payaliyaa's jetji. Aren't you going to the shop, Titliyaa?" Buaji could feel a bead of sweat making its way down her throat.

"I am going, Buaji. Jiji's jetji? Jiji has a jetji? How many brothers does Jiju have?" Khushi asked.

ASR felt his hand tremble and his eyes widen in shock.

"Two," Buaji sighed.

"Two?" ASR could hear Khushi breathe in deep in envy and astonishment. "Two brothers?"

ASR's mouth fell open in astonishment. What was happening in Lucknow? Why was Khushi asking such nonsensical questions? She knew very well that he and NK were Akash's brothers.

Buaji noticed that the receiver was awry and quickly straightened it, thereby cutting the call and ending Arnav's access to their conversation.

"Buaji, why didn't they come with Jiji?" Khushi asked.

Buaji struggled to find an answer. "Titliyaa, they have work to do. They have to feed their families. They can't be forever running to Lucknow to see you. Ab jao. Don't eat my head any further."

"Buaji, they have families? Are they married? Do they have childr...?" Khushi asked in excitement, already seeing herself plotting a hundred tricks with an army of kids.

"Chup raho, Nandkisore! How many times should I ask you not to disturb me with your questions?" Buaji was on the verge of tears.

Khushi pouted. "All right, Madhumati Gupta. I will baksh you now." A big smile blossomed on her face. "But I will be back from the shop, full of vim & vigour. Then where will you run from me?" Khushi pinched Buaji's chin as she left the house, laughing.

Anjali looked at her Chotey with shock in her eyes.

He was pushing his designer clothes in to a black leather holdall with scant care for their condition, grabbing his phone, dropping his pills in to the bag and looking around the room to see if he had left something behind, all at the same time, frantic, wan, his hands trembling, his movements jerky.

"Chotey, kya hua? Where are you going? What happened?" Anjali asked, pale in expectation of bad news.

"Di, I am going to Khushi. I mean, Lucknow." He looked around his room.

"Khushiji? What... why... kya... Chotey?" Anjali gasped.

Mami & Nani came in to the room.

"Bhat ijj happenings?" Mami asked, her painted eyes round with shock.

"Chotey?" Nani asked.

"There is something wrong with Khushi. I am going to Lucknow," ASR declared, his heart thundering in his chest, a sense of urgency flooding him.

Nani's face became stern.

"There may be something wrong with Khussi bitiyaa. But who are you to enquire about her?" Nani asked.

ASR paled.

"You are not her husband, Chotey. You gave up all claim to her," Anjali rubbed it in.

ASR looked at her, pain in his eyes.

Steeling her heart against his obvious distress, Mami asked, "Arnav Bitwaa, if the Guptas asks you bhy you have come to asks after Khussi, bhat bill you says?"

"There is something wrong with her, Di," Arnav whispered. "She.. she was asking Buaji how many brothers Akash had."

Anjali, Nani & Mami looked at each other, mystified.

"How many brothers Akass bitwaa hajj? Bhy should Khussi asks that when she was married to one and joking with the other for a good part of this year?" Mami asked, her plucked brows making a statement in the air.

"Khussi bitiyaa asked such a question?" Nani frowned.

"And Buaji was trying to keep me from talking to Khushi," Arnav said.

"I won't blame her for that, Chotey," Nani was vocal in her condemnation of him. "It says much about the sanskaar of the Guptas that they are still talking to you. Had it been any other family, they would have taken Payaliyaa and Khussi bitiyaa away and we would not have seen either of them all our lives."

ASR brushed it all aside. "I am going to Lucknow. I have to see Khushi."

"Why should they let you inside their home, Chotey?" Anjali asked.

"Or let Khussi meet you?" Mami asked.

"I have to see her, make sure she is fine..." ASR declared.

Nani frowned. "Khussi bittiyaa asked how many brothers Akash bitwaa has?"

All looked at her, silent.

"Did she ask about us?" Nani asked.

"No," ASR replied.

"How can Khussi bitiyaa forget us?" Nani worried. A moment later she said, "I am coming with you, Chotey. I want to be certain that she is happy."

"I am comings too, Sasumma." Mami declared.

"Me too, Nani," Anjali joined them.

"Call Akash bitwaa and NK bitwaa too. They won't want to miss a chance to see Khussi bitiyaa," Nani said.

The ladies nodded.

"Chotey, kindly wait for us to pack," Nani instructed him. "We are accompanying you."

ASR could only nod.