Chapter 15

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

RECALLING ARNAV

Part 8

Section 2A

Garima took a deep breath and clutched Sasi's hand.

"I was hoping that some day you would ask me this question, bitwaa. That someday you would give me an opportunity to speak the truth, to reveal everything that happened. But... but I have no proof. I can only tell you what happened. I can't prove that I am speaking the truth," Garima said softly, her eyes directly on Arnav's.

The Raizadas nodded.

"How did you meet Arvind Mallik?" Arnav asked, calming the dread in his heart at revisiting his nightmare. His Di's hand was firmly in his and he could feel her fingers tremble.

"I was walking home from the temple. A car stopped by me. The driver lowered the glass of the window. He asked me the way to Ram Charan Mishra's house. I told him which road to take. That was Arvind Mallik."

The Raizadas waited for her to continue.

"I had no idea who he was. I just knew that he was a stranger to our town, Purwa."

Nani and the others nodded.

"Arvind Mallik had come to Purwa to set up a factory. He bought acres of land with a huge building on it from Mishraji, and within a month or two the factory began working. They advertised for female workers. I applied for a job," Garima sighed.

Arnav swallowed, dreading what was to come.

"Jiji was with Jiju & Khussi in Kanpur. He was a school master and had been transferred there. It was just Babuji and me in Purwa. He was sick. So sick that he could not open his small shop regularly. So when I got the chance to work and help him with the household expenses, I applied for a job," she paused, her voice trailing away, her mind in the past.

Sasi pressed her fingers in encouragement.

"Arvind Mallik interviewed me. He was very kind," Garima said tonelessly. "He thanked me for having shown him the way to Mishraji's house. He said that I could have the job and that I could come to him if I ever needed money or any kind of help. I nodded but never approached him for anything."

Garima looked directly in to Arnav's eyes.

"I heard that his home was in Lucknow. He used to travel between Lucknow and Purwa. When he was at the factory, he used to visit the room I worked in and stop to speak a few words. He used to call me to his room and ask about the work. I thought that he must be the kindest man in the whole world," Garima marvelled at her own foolishness.

"One day, Arvind Mallik came to my house. I was astonished. He met Babuji and told him that he was very pleased with the work I was doing in his factory. He tried to give Babuji money, but Babuji refused it politely. He then offered me permission to work overtime in his factory, but Babuji refused," Garima continued.

"He continued to favour me with his special attention at the factory, often giving me gifts that he said he had purchased from Lucknow just for me. I was flattered but kept on refusing them for fear of what Babuji would say if he knew that I had accepted anything from a paraya mard."

"I was young," Garima sighed. "I was foolish, my head filled with impossible dreams. I believed everything he said. I had no idea... absolutely no idea that he was married."

Nani nodded.

"Arvind Mallik came home one day and asked Babuji for my hand."

Nani and the others gasped. Arnav clenched his fists. Was his family fated to deal with lecherous crooks and immoral bigamists?

"I was happy, excited, thrilled that my dreams of a rajkumar coming to marry me were coming true. Seeing my joy, Babuji agreed to the marriage. He asked me to get the neighbours. In their presence Arvind Mallik placed a ring on my finger and we were officially engaged," Garima said looking down at her fingers.

Mami's mouth fell open. Anjali blinked away her tears.