Part 14 Confused Arnav
Arnav was driving the car towards RM. His mind was whirling in thoughts. Was that even possible to predict anything before it happened? How could Khushi predict it just like that? Khushi looked innocent, but it didn't mean she could be innocent. What if she was sent by someone to get his trust? What if his rivals sent her? He had escaped from many assassination attempts. Was this a new way of making him fall down? Was she really Shivshankar's granddaughter? Was she really from Lucknow? She got his attention on the first day by calling him UNCLE. She roamed in RM in the nighttime, telling that, she felt someone's presence around her. And, today, she locked him in the washroom with the excuse of saving him from danger. Of course, anyone in his place would have trusted her blindly but he was Arnav Singh Raizada. He could not trust anyone with closed eyes. There were a lot of questions raised in his mind.
He looked at his phone as it started ringing. It was Nani's call. Arnav attended it.
"Hello"
"Chotte... I know you would be upset with Khushi but please don't be. She has a reason. Whatever she says with a flow will happen"
Arnav pressed the break.
"Whaaaat?"
"Yes, Chotte. You will trust her when her words come true"
"How do you say so confidently, Nani?"
"I had witnessed it in front of my eyes. Many people in her village spoke about her at her grandfather's funeral"
Arnav was silent.
"Chotte, I know you don't have faith in such matters. But, not everything comes to our limits. There are many things beyond our imagination... this is one among them."
"Mmm"
"Chotte, No one from our family likes Khushi but only you. Please don't show your irritation to her. Poor girl"
"Nani we will talk about it later. I have work"
"Ok, Chotte. Take care. Bye"
"Bye" Arnav disconnected the call.
He didn't know whether he should believe it or not. Khushi said he was in danger. As she said the killers targeted him. What was all this? Was this possible to predict something like this? Who was Khushi? Was she a predictor? Or something? He wanted to find it out. Arnav decided to watch Khushi.
.....
Nani got a call from Maya. She attended it.
"I have reached Varanasi Maji"
"Oh... that's great."
"Next time you too should come with me, Maji"
"Yeah... I will come if my candidature comes true"
"Oh... is that about Arnav's wedding?"
"Haha..." Nani laughed because it was not her candidature. She knew Arnav's wedding would happen soon because Khushi already told her about it. Nani wanted the mystery to get clear that was roaming around her house.
"Have you called Akash bituwa?"
"I did, Maji but he didn't attend my call. He must be busy in the office. He will call me when he sees my missed call"
"Ok, Maya... come to RM after returning back from Varanasi"
"Of course, Maji. I will come to give you Prasad"
"Ok"
Maya disconnected the call.
.........
Arnav came to the hospital to meet Aman and Akash. He saw them laying on the bed.
"How are you?" Arnav sat in between their beds.
"Much better now," Aman said.
Akash looked so weak. There was Band-Aid on his cheek and forehead.
"I'm sorry, yaar..." Arnav said feeling sad.
"Why are you sorry? Feel glad you didn't come to the office today. Or else, they would have killed you anyhow" Akash said in a weak tone.
"Yes, ASR. You would have seen their madness... they were really maniacs" Aman said.
"Did you tell Maya, aunty, about this attack?" Arnav asked.
"No... after an extended plan, she went to Varanasi with her friends last night. She will return back immediately if she gets to know about the attack. Let her finish her pilgrimage."
"Ok, then, you come to RM," Arnav said.
"No, Arnav. I can manage"
"How will you manage alone in this condition? Just come with me. That's final"
"Yes, Akash. ASR is right. Stay there for two days"
Akash nodded ok.
"Let's go"
Arnav took Akash to RM.
RM
Khushi bit her nail nervously.
"Don't worry, Khushi bitiya. I had a talk with Chotte"
"He didn't trust my words, Naniji. That's why I locked him in the washroom" Khushi sighed.
"It's ok, Khushi... leave it. happened is happened"
"By the way, where are aunty and Anjali Didi?"
"They went shopping"
"Oh..."
Nani's phone rang. Nani smiled, seeing the name.
"Panditji is calling"
"Is it?" Khushi was excited.
Nani attended the call.
"Namaste, Panditji..."
"Namaste Maji. Is Khushi there?"
"Yes, she is here only"
Nani extended the phone to Khushi and left the place, giving her space to talk freely.
"Hello, Bhaiya... how are you?"
"I'm fine. How are you?"
"I'm so fine"
"Are people in Devyaniji's family talking nicely?"
"Yes, Bhaiya. They talk nicely."
She looked for Nani and made sure she was not there.
"Bhaiya, I sense something in this house," she said in a low tone.
"Sensing something means?"
"Like, someone is near me... watching me..."
"Is it?"
"Haannn..."
"Do you know why Devyaniji came to our Temple?"
"No"
"She had many unspeakable problems in her family"
"Is it?"
"Yes... that's why she came to worship Devi Maiya"
"Will she get rid of the problems?"
"Yes, if someone does a special Pooja for her family"
"What Pooja?"
"It's a Durga Pooja. All her problems will solve if the Pooja is done"
"Oh..."
"But, Poor her. she could not do it. An unmarried girl or a married woman with a husband can only do it"
"There are many people in her family"
"No Khushi, they won't do it"
"But why?"
"That's what her problem is"
"May I do it for her?" Khushi asked without thinking.
"Of course, anyone can do it in her house"
"then tell me, I will do it"
"But, It's a little tough..."
"No problem. I have done many poojas so far. Don't you know?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Bhaiya... Nainji brought me to her house. Making me comfortable. I too want to do something for her"
"Ok... then I will tell you. The Pooja can be done on two dates. One is coming Friday. It's a NOMOON day. The next one is next month's first Tuesday. That will be a more powerful day than the no moon day"
"Why so?"
"Because it's DURGA ASHTAMI... the special day for Durga Matha"
"Oh..."
"But the Pooja should be done soon. We can't wait for long"
"Then I will do the Pooja this Friday itself"
"You should be fasting for the whole day. You should go to Devi ma's temple in the evening and should bring a lamp from the temple. Keeping it in the Pooja room, you should finish the Pooja. Then only you should eat anything"
"Ok... I will do it"
"You should chant a shloka for thousand times. I already gave it to Devyaniji. If you have any doubt regarding this, call me"
"Sure Bhaiya. Where is Siya Bhabi?"
"She is at home. I will ask her to call you in the afternoon"
"Ok, Bhaiya, bye" Khushi disconnected the call and came to the living room, searching for Nain.
That was when they heard a calling bell sound. Khushi ran into the Pooja room and hid in it. Nani opened the door and saw Arnav with Akash.
"Akash bituwa, what happened to you?" Nani asked, seeing Band-Aid on his forehead and cheekbone.
"A small accident..." Arnav said before Akash said anything.
Akash kept silent as he thought Arnav didn't want to make Nani nervous, telling her about the assignment attempt.
"I brought Akash here as Maya aunty went to Varanasi"
"Oh yes... come on, Akash bituwa"
They saw the Prakash brothers coming.
"Hari Prakash, take Akash to NK's room. He will be with NK"
HP nodded ok.
"Akash, go and take a rest."
Akash nodded ok and went to NK's room with HP.
Arnav ran his eyes, looking for Khushi. Where was she? He walked to his room. Khushi slowly came from the Pooja room. She saw him going to his room. She sighed in relief and came to Nani. As she didn't expect, Arnav looked turning his head. Khushi hid behind Nani, biting her lip. Arnav stood folding his hands. Khushi looked at him peeping and again pulled her head behind Nani.
"Khsuhiiiii" He called.
Khushi jerked with widened eyes. She looked at him gulping.
"Could you get me a cup of coffee?" he asked simply.
She nodded ok. Arnav went to his room.
"It seems, Arnavji is not angry with me," she said happily.
Nani nodded yes.
"Hey, Devi Maiya... thank you so much" Khushi rushed to the kitchen to prepare coffee for Arnav.
Khushi came to Arnav's room with his coffee. She knocked on the door and peeped inside.
"Come in," Arnav said.
"Actually, Arnavji... I'm sorry for locking you in the washroom" she walked in.
Arnav took the coffee from her hand and said nothing.
"Are you angry with me?"
He nodded no.
"Really?"
Arnav took another sip.
"Trust me, whatever I say in a flow will come true. That's why I don't want you to go. I'm sorry"
"It happens to you always?"
"Often..."
"Oh..."
"I faced people's wrath many times for uttering something against their wish"
Arnav was keenly watching her.
"They feel blessed if I say anything good. They curse me if I say something they don't want"
"Then why are you telling anything?"
"don't ask me that... I too don't want to tell anything to anyone... But, the words jump out of my words beyond my control" she said sadly.
Arnav was thoughtful
She was about to leave, she saw the poolside garden.
"Do you like plants?"
Arnav nodded slightly, pressing his lips together.
"Shall I give it a look?"
Arnav tilted his head gesturing for her to go ahead. Khushi rushed to the garden with a blooming smile. She liked the garden as it was full of flower plants. She looked at them with a smile. She frowned, seeing the DRIED rose plant in the colorful garden.
To be continued...