3 Page Marker
Part 3 Page Marker
Arnav was riding the car with a lot of thoughts. Why his mother didn't say anything when he asked about Chutki? Why didn't she say that Chutki is not in the same house in which she lived ten years ago? Why did they leave the place? Why he has not said anything about it? In fact, no one talked about Chutki in the past years. Arnav thought that they didn't talk about her because he is a teenager and they will talk about her when they fix the marriage. But it seems different here. They didn't invite them to the party. Ratna didn't say anything about them when he asked about her. What's happening here?
Arnav couldn't stop his mind from getting flashbacks.
Eleven years ago
Sashi Gupta was a loyal employee of Avinash Singh Raizada... Arnav's grandfather. He was such a person who gives an exact account detail for a single penny. So no wonder if Avinash treated him as one of the family members. But Shashi never took its advantage. He stood in his limits.
There was one more reason behind that... Subhadra Raizada... She strictly ordered him to be within his limits. As Shashi never took advantage, he didn't feel bad about that because he knew about Subhadra's nature and background.
Shashi came to RM with an important file as usual. Arnav, who came running, banged with Shashi, and Shashi dropped the file on the floor. Arnav kneeled down on the floor and started collecting the papers.
"I'm sorry uncle..." Arnav said repenting.
"You just leave it Chotte Sahib...I will collect it."
Arnav's hand stopped, seeing a beautiful, glittering PAGE MARKER. It was "A boy giving a rose to a girl" page marker with perfect finishing. He took it from the floor.
"It's beautiful..."
"My daughter made it..."
"Really? Does she make such things?"
"Yeah... in free time, she makes handcrafts."
"What is she studying?"
"She is studying in the fourth standard."
"Who teaches her to make of handcrafts?"
"No one... she learns from book and TV."
"Ohh... nice... can I take it?"
Shashi hesitated, thinking about Subhadra. She won't like it if Arnav gets anything from servants but, Arnav's 'expectation filled face' not letting him say NO.
"Ask Chutki to make one more for me too."
Shashi turned around and find Avinash standing.
"Namaste Sahib..." Shashi wished him.
Arnav rushed to him.
"Dadu... see, how beautiful this is..."
Avinash looked at Shashi.
"CHOTTE SAHIB likes it..." Shashi said with hesitation.
"How many times do you want me to say, don't call him SAHIB?"
"I'm used to it, Sahib..." Shashi swallowed hard.
"Call him Arnav or Chotte... just Chotte..."
Shashi stood said nothing.
"Do you like it?" Avinash asked Arnav.
"Haan... this is so nice. I will use this when I read books."
"Take it," Avinash said looking at Shashi.
"Thank you, Dadu... Thank you, Uncle..."
He took a step and stopped.
"Convey my thanks to Chutki too..."
He went to his room with the page marker. He kept it in his storybook.
The next day
Arnav went to the book shop with a driver. He bought a lot of comic books and storybooks. He thought about Shashi's daughter when he saw a HANDCRAFT book in the shop. Without thinking of anything, he bought it for her.
He saw Shashi entering the temple when he returning back to RM.
"Driver uncle, stop the car...." He shouted.
The driver stopped the car. In no time, Arnav got down from the car and rushed to the temple, taking the book. He searched for Shashi, here and there. Finally, he found him in front of Devi Maiya's idol. Shashi surprised, seeing Chotte Sahib in the temple.
"Chotte Sahib... you here?
"Stop calling me Sahib... didn't Dadu warn you?"
Shashi made face. What could he do if people drag him from both sides? Subhadra wants him to call Arnav respectfully but Avinash is the direct opposite to her. He sighed.
"With whom you came?" Shashi asked.
"I came here, seeing you."
"But why?"
"To give this book."
"What book is this?"
"Hand craft book."
"Ohh... is this book for Chutki?"
"Yes..." he extended.
"You, yourself give it to her."
"Will you bring her to RM?"
"No... she is here only. Today is her birthday."
"Ohhh really? Where is she?"
"Chutki.... Come here at..."
Arnav saw a nine-year-old girl in a traditional outfit rushing towards them.
"Chutki... didn't I say you about Chotte Sa...?" He stopped without telling SAHIB. She nodded yes.
Arnav extended the book towards Chutki and said,
"Happy Birthday."
"Thank you, Chotte sahib." She said innocently.
"You too?" Arnav sighed.
She looked at Shashi, not understanding anything.
"Don't call me sahib... ok?" he almost ordered.
She nodded OK and extended a sweet box towards him. Arnav took one from the box.
"Your page marker is so beautiful. I liked it very much. There are many things in this book. I hope it will be useful to you."
She turned the page and became excited, seeing them.
"Do you like it?"
She nodded yes and again said,
"Thank you" Smilingly.
Shashi saw the driver searching for Arnav, standing at the entrance of the temple.
"Mohan is searching for you. Please go home. Maji will be waiting for you."
"Ok uncle... Bye Chutki..."
"Bye," She waved her hand.
Arnav left the temple with Mohan.
When he entered RM, Subhadra was waiting for him in the living room. Ratna was standing beside her nervously.
"Arnav..."
Subhadra's strong voice stopped him.
"Where were you?"
"I went to buy books."
" But, I heard something...?"
Arnav looked at Ratna. She showed him the TEMPLE sign.
"Why did you go to the temple?"
"Is it wrong to go to the temple?"
"Stop back questioning, Arnav. Don't forget you are talking with your Dadi."
"I don't forget you are my Dadi. But you have forgotten that I'm your grandson and treating me as a servant."
"Arnav... mind your words."
"What's wrong if I go to the temple? You are compelling me to worship at home and question me if I go to the temple."
"Going to the temple is not wrong but meeting low-class people are not up to our status."
"I meet none other than Shashi uncle."
"Don't call him UNCLE."
"Before Arnav asked,
"Why? Why shouldn't he call him Uncle?" Avinash was standing with an upset face.
"He is our servant, after all..."
"He is human at first...."
"How Arnav will respect me if you argue with me in front of him?"
"Teach him good things, keeping your Royal pride aside then he will automatically respect you."
"You are spoiling him..."
"If you say he is a spoilt brat just because he respects poor people, then let it be. I will proudly say my grandson is a spoilt brat."
Subhadra left the place fuming. Avinash tapped Arnav's shoulder.
"I just gave Chutki a hand graft book, Dadu. For that, Dadi is scolding me." He said sadly.
"Leave it. Did Chutki like it?"
"Yeah... do you know, today is her birthday."
"Really?"
"Yeah..."
"What did she say?"
"She said, Thank you Chotte Sahib..." He mimicked like her which made Avinash chuckled.
"Did she call you Sahib?"
"Haan Dadu... but I ordered her not to call sahib."
"You ordered?" Avinash raised his brows.
Arnav nodded yes.
"We should not order anyone no matter who they are. All are equal in this world."
"But Dadi orders everyone...?"
"Yeah... it because she pays for them... so she thinks herself is the upper hand..."
"Doesn't she?"
"Think once, what if no one is ready to serve for her? What will she do?"
"She has to do all the work..."
Avinash nodded yes even though he knew Subhadra will die instead of working.
According to Subhadra, Avinash is the one who spoilt Arnav with good morals. Because of him, Arnav learned to treat people equally. Arnav likes his grandfather more than his grandmother. In fact, he respects her... but love...? No chance is given to Arnav to love Subhadra. She orders... scolds... restricts...disappoints... then how he loves her?
This is how RM worked. Subhadra tried to keep control under her feet. Arvind and Ratna were always in her control but Avinash and Arnav.
The next day
Avinash went to see a new site with Shashi for the business. He doesn't know that it was a trap for him. His business rival planned to kill Avinash. As Avinash didn't expect, someone shot him. In the process of saving Avinash, Shashi pushed him and he fell on the floor, slipping down. His head got hit on the nail and the nail took his life on the spot. Avinash stood, looking at Shashi's lifeless body horrifically.
To be continued...
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