16 Emotional Arnav
Part 16 Emotional Arnav
Khushi saw Nani going to the kitchen. She followed her.
"What are you going to do Naniji?"
"Going to prepare juice for Akash bituwa"
"Is he going to come here?"
"He is already here... He met with an accident. So, Chotte brought him here"
"Accident? is he alright, Naniji?"
"Yes. His mother went to Varanasi. There is no one at his house to take care of him. That's why Chotte brought him here"
"Oh... Let me prepare juice for him"
Taking oranges from the fridge, Khushi started preparing juice.
"Did Chotte get angry with you?"
"No Nani, he talked so nicely"
"Is it?"
"Yes, he talked about his mother also"
"Mother?" What did he talk about?" Nani wondered.
"I saw a dried plant in his Garden and asked about it"
"What did he say?"
"He said it was planted by his mother before her death. It withered its leaves but it's still green"
Nani nodded yes.
"Arnavji loves his mother so much right?"
Nani nodded yes again. She didn't say, Ratna was killed. Khushi was already sensing someone's presence around her. She would get scared if she got to know about Ratna. She didn't want Khushi to be scared. So she kept silent.
"Shall I give it to him, Naniji?
"Will you?"
"Why not?"
"He is in Nanne's room... left side second room, on first floor"
Khushi nodded ok and walked to NK's room.
Khushi knocked on NK's room door which was half closed. Akash who was lying on the bed, saw Khushi standing with juice. He sat on the bed swiftly.
"Khushiji, you?"
"May I come in?"
"Please come Khushiji" Akash got down from the bed.
"How are you feeling now?"
"Fine Khushiji"
"Naniji said you met with an accident. That's why I came to know how you are feeling now"
"I am feeling better now. Khushiji. Thanks for coming"
Khushi extended the juice glass to him.
"Naniji asked me to give this juice to you"
"Thank you, so much" he took the glass from her.
"Don't you like to go to Varanasi with your mother?"
"No Khushiji... she went with her friends. My friends will tease me, if I go to Varanasi, as this is not an age to visit Varanasi"
"Is there any age limit to visit Varanasi?"
"No, not like that... But only elderly people like to visit such holy places"
"Who said? I so want to visit Varanasi. I was nagging my Nanu to take me to Varanasi. But he didn't get time. It is a wonderful place anyone should visit. Age is not a matter because no one knows when we will leave this world. Right?"
"You are a young girl but talking very big theories..." Akash smiled mildly.
"That is what reality., Akashji..."
"Yes, you are right but many of us forget the reality of death"
"It's because it's so bitter..." she said remembering her grandfather.
Composing herself,
"Have this juice Akashji. Call me if you want anything, please don't hesitate"
"Sure Khushiji"
Khushi walked to the exit.
"Khushiji..." Aakash called.
Khushi looks that him.
"Thank you so much"
Khushi smile at him and left the room. Akash looked at the juice glass and smiled. He started drinking the juice with the same smile.
In the meanwhile,
Shyam and NK returned to RM. They hurried to Arnav's room. Nani saw them and asked,
"Where are you guys running?"
"To meet Nannav, Dadu"
"But, what so urgent?"
"Then what Dadu? Nannav had escaped from death in the slight gap"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you know about it?"
Nani nodded no.
"Big attack held in AR to kill Nannav"
"What did you say?" Nani was shocked.
"Yes Dadu, thank god Nannav didn't go to the office today... I think he should have gotten trapped in the traffic"
Nani looked at Shyam who was silent. NK used to attend every function with family but Shyam usually didn't like to attend any functions. Then, why today? What made him attend the function? Nani became suspicious.
"We went to the office after completing the housewarming function. Then only we got to know about it. The police asked Nannav to give off to the staff today it seems"
Nani looked horrified. So Khushi's prediction became true. Thank God Khushi locked Arnav in the washroom. Otherwise, did not know what would have happened to him.
Shyam and NK walked to Arnav's room. Nani followed them. NK ran into Arnav's room and hugged him. Arnav looked at Nani who was gazing at him with a lot of meaning.
"Thank God nothing happened to you Nannav..." NK said emotionally.
"We went to the office and the Inspector told us everything," Shyam said.
"Thank the Lord, you didn't go to the office," NK said.
"By the way, what made you miss the important deal today?" Shyam asked.
That question of Shyam pricked Nani.
"What does that mean Shyam?" She asked with disappointment.
"Arnav never had been late to any client meeting... Today, he skipped it. It was unbelievable..."
Nani waited for Arnav to answer him. She wanted to know what answer Arnav would give.
"I got trapped in the traffic " Arnav lied.
Somehow, it satisfied Nani because she didn't want anyone to know about Khushi's superpower until the pooja got over. After all, the person behind Ratna's murder might try to create a hindrance to stop the pooja. She didn't want that to happen.
"I will code our next project at home itself," Shyam said.
Arnav nodded okay.
"NK, Akash is in your room."
"Yeah, our staff said Akash was attacked by the killers," NK said.
Nani looked at Arnav, her shrinking eyes. Didn't he say it was an accident? Arnav averted his gaze away. Nani understood that he lied to her. However, Arnav got to know the truth. Though he won't accept it easily he would not ignore it. She left the room after throwing a smile at him.
.....
Khushi came from Akash's room. She stopped hearing a calling bell sound. She opened the door and was perplexed seeing somebody standing with heavy luggage.
"Who are you?" The young girl asked.
"I'm Khushi..."
"Hi, jeeji" Manorama shouted in joy, rushing towards them.
They also smiled at Manorama.
"Sasuma, jeeji came from the US"
Khushi understood they were Shyam's parents and his sister. Nani came with a smile. Sudhagar touched Nani's feet.
"How are you, ma?"
"I am fine..."
"Who is she sasuma?" Anjana asked pointing at Khushi.
"She is Shivshankar's granddaughter from Lucknow" Manorama took lead.
"Why is she here?"
"It's because she has no one," Manorama said.
"What do you mean? Is she going to be here?" Anjana frowned.
"Yes, jeeji... sasuma brought her here, forever"
"But, we already have many workers in RM"
"Chup... We should not call her servant... Sasuma will get angry because she is our guest" Manorama taunted.
Anjana looked at Nani with disappointment.
"Do you think this is an orphanage? From when did you start supporting the homeless?" Anjana asked glancing at Khushi.
"Anjana mind your tongue...this is not manners to talk in front of her like this" Nani's voice becomes strict.
Khushi looked down gulping down.
"Ma, why are you getting angry with her? It's not safe to give shelter at our house to unknown people" Sudhakar came for his wife's support.
"She is not an unknown girl. She is Shivashankar's granddaughter."
"Don't you think of getting our acceptance before bringing her here?" Anjana asked.
"I got Chotte's acceptance before bringing her here," Nani said
"Oh... did you hear what she said? She got Chotte's acceptance... What does that mean? She got the owner of the house's permission. So, we should be shutting our mouths" Anjana taunted.
Sudhakar was about to say something, but he stopped hearing,
"When did you come?" from Arnav.
They saw him getting down the stairs. They came to the composer and brought smiles to their faces.
"Just now we came and were asking about you" Anjana grinned.
"How was your trip Lavi?" Arnav asked Lavanya.
"That was an awesome and fun-filled trip Bhai. I have a lot to share with you"
"Sure, we will do it later. First, go and get fresh"
"Yeah..." Lavanya went to her room pulling two of her trolley bags with two hands.
Sudhakar and Anjana also retired to their room. Manorama followed them. Khushi wondered. They questioned Nani a lot but they didn't even open their mouth in front of Arnav.
Khushi was about to go,
"Khushi" Arnav called her.
Khushi looked at him.
"Don't take them seriously. Just ignore them. Ok?"
Khushi was surprised. She thought Arnav didn't hear their talks. But, it seemed he did. He should have known that they won't argue with him about it.
"I'm sorry for whatever they said," Arnav said.
"That's ok, Arnavji... honestly speaking, I don't know why I'm here. I think I should leave..."
Arnav was about to say something, but she stopped him showing her palm.
"I will stay here for Nani for a few more days. After that..." She nodded her left to right and left the place.
"Our people don't even know the alphabet of curtesy" Nani sighed and went to her room.
Arnav felt bad for Khushi. He didn't know how to console her. It was hell to have no one for ourselves. He sighed and went to his room. Khushi didn't come to the dining for dinner. All of them stopped eating when Arnav asked,
"Where is Khushi Nani?"
"She is in my room"
"Why didn't she come for dinner?"
"She said milk is enough for her"
"If she said the same tomorrow also, don't allow her," Arnav said.
Nani nodded ok and all the others spared a glance at one another.
The next day
Taking his morning shower, Arnav got ready to go to the office. HP gave him coffee. Adjusting his tie, he took the coffee mug and sipped it. He was about to take the next sip, and his hand stopped. His eyes widened with astonishment. His hand lowered down with the coffee mug. Keeping the cup on the tea table, he rushed to the rose plant. The plant that never germinated a single leaf was being covered full of red tiny leaves. Arnav became emotional and his eyes tear up.
To be continued...
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