Part 40 Murderer...

Garima was arranging for the marriage rituals wholeheartedly but pretending like she was upset because she doesn't want the villagers to get suspect them. Today is Mehendi. She saw Khushi coming from the temple. She asked Khushi to get ready for the ritual. Khushi's friends were experts in drawing Mehandi. They were in Khushi's place to draw Mehendi on her palms and also legs.

Khushi sat on the small stool, in front of a girl and extended her palm towards her. Another girl started drawing on her legs.

"Khushi, do you want to write the old man's name on your palm?" the girl asked sadly.

Khushi nodded yes which surprised them.

"What's his name?"

Khushi got stuck. What does she say? Could she say Arnav's name?

"Just write his first letter..." Khushi said.

Thank God, Arnav and Ankit names have the same first letter.

The girl wrote the first letter of the Groom's name in HINDI. Khushi looked at her palm smilingly.

The Mehandi ritual got completed.

........

Arnav had dinner with his friends. That's when NK came there.

"Hi. NK." The trio said in a go.

"Hi, guys... Do you know, Akash met my dad and asked for a job?" Disbelief was written all over his face.

"Really? But you said he won't meet your father because you are our friend?" Aman asked.

"That's what confuses me. Why did he meet my father?" NK asked with confusion.

"Is any job opportunities there in the village?" Arnav asked doubtfully.

"Very less... in fact, the village next to Bolenath village has a lot of job opportunities," NK said.

"Really?" Arnav asked.

"Yes, there is a big landlord in the village. He has many MILLS there. I don't know why he went to my father's village." NK said.

"Is there anything he plans?" Arnav asked.

"Ask your father to eye on him," Aman said.

"We don't have to say that. My father will definitely do that. And Akash himself knows that my father will definitely eye on him." NK said.

"Still, he went there?" Arnav scrunched his brows.

"That's what makes me confuse..." NK said.

"Why he intentionally puts himself in the hands of the radar?" Arnav asked thinking deep.

"Whatever, we should be careful," NK said.

Arnav nodded yes while extending a roti plate to NK.

"The Mehendi ritual is over," NK said taking the plate from Arnav's hand.

"Ohh... Arnav's name was written on Khushi's palm?" Aman asked smiling at Arnav.

"Yeah... they just completed it today," NK said while munching a roti in his mouth.

"What's the next ritual?" Arnav asked excitedly.

"It may be sangeet or haldi," NK said.

"Won't they invite us?" Aman asked.

"Maybe, for the sangeet function, they will invite you... I mean Arnav." NK said smilingly.

"Correction... not Arnav... Ankit..." Shyam laughed.

NK nodded yes smiling.

"Ok... I just came to tell you about Akash. I have to go now."

"Let me know if your father coveys anything about Akash," Arnav said.

"Sure..." NK assured.

He left the room. Arnav discussed Akash with Aman and Shyam for a while. And then they slept.

......

On the other hand, Khushi was looking at her palm couldn't sleep. She was on cloud nine that day. This is the day she dreams of. Akash left the village and she is going to get married to Arnav in a few days. She was thinking about how Arnav pleaded her today morning. Her cheek became crimson in color.

That's when she heard a murmuring sound from the backside of her house. She looked out through the window. Sharpening her ears, she listened to it. She heard a woman voice and Khushi didn't know whose voice was that as it was gauzy. Khushi slowly opened the door and peeped out. She saw two shadows crossing. Slowly coming out, she stood under the tree where once Arnav hid to hear her statement.

Khushi stunned, seeing the person. She was Akash's mother Mohini. She was beseeching someone but Khushi couldn't see the other person. At the same time, she had never seen her pleading with someone. Mohini was an arrogant woman, after all. Khushi couldn't hear her so clear because she sounded very low. Taking slow and cautious steps, Khushi came a little close to them. What she heard made her shiver.

"Look, I have no money... you know that my son lost everything in Gambling. Please wait for a while." Mohini pleaded the woman.

"From where will you get the money? Your useless son lost everything in the gambling..." the woman mocked.

Now, Khushi understood, hearing the voice who the woman is. She is Radha. She worked on Akash's farm. But why does she ask for money, that too rightfully?

"Trust me. Akash will get all our properties back soon. I will give you the amount in double." Mohini said.

"Let me see, how your son will give me money. But don't forget... if you try to cheat me then I will tell the whole village that you and your son murdered Payal."

Khushi closed her mouth in shock hearing Radha's statement. Is it true? She couldn't believe these mother and son could be so heartless. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She clutched her half-saree pallu in anger. She just wanted to hit Mohini black and blue.

"Shhhhh... don't talk loudly," Mohini said gritting her teeth.

"I will give you one week time... if I don't get money... Then I won't say again what will I do," she warned.

Mohini left the place sighing. Khushi controlled herself from crying loudly. She stayed there until Radha left the place. She rushed inside the home and cried the whole night.

She didn't know what to do now. She pitied her mother. Don't know how she is going to bear the pain of the truth. This is not a matter to rush. It has to be proven with proof. She can't do it alone. She decided to tell Arnav about it. He will decide what to do.

....

Arnav was sleeping in his room peacefully. His sleep got disturbed as someone knocked on their room door. Arnav sat, shrugging the bed sheet, squeezing his eyes. He suddenly remembered something. He touched his beardless face. Taking the fake beard, he patched it upon his face.

He opened the door, squeezing his eye, pretending like he is sleepy. He stunned, seeing the young man standing at the doorstep.

"Mahi... you here?" he asked perplexed.

"Arjun... come with me... now..." The young man said.

"Now...? Where...?" Arnav questioned.

"No more questions Arjun... just come with me."

"Ok..." Arnav was about to close the door,

"Bring your friends also..." the young man said.

Arnav looked at him surprisingly because he knew the young man won't meet anyone without reason.

"Are you sure, Mahi?"Arnav asked couldn't believe.

"I said no more questions. Do what I said. Take all the important things and leave." He ordered.

We knew usually the young man won't order.

Arnav became thoughtful. Something must be surely wrong. But Arnav didn't waste time in asking questions. He hurried inside the room and woke up Aman and Shyam. They sat in a complete sleepy mode.

"What ASR?" Aman asked in a drowsy tone.

"Mahi wants us to come with him..."

"Mahi?" Shyam asked getting out of sleep.

"Yeah, he is waiting for us outside."

"Really?" Shyam asked in surprise.

"Yeah... let's take the necessary things."

Arnav started packing his stuff. Aman and Shyam glanced at each other with confusion.

"Let's do it, Aman. If Mahi insists something, there is a reason." Arnav said hurrying.

"Arnav is right, Aman. Come on... fast." Shyam also started packing his stuff.

They came packing their things. But Arnav didn't see the young man there. He ran his eyes and saw him standing in a tree shadow, a little far away from the house. Arnav and friends headed towards him.

"Why do you want us to come out of the house Mahi?" Arnav asked.

"Wait... in a few minutes, you will get to know the reason."

As the young man said, they waited there. In a few minutes, they saw their house burning suddenly. They were horrified and looked at the young man with an unnamed expression.

The young man pointed his finger towards the house and they saw a man standing with a fire stick. They could see him in the light of flame clearly. They looked at the young man and he gestured them to go ahead. In no time, the trio ran towards him like mad persons.

To be continued...