Part 49 Arrest Warrant

Simran hissed as she touched the hot utensil with bare hands.

"Oh... God..." she shouted.

Ratna pulled her hand under the tap and kept it under the running water and then she applied salt to her skin.

"You won't get a blister," Ratna said.

"That's all...?" Simran asked.

"Haan... why?"

"Won't you take me to the hospital?"

"Hospital? For this small wound?" Ratna chuckled.

"Small? It's burning..."

"You will be alright... See..." she showed her hand where there were two or three small scars.

Simran rolled her eyes.

"Let's take everything to the table." Ratna took a bowl and walked out of the kitchen.

Simran followed her fuming. Ratna called everyone to the dining to have lunch. Simran also sat there. Anjali came with Shyam and Arnav came with Khushi. Arnav saw Simran looking at them incensed. Arnav clutched Khushi's hand and made her sit next to him.

"Mom, did you do all the work alone?" Anjali asked.

Simran became curious. Ratna was going to praise her in front of everyone. But to her disappointment, Ratna said the truth.

"Don't ask me about it Anju. Today I got to know how important Prakash brothers are to our family" she sighed.

"Didn't Simran help you, aunty?" Shyam asked and Simran looked at Ratna with a smile.

Ratna sighed again.

"She doesn't even know to wash utensils, Damadji. Don't know what will she do when she gets married. One thing is sure... her in-laws are going to scold you and your father every day" Ratna said feeling sad.

Simran looked at Arnav who was whispering something in Khushi's ear and didn't give an ear to their talks. Khushi looked at him with wide-open eyes and nodded NO panicking. Arnav controlled his laughter.

"What's running between them?" Simran thought... correction... burnt in jealousy.

Ratna looked at them.

"What's the matter, Khushi? it seems something interesting is going on between you and your husband..." She asked.

Khushi nodded no hurriedly whereas Arnav said,

"Yes, Mom... there is an interesting matter... Khushi told me" Arnav said.

Khushi looked at him nervously.

"What's that Arnav?" Shyam asked.

"It's a story"

"What story?" Ratna asked.

"It's about a Mother-in-law and a Daughter-in-law story," Arnav said seriously.

"Arnavji, please... stop it," she said in a soft tone.

"What does she say?" Anjali asked.

"She doesn't want me to tell you the story"

"But why, Khushi?" Anjali pouted.

"Di... it's not a story to be said in front of everyone... that's why" Arnav purposely said.

"You said it's about a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law... then what's the problem?" Shyam asked.

"Of course, it is... yet to be censored"

"Censored?" Anjali dropped her jaw.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Sale Sahib, we will talk about it privately" Shyam winked.

"Khushi, are you talking about the censored matter with Chotte?" Ratna asked teasingly.

"Good improvement, Khushi" Anjali chuckled.

Khushi bit her inner lip awkwardly.

"Stop it Di... with whom she could talk censored matters other than her husband? Am I right Khushi?" Arnav asked, leaning towards her.

"Amma, leave it... you to sit with us" Khushi tried to divert the topic.

"Yes, Mom... you too sit with us. Khushi doesn't want you to work alone. Her heart will ache to see you working for us. But the mother-in-law in her story is not like you... she is a cunning woman" Arnav again came to the topic again.

Khushi closed her eyes with annoyance.

"Really?"

"Yes, Mom. You won't believe it if you get to know what she did."

Looking at Khushi,

"I too can believe that a woman doesn't want her son to be happy"

"Whaaaat? Is she such a woman?" Ratna asked.

"Yes, Mom... do you know how the woman fought with her Daughter-in-law?"

"Why did she fight with her daughter-in-law?"

"For trapping her son"

"Trapping? With whom did she fight?"

"With her daughter-in-law"

"For what?"

"Arnavji, please stop it" she pleaded, clutching his hand.

"Why Khushi...? See, how interestingly all are listening to me...!" Arnav said running his eyes on them.

Khushi sat straight pouting.

"Oh God... are you upset with me?"

She glared at him.

"I'm sorry guys, I can't tell you the story. My wife is angry with me"

Khushi sighed, rolling her eyes wearily.

"Arnavji please... stop it" she pleaded.

"Chotte... stop fussing her," Ratna said.

"Mom, I just thought to tell you the interesting story"

"I'm sure, something must be there in the story. That's why Chotte is teasing Khushi" Anjali said.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Di, you too will feel awkward in front of Jeejaji if he says the story," Khushi said, which made Shyam curious.

"Really? What's the story, Sale Sahib? We should surely discuss it later"

"Sure jeejaji. You tell the story to Di"

"Oh yes..." Shyam agreed.

"Then who will tell me the story?" Ratna asked.

"Your daughter-in-law will tell you," Arnav said.

Simran stood up from her chair as she could not bear the over cheesy family. She went to wash her hand and left the place.

"Mom, will you also fight with Khushi for trapping me?" Arnav asked.

Khushi closed her eyes.

"Khushi and trapping you? Chotte, don't forget, you are the one who trapped Khushi" Anjali laughed.

Khushi nodded yes pressing her lips.

"And, I won't trap you," Khushi said.

"Khushi, in the story also, the daughter-in-law didn't trap her husband. Vimla Mousi thought so because of her *uncontrollable* son" Arnav said seriously but he faced a tough time controlling his laughter, seeing Khushi's expression.

Khushi gritted her teeth and started reciting the story to them. She finished it in a go. All of them were looking at her without disturbing her until they finished the story, of course, controlling their laughter. She looked at Arnav pouting, like,

*Are you happy now? *

All of them glanced at each other and laughed out louder.

"Haha... interesting" Shyam said.

"By the way, why did you tell the story to Chotte?" Anjali asked.

"She was so happy that her mother-in-law is not like Vimla Mousi" Arnav said.

Ratna smiled at Khushi.

"Don't be so happy Khushi. Every mother-in-law would be good at the beginning. Am I right Mom?" Arnav asked.

Ratna raised a spatula, gesturing like hitting him. Arnav flinched back and laughed.

That's when his mobile rang. Seeing the number, Arnav excused himself and went a little aloof. The call was from Assistant Commissioner Naushad.

"Hello, Sir"

"ASR, we rounded up Ajay Singh's place but he was not there but only his mobile."

"But where did he go?"

"Don't know..."

"He might have known about your raid in advance I suppose," Arnav told him about his doubt.

"No way, ASR... I got the commissioner's permission and reached the place immediately. I didn't even tell the crew about where we were going"

"Did you get any information from Ajay Singh's mobile?"

"Our team is working on it, ASR. Please be safe and make sure your wife is not stepping out of the house alone"

"I will take care of it"

"Very soon, we will reach Ajay Singh with the help of his phone. Until then be careful"

"Sure"

Arnav disconnected the call. He turned around only to find Shyam standing.

"Anything serious Arnav?"

"Ajay Singh is still in Delhi. He is sketching something I suppose"

"What do the police say?"

"He asked me to be careful and also asked to take care of Khushi"

They looked at Khushi who was chitchatting with Anjali and Ratna with a blush. It seems they were teasing her.

"I'm leaving India tomorrow night. Shall I..."

Cutting him,

"You don't have to worry about anything. you just carry on. This French deal is very important to us. We can't mess it up"

Shyam nodded yes.

"Ajay Singh is a dangerous guy, Arnav. Don't underestimate him. He tried to kidnap Khushi from coming to Delhi. It seems the extreme level of guts..."

"Of course, he is a gutful man. I saw that many times"

"Be careful Arnav..."

Arnav nodded yes.

"Don't let them know anything, as of now"

Shyam nodded ok. They came to the dining and sat with them again. They again started chitchatting but Arnav's mind was not at peace. He was disturbed by the truth that Ajay Singh slipped from the police's clutch. He didn't even have a phone now. So, there was no chance for the police to trace him. Don't know why he was still staying in Delhi and what was he planning...

Evening

Raizadas were having tea in the living room. Shyam went to open the door as someone rang the calling bell. He saw Assistant commissioner Naushad standing with a few cops.

"Yes, Sir?"

Arnav came to them.

"Hello, Sir... you here?"

"We checked Ajay Singh's mobile. We got some information from that. He has a helping hand in Delhi. We suspect he may have gotten much information through a particular person."

"Who is that?"

"We traced the person's number too. The number is presently located in RM"

"Whaaaat?" Arnav asked shockingly.

"Yes, Sir... her name is Simran. She was the one who shared the temple's location with Ajay Singh. We are here to arrest her. this is the arrest warrant."

Not only Shyam but also everyone was shocked.

To be continued...