Part 11 The horoscope

Arnav came to his room all the way thinking about the astrologer. He wanted to see the astrologer's face when he corners him. He came to his room.

Ratna saw him climbing the stairs. She thought to give him coffee. She went to the kitchen and prepared it.

Arnav removed his coat and tie and threw them on the recliner. Tomorrow he had to go to Chennai. He should get his suitcase ready today itself. When he thought about his Chennai trip, he could not avoid thinking about the girl who was the reason for it, Khushi. Thank God, she saved his project. What would have happened if she had not? The goodwill of his company would have fled away. He could not have approached any company for the project from here on. He would have met much mockery from his rivals. Thank God she saved him.

Arnav chuckled remembering his new name, Komodo Dragon. He smiled recalling how she hopped on the file with anger.

That was when, he saw Ratna looking at him getting stuck. He composed himself. She came with the coffee cup.

"Chotte, what's the reason for your smile? Have you found someone who could make you forget your past?" She asked curiously which made Arnav stuck.

He managed himself.

"Mom, I'm thinking about the Chennai concert. Do you how I bagged the deal?"

Ratna hit his bicep.

"Why?"

"Anytime, deal, project, office, file... won't you think about a girl in your life?" she gave him the coffee cup.

"I'm always thinking about a girl OF MY LIFE... you know that" he started sipping the coffee.

"But, Chotte, you too need someone"

"Do you want me to forget her?"

"I didn't mean it"

"Then? I can think of my marriage only IF I forget her... I just can't forget her mom"

"It has been fifteen years since she went missing... we don't even know whether she is alive. Even if she is alive, she would have forgotten you because she was just seven years old at that time"

"But, I was fourteen years old at that time. I still remember everything. Does not it matter?"

"Passing your day uselessly is not wise"

"Who is passing days uselessly? There are many families depending on our company... is not it enough?"

Ratna sighed.

"Go, talking to you is useless"

"By the way, why did you call the astrologer?"

"What else? Arvindji wanted to know if you would change your mind"

"What did the astrologer say?"

"Nothing" She snatched the empty cup and walked.

"I understood what he had told you," Arnav said.

Ratna left without turning behind.

Arnav locked the door and came to his cupboard. He pulled the old trunk from the top shelf. He opened it and there were a few items in the trunk. He caressed them lovingly. He felt a tug in his heart while doing that. He searched for a paper in the trunk. There it was... he grabbed the paper which was so naïve. He kept it in his purse and rearranged the trunk on the same shelf.

The next day, he would sort the astrologer's issue. He smiled.

............

Aman came home. Anjali smiled at him.

"You are looking tired. I will bring you coffee" She was supposed to go to the kitchen, but Aman clutched her hand and stopped her.

Anjali looked at him raising her brows.

"How do you know Khushi?" Aman asked.

Anjali was horrified.

"I mean, how did you and Khushi become friends? She is not your school and college friend because I know all your friends. How did you get Khushi's friendship suddenly?"

"We met in a shopping complex" she stammered.

"Is it?"

"Haan, why?"

"I just asked"

"I will get you coffee"

Aman nodded ok. Anjali hurried to the kitchen. Aman came to the bedroom where Rithvik playing.

"Dad..." he rushed to Aman and hugged his legs.

Aman lifted him in his arms.

"Rithu, do you like Khushi?"

"so much" He spread his hands.

"Why?"

"She saved me from the truck and got hurt. Poor she..."

"Where?"

"When we went to the shopping"

Aman came to the kitchen with Rithvik and stood at the entrance.

"Did Khushi really save you from the truck?" Aman asked, looking at Anjali. Her hand stopped which was supposed to take sugar.

She looked at Aman gulping down. Her eyes pooled up.

"I...I'm sorry... I was scared to tell you about it..." Tears rolled down her cheek.

Aman came close to her. In no time, Anjali hugged him crying.

"Idiot... don't I know how watchful you are in Rithu's matter? Do you think I will scold you for being careless?"

Anjali nodded yes.

"I know you too love Rithu as much as I love him"

"I'm sorry"

"It's ok... but don't hide anything from me, ok?"

"Mmm... how do you know about it?"

"Khushi told ASR about it"

"Whaaaat? Did she tell him about it?" She became nervous.

Aman nodded yes.

"Oh, God, he is going to shout at me for sure. Why did Khushi tell him about it?"

"She was supposed to resign the job."

"But why?" she was more shocked.

Aman told her the issue.

"Did Arnav tore the project papers to win Khushi? I can't believe this"

Aman nodded yes.

"Not only that, he behaved so unthankfully to her"

"This is so unfair"

"Yes, That's why Khushi wanted to resign. She said he doesn't have to bother about you and she will manage you. That was when she blabbered about Rithu unaware of the truth that we don't know about the incident"

"Is Khushi going to resign?"

"No, she challenged him to expel her"

Anjali sighed.

"I lost my hope..." Aman said.

"I too..." Anjali said making a face.

"Leave them... we can do nothing in this matter. ASR is not a man who could be manipulated." Aman said.

Anjali nodded her head affirmatively.

.....

The next day

Arnav decided to meet the astrologer before going to the office. So, he drove the car towards the astrologer's place. The astrologer was waiting for him as Arnav was his VIP customer.

"Take your seat, beta," he asked.

Arnav sat in front of him.

"Tell me, why did you want to meet me?"

Arnav removed the paper from his pocket and placed it in front of the astrologer.

"This is a horoscope. I want to know about this person" he didn't say whether the person was MALE or FEMALE.

The astrologer wondered and asked,

"I heard you have no faith in astrology..."

"Why not you try to make me believe in it?" he smirked.

"My pleasure"

The astrologer opened the paper and observed it. Arnav was watching him keenly, getting ready to catch him red-handed. But, his first point about the horoscope itself tongue-tied Arnav.

"This girl's name holds the meaning of HAPPINESS"

Arnav was dumbfounded.

"Am I right?"

Arnav was gazing at him not blinking.

"Beta, you are here to question me. I can go to the next answer only if you say whether I'm right or wrong"

"Yeah... you are right"

"What's her name? Santhoshi... Anandhi... Khushi...?"

Arnav again got stuck. He nodded no gulping down and said,

"Kushali"

"Mmm... she would have lost her parents in her childhood. A stranger couple will raise her like a QUEEN. She will be the eye of an apple to them"

"Is she alive?"

"Of course... she is... She is a girl who can be controlled only by LOVE. She won't care about who the opposite person is. She will do what is right. She is a quick learner and a good observer. She respects people at the same time won't tolerate their attitude"

Arnav could not hold himself from thinking about the girl who recently entered his life... Khushi because all the characteristics in the horoscope suited her.

"What about her marriage?" Arnav asked.

"She will get married soon even though she is already married"

Arnav widened his eyes.

"Will she marry AGAIN?" he asked restlessly.

"Yes... she will marry the same person again"

Arnav's face lit.

"You mean will she meet her husband?"

"Yes... but it won't happen easily. She should cross many hard phases to reach her husband"

"What about her husband? Won't he try to find her?"

"He is the one who is going to find her"

Arnav sighed in relief.

"But why did they get separated?"

"Fate... what else could I say?"

Arnav was fed-up and at the same time, he was happy about her remarriage with her husband.

"By the way, who is this girl?" the astrologer asked.

"My WIFE," said Arnav.

To be continued...

Note: Guys, just to add spice to the story only I picked the CHILD MARRIAGE concept. Don't think I'm supporting it. I'm totally against child marriage. Thank you.