Part 15 Mother of Abhi

Arnav came to the office with disinterest. But, an interesting matter had been waiting for him to make him interested. When he entered the office, he heard,

"Khushi is a mystery..."

Arnav's legs didn't move. He stood listening to Sheetal. Yes, the person who talked about Khushi was none other than Sheetal. she was talking with someone... or, she was pretending like talking with someone.

"I have never seen her husband you know? She addresses herself as a married woman but there is no one in her house, called husband. I think she should have adopted her son to make us believe that she is married. (Arnav was shocked to the core. Does she have a SON?) She is not even looking like a married woman. Something is there in her story that no one knows. Don't know why she hides it from everyone. She simply says I don't like to talk about my personal matter. Why so? She never answers any of our questions. Where is your husband? No answer... what is your husband? No answer... what about your family? No answer... don't know what's she hiding from the world... maybe, she is doing this to protect herself from people who are behind helpless women."

She turned her head and saw Arnav.

"Good morning, sir," she said.

Arnav nodded yes and walked away. Sheetal smiled inwardly. Thank God, she had done something that she wanted to...

Someone called Sheetal when she crossed a particular cubicle.

"Sheetal madam..."

She stopped. It was accountant Keshav.

"Yes...?"

"Did you meet my wife yesterday?" Keshav asked.

"I didn't meet her... I saw her when I went to the temple yesterday"

"Does that make difference?"

"Of course... You are talking like I met her with an intention."

"Had not you had any intention?"

"I had an intention to pray when I went to the temple..."

"What did you tell my wife?"

"I just answer her questions... That too not directly but indirectly... Because I don't want to break a good woman's heart who is thinking her husband is a gentleman"

"Why are you interfering in my personal matter?"

"What's your personal matter, sir? Is having affairs with someone's wife a personal matter? Why do you need Sheena when you have a lovable wife?"

"It's none of your business"

"Will you tell the same if Sheena's husband questions you...?"

Keshav was horror-struck.

"In fact, he won't waste time asking you questions if he got to know the relationship between you and his wife..." She said sarcastically.

"Look, madam..."

Sheetal folded her hands.

"Sheena's husband tortures her... Poor woman, she has no one"

"Oh... Really...? So sad... How many men does your wife have for herself?"

"Madaaaamm" he gritted his teeth.

"You just said Sheena had no one. That means, your wife should have many... Who knows what she does after you come to the office?"

"Mind your tongue... What do you know about my wife? She is a gem of a person. She won't feel for anyone other than me. She is not a cheap woman"

"Oh... According to you, only a cheap woman feels for another man, right?"

Keshav understood the blunder he did when he saw Sheena standing with a horrible expression.

"Do you hear what he said?" Sheetal asked Sheena.

Keshav gulped down.

"This is how men think about the women who feel for another man. They can do anything but when it comes to the character, they won't mind throwing the CHEAP woman away. Understand that. No one other than the husband can protect a married woman. Don't trust married men easily... They are selfish. How could he be loyal to you when he could not be loyal to his wife who trusts him wholeheartedly? He betrayed none other than his own wife. If he doesn't care about her, what about you? Do you think he will stand for you?"

Sheetal didn't stop there after that. She left the place ignoring Keshav's heated-up gaze.

"Am I cheap?" Sheena asked Keshav.

"No... I didn't mean it" he defended.

"How could you say like that if you don't have such a thought in your mind?" She hauled.

"I said my wife is not cheap. It doesn't mean you are..."

"Yes, I'm... If your wife is not cheap who won't feel for another man... I'm absolutely cheap who trusted you over my husband. Goodbye," she left the place.

Sheetal sighed in relief as she saved two families.

(For a change, Sheetal is not a negative character in this story)

In the meanwhile,

Arnav came to his cabin thinking about what Sheetal talked about Khushi. Why does Sheetal talk doubtful? It's anything secret in Khushi's life? Is she hiding something from the world? What that could be? Does she have a SON? Like really? Could her son be adopted? If it is true, why did she adopt him? What does she want to prove? Why does she do this? Is she a true mystery? Or is she avoiding men, lying? Is she a misandrist? No, no... She talks with him sweetly. She could not be a misandrist. What if she does things for a silly reason? Why should not he back-check her? Yes... He should not back off, just like that, without knowing about her completely. He had to meet her husband at least. What is his name???? Arnav tried to recall. Yeah, Aditya...

Arnav landed on the seat thinking about something. Is not it weird? After coming from Canada, he liked two people and got attached to them... Both their life is a mystery... one has no father... and one has no husband... It is disgusting.

Arnav sat straight, hearing a knock on the door.

"Come in..."

He saw Khushi coming with his LUNCH as usual. That made him awestruck.

"Good morning, sir"

Arnav nodded yes.

"What lunch do you bring?" He tried to be normal.

"Methi ki paratha with Raitha..."

"Thanks..."

She nodded yes.

"How is your husband?" He asked reading her face.

Khushi got stuck for a second and composed herself. That was not gone unnoticed by Arnav.

"Fine..." She simply said.

"Where is he working?"

"In a Gulf country"

Arnav widened his eyes and his brows went up.

"Gulf?"

She nodded yes.

Didn't Abhi also say his father is working in a Gulf country? His initial is also A. Is that A stand Aditya?

"Sir, this is your today's schedule" she kept the daily planner on the table.

Arnav didn't look at that but Khushi. He was busily connecting the dots. Abhi's yesterday's lunch was aloo and poori so was Khushi's. Abhi doesn't know anything about his father and Khushi is not ready to talk about her husband. Something is sinking terribly. Could Khushi be the mother of Abhi?

"Sir..." Khushi called him a little louder as she called him two times and didn't get a reply from him.

"Mmm?"

"Do you want me to make any change in your schedule, sir?" She asked him.

Arnav nodded no. Khushi shook her head and left his cabin. He saw the lunch bag she left in his cabin. She brought lunch for him today also. He thought she won't bring as he spoke about her husband. It seems she does not get affected.

By the way, what is he going to do if she is Abhi's mother? Abhi said he had never seen his father and he is never going to come back. But, the statements given by Abhi and Khushi are different. She is showing off that she and her husband are on good terms. But Abhi says the direct opposite to it. Why would he be confusing? Let's see, whether she is Abhi's mother or not.

Evening

Without showing hurry, Arnav waited for Khushi to leave the office. He called Aman. Aman came to his cabin.

"Yes, sir...?"

"I need your bike"

"Sure sir" taking his bike key from his pant pocket, her forwarded it to Arnav.

"How will you go home?" Arnav asked.

"Will take a cab sir"

"Do you know to drive a car?"

"Yes sir"

"Take my car."

"That's ok sir..." Aman hesitated.

"Take it... you no need to be hesitant. Bring it tomorrow" Arnav said.

Aman nodded ok and left. Arnav removed his coat and tie. Folding his sleeves, he removed the top two buttons of his shirt. He saw Khushi leaving the office. Coming out, he started the bike, after wearing a helmet. He saw Khushi getting in an auto. Keeping the equivalent distance, he followed the auto.

Arnav's heart thudded when the auto entered HIS area. His breath ditched when the auto stopped in front of Abhi's house. Khushi got down from the auto. Abhi who was playing with his friends delighted to see Khushi. He rushed to Khushi, shouting

"Mom..."

To be continued...