Part 16 Oscar Winning Actor

"Jeejajiiiiii" Akash shouted, standing at the doorstep.

Seeing him, Shyam was horrified and Anjali was nervous. Taking a very few seconds, Shyam came to the composure as usual.

"How could you say about Payalji like that? What do you know about her?" Akash asked controlling his anger.

"I was there when her wedding broke up. I was the family lawyer of the Groom. That's how I got to know about her. The real reason for her broken wedding is, she had an affair with someone but Guptas built it up as a dowry problem"

"I won't believe this. This can't be true. I know Payalji" Akash said firmly.

"Akash, they are so talented to make others believe them... They won't suit you and this family"

Arnav who waited outside till then got in.

"What's the problem?"

Shyam became relieved, seeing Arnav. He knew Arnav. He was a reputation freak. He wouldn't let this wedding happen if he believed what Shyam said. He repeated the same to him about Payal.

"They don't deserve our family Sale sahib. We should not even think of having touch with them" he played his emotional card as usual.

"When did you get to know about Payal's broken wedding?" Arnav asked.

"I told you I was there at the wedding"

"If you know we should not even have touch with their family, why did you have TOUCH with them? You were the one who handled Buaji's pension case right? Why were you so interested in helping them if they don't deserve our touch?"

Shyam sensed his accusation was turned towards him.

"I'm a lawyer after all... It's my job to be in touch with criminals. I can't avoid it but this is family"

"I think you have temporary memory loss. I didn't see a LAWYER in you when you talked about Payal's broken wedding that day. You felt bad for her and her family...! You wanted to help them..."

Arnav looked at Anjali and asked

"Didn't you feel it Di?"

She nodded yes.

"I saw a warm-hearted man who wanted to do something to bring happiness to their faces. But now, you are reacting totally opposite to it"

Shyam was tongue-tied.

"I just don't want to tell the truth to anyone. Even though she is wrong I don't want to spoil her life. That's why I didn't bring her personal problem to my case" Shyam answered like a saint but he didn't know the man in front of him was the mighty ASR.

"Ok... Give the phone number of her Ex-fiancée who canceled the wedding"

Shyam was horror-struck. Phone number? Was Arnav going to call them? But he didn't have their phone number. He could have only had their phone number if he was their family lawyer...! What he said was not true. He just weaved a net to safeguard himself but he got trapped in the same net. His criminal mind worked fast.

"I don't have their phone number," Shyam said.

Anjali and Akash looked at him weirdly.

"You are their family lawyer but you don't have their phone number?" Anjali asked before Arnav or Akash did that.

"I WAS their family lawyer until the wedding. I ended their relationship because some terms were not agreeing between us"

"OK... but what about the phone number? How did it erase from your phone?" Arnav taunted.

"I was highly angry with them that day. That's why I deleted all their numbers"

"What happened between you that made you delete all their numbers?" Arnav folded his hands.

"I was angry that day, Sale Sahib... I was like, I should never see them again"

"If it is so, how could they be true in Payalji's matter? They should have lied about her to veil their greediness" Akash said.

"Akash is right," Anjali said.

"Rani Sahiba, this is not a matter of taking options. This is about Akash's life, future, and happiness... Why should we take the risk?"

"I have to...because I love Payalji"

"Akash, I would have stood for you if she was a nice girl..."

Cutting her,

"She is indeed a nice girl...! It must be a misconception...! I'm not going to back off" Akash was adamant.

"What are you going to do Akash?" Arnav asked.

"I'm going to Lucknow and will get to know what exactly happened"

"No need... Wait" Arnav took his phone out and made a call.

The trio looked at him not knowing to whom he was making a call. Arnav made sure that his mobile screen was not visible to them. The call was attended.

"Hello..." Said Khushi.

"Don't know why this girl is not attending my call" Arnav said gritting his teeth... no, he pretended.

"Arnavji, can't you hear me?" Khushi asked who didn't know the situation of RM.

"Bhai, whom you are calling?" Akash asked.

"Oh... Akash Jeejaji is there?|

"I think, she is thinking I would be like before... that's why she is not attending my call" Arnav hinted at Khushi something.

"Whom you are trying, Chotte?" Anjali asked.

"Oh... is Anjaliji also there? Do you want them to think we are not on talking terms?" Khushi asked.

Without answering her,

"If she attended the call, we will get to know if what Jeejaji said is true"

"Oh, that snake is also there? What did he say?" Khushi gritted her teeth

Arnav disconnected the call.

"Let me call her again" he again dialed.

This time Khushi attended the call. The trio had different expressions on their faces when they got to know who he called.

"Khushi..."

Shyam was horrified.

"Hello..."

"Why didn't you attend my call?"

"What do you want? Why are you calling me?" She followed his HINT.

"I need a phone number"

"What phone number?"

"Payal's Ex-fiancée number"

"But why?"

"Akash wants to get clear about something"

"Something?"

"Yes... he didn't believe it but he doesn't want anyone to raise their finger at Payal. That's why"

"What's the matter?"

"Chotte, turn the speaker on," Anjali said and Khushi heard it.

Arnav turned the speaker ON.

"Khushiji, we are really sorry. We want this wedding to happen. that's why we need the phone number"

"I can understand Anjaliji. But what happened? Who said what?"

"Leave it, Khushiji..."

"Anjaliji please tell me. Then only I can be alert"

Anjali hesitated.

"Someone said Payal's wedding stopped because she had an affair with someone," Arnav said.

Khushi gritted her teeth. She understood who would have blamed Payal.

"Whaaaat? Which Moron said that? He will not be well in his life. His wife will soon kick him out of her life. He will roam in the roads begging for a fist of food. He will die having no one for himself like a street dog..." Khushi cursed the person and panted hard.

Shyam gulped down hard and Arnav had a hard time controlling his laughter.

"Khushiji, please, I'm also angry as same as you. Please give me his phone number. It's much needed because you know my mother. I don't want Payalji to face any problems in the future because there is no second thought in my mind about our wedding. This wedding will definitely happen... please help me" Akash pleaded.

"Ok, Akashji... note it down," Khushi said and Shyam's spine chilled up. He didn't know what would happen.

Akash dialed the number. The call was attended in the third ring.

"Who is speaking?"

"Sir, I want to know something from you. That's why I called you"

"What do you want to know?"

"Why did you cancel your wedding? Did the girl have a bad character?"

"Which idiot said so? Payal is a gem of a person. I still regret missing her"

"Is it?" Akash huffed in relief.

"I really am sorry for my parents' behavior of demanding a few more lakhs from her family... She is a nice girl"

"If you are regretting, why don't you search for her?" Arnav asked.

"I'm doing that only. I went to their house yesterday to meet her but her family is not in Lucknow. I heard they went to Delhi...! Somehow I'm also the reason for their broken heart. In addition, a multimillionaire who came from Delhi created a bad impression of her sister by sending some footage to the local channels. That led people to humiliate them. Without having a choice, they left Lucknow" he said feeling sad and pricked Arnav. How cruel he had been in Khushi's matter...!

"By the way, why are you asking about Payal?"

"Nothing, your family Lawyer said she had an afire with someone that's why you canceled the wedding"

"Family Lawyer? Sir, we are a middle-class family. We don't worth a family Lawyer"

The trio looked at Shyam who smiled awkwardly.

"I mean, your Ex- Family Lawyer Shyam Manohar Jha. He came to attend your wedding too..."

"Shyam Manohar Jha? I hear this name for the first time"

Anjali and Akash frowned at Shyam who was suffocating not knowing what to say.

"Sale Sahib, I told you something didn't work between us..."

"Who is that?" The guy asked.

"He is your family Lawyer Shyam"

"Sir, I think you didn't get me. We don't have a family Lawyer. I'm a simple employee. Why would I need a Lawyer?"

"Your father?"

"No way... in fact, we never went to the court for anything... it's a big deal to us, Sir"

"Don't you really know lawyer Shyam Manohar Jha?"

"Mother promise...I don't know anyone called Shyam Manohar Jha..."

"Oh..."

"Arrey, yaar... I agree we fought. so that, will you say you don't know me?"

"Arrey, I can say I don't know if I don't know...i think he is mad" the guy sighed.

Anjali looked at Shyam gulping down.

"Sir, if you know Payal, please convey my apologies to her"

"Sure"

Arnav disconnected the call, looking at Shyam who didn't expect, that his plan would backfire. We should not forget, he was an Oscar-winning actor... he sat on the bed holding his head.

"Shyamji..." Anjali called in a dry voice.

"I don't know my anger would turn him like this, Rani Sahiba...! He said he doesn't know me. Do you know how many cases I have solved for his father...! How could he say he doesn't know me? I can't believe this world becoming ungrateful" He cried closing his face.

Arnav stood looking at him shrinking his eyes, understanding that, his enemy was not a simple person but a very talented actor.

To be continued...