54 Sketch

Everyone was looking at Arnav when Shyam spoke. He stopped eating and tightened his jaws. The next second, he composed himself. His facial expression became calm. There was no reaction on his face as if there was no one called Shyam. His weird behavior confused everyone.
For the whole day, Shyam neither interacted with anyone nor did he try to talk to them. Unusually, everyone was watching Shyam. His each and every move was noticed by someone in RM. Even Arnav didn’t expect it.

Night

NK called Arnav. He attended the call.

“Haan NK”

“Nannav, Jeeju is going to Dadi’s room”

“Oh… make sure that no one goes near Dadi’s room”

“Done” he disconnected the call.

Arnav headed to Dadi’s room.

After a while,

NK saw Khushi searching here and there.

“Khushiji, what are you searching for?”

“Where is Arnavji?” She asked.

“Isn’t he in your room?”

“No… he left our room after receiving your call. After that, he didn’t come back”

“Didn’t you call him?” he asked, removing his phone.

“I did… his phone is switched off”

“Strange…”

“Yes, Arnavji never switches his phone off. he puts it in voice mail only. I don’t know where he went. I’m worried, Nanne”

“Relax, Khushiji. He is not a kid. He will be all right and will come soon. I think he got an important call from his client. That’s why he should have gone to meet him”

Khushi was unsatisfied with his answer because Arnav would not go, without informing her. She went to her room and waited for Arnav but he didn’t come to RM till midnight. Sitting on the recliner, she waited for him restlessly and dozed off and could not hold herself.

The next morning

Khushi opened her eyes from her sleep. She sat on the bed and found herself on the bed. How did she come to bed? Did Arnavji bring her to the bed? Where was he? She looked here and there and the room was empty. She went to the washroom and took a quick shower.

When she came out of the washroom, she saw Arnav entering their room. He stopped seeing her. She gritted her teeth and advanced him.

“Where were you? Didn’t you know would be waiting for you? Didn’t you feel to tell me where were you?” her face carried worrisome.

She saw him gazing at her plainly.

“What are you looking at?”

“I… wanted to go to meet an important client… I thought to call you later but I became busy”

In no time, she hugged him emotionally.

“Do you know how worried I was?”

Arnav gulped down.

“Don’t do this ever, Arnavji”

Arnav touched her head.

“I won’t do that again”

Khushi looked at his face which looked soft.

“Did you have anything?”

Arnav nodded.

“Don’t lie. How would you have eaten when you didn’t even have time to call me?”

“I had with my client”

“Is it true?”

Arnav nodded yes and saw her getting relaxed.

“Shall I bring you coffee?”

Arnav nodded ok. She rushed out. He stood looking at her. He sat on the recliner and closed his face with his palms.

He sat straight, seeing Khushi bringing coffee. She passed the cup. Taking it, he sipped it. Khushi sensed something wrong with him.

“What happened, Arnavji? Are you all right?”

He nodded yes.

“You look restless”

“I’m all right. I didn’t get proper sleep last night…”

Khushi nodded and was about to leave, he stopped her clutching her hand. Khushi looked at him.

“I love you,” he said.

Khushi smiled. Her smile vanished when he said,

“I’m sorry…”

Khushi frowned.

“I hurt you many times… it will not happen again. I won’t let anyone do that to you… I promise”

Khushi met his eyes. She touched his cheek.

“What happened to you, Arnavji?”

He gently pulled her and hugged her. Khushi leaned on his chest, responding to his hug.

They broke the hug when they heard a knock on the door. Arnav opened the door and saw HP standing.

“Arnav baba, Dadiji is calling you and Khushiji”

Arnav nodded. HP left. Arnav looked at Khushi and gestured for her to come. They headed downstairs.
They saw everyone gathered in the living room. Khushi looked at Payal who gestured to her like, I DON’T KNOW.

“I would like to go to GH” Said Dadi.

All of them looked at Arnav who looked reactionless.

“I unnecessarily created a scene there. I wanted to apologize to them”

“No dadiji… it’s not necessary” Khushi said hurriedly.

“No… if I’m wrong, I would apologize. More than that, I want to meet your parents out of respect”

Dadi looked at Nani.

“What do you say, Devyani?”

“It’s nice to hear that you want to apologize to them, Subhadra. We will surely go”

“What sway, Arnav?”

“If you want it to happen, I have no problem, Dadi”

“Arnav himself said, he has no problem. Let’s go” Dadi said.

“Dadi, they will get embarrassed if we visit unannounced. We will have to give them time for them to prepare themselves” Anjali said.

“No no… they will prepare something for us if we go announcing our arrival. Let them be free. We will leave just visiting them”

Anjali nodded smiling at Arnav who smiled at her.

Shyam followed them smirking. When Anjali looked at him, he made a serious face.

“I can’t believe Dadi’s mind changed” Anjali smiled delightedly.

Shyam nodded yes.

“I know Dadi always wants our happiness. She is a nice woman”
Shyam walked with her and said nothing.

Raizadas got into two cars. They started to GH. Arnav himself rode a car. NK took place next to him. Khushi sat in the back seat with Nani and Manorama, whereas Akash and Payal sat in the last seat.

Arnav saw Khushi through the rearview mirror who looked nervous. She smiled at him when he saw her. He reciprocated to her smile mildly.
They reached GH. All of them got out of the cars. Before anyone took the lead, Dadi went to GH and knocked on the door.

The door was opened. It was buaji who opened the door. She became tensed to see Dadi. She didn’t know what problem she brought to GH this time. Yet, she welcomed her.

“Namaste… please come in”

Dadi entered with her head up, looking here and there.

Buaji became delighted to see the whole Raizada family coming. She welcomed all of them and rushed inside. She knocked Shashi’s room door.

“Garima… Hey, Garima… see who is here… come out” She called Garima.

Garima came out and was shocked to see Dadi standing. Fear occupied her face and it became pale. Her hands shivered and her eyes pooled up.

“Youuuu?” Dadi gritted her jaws.
Garima shuddered to see her.

“Subhadra, do you know Garima?”

“How do I forget the woman who is the reason for our family’s destruction?”

“What do you mean, Dadi?”

“She is the one who snatched your happiness… she is the one who snatched your father from your mother”

“Whaaaat?” Anjali looked at Garima shockingly.

“No… I didn’t snatch him from your mother. I didn’t even know he was married. He hid the truth that he was married and had two children. I would not have loved him if I had known he was married”

“Stop lying… no one will believe a cheap woman like you” Dadi sneered.

“A woman like you will do anything for your own benefit… There is no place for your daughters in RM. They should not step up into RM. no one from our family will not have any connection with them…” Dadi said.

She looked at Arnav who stood without any expression which frustrated her to the core.

“What are you waiting for, Arnav? Tell them, you will not take her home back”

Arnav looked at Khushi who was sobbing. She could not understand anything. Was Garima the reason for Arnav’s bitter past? Because of her, Arnav and Anjali became orphans. She could not believe it. She looked at Arnav nervously. Her eyes poured and her lips quivered.

“Arnav bituwa, please trust me… I don’t know your father is a married man…”

“Stop your drama. You can’t manipulate him anymore” Dadi howled.

“Arnav bituwa, please don’t punish my daughter for the mistake she has not done”

Dadi came in between them and stood spitting fire on her. She looked at Arnav and said,

“Arnav, let’s go… I don’t want to stand at the place where the woman who ruined my family standing”

“You can go if you don’t want to be here…” Arnav said making everyone stunned.

Dadi looked at him shockingly.

"You are so angry with Garima Aunty because she is the reason for our family to get destroyed. If it is so, what about your son?”

Dadi was shocked.

“Is not he the one who is responsible for our lives? According to us, Garima Aunty is a third person but your son? Is not he the head of our family? How could he go behind a woman after being a married man? If he had been concerned about us, he would not have thought of another woman. He must have ignored all the women who crossed his path but he didn’t do that. He cheated my mother and became the reason for her death. And you are accusing someone of leaving him behind…! Is this what your justification is?” Arnav asked making her speechless.

To be continued…