Part 57 Puppet

NK saw Shyam going to Dadi's room. He rushed to him and dashed with him. Shyam looked at him frowning.

"Sorry, Jeeju" he said rigidly.

"It's ok, NK Bhai" Shyam smiled.

NK left the place silently. Shyam sighed disappointedly and left. He came to Dadi's room. He saw Dadi, pacing here and there. He closed the door and made Dadi look at him.

"I can't understand why Arnav is so rude. He supports the girl over me" She annoyed.

"There is nothing to wonder if he supports her, Dadi. He will support her over Anjali too because he clearly declared she is important to him"

"I don't know what to do. I don't like that girl"

"Of course, you won't like such girls who are not loyal. I know that but you are forgetting that you are earning Arnav's hatred by hating the girl"

"What do you mean?"

"You should understand one thing Dadiji. To get a place in Arnav's good book, you have to learn to appreciate the girl"

"What are you talking, Damadji? Me and appreciating the girl? Do you want me to forget what her mother did?"

"No, Dadiji. I didn't say that. I know you can't forgive her... you should not...because she won't deserve your forgiveness. We don't have to mind her at all but Sale Sahib is the matter here. To achieve what we want, earning Arnav's goodwill is necessary. To do that, you should be smooth with Khushiji. If Sale Sahib sees you being with her easily, his misconception about you will change. After he starts believing you that you won't accuse Khushiji without a reason, he will start thinking about your accusation"

Dadi became thoughtful.

"Gaining Sale Sahib's goodwill is important for you, Dadi"

"But, how can I be loving with the girl? I can't do that"

"You don't have to do it wholeheartedly. Just pretend... for this family's betterment... please, Dadi"

Dadi nodded and Shyam sighed in relief. Finally, his plan worked. He was going to hit two birds in a stone. Dadi would be firm in her stand and Khushi would think he made Dadi understand her. As Khushi was upset with Arnav's behavior, she would divert her mind towards him. She would celebrate him for making Dadi lovable to her.

...........

Khushi came from the kitchen with a glass of milk for Nani. She didn't notice Dadi coming from the opposite side. In fact, she could not see her coming as the wall was in between them. Khushi jerked seeing Dadi. The milk glass that was in her hand slipped down. Khushi stood panicking.

Dadi took the glass, bending down, making everyone stun. Khushi was looking at her with disbelief. Taking Khushi's hand, Dadi kept the glass in her hand.

"Bring milk for me too," She said.

Khushi became emotional.

"What are you waiting for?"

Khushi nodded her head from left to right.

"I'm sorry, I behaved rudely with you"

"That's ok, Dadi..."

"Go... bring me a glass of milk"

Khushi nodded and rushed to the kitchen. Payal followed her.

"I can't believe this, Khushi"

Khushi nodded yes.

"She apologized to you"

Khushi nodded yes.

"What happened to her all of a sudden?"

"I too don't; know Jeeji but whatever it is, I'm so so happy"

"Arnavji will be happy about it"

Khushi nodded yes. She brought two glasses of milk for Dadi and Nani. She gave it to them. Taking them, they drank.

Khushi smiled seeing them. She saw Shyam smiling at her. She looked down. She wanted to tell Arnav about Dadi but Shyam would suspect her. so, she stayed in the living room, watching Dadi.

"I'm glad that you understood Khushi bitiya," Nani said.

Dadi looked at Khushi who looked overwhelmed.

"where is Arnav?" Dadi asked.

"He is in our room, Dadiji"

Dadi nodded and drank the milk. After finishing it, she stood up.

"Khushi" She called.

"Jee, Dadiji..."

"Come" She headed to Arnav's room.

Khushi followed her. They saw Arnav working on his laptop. He straightened himself, seeing Dadi. He stood up seeing Khushi following her.

"What happened, Khushi?" Arnav asked frowning.

"Nothing happened. There is nothing to get tensed" Dadi said.

"Then why do you bring Khushi here?"

"Because she is your wife... then, I must bring her here only"

Arnav looked at Khushi who was not tense.

"I'm sorry Arnav" Said Dadi making Arnav stun.

"I should not have been rude. I didn't understand your point. I should have been patiently analyzing, standing in your shoes. Instead, I thought it from my perception only. I'm sorry for being a spoiler to your happiness" She said.

Arnav was looking at her unbelievably. He could not believe she was really his Dadi. Didn't know her nature? He didn't get words.

That was when they heard,

"Is it really you, Dadi?" Anjali asked excitedly, standing at the doorstep.

Dadi smiled. In no time, Anjali rushed to her and hugged her. Still, Arnav didn't come out of the surprise. Dadi looked at her and nodded. Taking a step, Arnav also hugged her.

"I should have brought this smile to your faces long ago. I missed to do that. I'm sorry"

"That's ok, Dadi... you understood us. It's enough" Anjali said, looking at Arnav.

"Am I right, Chotte?"

Arnav nodded yes.

Dadi left the place smilingly. Khushi looked at Arnav who was confused.

"What happened Arnavji? I thought you would be happy like ever before..."

Arnav nodded NO.

"I can't believe this..." he said.

"I too can't believe this"

"She is not a woman who changes her mind"

"But, she changed..."

"No... I don't believe she changed"

"What do you mean, Arnavji?"

"You don't know about her, Khushi... When my parents committed suicide, she went to Ashram leaving us alone without caring about anything. She stood stubbornly without giving heed to my statement and trusted Shyam blindly. Now, she apologized to us as if she didn't know what she did was wrong. Something is fishy"

"Arnavji, suspecting everything is not good"

"Of course, it's not good but suspecting Dadi is worth doing. I think she has some plan"

Khushi sighed.

"Don't trust her, Khushi. Be careful with her. Keep your distance from her,"

Khushi nodded ok and came out. She saw NK waiting for her. She came to him looking here and there.

"Khushiji, Dadi is acting"

"Whaaaat?"

"Yes, it's all Shyam's plan to get your trust"

"Is it?"

"Yes, he insisted Dadi to pretend smooth with you"

"I expected this Nanne" Khushi gritted her teeth.

"He will come to you and flaunt as if he made Dadi loving towards you"

"Mmm"

"Didn't I say, he would fall into our trap?"

"You are right, Nanneji. I thought he would use his brain"

"The situation is like that, Khushiji. He is approaching you because he thinks Nannav is not in a good term"

"I will take care of him"

"That's great... go, he will surely follow you"

"Mmm," Khushi went to the kitchen.

She saw Shyam filling water in a jug. She smiled at him.

"Happy?" he asked.

Khushi nodded yes.

"Didn't I say, anything is possible for me? See, how I made Dadi talk to you smoothly"

"Is it really you who did that?"

"What do you think, Khushi? Do you think Dadi would have spoken to you if I had not spoken to her about you?"

"Did you speak to her?"

Shyam nodded yes smiling.

"Thank you so much, Shyamji"

"You don't have to thank me, Khushiji. Making you happy is my only motive. I will do anything for you but you didn't understand that"

"I can't believe Dadi spoke to me smoothly"

"Didn't I say I can make her do things for me?"

"I thought she would not give up her anger"

"She is nothing but my puppet. She will do what I say"

"Is it?"

"Yes, she doesn't have her own ideas. She will dance if I switch the button on"

Khushi smiled.

"What else do you want me to do for you?"

"Arnavji is upset with me. Could you make him understand me?"

"I can do it, Khushiji but I will not do it"

"But why?"

"He won't deserve you, Khushiji. If he didn't understand you are not at all responsible for his condition, then what's the point in making him understand you? By the way, why do you need such a life, Khushiji? Why are you behind the man who doesn't know your worth?"

"He is my husband"

"No, he is not your husband. He married you forcefully. You don't have to give him a place in your heart. Instead, look at your surroundings, Khushiji. You will get to know who is suitable for you"

"Whom you are talking about?"

"Don't you understand, Khushiji? It's me, who is waiting for your one look. I love you so much, Khushiji. There is no life for me without you" Shyam said emotionally and stopped, seeing Anjali standing with Dadi who looked furious.

To be continued...