Part 33 Mithra's Move

I looked at Khushi who was nervous.

"Are you tensed?" I asked.

"Are not you?"

I nodded NO.

"Why are you tense? Your father is your side it seems"

"For how long?"

I looked at her plainly.

"No doubt he took my side but his opposition against Mrs. Gupta is so weak. He was not so harsh with her. Even after my father understood her dirty side, she confidently argued with him. Can't you understand she is not giving up?"

"So what if she is not giving up? In fact, I don't want her to give up"

"Arnav, you don't understand. She tried to blame you. She said you are egoistic"

"So?"

"What if those words sat on my father's head?"

"So what if those words sat on your father's head? What will he do?"

"He won't do anything but she will do hiding in his shadow"

"That's what I want... let her do anything. Now, I just brought her dirty game in the open without accusing her. If she goes overbroad, I won't mind tearing her mask in the open"

Khushi sighed.

"Why are you so restless, Khushi?"

"Because I know her, Arnav"

"Relax... I'm here"

"I'm not bothering about me but about your business"

"What do you mean? Don't you bother about YOU?"

"No, because I have YOU," She said confidently.

For that one statement, I would do anything...!

I smiled.

"You won't let her harm me but we have to do something to save the business, Arnav"

"I have been working on it" I smiled.

"Is it?" She became excited.

"Yeah... I'm trying to sort it out"

"How?"

"If we buy our company shares from the out person's hand, we can stop Mr. Gupta from playing with us. She can do nothing if we have ninety percent shares in our hands"

"Won't it affect our company growth?"

"It will but we can avoid its downfall in the first place"

"Oh..."

"Are you really bothered only about our business?"

"Yeah..." she nodded yes.

"It seems she wants to separate us. what if she tries to do that?" I asked.

"Will you let her do that?" she questioned me.

"I won't... but it's not about only my wish"

"Do you think I will wish to get separated?"

I was silent. I wanted her to answer me.

"I will die instead of going back to the Palace" Khushi said.

I gulped hard. This was not what I expected from her. I wanted her to say, I WON'T GO LEAVING YOU. Was I expecting a lot from Khushi? Or, was this so early to expect? I took a deep breath.

"By the way Khushi, your father and brother reacted this way to Mrs. Gupta after my action. That means they are not completely blind. If it is so, how didn't they analyze any of her actions so far?"

"They were not at fault, Arnav"

"Means?" I frowned.

"It's because she is my mother's sister."

"Whaaaat? Is she your mother's sister?"

"Yes, blood sister. She was not new to our family. She was so caring and lovable at the beginning. That's the strong foundation that made my father and brother trust her"

"Why didn't you trust her then?"

"I really don't know... I just can't address her MOM as I used to call her Mithu"

"Is it?" I was surprised.

"Yeah... she is ten years younger than my mother. My mother doesn't belong to the Royal family but her father was head of their village. My father liked her when he saw her at a temple function as she was so beautiful. He wanted to marry my mother. She was just nineteen at that time. My grandfather gladly gave her hand to my father. They lived a peaceful and lovable life. Anyone would yearn to get such a life. That was when my grandfather was killed by a bull. My mother brought Mithra to our Palace after their father's demise. At that time, she was so compassionate and affectionate. My parents started searching for a groom for her. One day, I saw my mother chiding her. I was surprised because my mother never chided anyone for anything. She was so soft-spoken. My mother refused to tell me the reason when I asked her. I saw some differences both in my mother and Mithra after that incident. Within a month, my mother died. I don't know why I could not accept Mithra as my mom even though I was so close to her before my mother's demise"

"Your mother got married at the age of nineteen. Then why didn't your grandfather get Mithra married?"

"She had some issues in her horoscope. Her father-in-law would die after her marriage. So, my grandfather searched for a Groom who didn't have father"

"How did your father and Mithra's wedding happen?"

"My father announced their wedding suddenly. He said I and Akash need a mother... usual excuse..."

"How did your mother die?"

"She is an asthma patient. She died of shortness of breath. She always struggled in winter"

I became thoughtful. Something didn't seem normal.

"Didn't you guys have any support other than Mrs. Gupta?"

"We had... Raheem Kaka and Chandra Bose uncle. Raheem Kaka was a loyal employee of our palace. He was a fatherly person to my Mom. Chandra Bose uncle was my father's friend. He loved my mother like his own sister."

"Where are they?"

"My father expelled Bose uncle from the Palace when he misbehaved with Mithra"

"Misbehaved?"

"Mmm"

"Did your father see that?"

"I don't know... I heard my father throw him out of the palace"

"What about Rahim?"

"He went to his village after my mother's demise."

"why?"

"Don't know. Usually, our servants get a pension after their service is over but Rahim Kaka didn't even avail it"

"Where is his village?"

"Jawaharpur Village"

"Oh..."

That was when I got a call from Payal. I attended it.

"Bhai..." Payal's voice sounded tense.

"Payal, is everything alright?"

"No, Bhai... Aunty had poison" Payal said nervously.

"whaaaat?" I was shocked. Mrs. Gupta and Poison? What the hell...!

"Akash didn't talk to her after coming to the Palace. He came to our room without answering her questions. He was so rigid towards her. So, she had poison. We are taking her to the hospital. Will call you later" Payal disconnected the call.

I understood what Mrs. Gupta trying to do. She wanted me to be blamed for her decision. From here on, Shashi and Akash would not listen to any of my words. I looked at Khushi. She raised her brows questioningly.

"Mithu had poison" I sighed.

"Whaaat?" Khushi was shocked.

"Yes..."

"No... way... she and poison? She herself a poison. I won't believe it" Khushi was so confident.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, she is playing her cards by drawing a BIG line next to the SMALL line called your accusation. So that, my father and brother will forget her deeds and will be careful not to oppose her for anything from here on. Didn't I say? She is a dangerous woman we can never see. I know she won't be quiet. She won't accept her defeat. From here on, my father and brother will not think of us. All your efforts went in vain. How cleverly she plays...!" She said wearily.

"Are you sure?" I again asked.

"I'm damn sure... she is not a woman who would think of dying... she will kill others but she won't die"

"Which hospital usually Mrs. Gupta goes?" I asked.

"SSB"

I thought for a while and dialed my politician friend, Harikesh. He attended the call.

"I'm sorry if I disturbed you," I said.

"No no... I just am coming out of the parliament. If you had called me a few minutes ago, I would not have attended your call. Now, we can talk. Tell me"

"I need your help again"

"Anything..."

I told him what I wanted him to do. Khushi looked at me as if I was a Bandit. I disconnected the call and smiled at her.

"Are you... " She chuckled.

"Complete it..." I laughed.

"Are you this cunning?" She asked keeping her hands on her hip.

I laughed louder.

"I'm cunning to those who are cunning"

"God... you are a dangerous man indeed..."

"Let's go to the hospital," I said.

"Sure... I want to see her face" Khushi said laughing.

We went to the hospital and reached before Gupta's arrived. I guessed they would have been stuck in the traffic.

"Where are they?" I asked.

"Stuck in the traffic, I suppose," Khushi said.

"Poor your Maasi, what if she left her precious life in the traffic itself?" I asked, wiping my cheek where there was no tears.

"Shh... we are in the hospital. we should look sad" She said controlling her laughter.

"Of course, I'm looking sad but you," I blinked my eyes sadly.

"Arnav Please, shut up..." She said biting her inner cheek not to laugh.

That was when Guptas entered the hospital. Getting out of the car, Shashi Gupta shouted for a stretcher. A few hospital staff rushed towards their car, pushing a stretcher. I rushed to them making a stern face. Akash and Shashi lifted Mrs. Gupta from the car and made her lay on the stretcher. She was in a semi-conscious state, blabbering something.

"I love my children... I want them to be happy. I won't ruin their lives... trust me..."

I confirmed she was surely pretending. Khushi rolled her eyes. Shashi rushed to the doctor and signed the form.

"Please save her, Doctor"

"You don't worry, Mr. Gupta... we will take care of her," The doctor said.

"Take her to the operation theater" the doctor ordered.

Mithra was taken to the operation theater. Exactly at the same time, the NATIONAL MEDICAL COMMISSION team entered the hospital for INSPECTION.

To be continued...