Part 4 Interaction

London

Khushi was packing her things, and Aashi was observing her.

"Mom, are we going somewhere else?"

"Khushi smiled at her and nodded yes.

"We are going to India," She said.

"Why are we going there?"

"I got a job there."

"But you already have a job."

"The job I got in India is the best one."

"Will Nanne's Dad and La's Mom also come with us?"

Khushi stopped her work for a second and looked at Aashi.

"No, beta..."

"Why?"

"They didn't get a job there."

Aashi's face hung.

"What happened, beta?"

"I don't have friends there."

"You will get new friends there... My friends are there in India. They are so sweet. You will like them."

"Really?"

"Yeah..."

"Will they play with me like Nanne's Dad and LA's Mom?"

"Yeah..."

"What else they will do? Will they tell me stories...?"

"Yeah... they will"

"Hai ... ya... jolly..."

Aashi ran to Lavanya to tell her that.

...............

NK and Lavanya dropped Khushi off at the airport.

"Khushi, if anything goes wrong, don't think twice. Just come back to London. We are here for you," Lavanya said.

"LA is right, Khushi. Don't be stubborn. Please," NK said.

Khushi nodded ok and took their leave. She boarded the flight to fly to India...!

..........

Payal and Akash received Khushi and Aashi at Delhi Airport. They hugged Khushi delightedly and kissed Aashi.

"Aashi, this is Payal, and he is Akash. They're my friends, just like Nanne and La."

"Hello, Mr Akash... hello, Mrs Payal," Aashi said.

Akash and Payal glanced at each other.

"I'm sorry, guys. Don't mistake her. In London, everyone calls people by their name..." Khushi said.

"That's ok... it sounds cute" Akash smiled.

"Shall we go, Khushi?" Payal asked.

"Yeah..."

They got into the car.

"Mrs Payal, do you know stories?" Aashi asked.

"Stories?" Payal looked at Khushi, who gestured for her to say NO.

Payal flipped her lip and nodded no. Aashi pouted cutely.

"What happened, beta?"

"Mom said her friends will tell me stories..."

"Oh... we are her busy friends..., so we don't know stories. Don't worry. You will get a good storyteller," Akash said, smiling.

Khushi looked outside while travelling towards Payal's place. Delhi had changed upside down in the last five years, and she didn't know how long it would take her to get used to it.

Three days later

Arnav looked at Ratna, who was thinking deeply about something.

"Mom, are you all right?" he asked, sitting beside her.

She nodded slightly.

"But it's not looking so."

"I was wearing your father's ring. It was my fortunate ring. From the time I removed it, nothing happened as I had wished," she sighed.

"Why did you remove it?"

"It's because it was broken."

"What's the big deal? You can repair it," Arnav suggested.

"I told you it's your father's ring. I can't give it to anyone..."

"You could have told me."

"You were always busy. How would you get time for a small ring?"

"Mom, the ring might be small, but the happiness it gives you is not small! If you give me a ring, I will get it repaired."

"Really?"

"Mmm..."

"Wait"

Ratna went to the cupboard and removed a small box. She brought it to Arnav and handed it to him.

"Within two days, this ring will Grace your finger again" Arnav kept the box in his coat pocket and left RM.

.......

Arnav came to a jewellery shop on the way to the office.

"Hello Mr Raizada..." the jewellery shop owner welcomed him.

Arnav removed the box from his coat and gave it to the shop owner.

"This is my mom's ring. It's broken. I want you to get it repaired."

"It's simple work. You can collect the ring within half an hour."

"No, I have an important meeting in an hour. I will collect it tomorrow."

"No problem..."

Arnav left the shop.

The owner of the jewellery shop kept the rings in a drawer. As Arnav said he would collect them tomorrow, the shop owner thought he would do it relaxingly. Fortunately, or unfortunately, he forgot them.

The next morning

The shop owner opened the drawer and saw the box given by Arnav.

"Oh my God... How did I forget it?"

He looked here and there.

"Ashok, come here. Give it to the goldsmith and ask him to repair it quickly," he said hurriedly.

"Jee," taking the box from him, Ashok went to the goldsmith.

After ten minutes, Arnav came to the shop to get the ring. The shop owner smiled at him, hiding his awkwardness.

"Please take your seat, Raizadaji... "

"Is the ring ready?" Arnav asked.

"Yeah, it must be ready. Let me check" he rushed inside to avoid answering Arnav.

Arnav took a seat and waited. He saw a girl wearing jewellery and looking at herself in the mirror; Arnav turned his face, controlling his smile because she made a prideful face that didn't suit her.

Arnav again looked at the girl through the mirror. Suddenly, her facial expression changed. She was horrified. The Jewel she was holding slipped from her hand. She turned behind and gulped down.

Arnav looked behind to find out what had scared her to that extent. Arnav raised his brows, seeing a girl standing. Arnav wondered about the jewellery girl's changed expression because the new girl looked so naive, like a budding flower. He didn't know why the jewellery girl was scared of seeing her.

"Hi, Sheetal..." The new girl said with a smirk.

Arnav saw Sheetal composing herself. What she asked the new girl stunned him.

"Are you still alive? I thought you would have killed yourself," she asked, composing herself.

"When a woman like you, who doesn't hesitate to spoil others' lives alive, why should I die?" The girl asked casually.

Sheetal turned opposite to the girl. The girl got close to Sheetal and said,

"I heard you got engaged to the man I was supposed to marry..."

Sheetal looked at her shockingly.

"Do you think how I know about it?"

"Aman hates you", Sheetal said without answering her.

"Poor him, he doesn't know the TRUTH. That's why he hates me. What will happen if he gets to know the truth?" The new girl asked, tucking Sheetal's hair.

"He won't trust you" She stammered.

"He may not trust me, but he will surely suspect you... Isn't it enough for me to spoil your peace of mind?"

Sheetal gulped down.

"I came back to India only to revenge all who made me bow in front of my father for the mistake I had not made. I will make all of you repent for playing a dirty game with me. Mark my words." The girl walked out.

Arnav saw Sheetal sweating badly. It was clear she had done something horrible to the girl.

Sheetal removed her phone and dialled someone. Until the call was attended, she was restless.

"Pick up... pick up..."

The call was attended.

"Di, she is back..." She said nervously.

"....."

"Your sister in law"

"....."

"She knows about my wedding with Aman... She threatened me, saying that she came to take revenge on us."

"......"

"I'm scarred, di. What if she tells Aman about what happened that day?"

"......"

"She looks so confident, di. She was not looking like how she was five years ago. There was no bubbliness she carried on her face. I saw only fury in it."

"..."

Sheetal disconnected the call and left the place.

*It seems I'm watching a daily soap* Arnav smiled inwardly.

The shop owner brought the ring to Arnav, who took it from him and left after paying the charge.

To be continued...