Part 49 Pretext

Junior Roy was at the hospital to know the condition of Sarath. As the bullet penetrated his chest close to his heart, the surgeons were struggling to remove it without causing damage to his heart.

After the severe struggle for four hours, the doctors saw his heartbeat going down. Their efforts didn't work. The heart that didn't mind spoiling anyone's life slowed down his beats. The doctors looked at the ECG monitor which showed a straight line, indicating the ended life of Sarath.

The red light outside the OT went off. The police and Junior Roy straightened themselves. They understood the result of the surgery, seeing the doctor's face itself.

"I'm sorry, we could not save him"

Junior Roy sighed. The police started the formalities whereas Roy dialed Arnav. He attended the call immediately who was going to pick up baby Khushi from her class as usual.

"Yes, Mr. Roy?"

"ASR, Sarath is dead"

Arnav was taken aback.

"What will happen now?"

"She will get LIFE SENTENCE"

"Is there any point in her favor that could bring her off the prison?"

"No way, ASR. She shot him at the court premises. Nearly a hundred people, including judges and policemen, witnessed the scene. We can't break the case. Most probably, the reason for her action was very silly. She was proven guilty already. Sarath was the approver. She is a drunkard, heartless mother, was behind many men, there is no single point that can be justified her action" Roy said helplessly.

"Mmm"

"Forget her, ASR. You will get divorced easily. Live your life peacefully"

"Keep updated"

"Sure"

"Bye"

Arnav disconnected the call and headed to Khushi's class. All the students, except for Baby Khushi left the class already. He saw baby Khushi talking with Khushi, sitting at the table.

"Shall I sleep in your house tonight also?" Baby Khushi asked cutely, touching Khushi's chin.

Khushi was about to say yes, she stopped seeing Arnav,

"Of course, you can but send your daddy to his house," she said controlling her smile.

"Where do you want me to go?" Arnav walked in.

"Where else? Where you are currently staying"

"I'm going to check out Kapoor villa today"

Khushi looked at him surprised.

"Today itself?

"Why should I stay there anymore?"

"Where will you go?"

"I don't come to your place," he said seriously, making Khushi pout.

"Will go to my friend Suman's place"

Khushi rolled her eyes.

"He will welcome me with wide open hands" Arnav chuckled.

Arnav looked at baby Khushi.

"Beta, let's go, Rahim chacha will be waiting"

Baby Khushi looked at Khushi pouting.

"We will go to Sumi's house later,"

"Hey... Joly" she rushed out, taking her bag.

Arnav and Khushi followed her.

"Are you surely going to check out today?"

"Yes. Fatima Chachi and Rahim Chacha also will go back to Lucknow"

"Is it? But why?"

"There are here, not for Sheetal but for me. As I decided to leave Kapoor villa, they are also going back"

"If they are here for you, why are you letting them go? They can be with us"

Arnav smiled.

"I mean after our wedding..."

"I think they would like to be with their son"

"Ask them what they want. If they want to do it willingly, then, let them go. But, what if they are going back because they have no choice?"

"I too thought about it. But, without knowing your opinion, I don't want to make a decision"

"No Arnav, they are lovable people who treat you like their own son. It's very hard to get such people nowadays. We should hold them"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Find a rental house for the time being and shift there with them" She suggested.

"Rental house? Nope. I'm going to buy an individual house in Gomti Nagar"

"In Gomti Nagar? Have you seen any?"

"Yes, there is only one house available as of now. I don't want to miss it. I will finalize it in a day or two"

"Oh... It seems you are fully set?"

"After I decided to divorce her, how won't I be?"

"Very smart"

"Mmm..."

Arnav looked at Rahim who was taking baby Khushi's bag.

"I will come home and talk to you," Arnav said.

"Jee" Rahim left with baby Khushi. She waved her hand at them.

Khushi bid bye to her smiling. Her smile vanished when Arnav said,

"Sarath is dead"

He waited for Baby Khushi to leave. He didn't want her to hear any of this. Khushi looked at him shockingly.

"Dead? But how?"

"Sheetal shot him, snatching a gun from an inspector"

"When did it happen?"

"When she was about to be taken to jail..."

"You mean at the court campus?" she asked unbelievably.

"Yes..."

"But why? Is that Sarath, who smuggled drugs?"

"Not only that but to show himself innocent, he told everything about Sheetal in the court and made her cruel in the judge's view. That's why she shot him in anger"

"I don't think she shot him because of anger"

"Then?"

"It might be about the disappointment of betrayal..."

"Do you think she trusted him?"

"Maybe... Who knows? This would be the outcome of trusting the wrong person. She insulted you but trusted Sarath... How pathetic!"

"Do you want her to trust me?"

"No, a woman like her would not trust anyone. Buy, she should not have insulted you."

"She is like that... We can't expect tomato in a chilly plant"

"You are right. Thank God, she didn't respect you. Who knows, you might have mellowed down, seeing her respect for you" she said looking somewhere, making an odd face.

"Oh, really?" Arnav folded his hands.

"Then what? You were tolerating her tantrums like a saint even after she insulted you. What would have happened if she had respected you?"

"Nothing would have happened. I too would have respected her. That's all"

"As if you don't respect her before?"

"What's mean by respect, Khushi? I respected her not because she is a good woman. It's because I'm a good man. My behavior should be the reflection of who I'm. Not, who is she"

"Agree..." Khushi joined her hands.

Arnav smiled at her.

"Shall I drop you home?"

"Won't you?"

"With pleasure"

"Is Sumi at home?"

"Yes... I think he will go to Delhi in two days"

"For?"

"For visa process"

"Oh... He didn't say anything to me"

"It has not been confirmed yet. He will let you know after that"

"Mmm"

At the same time, Arnav got a call from Suman. Arnav showed his mobile screen to Khushi smilingly and attended to it.

"Hi, Sumi..."

"Hi, Arnav, I'm going to Delhi tomorrow for the visa process"

"Oh..." Arnav smiled.

"Our tickets just confirmed"

"Oh, when will you come back?"

"After my visa process finished"

"Ok, I will take care of Khushi"

"You don't have to assure that. I know you will do that without any note. I just updated my schedule"

Arnav smiled.

"Ok, Sumi, don't hesitate to ask me if you need any help"

"Sure. You are coming here right?"

"What if Khushi doesn't allow me to stay there?" He intentionally asked, looking at Khushi and turning the speaker on intentionally.

"Who? Khushi? (he chuckled) Don't you know her? She is craving for you man... ( Khushi rolled her eyes) If you don't come here, her heart will burst because she is expecting you to come home"

Khushi dropped her jaw.

"You bloody, Sumi..." She said gritting her teeth.

"Khushi, are you there?"

"This is how you talk to him?"

"Don't you know; I always speak the truth"

"Go to hell with your truth"

"I'm at hell only... At our home" he laughed. So did Arnav.

"I will kill you. Cut the damn phone" she disconnected the call.

"So, your disinterest in me is purely a pretext...! Right?" Arnav asked.

"Haan, so? I will have to deal with Sumi first... idiot, he blabbers everything about me to you"

"Why are you angry with him? How long will you vail your real feelings for me?"

"At least for a while..."

"Why?"

"To keep you in distance"

"Why?"

"Then only, you can't get to know how weak I'm" she pouted.

"But now, you yourself told me how weak you are" he smiled.

Slamming the floor, she walked off. Her phone beeped with a message tone. The message was from Arnav. She read it eagerly. Her cheek burnt in shyness reading it.

"I will get to know tonight, how weak you are because today also Sumi and NK will go out leaving us ALONE"

She bit her inner lip blushing.

To be continued...