Part 17 Nani with Arnav

Arnav was checking something on his mobile, waiting for Aman. He wanted to know the reason for the commissioner's sudden visit. He saw Aman entering using a spare key.

"Why did the commissioner visit suddenly?"

"To check whether we are doing work or sleeping," Aman said irritatingly.

"What happened?"

"He didn't come"

"Whaaat?"

"Yeah, he simply canceled the program" Aman gritted his teeth.

"This is why we should not sacrifice food. See, what happened" Arnav sighed.

"Leave it..." Aman sat on the couch.

"I will leave early in the morning with Khushi..."

"Yeah, you told me that you guys are going to meet your Nani"

"Make sure you are connected to us"

"Yeah... I will be. When will you be back?"

"Maybe, before lunch..."

"Do you have any plan to trap Aarav?"

"As we tightened the city limit, he would be in the city only. Or, maybe, outskirt Delhi. Form a secret team to watch stranger activities in the city. Ask for public help and let them inform us if they find anything weird in their area"

"I will do it tomorrow morning"

"Go to sleep. don't know when you will be called"

"Yeah, you are right. You will also wake up earlier in the morning. Take my bike. The petrol is full"

"Thanks"

Arnav and Aman went to bed.

The next day

Arnav picked Khushi up who was wearing a burqa. Of course, Arnav was also in disguise with a beard and mustache. They headed to the Ashram.

"How long will it take for us to reach the Ashram?" Khushi asked.

"We will reach the Ashram in forty minutes as the roads are free. Why any problem?"

"No problem... I'm ready to travel around the world with you" She said dreamingly.

Arnav smiled.

"Whaaat?"

"Even though it's filmy, it sounds nice" Arnav chuckled.

Khushi punched his back and Arnav laughed. They bought fruits for Nani on the way.

They reached the Ashram in forty minutes as Arnav said.

Arnav saw the Ashram was getting cleaned. A few workers were decorating it. People who belonged to the Ashram were in pure white clothes. It seemed it was their uniform.

"Is any function going to be held?" Khushi asked.

"Don't know" Arnav shrugged his shoulders.

An old man saw them and asked,

"May I know who are you?"

"We are here to meet Mrs. Devyani"

"Devyani? Who are you to her?"

"I'm her grandson from Scotland. I would like to meet her"

"Oh, you are Arnav. right?"

"Do you know me?"

"Everyone from our Ashram knows not only about you but also about your twin brother Aarav"

Arnav and Khushi got stuck. They glanced at each other.

"Don't take it wrong. We share everything. This is our family. we knew about everyone here"

Arnav nodded smiling.

"Shall I meet my Nani?"

"This is her Pooja time. She must be in the Pooja hall with others. You can wait. Or you can go to the hall"

Arnav looked at Khushi.

"We will go," she said.

"It's behind this building" the man guided them.

They came to the Pooja hall. There were ten members in the hall. They saw their Nani sitting with others and an old man was doing harthi. Khushi removed her slippers.

"You don't have to come if you are uncomfortable," she said.

"That's ok" Arnav also removed his shoes and entered with Khushi.

The harthi was over. The old man asked Nani to distribute Prasad to all. She started giving it to others. Arnav waited until the Ashram people got the Prasad. Arnav extended his hand to take the dona bowl. Nani gave one to him, without looking at him.

"Being sincere is good... but this much sincerity is not good, Nani..." Arnav said.

Nani looked at him jerking.

"You didn't even notice your grandson standing in front of you..."

"Chotte..." Nani was excited.

"When did you come to India?"

"Just two days ago..." he lied as she would feel bad for him delayed meeting her.

Nani closed the Prasad bowl and came to Arnav. She hugged him emotionally.

"How are you Chotte...? It's been a long we met" She said choking.

"I'm fine Nani... I came to India to complete an important work"

"Oh..."

"Won't you ask what work?"

"What work?"

"My wedding work"

Nani widened her eyes.

"Wedding?"

"Yeah, I decided to marry this girl" he pointed at Khushi.

Nani looked at Khushi perplexed.

"Namaste, Naniji" Khushi forwarded the fruits she brought for Nani.

"Do you belong to Scotland?" Nani asked as she thought Arnav met her in Scotland and fell for her.

"No, Nani, she studied in my college. Khushi Gupta"

"Your college?"

"Yes, her parents want to meet you to talk about our wedding but before that, I would like to meet you alone. That's why I came..."

"But, you are not alone..." Nani looked at Khushi.

"I mean, without her parents..." Arnav smiled.

"Nice to hear...! I'm glad you gave a thought to your marriage. You are the only one who is there for me..."

Arnav clutched her hand softly and said,

"HE is also here..."

Nani looked at him perplexed.

"Whom you are talking about Chotte?"

Arnav looked at her sharply, hinting something. Nani pulled her hands off and moved back. There was a horrific expression on her face.

"But, he was dead..." her voice was low.

Arnav nodded his head from left to right.

"Didn't he die?"

"No... he framed his death to tackle the police"

Nani sat on the bench, clutching her chest. Arnav sat next to her.

"Nani relax..."

Nani looked at him like, how could I be?

"He framed his death means, he would have had some plan. The police could not even catch him when the police had his complete record. Then what will the police do now, Chotte? According to them, he is dead!"

"No, Nani, I hinted to the police about him. That's why I'm in disguise because I don't want police to get confused seeing me"

"Be careful Chotte... he may attack you too, he is mad "

"I will take care of myself, Nani. You don't have to bother about me. I will be in India for twenty-five days. Before leaving India, I would like to marry Khushi. Her parents will come to meet you in two or three days"

Nani nodded ok.

"After our wedding, only we can start the visa process for Khushi. So, I want to hurry up"

"Then, we will do it as soon as possible. Then only you can take her with you..."

Arnav nodded yes.

"Will you go with him, bitiya?"

"Jee Naniji" Khushi smiled.

"She has to come with me..." Arnav said firmly.

Nani and Khushi smiled.

"Ok, have breakfast with me"

"Sure, Nani. It seems your Ashram is getting ready for an event..."

"Yes, Chotte, a saint will visit our Ashram tomorrow. That's why we are cleaning it"

"Who is the Saint?"

"You don't know him. He is not familiar. We too don't know him. No one from our Ashram has seen him. He is not a modern saint. He didn't even have a mobile phone. We received his letter last month about his visit. We appreciated it. After that, we got another letter with his confirmation. That's all. He is a REAL saint."

"Interesting...! How many days will he be here?"

"I three to four days..."

Arnav looked at Khushi and asked,

"Then how will Khushi's parents meet you, Nani?"

Nani became thoughtful.

"Ok, we will do one thing"

"Tell me"

"I will come with you and meet them today. Then will return to the Ashram in the evening. What say?"

"Hope you have no problem..."

"No... I don't want your wedding process to delay"

"Ok, Nani... let's go"

"Arrey, have breakfast. Then we will go"

"Ok..."

Nani came to the old man who guided Arnav to the Pooja hall. She told him about going with Arnav. He permitted her to go with him. Then Nani took them to the dining hall.

At the same time, Aarav reached the Ashram with Rakesh. He waited at the bus stand which was opposite the Ashram and observed. He frowned seeing it getting cleaned. He went to the small shop and asked,

"Why are they cleaning the Ashram?"

"It seems a Saint is coming from Kedarnath tomorrow," the shopkeeper said.

"Saint? Who is he?"

"I don't know... I never heard his name"

"What's his name?"

"Santhoshananda"

"Santhoshananda?" Aarav frowned.

"Who is that, Dude? I have not heard the name!" Rakesh said.

"I too didn't hear it"

"How many of them are coming?"

"I don't know," the shopkeeper said.

"Which time they will come?"

"I don't know"

"How did they come, by train or, bus?"

"By walk"

"Whaaaat?"

"Yes, he is a REAL saint who won't use something that makes man lazy"

Aarav raised his brows.

"Tomorrow which time, will he reach here?"

"Isaid, I don't know"

"How many days will he stay here?"

"I don't know"

"Don't you know anything?" Rakesh asked irritatingly.

"Why would I know?"

They saw a man coming from the Ashram.

"Go and ask him about the Saint. He knows everything about him" The shopkeeper said.

Aarav gestured for Rakesh. They followed the man. At the same time, the cab arrived at the Ashram. Leaving the bike in the Ashram, Arnav and Khushi took Nani with them in the cab. Arnav decided to take his bike from the Ashram when he would come to drop Nani back.

To be continued...