247. OS 13 Laad Governor and Afghan Jalebi (Parts 13-14)

Link to my new short story: Taking Care of You


“I thought I was dreaming when I first saw you," he said.

 “How did you know it was me?” she asked. “I could have been anybody. A thief even.”

He smiled wearily. “I don’t know many thieves who would look at me with anxious eyes and then cry because I was sick,” he mumbled.

Is it possible for love to bloom, sight unseen? Juhi and Abhay are strangers who know each other better than they know themselves. One night changes the equation and the even tenor of their lives and puts all their doubts and fears to rest.

http://pothi.com/pothi/book/ebook-smita-ramachandran-taking-care-you

Link to my first e-novel; A Home for Meenakshi

http://pothi.com/pothi/book/ebook-smita-ramachandran-home-meenakshi

"I love the way you love, Meenu," he whispered, his eyes on hers. "Such loyalty, such passion..."

Meenakshi Sharma, an orphan, lives in Varanasi with her uncle, a chronic bachelor who wants her to become a professional musician. She unwillingly relocates to Delhi to study under a renowned musician for eight months. Staying for rent in the outhouse of the Agrawals, she meets Aditya Agrawal, an attractive young man brooding over the memories of his horrendous past. Pulled between her uncle's expectations of her and Aditya's love for her, Meenakshi struggles with her feelings. How can she disappoint her uncle who had devoted his entire life to her upbringing? How can she pretend to be blind to Aditya's feelings for her? A romance that moves between the alleys of the holy city of Varanasi and the modern city of Delhi.

A blog for my VMs:

http://smitarsvms.blogspot.in/

Dedicated to Supriya Sahasrabuddhe (Sups/ aniyathi). She wanted Mami and Payal to plot to bring A-K together. So here goes,

Part 13

NK jumped up and helped Khushi stand up.

“Sorry, Khushiji,” he said, pulling his ear.

“It was my fault, Nanheji,” Khushi admitted.

The Raizada ladies stared at the soft expression on ASR’s face and the hint of a smile on his lips with wonder.

“Chotey?” Anjali managed to call.

He blinked, turned and walked away to his room.

Anjali looked at mami and nani and quickly made her way after him.

She peeked into his room.

He was sitting on the recliner, staring at the laptop screen.

“Chotey,” she called.

He looked up, his face as closed as usual.

Anjali wanted to hit him. Why couldn’t he be like Akash and babble about the state of his heart to all and sundry? Here she needed a shaman or a dervish to divine what was going through her Chotey’s big head. “I—I just came to remind you that tomorrow is Rakshabandhan. Come down for aarti in the morning,” she requested.

He nodded.

She made to turn away, but stopped at the small “Di.” from Chotey. She turned to look at him with hopeful eyes.

His eyes were on the laptop, but he said softly, “I want us to leave for TBZ at four.”

Anjali blinked.

“It is Payal’s first Rakshabandhan. I need to get her something. And we must send gifts to the Guptas,” ASR said, his voice low.

Anjali couldn’t find the words to convey her shock or her happiness.

“Buy whatever you want,” ASR said in a casual manner.

“Yes, Chotey,” Anjali said. “You will be joining us, won’t you?” she asked hopefully.

“Yes,” he said. “NK and I will drive.”

Her face lit up in a huge smile. She looked up with folded hands to thank Devi Maiyya before leaving him to stare at his laptop.

Anjali made her way to the living room to give everyone the glad news.

“Nani, Chotey is taking us to the Zaveri showroom. We have to leave at four,” Anjali said, almost shivering in excitement.

“Really?” nani couldn’t believe her ears.

“Saasumma, I am going to phall,” mami clutched her heart and sank into a chair.

Payal and Khushi smiled at their excitement.

Anjali said, “Payalji, Khushiji, we are going to buy jewellery,” she said, her eyes shining.

“Diamonds, rubies, pearls,” mami almost panted. “Hum heavy necklace leibe,” she informed them.

Nani shook her head in exasperation. “Manorama, buy for your bahu. You are old enough to be a grandmother,” she said.

“Nahiiii,” mami squealed. “Don’t call Manorama Raijjada old, saasumma. Old honge hamare dussman.” She quickly pulled out her tiny mirror and checked her appearance.

All hid their smiles.

                                       ***

ASR held the door open.

Anjali made to enter the car and he supported her arm and helped her in.

Payal got in with a grateful smile to her jetji. He nodded.

 Then it was Khushi’s turn.

ASR looked at her beautiful form clothed in a soft pink anarkali. She was fully covered except for her face, her neck and her arms, but the little skin he could see was enough to make him drool. He shook his head to clear it. She had a kick that no alcohol in the world could beat, he thought. She was a brew made just to bring him to his knees.

She slipped in to sit by Payal. ASR shut the door and moved to take the driver’s seat. Nani and mami were being driven by NK to the jewellers.

ASR looked at Khushi in the mirror. Her eyes met his for a second and then slid away. He watched the muscles of her throat struggle to swallow and the way in which nervous, pale fingers tried to rearrange the dupatta around her neck.

This attraction was not one-sided, he realised.

He had a name to give it—Lust. She, being inexperienced, didn’t.

He knew the ins and outs of lust while she knew nothing. Her ignorance was a blessing for him, he realised. Otherwise she would have figured out that he was attracted to her and then the games would start. She would try to play him for a fool, manipulate him, control him—but that would never work with him.

It never had.

Lust was something he could take or leave and over the years he had done more of leaving than taking.

He parked the car.

They waited for NK, mami and nani, Khushi taking care to stand away from the Laad Governor and to keep her eyes from straying in his direction even though she could feel his eyes on her.

Soon NK, nani and mami joined them.

They walked into a paradise for jewellery lovers. Khushi stared at the displays, her eyes wide. Each piece was crafted with care and diamonds and other precious stones vied to catch the attention of buyers.

ASR whispered in Anjali’s ear, “Buy Payal—and her sister whatever they want.”

Anjali nodded, laughter and joy dancing in her eyes.

ASR took a seat and began checking his phone for messages from work, one eye on the phone and the other on Khushi.

Khushi stood quietly watching the others look at jewellery sets, not selecting anything for herself.

Nani held out a set of pearl and gold earrings, necklace and bangles.

“Khussi bitiya, will you wear them and show me how they look?” nani asked.

“Ji,” Khushi smiled. She quickly slipped off her inexpensive bead and metal earrings and tried on the pearl earrings. Nani helped her fasten the necklace and she wore the bangles and posed for nani.

“Beautiful,” nani said.

“Very,” NK said. “Khushiji, I think you should marry a jeweller.”

Nani and Khushi frowned.

ASR clenched his jaw and fists.

“Then you can wear such pieces everyday,” said NK, his logic perfect.

All laughed.

ASR rolled his eyes.

Khushi removed the pearls with nani’s help. Then it was Anjali’s turn. “Khushiji, please try this set. Let me see how it looks on you.”

Khushi obliged. She wore the heavy diamond necklace, drops and bangles.

“They look so good on you, Khussi bitiya,” nani said, a smile on her face.

Khushi looked at herself in the mirror, only to see Laad Governor looking at her. His eyes were fixed on her, not on the jewels.

Her fingers trembled as she tried to remove the necklace.

Payal picked a ruby and emerald set. “Khushi, please wear this, will you? If it looks too heavy, then I don’t want to take it,” she said.

Khushi wore the colourful set. The egg-sized ruby pendant hung against her heart and the drops touched her shoulders. She looked in the mirror to see the Shaitan’s eyes on her again.

She shook.

“Kaa hua, Khussi bitiya?” nani asked. “Tabiyat to theek he na?”

“I am fine, naniji,” she whispered. She quickly removed the ornaments and placed them in their box.

ASR stood up and walked away, looking at the large number of customers thronging the shop. He needed a moment to himself, a minute to remind himself of the hundred reasons why he shouldn’t be attracted to Khushi, why his eyes shouldn’t be stuck to her, why his ears shouldn’t long to hear her laughter, why he shouldn’t be here.

He walked out of the shop to stand outside, breathing in a lungful of air.

Anjali turned her head to see him leaving.

“Chotey escaped,” she chuckled.

“I am joining him,” NK said as he ran away.

All smiled.

Once the ladies purchased all the jewellery they wanted, Anjali looked at Khushi and said, her eyes laughing, “Khushiji, will you come with me. I need to find Chotey. It is time to pay the bill.”

“Ji,” Khushi agreed, walking along with Anjali to the door.

“Hum bhi aavat he,” mami joined them. “Saasumma and Payaliya are sitting down, all tired, Hello Hi Bye Bye.”

“Yes, come with us, mami,” Anjali invited her. “You have very sharp eyes and can spot Chotey at a distance.”

“Hum Manorama Baand he, Anjali bitiya,” mami claimed as they neared the door.

Khushi pulled open the door and stood transfixed.

A tall, thin girl in a slinky dress was in Laad Governor’s arms, her arms tight around his neck.

Khushi tried hard to swallow, her mouth dry, her heart sore.

“Hein?” mami asked, being the first to find her voice. “Ee kaun he? Ee kaa ho raha he? Bhy is every girl lying on hamre Arnav bitwaa?”

“She is Lisa, his girlfriend,” Anjali whispered, her face white with shock.

Something died in Khushi. A tiny flame of hope that had refused to be extinguished even after seeing Laad Governor and Lavanya Kashyap spluttered and died.

ASR pushed Lisa away, trying hard to maintain a friendly expression.

“Bhat? Then Lavanya Kashyap? Who ijj she?” mami asked the question Khushi wanted to ask.

The girl spoke a few more sentences to ASR, sent him a flying kiss and walked away on spindly heels.

“Lisa was Chotey’s girlfriend before Lavanya. I thought she was in Mumbai,” Anjali murmured.

NK joined ASR, a water bottle in his hand.

“Nannav, who was that gorgeous creature hugging you?” he asked, laughing.

“Lisa,” ASR said dryly.

“Your girlfriend?” NK asked. “How many do you have?” Without waiting for a reply, he said, “Nannav, you have great taste in girls. Suno, you should really invite them to meet us. What about my suggestion of inviting Lavanya Kashyap to meet di, mami, Khushiji, Payal bhabi and me?”

Anjali gasped.

Khushi slowly let go of the door and stepped back.

Anjali and mami took one look at Khushi’s pale and stunned face and quickly took over.

“Arnav bitwaa,” mami called urgently as Khushi walked away to join nani and her jiji.

He turned his head to see his di and mami. He quickly strode to them. “Yes?” he asked.

“The bill,” Anjali said, her voice shaking.

“I will see to it,” he said and marched to the counter to pay.

“Do you want water, maasi?” NK asked an appalled mami.

“No use, NK bitwaa,” mami said sadly. “Bhy drink water when water is flowing over my headwaa?” she asked.

NK looked at her head and above her head in confusion. “There is no water there, maasi,” he informed her.

“Sab chaupat hui gava,” mami lamented. “All go, went, gone. Sab satyanass.”

“What is lost?” NK asked.

“Hamre Arnav bitwaa’s life ijj gone,” mami said, wiping away a tear from her eye.

NK frowned. “Maasi, there is nothing wrong with Nannav’s life. He is healthy, happy. Who wouldn’t be with so many girl,” NK stopped himself in the nick of time. “With so many deals, so much money, big business, many cars, good family,” he tried to cover his slip of the tongue.

Mami shook her head, sighing heavily.

ASR paid, took the big bag of jewellery boxes and joined nani and Anjali. Khushi was sitting by Payal, her eyes on her crossed fingers.

“Shall we leave?” Anjali asked, exhausted, fed up.

“Yes,” nani replied.

ASR led all them out.

Khushi quietly joined nani and mami in their walk to the car park and got into NK’s car.

ASR stood still for a moment, dismayed, offended. Then he held the door open for Anjali and Payal and drove them home fuming, wondering why Khushi had picked NK’s company over his.

Hadn’t di bought her a set? Was she angry with him?

“Did you get everything we were looking for?” he asked cryptically, not wanting Payal to know that he had asked di to pick a rakshabandhan gift for her.

“More than I was looking for,” replied Anjali softly, feeling sad and hopeless about Khushi and Arnav.

                                            ***

As soon as they reached home, Khushi told nani, “I have a slight headache. I need to lie down a bit, naniji. I will meet you at dinner.”

She looked sick, nani thought. She said, “Ja, bitiya. Lie down. Don’t come down. I will send your meal to your room with Hari Prakashji. You take rest.”

Khushi nodded, trying to smile. She quickly walked up to her room, not wanting to set her eyes on the character dheela rakshas.

ASR, Payal and Anjali entered the house to hear nani giving instructions to HP about taking Khushi’s dinner to her room.

“Kya hua, nani?” Anjali asked, sharing a look with mami.

“Khussi bitiya’s head is aching. She has gone to take a nap. I told her not to come down for dinner,” nani said before leaving for her room.

ASR stood lost for a moment. Headache? Did she need a pill?

“Headache?” Payal said in wonder. “But she is never ill. Buaji says that Khushi normally gives headache to others.”

NK smiled.

Anjali and mami were too upset to even crack a smile.

“I will see if she needs a pill,” Payal said, making to go up the steps.

“Payal bhabi,” Anjali stopped her. “Let her sleep. I will leave the medicine box outside her door.”

“Ji,” Payal agreed.

Part 14

Khushi shut the door behind her and collapsed on the bed, too overcome by what she had seen and heard to even bawl her eyes out. She knew just one thing—she wanted to be out of here at the earliest. She never wanted to set her eyes on him again. Never.

‘He Devi Maiyya, raksha karna,’ she prayed desperately. ‘I can’t take this anymore.’

Her phone rang.

“Amma?” Khushi tried hard not to cry as she heard her mother’s voice.

“Khussi, bitiya, I am sorry,” Garima said, feeling wretched.

“Kya hua, amma?” Khushi asked.

“Bitiya, I am calling from the hospital. Jiji is not well. She has fever and wheezing. The doctor wants to admit her here till the fever comes down and the wheezing is under control,” Garima said.

“Buaji,” Khushi gasped. Tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

“Don’t be scared. Jiji will be alright. It is not very serious. The doctor just wants to keep an eye on her. It is just that,” Garima hesitated.

“Kya he, amma?” Khushi asked, trying to control her sobs.

“Can you return on Saturday instead of Sunday? Woh kaa he, bitiya, I have to sit in the hospital with jiji and your babuji will have to run between the shop and the hospital. If you were here,” Garima paused.

“Amma, don’t worry. I will get there tomorrow,” Khushi promised, trying to control her weeping.

“You are losing one day of your holiday,” Garima said sadly.

“That’s no probem, amma. Don’t worry. I will get there tomorrow and take over the shop. Then babuji will be free,” Khushi promised.

Garima heaved a sigh of relief. Then she said, “Tell Payaliya that she doesn’t have to return with you. What will the Raizadas think if both of you leave them and run away? Tell Payaliya that I will call her daily and let her know how jiji is.”

“Yes, amma,” Khushi agreed, her hand on her heaving chest.

She cut the call, prayed for buaji and then buried her face in the pillow.

HP knocked on her door with dinner but she didn’t answer his call.

She kept her face buried in the pillow and howled, trying to block the pictures of the Laad Governor with two of his girlfriends from intruding into her head.

Who knew how many more girlfriends he had? Delhi was littered with his girlfriends and she shouldn’t waste a moment thinking of such a depraved brute, she tried to remind herself as she spent the rest of the night wailing and cursing herself for liking an immoral and shameless beast.

                                      ***

Khushi came down early in the morning to see nani praying before Devi Maiyya’s idol. She waited till nani finished praying and then called softly, “Naniji.”

“Khussi bitiya, you are down early,” nani said, beaming. “How is your headache now? Did you sleep well?” she asked, her ears noting signs of a restless night on the young girl’s face.

“I am better, naniji, but I need to leave for Lucknow today,” Khushi told her.

“Leave today?” nani was aghast. “Why bitiya? Won’t tomorrow do?”

Khushi explained the situation at home. “And amma doesn’t want jiji to leave jiju and return to Lucknow. I will go there and take care of everything,” Khushi finished.

Nani hugged her and said, “May every family be blessed with a daughter like you, Khussi. I will make the arrangements for you to leave immediately after breakfast. Have you done your packing?”

“Yes, naniji,” Khushi replied.

Anjali, mami and Payal entered the room.

Nani opened her mouth to inform them of Khushi’s imminent departure, but ASR, NK and Akash came down, ready for rakshabandhan.

Khushi stood with nani, taking care not to look at Laad Governor.

Anjali did the aarti of ASR, Akash and NK and tied rakhis on their wrists. The boys gave her gifts of diamonds and hugged her.

Payal took her thali and moved towards the men. Akash moved away. She did her jetji’s aarti, tied a rakhi on his wrist and bent to touch his feet.

Arnav jumped but blessed her awkwardly.

The ladies, except Khushi hid their smiles. Khushi looked away, not wanting to see him.

He gave Payal a gift-wrapped jewellery box.

Then Payal tied a rakhi around NK’s wrist and got a gift from him.

Next it was Khushi’s turn.

As she took her thali and moved towards the men, ASR discovered a sudden and urgent need to use his phone and fishing it out of his pocket, walked out of the room.

Anjali, mami and nani heaved sighs of relief.

Khushi tied rakhis on her Akash jiju’s and NK’s wrists.

Akash gave her a silk saree and NK a gold bracelet.

Khushi looked in the direction in which the devil had vanished. She asked aloud, deliberately, “Shouldn’t I tie a rakhi to Arnavji?”

Many faces showed alarm.

“No, bitiya,” nani said.

“He is bijji,” mami jumped to stand between Khushi and the door through which ASR had vanished.

“No, Khushiji, it is not necessary,” Anjali gasped.

Payal smiled unsteadily at Khushi.

NK frowned and said, “Khushiji, if you want to, I will get him.”

“Rehne deejiye, NK bhai,” Anjali caught him by the arm and pulled him towards the breakfast table. “We are having halwa poori for breakfast,” she tempted him.

All sat down for breakfast. ASR alone was missing.

Mami whispered in Anjali’s ear, “Don’t call hamre Arnav bitwaa. She will tie a rakhi around his hand when he ijj not looking. Breakfast miss ho gaya to koi baat naahi. He can live without paratha for one day, but bhat will we do if she makes him her brotherwaa?”

Anjali nodded.

“I have some bad news for you,” nani said.

All looked at her.

Mami whispered in Anjali’s ear. “Ab kaa bad newjj he? Kal se sab kuch bad hi ho raha he, Anjali bitiya.”

Anjali nodded.

“Khussi bitiya is leaving today after breakfast,” nani said.

“Kaa?” mami asked. Her goggles fell from her head into her paratha.

“No!” NK cried.

“Khushi, kya hua?” Payal asked.

Nani explained.

Payal started weeping. “Khushi, I am coming with you,” she decided.

“No, jiji. Amma wants you to stay here,” Khushi dissuaded her.

“I will take you to Lucknow next week, Payal,” Akash promised, feeling terrible. “We can meet buaji, amma and babuji and return.”

The ladies nodded.

“Nani, Mohanji,” Anjali began.

“I have made all the arrangements. Naina will accompany Khussi bitiya to Lucknow,” nani said.

Khushi stood up. “May I leave now, naniji?” she asked.

Nani nodded reluctantly, hugging her and asking her to visit them again as soon as she could make it.

HP brought down her luggage.

Anjali, mami and Payal hugged Khushi. Akash bid her farewell. NK and the others followed her to the car and saw her in.

They waved as the car moved away.

“Khussi escaped. Now bhat will we do with hamre Arnav bitwaa?” mami asked, her big eyes filled with tears.

“I don’t know, mami. I don’t know,” Anjali admitted.

“Our Chotey,” nani murmured sorrowfully.

“Maybe he doesn’t deserve her,” Anjali said softly.

All looked at her in silence.

                                        ***

ASR sat holed up in his room till lunch, staring at his laptop screen and designing dresses for Khushi, totally unaware that she was halfway to Lucknow.

Anjali knocked on his door.

“Yes?” he asked.

Anjali pushed open the door and said, “Chotey, lunch is served. Go down and have it.”

He frowned. “Where is HP? Why did you walk up the steps?” he asked.

“HP is busy. I was going to lie down in my room anyway,” Anjali said, turning away.

“Kya hua, di? Aren’t you feeling well?” he asked, getting up and walking to her.

“I am feeling tired, very tired,” she said in a low voice. “Pata nahi kyon, Chotey, this week I have been thinking of our parents a lot.”

He frowned.

“If mama were here, she would have taken better care of you, seen to your future better than I have,” Anjali said, her face drawn.

ASR shook his head in disagreement. “Don’t think such nonsense,” he told her. “Our parents are dead. We are orphans who managed to survive. That’s it.”

Anjali sighed.

“We can’t change the past,” ASR said. “Don’t wish for the impossible.”

“How can I stop myself?” Anjali asked, tears filling her eyes. “Chotey, every year when I tied a rakhi on your hand, you promised to look after me. What you don’t know is that, every rakshabandhan, I too made a promise to mama to look after you. Because I am all you have just as you are all I have. But now...” her voice trailed away.

“What is wrong?” ASR asked, his eyes narrowed.

Anjali dried her face. “Chodo,” she brushed aside his question.

ASR looked heavenward for patience. “What is wrong?” he asked again, his voice clipped.

“Nothing,” Anjali said. “Oh, I forgot to tell you,” she inserted casually, “Khushiji left.”

A ferocious frown appeared on Chotey’s face.

“Where did she go?” he asked. “Is NK with her?”

“She went alone,” Anjali replied.

ASR lost it. “Don’t you know that she is not familiar with the streets of Delhi? Why did you let her go alone?” he bellowed. He made to rush out of the room to look for her.

“She has returned to Lucknow,” Anjali said quietly.

ASR’s face as he turned to look at her took her breath away. He looked lost, shattered, bereaved.

Anjali sat down. She was determined to have a few answers.

“Why?” ASR asked. “Why did she have to go?” It was more like how could she leave me and go, Anjali thought.

“Buaji is hospitalised,” Anjali explained. “The family needs her help.”

ASR marched to his window and stood staring at the pool for long moments.

“How is Lavanya?” she asked softly.

“How should I know?” he asked absently. Couldn’t Khushi have stayed one more day?

Hope fluttered its wings in Anjali’s heart.

“She is your girlfriend, isn’t she?” Anjali asked.

“Not anymore,” he replied. “She is returning to London tomorrow.”

Anjali asked softly, “Then what were you doing with her at Purple Orchid?”

“She was drunk,” he said absently. “Wanted help. She called me. I carried her out and dropped her at her flat.”

Anjali took a deep breath and a chance. “And Lisa?”

“What about Lisa?” he asked, his mind still with Khushi and her sudden departure.

“She was hugging you yesterday,” Anjali said slowly.

He frowned. “She was shopping for her engagement ring with her boyfriend. Saw me, talked to me. That’s all,” he said shortly.

Anjali sagged.

After a long moment, she asked the biggest question of all, “What about Khushi?”

ASR turned to look at her, silent, his eyes wide. He had no answer to give her.

Anjali got up and walked to the door. At the door, she turned and said, “By the way, Khushiji saw Lisa hugging you yesterday as though she were your girlfriend.”

His jaw dropped, hitting the floor.

Anjali left the room.

                               ***