“How
about this one rimmy? What do you think?” Tripti asked her sister
who sat with a faint smile on her face as she fingered the delicate
lace on the bright pink sari...Tripti kept the sari she was holding
aside and clicked her fingers in front of Garima which startled her a
bit, making her drop the sari and look at her sister in alarm
“Arre...where were you lost? And what's happened to you?” Tripti
asked her as Garima shook her head and smiled
“Whats
happened to me? I'm the same...” Garima said trying hard to cover
the blush she was sporting by holding her palms over them
“Rimmy...are you ok? You seem a but flushed...should I decrease the
AC a bit?” Tripti asked as she leaned over and reduced the AC
temperature further down as Garima shook her head
“No..no,
i'm fine...I think its just the busy day i've had” she said as
Tripti gave her a grateful smile “Sorry rimmy...I know I dragged
you all across town for all this shopping...but i really wanted you
to come along...plus i felt this would take your mind of all the
things that are happening around us” she said as Garima hit her
lightly on her arm
“Chup...how
dare you say sorry! This is my son's wedding...if i'm not there with
you, who is? Waise bhi Sanjay is always busy with his patients..the
least I can do is be with my sister for the preparations” she said
as Tripti made a sour face “You bet....sometimes i really wonder if
his heart beats for me or for his medical equipment” she said as
both ladies chuckled
“Arre
wah...whats happening here? Two of my three favorite ladies giggling
into oblivion!” Sanjay said as he strolled into the bedroom where
Tripti and Garima were sitting, the bed piled high with various
designer sari's and dress materials.. “Oh Ho...talk of the devil!
When did you come?” Tripti asked as she got up and walked to him,
taking his coat from him
“Just
now...Akhil told me you both are in here...poor boy did not want to
step in anywhere near here” he said as Tripti hung his coat and
returned to her place on the bed...on cue the house help came with a
cool glass of water with mint leaves and held it out to Sanjay who
took a huge gulp of the refreshing water “This habit of yours will
never change na Jijaji?” Garima asked Sanjay who gave her a warm
smile and leaned back in his chair
“No
ways Garima...I cannot have water without mint...i'm surprised you
remember it” he said as Garima rolled her eyes.... “As if I will
forget...you remember when you came to see Tripti at our house and I
offered you water? You seemed so hesitant to take it when your mother
said that you only drink it with mint...” she giggled as Sanjay
laughed along with her
“Yes,
and then you...ran all the way to your little garden and plucked some
out for me...how sweet was that!” he said as Garima smiled while
Tripti looked on fondly “That was some day huh!” she said as All
nodded reminiscing about the past when Garima took a deep breath and
said softly “That was also the day when I met Arun for the first
time...” she said as both Sanjay and Tripti looked at each other
“Rimmy...”
Tripti said as Garima shook her head “Its ok now...those things
don't bother we anymore...i'm well over him and everything related to
him...this memory just triggered that moment i first saw him...”
she said as Tripti sighed “I know...to think that if Sanjay had not
come that day to see me, you probably would have never met that vile
man” she said as Garima gave her hand a squeeze
“Leave
it Tripti...he was Sanjay's best friend...more like a brother to
him...and if Sanjay had not come that day, then would we be here
today? If I wouldn't have met Arun, would I have my gudiya with me
today? My Khushi? and anyways, if not through Sanjay, he would have
come in to my life anyways...he always coveted that job in our
mills...” she said as Sanjay shifted his chair closer to hers and
held her hand “You are right rimmy, Khushi is the
only good thing that ever came from Arun...rest of him kept rotting
as time went by” he said as remorse for a one time best friend took
over
“I
know Sanjay...and it wasn't fair to you that you had to lose a friend
because of what happened between us...” she said as Sanjay shook
his head “He was lost to me a long time before that....but why are
we talking about all this huh? We have soo many good memories to make
now! Akhil's wedding, then pretty soon it will be Khushi's wedding
too....by the way is she seeing anyone or should we start thinking
seriously for some ristha's for her? She's pushed this for far too
long now!” Sanjay said as Tripti clucked
“Leave
her alone...I'm sure she will find someone worthy for
herself...because I truly don't know if we'll ever find a man worthy
enough for my chulbuli” Tripti said as Sanjay nodded “Actually, I was
thinking...how about Mr Raizada's grandson? Arnav? The one she works
with? He seems really good, plus the family is very well known to
us...what do you say rimmy? Baat chalaye [should we talk?]” Tripti
asked her as Garima looked on with wide eyes
“Uh...yeah,
he will be perfect for her...but I think i'll talk to her first and
take her opinion...after all it would be awkward if we go and speak
to Yudhisthirji and Khushi doesn't agree after that” she said as
both Sanjay and Tripti nodded “Yeah, lets not rush this...and waise
bhi jaldi kya hai? [Whats the hurry?]” Sanjay said as Tripti gave
him a confused look
“Doctor
saheb....what's wrong wrong with you! Just now you were worrying
about her marriage...anyways, Rimmy....you are right...i really hope
khushi says yes though...once she too is settled in life, both
children's life will be set...plus i really like that Arnav...isn't
he helping out with the investigation? I heard he got the best guy on
the case...looks like he cares for khushi already” Tripti said as
Garima nodded
“Yes,
he got his friend Avinash to intervene...the detective in charge from
CBI is not really all that good...plus he seemed to be working more
on what everyone said instead of actually investigating...at least
Avinash is good, I haven't met him yet but Khushi was all praises
about him...we did talk on the phone and he seems like a genuinely
good cop too” Garima said as Tripti nodded and squeezed her
shoulder
“Phir
wohi baat [again the same thing], I told you na...lets not talk about
stuff that makes us gloomy and sad...lets focus on new things...like
this sari! Garima you will look really good in this...what do you
think Tripti?” Sanjay asked as both women got diverted back to
their original conversation “No Sanjay, rimmy wears muted
colors...she does not like loud ones...” tripti said as Garima
picked up the earlier pink sari she was eyeing “No Tripti...I like
this one...maybe its time I bring colors back into my life” she
said as Sanjay smiled warmly at her, his eyes misting as he saw some
of the old rimmy back
.........................
“One
Black coffee for you and one masala chai for me” Avinash said as he
settled himself into his chair in his study, while Arnav smiled
gratefully…He had come to meet his friend at his house as he wasn’t
keeping well and they had to discuss a little bit more on the case as
well…Avinash had explicitly told him not to bring Khushi along,
making Arnav anxious and worried
“I
forgot you like masala tea…Khushi too…she can’t seem to survive
without it” Arnav said fondly as he tried to kepp his worries at
bay…probably it was nothing…but till Avinash does not tell him,
he will keep wondering about it..so he thought its best to bring it
up at the beginning itself
“Speaking
of which…Why did you tell me not to bring Khushi? I feel she has a
right to know everything about this case…” Arnav said getting a
little bit defensive as Avinash chuckled and took a large sip of his
tea “Arnav…do you even realize how deep you are in already?
God…I’ve never seen you like this…have you told her?” he
asked him to which Arnav rolled his eyes
“Avi…seriously…we
are not here to talk about my feelings for Khushi…which I assure
you I am perfectly aware of and am planning to tell her soon” he
said as Avinash chuckled some more “Right now I’m really tensed
about why you called me here alone…What have you found out?”
Arnav asked him as Avinash kept his cup down and entwined his fingers
before resting his elbows on his desk as he studied Arnav sitting
across him
“Arnav…I
honestly did not ask you not to bring her here to keep anything away
from her…its just that I needed to run this past you first before
bringing her into it…also, by law…she is under suspect..” he
said as arnav nearly jumped out of his seat to defend her but stopped
as Avinash put his hand up
“No..listen
to me first Arnav…I am an officer of Law first before your
friend..and it is my duty to follow the strict rules by which we
adhere…” he said as Arnav let out a frustrated sigh “Then what
about me? Even I’m a suspect…how come you are telling me all this
then?” Arnav asked a sudden challenge lit his eyes
“In
case you did not know, the only one pointing towards you was Ms
Sheetal…and she has in her latest statement taken her doubts off
you….that does not mean you are cleared…but you are not in direct
line of fire…while Khushi…she is…unfortunately…” he said as
Arnav took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair while massaging
his suddenly throbbing forehead
“Ok…fair
enough…I don’t think we should waste time arguing anyways…what
have you found out?” Arnav asked as the silly argument seemed to
have lost its weight under the more pressing issue to what Avinash
and his team have found out “Ok…now there are two things we are
dealing with here” Avinash said as he pursed his lips and leaned
forward, Glad that Arnav had let it go for now…he understood his
annoyance but he had to accept the facts
“One
is the murder…the other is attempts on Khushi….maybe not to harm
her…yet” he said as Arnav’s eyes took on a darker tinge
“Nothing is going to happen to her Avi…no one will hurt her” he
said with a finality which Avinash had to admire in his friend…he
really was head over heels in love with her…the thought making him smile
“I
understand Arnav…and nothing will happen to her…but we will
discuss her safety in a bit…for now, all I want you to know is
that, the person responsible for both these things are not the
same…it just doesn’t add up” he said as Arnav’s eyebrows
creased in confusion “How can you be so sure that they are not the
same? Didn’t she get the photograph with a red mark across her
father? So they have to be the same person” he said as Avinash
rubbed his neck and shook his head in the negative
“No…I
think the person who is behind khushi is just using the opportunity
of Mr Mehra’s murder..you see Arnav, the person who killed Arun had
a very personal issue with him…no one would benefit from his
death…not even Monica…or Garimaji or Khushi….all his property
is protected and most of the things he owned has been sold off or
stuck in the banks…” he said as Arnav nodded
“He
also did not have any kind of professional rivalry…in fact the
competition loved him for the company secrets he occasionally let
out...” he said as Arnav raised an eyebrow “Oh yes…a lot of
dirty laundry has been discovered during our investigation…even
Shaliniji had removed him for fraud from the company…so no one, and
I mean no one would benefit from his murder…it can’t even be a
jilted woman because the kind he usually slept with knew that they
were in for…he did not make false promises…” Avinash said as
Arnav listened carefully
“So,
whoever has killed him…had a very personal agenda against
him…something big enough to want him dead…now Monica did mention
that he used to get calls from a woman…and after checking his
accounts we have worked out a pattern where he called a number every
month on the 1st…and
that same number called him at odd times in the night…” he said
as he got up and went to his window to light up a cigarette [Smoking
is injurious to health]
“We
got it checked and found out that it belonged to a ‘Parul shah’
from Ghatkopar…but on further investigation, we came to know that
this person does not exist…what is also interesting is that the
last call between Arun and Ms Shah’s number was on the day of the
murder.. precisely six hours before…also the number has been out of
existence from the day after the murder....we will look further into
it and I’m sure we will figure it out…but something tells me that
this might be our killer…a woman…Ms Parul Shah…obviously a
alias” he said as Arnav digested all the information
“Why
do you feel then that this person is not the one behind Khushi? What
if she wanted to take revenge further by hurting his daughter” he
asked as Avinash turned around and faced him “Exactly Arnav…why
would she? The world knows how much Khushi loathed Arun…she made it
quite public when she threatened to kill him…so why would she or
maybe even a he try to harm someone who hates Arun Mehra…it just
does not make sense” he said as Arnav sighed and covered his eyes
with his hands
“What
do you think then? Who can it be?” Arnav asked as Avinash once
again sat down on his chair and stubbed his cigarette “Someone who
does not like Khushi…it can be someone on a professional front or
someone in the family who has something against her….and I’m dead
sure that the person, if not family is someone who is close to
them…that photo of Khushi and her father…Khushi said only two
copies existed..one is with her still and the other was with her
father…so…” he said as Arnav caught on
“Monica…I
will kill that b****h” Arnav said with so much venom that Avinash
had to get up and hold his shoulders down “Calm down Arnav…this
is just a hunch….we are still not sure…and we also need to think
how will Khushi’s fear or sorry to say this but ‘death’ can
benefit her…why go to such an extent if there is no reward…I feel
there is someone else involved along with her” he said as Arnav
nodded and relaxed
“We
need to find them Avi…both of them…but more so the person who is
now behind Khushi…We don’t know what else they might be
planning…I’m so scared and worried that they might get her the
next time…” he said as Avinash patted his shoulders “Arnav…you
have done whatever you could to keep her safe…she still doesn’t
know about the bodyguards who trail her does she? They are like
shadows…we’ll keep her safe…I promise you” he said as arnav
looked up and nodded
“Do
what you have to Avi…but find them…find out if its Monica…and
if its her…God save her from my wrath” Arnav said as Avinash
squeezed his shoulders and assured him….the first thing he had to
do now was call up his team member at the station and get the daily
reports on Monica’s whereabouts…he had got a tip that she was
meeting someone in a hotel…he was waiting for the photographs and
report eagerly.
...........................
“Khushi
maam?” Aman asked Khushi as she sat at her desk going over her
mails...she had had a very busy morning with meeting prospective
clients and working on finalizing the samples for the French
deal...plus the fact that she had not seen Arnav since morning had
made her cranky as hell.
“Hmm Aman...” She said not looking up from her laptop as her fingers
typed up her responses to the unread mails “Uh....I....I wanted
your opinion on something” he said after a few minutes of silence
in which khushi completed her work and looked up to find him
fidgeting nervously in front of her...she gave him an amused smile as
he searched for something in his suit pocket before coming and
sitting at her desk opposite her
She
craned her neck to see what he was holding when he raised his palm
and held out a small velvet box “What is this Aman?” she asked
him as he opened it and held it out to her “Its for the woman I
love...” he said as Khushi looked on bewildered at her usually
quite and shy PA as he blushed while showing off the ring to her but
before he could say anything, a loud voice bellowed inside her cabin
“Aman
Mathur! What the f**k do you think you are doing!” Arnav roared as
he saw Aman holding out a ring towards khushi while confessing he was
in love with her....he had just gotten back from Avinash's and had
headed straight to Khushi cabin to share some of the talk that
Avinash had said was ok to involve her in when he came across this
sight
“S..sir?...I....I”
Aman stuttered as the ring box fell from his hand onto Khushi's
desk....he stood up straight as Arnav came and towered over him “Care
to repeat what you just said to Khushi? How dare you?” Arnav asked him
as Aman looked between a throughly confused khushi and a throughly
angry Arnav...but he squared his shoulders and looked him in the eye
“What is wrong with proposing to the woman I love? We both love
each other and this is the most logical step I should take now” he
said as Arnav went to hold him by his lapels when Khushi intervened
“Arnav
Wait....Aman what are you saying? When did you...I don't
understand...” she said as she saw a fuming arnav looking at Aman
with daggers in his eyes while Aman gulped and picked up the ring box
“It just happened maam...Love doesn't come knocking you know...we
fell in love and I fell in love with everything about her....her
smile, her simplicity...her kindness and also her adorable kids...”
he said as Arnav and Khushi looked at each other in utter confusion
“Wha...Who?
Who are you talking about?” she asked him as he smiled and said in
a soft voice “Lavanya...” he said as Khushi's eyes nearly popped
open “What? Lavanya? As in Lavanya Kashyap?...Aman! When did this
happen? Oh my god! This is huge!” Khushi said excitedly as Arnav
took a huge breath and relaxed...it did not even register to him that
Aman was talking about his PA..the only thing that relieved him was
that Aman wasn't talking about Khushi...his Khushi...no one had the
right to love her...no one...except him
“Arnav?
Arnav! Where are you lost!” she asked him pinching his arm as he
came back to watch Aman look at him warily “Sorry Aman...for a
minute I thought you were talking about Khushi...” he said as
Aman's face twisted in horror...No wonder Mr Raizada had gone wild!
“So, whose the girl then?” he asked him with a small smile as
Aman and Khushi gave him weird looks
“Arnav...Lavanya...your
PA....what is wrong with you!” she said in exasperation as Arnav
looked on at a blushing Aman.... “Really? You and Lavanya?” he
asked with an amused looked as Khushi hit him lightly on his arm
“Shut up Arnav...Aman, the ring is gorgeous...you are right, this
is the next step into your relationship....Lavanya is a wonderful
woman and I am sure you will make her very happy...Life is too short
to wait around...Go and get her!” she said with a huge smile as
Arnav felt the weight of her words...was she hinting at him too?
He
saw her smile at Aman and gush over the ring as she fingered the
delicate diamonds on it...he saw a twinkle in her eye as the shine of
the diamond sparkled in them...he knew he had procrastinated this for
too long...he just hoped she wanted what he did too...with that in
mind he congratulated Aman and threatened to kill him if he ever hurt
Lavanya....as Aman left Khushi's cabin with a spring in his step,
Arnav pulled Khushi closer to him, crashing his lips over hers...she
responded with equal longing as they remained in each other's
embrace, waiting for each other to take the next step.
