Kaisey Yeh Rishtey - 27

Chapter 27 

The other man nodded, and Arnav left.

But he couldn't concentrate on his work. In his mind, he kept replaying the phone conversation between Khushi and Aman again and again. She hadn't seemed surprised to hear his voice, he thought grimly. Only surprised that he had called at the house. She had been visiting the hospital regularly, he knew. She had old patients, she had told him, and he had not objected. She had registered for her thesis at his insistence, after all. He couldn't possibly have stopped her from going. Even if he had wanted to, which he hadn't. Was that all a cover to meet Aman? Surely Khushi was not that deceitful?

Arnav shook his head. He was being unfair, he knew. Surely she was not deceitful at all. She had told him frankly about Aman when he had first met her, and had promised to keep away from him after marriage. She couldn't ... she wouldn't break her word. Not the Khushi he knew.

Or would she? If she was still in love with him?

But she had promised.

Arnav frowned and tried to get her out of his mind. He dragged his mind back to work, but it was a struggle to keep it there. It was a relief when afternoon came, and Vijay Dhawan came back, with a sheaf of papers, and big with news.

He entered Arnav's room, quietly. Arnav took one look at him and his face changed.

"Out with it," he said, briefly.

"I've got some stuff," said Vijay. "I think you'd like it. Take a look at this, sir. The bank manager was fairly cooperative. Turned out that his wife had been a patient of your wife's, after a fairly nasty accident last summer, and they had both grown very fond of her. He met her father, and the same thing struck him, that she was very different. Also, he didn't like the way they seemed to be living off her earnings, he said. Mrs. Raizada never went to the bank. Her father did, or sometimes her brother. They were very regular. Every single month, the day after her pay check was deposited, they were there, regular as clockwork, to make a monthly withdrawal. He first noticed it after his wife came back home, and he wanted to give Mrs. Khushi some gift as a token of thanks ... he realised then that her account was in his bank. She refused the money, but he kind of kept an eye on her account since then. And he was pretty surprised to see a few things."

Arnav frowned, as he sifted through the papers. He went through them rapidly, and then started going through the whole lot slowly again. He shook his head slightly in puzzlement, then bent to open a drawer, from which he withdrew a slim file. From it he pulled out a single sheet of paper - his and Khushi's marriage certificate.

He looked at it, then at the papers in his hand, and shook his head again.

"Something doesn't quite add up," he muttered. The man sitting on the other side of his desk looked at him sharply.

"You see that? It's strange, isn't it?"

Arnav nodded grimly. "There's more to this than meets the eye," he said. "Why are the house and the bank accounts all in Khushi's name? And these regular deposits every month? What about them? Where do they come from? They start long before her salary. Anyway, her salary starts here - that's listed. All the payments are in Khushi's name, as well. The father and brother aren't mentioned at all. Even if the brother is not the real brother, wouldn't the father be mentioned? She was underage when the payments start - she would need a local guardian. And she would be her father's ward."

"Is she?"

Arnav looked at the other man sharply. "What are you getting at?"

"Look closely, sir," replied Vijay Dhawan. "Look at the father's name on the marriage certificate, and on the ration card."

Arnav looked. And looked again. Then he whistled.

"So that's it!"

"Certainly seems to be," agreed Vijay. "And look at this picture again, sir."

He showed Arnav the framed picture of  Khushi's father, mother (who looked exactly like Khushi) and the two children - the little boy between the two, and the baby girl in Khushi's mother's lap.

"Now take it out of the frame," he said, and proceeded to do so. "Look at the edges closely," he continued. "There are two more people in the picture, and it's been cut to exclude them. One is on this side of Mrs. Raizada's mother, probably a man, probably her real father, and one is on the other side of the man she thinks is her father. That one is definitely a woman. You can see she is wearing some red clothes - has to be a woman. Probably this man's wife, and that is their son in the picture. Now why would anyone cut out the extra people in a family photograph? Either because they were not part of the family ... or ... " he paused and looked at Arnav.

"Or because they are two different families posing together ... and they want to hide that fact."

Arnav whistled slowly as the meaning of Vijay’s words sank in. He looked at Vijay with dawning comprehension.

"So you're saying ..." he said slowly, "this is not her real father and brother. This is Khushi and her mother ... but these two ..." 

The other man nodded. Arnav let out a deep breath, shaking his head in bewilderment.

"How long have they kept up this?" he asked. "And why? There has to be something involved. Some money, or blackmail. Why this elaborate pretense? It doesn't make any sense. What have they got out of it? How long have they kept this up? A long time obviously. Khushi doesn't remember her father, that's for certain, how else would this guy …?"

“There are a couple more things, sir,” said Vijay. “Mrs. Khushi’s father moved to this house when she was around two years old, with the two children. He was alone – no wife. All the neighbours in the area only know them since then, but one person gave me a lead that they lived earlier in a chawl. I checked out chawls within a few kilometer radius – found one where one longtime resident, an old lady, remembered the names and recognized Mrs. Khushi’s mother from the picture, but not the father. She seemed to remember that this Shashi Gupta was … well, if not a complete alcoholic, at least, he wasn’t too far off from it. And the reason she remembered them was simple ... they were both very good looking. She said he was a very good looking fellow, who always acted as though he was too good for the chawl. Mrs. Khushi's mother was beautiful ... the most beautiful girl the chawl had ever seen, she said. They made a beautiful couple, and everyone admired them, but felt sorry for the mother because she was so obviously unhappy, and the guy drank. This lady lost touch with the family when they moved away, but she knew that this fellow started drinking after his father-in-law turned the family away – apparently he made his displeasure and disappointment quite well known! But she did say that there was only one child, although she didn’t remember if the child was a boy or girl. But this guy in the picture ... she was sure he wasn't the father."

Vijay looked at his notes and then back at Arnav. 

"So now – the facts we have are - around the time Mrs. Khushi was two, her mother died, and apparently soon after, her real father also disappeared – and this guy moved with the two children to the new house. That is, of course, if we’re right and this guy is not her real father.

But how this guy and his son stepped into the picture, is still a mystery. How is it that Mrs. Khushi remembers her mother - her death, at any rate, and not her father. Was he not with them at the time, that she didn't remember him, and know this guy and his son for imposters? Is this Shashi Gupta an imposter at all, or are we jumping to conclusions, based on this name and initial business? And how and why did this money keep coming in? It's been coming in since the time this account was opened, that is almost twenty two years ago. Is it from the grandfather at all? If so, and considering that he obviously cut off the family fairly comprehensively, why did he keep giving the money - was he blackmailed into it, or what? That part I haven't been able to find out. The bank manager will not give me the name of the person who paid the money. You'll have to pull strings for that. My reach is not that far."

"Your reach is far enough," said Arnav, grimly. "Beat it out of those two."

Vijay nodded. "I needed your permission to do that."

Arnav nodded. "If they're not related to Khushi, I don't give a damn about what you do," he said, grimly. "Break their bones, for all I care - I don’t want to know. Just get the truth. They've given her enough grief. It's obvious she had no clue about this money. Or about the house being hers. Last night …" he stopped, and swallowed slightly.

Vijay waited for him to go on. When he didn't, Vijay got to his feet.

"I'll get back to you when I have more," he promised, and Arnav nodded, lost in thought. 

Last night, he thought. Last night, dinner had been a light-hearted affair - for once. There had been smiles and laughter, because Radhika had a fancy dress party in her play school, and the discussion had been fast and furious as to what costume she should wear, eventually degenerating into complete and hilarious nonsense. They had all taken part, even Akash, and had risen from the table amid general laughter. Later at night, when they were alone in their room, Khushi had been forlorn, lonely, and he had asked her why, surprised at her change of mood after the evening.

"I saw family life," she had said. "For the first time, I saw family life. Arnav, what will I do when I leave here? I have nowhere to go! I don't even have a roof over my head. I won't go back to my father's house. He and Shyam tried once to sell me, they'll do it again. I can't go back. Where will I go? I have no one I can call my own. No one. The people I thought were mine, however they were, whatever they were - I'm scared even to be under the same roof as them now."

He had tried to comfort her, but it was difficult. He ached to take her into his arms and hold her tight, comfort her with his touch and his warmth. But with the memory of the afternoon's phone call fresh in his mind, he couldn't even do that. She didn't want his comfort, he had thought, and he had stayed away from her, his hands clenched by his side, as he fought the urge to gather her close.

I have nowhere to go, no roof over my head, she had said. How he longed to tell her that her house was hers, and only hers. She could kick her father and brother out of it, and keep them out - and now it seemed they were not even her father and brother, after all. He remembered what he had asked her when she had come the first time to his office with the letter offering her as collateral. Are they your real father and brother? Well, he hadn't been so far off the mark after all.

Arnav looked at Vijay Dhawan again, his face grim.

"I mean it," he said. "I don't care what you do, but I want the truth."

Viajy nodded. "You'll get it, sir," he said, confidently. "They're small time tricksters and bullies. I don't think it will take them long to crack. I'll leave for Nagpur tomorrow."

Arnav nodded, and Vijay left discreetly.

Arnav sat for a while, and then prowled restlessly around his room. He knew why he was so restless, and unable to concentrate. In his mind, he was remembering that dratted phone call, and his imagination was running wild, visualizing his wife and Aman. Her friend, her boyfriend? Maybe even her lover? No, he thought, she had promised. Not her lover.

Her couldn't sit like this, he thought. He was accomplishing zilch, as far as work was concerned, so he might as well leave early.

He called home, to ask if Khushi was there. Shantitai answered the phone.

"No, she isn't back yet," she answered Arnav. "She went to the hospital. She had a few patients to see, she said. Radhika is at a birthday party next door, so bhabhi went."

Arnav looked at the phone, hesitating. Should he call her mobile? Khushi always kept it off at the hospital, he knew. And if she was with Aman, would she even answer it, he wondered grimly.

No, he thought to himself, he was being unfair. Whether she was with Aman or not, she would make sure she was available for Radhika. He knew that – was more sure of that than of anything else he had been in his life. Pursing his lips, he called the hospital.

"She's with a patient," he was told. She could be called if it was urgent.

Which patient, he wanted to ask, but didn’t. He already knew the answer, he thought grimly – thanks to that wretched phone call he had overheard.

He picked up his briefcase and his coat, and left abruptly. If she was with Aman, he wanted to see her, he thought savagely. She had promised. She had promised, and he had trusted her.

Kaisey Yeh Rishtey - 26

Chapter 26 

Khushi was sitting on the bed, her knees drawn up and her head resting on them when Arnav entered their room. He looked at her, white sari crumpled, hair tangled, her cheeks tear stained, and sighed. Gently he closed the door and walked to her.

She felt the bed creak and give way as he sat down close to her. He smoothed her hair gently, stroking it away from her face.

She sniffed inelegantly, and sat up. Wordlessly, he put his arm around her and held her close. She snuggled against him, and like a child, swiped at her tears with her fists. Arnav put his hand under her chin and lifted her face to face him. She looked at him sadly.

"I've failed with Akash," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Arnav. No matter what, he'll never accept anyone in your mother's place. He's still hurting, he's still not healing. I thought he was healing, Arnav. He started going to college, he's taking his exams, he's even started going out with his friends. But he's not doing it because he's healing. He's doing it because he hates me. That's not what I had to do. What can I do, Arnav? What more can I do?"

Arnav sighed.

"Don't torture yourself," he said gently. "You haven't failed, Khushi. He's carrying the biggest burden, remember? One of guilt, with his sorrow. He was driving the second car, he feels responsible, at least partly, for whatever happened, and that's what is making it more difficult for him to forget, more than dad or Radhika. And at least, now he accepts Shantitai - earlier, even she was pushed away, because she tried to take mummy's place. Give him some more time. And just keep doing what you’re already doing. He needs it – he doesn’t know it, but he needs you."

Khushi shook her head and moved away from Arnav’s confining arm. He looked at her steadily.

"It's just been a few months, Khushi. Do you remember what I said when I asked you to do this? I said it might take six months, a year, even two. I'm ready to wait, Khushi. This ... what he's at ... where he is now ... this is a hundred times better that what he was a year ago. I've seen the worst of Akash, Khushi ... believe me, you've achieved a lot already. Give him time."

Khushi looked at Arnav unsteadily.

"And you? Are you ready to wait? To keep your own life on hold indefinitely? Arnav ..."

He looked away, his face changing, his eyes cooling.

"This is my life, Khushi. My life's not on hold. A lot changed a year ago and my life changed too. I'm not on hold. I've just taken a different path. Akash has to do the same ... and he has to understand that. He still has a lot of growing up to do. But he'll get there." 

Khushi swallowed, and looked away from him. A different path. A path away from the girl he loved, a path which he shared with a contract wife. A temporary wife. But maybe Akash needed someone else.    

“Maybe,” she said slowly, not looking at Arnav, her voice not very steady, “maybe … if Lavanya was here …”

Arnav interrupted her harshly.

“That’s not going to happen,” he said, and his voice was hard, unforgiving. She clenched her hands on the bedspread, trying to stop their trembling. She had to say this - he had brought her here to do a job – she had to do it to the best of her ability.

“It might help Akash …” she tried again, and Arnav stood up abruptly, his anger now palpable.

“I said – it’s not going to happen. Leave it, Khushi. Akash needs more time. That’s all. He needs you. No one else. And even if he does … Lavanya’s not coming back. That chapter is over.”

His voice was as icy as it had been the first time she had met him, though his anger wasn’t directed at her this time. What had happened between him and Lavanya, she wondered miserably? They had been missing the latter part of the evening, after the prayer meeting - she had noticed. Akash had just confirmed it, had taken pleasure in implying that Arnav and Lavanya were still as close as before. And one part of her had been terrified that Arnav would come back and tell her that her job was over, that the original claimant to her place was back. From Arnav's mood, his tone, it was obvious that a reconciliation had not happened. But did he want it to? 

Still, she didn’t dare to say more. She looked miserably down at the bedspread, knotted and creased under her nervous fingers, and gave a start of surprise when his hand covered hers. Gently. Startled, she looked up – straight into his hazel eyes close to hers. They were soft, understanding - the ice had faded.

“Give him some more time,” he said gently, softly, his anger gone, and gave her a half-smile. “And cut yourself some slack too – okay?”

She nodded, smiling nervously back. He was very close, she could feel his warm breath on her face, and her wretched heart quickened in response. Her face flushed, and her eyes dropped. She felt him look at her for a long moment, then he stepped back.

"I think you promised to show a certain little girl some stars," he told her. "Shall we go down?"

 ******

Later at night, Khushi tucked Radhika into bed, and sat till the little girl fell asleep. Then she slowly walked down the corridors, her steps automatically taking her past Akash's room, as they had every night the last few months.

His door was open, unusual for him. She stopped indecisively, then hesitantly peeped in.

The room was empty. The bed was neat - he hadn't been to bed yet. Books and papers were strewn across his table, as though he had been studying, but there was no one there.

Where is he, she thought frantically. Tomorrow is his last exam, he should be here, studying. Is he still upset about this afternoon?

She walked in, looked around. Empty. The windows leading into the garden were locked. The bathroom was empty. Hurriedly, nervously, she checked everywhere, then, hands trembling, she quickened her pace out of the room, back into the corridor. Where was he? She had to call Arnav.

She half walked, half ran into the corridor, and then stopped dead. There, standing looking steadily at her, arms folded across his chest, a somber look on his face, was Akash.

"Where… where … were you?" she whispered. "I got so worried … it's late, and your last exam is tomorrow …"

"I couldn't study," he replied, quietly, unfolding his arms and coming towards her. "I was sleepy, and tired, and hungry. Shantitai didn't get my coffee yet, so I went to look for you. Bhabhi, I'm very hungry. Please get me something to eat?"

She stood frozen to the spot as he came up to her. It was the first time he had called her that. Behind him, Arnav emerged from his study, saw Akash and stopped dead. Akash came up to Khushi, took her hands in his own, and looked at her.

"Khushi bhabhi, please?" he asked again, and held her hands together in his own, holding them folded between his, in an unspoken gesture of apology and pleading. 

Khushi nodded unsteadily, her lips curved in a trembling smile. Akash looked at her, his eyes moist, and he held her hands tighter still. 

"I'm sorry ..." he whispered with difficulty. "I'm really sor ..."

She stopped him with a finger and a shake of her head. Her eyes met Arnav's, and she smiled through her tears, as he smiled back.

 ***************************************

A few days later 

The phone shrilled, its ring breaking the stillness of the afternoon. Khushi, passing by, nearly jumped out of her skin at the suddenness of the sound. Smiling at her own foolishness, she moved to pick up the phone. She had to juggle the papers she was carrying in order to pick up the receiver, and Arnav, sitting in his room upstairs, frowned at the continuing ring. He picked up the phone just as Khushi spoke into the receiver with a slightly breathless "Hello?"

Arnav grimaced and made to put down the phone. His hand stayed where it was at the sound of the voice at the other end.

"Hello, Khushi?"

"Aman?!" exclaimed Khushi. "What are you …? Why are you calling me here? I've told you not to call me at home! Call me in the hospital!"

"I know," said Aman, "but this was urgent, Khushi. I need to see you. Anjali seems to have found out about …"

Khushi gave a muffled exclamation and interrupted him.

"I'll meet you tomorrow afternoon at the hospital," she said, rapidly. "3 o'clock. I can't talk now."

She put the phone down, and Arnav slowly disconnected it at the extension, his brow furrowed into a grim scowl.

 *******

The next day, Arnav and Vijay Dhawan went to Khushi's old house. All the rooms were open, so were the cupboards, so going through the few things there was no problem. Khushi had packed away most of the things before her marriage anyway. The two men searched through what had been Khushi's brother's room, and then through Khushi's father's room.

Tucked away in a small drawer in Khushi’s father’s room, was a family photograph. Arnav looked at a much younger, smarter version of Khushi's father. Drink and debauchery and time had taken their toll, he thought. The man in the photograph was barely recognizable in the haggard, unkempt face of the man he remembered meeting here, not so long ago.

Arnav looked again at the photograph. There was a little boy, about three or four years old standing next to the man, wide-eyed and innocent, dressed neatly in a simple T shirt and shorts. Next to him was a young woman who could only have been Khushi's mother.

Arnav drew in his breath sharply. The resemblance was uncanny - it was like looking like Khushi herself. The woman must have been about the same age as Khushi was now, he thought, and he looked at the little baby girl in her arms with amusement. She was round and fair and adorable. Her grandfather must have been hardhearted in the extreme to have turned away that little doll, he thought, grimly, and gave the photograph to Vijay.

"You look through the rest of the place," he said, rapidly. "Look for papers, birth certificates, oh, anything. I'll be in the office. I'll wait for you. Go to their bank manager too - here's the name of the bank they used. Try to get their bank statements, deposits, anything which shows where they were making their money. Especially any education funds for Khushi or her brother."

The other man nodded, and Arnav left.