Kaisey Yeh Rishtey - 38

Chapter 38 

They drew up at the hospital, and Arnav parked and almost ran into the building, closely followed by an equally anxious Akash.

Khushi was nowhere to be found. 

Arnav cross-questioned the nursing staff in the physiotherapy department, and managed to trace a surprised Mrs. Gill in her small office on the first floor. She was startled to see the two men, and even more so at Arnav's evident worry. Quickly she checked her schedule planner, and turned back to him.

"She would have been here till about half an hour ago," said Mrs. Gill. "She had appointments till 2, she always leaves by 2, since Radhika ... your niece?" questioningly at Arnav, who nodded tersely. Mrs. Gill continued. "Yes, Radhika gets home from school by 2.30, so Khushi makes sure to leave by 2. I did see her a while back, but that must have been before her last appointment. She was with a patient. I think they are still here. Would you like to speak to them? Maybe she said something to them as to where she was going. I came to give her your message, but she had already left."

Arnav nodded, his face tight. They waited in Mrs. Gill's room, and she returned shortly, followed by … Aman.

Aman looked surprised to see Arnav there. Mrs. Gill introduced the two men, and Arnav nodded curtly in acknowledgement.

"I know him," he said, briefly. He turned to Aman.

"Did Khushi say anything about where she was going?"

Aman shook his head, evidently bewildered. "What's this about?" he asked. "Is Khushi all right?"

Akash answered for Arnav, who was obviously trying to keep both temper and impatience under control.

"We're not sure, that's why we're asking. There may be a problem. Have you seen her today? Is she still with your wife, by any chance?"

Aman shook his head, his face beginning to  reflect the worry he saw in the eyes of the other two men.

"She's not with Anjali now, I can tell you that much. Anjali didn't have an appointment with Khushi today. But they met briefly," he said. "My daughter's not been keeping well, and Anjali always wants to see Khushi, when that happens. Khushi was with Anjali for about fifteen minutes or so, I think. I wasn't there. I came just in time for Anjali's physiotherapy session ... we do that together. Khushi was just leaving, so I didn't really talk to her. Khushi did mention that her car had broken down on the way to the hospital, and she had sent the driver to the garage to get it repaired. I offered to drop her home after Anjali finished, but she was in a hurry. She had promised Radhika that she would be home by the time Radhika got back from school and she was getting late. I think she said she'd catch a taxi, but I went in with Anjali for her physiotherapy, so I'm not sure what she did."

Arnav went white.

"So she's not even with her own driver?! She went hunting for a cab?" he demanded, harshly. Akash took one look at him, and left the room quickly. Aman shook his head, and Arnav exploded again.

"Today, of all days! Damn it, man, couldn't you have seen her home?! Couldn't you have shown her that much consideration? She loves you, couldn't you do that much for her?!"

Aman looked at him, bewildered.

"What is the matter? Why today, of all days? What's the problem?"

Arnav almost snarled at him.

"Her father and brother are after her again," he said, furiously. "That's what the matter is! But I'm not going to let them get her. They're not going to put their filthy paws on her again."

Aman looked at him evenly.

"You're very concerned about her suddenly," he noted. "First, you snapped at me, because I dared to have tea with her in a public place. Then you're growling at her family. If you want her so badly to yourself, why don't you just keep her locked up? Or, if you're so jealous because you love her, then tell her so."

He turned to the door. "I'll ask Anjali if she said anything to her," he said. "Anjali spent more time with her than I did. If there's anything, I'll get back to you."

At the door, he stopped and looked back.

"By the way," he added. "Khushi doesn't love me. I know there was a time when she thought she did, and I thought I loved her too ... but times change. She ... well, suffice it to say she doesn't love me. She told me so herself, the last time I met her. The time you saw us on the terrace? I think you'll remember. There is someone else in her life now, and I'm very happy for her about that.  Though I agree with you, I do wish I'd dropped her back home. If she's in any danger, I would have done that gladly. She is, and always will be, a very dear friend, and I can do anything for her."

Arnav stood as though turned to stone.

Akash came back in at a run and pulled on Arnav’s arm. Arnav turned to him, as though in a daze.

"Bhai!" Akash spoke urgently. "She’s not there – not in the parking lot, not at the taxi stand, not on the road. I spoke to HariRam, her driver ... she told him to go home after getting the car repaired, because it was going to take too long. She must have caught a cab. She might be on her way home …”

He paused as Arnav shook his head dully, still in a daze at Aman’s words.

“They must have found her here,” Arnav said slowly. “They knew she worked here. They must have taken a shot at finding her here, rather than coming to the house.”

Akash looked at him, impatient at his slow reactions.

“So then? Where could they be taking her? What do they want with her? Can you think of anything? Think, bhai, think! We have to find her."

Arnav was already on his cell phone dialling Khushi's number. He tried three times, four, five ... and stared at his phone in frustration. Either Khushi had forgotten to switch it back on after she finished with her patients, or ... He didn't want to think of the 'or' ... 

He called the house. Shantitai answered. No, Khushi was not back yet. And she wasn't answering her phone either. This time, there was more concern than annoyance in Shantitai's tone. This was not like Khushi. 

Akash was looking at him worriedly. Arnav pulled himself together, and spoke with an effort.

"They would be after her money," he said, with certainty. "Akash, we need to call the bank. The manager would know if they have gone to the bank to get her money."

He checked his cellphone and dialed a number. He talked to the bank manager, as Akash listened.

"Yes, I'm Khushi's husband, that's right. Mr. Dhawan is my manager. Yes…. Yes…. I understand. Okay, that is really good news. Thank you. So they will be there tomorrow? Did they mention where they would be staying? Right, thank you."

He turned to Akash, a small triumphant smile dawning on his face.

"Shyam and his father have surfaced, and as I expected, they made straight for the bank. But there is a provision in Khushi's account, that if her allowance is not collected regularly for more than a couple of months, she has to be physically present to take the money. These guys didn't know this – obviously, they've never been late before! Anyway, they've promised to bring Khushi to the bank tomorrow morning first thing. I think we need to check out her old house. They have no other place to stay. Chances are they have found her and taken her with them, as she hasn't reached home yet."

"Let's go," said Akash. "but will they be there, bhai? They know you might look for them there."

Arnav smiled grimly. "I have no real reason to look for Khushi," he said. "As far as they know, she's only living with me. They don't know we're married. Neither did the manager, fortunately, till I just told him. The only problem for them now, is that they can't get her money. It stops when she gets married. So we need to reach them before they find out that she's married. Thank god I didn't tell them that I intended to marry her. I hope Khushi doesn't tell them that either ... we decided not to tell them anything when we got married, I just hope she remembers that. And it's lucky we decided that ... Shyam would never have agreed to her marrying me, knowing that his money would stop. My one fear now is that if they find out she's married, she's of no use to them any more, in which case, I don't know what they'll do to her. We need to find her, and fast."

They left the hospital and made for Khushi's old house, Arnav driving as fast as he could.

As he drove, he gave Akash some terse instructions. Akash called Mr. Dhawan's mobile.

"He's not picking up," he informed Arnav. Arnav cursed briefly in frustration. 

"Call again. And again. Leave a message," said Arnav briefly. "Tell him to reach Khushi's old house – give the address - with a couple of cops."

Akash nodded.