Fight Fire with Fire
The blend of golden-reddish sunrays spread over the horizon providing bronze glow to the garden of Sheesh Mahal. Anjali and NK were enjoying this hued evening with sips of tea. Arnav as usual oblivious to the macrocosmic beauty ,had poked his nose in laptop.Those poor keys were fortunately getting few seconds to relax from banging session,when he was rescuing them to take sips of his strong, sugarless black coffee.
A loud squeak with mention of the Deity,announced the entry of Khushi Kumari Gupta. Arnav had sensed her arrival earlier but chose to neglect her.
"Hey Devi Maiya! Anjaliji you are here and I was looking for you inside "She said chirpily being happy to find her.
"What happened Khushiji? Why were you looking for me?" Anjali asked.
Khushi clapped her hands indicating she was on the verge of breaking some exciting news.
"you know Anjaliji? The famous Lucknow ka Mela has arrived .I so love to visit it. Earlier, me and jiji used to visit it daily till the period it used to stay here."
"Is it? Even I have visited it 2-3 times with Ma in my childhood" Anjali too remembered her happy childhood days.
"Really? Then let's go and visit no? Jiji and Jijaji have gone out or else I could ask jiji to come with me. But even it's fun to go with you Anjaliji."
"Are why not? Even I like melas. We shall go"
When Arnav realized that they were actually planning to go at some petty fair and not only discussing, he had to intrude them. Without paying attention to Khushi's lighten face he said,
"Di,I did not know you like to visit such kind of stupid carnivals. But I will take you to Fantasy land in Delhi. You don't need to go to such untidy and sloppy place here."
Anjali did not get surprised by his reaction but brushed him off saying " Chote, you can't have this kind of fun we get here in that ohh-so-clean and sophisticated fantasy land of yours ... And no one has insisted you to join us. Me and Khushiji will go and enjoy."
Arnav shrugged at her answer and continued his crashing on keyboard business until he heard his beloved Sister's remark on his brotherhood.
" Di,even I would join you. Muze bhi dekhana hai gaon ka bhola.."(I too wan't to see to town's gullible) NK announced with enthusiasm.
"Bhola nahi Nanheji ..Mela mela.."(Not gullible ..it's fair) Khushi corrected him earnestly causing a line of frown on Arnav's forehead.
"Yes..Yes that is.." NK shuffled his hairs sheepishly at his mistake.
"Yes..of course you can join us, NK bhai!" Anjali said and sighed heavily before continuing "At least I have a brother who cares to think of my happiness rather than cleanliness of the place"
"Fine Di!" Arnav closed his laptop in full swing and said throwing an angry glance at Khushi, "Get ready. We shall go to that world-famous fair of yours."
His corrosive consent could not affect kindling discussion of trio over what to do and what to eat in fair.
Arnav did not find any reason to take his hands out of his crisp deep pockets while accompanying Anjali, NK and Khushi at different stalls .Those stalls were not even worth of getting his single glance, forget about visiting them. But he was relishing exultant and cheerful faces of Anjali and Khushi. He could bear this to see them enjoying .
Khushi was eager to sit in the biggest marry-go-round but Anjali denied to join her saying she is frightened of height. Khushi could not hide her disappointment and dropped her face. Before Arnav was up to say something, NK offered to accompany her and took her there, grabbing a chance from Arnav to spend some time with her alone. Arnav pursed his lips in a thin line to control cursing NK loudly.
"In dono ki Jodi kitani acchi lagati hai na, chote!" (How adorable they look together! Isn't it Chote?) Anjali asked him in more than usual sweeter voice of her .
"Who both?" Arnav asked as if he did not get her suggestion.
"Khushiji and NK bhai ,who else? They will make a great pair.I should talk to Nani about this!" She said rolling her tongue in cheeks.
It took all his superhuman efforts to control the urge of grabbing NK from where he had stepped to sit in that cubicle and punch him hard in guts... but he did not miss the chance to leave a grim remark."Yes of course, as it is Khushi is half crazy and when another cartoon would join her , it will be our customized Disney world of craziness." A green eyed monster tinged his eyes.
'Yes..yes..but of course ..He is jealous!..ohh..first time my chote is jealous for a girl ...Hey Shivji..hum par apaki esehi kripa banaye rakhana!'(Hey Lord, let us be blessed always) Anjali patted herself mentally being hyperventilated at choosing right path for her mission.
The entourage had covered almost every stall and was planning to exit when suddenly Khushi ran towards a famous chaat stall leaving all behind. When does the world matter to Khushi Kumari Gupta when it comes to food?
"Bhaiya, Golgappe dena. Our tab tak mat rukiyega jab tak hum khana nahi rokate."(Give me Golgappe. And don't stop serving me until I stop eating)
After wandering through numerous stalls she was almost dying with hunger. Of course the food she gobbled few minutes back could not do anything near pacifying her starving.
Anjali was right when she had mentioned about fun in such fairs to Arnav but she had not had considered the side risks of facing different types of people there .
"Are punter,ye item to dekh. Apane Lucknow ka bhi jawab nahi" (Punter, look at this missy. Our Luknow is really special.) Someone spoke behind Khushi at the stall. She did not pay any heed to this eve teasing and engrossed in eating.
"Are ustaad ye maal bahot badhiya hai par lagata nahi apse patega " (Master, this item is fantastic but I don't think she will get impressed by you)
"Accha? Abhi dikhata hu tuze"(Is it? I show you)
" Are o Chammakchallo, aati kya khandala? Ghumenge , firenge , aish karenge..." He gave tongue to his molesting thoughts with a rankling laugh. And before he could dare to utter any crude word more, his eyes experienced an acute soreness.
Khushi Kumari Gupta had landed in her combatant avatar and thrown spicy juice of chat at him. As adjunct of that hoodlum saw his master rubbing his eyes in pain, he took a step towards Khushi and raised his hands to take hold of hers. Before he could even touch her, a stormy shot threw him on ground. He must be cursing his stars today to choose this girl for their daily dose of entertainment of eve teasing as a three piece suited clad grabbed his collar and started punching him hard with his stone like fists. Soon the man started to bleed but the tempestuous strokes did not seem to reside. His companion had ran away seeing people gathering around them. After all for spectators, it was highly entertaining live scene of a millionaire fighting with a road Romeo in a crowded fair than any other performances there.
"Arnavji,chodiye use. Jaan le lenge kya usaki?" (Arnavji, leave him. Will you murder him now?) Khushi was trying to stop over furious Arnav, dreaded at the man's condition.
"Yes I will murder him. How he dared to even look at you?" Arnav's all senses were frozen at the scene of a loafer trying to harm his Khushi. Every blow he hit was adding more fury to his madness rather than minifying it. He would never leave anyone alive who tries to come near his Khushi.
Khushi held Arnav's torso and gave a squeeze to bring him into this world when someone from crowd called a police patrolling in fair. The police took charge of that goon and dragged him away. As the man went out of sight , Arnav's senses slowly returned to their places. Now the rage was taken over by concern and he checked Khushi from head to toe asking,
"Khushi tum thik ho?"(Khushi are you all right?)
"Hum bilkul thik hai Arnavji .Apko kahi lagi to nahi?"(I am all right , Arnavaji. Did you get hurt somewhere?) She asked in pertinence checking his hands.
Arnav's scrutiny glances confirmed about Khushi's well being and his temper showed its dominant presence out of extreme care. "Kya jarurat thi tume Jhasi ki rani bananeki? Agar tume kuch ho jata to? Meine tumhe aj kho diya hota." (What was the need to be knight in the armor? What if something had happened to you? I could have lost you today.)
"Hume kuch nahi hota. Hum sab sambhal lete. Par Apako kya jarurat thi bichme ane ki? Kahi apko lag jata to?" (Anything could not have happened to me. I might have handled all on my own successfully.Why did you intrude? What if you had hurt yourself? )Was she any different than him when it comes to concern about her beloved?
Arnav's lips moved in an attempt to give an equal retort but they failed to as he heard her saying, "Our ye mat samjhiyega ki ye sab karane se aap shart jit jayenge"(Don't consider that doing all this you would win the challenge)
He gulped the words inside immediately looking at this crazy girl in uttermost disbelief ... Here he was dying with the thought that he could have lost her and she was thinking about that damn stupid challenge?
"Unbelievable... ! Tumhe kya lagata hai meine ye sab tumhara wo bakwas sa challenge jitane ke liye kiya?" (What do you think? I did all this just to win your that nonsense challenge?)He asked her surprised.
"Ha bilkul"(Yes,of course)
And all he could utter was a bemused 'what the...'
"Accha,agar apane ye sab shart ke liye nahi kiya to batayiye apane ye kyo kiya? Aap ko ye sab karake kya fayada? Boliye.."(Okay, if you did not do all this to win the challenge then tell me why did you do this? What profit you to get ? Speak up ) Khushi marched on taking advantage of his stupefied tongue.
Arnav took a step closing the small distance between them and hold her forearms with intensity. His voice raised, eyes boring deep into her, "Har kam nafa ya nukasan ke liye nahi kiya jata. Usake age bhi kuch hota hai, Khuhi Kumari Gupta!"(Every work is not done for only profit or loss. There is something which holds above all this, Khushi Kumari Gupta!)
Did she hear the same? Or was she dreaming again? Khushi rewound his words..
'ab aya unth pahad ke niche' ,she thought. This was the chance of lifetime for Khushi to put on Arnav's signature mark on her lips. She shoved his hands holding her, squared her shoulders, smirked leisurely and said giving him taste of his own medicine, " See who is speaking...Arnav Singh Raizada...?"
Her smirk, cocked brows and glittering eyes spoke of thousand words. He tried to realize the depth of his own words at her unusual reaction .It was then when he thought again of those words, could encompass what he had said. Did he just admit that Arnav Singh Raizada was doing something above the thoughts of profit and loss? Why? How? Was it even possible for him to think about the matters which would not relate to his business? What The!...How did that happen? How? Answer me someone damn it! He bawled mentally and closed his eyes irritated by sudden gush of many questions and unable to gather any answer in his regularly trained way.
Who else was capable of answering his questions other than his martyr heart? It hesitantly beat a musical note amongst bunch of newly found feelings and emotions which were buried somewhere deep a long ago. Dhak Dhak Dhak...!
His disconsolate soul was unable to abide that new shining light coming in. He could not let all the walls to break down like a house of cards which he had been creating around himself from so long . He wished to run away before he loses his remaining control..wished to hide into abyss of seclusion from that raising force of emotions.
Taciturnly,he just held her hand and took her away from that basking crowd , from the joyous sounds and from those happy faces to a dingy, lonely place where his car had been parked.
His last visit to Lucknow had started a new life changing journey for him as she had made an entry to his solitude and darkened life and with this visit ,it seemed the journey had come near an end reaching to a beautiful destination.
