14. OS 20. The Temperamental Tyrant (Part 14)

Part 14

KINDLY PURCHASE The Indulgent Guardian BEFORE AUGUST 15th. DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN PART 12.

Aman Mathur walked up the steps to buaji’s house in Laxmi Nagar to offer Khushi Kumari Gupta a job, only to see a golden coloured lock on the door.

He stood undecided for a moment.

Maybe Ms. Gupta and her aunt had stepped outside for a moment and would be back soon. He moved to the steps and dusting it with his kerchief, sat down gingerly to wait for them.

“Bitwaa,” Vimla chachi called from the next house.

Aman jumped up. He turned his head to see an elderly lady peering at him from the next house.

“Ji?” he asked.

“Are you here to meet Madhumatiji?”

“Yes,” he replied after a pause. Or he would have to explain why he was sitting outside Ms. Gupta’s house with an appointment letter.

“She and Khussi left for Lucknow,” the old lady revealed.

Aman blinked. How would he explain this to ASR who had gone all silent and cold and obsessed with Ms. Gupta’s employment and well-being?

“Khussi’s father is unwell,” the lady explained. “Madhumatiji said that they received a phone call from home, asking them to return.”

“Oh,” said Aman. “When will they be back?”

The lady frowned. “I don’t know, bitwaa. They didn’t say. But I think they won’t return for a few months. Woh kya he, they gave my son the money for their electricity and water bills, paid Daulat Ram, the kirana store owner the money they owed him, asked Chandu, the newspaper boy to stop delivering paper...”

It looked like a long visit. Aman nodded and thanked her before leaving.

                                                         ***

Aman stared at ASR, astonished beyond words to witness the effect his disclosure had on the hard-headed and hard-nosed businessman.

His face was ashen. His head was bowed and his shoulders had drooped.

Aman sat down.

In the eight years he had worked with ASR, he had seen his boss in numerous difficult situations, but never had any circumstance or person gotten to him as this Ms. Gupta had.

ASR looked hopeless, exhausted, helpless. And the most shocking of all, there was no anger. His very soul seemed weary.

Aman felt fear of the worst kind. His body went cold.

“Aman,” ASR called softly.

“Yes, sir?” Aman got up and walked towards ASR.

“I need to know what Khushi is doing there, how her father is,” ASR said quietly.

“Yes, sir,” Aman replied, too unsettled by ASR’s demeanour to even question his actions in his mind.

“Satwik Mishtan Bhandaar,” ASR said in a low voice. “That’s the name of her father’s shop. He is a halwai.”

“I will get a private detective on the job, sir,” Aman promised. “The best man. And I will ask him to report back at the earliest.”

ASR nodded.

Aman left the room, his head spinning. ASR was all worked up about a halwai’s daughter who had left Delhi to go back home to Lucknow? Really?

                                                                    ***

The Raizadas watched as Arnav entered the house.

“Shall I bring tea, Arnav bhaiya?” HP asked softly. These days the house resembled a cemetery and there was a funereal air about everything.

“No,” ASR murmured, walking up the steps to his room, dragging his feet. He was exhausted. There was nothing to look forward to, no bright face to welcome him when he came home, no Khushi to press food and tea down his throat while distracting him with cheerful banter....There was nothing left in life.

“Hamre Arnav bitwaa has lost weight,” mami mourned. “Saijj zero ban gaye hamre bitwaa!”

“His lunch box was unopened when I went to his office in the evening,” Akash said, throwing an accusing glance at nani.

“I tried to make sure he is taking his pills, but he refused to open the door when I knocked,” Anjali said.

There was a moment of silence.

Mama asked softly, “Amma, is your pride in our birth greater than your love for Arnav bitwaa?

Nani gaze faltered.

“Is our family’s pride greater than bhai’s happiness?” Akash asked, his voice breaking.

Nani walked away, her ears ringing with his words.

                                                         ***

“Sasi Gupta loaned a huge amount to his friend who needed the money for his son’s treatment. The boy died. The friend, who was supposed to return the money in four months, committed suicide. Sasi Gupta couldn’t ask the widow for money. This put a heavy strain on Gupta’s financial state and his health. He, his wife and daughter, Payal began working full-time at the shop. Khushi left for Delhi to stay with Sasi Gupta’s sister, Madhumati in Laxmi Nagar, to find a job to help with the expenses,” Aman explained. “We have their address in Lucknow.”

“Is Khushi with her family?” was all ASR wanted to know.

“Yes,” Aman assured him.

ASR drew in a deep breath. She was safe.

“How is she?” he asked.

Aman stared at him. Khushi’s state of mind was not included in the detective’s report! He cleared his throat before saying, “She is looking for a job.”

ASR shut his eyes.

"Sir, is this Khushi?" Aman asked, holding out a photo the investigator had included.

ASR took it from him with a hand that shook and looked at her dear face. She was making jalebi. 

"Yes," he whispered.

 After a moment of silence, he said, “Aman, I want you to go to Lucknow.”

“To meet Khushi?” Aman asked in wonder.

“No, to buy Sheesh Mahal from Mallik. It is time,” ASR stated.

                                                              ***