Chapter 16

At evening the same day a SUV pulled in the street near Happy's garage. Arnav was going to Guptas house when he met Payal who was returning to her tailoring unit to finish some remaining work.

Payal can I talk to you?

Payal  want to refuse, but was afraid. What if he hurt her family in some ways if she refused? So she nodded reluctantly and moved to her unit to have some privacy and avoid her neighbors staring.

Payal I know what ever happened few days back is not acceptable. We were cruel and we deeply regret it. I know the recent happenings with my family is not pleasant but don't judge him with that. Give Akash a chance Payal... Akash loves you very much

"Raizada sir I told your brother I don't feel that way. We are so different from each other that we won't suit.so there is no need to waste our time  for impossible things more over  how am I supposed to accept a person from a family who think so low of us?He doesn't know me enough Raizada sir. You should try to discourage him pointing on how poor we are. Didn't you say him I was once rejected in the alter that I have a history of broken marriage . That should have helped you to stop him.

Arnav's eyes went wide. Khushi was telling him the truth that day. He was the reason behind Payal's broken marriage too. Arnav gulped.His actions had caused so much damage to both the sisiters.

"Payal I am..am..so sorry. I didn't believe her that day...I am so sorry.But I will not discourage Akash to pursue you Payal."

"Why wouldn't you do that?"

"He loves you Payal."

"But my answer remains the same Mr Raizada."

"Why Payal.?"

I" told you Me and Akash won't suit."

It was a mistake Payal on my part and Please don't refuse him on that basis of Social status . It doesn't matter. All that matters is your feelings.

"Really..." Payal gave him a small smile then asked "Does your Mamiji thinks the same. I know your thoughts about my family. How does it change suddenly? Weren't you the one blaming my sister and me trying to trap rich men, no..not exactly. we lure them to their doom. Isn't it? Then how did your opinion on us change suddenly.You know I may have lured Akash too. We are still the same poor sisters who will do anything to trap rich men.so keep your brother away from me."

Arnav closed his eyes in guilt. I ... I shouldn't have said all that.

Nothing matters anymore. Please don't bother me with this proposal anymore. She quickly folded her hand and said namaste and left from there not waiting for Arnav to leave. She need a strong tea to overcome the onset of headache.

A disappointed Arnav later explained everything that happened In Lakshmi Nagar to Akash.

Leave it bhai..She may not be in my destiny .Please don't say any one in our family about this.I don't want any one from our family troubling them.

Arnav agreed.

Days went by.Akash couldn't forget Payal or the feelings he have for her. Every other day he took one or the other car to Happy's garage stating various problems or just in the name of a water service just to see Payal .Where Arnav continued to see Khushi remaining in dark. When Arnav immersed himself in work more to overcome his feelings, Akash lost appetite, lost concentration and interest. He was again found in bar some times . Akash started to make lot of mistakes in his work that Arnav  suggested him to take a brake and have a small vacation. But Akash refused as he doesn't want to lose the chance to at least see Payal from distance. When nothing was helped Akash, Arnav decided to talk to Khushi as she may help in convincing Payal.

Khushi was busy these days. Her business gave her good returns. One day She bumped in to a man in a bakery she use to supply sweets. She was about to go after apologizing when he stopped her.

"Excuse me...Khushi...."

"Ji.. Sorry but I didn't recognize you"

"Oh..That hurts...Don't you remember your bhai"

"What..My bhai..?I think you have some misunderstanding".

"Oh...no...I am Gowtham...AR...male modal measurements..rakhi...Do you remember now?"

Khushi slapped her plam in her mouth in shock...I am so sorry Gowthamji...how could I forget you. You saved me that day. Then she hit her  head.

"It's okay Khushi. We never met again so I can understand. Are you busy?

"No Gowthamji. Not really."

"So can we sit and talk over a tea or coffee"

"Ji"

After they settled in a place set for dining in bakery Khushi said

"I am really thankful to you for that day. I was quiet embarrassed and didn't know what to do. But how did you identify me?"

"Ho..after that day I really wanted to see you and inquired about you in AR. That's when I came to know about your tiff with ASR."

"Why"

"I am the only son my parents have. No siblings ,no cousins. My parents had love marriage. They were from different cast. So both their family were against this disowned them. So when you tied Rakhi and accepted me as your brother I really felt protective of you .I really can't explain that. May be my desire to have a sibling got on my head. You know Khushi, when that day I told my mom about you she was ecstatic. She really wanted to meet you. She always desired to have a girl but ended up with me. So yes...may be because of my desire to have a sibling was fulfilled by you."

"I am so glad to know that Gowthamji...So what are you doing here.."

"I run an event management company. This bakery sells some authentic Indian sweets.so I was here to give them order."

"But you were a model in AR ...Wasn't it?"

"I still am. But it's my part time job. Modeling doesn't run on long term. I will be called to model until I have this body and charm. Models gets quickly replaced And I was never an international model. I just model for some calendar shoots and small commercials. By the way what are you doing here? I can see you haven't bought anything."

"I run a small business .We supply sweets and savories to bakeries."

"That's good" while they were talking khushi got a call from Payal .

"I have to go now...I hope to meet you someday. I would be glad to introduce you to my family"

"I too would like to meet you again. Can I have your phone number? I promise I won't miss use it."

"Sure." And they exchanged their numbers.

At night Khushi told everyone about meeting Gowthamji and her encounter with him in AR .After their dinner when they were doing rest of the jobs she got a call from Gowtham.

"Khushi ...You said you have business of sweets and you supply to the bakery where we met today"

"Ji"

"Khushi ,the thing is one of my client happens to have some sweets from that bakery some time back and he insisted me to arrange sweets from there when I was hired for an event in his home. The guests attended were of high opinion that I started ordering from them for my events. If you are the one supplying them sweets why should I go to them . I talked with my partner. As you know no Indian function is complete without sweets we need a reliable source .So can you come to our office tomorrow at 9.30 with your sample sweets. If we are satisfied we could enter in to an agreement. There will be no need for a middle man. It profits both of us. Are you interested for this deal?"

"I think it will be good...I can come to your office tomorrow. please send me the address"

"Ji. see you tomorrow .good night"

"Ji..Good night"

Who is it Khushi? A curious payal asked

Jiji I said you about Gowthamji.It was him. He wants to meet me tomorrow with sample sweets. He said if they like it then we can have an agreement to cater their needs directly without the bakery's involvement.

"Buaji will you come with me tomorrow?"

"Why Parameswari. You always manages alone .so why now?"

"Who knows buaji ? He too may have a wife like Anjaliji or A family like Raizadas?" "Bhai naam say hi muje ab dar hai(I am afraid of the word bhai now) She said with serious face cupping on own her cheeks. With that everybody burst in to laughter.

"You are right thitiliya.We can never be sure" said buaji