Desert Rose Chapters Prologue - 5

Desert Rose -Prologue

ARNAV Singh Raizada had been driving for almost one and half hours on the Jaipur-Delhi highway. The climate was dry and humid and a mild dust storm had kicked in hindering visibility. The grassland was parched due to lack of rain. Most people would hate this desert landscape that was devoid of greenery.But not him.He loved it. He identified with it. This was his home.However much he travelled, he always came back here.

After an hour, he passed the Reliance petrol pump on the left andtook a U-turn to reach the road leading toward the small village of Bawal.When he passed the Durgamandir on the left, he knew he had reached his destination. He parked his SUV. The memorial was not too far from here. As he began to walk, his thoughts went back to the fateful night three years ago when his parents had been killed in the road accident on this very same highway.

It had been raining cats and dogs that night and a lorry had lost control and collided into another one resulting in a pileup of several cars that had been driving close behind. In a matter of minutes, it was all over. Though the rescue team had reached the site pretty fast, there had been no survivors. They hadn’t been even able to salvage the bodies as the lorries that had collided had been carrying flammable material causing a huge explosion.A small memorial had been constructed in the nearby town of Bawal for the accident victims.

He remembered the last conversation he had had with them and a deep regret clouded his eyes at the memory. He wished he could go back in time and correct it. But it was not possible now, was it?They were gone. He remembered how the accident had changed the course of his life. At twenty two, his hopes and aspirations had suddenly come crashing down.What would his life have been like if they were alive?He wondered. For three years, he had hadn’t been able to bring himself to visit the site.

This morning, afterperforming the last rites, he had decided to come here on a sudden whim hoping to achieve a sort of closure.

The path leading up to the site was rough and gravelly. He was glad he had worn sneakers. As he approached the site which was up a slight slope, he saw a beautiful Desert Rose tree swaying in the wind. As he got closer, he saw a red dupattaflying crazily and he heard a girl’s voice exclaiming something like ……Hey Devi Maiyya. As the dupatta flew straight at him, she lost her balance and began to fall, her hands flailing.Arnav’scovered the distance between them in seconds and his hands shot out reflexively as hepulled her flush against himself, one hand on her waist and the other on her back.

Arnav looked down upon the face of the girl in his arms. She was exquisite!She had scrunched up her eyes tight, as her fingers clutched at his shirt.The wind had blown her hair into her face covering most of it. As his hands moved of their own to reach up and move her hair,she suddenly opened her eyes. Luminousalmond shapedhazel eyes. They were moist with tears that had trickled down her flushed cheeks. His eyes moved down lower to her lips which were quivering slightly. They were lusciously full and pink – the colour of the Desert Rose.Absolutely sinful!Suddenly, his body hardened against her softness and his bent down of its own volition.

‘Let me go!’ she exclaimed suddenly, as she pushed at his chest, her eyes reflecting her fear.

‘What the ___?’sworeArnav as he quickly came out of his trance. The girl then grabbed herdupatta that had draped itself over his chest and moved out of his arms. She turned around and ran into the dwindling twilight.

As Arnav stood looking into failing light, he wondered if what he had just seen was real or a figment of his imagination. What had made him do that?He shook his headas he strode up to the memorial. F@#$! He swore again...... he was getting married in a week!

Desert Rose – Chapter 1

The white horse galloped toward her in the twilight. It came to a stop a few feet from her and the rider alighted in one swift motion. As he began to stride toward her, the skies began to darken throwing him in shadows. He came up to her, pulled her flush against himself and bent down to touch his lips to her.His eyes!She felt like she was drowning in their depths. As his eyelids dropped, she saw thick lashes fanning his cheeks, his lips just a breath away……

It was the same dream again! She sat up in the bed, clutching her heart which was beating erratically…..

‘This is what happens when you watch Baazigar before you go to sleep Khushi Kumari Gupta!’ she berated herself.Why did she keep getting this dream over and over again? She had been getting this dreamever since the strange encounter at her parents’ memorial four years ago. But she couldn’t remember much. All she could remember was his eyes ---- eyes the colour of molten chocolate that had made her heart go dhak-dhak as they burned into the very depths of her soul.

But there was no point in dreaming about brown eyed Baazigars, was there? Haar kar bhi jeetne waale ko baazigar kehte hain….. The protagonistin the movie had turned out be a manipulative killer who had killed the heroine’s innocent sister for revenge. Though he had won over the heroine with the intensity of his love, he had died in the end leaving her withintense pain and heartbreak.

Suddenly, she heard a noise in the kitchen and saw that Payal’s side of the bed was unoccupied. She rushed out to see her standing in the kitchen,milk all over the floor. The pungent odour of gas assailed her nose.

‘Jiji! what do you think you are doing?’ she yelled as she rushed up to her and switched off the stove.

‘I am sorry Khushi,’ cried Payal, ‘I was just going to boil some milk and the vessel slipped…I ___’

The smell of the gas was pretty strong and Khushi pulled her sister out of the kitchen into their bedroom.

‘Where were your thoughts jiji? What if something had happened to you?’ said Khushi angrily, ‘Nobody is worth it!’

‘But he loves me Khushi.’

‘I don’t know jiji,’ Khushi spoke more brusquely than she had intended, and repented instantly as she saw her sister’s eyes cloud with hurt.

‘Jiji,’ she went on more gently, ‘you met him for just two days at the wedding!’

‘Sometimes, you don’t even need that much time Khushi.The moment we met, we both just knew that there could be no one else for us.’

‘Then why didn’t he come to Delhi?’ Khushi asked the dreaded question.

‘I don’t know. Something must have happened to prevent him ------ delay him.’

Khushi could make a cynical guess what that ‘something’ might be. Akash Singh Raizada had probably remembered, just in time, that he had a fiancée ---or even a wife ----already.

Khushi remembered how their lives had changed one month ago when Payal had wanted to go to Jaipur to attend a class mate’s wedding. It had seemed perfectly safe at the time. Palak Mathur, Payal’s best friend and their neighbour, was also going along. She had relatives in Jaipur, and had assured Khushi that she would take care of Payal very well.

How wrong she had been! Payal had met Akash, at the wedding and they had ended up talking for hours.

If only it had stopped at that, Khushi thought with a silent groan. Or if Payal had been sophisticated enough to realize she was being spun a line by an experienced charmer.

On her return, she had informed her younger sister that, she was going to be married.

Khushi had taken a deep, steadying breath, and done some gentle probing.

What had emerged was hardly reassuring. Akash, it seemed, worked at one of the famous fashion houses in Delhi along with the groom. They had managed to spend a lot of time during the two day wedding ceremonies, right from the mehendi,haldi to the reception.

‘Of course, he just doesn’t work there.’ Payal eyes had been full of stars.’ His family owns the company. Not only that, they own chains of industries and factories. From what Akash says, they must be amazingly wealthy. Isn’t that great?’

‘Um…Sure,’ Khushi had agreed, but Payal had ben oblivious to the irony in her voice.

‘He promised me that he would come here and talk to you about marrying me.’ She had smiled tenderly. ‘He’s very traditional.’

He had certainly chosen the right route to Payal’s heart, Khushi thought savagely. Payalwas also traditional and a shy gentle girl, who believed people at face value.Khushi was not surprized that she had fallen for the charms of some sweet-talkingRomeo at a romantic wedding background.

She had thought Payal was going in for a world of hurt, but to her surprize he had called her regularly. Maybe, he had seen her with Palak and assumed that she came from a similar background.

Little does he know, thought Khushi, looking at their small house. When he realized that Payal’s only relative was a younger sister working for a boutique to keep a roof over their heads, this so-called love would be a thing of the past.

Khushi knew that marriages were tied up with property and dowry. Payal had nothing to her name that would attract her to a potential groom.

For a time it had seemed as if Payal was having second thoughts about her romance as well. She had been silent and preoccupied, and spent a lot of time alone in her room. She’d lost weight too, and there were shadows under her eyes.

But then he had called her again, and Payal, bubbling with renewed happiness, had revealed that Akash was coming to Delhi.

But he hadn’t turned up and Payal had become distraught with worry.

And now Khushi had to make her see reason. ‘He might have called if he hand been delayed,’ she said. ‘I think,’ she added carefully, ‘we are going to have to accept, that he had simply changed his mind….’

‘No Khushi, he can’t!’ Bright spots of colour burned in Payal’s cheeks. ‘We are going to be married. He ….he has to come here. Oh Khushi, he has simply got to!’

Khushi looked at her older sister in sudden horrified understanding. She remembered the sudden loss of weight and her stomach sickness from the past couple of days.

She put her hand on her head, ‘Hey Devi Maiyaa! Are you ____?’

‘Yes. But it’s all right, because he loves me, and we are going to be married as soon as it can be arranged.’

Khushi’s voice was weary. ‘You have actually told him you are pregnant?’ she gave a mirthless smile. ‘And you wonder why he hasn’t come.’

‘Don’t say that Khushi,’ Payal’s voice shook with intensity. ‘You don’t know him. He is decent and honourable.’

‘So decent, so honourable that he couldn’t wait to seduce an young girl who he had just met.’ Khushi shook her head, her throat aching with grief and bitterness. ‘Jiji, this may not work out. I think you may have to ____’

‘I know what you are going to say Khushi.’ Payal’s face was suddenly pale. ‘Don’t even think it. I am having this baby!’

‘Jiji, it is not practical. You have your whole life ahead of you. You can’t imagine what it would be like trying to cope with a baby….’

‘I am going to marry Akash. It may not be the life I had planned, but it’s the life I want ---the only one, now and forever.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Like how amma knew when she met babuji.’ Payal said confidently. ‘And you can’t say they weren’t happy.’

No, Khushi thought. She couldn’t say that. Her parents had loved each other deeply and joyously until a fateful accident seven years ago, had brought that love to a premature end, leaving her and Payal to fend for themselves at the tender ages of 15 and 17.

Khushi remembered the night of the accident. They were in Delhi at the time, visiting their Buaji. Her dad and mom, Shashi and Garima Gupta had a wedding to attend in Jaipur. Since Khushi was sick with very high fever, they had asked Payal to stay back with her.

After the accident, the two orphaned girls had to leave Lucknow and move in with their Buaji in Delhi. They had to sell their house and their shop in Lucknow to pay for the debts that her dad had made. With some of the left over money and with the pension she received, Buaji had somehow managed to educated Khushi and Payal. But after three years, she had a heart attack and died, leaving Khushi and Payal alone once again.

Payal had managed to finish her college but Khushi had to quit as Buaji’s pension had stopped. She had realized very soon that Payal wouldn’t be able to find a job to support her education. She was just happy to stay back at home and take care of the household work.

So Khushi had stepped up and decided to work her way through college. She had learnt the art of stitching from her mother. With this skill, she had managed to find a job as an apprentice at a boutique, where she had learnt how to design. She had a natural affinity toward the art and had picked it up in no time. After finishing college through correspondence she had joined the boutique full time as their designer and seamstress.

Khushi suddenly felt very tired. Her skills had helped them to survive all these years, but how would they survive this crisis?Ideally, if their parents were alive, Payal would have been married to a nice boy and would have probably had a baby by now. Poor girl, their financial status had not allowed her that luxury. Khushi had sensed that Payal was getting depressed each day seeing all her friends getting married one after another. Even Palak’s wedding was fixed for the next month. Is that why she had thrown caution to the winds with Akash?

She wished her mother was here to tell her how to support Payal through this. Hey Devi Maiyya, please help me….I don’t know what to do, she thought, and felt a hundred years old.

She felt even older when she woke the next morning. It had been a terrible evening. Payal had managed to call the office in Delhi where he worked, only to be told that Akash was not working there anymore. They did not know where he had gone.

All night long, Khushi had heard the Payal sobbing. She tried to console her, but what could she do or say ----- she who had never been marginally tempted to fall in love herself? She was the last person in the world to know what comfort or advice to offer, she had told herself unhappily.

To her surprise she found Payal already up, and making breakfast in the kitchen. She had made her favourite aloo poori. Her sister looked pale and red eyed, but her face was set with determination.

‘I am going to find him Khushi,’ she said.

‘How jiji? Dismayed, Khushi took the cup of tea she handed her, ‘Delhi is a big city.’

‘Akash comes from a small town called Raisar in Rajasthan. I will go there. His family will know where he is.’

Khushi took a sip of the tea. ‘Jiji,’ she said hesitatingly, ‘has it not occurred to you that Akashji may not ----want to be found?’

‘That’s not true,’ Payal said calmly. ‘If it were, I’d know it here.’ She put her hand on her heart.

The simplicity of the gesture and the profound trust it implied made Khushi’s throat ache with unshed tears.

He’s not worth it, she thought savagely. There was a thousand arguments she should be able to use to stop Payal embarking on this crazy and probably fruitless quest, but somehow she couldn’t think of one.She couldn’t let Payal go off on her own to this Godforsaken place, could she?

‘Instead, she said, ‘Then I am going with you.’

Khushi, do you mean it?’ Payal’s face lit up. ‘But what about the boutique? Will Mrs.Malhotra give you the time off? She depends on you heavily.’

‘I haven’t taken off in the last four years.’ Khushi gave a reassuring smile. ‘Mrs. Malhotra won’t fire me. She relies on me to handle the difficult clients the others won’t work for.’

‘What about Surajji?’ she asked her softly.

‘What about him?’ Khushiaskednonchalantly.

‘Have you forgotten that he has proposed to you? What are you going to do about that?’

‘I don’t know jiji,’ she said carefully, ‘I need more time to decide.’

Palak’s older brother Suraj Mathur had been showing a lot of interest in her since last year. He was a good man from a good family who ran his own sweet stall in the neighbourhood. He was good looking, soft spoken and liked by everyone. She liked him as well. But he didn’t make her heart go dhak-dhak like …….like Baazigar. Hey Devi Maiyya, was she running after a dream?

Khushi was practical and knew that not everyone was destined to find true love, like her parents. Sometimes there weren’t many options left in life.But still,something had stopped her from accepting Suraj’s proposal right away.

She changed the topic. ‘I will book bus tickets on the way back from work.’ She tried to sound positive but her heart was in her feet.

What the hell will we do if we don’t find Akash? She wondered. Or, even worse, supposing we find him and he doesn’t want to know?

She sighed silently. They would cross that bridge when they came to it.

‘We’ll find him.’  Payal seemed to have read her thoughts. Her voice and face were serene. ‘It’s fate. Rajputs are people of honour.’

People of honour ---- but also fiercely traditional and known for their ruthlessness. Warriors, who wouldn’t think twice before using their sword in the name of honour.

Well, she would just have to be doubly strong to face these so called warriors wouldn’t she?

She said, ‘There is no such thing as fate,’as she silently prayed, Hey Devi Maiyaa, please protect us!

Desert Rose – Chapter 2

KHUSHI and Payal arrived at Bikaner early in the morning. The travel agent in Delhi had informed Khushi that they would have to take a bus to Bikaner which was the nearest city, as there was no direct transport to Raisar. He also told her that she would have to stay at a hotel in Bikaner.

Hotel Sagar was small, spic and span but quiet basic in its amenities. They had been lucky to get this room at the hotel as January was the time of the camel festival at Bikaner and almost all hotels were fully booked.

Khushi looked at Payal lying down on the simple but clean bed. They had showered and had some breakfast in the room. She was beginning to feel the effects of her pregnancy and had been miserably sick on the bus trip from Delhi to Bikaner. . The temperature in Bikaner was pretty warm and she had agreed to Khushi’s suggestion that she should rest and leave the initial enquiries about Akash to her sister.

‘Khushi, why don’t you let you hair down and take off those glasses? You are not going to work.’ Payal said.

‘That’s ok Jiji, I am not going to a wedding or anything,’ said Khushi as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had put on a lemon yellowchikan suit with a knee-length kurti which was thin and comfortable for this hot weather. She had tied up her thick long hair in a bun and fastened it with a hair stick. She had applied some light kajal to her eyes and brown lipstick on her lips. Khushi had started dressing like this to add some age to her face so that her clients would take her more seriously. This look had also helped her in keeping eve teasers at bay.Now, she was just used to this look. She adjusted her glasses on her nose and picked up her handbag.

‘You get some rest ok? I will be back soon.’

Khushi had been tempted to cancel this whole wild-goose chase after she had made a call to Palak’s cousin in Jaipur. She had explained without going into detail that she was trying to find someone called Akash Raizada belonging to a town called Raisar near Bikaner.

‘Raizada?’ Across the distance, she heard the sharp intake of breath. Then, ‘I am sorry, I cannot help you Khushiji. I would advise you not to proceed further in this.’ A pause, ‘I am serious.’ After he had rung off Khushi was left with a host of unanswered questions. Why had he reacted like that on hearing the name?

She had been warned off, she realized uneasily. She could only hope that Akash wasn’t some kind of a criminal. Maybe he wasn’t even in Raisar, but in jail somewhere.

But could she tell Payal her suspicions, and burst the bubble of optimism and anticipation which encircled her? Maybe she just had to let her find out for herself, she concluded resignedly.

But how on earth was she going to start her search? Khushi thought as she reached the reception.

‘Khamma Ghani madamji.’ Bhairav Chauhan, the hotel’s burly manager greeted her, ‘Can I help you with something?’ He had a thick black moustache and a booming laugh but the warmth of his welcome had been quite honest. His hindi had a Rajasthani touch to it and Khushi was intrigued by its exuberance.

‘As a matter of fact, you can,’ she said carefully, ‘would you by any chance know a family called Raizada ---- with a son named Akash?’

The genial smile vanished as if it had been wiped away. He looked startled, and almost apprehensive, ‘Why madamji?’

She said lightly, ‘Oh our families used to be -----acquainted. I believe they come from here, and I would like to see them again. That’s all.’

There was silence, then, ‘Raizada? Bhairav shook his head, ‘I don’t know the name madamji. You have come to the wrong place.’

‘I don’t think so.’ She gave him a level look. ‘Are you sure you haven’t heard of them?’

‘Absolutely.’ He paused. ‘You are on a holiday, madamji. You should relax. Go and visit the palaces and temples. Don’t waste time looking for these people.’

And if this wasn’t another warning I’d be damned Khushi thought, watching him walk away to help other guests who were waiting for him. What was going on here?It was the same message she had got from Jaipur; keep away from the Raizada clan.

Everyone knows them, but they don’t want to talk about them, she thought, a prickle of wariness running down her spine. Yet somehow, for Payal’s sake she had to penetrate this wall of silence.

She decided to go back to the room and see if she look up a phone number and address in the yellow pages. And as Bhairav suggested she should probably think about doing some sightseeing while she was here in Rajathan before getting down to the real business. She had found some brochures listing the beautiful Junagarh fort, Lalgarh palace, Deshnok temple and a few other places.

As she reached the landing to the first floor, a voice below her said urgently, ‘Madamji.’

Glancing down, she saw one of hotel staff Guman, who had been shown them to their room when they had arrived. He gave her an ingratiating smile. ‘You want Raizada?’

‘Yes.’ Her heartbeat quickened in excitement. ‘Do you know him?’

‘Who doesn’t know him?’ he said smirking weirdly. ‘All the ladies want him.’

God, this Akash Raizada seemed to be a perpetual Casanova! ‘Then can you tell me how I can find him?’ asked Khushi exasperated, not liking the way he was jeering at her.

The man fidgeted, sending a slightly furtive glance back over his shoulder. ‘It is not easy for me, you know ……….’

Khushi understood perfectly. She extracted a 100 rupee note from her purse, and handed it over.

‘He is at his haveli in Raisar ----- Shantivan.’ He whispered conspiratorially.

‘Where is it?’ Finally, Khushi was thrilled to have found some lead.

‘It is about 20 kms from here,’ he said gesturing toward the far away desert. ‘I can give you the directions.’

‘Is there a bus? Or can I get an autorickshaw?’ Khushi asked hopefully.

‘No bus madamji and no autorickshaw will take you there. But I can give you my scooter, if you know how to drive,’ he added at Khushi’s dismayed look.

‘That will be great, thank you so much!’ said Khushi emphatically. When she saw him looking at her purse she realized that he expected her to pay upfront for that as well. She gave him a few more notes.

‘Thankyou madamji,’ he leered at her. ‘But remember…..whatever happens, you can’t tell the boss that I told you all this ok?’

She nodded her head warily and continued on up the stairs to their room.

In their room, she found Payal fast asleep and she left her a brief note explaining that she had stepped out to do some exploring. There was no point to getting her hopes up right now.

As she stepped out of the hotel, she saw Guman talking to another boy in low tones, as they looked at her surreptitiously. She thought she heard the words “Raizada ki aurat”. She looked for the scooter and found it parked at the said spot with the keys in the ignition.

This was obviously what they had all been trying to warn her about, she thought, as she headed out of town on the road Guman had indicated.

Poor Payal, had given her heart to a worthless piece of womanizing scum.Well, he wasn’t going to get away with it.

Raizada ki aurat….what a tag to be branded with she thought with disgust. But I’ll make him pay for it, she vowed under her breath, if it’s the last thing I do.

Whatever happens…… the waiter’s words crept into her mind. An odd thing to say, she thought. Almost like another warning. And in spite of the intense heat, she suddenly felt strangely cold.

**

Khushi brought the scooter gingerly to a halt on the muddy verge, and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

When she had started from Bikaner, she had encountered some traffic as the city with bustling with tourists who had come to Bikaner to see the sights the city had to offer. Bikaner had still retained the medieval splendour that pervaded its lifestyle. It was an enchanting desert city which came alive with music and dance, undulating lanes, colourful bazaars and bright cheerful people – except for Guman of course.

She had looked at the colourful bazaars and made a mental note to go back there for some shopping. She had always been fascinated by colours since childhood. She was also one of the few people who dreamt in colour. She had seen tons and tons of fabric on display and had been tempted to turn her scooter around. But she had continued on as she knew that she could not delay this any further.

Now, as she sat on her scooter looking at that road ahead, she began to wonder if the weirdo Guman had sent her on a wild goose chase. All she could see was an enormous expanse of burning hot sand. So this was Thar ----- its pristine beauty and tranquillity mesmerized her. It had a rare inexplicable beauty in its vastness.

She massaged the base of her spine with a faint grimace. Guman’s scooter was no joy to ride. The steering had a mind of its own, and the brakes barely existed. If she had to do an emergency stop….

Not that there seemed much chance of that. In the last 5 kms she hadn’t passed another soul, except for some cattle, sheep and dogs that had come chasing after her.

She sighed, as she eased the clinging kurti away from the damp heat of her body, imagining herself getting drenched in a rain shower. How she wished it would rain right now.

One more bend in the road, she told herself. Then she would go back.

She started the scooter, and set off, trying to correct its ferocious wobble on the corners. In doing so she almost missed the haveli altogether.

She came to a halt, dirt flying under the tyres, and stared at the letters carved into the two stone gateposts ahead of her.

Khushi dismounted with care, propping the vehicle against the wall confident that no one would dare to steal the piece of junk.

Suddenly, an armed security guard stopped her and barked a question to her.

‘My name is Khushi Gupta, and I have come from Delhi to see Mr Raizada.’

These people had an armed security guard at the gate, she thought. Hey Devi Maiyya, what am I getting into?

The man stared at her for a moment, then spoke into the intercom. He then told her she could go in.

Beyond the gates, greenery shadowed a lengthy driveway. Right, she thought, tilting her chin. Let’s see this irresistible Adonis who causes such havoc in people’s lives. She set off along the driveway, moving with a brisk confident stride that totally masked her inner unease. Though she knew she was on the right, it did little to calm her nerves.

The drive curved away to the right and Khushi saw more greenery with purple and crimson bougainvillaea, and small trees with beautiful pink flowers which she had never seen before.

And beyond that,the palatial haveli loomed large in all its splendour and glory. Khushi was spellbound at the beauty of the haveli. She felt like she had entered into the movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.

The haveli was completely white with numerous little windows or jharokas. Each jharoka had beautifully carved arches, supported by equally beautiful columns. Murals or frescoes, depicting the Rajasthani lifestyle adorned the exterior walls.

Khushi slowed, staring round her. Had Akash told the truth about his background to Payal after all?Just as she stood looking at the huge maindoor, wondering where she should knock, someone opened it and let her in. He then left her standing there and went inside.

Khushi realized she was standing in a courtyard, surrounded by balconies on three sides. She saw more of the similar architecture on the inside. As she walked to the middle of the courtyard she heard someone talking. She followed the voice and turned right toward the entrance to what looked like a room. She took one step inside and was zapped. She had just stepped into a state of the art, high-tech gymnasium!

As she stared around in bewilderment, she saw a man lifting weights, talking to himself. He was shirtless and Khushi felt her heart beating slowly and unevenly as his biceps bulged with each lift, the muscles on his back flexing, glistening with sweat.

He looked magnificent. He was well above average height, broad shouldered and narrow hipped, his bronzed body lean, muscular and perfectly proportioned.

He was good-looking too, she recognized dazedly, his almost classical beauty of feature redeemed by the inherent toughness and strength of his mouth and chin. A man to be reckoned with.

The day old stubble on his cheeks, the splattering of hair on his chest and the sensuousness of his mouth put him in the league of ……..baazigars. What was she thinking?Khushi stemmed that thought as she saw him staring at her in the mirror. His eyes were dark, long lashed, holding an odd glitter.

Like cold fire, she thought.

He took a bottle of mineral water and drank. Khushi watched mesmerized as some of the dropletstrickled down his chin, his throat onto his muscular chest, finally disappearing into the waistband of his sweatpants.

Khushi mouth suddenly felt dry. She knew that displaying himself like this in front of her ---- a woman, and a stranger ---- was a calculated intimidation tactic. But if he expected her to blush or faint, or run off screaming like some frightened nymph from mythology, he’d be disappointed, she told herself, refusing to let the deliberate affront get to her.

He turned around and said, ‘Will you stop staring and tell me who you are and what you want?’

She realized he had been talking on his blue tooth device and was now addressing her. His voice was low and drawling, with a slight accent. Sherealized he used a lot of English words.Payal had mentioned this.

Payal, she thought with a kind of despair. No wonder she had fallen for him hook, line and sinker. But she couldn’t understand why a sophisticated man of the world like this had encouraged her inexperienced sister, even for a moment? She couldn’t imagine a man like this attending the wedding of a middle class colleague of his. It made no sense at all.

‘Well?’ His voice prodded at her impatiently. ‘You have forced your way in here. Speak up!’

She broke out of her trance flustered, ‘I …..I am Khushi …..Khushi Gupta…… Don’t pretend you don’t remember …..’

He shrugged. ‘The name sounds vaguely familiar.’ He sounded bored.

‘Are ….. are you Aa ___?’

‘Yeah I am ASR.’ He snapped.

ASR…..Akash Singh Raizada. Hey Devi Maiyya she was hoping it was not him.

‘So what do you want?’ he barked at her.‘Or do you plan to spend the whole afternoon staring at me in silence?’ In a few long strides he stood in front of her.

She involuntarily took a step back. ‘I am sorry.’ What am I apologizing for? she asked herself  in disbelief. ‘You aren’t exactly what I expected.’

‘Nor are you,’ he said enigmatically. The brilliant eyes went over her, lingering on her breasts and thighs and long, slim legs, making her uneasily aware that the heat had made her thin garments into a second skin.

‘But it isn’t important.’ His tone was dismissive. ‘Say what want to, and go.’

All her worst forebodings were confirmed. He didn’t care about Payal, or the baby. Her sister’s sole attraction to him had been her innocence. Now it was gone, he didn’t want to know.

She said stonily. ‘You know why I’m here. Don’t you think amends should be made?’

‘For what? A roll in the hay most young girlsenjoy these days?’ The contempt in his voice lashed at her.

Just because other girls might behave like sex-crazed idiots, there was no need to put Payal in the same category, she thought in furious anguish. Hadn’t he realized she was different ---- that she had actually believed whatever corny seduction line he had handed her?

‘Unfortunately, there have been consequences.’ She hated the smile which twisted his mouth. ‘Or have you forgotten there’s a baby on the way?’

‘There is nothing wrong with my memory,’ he said. ‘The question here is about intention --- you probably think that a child with Raizada blood might have a claim on Raizada money.’ He shook his head. ‘I am not a fool, you see. I am prepared to subject the paternity of this child to every test available to medical science. But can you afford to fight me?’ The studied insolence of his gaze scorched her again. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘No,’ she said indignant at his insinuations. ‘Nor would I dream of it. Obviously your responsibilities mean very little to you.’

‘You are wrong. They mean a great deal. Do you think I will submit to pressure from a girl who has behaved like a slut, and now wishes to benefit from her dalliances?’ His drawl intensified, ‘I happen to know that girls with low class upbringing often resort to such tactics to entrap rich men.’

Her hands curled into fists at her sides, and her voice shook a little as tears welled up in her eyes.

‘You’ve made your point. I’d hoped you might have some shred of decency in you, but clearly I was mistaken. However, you won’t be troubled again. The baby may not be brought up in the lap of this kind of luxury ----’ she gestured scornfully round her ‘---but it will be welcomed, looked after and loved, and that’s far more important. It wasn’t money I came for, but something more fundamental. Something you wouldn’t understand.’

She paused, struggling to control her voice. ‘And, thinking about it, although the baby will be illegitimate, it will grow up without knowing what a complete jerk its father was.’ She drew a deep and shuddering breath. ‘I wonder how many more lives will be ruined before you mend your sick behaviour?’

‘You have the audacity to talk about ruined lives?’ He took a step forward and held her upper arms in a punishing grip, and she felt his anger touch her like a blast of lightning. ‘How dare speak to me like this?’

‘It’s the truth!’ She said her eyes flashing at him, ‘Leave me……. you are hurting me!’

She turned and walked away from him, back rigidly straight, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Of all the hateful, disgusting things he’d said, it was the gibe abouttheir upbringing that had hurt her the most.

He must have known she was a virgin, yet he had deliberately set out to seduce and destroy, using all the potent virility and sexual charisma he possessed in such abundance to undermine her resistance.

My God, I was aware of it myself, she thought, shame mingling with anger. And I was only with him for a few minutes.

She blotted out that line of thinking instantly. What was wrong with her?This man clearly regarded himself as some Laad Governor, to whom every woman was a potential victim for conquest, and she disgraced herself by even acknowledging his attraction.

But what had he been doing, flirting with a young girl at a wedding? she asked herself. Was it for some sort of a bet ---- or some other kind of sick joke?

If so, why go on with thepretence once Payal had returned to Delhi? Promising to come over ---- claiming there were going to be married. All those phone calls ---- all those lies?

Unforgivable, she thought as she dragged the blastedscooter upright, and kicked it into grumbling life. She wanted to get away from the enchanting haveli, and its owner, as fast as she could --- breathe some untainted air!

Desert Rose – Chapter 3

ARNAVSingh Raizada stood rooted to the spot seething with rage. How dare she speak to him like that? He would have to figure out what this woman really wanted. Woman? There was definitely something off about her.

She looked different than he had imagined – a little older. She didn’t seem to be Akash’s type. She wore glasses and had tied up her hair in a severe bun. She wore ordinary clothes and her makeup seemed a little loud.

But as his eyes had moved lower, there was contradiction to his earlier thought. Her clothes had stuck to her body making him aware of the fullness of her breasts, her tiny waist and flare of her hips tapering down to long slim legs.

When he had touched her, he had felt a stirring in his body-----a flash of an elusive memory of a long ago time. But it was gone in a second. He shook his head to clear it.

He would have to go find her, he thought to himself, but he would have to get a quick shower first. It wouldn’t be too difficult to find out which hotel she was put up at.

Ten minutes later, as he walked out of the gym, he heard his sister Anjali calling out for Hariprakash. Her voice seemed a little urgent as she asked him to bring her the first aid box. Had something happened to Di? What was the first aid box for?

Then he saw her – again.She was lying on the sofa with his sister hovering over her. He went toward his sister with purposeful strides.

Khushi opened her eyes, wincing with pain as she looked around her. As she lay on the luxurious sofa, she was awestruck. Earlier, when she had seen the haveli from outside, she had the feeling that she was entering the movie Hum Dil De ChukeSanam.Now she was convinced. The décor of the large room was ethnic Rajasthani style. The furniture was dark coloured with intricately carved designs.The sofa cushions covered in orange silk were accompanied by bronze pillows. On one side there was an ornate brass swing and an artistically carved mirror on one of the walls. Bright orange-bronze coloured curtains adorned the arches that separated one area from another.

Exquisitely woven Kashmiri carpets adorned the floor. The parts that were uncarpeted were tiled in creamy marble, with chips of grey and white. The walls had carved wood panelling and were decorated with unique artefacts and paintings that looked original and expensive. Khushi was entranced by one in which there a breathtakingly beautiful dusky woman, decked up in silver jewellery, her almond shaped hazel eyes slightly downcast and looking demure as her maid stood by her side. The designer in Khushi couldn’t help noticing the painstaking detail on the costume. It was a deep navy blue lehenga choli with mustard yellow and red thread work.

Some of windows had the typical coloured glass in them while others were plain. A huge chandelier made of glass and antique gold dominated the centre of the ceiling.

Ironically, the one thing Akash Raizada hadn’t lied about was his wealth, Khushi thought sourly. She was in the lap of luxury here.

And thenshe sawhim --- the horrible man was standing a few feet away talking heatedly to the lady whose car had caused all this trouble. A man who appeared to be the driver stood next to her, his head bent as he seemed to be receiving a dressing down by his master – the Laad Governor.

Khushi remembered how she had just started her ride on her junk scooter, and then this car had come at her with full speed. She could have still managed to avoid it if the brakes had worked as they should have. She had manoeuvred the steering so that she could avoid hitting the car. The scooter hit the loose stones on the verge, and went out of control, skidding up the road. Khushi was thrown off, landing painfully on her side. She had gone still for a moment, feeling sick and dizzy with shock.

She had bruises on her arms and legs on the left side. Her clothes had torn and were smeared with dirt and blood from her wounds.

When the lady had come running toward her asking herif she was okay, she had assured her that she was fine and then she had seen the lady’s face blurin front of her eyes as darkness enveloped her.

Hey Devi Maiyya, thought Khushi dismally. Why had that lady brought her here? She tried to sit up, only to be told to stay back where she was by the Laad Governor. Why was he always yelling? God her head hurt.

He swung around, frowning, and came striding over. He’d had showered,Khushi noticed,because of the way his damp hair fell on his forehead. He wore blue jeans and a white t-shirt that clung to his muscular torso.Still competing for the Gladrags Manhunt contest, no doubt, she thought hating him.

‘Di just told me what happened,’ he said harshly. ‘Just stay where you are ---- you will need to see a doctor.’

‘I don’t need a doctor.’ Khushi’s head swam as she put her feet gingerly to the floor. ‘There’s no need for all this fuss. I want nothing from you. I thought I made that clear.’

‘I am really sorry for what happened,’ Laad Governor’s sister had just walked up to them. ‘At least allow us to take care of you. By the way, I am Anjali.’

‘Di, did you call Manav?’

‘He is due to come here anyway chotte,’ answered Anjali. ‘I will call him again in any case.

And Chotte, bring Khushiji to my room so that Manav can examine her there.’

‘Is that necessary?’

‘Of course,’ replied Anjali. ‘She needs privacy. After that, she can change and refresh herself. She can’t go back to the hotel in these torn clothes. ’ She excused herself and left the room.

God, would this brother and sister stop behaving like she was not there? ‘I really am okay.’ Khushididn’t want to be examined by this Manavwho seemed to be the doctor. ‘I have few grazes, that’s all.’

‘How do you know? Are you a doctor?’ he asked her insolently.‘And in the circumstances we can’t take any risks,’ he said grimly.

‘My sister tells me you were riding a scooter,’ he went on. ‘Are you frigging crazy?’

‘Only on Mondays,’ Khushi said wearily. ‘Look ---just get me a taxi, and I’ll go back to my hotel. My sister will be worried,’ she added pointedly.

‘She knows about this and still let you come off here on your own? He seemed surprized. ‘Unbelievable.’

‘No,’ Khushi said, with a sigh. ‘This was all my own idea. And obviously a bad one.’

‘I am with you on that one.’ he said his tone flippant. Then he yelled at the top of his lungs, ‘Hariprakash, we need that goddamn first aid box TODAY!’

A man came running into the room, carrying a first aid box.

What language this man used! Khushi felt sorry for poor Hariprakash who handed over the box with quaking hands.

‘Please, there is no need…’ Khushi began.

‘Blood is oozing from your wounds for God’s sake!’ he retorted harshly, ‘The wound might get infected if it isn’t treated immediately.’

He knelt beside the sofa, his face intent, soaking a swab of cotton in the antiseptic solution. He then took her hand in his and looked up at her, his mouth slanting sardonically.

‘It’s going to hurt a little.’ He said huskily.

As he began to swab the dirt and grains of dirt from her hand, she bit her lip, her body stiffening instinctively at his touch. She grasped the edge of the sofa with her free hand and closed her eyes, bracing herself from the pain.

Then suddenly she felt his hand at her thigh and jumped. She said huskily, ‘No please…’

‘Stay still.’ He said firmly. He put his fingers through the tear in her leggings and slit it up further to give him better access.He began to dress the wound on the side of her thigh.

As he continued his ministrations, Khushi winced with pain and grabbed his shoulder for support.

Khushi wanted to move back. He was too close for comfort, she thought, dry mouthed, as she absorbed the clean, fresh scent of his skin. His left hand felt hot against her knee and she felt a sharp pang deep inside her that had nothing to do with pain.

Arnav’s fingers felt clammy as he placed his left hand around the wound to hold the skin God, her creamy skin felt as smooth as silk.

F***! He swore under his breath.

‘If you continue like this, you may have to dress my wounds next,’ he said gruffly glancing at his shoulder.

Khushi went a deep red and snatched her hands away when she realized that her nails were digging into his shoulder.

Even though it had hurt her while he dressed her, she was forced to admit that he was extremely gentle and had done a great job.

‘I think you should change now,’ he said putting away the medicines back into the box. ‘Let’s go.’

‘I am not going anywhere with you.’ Khushi snapped irked at his commanding tone. Did this Laad Governor think she was Hariprakash?

‘There is no way I am going to leave you alone in there.’ He declared firmly.

‘What are you implying?’ she demanded.

‘I am just trying to make sure you don’t try to turn this accident to your advantage.’

‘What do you think I am going to do ---- steal something?’ Khushi looked at him, her eyes flashing with anger. ‘How dare you?’

‘This is my house and you will play no games in this house Khushi Gupta.’

‘It’s Khushi Kumari Gupta!’ she retorted angrily.

‘What?’ he smirked, his tone laced with incredulity.

She was about to tell him what she thought of his high handed behaviour when a good looking man, with average height, walked in.

‘Anjali called me and told me I have a new patient,’ he remarked. He came closer and examined her external wounds and nodded. ‘The first aid was done superbly. You are lucky. These wounds are superficial and will heal fast without leaving any scars. But if you come to my clinic tomorrow, I will give you an injection just to be on the safe side…. just to prevent any infection.’

The Laad Governor took him to one side and spoke to him in low tones.

‘Oh in that case I will have to examine her in private,’ he said urgently. ‘Anjali can be present there.’

‘I don’t need further examination,’ Khushi protested. ‘I’m absolutely fine.’

The doctor gave her a patronizing smile. ‘That’s true. Most women in early pregnancy can handle minor accidents. But we will still need to confirm that everything is okay.’

‘What?’ Khushi asked him absurdly. ‘What are you talking about? I am not pregnant.’

‘So you lied.’ Laad Governor’s icy voice sliced through her confusion. ‘I knew it. Get out of this house right now.’

Khushi stared at him.

She said quietly, ‘Oh my God…… you don’t remember what she looks like. Has your womanizing reached such heights that you can’t recognize one girl from another?’

‘How dare you speak to me like that?’ He walked up to her, his eyes burning into her like hot coals.

Khushi stared back at him, returning his look with an equal measure.

‘Why shouldn’t I?’ Her voice shook a little as she said, ‘It wasn’t me that you ---- seduced and abandoned in Jaipur. It was my sister, Payal.’ Her voice choked in her throat.

No one spoke for almost a minute and then the doctor said, ‘I think there is some confusion here Arnav. I will just go up and see Akash.’

Just as he was about to leave, Khushi stopped him. ‘Doctor, just a minute……..did you just call him Arnav?’

‘Yes. That’s his name.’

She swallowed. ‘You mean ----he ….he’s not --- Akash?’

The doctor looked astonished. ‘No madam. This is Arnav Singh Raizada. Akash is his younger brother. He was also injured in an accident some time back, a little more seriously than yourself. In fact I have to go and see him now.’ He nodded briskly, and left the room.

Khushi found herself all alone with Arnav Singh Raizada.

Desert Rose – Chapter 4

KHUSHIfound herself all alone with ASR ----Arnav Singh Raizada.She stared at his grim face and her heart beat began to increase.

‘I thought you were Akashji and you thought I was Payal,’ she ventured tentatively, ‘We got off on the wrong foot right from the beginning.’

‘Looks like it.’ he said grimly.

‘When you said you were ASR, I assumed ‘A’ stood for Akash,’ she explained, ‘But I don’t understand your confusion. I had told you my name.’

He shrugged, ‘I was only aware of that the surname was Gupta.’ He looked at her, ‘I wasn’t sure of the first name.’

Khushi said quietly, ‘I am sorry for all the things I said to you earlier. It’s just that I was so upset for Payal.’

‘You did it for your sister,’ he returned flatly, ‘I don’t blame you for that. I would have done the same.’

‘Was Akash badly hurt in the accident?’ she asked in a low voice.

‘He has fractured his leg and has a concussion in his head. He will heal with time and plenty of rest.’

‘Thank God it isn’t too bad.’ Khushi said relived. ‘That is why he didn’t come to Delhi. I wish someone had informed us. Payal will be relieved when she hears about this.’

She looked at Arnav but he said nothing.

‘I will go back to the hotel now.’ Khushi said trying to get up.

‘Like this?’ he said looking directly at her.

Khushi realized he was looking at her torn clothes and flushed a deep red.

‘I will take you to Di’s room now.’ He said curtly.

As Khushi got up from the sofa and took one step, she faltered as blackness enveloped her. She flopped down on the sofa holding her head.

‘What the ____?’ he swore.

‘I am alright….. just a head rush.’ Khushi said weakly.

Arnav swore as she strode up to her angrily. He bent down and scooped her up in his arms in one swift movement. He began to walk toward the ornate staircase.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ Khushi gasped furiously. She tried to push at his chest, but it was like trying to budge a brick wall. But definitely a warmer one. A jolt of awareness shot through her as she felt his heart beating under her fingers.

‘Put me down right away!’ she said breathlessly.

‘Shut up.’  He snapped back.

Khushi realized that he was carrying her up without breaking a sweat. Thought she was slim she was no feather weight. All those gym workouts were coming in handy today no doubt, she thought to herself.

He took her to a room presumably his sister’s. It was large, bright room matching the décor downstairs. Ornate furniture, ethnic artefacts and bright coloured drapes gave the room a rich, royal look.Anjaliwas nowhere to be seen and Arnavseemed annoyed as he deposited her none too gently on the edge of the big bed.

He went to the cupboard. ‘My sister only seems to have sarees,’ he said as he pulled out a saree and threw it on the bed.

‘I will see you downstairs,’ he said moving toward the door.

Just as Khushi began to take off her kurti, she realized that it was not going to be easy. It hurt like hell to lift her arms above her shoulder.

Suddenly, she realized that Arnav had walked up behind her. She should have locked the door! In one swift movement he caught hold of her kurti at her back and ripped it down its length to the hem.

‘Oh!’ Khushi yelled turning around to hide her exposed back, as a wave of embarrassment engulfed her from top to toe. ‘How dare you?’

‘There was no question of daring,’ he sounded bored.‘I heard you wincing with pain and thought I should help you. There was no way you were going to be able to take off that kurti over your head.’

‘But …..you…you…’ she stuttered.

‘Just relax.’ He said softly. A faint smile twisted the corners of the firm mouth.’ I run a fashion house. I have seen half naked girls. It’s no big deal.’

‘But it’s a big deal for me!’ she exclaimed horrified of his nonchalance. ‘Just go.’

‘I will wait for you downstairs,’ he said amused.‘He walked up to the door and paused, looking back at her, the smile deepening with disturbing mockery. He said, ‘I am glad Manav said you won’t be scarred,’ he said looking at her, his gaze burning holes into her. ‘You have a beautiful body.’ He shut the door behind him.

Khushi stood looking at the closed door, her mouth open in shock, as a hot flush swept her from head to toe. No one had evertreated her like this before --- never been made to feel so vulnerable --- so frighteningly aware of her femininity.

Arnav Singh Raizada wasn’t just a powerful and an attractive man, she decided grimly. He was dangerous in all kinds of ways she’d never imagined.

Just when she thought that he was being nice to her, he had reversed all that with that parting shot of his.  From now on, she would be extra-careful in any dealings she had with him, she thought as she struggled to drape herself in the damningly beautiful saree.

It was a typical rajasthani bandhej saree in rani pink with copper sulphate blue border and pallu. She had thought of looking for a simpler one and had stopped herself for some reason unknown to her. Was it because he had picked out the saree for her?Hey DeviMaiyya!

She stepped into the attached bathroom. Itwas clad in light coloured tiles, with modern amenities like a bathtub, a shower panel and a wash basin. Looking in the mirror, Khushi realized for the first time that her face was smeared with dirt form her fall, and her hair was tangled and dusty.

She took off her glasses, washed swiftly and dragged a comb through her long dark hair. For a moment she was tempted to leave it loose. It would make her look more appealing --- more relaxed, she thought, lifting some of the heavy strands in her fingers.

She stopped right there. What on earth was she thinking of? She wasn’t there to relax, or make any kind of impression – particularly on someone like Arnav Singh Raizada, she thought with self-disgust. She pulled her hair back severely, securing it savagely into a bun. She then fastened the front bangs away from her face with clips and put on her glasses.

Arnav stood outside the gates checking the damage to the car. What had made him say those things to her? He hadn’t been kidding when he had told her that he had seen many naked women. But what he hadn’t told her was that he had never once felt the way he did when he had seen her exposed back. The small glimpse he had had of her smooth milky skin from the neck to the base of her spine had made him hard with want. There was something about her. He stemmed that thought immediately.  She was trouble. He had to get rid of her.As soon as possible.

Khushi came out to the hall way and stood looking around her.She realized that she had taken wrong turn and ventured into another part of the huge house. She would never get her fill of this beautiful haveli, she thought. She saw another painting of an elderly couple. The man in the picture looked like a king as he stood proud and regal with a hand on his sword. The woman, probably his wife, stood by his side, in all her finery a small smile playing on her lips. They were probably one of the ancestors of the Raizadas. There was so much warmth and colour in painting that it was difficult for Khushi to imagine that Arnav Singh Raizada, in his blue jeans and white t-shirt and his “What the”was even remotely related to these people in the painting. But there was no mistaking the relation as he had inherited his ancestor’s eyes. Disturbing, intense eyes.

But she had rather imagine him as Laad Governor, she thought smiling to herself and then froze.Why was she even imagining him?

Then she saw Anjali and Dr Manav coming out of a room, deep in discussion. That must be Akashji’s room, she realized, with trepidation. Akashji, whom she had never even seen.

Impulsively, Khushi knocked on the door to Akash’s room and waited, her heart beating in anticipation.

‘Come in.’ said a man’s weary voice from the inside.

Khushi pushed open the door and saw a man sitting up on the bed. She was sure it was Akash as the family resemblance was quite obvious. He looked a little pale and his leg was in a cast.

‘Akashji?’ she said quietly.

‘Who are you ?’ he demanded.

‘I am Khushi --- Payal’s sister.’ She smiled at him. ‘We came from Delhi today to look for you.’

He went on staring at her, his brows drawing together in surprize. ‘I don’t understand,’ he said. ‘What do you want?’

‘I have come here with Payal,’ she said anxiously, ‘She must have mentioned me.’

He shook his head, his face reflecting his confusion. ‘I don’t know any Payal.’

Khushi began to panic. ‘Of course you do.’ She tried to jog his memory. ‘You met her in Jaipur at a wedding, and you were planning to come to Delhi to meet her.’

‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’ His voice rose.

As Khushi hesitated, not sure how to proceed, the door behind her was flung open, and she heard Arnav Singh Raizada’s angry voice, ‘You have some nerve, Khushi Kumari Gupta! How dare you trespass and disturb my brother?’

He took her uninjured arm in firm grip and dragged her out of the room.

Khushi tried to disengage herself but she was not match for his strength as he hustled her toward the stairs.

‘I am sorry for intruding,’ she said. ‘But I did come here to see Akashji.’

‘It is my house and you cannot meet anyone without my permission.’

Khushi lifted her chin defiantly, ‘And, would you have given me permission if I had asked you?’

‘No,’ he said curtly, ‘I only hope your interference hasn’t caused any harm.’

‘How can a few words from me cause him any harm? She asked him angrily. ‘I thought Akashji might be happy to hear that Payal is here.’

‘Was he?’

‘No.’ Khushi found herself being dragged out of the house, with no chance of talking to Anjaliji or Dr Manav. ‘He seemed ---- confused.’

Arnav angrily dumped her into the passenger seat of an open jeep. Her bag was already kept on the seat.

‘Akash is ill right now and I don’t want anyone to interfere in his recovery,’ Arnav said as he started the engine.

Khushi sighed. ‘I wasn’t even trying to …… all I wanted to do was to say --- hello.’

‘Now that you done it,’ he said dismissively, ‘let’s put an end to this.’

How can this be the end, thought Khushi as the jeep went down the drive. 

Near the gate, Khushi spotted the scooter, ‘What am I going to do about that?’ she wondered aloud.

‘You are not going to do anything. I checked the vehicle and it seemed to be in a very bad condition even before the accident. Where did you get it?’

‘From a man called Guman at the hotel Sagar where I am staying at.’ Khushi explained.

He frowned when he heard that. ‘That scum bag!’ He hit the steering with an exasperated fist. ‘He does this to unsuspecting tourists all the time --- in spite of warnings.’

‘I will have to find an alternative next time.’

‘You plan to stay?’ he asked her grimly.

‘Of course,’ said Khushi. ‘Payal will want to come and spend some time with Akashji, and I will do some sightseeing here.’

‘I don’t think that is possible.’ He said quietly.

‘What do you mean?’ Khushi suddenly felt very cold.

‘It would be better if you go back to Delhi, and take your sister with you.’

She said softly, ‘You mean while Akashji recovers. But he isn’t that badly hurt, and moreover Payal will want to come and take care of him.’

‘That will not be necessary.’ Arnav looked grim as he concentrated on the road ahead.

‘That’s not for you to say.’ Khushi retorted. ‘Let them decide what they want to do. I think you have forgotten that Akashji has promised to marry Payal.’

‘But I have not agreed to any such thing,’ he said harshly, ‘And I think you are the one that is forgetting. We may have solved the problem of mistaken identities, but nothing else has changed, believe me.’

‘What do you mean?’ she seemed to be repeating this a lot with this cryptic person she was dealing with.

‘I told you earlier. I don’t accept that your sister or her unborn child has any claim on my family. A girl who is free with her favours before marriage should accept the consequences,’ he added damningly.

Khushi flushed hot with anger, ‘What about Akashji? Isn’t he also at fault here?’ Khushi drew a deep breath. ‘Are rules different for men and women?’

‘Akash is young,’ he said flatly. ‘I will not allow him to ruin his future for one foolish mistake.’

‘And what about Payal’s future?’ she demanded exasperated.

‘She seems to be quiet clever,’ he said his tone flippant. ‘I am sure she will manage.’

‘I can’t believe you just said that. You haven’t even met her for God’s sake!’ Khushi’s heart was hammering sickly and painfully. ‘They are in love.’

His mouth twisted cynically, ‘People fall in and out of love all the time.’

Maybe for Akash, thought Khushi feeling sick of him and all the Raizada males at this moment. But not sweet Payal. She had already given herself heart, body and soul to Akash. This would just scar her for life.

She drew an unsteady breath. ‘Has Akashji no say in this matter?’

He paused. ‘He knows he has made a mistake,’ he said. ‘I am the head of the family and ultimately he will do as he is told.’

‘How autocratic!’ she said emphatically.

‘This is how it works in our families Khushi,’ he retorted, ‘I have plans for him and they don’t include your sister.’

‘You are arranging a marriage for him?’ She had been afraid of this.

‘The girl will be from family equal to our status, culture and lineage.’ He looked like he was cast in stone as he continued. ‘Akash belongs to wealthy family. I won’t let him throw away everything for the first pretty face that caught his fancy.’

‘So it all finally comes down to money.’ Khushi said bitterly. ‘If Payal was rich it would be a different story.’

‘I didn’t say that.’ He cut in. ‘Akash’s wife should, firstly, be a decent woman.’

‘I think you are forgetting that Payal was decent until she met your brother. People in love don’t always behave sensibly. Haven’t you ever given your heart to anyone Arnavji? Or did your mind come in the way and tell you not to waste time on that emotion?’

‘You are stepping out of your limits here.’ His voice was ice. ‘And it’s not my emotions you should be worrying about.’

‘But they must meet Arnavji --- to talk about the baby. You can’t stop them from seeing each other for that.’ Khushi said desperately.

‘Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do,’ he rasped out harshly, ‘This matter is closed. Go back to Delhi.’

‘Not until Payal has seen Akashji,’ she flung back at him. ‘You have no right to keep them apart in this high handed way. You seem to have forgotten that days of autocracy have been long gone,’ she added angrily.

The first few buildings of Bikaner began to emerge in the fading light as the sun began to set.

‘We will not discuss my rights here,’ Arnav said coldly, ‘Akash doesn’t want to see your sister. In fact he doesn’t even remember her.’

‘I don’t believe that.’ Her voice shook. ‘You just don’t want them to meet. You don’t want to lose your control over Akashji ---- or let him lead his own life.’

‘They could meet a dozen times, I promise you, and it would make no difference.’ Arnav Singh Raizada swung the jeep into the lane and brought it to an abrupt halt outside the hotel.

‘Why should I care for your promise --- or anything you say, for the matter of fact?’ Khushi found the passenger door being wrenched open, and herself being dragged down to the narrow pavement.

‘Because that bump on the head has given Akash amnesia, Khushi.’ His hands were hard on her upper arms as he held her against the jeep. His eyes glittered down at her. ‘He remembers nothing and no one before the accident. Are you satisfied now?’

‘Hey Devi Maiyya.’ Khushi lifted a distressed hand to her mouth, her eyes enormous suddenly. ‘What are we going to do?’

‘You are not going to do anything,’ he rasped. ‘He has a family who will take care of him and nurse him back to health.’

‘That’s what you think.’ Khushi eyes flashed with determination. ‘I will not allow you to dismiss Payal from his life like this!’

‘What the f***!’ he swore angrily. ‘What do you mean you won’t allow me? Who do you think you are? I have been patient with you for a long time and ____’

‘I don’t give a damn for your patience Mr Arnav Sing Raizada,’ she flung back.

His hands left her shoulders, and he jerked her towards him, twisting her good arm behind her back with one hand as the other hand grabbed her bare waist exposed by her saree. He stared down at her lips even as his eyes glittered like dark orbs. Khushi looked at him in shock, but as she began to struggle she realized her efforts only managed to bring him closer.

Her breasts were crushed achingly against his chest. She recognized the taut muscularity of the body pressed against hers with every fibre of her being – as if she had always known in some secret recess of her soul exactly what it would like to be in Arnav Singh Raizada’s arms. He bent his head, his lips just inches away from hers. She had a flash of an elusive memory of a long ago time…….

‘Don’t mess with me Khushi Kumari Gupta --- if you know what is good for you.’ he rasped harshly.

Then with the same suddenness she was free. He was breathing unevenly, the dark gaze that burned into hers, hot and relentless as the Thar.

He swung himself lithely back into the Jeep, and drove off, leaving her staring after him, her hand pressed in disbelief to her heart, beating its erratic dhak-dhak.

Desert Rose – Chapter 5

KHUSHI’S legs were shaking as she made her way through the restaurant area toward the staircase.

How dare he hold her like this in public? Particularly when the entire hotel staff and the people on the street were watching?Though he hadn’t kissed her, that is how it would have looked to the onlookers in the darkness, she thought with resentment. She was shamingly aware of the grins and nudges between the waiters who were preparing the tables for dinner. She heard someone say, ‘Raizadakiaurat’ and laugh.

What on earth had possessed him? She raged inwardly as she went upstairs, avoiding a look of disapproval form BhairavChauhan’s wife, Sona who was standing outside the kitchen.

Was he trying to punish her for being the sister of a girl who had become pregnant out of wedlock? Well, she would make sure he would pay for judging them so harshly.

And if he thought these caveman tactics would scare her into running away to Delhi, he had better think again.

In the meantime, she had decided not to tell Payal about what was going on. She would somehow get Payal and Akash to meet. But it would not be a good idea to tell her anything until she had figured out a way.

She remembered Dr Manav has asked her to come to the clinic for an injection. She would take that opportunity to ask him about Akashji’s amnesia, its treatment and its duration. At least she would know what to do after that.

But Laad Governor’s intransigence was another matter altogether. She had no idea what could cure that, she thought as she went into the room.

**

‘F!@#!’ Arnav swore loudly as he drove back. That woman was going to be a pain he realized. But what on earth had possessed him to grab her like that? He had never done anything like that before. But she had provoked him to the hilt. No one ever dared to speak to him like that -----except for his Di.

His sister’s bright coloured saree on her made her look like a super hot ……school teacher. School teacher? Well, her hairstyle and glasses made her look like one. Was it weird that he had still wanted to kiss her? Only he knew how it taken super human strength on his part to stop himself. God! He desperately needed a distraction he thought as he pulled up in front the house.

When he went up to his room, Hariprakash came to him with a glass of water and informed him that Anjali was waiting for him for dinner. He made it a point to eat dinner with her every night, in nani and mami’s absence. The two ladies were in Jaipur visiting some relatives. Akash’s dinner was sent up to his room as he was immobile because of his cast. He was also suffering from chronic headaches triggered due to his amnesia.

‘Chotte I have been waiting to hear from you for so long.’ Said Anjali looking up at him. ‘What happened? Where is Khushiji?’

He updated her briefly about his conversation with Khushi, carefully omitting some parts.

‘What?’ she askedincredulous. ‘How could you do this? We can’t just ignore this issueChotte.’

‘We can and we will,’ he said relentlessly. ‘One way or the other.’

‘That poor girl is going to have a baby!’ said Anjali emphatically.

‘Di, the problem with you is that you trust that people a little too much.’

‘And how can you be so sure that they are lying?’

‘That is beside the point.’ He said grimly. ‘Taking care of Akash’s health is top most priority now.’

‘But Chotte ____’

‘How is the “politician in the making” doing?’ Arnav asked Anjali. ‘Haven’t heard from him in a long time.’

‘He is doing fine Chotte, you know your jeejajiis always busy with his work.’

Shyam ManoharJha, Anjali’s husband lived in Delhi where he worked as a lawyer. His clients were high profile politicians and Arnav knew that Shyam himself was an aspiring politician. He remembered the altercation they had when he as a junior had a won the student elections against Shyam who was two years his senior.

‘Shouldn’t you be in Delhi taking care of him?’ he asked her causally.

‘I should, but he says that I will be bored to death in Delhi because of his long hours of work and travelling,’ she said. ‘Moreover, if I hadn’t been here, who would have taken care of you and Akash in nani and mami’s absence?’

‘Uhh….. we do have Hariprakash Di.’ Arnav smiled.

‘Well, in that case let me start packing as I can see I am not needed.’ Anjali said sullenly.

‘Di!’ exclaimed Arnav, ‘I was just kidding. You know I love having you here with me.’ Just then his cell phone rang. ‘I have to take this Di…….Good night.’ He said getting up from the chair, effectively marking the end of the conversation.

‘Good night Chotte’ she said wistfully.

Anjali knew that her brotherhad deliberately changed the topic. The events that started seven years ago with their parents’ accident had made Arnav hard and cynical.Would he ever be able to get past it and lead a normal life?

Anjali wondered if she should call nani and inform her about what was going on. But she doubted even if Nani would be able to help in this matter. Once Arnav made a decision, not even nani could change it. That was the problem with the Raizada males ---- they were all bull headed. She discarded the idea of informing naniabout this until matters were at hand. Otherwise mamiwould come down here from Jaipur and would take the whole house down with her hysterics.

She would have to try a different route, she decided.

**

Khushi somehow managed to dodge Payal’s questions and told her that she had fallen of the scooter while trying to ride to one of the sightseeing places. Before Payal could ask her anything else she rushed into the bathroom to shower.

She showered quickly, flinching as the water touched her grazed skin, but glad at the same time to wash away any lingering contact with Arnav Singh Raizada’s hands. But the actual memory of being held in his arms might not be easy to dismiss, she realized as a hot wave washed her body from head to toe.

Later that night Khushi and Payal went downstairs for dinner. BhairavChauhan welcomed them exuberantly, and showed them a table.

‘I recommend that you order our special thaali. You will get to taste authentic rajasthani food.’

‘Khushi, you should try gattekikadi. It is supposed to be awesome,’ said Payal excitedly.’ Akash told me about it.’ she added shyly.

As they satwaiting for their dinner, Khushi looked at Payal. She looked refreshed after the long rest she had had the entire day. She looked a little disappointed when Khushi had told her that she hadn’t found out anything about Akash. But she seemed to have perked up a little after coming down.

At first Khushi found the flavour a little sweet, but her palate soon adapted, and by the time Bhairav brought them hot missirotis, churma, gattekikadi and fried bhindi accompanied by jaljeera, she was entirely won over.

 And Payal was right. Gattekikadi was finger licking good. Gatta,Bhairav had explained to them, was basically channa dal ground and mixed with masalas and steamed, could be used in kadi, pulav or just eaten as sabji. Khushi decided to try this dish once she got back home.

Home. Khushi thought of her little house in Delhi and began to feel home sick. Though Payal ate up every scrap of food with relish, Khushi felt sad that she had to eat restaurant food when she should be eating healthy homemade food in this condition. She would have to find a way to solve their problem as soon as possible.

For dessert they were served KesariBhaat which was basically a saffron induced sweet rice preparation. Khushi, who was basically a jalebi person, had to agree that this new rajasthani sweet dish was indeed very delicious.

BhairavChauhan informed them that since it was the Camel Festival season, some entertainment had been planned in which local dancers would perform.

Khushi and Payal were enthralled with the performance. The women, their faces covered with their chunris, wore ghagras of varied colours of red,organge yellow, blue, rich with embroidery and mirror work. Payal informed Khushi that the dance was called Ghoomar because of the way the ghagra flared up when the dancers twirled in circles. Khushi didn’t have to ask how she knew this information. Soon, the dancers came to the guests and asked them to join them in the dance. Suddenly, Payal pulled Khushi and said, ‘Come on Khushi, I will teach you the steps. I learnt it in Jaipur during the wedding.’

‘Do you think you should?’ Khushi put out a detaining hand.

‘Just this one time Khushi.’ There were dreams in Payal’s eyes. ‘It brings back so many memories.’

She was young and healthy, Khushi thought as she allowed herself to be led to the dance floor. It was wrong to wrap her in cotton wool. And she needed all the cheering up she could get.

Khushi picked up the steps in no time and was hooked. She had loved dancing since childhood. If she hadn’t had to work for a living Khushi was sure she would have pursued dancing professionally.

As she began to twirl around with fervour, wishing that she was actually wearing a ghagra, Khushi was suddenly aware, with a little shiver of unease, that someone was watching her.

The music seemed to fade to a distance, and the dancers became a blur. She realized she was shaking as she turned around to the entrance of the restaurant.

Aranv Singh Raizada was standing there, hands in his pockets. He looked taller than ever in gray trousers, and shirt in black with a soft, silky sheen. Across the space that divided them, his dark eyes met hers in a direct challenge she felt down to her bones, then switched quite deliberately to where Payal was dancing, her face shining with animation.

Khushi saw his brows lift, and the faint contemptuous smile which twisted his mouth, as he registered the scene before him. He glanced back towards her table. Is this the innocent girl, pregnant and broken-hearted? his cynically accusing gaze demanded, louder than any words.

What was he doing here? She asked herself and the answer presented itself in the form of a woman who walked up to him. They vanished into the dark street so quickly that Khushi wondered if she had really seen him standing there.

Khushi found her heart was hammering, and her mouth suddenly dry. If he had come to see Payal, he couldn’t have chosen a worse moment. He’d be convinced now that she was just another silly, pretty bimbo hell-bent on a good time. She could have screamed in frustration.

The music ended , and Payal returned glowing. 

‘That was wonderful,’ she said. ‘Akash loved to watch me dance.’ She gave her sister a quick hug. ‘Everything is going to alright Khushi. I know.’

Hey Devi Maiyya, I just hope Payalis right, thought Khushi as she returned her hug quietly.

The next morning, Khushi walked up the slope of the road leading to Dr Manav’s clinic.

To her relief, Payal had not persisted on her initial offer to tag along, agreeing to meet up with her later.

Khushi had a very restless sleep the previous night and the aches and pains due the accident was only part of the reason. She was worried about the conversation she had with Arnav and wondered what she would do if the doctor refused to help her out.

Dr Manav was obviously a friend of the family and might think like Arnav, that Payal was a minor problem, easily brushed aside.

She sighed as she walked along the crowded pavement, where shops displays overflowed into the open air. She found herself edging round stands of beautifully woven fabrics in bring colours, cascades of embroidered lines and wall hangings. She promised herself she would come back here another time but right now she didn’t have another minute to spare.

Khushi remembered how people had reacted when she had mentioned the Raizadas. Arnav Singh Raizada was not only a wealthy man, but also seemed to belong to a well-known, powerful family ---- maybe even a royal link going by the painting she had seen at the haveli.  And she and Payal were outsiders. She couldn’t forget that for a minute.

Nor could she forget the heat of his body as he had held her against himself – nor, more fundamentally, his parting warning. For her own peace of mind, she should keep out of Arnav’s way, and common sense suggested a strategic retreat back to Delhi.

But, in spite of her personal misgivings, it was Payal’s interests she had to consider, and those of her unborn child. Payal had come to Bikaner to be reunited with the man she loved.

And I have promised to help, she thought. I can’t go back on that now simply because Arnav Singh Raizada alarms and disturbs me.

When Khushi reached her destination, she realized the clinic was a beautiful old stone building, with arched Georgian windows. She entered the clinic to find herself in an immaculately clean waiting room. She went up to the receptionist and told her that Dr Manav had asked her to come in today. She was immediately ushered to his office.

Khushi knocked on the door which had the nameplate “Dr ManavSolanki” written on it.

‘Come in.’ came a voice from the inside.

Khushi opened the door and walked in. She saw that it did not look like a regular doctor’s office. This room was bright with natural light and airy as there were wide french doors opening into a beautiful garden.

‘This buildingwas a British government office before independence.’ Dr Manav explained at Khushi’s awed look.

‘You seemed to have chosen the loveliest room.’ Khushi gaped with open delight at the lawn, where water flowed from a beautiful fountain. Surrounding the fountain were shrubs of a plant with the gorgeous pink flowers she had seen at the haveli.

‘Sit down, Khushiji. How are you feeling today?Any fever or headache?’

‘I am fine Dr Manav, except for some soreness. I don’t really need antibiotics.’ She paused. ‘But I would like to talk to you about something else.’

‘Sure, how can I help you?’ he asked pleasantly.

Khushi took a deep breath. ‘I want to ask you about Akashji’s amnesia,’ she said carefully. ‘I think you might have an idea about why my sister and I have come here.’

‘Well, the matter had been mentioned.’ The doctor’s face was devoid of expression.

‘I am here to request you to help me Dr Manav. Can you please tell how long it will take for Akashji to come out of his amnesia?’

He shook his head. ‘This is a very tricky question Khushiji. I don’t think I can answer it easily.’

‘Please Dr Manav,’ pleaded Khushi tears welling up in her eyes. ‘My sister is going to have his baby.’

‘Alright,’ he paused for a few seconds before continuing, ‘Luckily, Akash has Transient Global Amnesia or what is commonly known as temporary amnesia.A person in this condition remembers who he is and the people he knows very well, but is unable to remember recent events that happened a day, month or even a year ago.

‘It is a seemingly harmless condition which is unlikely to occur again. These episodes are short-lived but it is difficult to say when he will get back his memory. But I have seen cases where a jog to the memory can restore it suddenly and completely.’

‘Do you think that seeing my sister again could be just the jolt he needs?’ she asked excitedly.

Manav hesitated before he answered, ‘It is a possibility.’

‘Could you please arrange for them to meet Dr Manav?’ she asked hopefully.

‘I am sorry Khushiji,’ said Dr Manav his face grim. ‘Arnav has given strict orders not to let you or your sister anywhere near the haveli.’

‘This is heights of tyranny!’ Khushi exclaimed emphatically. ‘Just because he is rich doesn’t give him a right to rule people!’

‘Khushiji!’ Dr Manav was shocked at Khushi’s reaction. ‘You shouldn’t say that. You don’t understand. Arnav had to take responsibility of his family and business at a very young age. He was just 22 when his parents died in an accident along with Akash’s father, his maternal uncle.’

‘Well even I was young when my parents died,’ said Khushi, ‘and I didn’t have family money to fall back on,’ she added bitterly.

‘There was no family money here either Khushiji. Arnav’s father was so deep in debt that they had to sell the haveli and move back to Delhi. The factory had to be shut down. Arnav started AR industries from scratch and within a year made so much profit that he bought back this haveli by paying two times its value. He then revived the factory back to its former glory.’

‘Looks like lady luck has always been on his side, hasn’t she?’ Khushi grated in frustration.

Dr Manav continued. ‘Since the accident, Akash has always looked up to him as a father figure. Naturally, Arnav is very protective of him.’ He paused, looking uncomfortable. ‘Maybe he is trying to keep him from making mistakes that he knows will lead to unhappiness.’

‘I am sure the mighty Arnav Singh Raizadahas never put a wrong foot in his life.’ Khushi said bitterly. ‘He is probably Mr Perfect personified.’

The doctor shook his head. ‘Not really Khushiji,’ he corrected gently. ‘The loss of his parents and the subsequent death of his fiancée a week before the wedding---- all these were tragedies he has had to cope with. And they have left their mark, I think.’

Khushi gasped. ‘His fiancée died?’ she whispered. It was the last thing she’d expected to hear. She bit her lip, remembering how she had accused him of being without a heart --- without feeling. Clearly that had not been true --- once upon a time. But shouldn’t that make him more understanding of Payal and Akash…

She said, ‘Couldn’t you talk to him from a medical point of view Dr Manav? Convince him that letting Payal see Akash would be worth trying at least? It is equally important to both of them.’

‘I will give it a try Khushiji,’ he conceded. ‘But I will not guarantee anything. Arnav is my friend---- and a friend to everyone here.’ He gestured around him wryly. ‘He funded this clinic at his own expense. But, like his father and grandfather before him, he is an autocrat. His word has always been law, and he expects no argument with his decisions.’

‘Khushi got up. ‘Then it is high time there was,’ she returned crisply.

His brows rose. ‘You are a brave woman, Khushiji.’  Dr Manav’s phone rang and he excused himself as he walked away from her to talk in private. She heard him speak in low tones before he rang off.

He said, ‘There is an emergency I need to attend to Khushiji.’ He paused looking slightly embarrassed. ‘You will have to excuse me. Please have some tea before you leave.’

‘Please don’t trouble yourself Dr Manav.’ Khushi hesitated.

‘It’s no trouble Khushiji, I will have someone bring it in.’ The door closed behind him.

Khushi walked over to the French door and looked out in the garden. The sun warmed scent of the pink flowers, carried on the faint breeze, seemed to fill the room. Their fragrance and colour caught at her throat --- lifted her heart.

I was right to come here she thought. He had made no promises, but at least he had given out a glimmer of hope.

She heard the door behind her open again.

She said, ‘Dr Manav, I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for your help. I am sure between us, we can persuade Arnavji to change his mind.’

‘I wouldn’t count on it.’ The silken mockery of an all too familiar voice assailed her ears.

For a moment Khushi stood, frozen to the spot, then slowly she turned and looked across the shadows of the room to the tall man who stood by the door way. Blocking, she realized her escape route.

‘Good morning, Khushi Kumari Gupta,’ said Arnav Singh Raizada, and smiled at her.