Part 11 

NK was stunned, hearing his grandfather's friend's name...ARJUN who resembled Arnav. So, the man who Khushi is calling in her dream is none other than Arnav? But how?

"Dad, who is Arjun? Could you please tell me about him?"

"He is a terrorist" Shivshankar chuckled.

"Terrorist?" NK asked shockingly.

"For the British Government... he is a freedom fighter. My father also wanted to take part in the Indian freedom struggle but he was not allowed. My grandparents were scared of the British. My father was heartbroken as he couldn't take part in the freedom struggle. But Arjun couldn't be stopped by anyone. He was not ready to listen to anyone's advice on this matter. He eloped from his house."

"Where is he? I never saw his family in our village?"

"It's because he is no more."

"Did he die in the freedom struggle?"

"I would be happy if it had happened... but he died by a filthy man's ploy"

"What do you mean?"

"It was a big love story"

"Love story? Did he love someone? Who he loved?" NK asked curiously.

"Yes, Love can hit anyone no matter how strong he is. Arjun also loved a girl very deeply. Her name is Khushboo."

"Khushboo...? Was she our village?"

"Yes..."

"After Arjun's death, what happened to her?"

"She also died with Arjun"

"Dad, when will you come to our village?"

"Why?"

"I want to know about Arjun and Khushboo"

Shivshankar chuckled.

"Do you want to know their love story?"

"No... I want to know how they died."

"They were killed"

"Who killed them?"

"Karan Singh"

"Who is he?"

"He was also one of our villagers... but why do you ask about them all of a sudden?"

"Dad, you will get shocked if I say something"

"What's that?"

"An archeologist named Arnav resembles Arjun. Arnav is frequently getting blurred dreams about Khushboo and Arjun. And more to your surprise, the young man met Arjun two days ago"

"Whattttt! The young man met him?" he was really shocked because he knew the young man won't meet anyone easily... or without reason.

"Yes, Dad...I'm suspecting that he is Arjun in the previous birth"

"I can't believe this" his tone was feeble.

"You will... you will believe if you meet him once"

"Ok... I will come to the village this weekend"

"Ok dad"

They disconnected the call. NK was so surprised. He felt something is getting cleared. At the same time, he was not clear though.

NK's father was more surprised than NK. He was suffocating about what NK just told. His father told him about his friend proudly. Arjun was a man who couldn't be caught by the British police but he easily got caught by Khushboo. What a love story theirs is.

.........

NK was rushing toward Arnav's room with Arjun's pic. He saw Khushi entering Arnav's room with lunch. He sighed and slowed down his steps. Arnav's face brightened seeing Khushi in his place whereas she blushed, not looking at him. Aman frowned not understanding their gestures.

Khushi kept the bag and collected the vessels that she gave breakfast. She was about to leave, Arnav removed three thousand rupees from his purse hurriedly and forwarded it to Khushi. She looked at him stunningly.

"Keep this money as an advance for providing food. Ask me if it is not enough" he said with a smile.

"This is enough, as of now. I will calculate the balance amount, at the end of the month."

"Ok..." Arnav smiled again.

"Did you do any hard work Khushi?" Aman asked.

"No... I just cooked. That's all I did"

She said frowning not understanding that why he is asking her.

"Look at the bottom of your skirt, it's full of mud"

Khushi and Arnav shared a quick glance. Khushi suffocated, thinking about their pit encounter whereas Arnav was smirking at her. Though Aman couldn't understand anything he sensed something is there. He wanted to dig more about it but he stopped seeing Shyam coming from the washroom.

"How are you Khushi?" Shyam greeted her and Arnav's expression changed.

Khushi nodded yes.

"You go," Arnav said.

She again nodded yes and left the room. NK entered who was waiting for her to leave. He saw them started eating.

"Hi NK, have you had lunch?" Arnav asked.

"Going to..."

"Come and share with us," Arnav said.

"That's fine Arnav. Ma will be waiting for me"

"Ohh..."

Arnav saw him standing hesitatingly. He asked him through his eyes and NK looked at Shyam.

"Be seated... I will come"

"I will be waiting"

"Ok"

Arnav gestured him to wait. NK nodded yes. Arnav had lunch hurriedly and stood. Arnav and NK came out.

"What's the matter, NK?"

"I got to know who Arjun is"

Arnav was stunned. How does he know?

"Who?" He asked with the same stunning expression.

"Look at this"

He showed him the pic. Arnav's eyes widened, seeing the pic. He looked at NK unbelievably.

"He is my grandfather's friend. His name is Arjun"

Arnav couldn't believe that he is seeing himself in the same outfit which he saw in his dream.

"Didn't I say I had seen you before? I saw this pic long ago. That's why I couldn't remember."

"How do you know his name his Arjun?"

"I asked my father about this and he told me his name is Arjun"

"Didn't you ask him anything more?"

"Arjun was a freedom fighter"

"Then?"

"He had a love story," Nk said watching his reaction.

"Love story?"

"Yes and they died together"

"How?"

"Someone killed them, it seems"

"Who?"

"I don't know."

Arnav sighed in irritation.

"My father is coming this weekend. You can ask him anything regarding"

"Really?"

"Yes"

"Please let me know when he comes"

"Sure"

"Shall we go to the temple now?"

NK nodded yes.

They reached the temple.

"I will search for the young man" NK intentionally left the place as he knew the young man won't appear if he stays there because he may want to meet only Arnav.

Arnav stood in front of the Shivlinga and thought in his mind.

"I really don't know why I'm here...what's going on in my life...who Khushi is... how we are connected with each other is... I'm sorry to say, I don't believe God and all... it's not my mistake because I never get a chance to trust God. Let it be anything, please clear all the mystery of my life if you are true."

For the first time, Arnav hoped his prayer would be heard. He purposely sat there and closed his eyes. He purposely did that unaware of the purpose of why he is here in this village. As he expected, he saw the same scene again but clearly. Khushi fed him food lovingly. Suddenly, her face became horrified.

"Arjun... run... police are coming"

Arjun looked in the direction and saw a few cops of the BRITISH government, coming towards the temple.

"Arjun, go, they are coming"

"Ok... be careful"

"I will be"

"I love you, KHUSHBOO"

Arjun ran from there and got vanished into the forest swiftly whereas Khushboo hid inside the temple. The cops looked around the temple and left the place not finding anyone. At the same time, the pandit of the temple comes there.

"They are gone. Come out, Khushboo"

The pandit called her. Khushboo came out of the Temple bowing down.

"I'm sorry. I went inside the temple"

"Don't be sorry. God will not get angry for saving someone who is fighting for his country."

"Thank you MAHI bhaiya"

"Arjun will be safe. No one can catch him. Don't worry." Mahi smiled.

Khushboo nodded yes proudly.

"I'm leaving, bhaiya"

"Wait for a while. The police may be somewhere around the temple. I will come with you then they won't suspect you"

Khushboo nodded ok at Mahi who had BLUE EYES.

Arnav opened his eyes jerking. He looked at the Shivlinga panting hard. That means Khushi was not Khushi but Khushboo... and MAHI is none other than the young man, who has blue eyes...

To be continued...