Part3 

Arnav wanted to visit the whole village. He went towards the direction of Khushi. From the time he stepped into the village, he is not who he is. He remembered that he heard Khushi's name when he came with NK. He went towards the house. he really doesn't know why he wants to go to the house and see the girl. He cautiously looked here and there before knocking on the door of the house. He neatened himself and knocked on the door, expecting the same girl Khushi.

But to his disappointment, someone came from the room. She frowned at him.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Can I get some water?" Arnav asked. He would have asked the same if he had seen Khushi because he just planned to ask her the same.

She nodded yes and went inside the room again. He was disappointed. He thought this is Khushi's house. But she is not here but some other girl. Then where is Khushi's house?

That's when he heard a voice from behind the door.

"Is that you who came to DIG OLD THINGS?"

It was a woman's voice. He didn't know who is speaking and from where.

"Ji haan" he said.

"I know. Your voice sounds new to me. I had never heard it in this village before"

"Ohh" he said with disappointment.

Suddenly, something sparkled in his mind. What did she say? She didn't HEAR? Usually, people say I had not SEEN you in this village. But why this woman says so? Means, can't she SEE? Arnav was analyzing the woman because he didn't forget what NK said. Didn't he say Khushi's mother is BLIND?

"How do you know about me?" he asked intentionally.

"My daughter told me," She said plainly without uttering her daughter's name.

The girl who went inside came with a cruse of water.

"Yeah... someone should have told you, right? " he asked looking at her.

"My mother is talking about my sister, not about me," the girl said.

That's it.

"Ohh... maybe, she should have been there" he dragged the issue as he wants to know who her sister is.

Arnav took the water from her hand and started drinking it as slowly as possible. As he didn't expect, the woman said.

"No beta, didn't NandKishore tell you about my daughter? My daughter is the one who is going to cook for you."

Arnav stopped drinking water and spilled a winning smile. So this is Khushi's house and she is her sister. That's when he noticed a mangal sutra on her neck.

Khushi's mother said,

"Payal, ask Khushi to provide them a POT. It seems they have nothing to store water"

"Yeah... you are right aunty," Arnav said.

"Don't worry beta, Khushi will give you water POT today"

"Thank you so much" Arnav smiled.

"But you have to pay for it," Payal said smilingly.

"Sure..." Arnav said.

He looked here and there. Where is she?

"I'm leaving. Thank you for your and your daughter's help"

"Stay blessed, beta. May God help you to get succeeded in the work for which you came to this village." Khushi's mother blessed him.

Again thanking her, he came out of the place and jerked as someone was about to bang on him. Composing himself, he looked at the person and his tongue stuck inside his mouth. It's Khushi who was standing in front of him, panting hard. She should have come running.

"Aaaapppp?" she asked gulping down in her dry throat.

"I felt thirsty... so I just asked for water"

"Did you have water?"

"Yeah..."

"Ok" she was about to go, he stopped her.

"Your mother told me you will give us a POT today"

"Ohh... did she tell you?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Ok... I will give you one"

She was again tried to go, he again stopped her.

"When will you come?"

"I will come after meeting my Jeeji"

"Don't forget. we will die in thirst then" he said smilingly.

Khushi looked at him weirdly. She ran inside. Arnav heard her shouting,

"Jeejiiiii"

It seems, her sister is here to meet her. He left the place smilingly. Khushi hugged Payal.

"When did you come?"

"Just now. Your jeejaji came here to finish some work here. so he brought me with him"

"Where is my quota?"

Payal gave her a packet and it was full of Jalebis.

"Your Jeejaji will never forget to buy it for you," Payal said.

"That's my Jeejaji"

Khushi stuffed a jalebi in her mouth and fed it to Payal and Garima also.

That's when Payal said,

"Your Jeejaji came"

Khushi saw Akash getting inside.

"Is it true, Khushi?" he asked.

"What?" she frowned...

"Is it you who is going to cook for the DIGGERS?" He asked her.

"Haan... how could I leave the chance of earning money? Don't you know my cow had died last month?" she said sadly.

"But, it's a headache. You have to work hard on it. They may keep a complaint."

"They won't because they have no other choice," She said chuckling.

"I can help you if you need money"

Akash said softly.

"Not necessary Jeejaji. Why should I get money from you when I have a way to earn it on my own?"

"Am I a stranger?"

"Not at all. I will definitely take your help if needed. Who else could help us other than you Jeejaji?"

"I will be happy if you remember that all the time"

"Definitely" she smiled.

"Did your Jeeji give you Jalebis?"

"Yeah... " she showed the packet.

"Thank you, Jeejaji"

"My pleasure" Akash smiled.

"Shall we go?" Asked Payal.

"Yeah... we are leaving."

"Keep coming Jeejaji"

"Sure"

Akash and Payal left.

Akash and Payal had been married for six years. At that time, Khushi was just fourteen years. They were not blessed with a child. Akash never complaints about it, but his mother does. Akash is the only support to Khushi and Garima. But he had a bad habit. He gambles. We can see him in the village CASINO every night. He was skilled in gambling. He had earned a lot of money on gambling. But Khushi and Garima don't aware of it because Payal never told them about it.

.......

Arnav was waiting for water POT because he was thirsty. Poor him, he consoled himself, giving that excuse because he was not sure of his own mind and heart. Don't know why his mind flies... for what it flies...

How does he know that something is going to happen in his life... and that something is going to change his life upside down?

As expected, the water pot arrived at their house. but... instead of Khushi, NK brought it, making Arnav disappointed. Dinner also brought by NK only. Arnav didn't ask him anything. NK will simply say, this is a village... people are different here...

Having dinner, Arnav laid down spreading a thin bed so did Aman and Shyam.

Aman opened his eyes from his sleep feeling thirsty. He switched on the light and saw Arnav was smiling in his sleep. Aman wondered. This is the first time, Arnav is smiling... does he see any dream...? Is the dream related to the same dream which he always sees? Aman was curious. He forgot about his thirst and sat beside Arnav, looking at his face.

Suddenly Arnav's face changed. It showed nervousness. His face sweated badly. He sat on the bed jerking as usual.

"ASR... what happened?"

Arnav looked at the floor, recalling the dream.

"Did you see the same dream... same girl?"

Arnav nodded yes...

"But today, I had seen a guy with her," Arnav said.

"Was that clear?"

"NO..."

"You smiled in your sleep ASR"

"The girl fed food to a guy. They looked so happy. My heart fills with happiness, even now when I think about it."

He smiled blissfully.

"Then?" Aman asked curiously.

"Then, the girl asked the guy to run.... she shouted RUN ARJUN...."

"Means, Arjun is her boyfriend"

"Yes... I too think the same"

"But who are they? Why are they disturbing you?"

"I too don't know why the hell this is happening to me," he said gritting his teeth.

That's when Aman noticed that Shyam is not in the room. They saw him getting inside in a decent dress. He stunned seeing them up whereas Arnav and Aman became confused. Where had he been?

To be continued...