Chapter 18

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Chapter 18: Preparations

"This man really needs to read a book on Etiquettes Of Conversing. Rudeness and curtness drips from his each word. Dunno how he manages to run this huge empire with no conversation skills" Abhay thought as he disconnected the phone after his small conversation with Arnav Singh Raizada.

Abhay was here to meet Khushi and let her know that in next two days he was returning to Mumbai as his deal with AR Company had been blatantly cancelled by Arnav Singh Raizada, without any proper explanations.

All he had been told by Aman Mathur was that AR's wasn't interested in Non-Delhi companies as of now and Abhay had no reason to investigate the matter further.

There were other deals and companies waiting for him in Mumbai and thus his stay in Delhi was cut short.

As Abhay pocketed his cell phone and stepped towards the main door, he found the doors wide open.

Stepping in, Abhay threw a quick look around the beautiful hall and his eyes stopped in the direction of kitchen.

The view was obstructed and he could see Khushi standing there, talking with a man.

Intending to silently step in and surprise his Jalebi Express, Abhay further stepped inside the hall, his legs carrying him towards the kitchen. He wondered where the other Raizadas were as the hall was deserted.

His legs halted in surprise as he noticed the man holding Khushi's wrist and Khushi's face was a mixture of anger and helplessness.

Was this man misbehaving with her? The thought instantly came to Abhay's mind and he prepared himself to walk in the kitchen and smash the nose of this abhorrent guy.

Just as Abhay was to take his step further and march towards the kitchen, a voice cold as death hit his hears, undoubtedly belonging to Arnav Singh Raizada.

"Leave her" the voice said and Abhay noticed Arnav walking in the kitchen from the other side of the room.

Clearly Arnav had missed seeing Abhay who was still a few metres away from the kitchen.

~~***~~

Arnav decided to go down and inform Khushi about Abhay coming to visit the house and as he reached to the kitchen, the sight before his eyes sent strong impulses of anger down his body.

Shyam was holding Khushi's wrist and by the smile on his loathsome face, the scene was self-explanatory.

There was no way Arnav could let this man survive a second more in this house.

Walking towards Khushi in two large strides, Arnav caught Shyam by his collar and pinned him ruthlessly against the kitchen wall, in the process freeing Khushi's wrists from the tainted hold of this disgusting man.

"How dare you touch her?" Arnav poured out the words in a slow and deathly voice, his eyes ready to burn down this man into ashes.

"Saale Sahab? I thought you were not at home" came Shyam's reply in a panicking yet leering voice while Arnav tightened his hold on the collar, lifting Shyam up.

"Come on, Saale Sahab, You can't really blame me for all of this. Khushiji was the one who texted me to come here" Shyam replied in his defence, his breath now choking with the pressure Arnav was creating on his neck.

The reply took Arnav's anger to an altogether new level. How dare this vile man think he can still misguide him?

"Don't you dare to take her name with that filthy mouth of yours" Arnav's words came, dipped in acid as his hands slipped up to grab Shyam's neck.

"I am telling you Saale Sahab, Khushiji..." and before Shyam could continue, a loud and vibrating slapping sound echoed in the kitchen leaving Shyam's left cheek burning with the intensity of the slap.

"I told you not to take Khushi's name from your disgusting mouth" Arnav said, after slapping Shyam and it was then Shyam seemed to get a hint of the situation.

Does this mean Arnav trusts Khushi?

The registration of the fact in his mind allowed fear to paint his countenance and the sickly smile vanished from his face.

"Leave him, Arnavji" came Khushi's overwhelmed voice as Shyam started struggling for air.

Khushi's voice seemed to soothe away Arnav's senses and he quickly turned to Khushi, his eyes frantic with concern and possessiveness.

"Are you alright, Khushi?" He asked desperately while on the other side Shyam gasped for air, breathing heavily.

Khushi nodded to the question with tears in her eyes and Arnav's eyes relaxed though his anger still surged and coursed in his veins.

Once again turning back to Shyam, he again caught Shyam by his collar who had now gone limp with oxygen deprivation and was still recovering.

"Touch her again and I swear it will be the last..."

"CHOTE?" before Arnav could continue any further Anjali's shocked voice entered in the kitchen followed by Anjali herself.

"What are you doing with him?" Anjali asked in a heated voice and on an instinct, Arnav's hands slid down from Shyam's collar.

This was the time Abhay decided he had seen enough and he too walked in the kitchen.

"Khushi, are you okay?" He asked, joining the people in the kitchen and adding to the commotion.

Silence answered him as Khushi gave him a small glance and nodded her head in a surprised way while Arnav continued to throw daggers at Shyam.

Anjali seemed too reluctant to notice the new entry in the kitchen and now she was patting Shyam's back who was still taking in large gasps of air.

"Chote, I am asking you something. What was going on here and what is that mark on his face?" Anjali interrogated, her own eyes welling up with myriad emotions.

"I am okay, Raani Sahiba" Shyam quickly replied before Arnav could start. There was no way he was going to take chances. He surely couldn't let Arnav talk and reveal the truth so soon. Not yet. There was still a round to be played by him. He wasn't going to give up, not after this.

Arnav needed to learn a lesson and Khushi needed to be his.

"I am okay, Raani Sahiba, I really am" Shyam repeated as Anjali didn't look convinced.

"I was in the kitchen to get some water and since Khushiji was busy making coffee so I insisted upon taking the water on my own. As I opened the refrigerator, dizziness overtook me and I crashed down on the floor, hitting my cheek in the process and Khushiji got all nervous and teary seeing me in such a condition. It was then Saale sahab entered, he was just trying to help me, making me stand against the wall and asking if I am okay or not" Shyam served whatever he could cook and although Anjali didn't look very convinced he could tell the excuse did work to some extent.

"How are you feeling now?" Anjali asked, taking steps towards Shyam and holding him.

"Not well, Raani Sahiba. Please take me to the room. I can't stand any longer" Shyam said and feigned a painful look on his face as he could see Arnav was going to speak up anytime.

"I had told you not to move a lot" Anjali complained with tears pooling in her eyes.

"You should have..." She continued but Arnav's patience gave away.

The threshold of his tolerance had been met and there was no chance he was going to stand here and watch the play mutely.

"Di, we need to talk" He cut in, his voice grave but Anjali didn't seem to care as all her concentration was fixed upon Shyam.

"Not now, Chote. He needs rest. We will talk later" Anjali said as she helped Shyam, holding his hand and directing him out of the kitchen, ignoring the presence of Abhay.

"Di. It's urgent" Arnav said again, taking steps towards Anjali's retreating form but Khushi held his hand and he turned to look at her.

She still seemed affected by the whole incident, her face pale.

She needed him now and Arnav understood it.

Witnessing the moment between them, Abhay felt like an outsider and thought it best to leave for now.

As he turned to leave, Arnav addressed him.

"Abhay, you can wait in the hall. We'll join you in a while"

"No it's fine, Mr. Raizada. I just recalled some urgent work.So, I'll visit again" Abhay replied and Arnav acknowledged with a nod.

"He isn't all that bad. At least, he seems to care about Khushi" Abhay thought about Arnav on his way out of the house.

"Khushi, are you okay?" Arnav asked again, cupping her face in his hands and looking into her eyes and she nodded.

"Come, let's go in the room" He said and surprising her, scooped her in his arms.

"Arnavji, I am okay. Please put me down. I can walk" Khushi said in an embarrassed voice.

"I know you can walk, Khushi but I want to carry you in my arms" He replied in a husky voice, his eyes still brimming with the same concern and possessiveness which made her heart swell with love and pride.

"Can I?" he asked, seeking her permission and she nodded with a furious blush reaching her cheeks.

Arnav smiled seeing her reaction and his eyes automatically shifted to her hand which had gone up to his shirt's collar and fisted it.

Maintaining the eye-lock, he walked towards their room in slow steps, savouring the feel of her soft body in his arms.

It felt heavenly.

Reaching inside the room, he placed her on the bed and the smile naturally vanished as he realised this was all.

The moment was done and he sighed in disappointment before turning to leave.

His heart went crazy with loud hammering as he felt Khushi tugging at his hand, not letting go of his hand.

"No, don't hope for anything" He told himself and turned to face her Khushi, schooling his face.

He couldn't let her see his disappointment.

"You want something, Khushi?" He asked, carefully slipping his hand out of her hold.

No matter how much he tried to keep his thoughts to himself, Khushi got a glimpse of what was running in his head.

It was all in his eyes, the love, the concern, the need, the desire and the loudest was the expression of guilt in them.

It will always be there, she knew. Not until she makes a move to erase it.

But was she ready? To have all of him in her life?

She loves him; she knew that for sure but was she ready to accept whatever he was willing to offer her?

He was offering himself to her but she wasn't sure if she was yet ready for it.

It was a big decision and yet to be given a thought.

"Khushi? You need something?" Arnav asked again, disturbing her thoughts and she sensed the loss of his touch from her hands.

He was hesitant and she was hesitant too. She needed more time to come to terms with Arnav's changed feelings for her.

And she definitely needed more time to open her heart to Arnav again and let him near her. So much was happening around them. They needed to sort that first.

This can come later.

"No, nothing" Khushi replied as her thoughts reached a conclusion and she looked away from him.

"Okay. Call me if you need anything" He replied and grabbing his laptop from the recliner, headed towards the poolside.

~~***~~

"Jasmine" Shyam said with an amused face, as he smelled a bottle.

He was lying alone in his room and Anjali had gone out in the kitchen to get something for him to eat before he can have his medicines.

Shyam recalled how he had sneaked in Arnav's room when Khushi was downstairs and Arnav had been taking a bath to get hold of this Jasmine oil bottle.

The only person who owned this bottle in the house was Khushi and this bottle was now going to work miracles for Shyam.

A bit of Jasmine oil on the stairs and anyone can slip down.

And this anyone can be Anjali. Slipping down the stairs was surely going to cause a miscarriage and thus Shyam was going to be free of this unwanted burden.

Plus, there could be no better way of arousing suspicion against Khushi in everyone's mind.

"Killing two birds with one stone, a full proof plan!" Shyam thought as the malicious smile reached his face.

~~***~~

"Arnavji?" Khushi called out as she walked to the poolside to find him.

It had been two hours since he had headed to the poolside and supposedly was immersed in his work.

Khushi was surprised to find him staring into nothingness while his laptop was open.

Arnav Singh Raizada distracted from his work? This was surely something new for Khushi.

"Arnavji?" She called again and Arnav seemed to rush back into the reality with a perplexed face to find Khushi towering before him as he sat in the chair.

"You need something, Khushi? Sorry, I was just.." Arnav said, getting up from the chair and looking at her affectionately.

"No, I don't need anything, Arnavji. It's evening now. You should eat something" Khushi replied.

"Oh okay" Arnav replied as if in daze.

"Are you okay, Arnavji? You look distracted" Khushi said with concern.

"I would be fine if I can get another of your warm hugs, Khushi" Arnav said, quickly regretting it. He shouldn't demand such things from Khushi.

He needs to give her time like she had asked.

"Arnavji, you don't need to ask that" Khushi answered with a soft smile and bridging the gap, hugged him again, feeling overwhelmed at his demand.

They were getting better at it and she knew it.

Even though slowly, but they were steadily making progress towards a better, happy and understanding future.

"Khushi" Arnav murmured in her hair, once again feeling blessed with the proximity.

"Hmm?" Khushi replied, her hands around his neck while he securely held her waist.

"Can we go out today? For dinner?" he asked and felt Khushi stiffen in his arms for a second before she relaxed again.

"I would have loved to go out, Arnavji but I think not tonight. I need to be around Di and take care of her" Khushi replied, feeling sad for refusing but her reason was genuine.

After today's encounter in the Kitchen, she had realised that Anjali was deprived of the attention she needed.

Shyam was, by any mean, not a good husband and even Arnav had been avoiding her. So, Khushi wanted to spend some time with Anjali and to have some knowledge of what was Anjali was going through so that Khushi can make her feel better.

Being the Khushi she had always been, she was more concerned about Anjali than herself.

In between all that was happening she knew it was Anjali who was going to suffer the most and Khushi wanted to be with her as much as she can.

On the other side, hearing Khushi's refusal Arnav realised he had been expecting it.

He had somehow had the faint idea that she wasn't going to agree but that didn't help him feel any better.

"Okay" He replied, carefully concealing the let-down to not be evident in his voice.

"I need to go now" Khushi replied and pulling back from the hug, left the room.

As Khushi deserted the room, Arnav's mind started working in ASR mode.

What if Khushi can't go out with him? He can anytime arrange a dinner at home.

Yes, he will. This was high time for him to openly show his love and affection for her.

A candle light dinner, he decided and smiled in satisfaction.

_____________________________________

A/N: To all those who think the story is running slow and commented so, friends I don't think so. For me the story is doing fine and also one thing I would like to clear here is that now I am totally REWRITING this story. The chapters from now on will be different from the original version of this story (they already are so far).

Also those who aren't liking the character of Abhay, he is not a bad person just nosy at times. And it's him who's going to give the last push Khushi needs to accept the present Arnav whole-heartedly. How and when would that be, will be explained in coming chapters.

And yes Shyam is going to execute his plan real soon but it's working or not, we'll see.

-Kiran

Pearl_Oyster2014-01-14 07:20:14