Chapter 7

Arnav Singh Raizada was a man of few words. And if you discount the words spoken at work and words spoken in anger, he was as good as mute. He was not very good at casual conversations even with his di and nani, so trying to draw Khushi into a casual chit chat looked harder than climbing Mount Everest to him. And the girl in question was not making matters easy either. She was visibly reluctant and uncomfortable whenever he tried to enforce his new found 'acquaintance' on her. If it would have been any other man, he would have backed out from this endeavor of his after seeing such rejection of his efforts. But he was not any other man and he hasn't become what he was today by fearing rejection. When he had taken control of Raizada Group of Companies at the age of 18, he had faced a very public rejection worth a lifetime from the business world. He was written off brutally and has practically risen from ashes. Now at 28, rejection was the least of his worries in any walk of life. 

Arnav was used to getting his way by hook or crook, by money or charm, whatever works. But frustratingly nothing was working on this 5 feet 5 inch ALWAYS trying to walk away and NOT talking female called Khushi Jha. He knew he would not be her first choice for BFF kind of a relation but still, why can't she talk to him. It's not that she does not know how to talk. And yes they had their share of misunderstandings, and he was a bit rude to her, but isn't he trying to mend things now? It was not as if he had done some physical harm to her. She is way better off than his employees in office. Don't they talk to him? In fact he should introduce her to his executive assistant Aman, then she'll know that he had been quite decent with her. So what if he had doubts about her, its a free country last time he checked and he is entitled to have his opinion. And is he not trying to set things straight now? If only she would co-operate a little.

It was Adit and Adya's first birthday today. There were not going to be any celebrations because of the loss family has recently faced. But there was a havan and pooja organised by nani for the well being of kids. And the birthday boy and birthday girl were looking very cute in their little ethnic attires. Khushi had dressed Adya up in a little pink ghaghra choli and Adit in blue dhoti kurta. Definitly uncomfortable, but enjoying the attention, twins were radiant today. And in the hearts of heart, Arnav knew that he has Khushi to thank for it. Had they been left to the nannies, his niece and nephew would be sick and problematic kids. It was the motherly love and care they've been receiving from their bua that they are healthy happy and giggling. It strengthened his resolve to improve things between him and Khushi at the earliest.

As expected, twins did not enjoy the idea of havan as much as naniji. It was getting impossible for them to sit straight in front of so many colorful things that could be eaten or kicked. Arnav who was sitting in pooja, with both toddlers sitting on his lap on either side, was having a very hard time controlling them. And when Adit  seemed hell bent on exploring the yellow-orangish blazing thing called fire in front of him, Khushi had to intervene.

'Arnavji, give Adya to me and please keep Adit strongly strapped in your hands' she said.

'But isn't the pooja for both of them? Shouldn't Adya be sitting here as well? And it's Adit who is jumping out of my hold every other second, take him instead' Arnav offered the trouble baby to Khushi with hopeful eyes.

'No, you keep Adit with yourself. I'l make Adya sit here quitely. She listens to me better than that explorer of all things dangerous' Khushi explained.

'Oh! Okay' he muttered and handed Adya to her instead.

Other than Adya's consistent attempts to gag herself by stuffing her little mouth with her colorful dupatta, all went well. Adit stayed put in strong hold of Arnav. Naniji was exhausted by the end of it and was getting very emotional remembering Anjali and Shyam, so Arnav gave her blood pressure medicines and took her into the room to take rest. By afternoon Arnav and Khushi were running around taking care of kids, guests, panditji, wrapping up of pooja stuff and were behaving like a team. And for once Arnav did not have an issue with that. With nani unwell and emotions running quite high due to di and jiju's absence he was glad that he had help. Naniji had wanted to take the kids to mandir later in the day for blessings, and now that responsibility too had come on Arnav's shoulders. But with two toddlers tagging along, Arnav could not manage alone even if he took the driver with him.

So naniji called Khushi to her room and asked her to accompany them to mandir, and by the smirking look on Arnav's face, who was standing there, it looked like that was his suggestion. Only Khushi and the Gods in the heaven up above knew how she stopped the instant NO that was dying to come out from her mouth. It was not that Khushi was afraid to go with Arnav, but she was still  baffled by his new avatar. On the other hand, she did not want to rebuff his yet another attempt towards getting along together. She was tired of acting indifferent when all she wanted was to have a normal life and feel accepted. And the olive branch that Arnav was extending seems like a very good option. What will happen at the most, she thought, he'll go back to his previous behavior. Wasn't it something that she had handled for quite a while? And she can do it in future again if the need be. So at that very moment she decided to live in present and take whatever was coming her way in its own stride.

While the driver drove to mandir, Arnav sat with Adya perched on his lap and Khushi had Adit on hers, in the backseat. Adit was sleepy and clinging to Khushi and she was stroking his hair while trying to make him comfortable, while Arnav was trying to wrestle a chocolate out of Adya's mouth that she was trying to swallow along with its wrapper. The four of them made a very cute picture together. Out of the blue, just like that a voice in Arnav's head whispered 'It's nice to have someone share my responsibilities with me'. But he snapped out of that thought as soon as it came into his mind. This woman refuses to talk to me beyond 2 minutes at a stretch and she'll share my responsibilities. Huh. 

He was always alone, responsible for everybody around him. His mother left him at 10 years of age in charge of his own homework and meals, not to forget an emotionally shattered sister. His nanaji left him in charge of Raizada Empire alongwith di and nani at the tender age of 17. And now di has left him in charge of Adit and Adya. He has been doing this responsibility stuff since the time when he was a minor in the eyes of law, certified irresponsible to even have a glass of beer by himself or drive unsupervised. He had been a responsible person when he was supposed to be a brat enjoying his adolescence. Now he is in a habit of dealing with responsibilities alone, and does not need anyone to share them. All he wants is a good care for his niece and nephew, and Khushi seems willing to do that. He just has to make sure that due to their past equation he does not drive her away, and he'll do that by making her comfortable with himself. End of story. Nothing more nothing less.

If only that would be the end of story. If only!