Chapter 9

To say that Khushi was confused would be an understatement. One fine day she wakes up and finds Arnavji back on her case. No, not like earlier where he had issues with her, but on an entirely new topic. Her career. He was okay till the night before. Encouraging her to take household responsibilities easy and not take stress, and the very next day he wants her to leave EVERYTHING and concentrate on her studies. Do I look that tired and worn out? she wondered. May be during the night he thought over it and concluded that she will not be not able to take the work load. She'll make him understand that she likes doing it. It may be normal for him as he had grown up in a family environment, but for her its all new. She is relishing every moment of it no matter how tiring it is. And with him and herself on good terms , this experience is getting even better. 

She had anyways decided that she'll appear for her exams after a year or two. She wanted to give Adit and Adya her undivided attention right now. They were at there cutest best and she wanted to enjoy this phase of their lives with them. Also this was the time when they needed her. Later on they'll have their own friends and school. She can not let go of this time. But who will make Arnavji understand this. He wants to appoint a nanny for the kids and make her study. He is a very career oriented and focused man and she commends that, but why this sudden hurry? Her career is not running away anywhere. She loves doing what she is doing at present. In fact when she left the babies after bhai and bhabhi's death she was very sad. Now that she is here, she's loving being a part of her little niece and nephew's life. Right now she would not want to trade it for the world. She'll have to make him see her point of view. 

Over the years Arnav has mastered the art of believing what he wants to believe and nothing else. Earlier he made himself believe that Khushi could be a gold digger, and hence did all he could to keep her away from his family. And later learned the hard way that he was wrong. This time around he was trying to convince himself that he wants to support Khushi in her career and nothing else. And was trying hard to ignore the things which he was not ready to accpet yet. Just as yet. 

He was ignoring that HE LIKED having her around. He was ignoring that he looks forward to coming home to a waiting Khushi and her dinner these days. He was ignoring that listening to her talk about her day, Adit and Adya, naniji, Prakash brothers, actually anything under the sun relieves him of all the stress of his day. The way she makes an interesting story out of most mundane things always makes his heart smile. He was absolutely ignoring that after a long time, he is living like a person of his age should live, with her. Ignoring all this, he had told himself that he does not want Khushi getting married because it's only right that she concentrates on her career, and was clutching dear to this theory with all his might. He was afraid to think that it could have something to do with his not wanting to let her go, from the Raizada mansion, from his life.

And it irked him to no end that Khushi was not very receptive to his idea of filling the exam forms at the earliest. When he brought up the topic on breakfast table and at dinner time again yesterday, she seemed more interested in talking about the new diabetic recipe that she had tried or Adit's cute attempts to start walking. He then stressed his point in a stern voice and all she said was that she'll think about it, she needs time. THINK WHAT? TIME, WHY? Is it so difficult to understand that career is important? She can play with the kids all she likes, cook to her hearts content and pamper nani as much as she wants for the rest of her life. Right now she should leave everything else and divert her mind towards her studies. She'll need at least two- three years to complete her chartered accountancy. Hope she is not thinking of getting married before that. He will NOT LET THAT HAPPEN. If she is so careless, he'll safeguard her interests.

Never in his wildest dreams did he see this coming. Him stressing over her possible wedding and trying to chalk out her future plans? When did things change so much? When the heck did HE change so much? 

Khushi had to herself bring up the topic of her resuming studies on the dining table that night. Primarily because Arnav wasn't responding to any other topic of conversation. Tired of his absent minded hmmm's she geared up to tell him her decision and get over with it. And the way his attention came rushing back to the dining table at the mention of her exams, she just knew that he will not let go of the matter easily.

'Arnavji, I think I'll wait for a year before appearing for exams. Adit and Adya will goto play school by then and I can concentrate on my studies. I don't want to appear for exams unprepared right now'  she declared.

'Why would you be unprepared? What happened to keeping a nanny to take care of them? You can study and keep an eye on her. And please don't mention kitchen and cooking, we have so many servants to take care of that'  Arnav retorted.

'Which you don't touch. Anyways you'll still be held accountable for the kids. Nanny will just help you. I know what I am doing here'  he was well prepared for this particular question.

'How does he know that I don't use that salary money?'  she wondered quietly. Khushi was managing her expenses on the monthly amount that Shyam bhai has provisioned for her untill she turns 25. It was not a huge sum like the one Arnavji was depositing in bank in the name of her salary, but it was enough and not-to-forget acceptable for her.

'Other plans? Apart from Adit and Adya? I do want to be a professional and work in a good company some day. But not right now. It can wait.'  she said oblivious to Arnav's plight.

'But I am utilizing my time. In fact naniji also agrees that I should learn how to manage a home and do basic homely stuff. You know, I don't know all that. She said that also is very important in life, and I enjoy doing it too'  she pleaded her case.

'I said that it should be YOU who should be thinking about your career and not ME. Everything is under control in the house and if you are even a little serious about your future then its the right time to pay attention to it'  he said with so much conviction that it got Khushi thinking.

So it was decided that Khushi will fill up the exam form to get next available slot. But if she thinks that Adit Adya or naniji's care is suffering due to her studies, she'll retrieve her enrollment and sit for exams next year. Arnav could not talk her out of this, so he agreed. Had it been in his control, he would have made her sign a stamp paper saying that she will not get married before clearing all her papers and groups. Instead he settled for the next best available option, Khushi diverting her attention towards studies from than the damned marriage business. She can't possibly take care of twins AND nani AND study AND then get time to pursue any matrimonial endeavors. Was she even thinking about it? Or was it just nani who thought that she would be interested in marriage? Whatever it was, Khushi will fill the exam form and get busy now. And he was at peace for the first time in last two days.

Khushi was the only person that Arnav Singh Raizada has befriended in years. He was a loner. During his school days the stigma of his family scandal made him crawl into a shell of his own. And during college he was taking care of business side by side. He could not attend college regularly, let alone making friends. In business world people are not your friend because they like you, they are your friend because of your wealth and power, for the profit you can bring them. And he would be considered a gold mine of a friend in that case. So he had always stayed clear of such give and take friendships. Khushi was like a breath of fresh air after years and years in his life. No hidden agenda, no selfish expectations, intelligent and witty, caring and pretty. Agreed he took a long time to realize it, but now that he has, he values her a lot. And he was trying to tell himself that this 'friendship' was the reason that he does not want to let her go.