Chapter 17

While  walking towards Akash and Khushi, Arnav made a call. He did not want to play games with Khushi, but did some wise man not say that all is fair in love and war. And for him it was both, love with one and war with the other person sitting in the living room, well kind of.  

Akash noticed him first, when he reached the sitting area after a while.

'Good Evening ASR'  he greeted.

'Good evening Akash. What brings you here today?'  he feigned innocence.

'Just came to say hello to Khushi'  Akash replied looking smilingly at her.

'And to invite me over to his place for dinner'  Khushi supplied as Akash grinned sheepishly.

'Oh, his place? Are you cooking Akash? You must be a really good cook to invite friends over'  Arnav tried to keep bitterness at bay, but failed miserably.

'My mom is a good cook, not me'  Akash replied as a matter of fact.

'Is it okay if I go tomorrow evening Arnavji? I'll ask Savita to stay over till late for Adit and Adya'  Khushi intervened.

'I have no fix time to come home these days Khushi. You think kids will manage without either of us?'  the domesticity of the question wasn't lost on Akash.

'Don't worry Arnavji. They will be okay. And I can come back anytime if there is a problem. Akash will drop me back. Right Akash?'  the uneasiness Akash was feeling considerably lessened at seeing Khushi's inclination to carry on with the plan.

Before Arnav or Akash could reply, Akash's phone rang, and he excused himself to attend that. Arnav too fished out blackberry from his pocket and got busy with official emails, lest Khushi starts elaborating on her plans for dinner with Akash and family, making him more angry than he already was. Akash came back to the sitting area a few minutes later with a very sad face. Khushi immediately inquired the reason in a concerned tone, irritating Arnav some more.

'Khushi, I think we'll have to postpone the dinner plans'  he said gloomily.

'I hope everything is alright'  Khushi asked.

'Yeah. Everything is okay. It's just that I have to go out of town tomorrow early morning for some legal issues with a deal, and it'll be a long trip '  he replied.

'Long? It's just ten freaking days'  Arnav grumbled in his mind remembering his instructions to Aman.

'No problem Akash. Work is important'  Khushi smiled.

'I'll call you as soon as I am back'  Akash promised.

Khushi nodded in approval and Arnav winced at the prospect. Aksah left after ASR made a few inquiries about the deal issue for the sake of pretence. 

'I'll set things straight in these exact ten days'  Arnav decided as he watched Khushi seeing Akash off the main door.

Arnav Singh Raizada had his share of affairs in life, but he was no Casanova. If he would have spent his time dating and dumping the number of women media claims he did, there would have been no business left standing to run, by the end of it. His trust issues never let the affairs turn into anything serious. He got rid of women before they could figure out the emotionally insecure man behind the facade of ASR. And the irony of fate was such that the girl he was most sure about being not trustworthy, won his trust in the end. And he has no one but himself to blame for her disinterest in looking at him as more than a friend. Had he not been so rude and aloof to her, he was sure that he would not have to agonize over broaching the subject of his changed feelings towards her.  'Now all Khushi sees is a man who did not trust her until it hit him in his face'  rued Arnav.

'No use crying over spilt milk'  he reminded himself and diverted his mind to task at hand, namely asking Khushi out for dinner, first step of wooing as per convention.

    

As Khushi came back to the living room and sat beside him, he cleared his throat and grabbed her attention. 

'So no dinner plans for tomorrow now?'  he started.

'Nope. Just you and me, as usual'  she answered.

'Is that a bad thing, just you and me as usual?'  he retorted a little hurt.

'Usual is not always bad Arnavji. It signifies stability. Who other than us would value stability more in life? And you and me as usual is good, very good'  she put his mind at rest with this.

'Okay then. Let's make this very good into excellent. Allow me to take you out for dinner tomorrow'  he made a move.

'Its okay Arnavji. I am not THAT disheartened with cancellation of plans. You don't have to do this'  she giggled.

'Then how disheartened are you?'  his voice unknowingly turned cold.

'A little. I was on my own always, and no one invited me to such family dinners. I missed such small things that come along with being  a part of a family. Just wanted to experience it. And Akash being a friend, I would have been comfortable with his family'  she replied honestly, not noticing the chill of his voice seeping up into his eyes.

Family. Akash Roy can give her a family that she always wanted, she always missed in her life. Family. One thing he can not give her in spite being the richest man around. A mother, a father, sister, brother-in-law, nani, nanaji, NOTHING. He has nothing to offer her. The very thought dejected him to the core. He felt so helpless, that while he can offer her the world, her heart desires one lone thing that is out of his control. His mind suddenly shut down. It was a painful truth of his life and he was not going to touch that raw nerve. He stood up abruptly, feeling suffocated. But as if on a cue of destiny, Adit came wobbling out of nowhere and latched himself to his legs. He looked down at the toddler and then hoisted him up in his arms.

'Oh is my baby done playing? Are you hungry? Let me get you your dinner Shona. Don't trouble uncle till I come, he has just come from office'  he heard Khushi say, and saw her ruffle Adit's hair lovingly while passing them as she made her way into the kitchen.

As Arnav looked at the tired baby in his arms, he had an epiphany. Akash Roy may have the best family in the world but he has Khushi's only family with him. Obviously Khushi realizes that if she marries and goes away, she'll have to leave Adit and Adya behind, doesn't she? He might not be sure of her feelings towards himself, but kids, he can bet his life on the fact that she loves them to death. And he is the one with legal relationship with them. So in order to have kids in her life, she'll have to keep him in her life too, forever. Now he'll just have to make this living arrangement permanent. Why the hell he never gave a thought to it from this angle?

He would have liked Khushi to come in his life for him and not any other reason. But right now, with his inability to verbalize his feelings, Khushi's 'only friends' attitude and his insecurity of loosing her to someone else, he was ready to grope at any lifeline life throws at him. Where he has done so many manipulations to keep her close, one more won't hurt. In fact it will help things get into order. She will be open to have a proper family no doubt.  And if she wants to make Adit- Adya legally hers, she'll have to marry him. That is only way she can have any legal right over them. And he will have to use this card. 

'But are YOU ready for marriage?'  a voice asked in his mind.

'Well, I want her to stay with me for life, I like her, I trust her, she is the closest friend I have. What else do I need in a wife?'  he questioned.

'Love. Do you love her?'  the voice asked back.

'Do I?'  he asked confused.

'She is the best thing that has happened to you, you fool. Who the hell are you kidding? You are head-over-heels crazy about her'  the voice stated, bringing the second epiphany of the day to Arnav Singh Raizada. 

'Hmmm ... I ... LOVE ... HER'  his smile widened slowly.  'Ofcourse, what else'  he shook his head  at his own ignorance. 'I freaking love her'.

'What a day! Everyone is asking me out for dinner. Was Arnavji even serious?'  Khushi wondered while preparing Adit's dinner in the kitchen.

'There is always a silver lining. This trip will buy me time to give hints about Khushi to Maa . It will be better that way'  Akash thought while driving back home.

'Before ten days are over, you'll be committed to me Khushi Jha. Come what may'  swore Arnav to himself.