Chapter 18

Khushi waited for Hariprakash to open the door when the door bell rang. She had just sat with her books after lunch, preparing for her exams 2 months away. But when the bell rang for the third time, she sighed and got up to attend the door. 

'Where is Hariprakashji?'  she muttered while opening the door.

She saw a huge bouquet of assorted exotic flowers in front of her and an unknown man holding it.

'Miss Khushi Jha?'  he asked.

'Yes, that would be me'  she replied looking skeptically at the bouquet.

'This is for you madam. Please sign here'  he forwarded the flowers and and a receipt book.

'Are you sure you have the right address?' she asked not sure that the flowers were for her.

'Madam there is only one Raizada Mansion in Golf Links area. Please sign here'  he replied in a professional tone.

Khushi signed and received the flowers. Wow, no one ever sent her flowers ever, she grinned. Seeing it in the movies is one thing, but the actual feeling of being the recipient was overwhelming. She spotted a card attached with the bouquet, and plucked it out.

'Does dinner at 7 with me sounds like a good idea?  Arnav.'  it read.

'He was SERIOUS yesterday?' was Khushi's first thought when she read it. When Arnavji did not mention anything about it on dining table last night she thought he was just trying to be nice to her when he offered to take her out for dinner. Looks like that was not the case. He meant what he said. Well, she should have known. He does not repeat things and is generally serious about promises he make. Isn't that what has made her trust him again, she smiled.

When in past Arnavji said that he did not want her in his sister's life, he meant it then. And today when he says that she is family, he means it now. He never gives false hopes, does he?

She was happy that they've come such along way from their awkward past. But really he does not have to do this dinner thing. She was already over the disappointment of yesterday. Such a trivial thing and Arnavji is still trying to make her feel better. She dialed the phone to call Arnavji, and he picked up in the first ring.

'Looks like you have got the invitation'  he smiled as he talked into his cell phone.

'Yes. And flowers are lovely. Thank you'  she replied smiling.

'So, I shall pick you up at 7 then'  he said.

'Arnavji, you really don't have to do this'  she assured.

'Why? Any problem?' he inquired.

'No. No problem. But we two anyways dine together, why go outside to eat? And then we'll have to leave kids alone too'  she put her thoughts forward.

'Were kids not going to be alone when you were going with Akash?'  his voice turned dangerously low.

'Yeah. But ... I mean ...  there is really no need'  she fumbled.

Arnav's face hardened hearing this. 

'Fine then, I'll see at home'  he replied in a clipped tone.

'Listen Arnavji. Hello! You there Arnavji?'  she spoke into the receiver.

'Yes'  came the monosyllable.

'Are you upset with me?'  she asked cautiously.

'Do I have the right to be upset with you? No. So I am not. Bye'  he disconnected.

'Great. You should give classes on how to mess things up Khushi Jha' she slapped her forehead, angry with herself.

She stared at the phone in her hand. So much for not wanting to trouble him. Calling him back was a bad idea in her experience. He is angry and in anger he will say things he does not mean, hurting her and himself too. 'Why did I mess up his perfect mood?'  she cringed . She did not like Arnavji angry, depressed or stressed. He should always be happy, at peace, smiling his half smile and arguing with her like a grumpy 6 year old, she thought with a tender smile playing on her face.

At 7:30 in the evening, Arnav made his way out of his office. He had been in a very bad mood today and all his staff has been a witness to that. 'Khushi will never understand what I want her to understand, will she?'  he thought. Where was he wrong when he thought that she'll stay with him only for kids? She does not seem to entertain the idea of spending even one evening with just him easily. And with Akash she was hell bent on going. Does she have feelings for him?  The thought angered and saddened him simultaneously. Well no body is tying her up and getting her married. She will have the liberty to choose. 

And he will make sure that she chooses him, anyhow, the ASR in him bargained.

As he moved towards his car in the parking, he spotted something, rather someone, standing near the vehicle, someone wearing red. A girl. Nearing his car he realized that the girl is none other than Khushi. She was smiling at him. His heart skipped a few beats, but sobered up instantly. 'Hallucinating now, Am I?'  he shook his head. He again looked at the figure standing in front of him, and found her waving at him. Now his pace slowed down considerably. 'Do mental images wave THIS enthusiastically and jump? And do they shiver instead of flowing their duappatas in air?'  he contemplated.  Well, if the answer is no, then it is indeed Khushi in front of his car, in his office parking lot, adorned in red, shivering in cold Delhi winter evening, smiling and waving at him.

'What are you doing here?'  he asked her confused.

'Waiting for you'  she smiled.

'Why? Outside office? Is everything okay? Adit Adya okay? Why did you not call me? And why are you outside in this cold? Have Adit Adya come with you?'  he fired series of question, looking around expecting toddlers to appear at any moment.

'Arnavjiii! Everything is fine. And babies are at home absolutely fine. I thought we were going for dinner, that's why I am here. Did you forget?'  she replied.

'But you said you did not want to go'  he frowned.

'Wrong. I said it was not needed. I never said did not want to go'  she twisted her earlier statement.

'So, you WANT to go out with me'  his eyes instantly twinkled.

'Why else would I be here. And I am so hungry, shall we go?'  she said.

Arnav nodded smiling. His heart suddenly felt light, like a ton of gloom had been lifted off of it. She wants to go out with me. In fact she made an effort to come and surprise me. But wait, why did she not come inside? Did she think I'll mind that?

'Why were you standing outside in cold? Why did you not come inside?'  he asked a little worried.

'If I would have come inside, your receptionist would have informed you. Then how would have I been able to see your surprised face'  she replied gleefully.

'You are crazy, you know that right?'  he said, his voice showing the relief and happiness he felt at her answer.

'Yup. And I am beyond any competition in that area'  she gloated and he laughed at her antics.

Arnav chose a very cozy upscale restaurant for their first date, for him it was definitely a date and he was going to treat it like one. The cuisine was totally of Khushi's choice and food here will make her happy, he knew that. Perks of living with her for so long. She looked divine in red and was in a very good mood, automatically making Arnav's spirits soar. In no time he forgot that he was in a bad mood in morning, and she forgot that she caused any distress to him. 

It took Khushi more then twenty minutes and a lot of help form Arnav to finally decide on what to order. She wanted to try everything, and Arnav would have gladly obliged had the menu not run ten pages long. She was put out of her misery when he assured that she can try rest of the things in their next visits, none of them realizing the innocent promise they just made to each other.

Khushi noticed that ambiance does make a difference. And this dinner is different from eating at home. Here they were not uncle and aunt of Adit-Adya. They were not friends who were cluelessely trying to run a household. Here they were not two people suddenly thrown into domesticity. She felt like an individual who was being showered attention and affection by very handsome man. His eyes looked different when he looked at her here. There was no warmth and comfort in them today, they were brimming with appreciation for her. A woman, yes, she felt like a woman dining out with her man. She felt aware of Arnavji, she did not feel like his friend but felt like a ...  date. The thought made her heart race. Arnavji and her on a date. 'Why not? If nothing else, I can pretend for one evening that this is a date'  her heart trembled at the idea.

'Isn't that good?'  Arnavji's voice brought her back from her dreamland.

'Huuu... sorry what did you say?'  she asked disoriented.

'What are you thinking?'  he narrowed his eyes.

'Nothing. What were you saying?'  she asked, blushing at her line of thoughts. 'What would Arnavji think if he comes to know what I was thinking'.

Arnav continued with his conversation, but not before noticing the blush on her cheeks, wondering what exactly caused her to turn crimson.

 

Slowly, as dinner arrived and clock moved ahead, everything and everyone got tuned out as they talked to each other. Oblivious to the world, his eyes were appreciating the beautiful girl sitting in front of him, and she was getting lost into his caramel eyes, which were making her aware of herself. Whatever they talked was not the most intelligent or the most heartfelt conversation that they've had. But it did not matter, because it was certainly the most enjoyable. Khushi was livelier than usual and Arnav was much more relaxed than usual. Merriment was just floating in the air around them. Both of them  did not want this evening to come to an end, but it did.

As they entered the house at around midnight, Khushi decided it was time to address one unresolved issue that was haunting her. She would not be able to sleep with that hanging on her head anyways.

'Arnavji'  he stopped as she called and turned towards her. 'You don't say it, but I know that you consider me your responsibility. Moreover, you are my best friend and confidant. You look out for my well being and your opinion matters to me. You are the only person in this world who I won't hesitate to ask for help now'  she said to his confused eyes which looking into hers right now.

'What is she getting at?'  his mind panicked.

'What I mean is ... you've earned the right to be upset with me over anything. So never say that you don't have any right'  she finished with a determination in her voice. There she said it.

'I'll most certainly not'   she heard him say after a few seconds.

And the next thing she knew was her standing dumbstruck with a hand on her cheek, where a tender kiss was placed by a smiling Arnav, who winked her a goodnight, before proceeding to his room.