Chapter 14

Once again, I'm extremely sorry for the delay in updating. But real life is a...uh...five letter word right now...😆😳

Recently I had joined an OS contest Let's Make a Movie, which I'm delighted to say I won!😃 It was a cross-pairing contest, so I'm not sure how many of would actually want to read it. But if you do, here's the link to my story - OS : Guns & Roses...😳

~ CHAPTER 14 ~

The new dawn brought along with it some unexpected visitors.

Arnav was woken up from his sound sleep by the insistent peeling of the calling bell. He groggily opened his eyes to the delicious sight of Khushi draped all over him, and smiled fondly at her wayward sleeping habits which invariably ended with him being her bed. He tried to dislodge her gently not wishing to break her sleep. Finally he was successful in his endeavor, and after covering her securely with the duvet and pulling on his discarded tracks, he made his way to the door. He opened the door to a befuddled NK, standing outside looking lost.

"Arnav, you're back! Why didn't you attend the company's new year party yesterday?" NK asked as soon as Arnav opened the door.

"Good morning to you too, NK" Arnav said with a smile "Actually I landed quite late. It was almost midnight when I reached. I hope you guys handled well in my absence" he raised an eyebrow as he made that observation.

"It went fine" NK said absentmindedly as he looked around "Khushi still asleep?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact" Arnav quipped "That's what normal people do at this ungodly hour of..." he looked at the clock and winced "...4'o clock"

NK looked as if he had just realized how late or rather early it was. "Sorry Arnav, I didn't realize the time. I needed to talk to Khushi badly"

Arnav noticed that he did indeed look rather desperate. "Come in. Anything wrong, NK?" he asked with concern as NK entered.

"Wrong?" NK let out a dry laugh "I think I may have committed a cardinal sin!"

"What did you do?"

NK hesitated and looked around once more as if willing Khushi to appear. Arnav sighed "Look NK, Khushi slept quite late so I don't want to wake her up just now. But if you want, you can tell me whatever it is that's bothering you"

NK opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it before gulping nervously and nodded "I did something really stupid last night, Arnav"

"And that would be...?" Arnav prompted when NK didn't say anything further.

"I kissed La!" NK blurted out.

Arnav kept staring at him silently, waiting for him to elaborate.

"Didn't you hear what I said?" NK was getting worked up as he saw his friend's silence "I KISSED LAVANYA KASHYAP! My assistant! It was new year and she was there looking so lovely and..and I don't know what came over me. I just kissed her. OMG! What she must be thinking of me now..?" he began pacing as he panicked.

"Okay, Okay...Calm down...All right?" Arnav made him sit on the couch and handed him a glass of water before continuing dryly "So you kissed La. Yes, I got that part. But what was HER reaction?"

NK looked at him like he had lost his sanity "Her reaction?"

"Yeah...You know, Like if she slapped you or kicked you..?"

NK blinked "No. She just stood there shocked. I think she kissed me back...But I can't be sure. When we pulled back she just stared at me... and I didn't know what to tell her so I left!"

Arnav rolled his eyes at his friend's cluelessness "You just left her after kissing her? Way to go Romeo. Even I know not to do that"

NK looked at him in alarm "What should I do now Arnav?"

"Right now? Nothing" Arnav smiled slightly "It's practically the middle of the night NK, if you have missed it. Just go to sleep here tonight for what's left of the night. You'll have a clear head tomorrow. Then we'll see how to get you out of the soup you have landed yourself in. Okay?"

NK nodded quietly and after taking the pillow and the duvet from Arnav and made himself comfortable on the couch.

Just before turning off the light, Arnav turned to NK once more. "NK, while you are resting, I want you to think about a world without La in it and ask yourself how you'd like it" As NK looked at him perplexed, Arnav smiled reassuringly "Just something to mull over. We'll talk in the morning. Good night..."

Arnav went inside the bedroom, locked it and slid back into the bed pulling Khushi closer. She just mumbled something unintelligible before snuggling into his arms. Arnav drifted off to sleep with a smile still lingering on his lips.

-----xxx-----

Khushi's eyes fluttered open as the bright sunlight streamed through the narrow space between the curtains, awakening her from the depths of the deepest sleep she had had in about a week. She blinked against the offending rays, still not ready to leave the warm and cozy bed. Arnav was still fast asleep but as she looked at the time, Khushi realized it was about time she got up.

Khushi was tying her hair in a bun as she walked towards the kitchen after her shower when she noticed her houseguest who was sitting on the couch deep in thought.

"NK?" Khushi asked surprised "When did you arrive? How did you get in?"

"Last night. Arnav let me in" NK replied sheepishly as he looked up startled "Ermm..Khushi...Do you have a minute? I needed to speak to you. It's...important"

"Sure" Khushi sat down beside him "Tell me, what's wrong?"

NK looked decidedly uncomfortable and gulped audibly before whispering softly "I think I'm in love, Khushi" he looked at her "With Lavanya..."

Khushi blinked twice before squealing and hugging NK "At last! I thought you were going to take years to reach there!"

"W...W...What? What do you mean?" NK was baffled "You KNEW?!"

"Of course I knew, you duffer!" Khushi rolled her eyes "So what brought this about? How did you finally see the light?"

"Actually Arnav made me realize it" NK said looking adorably bewildered "He asked me last night to think of a world without La in it when I told him about my...uh..problem...and I realized that I just couldn't. My world would never be that same without La in it. I can't live without her, Khushi..."

Khushi smiled affectionately at her beloved friend and got up from the couch "I knew you weren't as dumb as you looked, NK" she said tongue in cheek. "I'll get you a strong cup of coffee. Then we can talk all about your enlightenment. You look like you haven't slept a wink"

Khushi left for the kitchen, leaving a dazed looking NK staring at her.

-----xxx-----

Khushi was in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil when doorbell rang for the second time that morning. She moved towards the door and noticed a panic-stricken NK waving his hands frantically signaling her not to open the door.

"It's La, Khushi!" NK whispered nervously "Don't let her know I'm here. I just realized my feelings. I'm not ready to face her yet!"

Khushi watched with amusement as he scrambled to make himself scarce and ran into the kitchen. She opened the door and was almost accosted by a hysterical and jumpy Lavanya.

"OMG Khushi! He kissed me!" La squealed as soon as the door opened.

Khushi was confused "Huh...?" Did NK realize his love too late? she wondered.

"He kissed me and I FINALLY felt the fireworks! I'm in love!" La said dreamily as she sank into the chair.

Khushi was almost sorry for the poor sod who was hiding now in her kitchen. NK had just realized his love for Lavanya, but it seemed someone had already beaten him to it..

"...I mean who would have thought, right. Me and NK?"

"NK...?" Khushi was startled out of her pity party and sat up straight as she realized she had missed something important "Did you say NK?"

"Duh..what was I saying all these while?" La shook her head and again had that dreamy look in her eyes "NK kissed me last night at the office party and I felt the earth move. I never knew NK could kiss so well! I mean all these while he was right in front of me and I didn't realize how I felt about him. I really really love him...Khushi?!" She suddenly stopped her dreamy tirade midsentence as her gaze fell on Khushi's hand, specifically the rock there.

"OMG!! Khushi, is that what I think it is..? You're engaged?!" she grabbed Khushi's hand and screamed excitedly and nudged her playfully "Khushi, you sly fox. Who's the lucky man?"

"Umm..He is...ummm..." Khushi didn't know what to do now. She hadn't realized that her ring would be leading her into such predicament. She should have taken her ring off until she and Arnav decided to make their engagement public.

"Yeah...Who is he?" La prompted eagerly.

"He's...He's the man I love..." Khushi finished lamely while La face palmed.

"Of course he is the man you love, sweetie. You wouldn't be engaged otherwise" Lavanya rolled her eyes and then brightened "Isn't this exciting, Khushi? You and I are both fell in love at the same time!"

"You are in love with someone?"

Both Lavanya and Khushi turned to see a hurt looking NK standing, staring at them, specifically at Lavanya.

"What..? W...Where did you come from?" Lavanya turned to Khushi mystified "What's he doing here?" Her face paled as the implications of NK being at Khushi's house so early in the morning, combined with Khushi's newly engaged status hit her "OMG! Is he the one you are engaged to, Khushi? Is that why you were hedging before? Because I told you I love him?"

"You love ME?" NK brightened at her pronouncement at the same time Khushi tried to clear her misconception.

"No, no, NO! La it's not what you think!" Khushi said hurriedly.

"What? She doesn't love me?" NK again tried to make himself heard, but he might as well have been invisible, for all the attention he got form the two ladies. He looked from Khushi to Lavanya and back again trying to make sense of what was going on.

"Then what is he doing here so early in the morning, Khushi? If he isn't the one you are engaged to, then who is it?" Lavanya asked Khushi "Why all this secrecy?"

NK looked from Lavanya to Khushi, baffled at these turn of events . What were these two talking about? Khushi was engaged? Since when?

Khushi flushed guiltily "I...That is...I am...I'm engaged to...ummm..."

But before Khushi could finish, they heard a cool voice from behind, startling all three.

"She is engaged to me!"

Three heads whipped round to see a just-out-of-bed adorably ruffled Arnav Singh Raizada leaning against the door of Khushi's bedroom, oh-so-casually wearing his well-worn T and tracks. Arnav glanced at the three friends and smiled inwardly. All of them were staring at him with identical shocked expressions, though Khushi was also blushing slightly. Lavanya looked like she had spotted a Martian in Khushi's bedroom. And NK being NK, still looked confused.

Finally it was NK who broke the silence "What engagement Arnav? Khushi, am I missing something here?"

Arnav advanced into the room slowly to stand near Khushi and pulled her closer, making her turn redder by the second."I believe my fiance here must have forgotten to announce our good news. We indeed got engaged last night"

"But Sheetal...?" NK asked worried.

Arnav smiled at him "Not a concern anymore!"

NK let out a delighted whoop and hugged both Arnav and Khushi "That's great! I'm so happy for you guys, Congratulations Arnav, Khushi. You deserve all the happiness in the world!"

"Thank you NK" Arnav replied with a smile "But now if you don't mind I'd like to borrow my fiance for a while. I hope you'll take good care to Miss. Kashyap, Won't you...?" he asked raising a brow, his tone teasing.

NK laughed, finally getting the drift that Arnav was giving him some privacy with La "Sure Arnav. You know me. I'm always happy to give company to beautiful women"

Arnav smiled and pulled a reluctant Khushi into the room and shut the door behind him.

-----xxx----

"Arnavji...I need to talk to La and explain"

"You can do it later, Khushi. If I'm not wrong NK and Miss Kashyap have some issues to sort out between them"

"I know Arnavji...But La must be feeling bad na that I didn't tell her about us?"

"Don't worry Khuhi, NK will make her understand. But right now we have to talk about an important issue which we didn't tackle last night"

"What issue...?"

"The photographs Sheetal sent you" Arnav reminded her.

"Why do we have to talk about it Arnavji...? I know they weren't true!"

"Those photographs weren't fake Khushi" Arnav sighed "Just the implications Sheetal made with those were false..."

Khushi looked at him questioningly.

"I don't want any secrets between us Khushi nor any half truths" Arnav said "I saw the photos Sheetal sent you. Those were taken during my last visit to US a year and a half ago. I had been on a business trip and was in that club that night to speak with an important client. I didn't know Sheetal was in the same club, partying. But someone in there must have told the management about our legal relationship, Now that I think about it, I think it must have been either Sheetal herself or her lawyer. Shyam Jha. The club management called me and told me to remove Sheetal from their premises as she creating a scene there. I couldn't refuse in all possibility, since I was legally her husband. So I pulled her out of the club and dumped her in my car, before dropping her home. After that I saw her only this week. I didn't know she had had photos of us taken and would use it against me" Arnav shuddered visibly "Thank God you didn't believe her lies Khushi. I don't know how I'd have gone on living if you had left me"

Khushi embraced him tightly and soothed him "My love isn't that weak, Arnavji. If I didn't trust you enough, then my love would have no meaning. I believe if love is the basis of a relationship then trust is the foundation for love. Without trust ,Arnavji, love cannot sustain..."

"Khushi..." Arnav whispered emotionally.

Khushi pulled back and grinned at him "I love you Arnavji...Even if hadn't explained those photographs, I wouldn't have loved you any less"

"I love you Khushi..." Arnav smiled back and kissed her softly.

"Arnavji!" Khushi squeaked scandalized "NK and La are just outside!"

"So..?" Arnav asked teasingly "If I know anything about NK, I'm sure he is doing the same with La right now!"

"Hawww..." Khushi eyes widened "Let me see..." she opened the door slowly to see that Arnav was indeed right and shut the door in a hurry, her face turning all shades of red.

Arnav began laughing at Khushi's expression "What did you imagine they were doing out there Khushi? Playing chess...?

"I thought they were talking!" Khushi said sheepishly, embarrassed.

"My sweet innocent Khushi...You're such a baby still!" Arnav chuckled as he hugged her.

-----xxx-----

"Khushi, I can't believe you kept such a big secret from us! You are engaged to ASR!!"

Khushi listened to Lavanya with a smile. She knew she'd be getting time to reply only after La finished her barrage of questions. So she waited patiently for La to finish.

"I mean how could we miss it? It was so evident! No wonder you missed so many girl's night out's with us!" Lavanya carried on as she counted the number of times Khushi had opted out of their outings. "ASR is the one you bought that sexy piece of lingerie for too right...? Of course he is! Kill me right now, Khushi. I was so dumb. I don't deserve to live!" she groaned "And I made those racy comments about who you were going to wear it for!"

Khushi laughed watching her friend working herself into a fair snit.

"No one knew La, except NK and Arnavji's Nani" Khushi said smiling "And now you do...We are waiting until Arnavji's divorce is final to announce our engagement"

"And that dog, NK" Lavanya said getting indignant "I can't believe you guys told him before me!"

"I thought you loved him..." Khushi teased Lavanya.

"So? What's that gotta do with this...?" Lavanya asked exasperated "You still should have told me!"

"I'm sorry baba that I didn't tell you" Khushi held both her ears and made a puppy face "I'll let you know the wedding date before everyone else, Okay...?"

"Even NK..?"

"Even NK!" Khushi agreed with a smile and laughed as Lavanya jumped with excitement.

-----xxx-----

Arnav's divorce came through a week later.

Mr. Maxwell mailed the final papers to Arnav, and Arnav along with Khushi went to his Grandmother first to let her in on the good news. Nani blessed both her kids and wished from all her heart for them to be happy forever. She called the Pandit on the same day and fixed the engagement 2 weeks later and wedding a week later. Arnav grumbled at the delay but Nani wanted to get her grandson married with all the customs and pomp, so he finally gave in. The only thing that irked him more was Nani's insistence that the groom and the bride should stay separately until the wedding. He tried to convince his grandmother otherwise by saying that they were already married in front of Devi Mayya, but Nani wasn't the one to be budged. Finally it was decided that Arnav would be moving back home until the wedding, which Arnav accepted with audible ill humour much to Khushi's amusement.

The news of Arnav's engagement broke over the media in the next few days but media had to satisfy themselves with the press release from Arnav's PR as no other information was forthcoming from any quarter. Arnav's ex-wife having never even visited the country, didn't generate much sympathy from either the public or the Indian media. Her high and wayward lifestyle pictures which were released regularly to the press didn't help either. Public support lay firmly on Arnav's side, and when he announced his engagement to a pretty orphan girl, more cheers were heard than jeers. The AR stocks went skyrocketed much to the dismay of his competitors who were hoping that the scandal would affect him conversely. It seemed everyone did indeed love a good love story.

Arnav kept a tight security around the apartment complex so that no reporters could get to Khushi. Khushi though wanted to continue working, realized soon that being the boss's fiance had some serious drawbacks while it came to working in the same office. People were either in awe of her or deferred to her. No one talked openly when she was there anymore and whole playful atmosphere that the co-workers had around her vanished overnight with the news of her engagement to ASR.

Khushi talked about this to Arnav, and Arnav advised her to take a few months break before joining back if she didn't want to resign. He reasoned that by then everyone would be acclimatized to her new status as his wife. He also knew how much Khushi wanted to retain her independence and wanted to support her in any decision she made. Khushi decided finally to follow Arnav's advice, took a break from her job and threw herself wholeheartedly into wedding preparations.

~ END OF PART # 14 ~

[NOCOPY]