Chapter 10

Part 5

It was very difficult for Arnav Singh Raiazada to concentrate on anything after last night. His sister did ask him where he was the whole night and he lied to her saying he stayed with one of his old friend. That reason was sufficient for everyone from his family to believe but Arnav was not happy from within. Not that he wished everyone to know what had happened last night but that thought of touching Khushi and misbehaving with her was making him feel guilty. However he tried to ignore, he couldnt do it.

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Office

He was with Shashi Gupta going to attend a conference when suddenly some of the Client asked Shashi if Khuhsi would be joining too.

Shashi: No. She wont join. She is busy in some other work.

Was he ignoring him? What must she be going through ? He shouldnt have done all that, Arnav thought and fisted his fingers being angry on himself.

Shashi: Arnav. Come on. We shouldnt be late.

Arnav wanted to see her and ensure she was fine but this meeting wouldnt let him do that so easily.

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"I am so enjoying this", she mumbled signing some papers in her cabin. She was very happy for what she was doing with Arnav. He deserved that. Atleast now he wont think of coming to her place and showing himself a good boy to her parents making them taunt her.

"Arnav Singh Raizada you cannot turn away from the Spell I have casted on you. One or the other day you will fall hopelessly for a girl like me and then let me show my parents that I am also worth to get a responsible man like you.

She groaned in frustration remembering how she was always been compared to him and then saw the Conference getting over. She kmew what she had to do. She quickly grabbed some papers and her duplicate personal diary and came outside. She had to reach his cabin before he can come there.

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Arnav's Cabin

He entere his room and was little taken aback seeing Khushi finding some file on his desk. She was in her Formals and with the same charm that she carried a day back here. But her face was still pale as if she was in a deep worry.

Arnav : Should I help?

She purposely jerked hearing him to show she had no idea he was inside.

Khushi: No Thanks. I got the file

She didnt even meet his eyes and tried to walk past him but in the process hit the table and the file and diary fell down from her hands.

Arnav: Let me help

He was going to kneel and help her but she denied.

Khushi: I dont need your help.

Her tone was sharp and he didnt like it.

Before she could bend and collect her papers he clutched her arms pulling her close to him and looked in her eyes with anger.

Arnav: Khushi lets not play games here. We work together and you cannot ignore me like that.

Khushi: I am not ignoring you. I am just maintaing distance Arnav.

His grip on her hands increased but she did not let him have her for long. With her other hand she managed to free herself from him and then picked the files from the floor. He kneeled too. He found a diary which belonged to her and since it was open now, he could read some lines written by her on it.

"It was not mutual, but I still felt loved. This is the first time I was so close to a man that I could hear his heartbeat clearly along with mine. With every beat that we took, Arnav kissed me senselessly everywhere"

Before he could continue reading, she snatched it from him and got up.

Khushi: Its bad to read someone's personal stuff.

Arnav: What The. You write all that?

Khushi: Just not that Arnav. I write everything I do everyday in this. Its my way of keeping things I like close to me. I never carry it here. But I dont know what was so wrong that I got it at workplace.

She finished picking her papers and then she got up to leave. He held her hand and made her see him.

Arnav: Dont increase my guilt Khushi.I am already much hurt to take it anymore.

Khushi: Only you are hurt? You dont even remember anything Arnav but I do. So please. You dont have to count whose guilt and pain is more here.

Arnav : I am not counting. I was just.

Khushi interrupted him

Khushi: Arnav please. Lets just stay away and be happy. I know what Dad and my family means to you. So I dont wish to hurt them by knowing what happened between us. They will lose hope in you. Lets not complicate things further. Okay?

He had no replies. He just left her hands and she gulped purposely.

Khushi: Thats better.

She walked outside and he banged his fist on the table for getting in a situation which was like a Dead End for him. Neither he could accept her nor reject her.

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When she came back home in the evening, she rushed and got her Real Personal Diary out of the drawers as she had to write what happened in the office today. How she had fooled him again by making him read the contents of a fake diary. She wrote some few lines when her mother came inside

Garima: Khushi I am going to cook tonight and I want you to assist me.

Khushi: Take the maids. I am not interested.

Garima: Not interstested? But why? You are a girl Khushi and you cannot avoid learning all this. A day would come when you will marry and go to your in laws house. All this wont work there. You should know something atleast to keep them happy.

Khushi: Give me a break Mom.

She threw the pen down in anger as she didnt like anybody advising her all this.

Garima: Dont show that anger to me Khushi. I am your mother. And this time I am not going to let you do what you wish. Come down in 10 minutes and I dont want any more excuses.

She left but Khushi was very much irritated. Why does she need to learn all this? Her parents will get her married to a rich family only where she will never have to do anything as the maids would do it all. Then what wa s need to learn such silly things?

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Shantivan

He was staring at the sky sitting at the poolside thinking nothing when his sister came and sat beside him.

Anjali: You didnt sleep yet Chotte?

Arnav: I am not getting sleep Di. Probably thats why I am here.

Anjali smiled.

Anjali: It gives me to conclusion. Either my Chotte is in Love or he is trying to sort some problem which has taken away his sleep.

Arnav: Di Please. Dont start all this again. I am not in Love.

Anjali: Then what is the problem? Share it with me. May be I can help

Arnav was quiet. He knew sharing this matter with his Di will only complicate issues. But he needed someone to guide him here and hence he thought of taking someone else's name and not his.

Arnav: Di the problem is not mine but my Friend's. Remember I had stayed last night with an old friend.

Anjali: Haan,

Arnav: He is in a problem whose solution I am trying to get.

Anjali: Ohh I see. Tell me what it is.

Arnav told her in precise about his own situation what happened and how he got drunk and landed up sleepign with A girl whose father he respected a lot.

Anjali: And now your friend is guilty? He has to be. He had no right to touch a girl whom he doesnt wish to have a future with. Let him repent.!! You dont bother about him and neither do you be with him more.

Arnav got up angrily.

Arnav: I needed a solution Di and you are only pricking me now.

Anjali: Okay Sorry. But this is what I felt knowing his story Chotte. But look, just tell him if he is so much in that guilt then without wasting time he should propose that girl's hand in marriage to her father. I know this wont be easy for the Boy because he doesnt love her or may be she is not his type of girl but then now he has commited a sin, he has to pay for it.

Arnav: What? Marriage?

Anjali: Haan Chotte. If he is a true Man, he will not let that girl suffer because of him.

Arnav was confused if this solution was even worth it. Khushi was such a kid and so immature. How can he think of marrying her? He had hardly met her few times. Thats all. But one thing he could never ignore. He did feel a pull for her always. Anjali asked him not to think so much about it and get some sleep. She left and he kept on pondering on his sister's words.

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The next day Khushi was back in Arnav's office for work and as usual she was expecting him to keep following her to know if she was Okay. It looked so nice when someone gave her this extra attention. She sat before her Father opening some files .

Khushi: Dad is Arnav going to attend the Conference today?

Shashi: No. How can he Khushi? He is travelling.

Khushi : Travelling?

She was stunned.

Shashi: Yeah. He is going to Sydney for a week. Some Urgent work . I asked him to go since it was impossible for me to arrange in such a short notice.

Khushi: Dad but he didnt tell me?? You didnt tell me.

Shashi: So what? Why are you so much angry for we not informing Khushi?

Shashi could sense something that was going in his daughter's mind . But he didnt ask her at this point as she walked out in anger leaving all her work as if she had no more interest in all this.

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