Chapter 3

Arnav was pissed, his Di is always trying to persuade him to move on in his life. Whats wrong with his life, its going fine. Whats with the marriage anyway, if one can get everything without marriage then whats the need of it. It's more of a headache anyway, people just do it because they want benefits of their own not that they want to. He had done the mistake once; he is not going to do it again. "Ping" ... the elevator door opens and he move towards his office, no one is there as it was weekend, of course except Aman, his ever faithful employee.

He enters his cabin and takes his phone out, "Aman ... I am in my cabin now" and without waiting for an answer cut the call, opens his laptop and check his emails. After few secs Aman enters his cabin, with one look at Arnav's stiff body and serious expression he knew he is not in a good mood.

"ASR, I talked to the manager of Vinat Textiles, you will have a teleconference with Mr. Bandra on next week, they haven't decided on the day yet as they are talking to another companies as well".

"Damm.." Arnav hit his fist on the table. "I don't care, if they are in talk with other companies or not, just tell them if they don't talk to me on Monday then I will consider their rival company Ranuat Textiles ... Arnav Singh Raizada never waits for others".

"Yes ASR '" said Aman, "the Sharma's are on their way here, will reach in 20 min approx" said Aman.

"Ok ... arrange the conference room , I will be there in a while" said Arnav while putting his head back on his chair and closes his eyes. Aman turns around and leave the cabin.

Payal was cleaning after the dinner; they haven't told their parents about Khushi might be going to Delhi. She recalled what Khushi told her ''.

FLASH BACK ...

"Jiji you are not going to believe it .. NK said that he got a call from ASR's Manager and he told him and that ASR wants to meet me (Khushi point her index finger towards herself)".

"WHHHAATT..." this time Payal literally shouted.

"Yeah ... NK said something about the lehnga which I designed, which probably ASR liked and wanted to discuss things further. So he wants to meet the designer who designed it", Said Khushi still looking lost into the space.

"But when did you design the lehnga for ASR?" ask bewildered Payal.

"I didn't ' I was '.." Khushi while thinking stood up and smack her hand on her forhead " ahhh jij ' yesterday NK was asking me to give him some samples of Lehngas that our designers have made to send to the main office and I was designing one myself at the moment. You know as usual sketching away in my sketch pad, then I got up to go to restroom and NK entered my room same time and asked me for the samples, I pointed him toward my table and went out. Later when I returned I got called for some work and forget about my sketch pad, when I was leaving for home I couldn't find it anywhere ... I thought I might have put that in one of my drawers, I was getting late so I thought I will check it on Monday ... I guess my sketch pad accidentally got mixed with the other samples", Khushi said in one go and again sat down on the bed and started chewing her nails, out of habit whenever she get nervous.

"So what will you do now", asked Payal. "I don't know ..I ..I .. want to go, I .. mm ... I want to meet him but I .. mm .. I am not sure" said nervous Khushi and looks up at Payal. "and Amma would never allow me to go to Delhi".

"Don't worry we will talk to Baba. He will make Amma understand", said Payal while putting her hand on Khushi's shoulder. "Besides I know you wanted to meet him for so long, its been three years, its time now that you find some answers to your feelings, and Amma is not going to wait for long you know she had already asked that Savita aunty to look for grooms for both of us".

"I don't know jiji .. I am nervous", said Khushi. "Khushi just follow your heart dear, you will never know when you don't try". With that Payal left Khushi with her thoughts.

FLASH BACK ENDS ...

Payal knew Khushi has some feelings for ASR, it can be seen in her eyes and face whenever he is mentioned, even NK noticed that. Khushi is not like a some teenage girl having a crush on some handsome man, Payal knows Khushi is very understanding and todays girl and she had come this far, completed her education and started a job, obviously in AR designz as she wanted to since last 3 years. So that when time comes she can be able to stand in front of him and prove herself. "I have to talk to NK about it", thought Payal and went to bedroom to sleep.

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Anjali was looking down at sleeping Arush on her bed and caressing his hair with her hand. The birthday celebration has been a quite one with only family members and Rahul present, of course excluding Arnav. She was sad that Arnav couldn't stay even today. She had caught Arush 2, 3 times looking and gesturing sadly at the front door, she knew he was looking for his father. For a 1 yr old Arush was a very clever and intelligent boy, he can sense his father's presence or moods. "Why not after all he is his father son", Anjali thought.

He is a beautiful boy with chocolate brown eyes and jet black hair just like his father. What worried her is that Arush is not behaving like other 1 yr old kids, for the past 2, 3 months he rarely smiles or laughs, and spoke very less. Well he started calling her buu ..ahhh, he says "ta ta ta ta" pointing towards the thing when he want it, "naaahhh aaan" when he don't want it, she taught him to call Arnav "Paa", whenever he calls Arnav Paa, Arnav just gave him an angry look. And the one thing that is troubling her very much is that Arush should be walking by his own, but he only does when someone is supporting him. She made a mental note to talk about it to Rahul tomorrow.

Should she talk to Arnav also regarding this? She thought. Deep down she knew Arnav cares for his son, she has seen the concern in his eyes for Arush whenever he gets sick or hurt. In the last one year Arnav only carried him just couple of times or usually when Arush got hurt, luckily she caught Arnav hugging a sleepy Arush one night when she went to make his milk bottle in case if he woke up in middle of night as Arush was having fever that time. That time she knew that Arnav do care for his son, but whenever someone is around Arnav never projected his feeling towards Arush. She can't understand why Arnav doing this, if he cares for him then why doesn't he shows it, what is stopping him?

She just hope beyond hope that someday Arnav could get out of his shell and start living the life like he use too many years ago, a carefree, happy go lucky boy with a mischievous glint in his eyes and a broad smile.

Arnav entered the house and slowly moves towards his Di's Room. He opens the door without making any noise and move towards the bed. He saw his Di sleeping while holding Arush's hand. He looked at his watch, 11.55pm, still five minutes left. He slowly moves his right hand in Arush hair very lightly and whisper "happy birthday son". With that he look at Arush for few minutes then leaves the room.

He knew sleep wouldn't come to him tonight that soon so he sits on chair near poolside. He wasn't planning to come home but what happened at office today changed his mind. Many things were running in his mind, he knows he cares for his son but he couldn't near himself towards Arush. He doesn't hate him but he is the constant reminder of what fate did to him, of all the lies and betrayal. He wished he could give the love and attention what his son needed but he couldn't help it. He had decided never to trust anyone in his life and more importantly never get married, but he did and what he got in return "LIES". He wonders now if there was any love & truth present there that time.

And today, that Sheena B***h tried to mess with him. Every model or girl who was with him was just because he is rich and they can make their career and come into the limelight. All women are same, after money and just want to lure him into their traps because he is smart, deadly handsome and a billionaire, all in one package. Then he remembers Sheena's words '

You are a bas***d you know, no one ... NO ONE ... will ever love a person like you"

He wonders if this is true, no one is going to love him; will he ever get the love he wants? He sighed and close his eyes, small green eyes shining towards him, a small hand caressing his cheek, "don't worry you will be fine", he open his eyes. "I will be fine, I hope you are fine and not like other women" he whispered.

Khushi closes her eyes, chocolate brown eyes looking down at her, "I hope you will be fine" she opens her eyes, smiles "I am fine" she whisperes.

TO BE CONTINUED ...