Chapter 11

[MEMBERSONLY]

Arnav's entire day was spent in planning and by the end of the day; he had come up with the plan that would leave Khushi Kumari Gupta no other chance but to listen to her.

The excitement and anticipation caused another night to pass without even the blink of an eye. He let the plan repeat again and again in his mind and laughed; it seemed as if he was going on a war with Khushi, not proposing her. But then if your lady is a hard nut to crack, it ought to be a war and every move had to be checked and rechecked.

No wonder she was about to be the "Mrs. Raizada" as obdurate and stubborn as him; Perfect match, he thought.

**~~~**

He was sitting in his office, trying to figure who he should call, because that was the first step to succeed. If he calls his sister, she'll make a hill out a mole and that would be too distracting. If he calls Payal, that would be too debasing; who calls their sister-in-law in order to propose her sister?

Damn this girl, she was driving him crazy...

After half an hour of tossing between his sister and sister-in-law, he finally opted the latter, the former being too dramatic to be asked for help.

He dialed Payal's number and sighed. How hard was this going to be?

"Arnav ji?" Her astonishment was palpable in her voice and Arnav laughed. He was going to give her the biggest shock of her life.

"Payal you owe me something"

Payal smirked. Her brother-in-law had finally come on the right track.

"Sorry come again"

"I helped you and Akaash come together"

"YES?" Payal gasped. She was longing to hear this.

"So you have to help me and Khushi come together"

"OH DM FINALLY!" Payal squealed and Arnav was stunned. Apparently he was given the shock of his life.

"Umm Payal?"

"I am sorry Arnav ji. Please elaborate" She asked, not able to contain her laughter.

"Payal I love Khushi. I love her unbridled, but we went into a dissonance and she has refused to talk to me. I have a plan; you've to help me out"

"Promise me you'd always keep her happy."

Arnav rolled his eyes. Wasn't one sister enough that the other one demanded for guarantees.

"See Payal, your sister is enough for me to placate and convince, please make it easy for me" Arnav pleaded and Payal laughed.

"Acha jeth ji. Tell me what the plan is?"

**~~~**

"What?" Khushi could not believe her ears.

"Yes Khushi. She really misses you and says that you haven't come a day since the wedding"

"But jiji, we just met yesterday at the airport and th"

"Khushi please! She's my nand, try to understand and plus Anjali ji has always been there for you when you needed her. She misses you so why don't go and meet her?"

Payal was right. Anjali was the only person who saved from Arnav's wrath and she hadn't visited them since sangeet. After that she always came as a guest.

"Chill Khushi, he must be in the office" She thought.

"Okay Jiji, I'll call and inform Amma."

She then dialed her mother and told her everything and as she had expected, she was allowed to go to the Raizada Mansion.

**~~~**

It was time to wrap up her work and leave for Shantivan. Anjali had called her and told her that someone would be there to pick her up from her school.

The moment she walked out of the school and saw the "someone", his heart skipped a beat.

She was going to be with Arnav, alone in a car, for full 30 minutes.

"DM Raksha karna" The words came tumbling out of her mouth the very next moment.

With shaking steps, she walked towards the car, trying to erase all sort of tension from her face by biting her lower lips.

Arnav saw her come towards him, biting her lower lip and a strong urge to grab and kiss her washed him from head to toe. He shook his head, trying to make himself understand that the "kiss" was a long way to go and to reach there, he to murder his ego and self-respect with his own bear hands.

"Hey"

"Namaste" She said, not even glancing at him

"Kaisi ho?" He asked as the corner of his lip went up which Khushi caught during stealing a glance.

"Damn that smirk!" she thought.

"Achi hun"

"Wo to tum ho Khushi" Arnav said and opened the door and gestured her to sit in.

What did he just say?

"Khushi?"

"Ji?" She at once came out of her reverie and found him raising an eyebrow, his lips twitching as if he was trying not to smirk. Quietly she sat inside the car.

**~~~**

"If she's thinking to ignore me for the rest of the drive, I'll see what will happen to her once we reach the destination" Arnav thought.

"So working in school huh?"

She nodded in affirmation.

"What's the drill?"

"Nothing much, I get to teach young children Hindi; I guess that's what you do when you are a teacher" Khushi said, sardonically.

Arnav didn't fail to catch the sarcasm but he dismissed it by a weak laughter.

"You've got a point. So do you enjoy working there?"

"Yes a lot. More than I used to back at AR" She snapped and Arnav once again tried very hard not to laugh at her constant sarcasm.

"Damn she's pissed. It is going to be one damn arduous confession" he thought.

"I am sorry for that ill treatment. That was quite..um..I guess sick of me to do so" He said and sighed. First step to woo your little-too-pissed-lady is to make up the old bad times by apologizing.

Khushi shot up her eyes at him. Was he apologizing?

"That's not the end of the story" She added, her voice getting solemn.

"I know and I am sorry for that too. I have been too harsh with you"

Now Khushi couldn't believe her ears. What had happened to him? He was acting so good and humble and

WAIT A MINUTE!

Khushi focused on the road and concluded; this was not the way to Shantivan.

"Stop the car" She bellowed and Arnav rolled the eyes. The hardest part had yet begun.

"What's up Khushi?"

"Where are we going"

To home duh!"

No, this is not the way to Shantivan"

"Umm..well...surprise" He said meekly and Khushi turned red; due to anger

"Stop this car the very moment Arnav Singh Raizada" She blathered.

Arnav stopped the car and before she could even move, he glided and put his hand on the door, so that she doesn't opens the door.

"Khushi relax"

"Relax? Are you serious? You are taking me somewhere in the middle of nowhere and ask me to relax?"

"I.. Trust me" Those two words and sincerity in his eyes, made her stop protesting and she relaxed.

"At least she trusts me" Arnav smiled.

**~~~**

"Where are we? Why didn't we go to the Shantivan"

"I'll tell you everything. First come with me" He offered her his hand which she refused to take by shaking her head in dismissal. Arnav shrugged and began walking, the sound of her pumps alluding that she was following him.

Once they were inside a lavish mansion, Arnav came and stood in front of her.

"Khushi I love you" He had closed his eyes and let these three magical words do their magic.

To say she was shocked would be injustice to her feelings.

"Ji?"

"I said I love you"

He said, looking in those dark brown orbs who were reflecting his own joy and her own shock which was replaced by anger.

"I can't believe you just said that; what did that poor soul do now?" She asked, anger dripping in her voice.

Arnav was totally taken aback by her reaction.

"What the?"

"What what the? So did you get over your latest proposal that you decided to wag your tail behind me" Khushi snapped but was taken aback by her own words and the way Arnav winced. She knew she pressed the wrong button. She should've not said that.

Arnav winced hearing her words. It took ultimate strength from preventing himself to do something harsh. He took a deep breath.

"I am sorry" She replied meekly but he could swear she meant it.

"It's okay. Khushi just because you are getting married doesn't mean everyone's getting married"

"Wha? I am not getting married, who said that?" Khushi asked, surprised beyond limits.

"You are not getting married?" He asked, astonishment vivid in his voice

No.."

"Oh my! Khushi" He took a step and pulled her into an embrace. Khushi was first stunned by what he was doing, but listening to his heart-beats and his words echoing in his ear, made her the happiest woman alive.

But...

What happens next is dj vu and she knows it by heart. She can't risk her feeling again. Not yet; not so soon.

She broke the hug and took a couple of steps back.

"Oh so finally got the answers did you? Well it's better late than never"

Her cold voice made Arnav scared. What was this girl up to? Well yes, Mr. Raizada was scared!

"Kh"

"No listen to me first. The day when you told me how to find solace after my Jiji's bidaai, I can't explain how happy I was and you, I can't tell you what I felt for you that time and then the next day, the very next day, you're once back to yourself; you know being all belligerent and behave with me for what you are notorious for and you know what did I realize?" She asked dogmatically.

"I hated you more than I ever loved you"

Arnav's eyes went wide and he couldn't believe his ears. She had loved him? Loved him before he could even understand that feeling!

"See Khushi, I know I have been acting dementing since the day we meet and I have always been acting in a condescend manner but trust me, I do repent those words.

"What's new in that? You've always repented your deeds and words. When you let me stay in that decrepit building, it was remorse that you brought me back safely, when you ordered me to stay in the rain all night, it was again remorse which make you take me out of the car's way. When you screamed on me in Naintal, it was remorse which caused you to take care of me. You always do something or another and then feel remorse. What am I supposed to? Wait until the moment you really acknowledge your poignant deeds? If yes, I don't I'll able to survive till then."

"Kh"

"Nahi Arnav ji. You don't need to feel bad. I know you have changed or you would've killed me when I said... those..words earlier but you didn't. And trust me when I say this, you've no idea how glad I am now that I know that you are not getting married and that you love me too but you know... I just... can't... take a risk..."

"I promise Khushi! I promise"

"I need time Arnav ji. You've always promised yourself haven't you?" She asked and Arnav was speechless. His baleful attitude had landed him into this and he had to find some other way round.

*******

The much awaited confession is here... But please don't kill me for Khushi's reaction. I will never ever disappoint you guys.

So Rush... wasn't this update meant to be posted on your birthday? No wonder, I had been delaying it 😉

Chapter 12