Chapter 36

Then pulling the dresser's stool near the bed, he sat beside her and watched her sleep. He felt like it has been years since they both even talked. Not years exactly, but just a week. Still he felt like it has been years since he heard her chirpy voice, silly complaints and non-sense talks. He smiled as he tucked her loose strand of hair behind her ears.

Oh god, he really misses her. She has been not doing really well. Nothing wrong with her health, It just pregnancy issues. She has been sleeping too much. Her legs get swelled all the time and She looked exhausted and worn out. She never wakes up before he leaves and sleeps before he comes.

Yesterday, she was sleeping at 4 pm in the evening when he came home early cancelling his meetings just to spend time with her. With nani, Anjali and kids not at home, he really felt lonely. They had gone to attend Sushant's wedding at Mumbai. Sushant's family had helped them during their bad phase at Mumbai.

Though both nani and Anjali were very reluctant to go, leaving Kushi alone at this condition, it was Lavanya who convinced them that she will take care of Kushi. It has been four days since they left and they will be returning two days later. Arnav stayed at home first day to take care of his wife but got literally bored as she slept whole day. And he never stayed back at home after that.

He had a bad feeling that something is wrong. Though he couldn't point his fingers at anything in particular, something was definitely wrong. He studied kushi's pale face more intently and noticed dark circles. Ironic much, isn't it? For women, who sleeps for 18 hours a day, to get dark circles! What could have been wrong?

Is she avoiding him purposefully? The more he thought about past week events, the more it became clear that she was indeed avoiding him. But what could be the reason? 'There is no reason because she is not avoiding me but she is just not feeling well.' He answered himself like he did in past one week. Feeling restless, he began pacing around his room.

His mind started to ponder over various reasons for which she could avoid him. He shook his head. "I am thinking too much! I think I badly need a sleep." He murmured to himself. It has been a week since he had a sound sleep. Not to blame him, he had been used to sleep in his wife embrace. But as she sleeps before he comes and as he didn't want to disturb her, he stayed away from her. 'She had become his habit!' he smiled at his thought looking at his wife.

And that same thought hit him like thunder. She had also been used to sleep in his embrace. Even when they were not in talking terms, she never slept without him. But it has been six days since she even talked to him properly. 'She must be tired.' He tried to convince himself even though everything had become obvious. He plainly refused to believe it. Because it hurts him too much even to think that she was avoiding him.

In whatever way he considered the various reasons, it all ended at one person; Lavanya. But he was not fully convinced for two reasons. First, as far as he knows, Kushi is not a person who hurts herself for this reason. If she had felt insecure, she would have confronted him. In fact she was the one who bought Lavanya here against his wishes.

Secondly, she very well knew what she means to him and what Lavanya means to him. She had already accepted him with his past. Then suddenly what happened now? He remembered the incident where he saw Lavanya almost shouting at Kushi. Now it perfectly fit the loopholes because it was from that very next day Kushi has been acting really weird.

"Why did you close the door, Kushi? You know that I would be bringing your dinner!" Lavanya complained opening the door. Arnav turned and saw Lavanya standing at door and busily arranging things on the tray she was holding. As if she felt his gaze, she directly looked up at him and exclaimed "Arnav, when did you come? Where is Kushi? I came to give her..."

She stopped noticing Kushi on bed. "She slept? So soon?" Lavanya expressed her shock and turned to Arnav. "I mean five minutes before she grumbled to me that she is not at all getting proper sleep even in night and asked me to bring dinner." They stared at each other and simultaneously turned to Kushi in suspicion.

"She must have been tired!" Arnav commented and twirled to Lavanya. "No need to disturb her. Let her eat when she wakes up. You keep it and go!" Arnav said and raised his brow when Lavanya shook her head. "It's ok. Inform me when she wakes up. i will reheat the food and bring it up. She told me she feels nauseated if food gets cold."

Arnav nodded, lost in thoughts, as Lavanya flashed a smile.

"Lavanya!" he called her as soon as she turned her heals. "hmmm...what happened?" she twirled again to face him. "What were you talking with Kushi that day?" He asked in unsure and suspicious tone. "Which day?" she asked him back in confused tone but understood what he meant as soon as she saw his serious face.

"You better ask your wife about it." She replied in non-committal tone with her eyes down casted. When she turned to leave, Arnav held her wrist. She looked at his hands and then at him angrily. "I am talking to you!" Arnav said gritting his teeth. "And what if I don't want to talk with you?" she raised her eyebrow and challenged him.

"What happened?" they both turned to Kushi hearing her sleepy drawl. They looked at each other and then at arnav's hand. Arnav left Lavanya's hand and stepped back. "i brought your dinner. Eat it before it gets cooled." Lavanya said handing the tray to Kushi for which the latter smiled in response.

"What about your dinner, Arnav?" Lavanya asked Arnav causally. Arnav looked at Kushi who was digging her spoon in rice bowl and asked "can you come down, kushi? i mean we three can eat together." Kushi replied that her leg has swelled again and she couldn't walk.

"Lavanya, then do one thing! Go and bring our dinner upstairs. We also can eat here itself." Even before he could finish, Kushi kept the tray on table near bed with thud. "Actually I don't feel like eating anything. Lavanya forced me to eat fruits an hour before. Also i feel sleepy. You guys carry on. I will eat later." Kushi announced adjusting her blanket.

Lavanya stared at both of them while Arnav glared at Kushi and Kushi refused even to look up. "Lavanya, you make the table and i will come down in few minutes." Arnav said to Lavanya and went inside bathroom even before she could nod. Lavanya looked at Kushi in disbelief and left.

Kushi heard bathroom door opening sound but didn't dare to open her eyes. After few minutes she opened her eyes to check whether he had left and her eyes clashed with arnav's angry one. He was rolling his sleeves up glaring at her but didn't say a word. Then he attached his Bluetooth to his ears and punched few buttons on his phones all while glaring at her.

"Yeah, Aman. Did you talk with Mr. Mehra?" he asked Aman through phone as he stormed out of room. Kushi bit her lower lip and mumbled "he is angry!" Kushi thought for a second and then slowly got up and began to walk even though her leg was paining.

Lavanya finished arranging the table and looked at Arnav who was on phone. Her plan has backfired. He thought Arnav will question Kushi but instead he is asking her. She was cursing Kushi under her breath when she became aware of some movements behind them. Turning back, she saw Kushi declining the steps. 'She has to pay for her deed.' Lavanya thought.

"Arnav!" she called Arnav who was about to eat. As soon as he turned, she pushed a spoon full of frozen ice cream into his mouth. "hsss" Arnav hissed and closed his eyes feeling electrifying sensation on his tongue. "How was it? You love to eat like this, right?" She asked him immersed in real excitement. Arnav smiled at her. "I used to eat like this? I almost forgot it."

Lavanya smiled sitting next to him as Arnav continued "even once I forced you to eat it like this, remember? You had tears in your eyes and then you complained that your tongue got dead because of it." Lavanya shook her head. "it is true that my tongue got dead that day. But i didn't cry." Arnav smirked. "oh really!"

"yesss..." She stopped talking as this time Arnav thrust a spoon inside her mouth. She closed her mouth trying not to hiss loudly. But by the time she opened her eyes, tears were running down her cheeks. She looked at smirking Arnav and defended "it's so frozen, Arnav. Normal human beings will have tears when they eat it like this."

"I know normal human beings get tears while eating it. But why are you getting it?" He asked in serious tone earning glare from Lavanya. Arnav laughed and then stopped lost in thoughts. "Those days were impeccable!" he declared while Lavanya nodded feeling nostalgic. Then she remembered something and turned back to stairs which was empty by then.

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Lavanya had to support her chin with her hand to stop her head from falling down. She shook her head to get rid of sleep and looked at Arnav who was talking to her. That was moment she understood why people hate meetings. She nodded as Arnav explained about stock market. She felt sick. First of all, she was annoyed that they didn't have any common topic to talk. Second, she cursed herself for asking him about business and other stuffs.

Never ask men about business, she understood as Arnav went on giving lecture for past one hour. She noticed that Arnav went silent and then realised that he had stopped talking. She checked the time. Only one and hour has passed since Arnav came down. An hour back she sent food to Kushi and to her surprise Arnav didn't went upstairs.

She decided to use the opportunity and tried to start conversation it him and finally ended with this stock market. "i think we should sleep." He heard him say. No, she can't lose it now. She has to hold him back at least for another half an hour. "You love her very much, don't you?" Arnav passed and looked at her confusedly before he smiled and nodded. "More than myself."

His face began to glow and there was some glint in his eyes. 'This topic was better than stock market.' Lavanya thought as Arnav continued talking about Kushi. She felt light hearted and happy, seeing him talk so happily. After all, it is his happiness which she always wanted.

Later during night, when Arnav turned to other side, he spotted Kushi sitting on bed with her back leaned on head rest and legs stretched. "What happened Kushi?" he asked in concerned tone as he got up. "Nothing...i was just thinking." She shook her head before he could question her. "i couldn't sleep! So i got up." Arnav studied her for moment and asked "is your leg paining?"

Even before she answered, Arnav lifted her pj's and inspected her legs which were swollen badly. "i will apply some balm and massage. You will feel better!" he said completely ignoring her protests. She looked at him as he applied balm and turned to other side as tear filled her eyes. "You know what Kushi? If something is troubling you means, you can talk to me. I am with you."

She looked at Arnav. "Do you want to tell me something?" his voice was soft and concerned. Kushi nodded trying not to spill her tears out. "Go ahead!" she heard his assurance and took deep breath. "Not now, Arnav. I am not able to think properly. I need sometime. I will tell you when time is right." She said praying that he must not ask further questions.

"is it anything dealing with Lavanya?" he asked her suspiciously and she looked up at him immediately. She shook her head. "No! What makes you think like that." Arnav shook his head and replied "just like that. You try to sleep." Arnav lied as he got his answer with her reaction. He mentally noted that he should talk with Lavanya tomorrow as he was sure Kushi won't say a word until she was completely broken which he will never let to happen.

"Just remember that i will be always there to help you." He said to Kushi managing a smile.

"You are not a help Arnav! You are my problem!" she thought. He is making it difficult for her with his love; in fact he is making it difficult for all three of them. She had promised Lavanya and she has no idea to back off. She lied down thinking to continue her policy. 'stay away from arnav.'