Chapter 13

Chapter 13

“How did the birthday go last night?” Birendra Singh Malik asked Akash who was packing the medicines and other things in a bag. The doctors had given the green signal to discharge him and Akash couldn’t be happier.

“It was good. Shashi uncle made his special paneer-pulaao. It was delicious. And the best part? Bhai helped in the cooking” Akash revealed and Birendra Singh Malik nodded.

“He is gelling well with Shashi?” The question had Akash look at his father and there it was. The fleeting appearance of unhappiness but it was gone in a second.

Akash could understand. He had seen the look before but on a different face. In his earlier days with Arnav, whenever Arnav would see how close Akash was with Malik, that look would come on his face for a moment.

It was the look that said why does the other have something I don't?

“It seems so! Bhai was rather amiable with uncle” Akash said it as casually as he could.

“That is good! I am glad. Very glad! Arnav should bond with Shashi Ji. He is a kind and good man” Birendra Singh Malik said. Akash simply nodded.

“Khushi was not very pleased when she saw the mangoes” He said a second later.

“I can imagine” amusement returned on Malik’s face.

“I will throw a grand party for her once I am back at home. Everyone in the city will remember it for months” Birendra Singh Malik continued.

“I don’t think that’s what she wants, Baba” Akash said, zipping the bag.

“If I want to throw a party for her, I will. If she wants to refuse, she will have to come and talk to me.”

Akash knew the party was happening then.

“Alright! We’re ready to go home” Akash said.

Malik nodded and reached for his walking stick. But, then he let it go and looked at Akash.

“I hope you have not spoken to Khushi about anything that I told you” He said to Akash.

Akash looked at his father, thinking of what to say.

“I was talking to Kumar before all this happened and he said something that I think is right. I should not have told you before telling Arnav. But, I did. Now, I do not want anyone else to know before I talk to Arnav, which I will do very soon. So, until then, keep this to yourself, okay? When need be, I will tell Khushi myself. She is as much a part of this family to me as you are ” Malik continued and Akash still didn’t know what to say.

Should he say that he has already shared a little? Maybe later, once they were back at home.

“Okay, Baba” Akash said and helped his father get up.

~~**~~

Arnav watched as Khushi walked into Malik's room for the fifth time, making sure everything was in place. She had reached the Mahal in the afternoon and since then had occupied herself with every small thing she could find, straightening cushions that didn't need straightening, refolding blankets already folded. Everything except coming up to him and saying hello.

He couldn't help but think if it was because of the kiss last night. If it was, he needed to talk to her about it. Because, for him, last night had been so peaceful. He has not slept so soundly ever since he came back to the Mahal, no restless turning, no old memories crowding the dark. Just quiet, and the faint, lingering warmth of her against his chest for that one moment on the roof.

He didn't want her to become awkward around him. The thought of that, of her going careful and distant, of losing the ease they have built over these last few days, sat uncomfortably in his chest.

So, after watching her flit around for the last two hours, restless and purposeful in equal measure, he began walking up to her. She was carrying a pile of books in her hand to Malik's rooms, her steps quick, her eyes fixed somewhere just past him.

He waited outside, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. She did not return for fifteen minutes. He kept waiting until she emerged from the room with dead flowers in her hand and an empty vase, her attention entirely on the task in front of her.

"Hey" He said to her.

"Hello, Arnav." She said, blinking upon finding him standing right in front of the door, startled enough that the flowers nearly slipped from her grip.

"You seem busy." He said, watching her carefully now, noting the way her gaze kept sliding away from his.

"Yeah. Malik Uncle will be here soon" She replied, walking towards the table where the basket of fresh flowers was placed.

Arnav walked after her and watched her pick white lilies, her fingers moving quickly, efficiently, anything to keep from meeting his eyes. He noticed how she was avoiding looking at him for too long, a glance here, a glance there, never lingering.

"Is everything good?" He asked her, and she gave him a quick nod, still not looking up from the flowers.

"So, you are not avoiding me?" He asked again, quieter this time, more direct. This time she looked at him, caught.

"Arnav.."

"Did I do something to offend you yesterday?" He continued, watching her face for any flicker of the truth.

"No, you didn't." She quickly replied, a little too quickly.

"Then, why do I feel you are trying to avoid me?"

"I am not, Arnav. I really am busy. I will talk to you once I am done" She replied, trying to sound as polite as possible, though her hands had gone still around the lilies, betraying her.

Arnav didn't say anything after that. He studied her for one more moment, the careful set of her shoulders, the way she still wouldn't quite meet his eyes, and then left quietly.

Khushi shook her head once he was gone, setting the vase down harder than she meant to. Even she didn't know why she was avoiding him. Last night had been so good. He made her feel so special. But she didn't know how to respond to it. She was not used to such exclusive attention from anyone, much less from Arnav.

The attention and treatment she received from Akash was exclusive too, but it felt different, easy, familiar, weightless. This attention from Arnav was entirely different. Heavier. Slower. It settled somewhere deeper than she was used to. She could still feel his fingers on her back, his lips on her cheek, and it bothered her. In a good way. A way that made her want to keep circling the memory instead of setting it aside.

Maybe she is overthinking. Maybe Arnav wasn't doing that intentionally. He is a friend who just wanted to make her birthday special and now she is treating him differently because of it. That makes her a horrible person.

She really should go and talk to him, tell him she is neither offended nor angry, that whatever she is feeling has nothing to do with him and everything to do with how unprepared she is for it.

~~**~~

After Akash and Doctor Kumar placed Birendra Singh Malik back in his room and made sure he was comfortable, both of them stepped out of the room.

"We need to be extra careful from now. We need him to be at the best of his health before we put him up for surgery" Doctor Kumar said to Akash who nodded his head.

"When do you think that will be, Uncle?"

"I am thinking after a week. It is only after the surgery that we can hope for anything"

Akash knew 'anything' meant a longer life.

He nodded his head and looked at Khushi who was helping set the table for lunch. They haven't had time to eat in the afternoon.

Doctor Kumar followed Akash's gaze.

"Have you told her?" The doctor asked.

"Baba told me not to. But, I already told some of it to her. I don't know what should I do further. She wants to know" Akash said.

Doctor Kumar looked at Khushi too.

"But, she has never asked before" He commented.

"Yeah" Akash said but the doctor looked at Akash again.

"What is it?"

"Bhai talked to her. He told her about how and why he left. Khushi was upset with Baba after that and I didn't want one more person to misunderstand him. So, I tried to tell her but then Baba got sick and the conversation got left out. And now Baba has told me not to talk to Khushi about it. I don't know what to do" Akash said everything.

"Arnav talked to Khushi? I did not know he trusted her that much" Doctor Kumar said.

"Yeah. I was surprised too. But, we know Khushi. She is good at understanding people. I am sure Bhai must have seen that in her. Who wouldn't?" Akash said.

Doctor Kumar took a few seconds to speak again.

"So, Arnav and Khushi are friends now?" He asked.

"Yeah. It is a good thing. Which is why I don't know what to do about Baba's request. I want to tell Khushi everything. And not just because she is my best friend. I think she can prepare Bhai for hearing Baba's side" Akash said.

"Akash, I know what you are thinking makes sense. But, how do you think Arnav will feel when he finds out that everyone in this house knows the truth and they are trying to corner him into knowing it too? I am thinking involving Khushi in this will make it complicated. From what you're telling me, he is beginning to trust Khushi. He is finally opening up. Do not take that from him by making Khushi your ally in it. Keep this simple. This is Malik's story and let him tell that to Arnav. You do not need to burden yourself or Khushi to bridge the distance between Arnav and Malik. It is between those two and let them handle it. If you use Khushi to get through to Arnav, you're hurting not only Malik but also Arnav" Doctor Kumar stated and Akash found himself more in dilemma.

"So, you think I should wait for Baba to talk to Bhai?" He asked the doctor.

"Yes! And keep Khushi out of this until Malik does that" Akash nodded after taking two seconds to think and then both of them walked towards the dining table.

"I was just about to ask you two to come and eat" Khushi smiled at them.

"We saved you the effort" Akash said and got seated.

"That's great! Now, excuse me" Khushi said and turned to leave.

"Where are you going now?" Akash asked her.

"Well, unlike you, some people did give me a birthday gift. So, I'd rather go and sit with Arnav" Khushi replied.

Akash laughed hearing that.

"I think you should pass by my room on the way. You'll find your gift there" Akash said.

Khushi seemed to consider that.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Why don't you go and see? Tell me later if it's not the greatest gift you have ever received" Akash said.

"I doubt that" Khushi said and walked away.

Akash watched her go.

"What did you get her?" Doctor Kumar asked him.

"Something she wanted from a long time" Akash replied and went back to eating.

~~**~~

Khushi was on her way to Akash's room when she noticed Arnav walking down the corridor. He seemed to be heading towards the library.

"Arnav" She called out to him.

He didn't seem to listen. So she caught up to him, her footsteps quick against the marble, and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Where are you rushing off to? Avoiding me, are you?" She asked him, and he just looked at her, something unreadable settling over his face.

"I called you but you didn't stop. What kind of friend.."

Khushi's voice stopped when he stepped into her space, closing the distance between them with a single unhurried step, his eyes fixed upon her face.

"First you tell me why were you avoiding me in the afternoon?" He asked her, his eyes intent on having her answer, while his face moved closer to hers, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath.

"I wasn't." Khushi had to focus on her breathing because he was so damn close she was having trouble breathing. She felt her heartbeats quicken as she smelled his cologne, something dark and clean that did not help her senses, leaving her heady and mystified. But she kept her eyes on the top button of the shirt he was wearing, refusing to look up as she lied for no reason.

"Come on, Khushi! This is not how it works. You cannot be avoiding me one minute and then go back to talking to me without any explanation whatsoever. What is going on?" He asked her, and Khushi felt shivers creeping up her spine as his fingers reached her chin and lifted her face, slow and deliberate, so that now she was looking into his brown, chocolaty eyes.

She could see his own eyes had darkened, and he stared at her intensely, unblinking, as though he had nowhere else to be. Suddenly, Khushi was very aware of how close their bodies were.

She searched for words, but his perfect mouth was too close to hers. She couldn't help but notice the sharp line of his nose, the sensous curve of his lips. As her eyes landed on his lips, Khushi felt him suck in a breath, quiet but unmistakable, the sound of it doing something dangerous to her pulse. Khushi had to force her gaze up, and she looked up to meet his eyes again, her own breath catching somewhere in her throat.

Arnav noticed everything. The quickening of her breath, the dilation of her pupils as she looked at his mouth and then his eyes. He watched as her creamy cheeks flushed with colour, the warmth of it climbing up her neck. His own heartbeats grew rapid as he realized that he was indeed right. The fleeting kiss he had given her stayed on her mind longer than it should have. That is why she was avoiding him earlier. But apparently, she had changed her mind now and wants to talk to him.

He waited for his answer, refusing to let this moment dissipate by letting her go, his fingers still light against her chin, patient, unhurried.

"Nothing is going on." She finally spoke, the words slow, and she lowered her gaze again, unable to hold his. Arnav held in a smile, something warm and satisfied settling low in his chest. He had to resist the urge to cup her face and make her meet his eyes properly, to close whatever small distance still remained.

"You sure?" He asked her softly, his voice dropping lower, and she nodded her head before finally looking at him again. Her beautiful hazel eyes! Arnav leaned in even closer and noticed her eyes widening, her breath catching audibly this time.

"Good then! But if anything does bother you, please do tell me. We should be able to talk to each other. About anything." He said, and he felt her body relaxing beneath his hand, her eyes clearing, the tension easing out of her shoulders one degree at a time.

"Okay." She said, her eyes gentle, and Arnav stepped back, finally giving her the space, though something in him resisted the distance even as he created it.

"I will be in the library. I have a conference call. Talk to you later." He said, and she nodded again, still catching her breath. After that, he briskly walked away, and Khushi was left standing in the corridor, wondering what the hell had just happened between them.

How and why did he affect her so much? She placed a hand over her heart and felt it beating vigorously, insistently, refusing to settle even now that he was gone. And a smile found its way to her lips despite herself.

"You're still standing here?" Akash's voice fell into Khushi's ears, dragging her out of her reverie. She immediately let her hand drop and noticed Akash walking up to her, his expression easy, unaware of the last five minutes entirely.

"You finished so fast?" She counter-asked him, forcing herself to sound normal, willing the colour to fade from her cheeks.

"Well, I had thought you would have seen your gift by now would be on your way to see me, but you didn't come. So, I thought maybe you didn't find it and I should come help you find it" Akash said and that got Khushi's interest back in what was the gift.

"Well, I got caught up talking to Arnav and I was just about to go into your room" She answered.

"Then, let's go together" Akash said and both of them walked towards Akash's room.

Khushi entered in first and looked around.

"Where is it?" She turned towards Akash.

"Why don't you look harder" He replied, crossing his hands across his chest.

Khushi narrowed her eyes at him and turned back to the room to look again and this time noticed a large wrapped box on the bed.

"Is it what I think it is?" She turned to Akash with excited eyes.

"Why don't you open it and find out" Akash said, crossing his hands across his chest.

Khushi didn't waste another second before the reached the box and started unwrapping it with utmost care.

Akash watched with amusement.

"Oh my god. This is exactly that" She squealed.

Akash watched as she removed the old book from the box and opened the first page.

"I cannot believe it! It is actually signed by him" Khushi said, looking at the first edition copy of their favourite book- Oliver Twist. And it was signed by Charles Dickens.

"How did you get this? It must have cost a lot" Khushi said, flipping the yellowed pages of the book with careful fingers.

"I knew you wanted a first edition copy ever since we saw one for sale in the book fair. And since this is a signed one, I knew this had to be your birthday gift" Akash said, seeming proud of himself.

"Thank you so much, Akash. This indeed is the most thoughtful gift you have ever bought me" Khushi said with a wide smile and carefully placed the book in the box.

"Oh please! Like I said, this is the best gift you have EVER gotten" Akash said.

Khushi realized she didn't want to refute that. Because to do that, she will need to tell Akash about Arnav's gift and she felt she didn't want to talk about that. That gift meant more to her than she could put in words.

"It sure is! Thank you, Akash" Khushi said and Akash nodded.

~~***~~

By the time Arnav finished his conference with his manager and suppliers in Delhi, he realized two hours had passed.

He wondered if he should go and check whether Khushi was still around or had she left. So, he got up from the chair and walked down to find Akash sitting alone in the hall, reading a file.

"Hello, Bhai" Akash greeted Arnav.

"Hello, Akash! What are you looking at?" Arnav asked, sitting next to his brother.

"Just some work stuff, Bhai. You know how real estate works! Mr. Sahu, our manager, is buying a building in the extension area and he wants me to go through the papers. I don't know how Baba did this for so many years" Akash said, placing the file away.

"I am sure you will do it good enough. After all, you have to take care of it all in the long run" Arnav stated and Akash looked at Arnav.

"I don't know, Bhai. I know you can do this much better than I can. You know I am not much into this real estate thing. I'd rather run an interior designing firm than buy and sell buildings" Akash said.

"I know where your interests lie, Akash. And, I am sure you can do both the things together if you want to"

"I know, Bhai. I just haven't talked to Baba about it. I don't want to disappoint him. He needs me to do this right now so I am doing it. I can start my designing firm a couple of years later. Anyway, you tell me. How's your project coming up" Akash asked Arnav.

"Pretty well. The construction has started. I had a meeting with the builder yesterday and ensured that everything goes according to the schedule. I want to have the school up and running in the next six months" Arnav supplied.

That made Akash's face brighten.

"So, you're not going anywhere until then! I can't tell you how happy this makes me Bhai" Akash said.

"That is not exactly what it means, Akash. I will have to go back but I will keep visiting" Arnav answered.

"That's just as good" Akash said.

Arnav nodded.

"Did Khushi leave?" He asked after a while.

"Yeah. With the driver" Akash said.

"Alright" Arnav said and got up to leave.

"Bhai" Akash said and Arnav stopped.

"Yeah?"

"Khushi told me that you opened up to her. I think that was really good" Akash commented and Arnav mulled over the words before speaking.

"Yeah. Knowing Khushi has been good. She is.."

"kind and understanding" Akash finished.

"Yes. Yes, she is" Arnav looked at Akash.

"Baba is throwing a big party for her. In two days" Akash said.

"What for?"

"Her birthday. He wasn't there for it, na? So, he is planning it. I am quite excited. The last party we had here was mine but that was also a small affair. From what Baba has told me, this one is going to be bigger and much better" Akash went on explaining.

"I see" Arnav said and then told Akash he needed to finish some work. He walked back to his room and called his Nani.

After talking to her for half an hour, he was finally able to convince her that he was doing fine and it was not possible for him to come to Delhi anytime soon because of his school project. He assured her that he will call her daily to keep her in the loop and she should stop worrying.

When he ended the call, she seemed to be relaxed.

After that, Arnav immersed himself into anther teleconference.

~~**~~

The next day came early and Arnav found himself impatient when Khushi neither called him nor showed up at the Mahal. So, he called her instead and found out that Shashi Gupta was out of town for the day and Khushi was busy managing the shop after him.

Arnav offered to come down and help but she refused saying that he might have other work. Arnav went to the shop nonetheless and noticed with much satisfaction that she was actually glad to see him there.

He spent the day with her at the shop only to realize that she was as smart as kind and understanding. He watched in awe as she dealt with a supplier tactically and ended up making him pay upfront for the huge order he was collecting from the shop.

He told Khushi as much and told her she could do well as a manager. She seemed to not take that seriously and offered him the special 'rewadi' of the shop.

By the time the day ended and Khushi started locking the shop, Arnav realized this was one another day where he didn't worry about his father or his Nani or anything else.

He watched as she called her father and asked when he was coming back.

"He said he will get in late" She said to him after disconnecting the call.

"I see" He said.

"Let's go and have an ice-cream" Khushi said.

"Alright. Where do you want to go? Someplace you know?" He asked her, moving towards his car. He had bought it last week, seeing that Akash was mostly unavailable with his.

"Yeah! There is a stand on Qaisarbagh. It's where Akash and I go sometimes" She informed him.

"Then that's where we'll go" Arnav said and started the car.

He drove while Khushi narrated how one time Akash ended up dropping his ice-cream on her dress and they had to go home to change.

By the time they reached the parlour, Khushi was practically gleaming with excitement.

"It is just ice-cream, Khushi" Arnav said to her when she said he will be in absolute bliss after having their special ice-cream.

"Wait till you eat it" She said, getting off the car once he parked it on the side of the road.

They walked together at the stand and Khushi ordered the 'Blueberry Sundae' for him and her.

Arnav watched as her eyes lit up when the ice-cream was served. She really was looking forward to it.

"Come on, dig in" She said, offering him the spoon.

Arnav took the spoon from her, shaking his head.

"If I don't like this.."

"Then you have a poor taste" Khushi stuck out her tongue at him.

Arnav had a spoon and liked what he found.

"Not bad" He said, smirking.

"Please! You know it's awesome" Khushi said and finished her ice-cream in two minutes. Then she watched him eat and Arnav looked at her.

"What? Don't tell me you want mine as well" He said.

"You said it's not that good" She said and before Arnav could say more, she had snatched the spoon from him and put it in her mouth.

"Delicious" She said, closing her eyes and enjoying it.

Arnav stared at her face, closely watching her expressions.

When Khushi opened her eyes she found his gaze fixed on her face.

"What?" She said, realizing he was looking way too keenly at her.

"Arnav" She said when he moved to her side and started leaning towards her.

"Don't move" He said and Khushi looked around in nervousness.

"Arnav, what are you doing?" She asked him, looking back at him.

She watched as he brought a finger to her mouth, and wiped the ice-cream stuck to the side of her mouth.

"That" He said.

She flushed at his touch and the way he looked at her.

"Thanks" she said and Arnav stepped back.

"Here. Finish it and I will drop you home" He offered her his cup.

Khushi readily took it and once they were done, they got back into the car.

Arnav drove while Khushi looked out the window.

"Amma and I used to come to this place sometimes. This was her favorite ice-cream too" Khushi said after some time.

Arnav looked at her. She didn't look sad but nostalgic.

"What else did you use to do?" He asked her.

"A lot of things. We used to go to Aminabad for kulfi, for walks in the evening, cook specials on Sundays. Amma taught me a lot of things. Once she was gone, Akash started bringing me here for ice-cream. He helped me a lot at that time" Khushi said.

Arnav watched the poignant expression on Khushi's face and held her hand. Khushi looked at him and the understanding in his eyes. It made her heart warm.

"Thanks for bringing me here. It's been so long since I came here" Khushi said and slowly withdrew her hand from his.

"It was you who brought me" He said to her.

"Yeah. But you agreed to come. Akash and I don't get any time now. Now that I think of it, he was right. When we were in college, everything was different. Now, with uncle being sick, he is caught between shuffling the work and uncle's treatment" Khushi said.

Arnav nodded to that.

"He does work very hard. Not the same carefree man he was last year" Arnav added.

"Hopefully, he will find his way back to all that once Uncle is better" Khushi said.

"That's what I am here for. And you" Arnav said before stopping the car at the main road.

"Yeah" Khushi said and opened the door of the car.

"Bye" Arnav said.

"What? You're not coming?"

"I have to go to the construction site" He replied.

"Okay then! Bye" Khushi said and stood there until Arnav drove off.

She found herself mulling over what Arnav had said.

That him and she were here for Akash. She shook her head.

"I have always been here for him, Arnav. But it is you who he really needs now" She muttered to herself.

As she began walking towards her house, she wondered how far she has come with Arnav. She had begun talking to him thinking she could make him talk to Malik Uncle, help Akash reunite his family. But, after knowing Arnav and what he shared with her, she didn't want to ask him to do anything. She wanted Arnav to figure out things on his own.

And she needs to figure out things too. It was time for Akash to tell her more. Khushi decided she was going to ask Akash the very next day. And if he tries to postpone the conversation again, she will talk to Malik Uncle.

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