Chapter 8

"You're awake?" was his first comment as he entered the house.

 

"Yes, I was waiting for you!" Khushi said grumpily.

 

"Oh, I am sorry, I was busy in a meeting!" He said in his calm and firm voice.

 

"You could have called Arnav!" Khushi said, slowly venting out her anger. She didn't want to raise her voice, it would be inappropriate.

 

"I was busy in a meeting!" He repeated.

 

"You knew you had a meeting right? You knew it would last late into the  night? You could have just texted or even asked your secretary to inform me!" She was furious now as she heard an excuse instead of a sorry, but she tried to keep her calm. She wanted to make him understand that he was no longer alone in this house.

 

" I am not used to calling and informing people. I have never had anyone get worried at home." Arnav said genuinely.

 

"Dinner?" Khushi said changing the topic. She knew she would start shouting in the next 5 minutes.

 

"Yes please." Arnav said.

 

"You can go freshen up, I'll set the table." Khushi said..

 

"Can you get it up in my, I mean our room!" He said.

 

"fine." She said.

 

Arnav went upstairs as Khushi angrily set the plate for him and got it upstairs for him.

 

Arnav was sitting on the bed with his laptop on. This triggered the anger inside Khushi and by now she was not even in the mood to talk to him. Without saying anything she kept the plate next to him and went to her side of the bed.

 

"thanks.." Arnav said, with his eyes glued to the laptop screen.

 

Khushi didn't reply. She went to change her clothes and came back to see the food kept as it was.

 

She went and picked the plate up.

 

"Should I go keep it back if you are done?" she asked, angrily. She was in no mood to talk. She didn't know what he wanted. It was the first time he had pissed her off since they got married. Khushi always thought he was independent and good-natured. Spoiling food wasn't one of the signs.

 

"I haven't eaten Khushi.." he said looking up at an angry wife.

 

"What's the point Arnav, this food is cold and spoilt." She said.

 

Arnav saw the glint of anger in her eyes and was quick to get up.

 

"Look, I am sorry Khushi." He said. He didn't know what else to say.

 

Khushi looked the other direction. He took the plate from her hand and sat down to eat his food first. Khushi felt guilty. 'He isn't used to this life either!' she thought.

 

"Leave it, let me get you another plate," she said.

 

She took the plate from his hand. He shook his head, "No its ok! Ill manage, you must be tired. Sleep!"

 

"No I am not. Ill get you another roti, this one is cold." She said and went down to make another roti.

 

She started to talk to herself, "You shouldn't have gotten angry. He didn't know you would wait. He must have felt so bad. You should have behaved yourself Khushi! This isn't Shyam that you can scream at him."

She stopped. She cursed herself for saying this. Why did she have to think about him again. She had promised she wouldn't! Why did she have to say this. She hated herself. She shouldn't have said that out loud. It just set within her. Would she ever be able to give Arnav Shyam's place in her life?

 

She took the plate up to the room. This time she was depressed. She gave Arnav the plate and sat down. "Have you eaten?" he asked. Khushi realized that she was so angry that she hadn't eaten anything. Arnav frowned seeing her shake her head. "Go get your plate first!" he said. Khushi obeyed. She went down and got herself food, her stomach was growling! She smiled slowly. Arnav thought about her before eating his food. In no time all the anger was gone. She felt happy; Arnav really did care.

 

Arnav and Khushi sat eating when Arnav remembered, "The lunch was really good!" he said smiling, "You cook really well! I know I should have called but I was really busy today."

 

"Thanks, but how did you know I made it?"

 

"The cook makes tasteless food!" he said. Khushi laughed and nodded.

 

"Why didn't you fire her?"

 

"Mamiji does all that, I don't really care. But now, since you'll be making all these decisions, please fire her!" he said.

 

They were connecting. It was happening. It was slow, but progressive. Khushi was happy; she just didn't know it yet.

Once they were done Khushi went downstairs to keep the plate. When she came back he was keeping his laptop away.

 

"Thank you Khushi." He said.

 

"You don't need to thank me, it's my duty!" She said.

 

"Friends don't have any duty towards each other!" Arnav said as he smiled.

 

Khushi smiled back. They were friends! She needed that reminder.

 

"Friends don't say thank you either." Khushi said smiling..

 

Arnav laughed at that and then lay down in bed..

 

Khushi too felt tired and slept.

                                            

                                                           *    *    *

 

The next day passed by quickly. Khushi knew Arnav's schedule and Arnav made it a point to call and tell her that he would be late again! Khushi smiled at his sweet gesture and then returned to pack Buaji's clothes as she was leaving that day. Khushi felt very sad to see Buaji leave but she knew that Buaji wouldn't always stay with her.

 

Khushi went to the airport to drop Buaji.  In the car, Buaji asked Khushi what she wanted to ask her from a long time.

 

"Will you ever be able to forget Shyam?" she asked.

 

"I will Buaji, give me some time'" Khushi said being positive. She had to forget Shyam, she didn't have an option.

 

                                                      

That night Arnav came late again. But this time he found a smiling Khushi rather than an angry one! She was waiting for him and both had dinner together on the table. Arnav was happy to see that Khushi was smiling and she was comfortable. Everything was going perfect. Arnav's new life was going smooth and he loved to see a smiling Khushi at the end of the day. She looked very innocent and beautiful. Arnav yearned to be her husband. But he controlled himself. 'Khushi can take as much time as she pleases' he thought.

 

The next morning Khushi made breakfast. She was running late. Arnav was already ready and he came down for breakfast. Not seeing his breakfast on the table he yelled at the cook. The cook didn't say anything but kept staring at the kitchen door.

 

Khushi quickly got the breakfast out and seeing Arnav shout at the cook she defended her and told him that she was the cause of the delay!

 

Arnav looked at Khushi in confusion.

 

"Khushi I go to office at 8 and its almost 8:30! Why do you make the breakfast anyway? The cooks are there to do the work!"

 

Khushi looked down embarrassed as Arnav was annoyed with her and screamed in front of the servants! Arnav realized that he shouldn't have done that. He kept quiet. Khushi kept the breakfast on the table and began to leave the room. Arnav caught her wrist. Khushi shivered at his touch and turned around. She took a deep breath and stared at him. He was genuinely sorry for his doing.

 

"Won't you have breakfast with me?" he asked.

 

"I'm-not-Hungry" she said quietly as her voice shivered. She hadn't seen Arnav angry before so that brought tears to her eyes.

 

"Sorry'" he said again.

 

"How many times will you apologize Arnav?" Khushi asked.

 

"I'I am really sorry..." he said.

 

"Its ok. Now please have your breakfast, you're getting late!" she said.

 

"Only if you eat with me!" he said.

 

Khushi smiled again. She just couldn't say no.

 

"Oh! Khushi I forgot to tell you, be ready by 7 today, we have to go to Hotel Oberoi for our reception Party!"

  

"Ill ask Mamiji to send your saree and jewellery she bought and Ill pick you up at 7 from here."

 

"Won't you get ready?" Khushi asked.

 

"I am always ready!" he said with a small grin.

 

'Right. How could I forget, black suit and white shirt. So typical Arnav.' Thought Khushi.

 

"Why don't you change your shirt?" asked Khushi.

 

"Not a bad idea, keep one out for me and I'll change when I'm back!"

 

Khushi smiled. Arnav had listened to her!

 

He left for office. Time went by as slow as possible and Khushi had nothing at all to do. Her dress and jewellery came around 1 and she took it  to her room to see what was in the packet.

 

She opened to see a beautiful red saree embroidered with gold and a golden blouse. The jewellery was very beautiful as well. The blouse was sleeveless and looked very sexy. Khushi loved it.

 

She couldn't stop admiring the diamonds on the necklace and the saree was just beautiful.

 

Then she remembered that she had to take out a shirt for Arnav as well. She opened his cupboard and was shocked. She couldn't believe her eyes. There were two rows. One filled with black suits and the other with white shirts! Some white shirts had stripes where as some had checks and the remaining were plain. In the other cupboard there were many ties and accessories.. there were just two black shirts in a corner but that was it.

She was so fed up with seeing Black & White that she felt like throwing away all his clothes! No wonder he didn't like shopping! How much white could a man buy?

 

By 6:30 Khushi was ready. She looked gorgeous. She had curled her hair and looked beautiful! By 6:45pm Arnav was here and he was just smitten by Khushi. She looked amazing and he kept staring until she clicked her fingers in front of his eyes.

 

"You look amazing, Mrs. Raizada." He said.

 

Khushi wasn't used to Mrs. Raizada so her eyes widened and Arnav began to grin..

 

"You're going to be called 'Mrs. Raizada' all evening!" he said.

 

Khushi realized why Arnav had called her that.

 

"And where is my shirt?" Arnav asked.

 

"I don't think you have any other shirts.." she said.

 

"Oh please, stop pulling my leg! Only because I always wear white that doesn't mean I don't have other shirts. And white looks very professional."

 

Khushi laughed.

 

"Madam, If you are done with laughing, shall we go?" he asked.

 

"Yes..!" Khushi said.

 

This was her first party as Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada.!

 

                                              *                                 *

 

They both reached the party and were greeted by a lot of people all at once.

 

Arnav introduced Khushi to his relatives!

 

Khushi met everyone with a smile.

 

Then they moved on to meet all the businessmen waiting in the huge hall.. Khushi was awed by the grandeur of the place! Everything was just amazing. All the biggest businessmen were at the party including the Ambani family.

 

One by one Arnav introduced Khushi to everyone.

 

Khushi greeted everyone with a smile and handshake, but suddenly her smile vanished. She got goose bumps. The hall suddenly started to feel very suffocating and she started to sweat. In front of her eyes was the man she was running away from, the man who she wanted to forget, Shyam. He stood there with a fake smile on his face as he greeted Arnav.

 

Khushi was shocked to see Shyam there. She stared at him wondering if this was a dream. He wore a black suit and a red shirt inside. He had changed. His hair was styled and he looked deadly handsome. Arnav greeted the lady standing by his side.

"Hello Ms. Malhotra, how are you doing?" Arnav said.

 

"Mr. Raizada, meet Mr. Oberoi, my fianc," she said smiling.

 

"Oh, Congratulations Ms. Malhotra, and Mr. Oberoi!" Arnav said shaking hands with them. Khushi stood there speechless. ' What the'' She couldn't say any more.

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Hope you liked the update :) It was kind of long, so I had to leave it at this point. Will update soon ! 

Waiting for your feedback.

NOTE : Now AK's relationship will move forward. Arnav will come to know in an update or two.

[MEMBERSONLY]