FF: And then she found me...THREAD 1 - Page 14

"No, I hid the paper before he came downstairs. I've told everyone at home and explained to Aman at the office."Khushi sighed with relief as Anjali explained.

"Di I almost had mini attack. God only knows what would have happened if he had found out. When he gets angry it's as though he just stop thinking all together, but you already know this." Anjali shared Khushi's concern. They made a pact not to mention it to him and try their best to stop others from doing the same. Aman would deal with him in the office, Anjali would handle Shantivaan and it was up to Khushi to think before she speaks.

***

Arnav was in his office. "Where's the damn newspaper." Bellowed Arnav. Aaman came running into his office.

"Sir we are trying to establish a paperless environment. As per our last board meeting. It's cost cutting and beneficial for the environment as you said." Arnav was furiously typing away at his laptop.

"I know that but I asked for my newspaper. I pay for that not the company." Aaman went to a cupboard and pulled out a leather case.

"Sir you also paid for this." He pulled out an IPad and switched it on. Within minutes he found the business news and placed it in front of his boss. Arnav picked up the IPad and starting scrolling through the pages of the site without acknowledging his Assisting Manager. Who could easily be mistaken for his PA. But Aaman didn't mind. Once upon that was his job role and he and Arnav had been through it all. He had seen him struggle and pull through. He knew him too well to wait for please and thank you. Aman left without saying another word and made his way to this cabin. Soon enough he was in a conference call with Arnav's legal and PR team trying to resolve the matter before he came to know of it.

Arnav was reading the stock updates for the third time. But the data in front of him was not making sense. He just couldn't concentrate. Not even enough to recognise the names of the companies. He was at a battle with himself. To meet Khushi or not to meet Khushi? That was the question. 'Damn it Arnav! You're not in the school play ground. You have a business to run. Stop thinking about her! Deemak karab kar diya hai. You are not going anywhere. You are going to stay at the office, do your work and then go straight home.' He was adamant on doing just that and focused his attention back to the laptop, only to be disturbed by a phone call.

"How did you get back into my apartment last night?" There was shock and confusion present in her high pitched tone. 'Is she the devil?!' He thought incredulously. 'The minute I diminish her thoughts she's there taunting me.' He could feel his temper rising.

"What the- Not now Khushi, am working. Something you should be doing to." He said in a calm and steady voice. He continued to work on his proposal hoping that this would provide enough distraction.

"I am taking a break." She had gone to ladies to make a quick call "How can you expect me to just let it go Arnav? You got into my apartment last night without me opening the door. That's a major security concern don't you think? How did you do it?" Khushi asked quite irritated at his response and at herself. It hadn't hit her until she left the house this morning and it was all she could think of since.

"Oh for god sake Khushi it isn't rocket science. You hang your keys near your front door. I took them before I left and put them back once I got in. If you had given any thought to your security you would not put your valuables in such obvious places." There was a hard edge of annoyance in his voice. Khushi sat on the other side frustrated. 'Only yesterday was he making promises of change and today... looks like the Laad Governor has moved back in.' Khushi's silence gave Arnav the moment he needed to think about what had just happened.

"Khushi, I didn't mean it like that. I have a lot of work to do. I was thinking of something and then I got your call. It's not your fault." He inadvertently admitted it was his fault and hoped that this was enough to satisfy Khushi. 'Is it really that hard to get a simple sorry out of this man?' Khushi thought to herself

"Hmmm...You're ok thought?" Khushi, asked hesitantly at the thought of what may have put Arnav in a bad mood.

"Yeah, I'm fine. You should get back to your class, I'll see you in the evening." He cut the phone cursing himself. 'Sham ko milthe hai' he mocked. 'It's not like I don't have anything better to do, like work. Not like need sleep or space.' He leaned back in his chair his eyes closed trying to find some sanity. 'I could kill for a beer he thought.' He was shocked by his own thought. He was not much of a drinker. But he did enjoy a beer every now and then. He remembered back to the days when AR had its first success, his small office and the few staff init sharing bottles celebrating their new status. He remembered sitting working throughout these parties until Akash would tear him away from the desk to have one beer. He looked at his watch. It was only 10.30 am. This woman was leading him to drink in the early hours of the morning and they were not even married yet.

"Why can't she just disappear?" He muttered under his breath, instantly regretting his wish. He didn't know if he could go back to his old life without Khushi. He felt panic silently creep through him. 'Koi faraq nahi partha.' He told himself.

"It doesn't matter. She doesn't matter. You're Arnav Singh Raizada. Ek jayegi toh doosri aajaiye gi." He went back to his laptop working out the fine lines of his proposal ignoring the small voice who taunted him. 'Yes there are others but none like her.'

***

It wasn't until school had finished as she was on her way home when she made her second call. "Aamanji please tell me you took care of everything?"

"Ji ma'm, both our Leagal and PR department are handling the situation. But ..." Aaman hesitated.

"Leeking kya?" Khushi panicked. "Aamanji?!."

"We should tell Arnav sir. Khushi ma'm if he finds out that we hid all this from him, that we went behind his back then we are all doomed ma'm." The fear evident in his voice.

"Firstly stop calling me ma'm. And why are you trying to scare me? Just act as if you don't know!"

"Khushiji you can get away with acting as if you don't know. But I cant! He'll fire me the minute he knows." He was right, when Arnav finds out they all went behind his back they would all have had it.

"Ok answer me this, did you speak to Di?"

"Yes, she insisted we keep this from him until his birthday passes."

"Ok then. You have to do as Di says an so does your boss. Di wont let Arnav fire you. Aap bas devi maiya ka naam lekar lage raho."

***

Arnav saw the time, 6pm. If he was going to have a chance of getting to Khushi's at a reasonable time he would have to leave now. He was leaving the office when he saw a news paper at the guard station. He asked if he was done with it, the guard handed the rolled up paper. 'Somethings technology will never be able to replace.' He thought to himself as he got into his white SUV and made his way home.

Anjali looked like she had seen a ghost when she saw the newspaper tucked under Arnav's arm as he walked into Shantivaan.

"Chote, you're home...Whats this? Why do I never seem to find you with out a silly paper. Hand that to me you can read it after you have had something to eat." Anjali said as casualy as possible hoping her brother wouldn't notice the tremble in her voice.

"Nahi Di, I haven't been able to read the paper all day, beside im going out soon so I won't be joing the family for dinner."

"But where are you going? Chote?" Arnav went to his room avoiding the ribbing he would get from his sister once she found out he was going to visit Khushi. He threw the paper onto the bed planning to read it once he got changed. The newspaper flew open to page three where a photo of himself caught his attention.

"What will we do now, Di?" Khushi asked worried.

"I don't know, just pray he doesn't read it. Why don't you call him to distract him or better yet, come over?"

"Di you're shooting hollow bullets at the wrong target. I am nervous as it is and will most likely say the wrong thing getting him more worked him...And I am too young to die."

"Chup. Pagali aise nahi bolthe. I'll try and see if I can get it off him."

"All the best Di."

A loud crashing noise caused Anjali to cut the call before she had intended it to. 'Oh no' she thought. Nani, Mami, Payal and Anjali ran to Arnav's room to find out what had caused the noise. They all had a vauge idea but needed to see it to settle their doubts.

"Chote?" Nani asked confused and concerned. Anjali walked up to her brother who was facing away from them. She noticed the flat screen had been smashed into with a book.

"You knew about this, and you kept it from me. Why di?" He faced her with nothing but pain in his eyes.

"I didn't want you to be upset, especially not before your birthday. I didn't want you hurt. I only did what was right. Arnavs it's just words, it doesn't mean anything. Let it go."

"You're wrong. You should have told me Di." He stormed out of his room heading towards the stairs.

"Chote kahan-" Nani called after him only for her to be cut off.

"For once in your life leave me alone!" He growled.

**

The buzzer rang and Khushi decided that she would answer it on the first go. Her heart started drumming the familiar beat in her chest. "That's enough" she said gently tapping her chest where her heart was jumping. It had just gone past 10 o'clock. "Coming!" She shouted as she skipped to the door with a big smile. 'Wait Khushi, get a hold of yourself woman! His behaviour is ok for one day and you're skipping! No no no, be smart about this he is always one step ahead of the game.' She was about to turn away from the door when she remembered the look in his eyes when he had left last night. Without a second thought she opened the door, for him to stride in.But he stood there motionless, lost in another world.

"Arnav?" Khushi didn't know what else to say, Arnav wasn't the day dreaming type.

"Arnav," she called his name with such care and reassurance that he would travel back from the depths of hell just to hear say it again. He looked up into those big pretty eyes. Arnav walked in and stood in the space between the living space and the open plan kitchen. She saw him rubbing his forehead. "I'm going to take a guess here and say you found out about the article?" She said nervously.

"YOU KNEW?!" He turned to roar at her like the wounded lion he was. She stood there shocked, frozen. He took two long quick strides towards her.

"Did you read it?" He asked through greeted teeth.

"No." She responed quite offended. "Arnav, If I wanted to know about your past I would have asked you not read about it in some page 3 article."

"Did you read what it said about me about Di, did she tell you?" His anger was in control but she could see that his eyes could only see red.

"I told you I didn't read it...I doubt Di did either. Theres not point giving such things any importance." He could see that his accusations had hurt her. 'But she should have told me. Why didn't she tell me?' He couldn't help the betrayal he felt. He lowered his head and ran his hand through his hair. She could see that this was all taking an emotional and physical toll on him.

"Look just stay for a while ok?" She asked. He went and sat down on the sofa he had become so accustom to. She went to the kitchen and got him a cold glass of water. She place the glass down but he didnt move. "You proberbaly haven't even had anything to eat. Give me ten minutes." But before she could return to the kitchen, Arnav threw his arms around her waist in a tight embrace. He burried his head into her tummy. Khushi stood there still as a statue. She could feel his hand turn into tight balls of fists on her back. And in that moment she melted. She put one of her arms around his neck as the other instinctively started to rub his back.

"It's going to be ok Arnav, I don't know when or how but I know it will. I promise it will. And then all this anger and hurt won't matter anymore and you will be free. We will get through this, I promise Arnav." He loosened his grip on her waist. She bought her hands to rest on his arms and she rubbed them soothingly. She gently ran her fingers of one hand through his hair. He let go of her completely, facing back towards the T.V, not making any eye contact. Khushi placed on hand on his shoulder as she sat down next him.

"Paani." She handed him the glass of water which he took without glancing at her.

"Look, Arnav it's ok to be like this, it's ok to be hurt, It's ok to want to cry and confide in someone. You don't have to hide anything from me, in fact you can't hide anything from me. I know what you're going through and I would never judge you or think you to be weak. To the world you are and always will be Arnav Singh Raizada. But to me, right now you're just Arnav and I am just Khushi, just two friends. If feel like you can or that you want to talk to me about this, or anything else, then I am here for you. But there is no pressure." She got it Arnav thought, 'in a single heartbeat she got it.' He didn't want to be weak, he never really had anyone to talk to about this. No one who would truly understand. Khushi had gone to her room and returned with two pillows and duvet. She placed them beside him forcing him to look at her. His eyes were red from tears unshed.

"You can stay here, just for tonight." Khushi didn't quite know if she was doing the right thing letting him stay over, all she knew is her heart wouldn't let her throw out a broken man.

***

Khushi flinched awake as she felt a presence. She was facing away from the bedroom door. The mirror she was facing painted his silhouette. He stood in the doorway motionless. One hand on the door handle the other down his side. Khushi lay there, fear ripped through every muscle in her body, freezing her solid. Her room was dark, the only light was the one pouring in from behind him. 'Hai Devi maiyya! What is he doing?.'

"Khushi" Whispered the statue. She looked at his reflection, still standing in the doorway. She noticed he was topless. The light poured onto his caramel skin. She shut her eyes.

"Khushi? Khushi I know you're awake dammit." His voice was raw and husky. Panic struck Khushi and her eyes flew open, he was no longer standing in the door way, he was sat on the bed with his back to her. She clenched her eyes shut. 'This is just a bad dream a bad bad dream, wake Khushi wake up! He wouldn't. Would he? He is a man after all and he probably has needs. But he wouldn't expect that from her. How could he? She never gave him that impression. Or did she? Letting him stay the night, he could have seen that as an invation. God!'

"Khushi? ' I 'Khushi." He said her name with a sigh and pulled her into his arms. He held her close from behind wrapping his arms around hers, which she had crossed over her chest. She didn't move. She just laied there as fear wouldn't allow her to move. Silent prayers were her only saviour. And then she was shocked for the second time that evening as she felt a soft sob against neck. She reached to touch his face with her hand to find a damp cheek. With all fear now turning into worry she turned around to face him still encircled in his arms. His grip tightened at the thought of her leaving him. She cupped his face in her hands. Even in the little light she could see the glistening in his eyes.

"Arnav?" Khushi managed to whisper his name.

"Khushi, who else do I have apart from you?" His words cracking under the strain of keeping himself together. Khushi felt like she had finely made a break through with this man and in the same moment memories of her own lost ones had come flashing in front of her eyes. She knew the pain he had kept buried. It's the same pain that she held in her heart.

"I'm here. I am right here Arnav." She spoke softly whilst stroking his wet cheek. This was not ASR or Arnav singh Raizada she wasn't even sure if he was Arnav in this moment. There was an innocence to him that she had never seen before. She put her arms his neck and pulled him into a hug. He buried his face into the nook of her neck letting out all the pain he had kept bottled away."It's ok , it's ok ." She kept reassuring him whilst rocking him in her arms. She was fighting back her own tears. She knew that if he saw what this was doing to her then he would never open up to her again.

He didn't loosen his grip. He felt that if he did then he would never be able to pull himself together, she was his glue for the time being. He wanted to stop 'getta grip Arnav' he kept telling himself but it was no use. He knew he had opened the gates to the past and everything he didn't want to face was all he could think off. All the hurt, deceit, struggle and his parents. He couldn't bring himself to imagine what his mother would think of him. His mum had always welcomed everyone with open arms into her life. No bitterness, no guard, all she did was spread love. Would she think him to be a cold ruthless monster just as the rest of the world did?

"You've made them so proud Arnav, you took care of everyone. Look how far you have come in life. You are everything a good man should be, and more." She spoke as though god had created her only for her to say these words to him. She was an angel. His angel.

**

Khushi couldn't remember when she had fallen asleep. She woke in the middle of the night; feeling the sheets trying to find Arnav in them. She opened her eyes to find herself alone in bed. 'Was it all dream she thought?' She touched the shoulder he had been leaning to find it still damp from his tears. She felt a small tear being made in heart as she remembered the look in his eyes. She went and knocked on the bathroom door to find it empty. She opened her bedroom door and looked out into the living room.

Sometime during the night he had made his way back to the sofa. Khushi felt guilt creep up on her. She had thought the worst of him at a time when he had needed a friend the most. She thought about all the times he could have taken advantage of a situation, of her. She thought about the first time she had met him. A case of mistaken identities had led them to be at odds with each other. The argument had become very heated and in that heat of the moment, he had grabbed her close to him with one arm whilst his other hand ripped the pearl strings of her blouse.

"Badthmeez? I havent even started yet." He had said in a cool killer voice before pushing her away from him. Khushi shuddered at the thought of what could have happened. If the Khushi then had met the Arnav of today she would never have thought them to be the same person. Even the lines of his face seemed softer. His brow was in a slight frown of discomfort. Khushi crept over and pulled the duvet over his naked torso. She longed to touch his face, to hear his heart beat, to convince herself that it wasn't all dream. "I promise. One day the pain will go away."She whispered.