ArHi SS|The Search for the Perfect Bride Thread 1 - Page 41

Chapter 7:

"Lavanya, you can leave now. I'll call you if I need anything" Arnav practically growled, throwing a hard glare at her before turning back to the screen in front of him. Hearing the anger lacing his voice, Lavanya Kashyap knew better than to push her boss further and picking up her papers, quickly scurried out of the room.

Arnav was ready to pull his hair out the next day. And it was all because of Khushi. First thing in the morning, she had texted him, telling him not to pick her up. She wanted to drive to work today. On her Scooty. Arnav had been flabbergasted, to put it lightly, as he read the message. And it hit him instantly that Khushi was trying to get away from him. Hell, he had known her for years now! She hated driving her scooty, because she had crashed it the last two times she had tried. That was the reason as to why Arnav picked her up and dropped her off on the way home from work everyday.

That and the fact that he actually liked talking to her. She made the commute more interesting, to say the least.

He sighed, knowing that he hadn't gotten any work done all day. And probably wouldn't for the rest of it either. Khushi had been avoiding him, plain and simple. In the morning, he had found Lavanya Kashyap sitting at Khushi's desk, ready to do his bidding from the minute he had stepped in.

Of course, his mood had soured immediately as he asked her where Khushi was, and she had passed him a note, directly from the great Khushi Kumari Gupta herself.

I'm working with the accounts department on some of the financial crises we had talked about earlier. I asked Lavanya to take over for me until I finished dealing with this. Don't be too hard on her.

Khushi

Arnav shot a furious glance at Lavanya, before walking into his office without another word. God! He could strangle her!

And Khushi hadn't come up all day, not even once! He had grown more and more frustrated with each passing minute, wanting to go downstairs and shake her, bring her back, talk to her. When, by the end of the work day, he finally gave in and headed downstairs, he found that Khushi was gone, had left early from the office. At that instant, he was more than ready to head on over to the Gupta house. But he had a better plan He knew why Khushi was avoiding him. And he would solve the problem himself, when Khushi came over to the Raizada mansion later that evening. She couldn't avoid him forever, now could she?

***

Later that evening, Arnav was sitting in the living room with the rest of the Raizada family, as they all waited for the Guptas to come over for dinner. When the doorbell rang, he immediately jumped up and practically ran to the door, unaware of the pair of eyes that had been watching him all evening, frowning at the way he had really not been mentally there, seemingly distracted ever since he came back home from work.

He opened the door, a smile on his generally grim face, as he saw Buaji, and Shashi and Garima Gupta. He greeted them politely, inviting them into the house as he peered over their heads, wondering where she was, but knowing not to ask either. He knew for a fact everyone would stare at him as if he had grown two heads if he actually asked about Khushi. He was Arnav Singh Raizada. He never asked about anyone. Ever. And he wouldn't start doing so now, he told himself, willing himself to keep his mouth shut.

"Arreh, Khushi bitiya didn't come?" Naniji asked, interrupting Arnav's train of thought. He heaved a sigh of relief, as he waited for the response. Saved!

"Han, woh, she said she was not feeling well, and decided to just rest at home" Garima answered, as they all went to the living room.

Not feeling well? "But'she came to the office today!" exclaimed a shocked Arnav. Buaji made a face, "That's exactly what I said to her Arnav bitwa! She even looked fine enough to me. But-"

"That's enough now. If Khushi bitiya says she's sick, then she needs to rest at home. Now let's all go into the living room" Naniji interrupted firmly, before leading Buaji and the others inside.

And leaving Arnav standing in the middle of the foyer, wondering what he should do next, how he could possibly talk to Khushi and find out what was going on.

***

Arnav cautiously stepped into the room where everyone was talking about how excited they were about Payal's pregnancy, making plans for a baby shower for her. Akash threw him a pleading look, motioning for him to sit next to him. Clearly, the females were absolutely overwhelming him. With Mamiji on one side, insisting that everything had to be "phirsht claaass" and Buaji insisting upon the traditions, while Payal nodded to everything that was being said, and Anjali was trying to add the modern twist to the whole ordeal, it was sure to drive any man crazy!

But Arnav couldn't help his brother. He had some other, more important work to tackle.

He cleared his throat, forcing everyone to look up at him, as he waved the phone that was in his hand, "I just got a call from a client, and-" Arnav began, but his little 3 year old nephew interrupted him quickly.

"And Mamu go opish (office)!" exclaimed the little boy, running up to his uncle as he held out his hands to be picked up. Arnav smiled, tucking his phone into his pocket, before he reached down to the little boy. "Adi come too!" he squealed, as Arnav picked him up and threw him in the air, before settling him comfortably in his arms.

Arnav laughed, rubbing his gruff beard against Aditya's cheeks, leaving the boy squealing with laughter, as he told him that he would take him next time.

"Pwomish Arnav Mamu?" Aditya pouted, sticking his bottom lip out, as he rubbed his eyes, pretending to cry and, after dropping a kiss on his nephew's forehead, Arnav stuck his little finger out, "Pinky promise."

The rest of the family was sitting there, amused smiles on their faces as they watched the sweet interaction between the uncle-nephew pair. Aditya had Arnav twisted around his finger from the say he was born, and in that same way, the boy looked up to his uncle unbelievably, everything was about his Mamu. Shyam would often teasingly complain that after his wife, his son loved Arnav more than he loved his own father.

"But Arnav, abhi office? It's almost 7 o'clock and we have guests over" Naniji spoke, her lips pursed together disapprovingly.

Arnav threw a pleading glance at his grandmother, willing her not to continue her protests. "But Nani this is an important client. I promise, I'll be back as soon as I can."

***

Arnav hit the gas pedal on his car, speeding to Khushi's house as fast as he could. He had to talk to her, get to the bottom of this mess. There was no way the two could spend the rest of their lives avoiding each other. Pulling to a stop in front of the Gupta house, Arnav headed up the steps, formulating what he would say to her.

What he heard as he neared the door made him stop right in his tracks. Music. Blasting. Curious, he crossed over to the window and peeped in. And the sight in front of him had his jaw dropping.

Khushi was sitting on her couch, dressed in pink pajamas and tight, fitted t-shirt (Boy was he shocked! He had always assumed she lived in her salwar suits!). Her hair was tied up into a messy bun, piled on the top of her head, as she sat there with a box of butterscotch ice cream, digging straight into the container. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, her eyes puffy and red, as she sniffled, all while listening to one of the happiest songs he had heard in his life.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9AtssRoc2Q&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

What the actual hell was going on?

Without another thought, Arnav hurried back and shoved the door open, marching over to Khushi, and grabbing the container of ice cream out of her hand. She stared at him, absolutely shell shocked before her expression contorted into one of anger.

"WHAT do you think you're doing Khushi? Do you know how BAD ice cream is for you? And who the heck cries while they watch movies?" Arnav yelled at her.

"Who do YOU think you are?" she started yelling back, before she paused, a blank expression on her face. "Eh? You have a problem with me eating ice cream and watching a movie?"

Arnav closed his eyes, Please tell me I did not just say that. Can I rewind back? Ohgod please? Time warp? Anything?

"Arnav?" Khushi snapped her fingers impatiently in his face, "I know you didn't come here to yell at me about my eating ice cream. And you shouldn't care why I was crying. But let me tell you anyways. It's a sad movie. Ok? They're going to get separated soon. That is why I was crying. Your turn to explain." She tugged the box of ice cream out of his arms and plopped back down on the sofa, willing herself to act like she didn't give a damn about the fact that he was here, that the man she shared the most toe curling kiss with the day before was now standing in her living room.

"You were crying because they will be getting separated in the future? What the hell is wrong with you?" Arnav fired back at her, a mixture of confusion and exasperation on his face.

She quirked up an eyebrow in response, as she fed herself another spoonful of the ice cream, her tongue darting out, running across her lips slowly, sensually, drawing Arnav's attention.

Focus Arnav. You came here to talk to Khushi, not make the present situation even worse than it is with a repeat of yesterday.

"I'we need to talk Khushi" he stated flatly.

Khushi glanced up at him questioningly, wondering why he wasn't continuing. "So talk Arnav. What's stopping you?"

"I'not here" Arnav said. "Let's go out somewhere. It'll be fun. Get ready. " Arnav said, eyeing her outfit warily. Yeah, that wasn't something he wanted her to wear in public.

"I don't want to go anywhere" She replied stubbornly, a frown on her face.

"Oh shut up Khushi. Go do what I say. Or else'" he began threateningly, a smirk forming on his face.

"Or else Mr. Raizada? What will you do? Fire me? You wish you could do that! Good luck finding a new secretary. No one in their right mind would ever want to work with you anyway!" she retorted angrily.

"Oh I won't fire you. I'll just tell the entire family, especially Payal how you weren't at all sick, considering you were sitting here eating ice cream. You know they'll be hurt to know you lied to them. And Payal? Well she'll be devastated, won't she, to find out that her baby sister doesn't want to participate in her baby shower'." Arnav drawled softly.

Khushi stared back at him wide-eyed, before getting up and huffing away into her bedroom. "I hate you Arnav Singh Raizada!"

"When you ever learn Khushi? You can't win against me!" he yelled back, settling himself more comfortably into a seat, and focusing his attention on the movie in front of him. Hm. It's all about love. Interesting.