ARHI SS - Mujse Dosti Karoge? Chp 8 Page 114 - Page 41

Loving part 4!!

Excited for the next part. Look forward to your pm :)

loving it absolutely. found the ending of your previous story realistic somehow though not many people agreed with it. and now, loving the way arnav and khushi are supporting each other. very true, they cant stop loving each other but (to quote a cheesy line) kabhi-kabhi dooriyan bhi zaroori hoti hain...looking forward to the next part.

Loved it!!!!!

Yes!!!! I am finally caught up

Read part 1 and 2
It was amazing!
very well written

i read other works of ur too
the best part is the way the way they are written :)

OMG pls update the next part soon dear

OMG...loved it.

Initially i had planned this to be an SS but its turning out to b way longer than an SS. I am actually not sure what classifies as SS. Anyway guys plz excuse me if u feel its long or dragging.

as usual silent readers r not welcome. Least expectation is that u atleast hit the LIKE button or if u dont like the chapter add a comment criticizing the piece & pointing out wat exactly u dint like. Ppl who bother to neither hit the LIKE button or comment ll b removed frm my PM list 😃

Chapter 5

Her hands were drawn towards him. It was as if her body was acting independently without paying heed to her brain. As usual his hair was disheveled. He must have run his fingers through it fretfully at least a hundred times in the course of the day. She smiled indulgently which soon turned to a grimace when she felt his face against her stomach. She was wearing a simple kurta but she could still feel the heat through that flimsy material. It took all her self-control to restrain herself. She was slowly losing the plot. She was supposed to stay away from this guy right. Then why the hell did she call & literally beg him to come & meet her. She was appearing contradictory even to herself. She could no longer understand her motives. Just when she felt her last vestiges of self-constraint sap out of her system she felt him shift & finally get up.

He seemed to be completely unaffected by the proximity.

"I am sorry Kushi for spoiling your mood as well. I just wanted someone to speak to. I need to be strong for my family. Already they are shaken by the turn of events. I can't afford to break down before them."

He sighed.

"Guess I need to leave now."

She tugged at his hand & made him sit on the sofa.

"Arnavji what are you planning to do about Di."

She felt a sliver of guilt stab her when she saw his dejected, forlorn face.

"Arnavji please listen to me. Currently the problem with Di is that she is a prisoner held captive in that golden cage of yours. Believe me I know how it feels. How about making her leave the house, go out, spend some time on other activities."

"Kushi no one is stopping her from going out. In fact she seems to have given up even on her god. She no longer wastes time on poojas or temples."

"Arnavji you are handling this wrongly. What I meant was cant she take up some activity which will keep her occupied physically & mentally. You are the owner of a fashion powerhouse dammit. Why don't you give her some job in your office. She has excellent, refined, high-class, haute taste in traditional dresses. As far as I remember she personally designs most of her saris & her choice of accessories also are immaculate. Why don't you ask her to take charge of one of your collections on the traditional line of dresses. She could work along with your designers in AR. That would make her feel good & needed. It will bolster her self-respect & make her feel proud."

Arnav was gaping at her open-mouthed.

"Kushi are you crazy. Di has never shown interest in my business. Also she has to take care of Armaan."

Kushi snorted derisively.

"There we go again. MR I AM THE BEST AND KNOW WHATS BEST FOR OTHERS RAIZADA. Mr Arrogant Snooty Raizada when will you stop playing god & decide others' lives. I am not asking you to make Di in charge of the revenue or logistics side of your business. I am just asking you to ask her if she is interested in working on the designing section. Also no one is asking her to work full time in office. She can do all the work from home as well with some occasional visits to the office."

She could see that Arnav was still not convinced.

"Arnavji it was just a suggestion. Believe me it's horrible to always feel dependent on someone. That was the main reason why I decided to resume my education. Every girl should be self-dependent. Was that not 1 of the reason why you used to humiliate me. "

Arnav flinched at her harsh tone.

"Ok Kushi let me talk to Di. Now you better go & get some rest. Else you will again call me at wee hours of dawn."

Kushi pouted in an annoyed manner & Arnav felt a gale of affection surge within him. He smiled & rubbed her cheeks affectionately. He leaned closer & for a minute her breath hitched. But the kiss that she was expecting never came. She felt him whisper in her ears.

"I was just joking. You can call me anytime. And I promise I will talk to Di about your suggestion."

He was at the door when she finally came back to her senses.

"Arnavji..."

He turned & looked at her quizzically.

"Ta.. Take care of yourself please. Please eat regularly & don't forget your medicines. You have to be strong for Di as well so please don't neglect your health. You know how much she freaks out when you are ill. She already has too many things on her plate & can't baby sit you as well. One kid is tiring enough."

"I DON'T NEED ANYONE TO BABY SIT ME."

Kushi raised her eyebrows sarcastically & he replied by slamming the door on her face. She chuckled long after he had left. As usual Arnav's mere presence had reassured & comforted her. She collapsed on her bed & was fast asleep in a matter of seconds, a huge smile on her face.

Arnav was fuming long after he had reached home. He slumped on the bed & thought about his conversation with Kushi regarding Di. He had to approach Di with caution lest she gets offended. Some how he felt light headed after the talk with Kushi. He marveled at her spirited approach to life & her unflappable optimism even at the face of even the worst predicament. He fell asleep with a smile on his face, his mind still lingering on her thoughts.

**********

He stared lovingly at the riotously colourful pot & the tiny seedlings which were cautiously peeking out of the soil. He thought of Kushi & how she had tended to these plants after coming to know that he had specially ordered the consignment from Europe. He smiled at the thought of her goofy antics & innocent heart.

"Arnavji……………." That soft voice broke his reverie & he turned to find a nervous looking Payal staring at him.

He answered her even before she could ask.

"She is fine Payal. Don't worry."

She exhaled in a relieved manner & came closer.

"Arnavji if you don't mind can I ask you something? Why did you……………"

"Accept for a divorce?" He completed her sentence. When she nodded in a dull manner he smiled at her.

"Because I don't deserve her. Never have & never will!"

"But Arnavji she………….."

"…..loves me." He once again completed her sentence. "Yes I know but that is what has always been her problem. Loving & trusting people who don't deserve her love or trust."

Payal blushed & he knew that his words have struck the target. But she dint back down.

"Do you mean to say people should never be forgiven for their mistakes. To err is human. Why can't you try to win her back. I don't think that should be impossible. After all while no one could stop her, you managed to pull it off."

"That's because I chased her, fought with her & finally made her stay. She would have relented even if you or nani or Akash had hammered her into acceding."

"But we dint. That's the whole point. It was YOU who ACTUALLY had the courage, the will, the tenacity & finally the need to stop her, reach out to you. For in the end only YOU CARED ENOUGH TO FIGHT FOR HER AND FIGHT WITH HER. BECAUSE U CARED & STILL DO"

He was taken aback. Payal had never been so forthcoming with him. He liked her more with every passing day. One of the few decisions that he had got right in his personal life. She had been surprisingly strong & resilient these few difficult weeks. In fact more & more he found Nani, Di & even Mami turning towards her for solace & comfort. No wonder Akash loved her deeply. He sighed sadly.

"Love is a strange thing Payal. For some it's as soothing as these plants. For eg you & Akash. You both were meant to be together. Your love for each other make both of you stronger. It's comforting & reassuring. It's pleasant & beautiful. For some it's like a raging fire which devours & destroys everything in its vicinity. For eg Kushi & me. I loved Kushi the most but I also hurt her the most. My love gave her only pain & agony. Too much of love is also not a good thing. Take Di & my case. Both of us loved deeply & lost badly. Sometimes I wonder if the original idea of Nani & Di about Kushi marrying NK had actually been a good one. She deserves a guy like NK. Someone who can cheer her up, make her smile, make her happy, share her pain, soften the blow that fate invariable delivers at regular intervals. Someday I am sure she will find the right guy who will love her, make her fall in love & more importantly make her love the very idea of falling in love with him".

Payal stared after him long after he had retired into his room. She then turned & looked at the pot that he had been staring before she had interrupted him. She recognized it. Kushi would be spending hours pottering around those plants, muttering to herself & sometimes cursing Arnav. She felt her eyes mist over. She sensed someone hold her shoulders gently. She turned to find Nani standing beside her. She hugged Nani tightly all the while sobbing silently.

Arnav observed the two women consoling each other & turned away fearing that he may break down completely.

**********

The next 2 weeks crawled away at a boring pace. Arnav called her rarely & even when he managed to call her his conversations would be short & crisp. Small talk was not his forte. It no longer annoyed Kushi. She knew he cared for her in his own way & mushy, romantic display of feelings was not up his alley. She spent the time trying to brush up on all that she had learnt in the last year of school. After all she had a lot of catching up to do. She dint want to appear a total dunce to her college mates.

The night before her 1^st day in college she had another bout of panic attack. She stared with glazed eyes the little Mt Everest of Jalebis now lounging on the kitchen counter & slapped her forehead. When the doorbell rang she ran to the door & was ecstatic that it was indeed him. He walked in & collapsed on the sofa.

"SHIT It was a horrible day in office. I feel as if I have run a marathon. Kushi can you get me a cup of coff….." His voice trailed off when he noticed the room empty. Had he been talking to himself all along.

"KUSHI KUSHI……." He yelled & was exasperated to hear her muffled voice reply from the kitchen. He rolled his eyes in an exasperated manner & strode furiously to the kitchen & the sight which greeted his eyes made him as usual spout his favourite expletive.

"WT*"

Before he could explode he found a cup being thrust under his nose. He raised his eyebrows quizzically.

"Black Coffee for your headache."

"How do you……….."

She stalled him from speaking.

"I know Arnavji! When you are exhausted or have a splitting headache you always love to have sugarless, black coffee."

He was flabbergasted. This girl never ceased to amaze him.

"Unbelievable!!!"

She twirled around & mock bowed before him.

"Yeah I know!"

He laughed & hugged her with one hand.

"Oh Kushi I love you."

Chuckling good-humouredly he carried the cup & plonked on the sofa leaving her rooted to the spot.

"I love you."

His words kept reverberating in her ears & as if in daze she drifted to the sofa to find him slouched lazily on the sofa sporting a heart-stopping lop sided grin. He looked up & gave a dazzling smile making her spine turn to jelly & her knees weak.

DAMN YOU Attractive Sexy Raizada.

She cursed him inwardly. Devi Maiyya Not fair. It's just not fair. First you give him that drop dead gorgeous body. Then you top it off with that smoking hot jaw line with that sexy stubble & enticingly tousled hair. Then with a final flourish you add that chocolate eyes. When I die & reach heaven you better watch out. I have a bone to pick with you.

"Kushi why are you staring at me with that murderous look. First you feed me & after fattening me you want to slaughter me." He was laughing at her mockingly. He hiccupped to silence after seeing her icy glare.

"Anyway I figured that you will be nervous before your first day in college & that Mt Everest (gesturing towards the kitchen) back there just confirms my theory. So came here to cheer you up with some glad tidings."

Smiling at her confused look he continued.

"That was a killer idea Kushi. Di has been in office only for 5 days & already I can sense a sea of change in her. She smiles more often, is more like her previous cheerful self. There is a spring in her walk. She has started chatting with me, nani & rest of the family. She has taken to designing like a duck getting accustomed to water. She absolutely loves working on all those designs."

This time Kushi returned his smile.

"Oh Arnavji this means a lot to me. You are right. This news has really cheered me up. I told you I told you I told you. See even I have DIMAAG." She was practically skipping around joyfully & he felt himself fall in love with her all over again.

He got up strode to her, held her shoulders to stop her merry jig. He jabbed lightly at her temple & said.

"Yes Ms Kushi Kumari Gupta. Your little grey cells work once in a while."

She pouted & he burst out laughing.

"Oh Kushi you are an original piece I tell you."

When she dint reply he held his ears playfully.

"OK I am sorry. Don't ask me to do those silly utak baitaks. You can add another clause in that contract of yours though." He spoke cheekily.

She started to leave the room in a huff when he held her & pulled her back.

"Come on Kushi after taunting me for being an Akadu you seem to have caught my infection. Why so serious. Let's put a smile on that face. You can make a cart load of sugar free jalebis & I will try to gulp them all. Then when I pass out you can dial for the ambulance."

He ducked out of harm's way & her fist missed him by several inches. He continued to laugh heartily & it was so contagious that her resolve melted. She laughed along with him, their laughter ringing & echoing merrily all over the house.

Loved the narrative... and how they converse with each other... feels so real!