FF|Arhi|Th4 How IPK should've been[ch22sc3 pg102 - Page 16

Originally posted by: sohara

Read the last two chapters together.

I was busy for the Eid celebration.

Awesome updates.

Nandini was flirting with Arnav without knowing he was Khushi's fiance! I know any girl would want Arnav as her partner. But Arnav belongs to Khushi only. So all the girls stay away from Arnav.

i'm glad that After some futile attempt Arnav got to get Khushi's company. It was so sweet how she slept on his shoulder. Arnav asked her directly that why she was avoiding him. Great going ASR.

I'm just waiting to see how the ice melt between them.

Originally posted by: babli0204

Sorry...sorry...sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could not comment on the last two updates. I was out of station for a conference and did not have any time, though I have read them before going to bed late at light. Otherwise I just could not sleep (see what are you doing to us Smitzy?!?!?!)!

I am back now and must say the two last updates were sooo good!!!!!!!!!!! Nandini conflict is cleared. Arnav is going in the right direction! But our sanka devi is sooo unbelievable!!!!!!!!!! God only knows how her mind functions... But dot not worry, her sanak dev is there to take care of her sanak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS for the pms...

Aakash, Garima and Payal are happily talking to each other about the prospects of returning back to Shantivan but Khushi is silent during the whole journey between the airport and Laxmi Nagar, giving only monosyllabic answers when talked to. She is just staring out of the window, watching the landscape flash by her eyes in a hazy blur. But her mind is not registering that either. She is thinking about her experience in the flight.

She feels breathless for a moment as she remembers his gaze on her, his breath close to her face, his fingers brushing her torso... the playful words, the teasing talk, the murmurs of concern, and finally confronting her as to why she was running away from him... Khushi holds her head in her hands and shuts her eyes. So much had happened in the past week; the promise she had made to herself on the night of Aman's party, of not meeting or seeing or talking to Arnav, had pretty much flown out of the window from the day she had seen him sitting outside the hospital ICU.

His shocked eyes gazing at her as if she was an apparition... the relief filtering in through his hug... his admitting that he was worried about her... Buaji's and Payal's words confirming that Arnav had indeed rushed to Lucknow thinking she had the accident... him coming to their home and apologizing to Garima and Payal... him meeting her in the kitchen telling her that he had never stopped thinking about her... the concern in his voice when he had asked Aakash if she was ok post watching the CCTV coverage... him clearing Khushi and her family's tainted name once and for all in front of the media... him showing his engagement ring to the whole world declaring that he wasn't over her... him telling her that he never took off his ring...

Khushi rests her head on the glass of the window. There was no denying that Arnav had done a lot for her family in the past days. And now, finally things were getting back to normal; her jeeji was going back to her rightful place in the Raizada family; her Bauji was getting medical care for his post-op recuperation; her Amma was finally smiling. Khushi sighed.

*

Naniji, Anjali, NK and Mami are happily talking to each other about the prospects of returning back to Shantivan but Arnav is silent during the whole journey between the airport and Raizada Mansion, giving only monosyllabic answers when talked to. He is just staring out of the window, watching the landscape flash by him eyes in a hazy blur. But his mind is not registering that either. He is thinking about her experience in the flight.

He feels his heartbeats race for a moment as he remembers her doe-eyed look at the air hostess, first her stubbornness and then her acceptance on allowing him to handle her seat belt, her head on his shoulder as she dozed off peacefully... the painful exclamations, the cute questions, the dismissive retorts, and finally the counter questioning him as to when had she stopped talking to him... Arnav leans back on his seat and shuts his eyes. So much had happened in the past week; the promise he had made to himself on the night of Aman's party, of not meeting or seeing or talking to Khushi, had pretty much flown out of the window from the night he had figured out that Khushi knew the truth about Garima and his father much earlier than he did.

Her asking why would she be in the ICU... her reminding him that he wasn't part of her family anymore... her questioning him that when had he thought about what she may feel during every time he had mistreated her... her asking him if he could forgive himself... her lying cold in the middle of the night... her blurting out that she only returned the ring to him because she thought that he'd taken it off first... her jealousy at her friend showering him with attention... the need in her eyes as he prodded her to push him away...

Arnav gently squeezes the inner tips of his eyes. There was no denying that Khushi had gone through a lot in the past few days. And now, when he had hoped that finally things would get back to normal she was knowingly keeping herself at a careful distance from him. Arnav could figure that much of his own. But the question remained that if he had made his intentions perfectly clear to her, why was she still running away from him? Arnav sighed.

[Gupta House]

The first car halted outside the Gupta House and everyone slowly started getting out. The driver and Aakash help to get Shashi out and carefully seat him on his wheel chair. Garima, Payal and Khushi in the meantime start getting their bags out from the trunk at the back of the SUV.

"HAYE RE NANDKISHORE!! Agar tumre iss PHOOL lagane ke chakkar mein humra TV toota na, to Devi Maiyya ki kasam, tum sab ke haath tod denge!!" Buaji's angry yell echoed out till the courtyard making the new arrivals freeze on their spots. Khushi and Payal exchange wide eyed looks, before rushing towards the house.

Couple of men in green overalls sheepishly walk out of the main door at the same instant as the two sisters reach it. Buaji suddenly notices Payal and gasps audibly.

"Arre Payaliya! Tum log aai gaye? Humein to dhyaan hi naahi raha. Subah se yii ghar nahin chidiya ghar bana hui raha hai!" she exclaims irritatedly and pushes past the sisters to welcome Shashi and Garima. Khushi and Payal stare at Buaji's retreating back once and then at each other. Then they turn to walk inside the house and just as Khushi steps into the house a gasp louder than Buaji's escapes her.

[Arnav's car]

A phone call makes Arnav open his eyes. He looks down to see "Aman calling" blinking on the screen. Arnav receives the call.

"Ya Aman. I'm on my way. Abhi ghar ja raha hun," Arnav starts off.

"Sir, jaisa ki aapne aaj subah bataya tha, maine 100 rose ke bouquets Gupta House bhijwa diye hain. I believe florists ne poore ghar mein saja bhi diye honge," Aman replies.

"Hmm," Arnav replies. Somehow, from the moment of seeing Khushi in the Lucknow airport lounge to the time he saw her getting into the car with the other Gupta family members, he had already forgotten all about the flowers.

"Thanks Aman," he replies. "I'll be reaching office in an hour. So see you then." Arnav disconnects the call, suddenly trying to imagine Khushi's expression as she'd enter her house.

[Gupta House]

The entire living room is covered with blood red roses; some in vases, some in bunches, some in elaborate arrangements. No flat surface is spared; the top of the centre table is covered with a square arrangement, and the cushions decorated with huge wreaths; the walls are covered in garland like strings. Even the floor is covered in a million rose petals. The air is heavy with the beautiful fragrance of the fresh flowers. Khushi's hand flies to cover her the "O" that her mouth has formed. Her eyes widen as she scans the room from one side to another.

Completely oblivious to the rest of her family standing at the entrance and gaping at the garden that their living room now resembled, Khushi walks inside the living room dazedly. She lovingly caresses the almost life-size bouquet in front of her not realising that she is now smiling. She notices a piece of paper jutting out and she carefully takes it out. Khushi's eyes widen again as she reads the text on the paper. It has only three words written on it.

Welcome Home, Khushi

"Yii hi to hum keh rahe the Nand Kishore!" Buaji suddenly exclaims as she storms inside the living room. "Subah se yii phool daani wale log aaye rahe ghar ma, aur poore ghar ko bageecha banane mein lage rahe. Hum batiyaye rahe unka, bhaiya humre ghar ke aangan main ek bageecha pehle se bana hua raha, par Nandkishore, humri koi baat sune to na!" Aakash, Payal, Garima and Shashi wordlessly enter the house looking around at this exuberant decoration awestruck.

"Aree o Sankeswari, tum wahan putle ki tarah kaahe khadi ho?" Buaji asks Khushi's back.

Payal and Aakash exchange a glance before she firmly grabs Khushi's arm and walks her to her room. Aakash follows behind them carrying Khushi's bags. Khushi's room too is filled with vases of roses. She mutely sits down on her bed, looking overwhelmed. Aakash keeps the bags by her bed. Payal and he again exchange another wary glance, then he motions Payal to get Khushi a glass of water. She nods and walks out.

"Khushi ji?" Aakash ventures tentatively. Khushi looks up at him. "Are you okay?" he asks worriedly. Khushi nods her head in reply.

"Okay. Maine aapke saare bags yahan bed ke side par rakh diye hain," Aakash says pointing to the bag. "Aap araam se inko unpack kar lijiyega. Expecially, ye bag," he murmurs cautiously pointing to a big jute bag that looked like it was going to burst open at its seams. Khushi again nods mutely. Aakash stands awkwardly with his sister-in-law, at a loss what else to say. "Okay, to main chalta hun," he says lamely and starts walking out of the door.

"Jeejaji?" Khushi's voice makes him stop at the door and turn around. Khushi walks to him.

"Hum bahut khush hain ki jeeji ko aap jaise pati mile," Aakash looks at her, taken aback at this sudden track. Khushi bows her head down as she continues, "pichle 2-3 hafton mein jo kuch bhi hua hai, agar jeeji ko aapka saath nahin milta to na jane woh kya karti." Aakash too bows his head, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Aur Purani Haveli mein bhi, aapne humara dhyan rakha..." Aakash looks up and sees Khushi looking gratefully at him. "Humara matlab... dhanyawaad, har ek cheej ke liye..." Khushi whispers.

Aakash gently squeezes Khushi's shoulder. "Khushiji, aap meri saali kam, meri choti behen zyada ho. To meri choti behen ka dhyan rakhna meri responsibility thi." Khushi looks at him smiling at her. She too smiles back in response. "Aur haan, maine Payal ke liye jo kuch bhi kiya, agar aap hoti to Bhai bhi aapke liye wohi karte." Khushi stands rooted to her spot. Aakash nods at her once and walks out of Khushi's room. Her smile fades away a little.

Par unhone aisa kiya to nahin tha...

[AR Design office, a couple of hours later]

Arnav walks into his office. His secretary immediately follows him up to his office.

"Welcome back ASR," she murmurs reverentially. Arnav nods his head at her. "Sir, Creatives aur Production ke saath catch up meeting aaj 11:30 baje hai. Singapore clients ke saath aapki meeting hai post lunch. Aur sir aapke banker ne phir se message choda hai ki woh aapse urgently baat karna chahte hain." His secretary reads out from her notepad.

"Fix an appointment with the banker after the catch up meeting. Aman kahan hai?" Arnav asks her.

"Sir, Aman sir godown inspection ke liye gaye the. Abhi tak wapis nahin aaye hain," she replies back. Arnav dismisses her with a nod of his head. After checking his planner confirming the events of the day, he picks up his phone and calls up Aakash.

"Haan Bhai!" Aakash replies.

"Tum ghar pahunch gaye?" Arnav asks.

"Abhi to temporary ghar par hun, Bhai. Thodi der mein Movers and Packers aane wale hain. Uske baad Payal aur main Shantivan ke liye nikal jayenge." Aakash replies. Arnav smiles. It wasn't too long ago that Aakash had insisted on calling that house his home. And now it was getting labelled as a temporary house.

"Theek hai. So I guess we'll have dinner together then?" Arnav asks.

"Haan bhai," Aakash replies in the affirmative.

"Great. Uhm, by the way, Guptas theek thak pahunch gaye ghar?" Arnav enquires cautiously, not trying to give away any emotions in his voice. Aakash smiles on the other side in understanding.

"Haan Bhai, woh sab theek thak pahunch gaye. By the way, nice flowers," he adds good humoredly. Arnav rolls his eyes.

"Did she feel that way?" Arnav asks curiously. Aakash understood who "she" meant.

"Yes Bhai. She was speechless for some minutes," Aakash replies with a smile. "Aur haan, before you ask the next thing on your mind, I slipped in the box in her bag like you asked me to. She'll see it when she unpacks her things." Arnav sighed.

"Thanks Aakash," he replies gratefully.

"Why didn't you give it to her yourself, Bhai?" Aakash enquires. Arnav is rendered speechless for a moment. Because she is avoiding me? Because she doesn't want to talk to me? Because she's distancing herself from me? Take your pick.

"I just wanted to surprise her," is what Arnav says instead. "Chalo, I'll get back to work. I'll see you at home later then." Arnav disconnects the phone and boots up his laptop.

[Gupta House, afternoon]

Khushi is on the floor on all fours picking up the rose petals that were covering it and transferring it to a small wicker basket. She had vehemently refused Buaji from using the broom to sweep them away. After all they were Roses! She'd keep them in her room rather than displaying the living room as a "garden" as Buaji so frequently kept repeating the whole morning.

Garima was talking about Lucknow and filling in Bua about the operation and the post-op therapy that Shashi was due to have. The two ladies sat in the living room completely ignoring Khushi as she flitted between the living room and her own bedroom, emptying the former of the rose vases and bouquets and shifting them to the latter. At one point Khushi caught Buaji muttering something about "Sankeswar" and "Sanaka Devi" but she went on about her business as if she hadn't heard anything.

Right about lunch time did the living room start resembling its previous state much to Buaji's contentment. Khushi's room on the other hand resembles a RED box and the air is hanging heavy with the fragrance. Khushi sits down on her bed and looks around. Khushi was damn sure of who had sent those flowers as were here family members. But no one had uttered a word about it since they'd reached home. Finally sighing, she picks up her bags about to start unpacking them when Buaji calls from the kitchen.

"Parmeswari! Khana lag gaya hai. Mooh haath dhoi ke aao!" Khushi keeps the bag away and runs out of the room.

[AR Designs, Arnav's cabin, afternoon]

Arnav is sitting in his cabin when he gets a call on the intercom from his secretary.

"Sir, Mr. Bhushan, your banker, is here." She announces.

"Send him in," Arnav replies and keeps the phone down. A few minutes later the stockily built kind looking bald man walks into Arnav's cabin and sits down in front of him.

"Hello, Mr. Bhushan. I believe aap kaafi time se mujhse contact karne ki koshish kar rahe the. I apologize that I've been out of station," Arnav apologizes politely. "Please tell me." Mr. Bhushan takes out a file from his briefcase and hands it to Arnav.

"Mr. Raizada I've with me the documents of the Laxmi Nagar house that you asked for. The mortgage has been cleared as per your directions and the ownership has been transferred to Ms. Madhumati." Mr. Bhushan takes out another file from his briefcase and hands it over to Arnav.

"This isn't a problem though right? Seeing how initially I had transferred it to Khushi's name first?" Arnav asks as he goes through the papers.

"No Sir," Mr. Bhushan replies. "You need signatures of both the parties on the documents. But since, Ms. Khushi never signed those papers, the house was never formally transferred to her. So please ensure that this time you get Ms. Madhumati's signatures and it shold be good to go." Mr. Bhushan finishes explaining. Arnav nods.

"Thank you Mr. Bhushan," he murmurs.

"Mr. Raizada, there's one more thing. I am aware that aapne apni sister ke bank account par no expenses limit specify kiya hai?" Mr. Bhushan asks. Arnav nods as he takes the papers from his banker. "I want to bring it to your attention that pichle 10 days mein, there has been some strange activity happening on your sister's join account with her husband." Arnav looks up at his banker with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you sure?" Arnav asks.

"Yes sir. If you remember, right after your return from London a few months ago, you had asked us to keep you notified if there was any activity happening on Anjali Jha's joint account." Arnav becomes thoughtful. Yeah that was past his kidnapping and throwing Shyam out of the house. "Sir, aaj tak us account mein koi activity nahin ho rahi thi. But we noticed that money has again started being transferred from her personal account to her joint account in the last ten days." Arnav's eyes widen.

Mr. Bhushan opens a certain page in the file and taps it. "If you can see, this is the list of transfers being made by her joint account to another account based out of Delhi itself."

Arnav quickly glances down the list. He notices that there was a threeway transfer going on; first from Anjali's personal account to her joint account and then from there to another account. There were no other expenses taking place in the joint account, only a silent siphoning of money. But one entry catches Arnav's eyes. Three days ago, a transfer for exactly Rs. 50000 had been made to a branch in Lucknow directly from the joint account. His eyes narrow. Strange. He looks up at his banker.

"Thank you Mr. Bhushan. I need you to continue keeping an eye on this account," Arnav replies. Mr. Bhushan nods. The two men shake hands and then the banker takes his leave. Arnav goes on studying the file thoughtfully.

ENGLISH VERSION

Chapter 19 Scene 3

Writer's note: Don't I like to jump right to business hahahahaa so people what do you think is going to happen now?? No no I haven't forgotten that Arshi are supposed to reunite.. it will happen 😉

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