#2 ArShi FF: Waves Of Destiny*Chap 33*pg100*30/3 - Page 40

Khushi was in deep thought as she kept walking across the room. Her posture was tensed. Even a kid can say that so Arnav was far better. He left her for some time to come to terms with whatever was happening. But she did not. So he went in front of her to stop her. But instead of noticing him and stopping, she went straight at him and dashed to his hard chest. Wincing she looked up at Arnav who was glowering at her.

Khushi: What?

Arnav: Do you realize that you have been doing this "Walk" of yours for past half an hour. Its creepy and spooking me. I came on your way to stop you and you just..

Khushi: Stop! I understand what happened.

Arnav: But I don't understand. It was just Lavanya Kashyap! Not some phantom beast!

Khushi: Oh shut up Arnav!

Arnav: Excuse me! Did you just ask me to shut up! Remember I am the boss here!

Khushi: Oh really? And YOU Better remember that I am the Boss's WIFE!

She warned him with her hands on her hips. Arnav frowned. He knew that Khushi can be stubborn. But this... This was something new about her. He held her shoulders and made her sit on the couch in his cabin.

Arnav: Khushi! Tell me something. Before you were so reserved. You never talked too much. But this.. You are so talkative, you are demanding, scolding.. I am not complaining. So stop that staring. But seriously I am a little confused.

Khushi sighed and sagged in the couch. It had to come out someday. And she was happy to be distracted from thinking about Kashyaps anyway!

Khushi: Remember that my father is not my father actually.

Arnav: Yeah. After your father Sasi uncle died, your mother married his elder brother Shivdas. But what..

Khushi: Listen! Do you know, that he was not anything like my father. He was controlling. Well, as I was sent to boarding at a very early age, I did not actually have friends to laugh and smile about. But when I was with Dad, I was a free soul. I laugh, smile with him, scold him. I can ask him anything and tell him anything. But when I was 9 years, he died of heart attack leaving me and Mom alone and business without a head. That is when his brother stepped up. Well, I don't how, but he managed Mom in agreeing to a marriage with him and as she had the power of Attorney for Dad's money and everything else, Business and properties went to him. Among all those, I was one too!

I left laughing because he was not Dad! When I asked him something, he would deny stating some reason. So I stopped asking. When I had my voice raised, he punished me. So I stopped being demanding. Every year, I would be sad going to boarding after spending time with Dad, but this time I went happily and stayed there whenever I was given chance. Baba was not someone to miss me. Slowly this way, I became what you saw.

Arnav fisted his palm ready to punch her so called step father seeing her shrug it off smiling. He had suffocated and killed the liveliness of a 9 year old girl. Now he understood what Sameer was saying that she was not herself. He sat next to her on the couch facing her.

Arnav: You were close to Sameer. But you were so reserve with me back then?

Khushi gave a small smile. Arnav was surprised to see little red roses bloom on her cheeks. With a smirk he egged Khushi to reveal her secret.

Khushi: Well! You were handsome hunk with at least a dozen girls behind you. Even as a kid you had all attention of the world while only I had your attention. I am normally reserved or at least I became so. But with you around it was different. Actually you were the reserve one to the world while you spoke about everything with me. So, normally than listening to girls bragging about beauty parlors and boys commenting about their sports, I found your stupid talks interesting. So I always tend to listen to you and never interrupt you. Because from where I stand, I felt as though you were pouring everything to me when you were not given chance elsewhere. As I know what it is and how it felt, I started listening to you and soon I actually started enjoying it.

She kept on blabbering and Arnav understood exactly what she was trying to say. She was quiet with him because, by being being quiet and listening to him she found her peace.

Khushi: Sameer is different. He is a joker. I actually never knew that he was our neighbor. Later only I came to know about how everytime he used to watch me in garden from their lawn with my dad. He was the one who took me to the shrink. Talking to shrink somewhat showed me what I have done to myself by going into shell like that. So I am trying to be what I wanted to be and what I was actually. Like Dad used to say, his lively little girl.

Her eyes glistened as she spoke about her father. But there was a nasty truth about him and her family that was soon to explode on her face.

Arnav: Did you realize that sometime before you actually accepted the fact that you have feelings for me?

Khushi frowned at him.

Khushi: I never denied the fact! It was you who was completely blind to it. But I made my peace with it. No regrets!

Arnav: That is where you are wrong. You are right when you said that I was blind. Because I never acknowledged such strong feelings. But did you consider that I actually had only one lady in my life?

Khushi: No kidding. You had many..

Arnav: They were just passing clouds Khushi. They were never serious about me nor was I! They were behind me for the fame of being with the son of top businessman. But did you see me going with them anywhere when you were with me? NO! You were the only woman whom I had in my mind always Khushi. I just never thought it as love. Because I thought I was not a person made for love. I even denied when people told me about it. I made fun of it. But I had strong feelings for you. Just gave a different name.

Khushi: You are saying that now Arnav!

Arnav: Because I understood now! Losing you taught me what I had with you. Seeing you with Sameer made me realize what I never acknowledged.

Khushi: So.. If not for Sameer, you would have not known..

Arnav: I would have eventually. But! Let me tell you something about this species called men. We don't understand feelings easily. When given chance we tend to run from it. To run back to it, we need a strong push. Your leaving me and getting along with Sameer gave me that push. But looks like you have gone far away from me Khushi!

Khushi: I.. Seriously this is not the time to talk about it. What did Lavanya say?

Arnav shook his head. He thought that he was making a progress with her. But NO! Looks like he will have to look into this later and take care of matter in the hands now.

Arnav: She said that she wants to meet us tomorrow in private. She said that she will text me the address.

Khushi: What do you think?

Arnav: Seriously I don't have an idea. You said that she was cheating and involved in corporate espionage. But you also say that whatever she was doing was not of importance. I am not able to reach any conclusion!

Khushi: Hmm. When she was modelling or when she was with you, how was her behavior?

Arnav: Now we are interrogating? Fine! She was a person who was more interested in herself. This superior kinds attitude..

Khushi: Ahan! Fine then. Lets wait for her to intimate us. But I seriously don't feel good about this. Evening as usual I will wait near the car.

Arnav: Yeah sure!

He waved his hand dismissively as both knew that there is no one gonna be waiting as they reached the car almost at the same time!

Arnav sat in his chair thinking about sending Khushi to shrink again. He did not know how to convince her. But then now he had his hands full. He knew that that idea of him meeting Lavanya was disturbing Khushi. In this pace, he will be needing a shrink soon.

Next afternoon, Khushi was cleaning up the dishes after their lunch. Seeing the circumstances, Arnav called in leave and Khushi followed the suit and both of them stayed at home, leaving all important stuffs to Aman. Khushi was so silent for her usual self. Eerily silent which disturbed her husband to boundary. At one stage, he pulled her along with him to their room and pinned her to the nearby wall.

Arnav: What is wrong with you Khushi?

Khushi: Wrong?

Arnav: Yeah! You are so silent. If you have problem with me meeting Lavanya say it aloud damn it. You are my wife. You have so much rights!

Khushi: Did you mean this marriage to be so? I remember you offering a deal not marriage!

Arnav: You know I did not have any other choice to make you accept. I explained..

Khushi: So you did!

Arnav: Khushi..!

He ran his both his hands through his neatly gelled hair in exasperation.

Arnav: See, you know that Lavanya or any other woman did not matter for me in my life. Then why are you so disturbed?

Khushi: Uh oh! So Mr. Superior Arrogant Singh Raizada thought that I am jealous of his former girlfriend? You so think of yourself too much Mr. Raizada.

Arnav: Watch your words Mrs. Raizada! And she was just with me for contract to keep girls from throwing themselves at me.

Khushi: Yeah yeah!

Arnav: What the..

Khushi: See Arnav! I am not in mood to crib about your former relationships. I am thinking about something different entirely. Did Lavanya call you?

Arnav: Yes. She did and you know!

Khushi: Kindly do repeat the details!

Arnav: Yeah! We are meeting in AR penthouse in. (checking his watch) not more than 2 hours.

Khushi: Did she say what was all this about?

Arnav: No! Just that we are to brace ourselves for something unexpected!

Khushi: Right! Did you find about that bank notice?

Arnav: Aman and MK are working on it. But why do I have a feeling that you know!

Khushi: Not my problem. But I think you will have to wait for answers till you meet this girlfriend of yours!

Saying she made her grand exit from the room pushing him and entry into the bathroom to freshen. Arnav stood watching her with an irritation that he could not explain. This woman always made him feel edgy. Why oh Why!

Khushi was standing leaning on the parapet of AR penthouse on the top floor of AR building looking down at the lawn behind. Water sprinklers were spraying water for the grass there and in an elevated grass bed AR was written beautifully with white pebbles.

Suddenly she felt a hand going around her shoulders. She half turned to see that it was Arnav who was also looking ahead at nothing particular.

Arnav: I don't know. But I have this feeling that whatever Lavanya has called us here for, it will not go good.

Khushi: Hmmm!

Arnav: This silence is seriously creepy!

LOOK AT YOU LOVE BIRDS!

Came a voice behind and both of them turned to see the person. Speak of the devil! There stood Lavanya in a very simple Jean and cotton shirt, her hair let down. Never once they have seen her like this in this carefree attire! What was going on? Hello?

Lavanya: Will you stand there as if you were struck by lightening or will you invite me Mr & Mrs. ASR?

Arnav: You are already here! I don't think you need any invitation.

Lavanya: Always to the point eh! I am not the one in need of invitation. It is someone else.

That is when they saw another person entering the living room. Wearing another pair of Jean and a pair of loose cotton shirt. The moment Khushi saw her, she knew that what was coming. Anyone could see the strong family resemblance between Arnav and the woman who was standing beside Lavanya. The resemblance to Arnav, his father, uncle and grandfather. The distinct Raizada features.

Lavanya: So ASR and KASR, meet my mother Chhavi Kashyap. Defence Attorney, New York!

And fell the bomb!

Khushi: Daughter of Kabir Kashyap and Ankita Singh Raizada!

Chhavi: Looks like you have done your digging Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada! After all, all these confusions and games go back in generations.

She smiled confusing Arnav more.

Arnav: Will anyone tell me what is all this about? And you! Who are you? And Ankita Raizada.. My Dadi bua..?

He asked pointing to Chhavi. Now even Lavanya was confused. After all it was secret for her too. She looked at her mother searching her face if it revealed anything.

Chhavi: You will get all your answers. But for that, you will first need to bring whatever is in the bank safe addressed to Raizada from Kabir Kashyap. For now all you will have to know is, I am your Dadi bua's daughter, your father's first cousin and Lavanya is my daughter, your second cousin. She is also a lawyer. But remember one thing. That phone number you traced to the name Chhavi Jhakkad is phony Arnav. Someone is using my name. Jhakkad is not even my official name even in India. Not anymore.

Arnav: Urh! So many confusions.

Chhavi: Your wife did not tell you?

Arnav: Tell what?

Chhavi: About your parents death?

Khushi: I did! But there is no proof for this.

Lavanya: Oh there is. It was a pre planned murder with total expenditure of 200 grands

Arnav: WHAT?

Khushi: Two Hundred Thousand Dollars?

Chhavi: Yes!

That was another wave that destiny threw to unbalance Arnav and Khushi. Jai and Meera Singh Raizada were actually murdered and the amount given to do this was 200 thousand American Dollars. What was Arnav suppose to make of this? And what did Chhavi mean by all this game goes back to generations? What is connection between Chhavi Kashyap and Chhavi Jhakkad?

Stay tuned 😉

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