ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi
Chapter 30-A
24th July, 2014
Love.
It is the only word that defined everything about her.
She loved everyone- her family, her friends and everything else around her. She knew that for a little girl like her, it was everything that mattered.
She saw lights, happiness and laughter.
She felt love, affection and pain.
And she embraced everything.
She loved meeting new people and making friends as much as she loved spending time with them. She loved her school as much as she loved her house.
She loved her Shyam Uncle.
She loved her Mumma.
But you know what she loved the most? Her Daddy. He is the center of her world. She loves him more than anything. More than her life.
She loved and cherished every moment when he smiled at her, hugged her tightly. She loved how everything about her matters to him.
She loved how he could never say no' to her for anything.
She loved every moment whenever she saw him happy. And hated whenever she saw him sad.
So when Manyata opened her eyes that morning, she turned to look at her Daddy and frowned watching him sleep with an unhappy look on his face.
She didn't like it.
Scooting closer, she cradled her head in the crook of his arm and looked up.
She pouted watching the tired and sad lines on his face.
Every morning, she woke up only after seeing her Daddy's smiling face but today, she couldn't see his smile. She had already missed her night's hugs and kisses yesterday.
It is so not happening today as well.
Twisting her lips in distress, she tapped her cheek thinking how to make him smile, looking up at the ceiling.
Her eyes lit up the moment she found her answer. She smiled, raising her hands to the corner of his lips and stretched them into a smile.
Leaning back, she looked at his face closely.
He still looked sad.
Manyata frowned, not liking the situation at all. Maybe her Daddy is angry with her. Brows furrowing, she rummaged her mind for anything she might have done to upset him but found nothing.
Sighing deeply, she crawled on his chest and pressed kisses to his cheeks softly. Resting her head back on his beating heart, she mumbled "Love you, Daddy."
She closed her eyes, resting for a moment when hands closed around her small body. She shrieked the moment she felt her body in the air.
Looking down, she saw her Daddy grinning up at her mischievously, his arms holding her above him. She giggled.
Letting her fall back to his chest, he whispered "Love you too, princess."
Manyata smiled, clasping her hands around his waist. Turning her head, her eyes fell on her Mumma standing at the doorway, watching them intently.
Sniffing silently, her Mumma said "Okay you two, get up already. It's getting late for your school, Manyata."
She turned to look at her Daddy as he did the same. He winked.
Getting down from the bed, Manyata raced to the bathroom while her Daddy walked to her Mumma. Peeking from behind the door, she watched as they smiled at each other and breathed in relief.
Thank god, they aren't fighting. Her Daddy must be tired, that's it.
There was nothing to worry about.
Her parents love each other, Manyata nodded in approval, brushing her teeth and grinned at the mirror.
"Good morning."
Khushi smiled, her eyes running over his face in concern "Good morning Arnav."
Looking sheepish, Arnav looked down scratching the back of his head absent mindedly "Khushi, about last night..."
Raising her hand, Khushi interrupted "Please don't apologize, Arnav. I understand you were stressed yesterday. I am choosing to ignore your outburst from last night. Although it would have been better if, you could have just called me."
Arnav groaned, looking ashamed "I know, Khushi. I got to know about my father's condition only after I dropped you at the court house. Considering the fact that you were already stressed about the hearing, I thought I will tell you only when you will get home. Then I got busy and lost track of time. I am really sorry for not telling calling you and then making you worry."
Shaking her head in approval, Khushi asked "Remember when I told you to never hide anything from me?"
Arnav froze, his head moving in affirmation as fear entered in his eyes. Oh it was so not good. She looked so calm and composed that it looked suspicious.
Khushi smirked "Don't worry. I am not going to eat you. Although yesterday when Aman told me about your father, I was so mad at you. I was boiling in anger. But when you came home last night, I saw how much worked up you looked. And I thought that you aren't wrong. In times of crisis, we are bound to forget things and make mistake. I cannot hold you responsible for it."
Arnav tensed further, sensing that there was more to it.
Giving him a sharp look, Khushi continued "I thought about it a lot. And I realized that we need a strategy. So after you drop Manyata to school, you are going to come to my office."
Taken aback, he sputtered "To your office?"
Regarding him cautiously, she asked "Yeah. You need to."
Tilting his head to left, he stared at her, searching her face for something. At last, he nodded, looking away.
Khushi smiled, looking satisfied "Okay, then. And one more thing, you aren't going to drive the car today. You slept for 2 hours only. You must be tired. I don't want you losing concentration while driving. So your head body guard will drive you around today. Got it?"
Bowing his head in front of her, Arnav grinned "Yes, Madam. Anything else?"
Clasping her hands behind her back, she strolled forward as he straightened. Stopping in front of him, she raised her hand to his smiling lips, tracing her fingers over it "You look good like this. Last night, I hated seeing you tired and tensed. Even if I am no help to you whenever you are in trouble, please share it with me."
With his lips stretching in a bigger smile, he gripped her wrist, moving her fingers to press a kiss on each tip slowly. His free hand cradled her face as he murmured "I will try my best."
Her heart melted, making her smile.
"How is he doing now?"
Closing the door of his car loudly, Arnav barked, raising his hand as the reporters closed around him. While his bodyguards tried to not let anyone close to him, he focused on the answer.
A voice hesitantly answered from the other end "He is still unconscious."
Cursing silently under his breath, he looked around, picking his pace as the gate of Khushi's office appeared in his peripheral vision. Keeping his head down, he muttered "How is Mom? Are things under control there?"
Akash answered, his voice tensed "She is sad but the media is going crazy here. They are already trying to sneak in here."
"Damn it." Arnav hissed, trying to keep his breathing even to control his rising temper "People are chasing me as well. No matter what I tell them, they just don't leave."
"It is expected considering our father is a very famous politician."
Entering inside the gate, he relaxed as the security guards stopped everyone else from entering without permission. Motioning his security detail to stay behind, he muttered "And here I thought you must have enjoyed all these things in past."
Akash laughed humorlessly.
Smiling sadly, Arnav said consciously "I guess I was wrong. Thanks for doing all that all those years for me, Akash."
"I will do anything for you, Arnie." Akash said affectionately, his voice breaking in between.
Arnav froze, blinking his eyes repeatedly to push the tears back from his eyes. Letting out a chuckle, he concluded "Then I guess, I was a moron for thinking that you betrayed me. I am sorry for everything, Akash. I can't thank you enough for everything. No matter how much I try, I cannot repay you."
Clucking his tongue, Akash chided "I don't want you to repay me for anything, Arnav. I was just looking out for my brother. Still if you want, you can repay me by calling me bhai again."
"I will try." Arnav whispered, disconnecting the call immediately.
Stopping in front of the door for few moments, he composed himself. Wiping emotions from his face, he pushed the door open and entered.
"Oh look, who is here."
Closing the file she was reading, Khushi turned as Aman exclaimed loudly, watching Arnav walk inside her office.
His eyes were full of regret and misery.
She stood silently as he shook hands with her best friend before sitting down in a chair across her desk. Glancing up at her instinctively, he smiled.
Clearing her throat loudly, Khushi leaned against her desk, looking down at him "You are late."
"Yeah well, it was quite a task to dodge the media while coming down here considering they still managed to catch me here. You may want to increase security around your office." Arnav replied, looking frustrated.
Khushi tensed, nodding curtly.
"And it got more complicated." Aman pitched in a sing song voice, ignoring as she glared at him.
"What did he mean by that?" Arnav quizzed looking pointedly at his wife.
Khushi sighed, running her hands over her peace cotton saree. Walking around the desk, she stopped in front of him, looking down "He meant that before everything gets more complicated, we have a solution for your problem of media and your father's party members."
Considering her words, he asked slowly "And what that would be?"
Hopping over the desk, she looked down at her hands, refusing to say anything. Just as he started to say something to her, Aman chipped in "Well, we think that you should legally enter into a contract with one of the media companies, stating that you are willing to share all the news about your father if they don't harass your family. This way, other reporters can't pursue you much and that particular company will reveal everything related to your father in the most trustworthy way. News and papers can totally curb public's curiosity. It's your silence in this situation till now that's making it look more dangerous and alluring to others."
Shooting a grateful smile to him, Khushi added calmly "and it'll make them keep their distance with you. You won't have to bear their relentless pestering for information. Luckily, Aman is willing to contact a trustworthy media company and draw out a legal contract on your behalf. You won't have to do anything."
Arnav sat back, his eyes flying between his wife and her friend alternatively. He breathed out, looking fascinated "Wow."
Aman chuckled, commenting slyly "Trust me buddy, you have barely scratched the depth of being important to Khushi. She is damn protective and possessive."
Looking amused, he shot back "I am starting to realize that."
Snapping her fingers together, Khushi hogged their attention immediately. Giving them her best don't-you-dare-start-it look, she drawled consciously "Stop talking about me like I am not even here."
"Did I tell you she starts blushing whenever someone talks good about her?" Aman teased further.
"No, you didn't. But I have realized that already." Arnav murmured, his eyes fixed on the flushed face of his wife.
Burying her burning face in her hands, Khushi groaned making them chuckle good naturedly.
Looking around him, Arnav glimpsed at Aman's laughing face before fixing his eyes back on his wife, watching her peeking through her fingers hesitantly before letting her hands fall back. Crossing them across her front, she glared at her best friend pressing her lips together to hide her smile.
And suddenly, he felt bitter. He felt bitter of the fact that he wasn't the reason behind her smile. He felt bitter of the realization that in few minutes, Aman managed to take stress out of Khushi's mind, balancing their working equation perfectly.
Even though he knew Aman is a happily married man, he was envious of his easy rapport with Khushi.
Appalled by the direction of his thoughts, he cleared his throat loudly, wiping his face clear of emotions "And what's the solution to other problem?"
Shifting her attention to him, Khushi stopped smiling, her face taking a very serious look. Getting back to her feet, she started pacing in front of him, looking clearly agitated.
Giving him a fleeting glance, she whispered faintly looking afraid "Well to assure the members of your father's political party, I think we need my father's help."
Arnav stiffened "WHAT?"
Raising her hands instinctively, Khushi rushed to explain "You know how he and your father merged their campaigns many times in the past. Many politicians trust him as much as they trust your father. I think it would be better if he leads those party meetings instead of you. It would save your time and efforts and we can focus on other things as well."
Shaking his head, Arnav raised his brows in curiosity "Did your father agree to it?"
Staring down, Khushi answered, looking uncomfortable "I haven't talked to him about it yet."
Alarmed, he stood up, clutching her shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze "Hey, you don't have to do something you are uncomfortable about for me. I understand."
Khushi smiled looking grateful "Thanks but I want to do this. It's time to make amends."
"It's up to you, Khushi. You have already solved one of my problems and I am thankful to you for it. I can handle it. Trust me." Arnav replied, looking determined.
Shrugging nonchalantly, Khushi said affectionately "It's not that I don't trust you. I didn't like the way you were tensed last night. I want to help you to ease your workload. You don't have to do everything."
They stared at each other silently, emotions flickering with each passing moment, knowing very well that dynamics of their relationships were changing fast, turning their presence in each other's life in a soothing wave, full of magic and calm.
"Aww.. as much as cute this is to watch, I am getting late for my afternoon appointment. So Arnav, do you want me to draw the contract or should I recommend some other lawyer?" Aman said looking cheerful.
Khushi looked away, her cheeks immediately taking a pinkish hue.
Exasperated, Arnav turned to him "Of course I want you to draw the contract as Khushi wants the same."
Mock saluting him, Aman stood up, picking his briefcase "Well that leave me with my last question to you. How did you manage to get that picture yesterday? Getting a picture of what had happened inside Vikrant's house is something even I consider impossible."
Khushi tensed.
The moment he uttered his question, Arnav clenched his jaw, his eyes taking a hard look "Well, I had someone from his house staff who was willing to look into that day's CCTV footage and grab that picture for me. It took efforts but I succeeded at last."
Keeping a hand on his heart, Aman sighed dramatically "Thank god. I thought you had your eyes on Vikrant for years and still you didn't do anything to stop him."
Arnav bit out "I am not my father."
"Of course you aren't. Well I am waiting for you outside. We can discuss the rest of the details in your car as you are going to drop me to my office." Aman offered lightly, looking completely at ease. With a parting nod at Khushi, he walked out of the room.
Khushi shook her head, smiling amusedly.
"I am sorry for Aman's childish behavior. He is excited about everything. He just wants to help." She explained.
"I know." Arnav replied, closing the distance between them, holding her in his arms protectively. Resting his cheek on the top of her head, he murmured "I am glad you have him as your friend."
Khushi chuckled, snuggling in his chest "Me too. Now go before he comes back and start teasing us again."
Giving his chest a push, she smiled as he swooped in, pressing a kiss to her lips before walking backward out of his office.
"See you at home." He shouted waving his hand, making her laugh.
As the clock chimed, announcing that it's already 1 pm, Khushi started packing her stuff, wanting to reach home before Manyata.
She was done waiting for the person.
Slinging the purse over her shoulder, Khushi started toward the door when the knob was turned and someone strolled in.
Narrowing her eyes in annoyance, she bit out "I asked you to meet me 2 hours ago."
Leaning against the door, the person drawled lazily "Well you can't expect me to drop everything and rush to you just because you called, do you Khushi Gupta?"
Clenching her teeth, Khushi hissed "It's Khushi Raizada. But you already know that, don't you?"
"Of course." Anjali laughed darkly.
Hope you like the update. Wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR🤗 !!!!
Aditi
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