Arhi SS l When She Rises From The Ashes l Ch 15 l Pg 75 23/11 NEW - Page 19

Well, can't wait to know what Khushi has planned for him!!!!!

Chapter Eight:

Shay stood before his ma'am waiting for the orders while she looked through the files. It was midnight but he could not complain. He was paid enough to compensate a few sleepless night but more than he respected the woman before him to do this for her without any qualm. She could be the worst taskmaster if she wanted to be but at the same time she appreciated her employees for their hard work and cared for them in her own way. He respected her for that and also he had his own reasons which were his secret to keep.

A tall glass of fine wine held in his hand Neil leant on the table and watched Khushi from the private bar in the corner of the study room. His eyes met over the glass with Shay and they acknowledged each other with a slight nod in silence. They had come back from the party an hour back and they were yet to change. But Khushi nowhere looked near to call it a night.

Finally, Khushi broke the silence in the room and talked with authority in her voice, "Pay him the rest of the amount and make sure the whole things stays under wrap until the next board meeting. Also, if you find Mr. Raizada's man sniffing around our office here or back home don't stop them just make sure they know just as much as I want them to. I am sure Aman Mathur, Mr. Raizada's PA will come asking for an appointment to meet me soon enough but don't give him any time until the board meeting. Maybe later in the day. Ask our designers to submit the designs for the summer festival by tomorrow evening they have already crossed the deadline. Inform Kyra that I want to discuss last week's reports with her tomorrow 9:00 a.m. EDT over a video call and keep a copy of those reports on my table before the call."

Shay noted down all the orders as fast as she shot them. Khushi passed the file back to him and sighed softly before she gave her last instruction for the day, "You can leave now Shay" and wished gently "good night."

Shay wished her back smiling politely before he walked out of the study leaving her alone before Neil's watchful eyes.

**

Neil filled another glass of wine and walked to Khushi, who was sitting on a chaise with her head thrown back over the backrest. Her eyes closed.

"Here"

Neil's quiet voice got her attention. She opened her eyes to find Neil offering him a glass of wine and she took it gladly. As she sipped the drink she felt a little relaxed after a whole evening of excitement and smiled her thank you to Neil before going back to her previous posture.

"You need to live life sometimes you know Kay." Neil commented casually as he saw her relax. He took a seat before her on the single couch keeping his eyes on her face.

Khushi did not bother to open her eyes and replied nonchalantly, "Then what do you think I am doing now?"

"That's the difference, Kay. You are just breathing and going about your job and chasing your goal like a machine, you are not living." Neil pointed out yet again.

This time, Khushi opened her eyes and looked straight into his, the hardness of her eyes unmistakable, while she replied to that, "That's the best I can do Neil. And don't tell me to live again. Because living means feeling and feeling means weakness. I can't afford that now Neil. I have gone too far."'

"But you do feel, right?" Neil's response came without missing a beat "Hatred is a feeling, isn't it? And you do feel love, for I am sure you don't hate me, dad or your sister. So when you feel for people then why don't you feel for yourself a little? Why don't you love yourself a little? All the time working or going about your aim is not doing any good to you and I can see that. I would not have said anything if you have looked better or satisfied after your first strike. On the contrary, you look more restless." There was only concern in his voice.

At this point, Khushi, who had been looking agitated by the lecture so far, looked away which only made Neil shake his head at her stubbornness. Keeping his glass aside Neil stood up and walked to stand before Khushi. She did not look up to see his face. And as she was sitting her head was near his waistline and she stubbornly kept looking at his flat stomach.

Neil neither forced to make her see him in the eyes nor requested her to do so; he just took out the glass out of her hold and kept it on the low table nearby. He wrapped his hands around her head pulling her head gently into his body.

He smiled fondly when he felt Khushi's hands going around his waist and her head snuggled more into his stomach seeking his warmth like a kid. He tightened his hold and then said in a soothing whisper, "Pay them in kind what they deserve. I will be the last person to stop you from doing that. Just don't lose yourself in the bargain that's all I ask. Because you may not realize but you are too precious for few of us, who don't want any harm come in your way even in your nightmares."

At this point Khushi's eyes were moist but she had long forgotten to cry. Knowing her inability to let out her torment going inside her Neil stroked her head gulping down the lump in his throat while his he thought in his head Mom, you shouldn't have gone when she needed you the most.

Soon he felt Khushi hold on him loosening. He looked down to find her asleep and let out a sigh before picking her up and heading towards her room in their new house. He hoped with all his might that she could sleep peacefully tonight.

**

He walked in the lonely house pushing the wooden door lightly. His eyes searched the hall for her presence. He knew she was home. He kept the black briefcase he was carrying on the center table in the small drawing room and walked in further. Checking the familiar place for any sign of her. The kitchen was empty and looked like unused for quite some time.

It was in his nature to worry. And, he worried a tad bit more when it came to her off course after his Di. So he worried that what she had been eating since the last couple of days? She was alone in here all by herself. If she did not cook then how she managed? Or, she was going without food since Akash took Payel back?

That thought was enough to send him frenzy. There were only three rooms in the house and if she was not there in hers and her bua's then he knew she would be in her parent's room. He hurriedly went in and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her sitting in the corner of the room.

She looked paler than he last saw her. In her white Salwar Kameez, a color people wore while mourning, against the white wall of her parent's room she was almost invisible save her hair. Arnav's heart clenched seeing the dead look in her eyes as she stared into the space still unaware of his presence. Yet he consoled his heart saying at least she was okay health wise. If only he knew!

He wanted to go to her. Take her in his arms and speak words of assurance in her ears. He wanted to cradle her while she mourned for her mother. He wanted to kiss her better and cocoon her to himself, protecting her from the loneliness she was living in. But he could not. Or, he would not.

He had taken a decision a couple of months back and he would stick to it. Because it was for the better or so he thought.

But today he was here for something that would assure her safety and future even she would be away from all. He knew he would appear crueler than he already was in the eyes of his Nani, NK, Payel and Her but he would do it nonetheless. Because he was desperate to save the girl, whom neither he could accept nor could he stop caring for, and the only relation, the sister, who cared for him and he could not afford to lose her like his mother.

He did not care what the world would think of him after this, maybe a monster. Well, he was already one in her eyes, or, a heartless tycoon who only knew to make deals and contracts, even out of life, out of love and out of the most important person in his life.

Let them think what they pleased he gave a damn. And, let her think as bad as she could of him and curse him to hell, he deserved that. It would also help her to move on from him.

With the resolve, his eyes hardened with determination and his soft agonized features seeing her state a few moments back toughened to put on the mask of ASR. He could not lose this deal today. A lot depended on his win and win he will even if it meant the death of him, even it meant losing her forever.

She was still unaware of his presence in the room, the first occurrence of their time together, sitting in the corner with her knees dragged up to her chest her hands resting on them.

He cleared his throat to get her attention and he saw her eyes that were dead since he had walked in, come a little alive as she turned to see him.

Arnavji!

She whispered his name in a voice, so soft and so fragile, full with incredulity and something akin to relief; it almost broke his resolve to accomplish what he was here for. Only almost.

**

Next morning Arnav sat up on his bed groggily. He hardly slept at night. The memories that he was able to lock down after a long time resurfaced and haunted him in his dreams whenever he dozed off.

He rubbed his face vigorously with both hands to get rid of the dizziness, an aftereffect of the lack of sleep.

HP walked in with his coffee which he took gratefully and started sipping, hoping that it would take away the restlessness in his whole body.

The flashes of last night came and went before his eyes reminding him of her. And more he remembered the more restless he felt. He tried to match her last night image to the image of her that he had in his head from five years back and not surprisingly they did not match other than her face. But yes her eyes matched one image that he had of her from their last visit, unfeeling, unflinching and hard before he left the house that day. His fists clenched as his mind threatened to slip into the past again.

Gulping the rest of the coffee in one long swig he banged the mug on the side table and stomped off towards the washroom hoping a warm bath would help him to clear his mind.

**

what an update..superb..what did Arnav do which broke Kushi completely?? he has messed up her life..

Awesome...loved it... Seems ASR had done something horrible...

thanks for this fabulous update...bravo👍🏼

Both khushi and arnav are suffering. While Neil wants khushi to take her revenge he cannot see her hurt and in distress

Even he can't sleep. Is she buying off someone and will be equal to him in AR?

You are one of those writers who writes angst beautifully and convincingly. Well written.

You are teasing us... To me khushi now seems more precise and Arnav seem more nervous