She shook in pain and fear. Arnav let go of her and stepped back a couple of feet when she did not respond to him.
"Alright", the cold calculative ASR quickly replaced Arnav, "Go ahead and quit"
"Just remember that you will have to pay contract breakage charges of one million bucks in a week" he stated in a very indifferent manner tilting his head slightly, "I am sure you remember the contract that you signed last week, now don't you?"
"What?", exclaimed a surprised Khushi
"When you did not contact me all these months, I expected this to be your reaction, so I made the contract water-tight", he said coldly
Khushi was taken aback. "How am I supposed to collect such a huge amount in such a short period?", she thought, "I need to talk to Vanitha Ma"
"I... I need some time to arrange the money", she spoke meekly
Arnav was surprised and hurt that she would arrange the money and quit rather than tell him the real reason.
Steeling himself, Arnav raised an arrogant eyebrow. "Really?", he questioned, "What are you planning honey?", "Go to Nagpur and ask the Vade couple?"
That was it. Khushi was flagger basted.
"Aap... aap", she stuttered as she moved a few steps back, "You know about them?"
"I know a lot about you", his words were scornful as he prowled closer to her, "How do you think I hunted you down?". His eyes were spitting fire.
"Sir ji", scared at his new avatar, Khushi placed her right palm on his chest, more to reassure herself.
He shook her hand off of him recklessly and walked behind , "Go ahead and try settling the money", his voice contained unbridled fury, "I will see how you manage it", "It won't take long for me to ruin your precious doctors lives"
"No", she understood his wrath for the first time. She ran forward and hugged him tight, trying to take refuge from his anger. "Please, no", she begged, "no, don't do that"
He stood sphinx-like without circling his arms around her. His hands were on his sides, fists closed, knuckles turning white. He grinded his teeth to control his rage, and to stop himself from taking her closer.
"Please no", she realized her pleading had no effect this time, "don't do anything to them"
He swept her aside, away from his body and started to move towards the door. Khushi ran and caught his wrist trying to halt him.
"No please", she beseeched him, "please talk to me"
"What do you expect me to talk Khushi?", Arnav spoke with barely concealed fury, "Or should I say Mrs.Kulkarni?"
Khushi left his wrist immediately and collapsed on the floor. She closed her face with her palms and cried her heart out.
As much angry as he was, her condition stabbed Arnav's heart. He pulled her up gently, and seated her on the huge white couch in the cabin.
"Is this what you were worried about telling me Khushi?", his anger was slowly replaced by care and compassion
She nodded, keeping her head in the crook of his neck with her arms around him.
He pulled her closer, with arms around her waist, kissed her on her forehead and smoothened her hair, "There is lot more to it, right?", he asked
"Yes", she answered
"okay", he took a deep breath, "Can we talk about it?"
"Ha, I will", she slackened a bit, "can I.. can I ask you something?"
"Anything Honey"
"I would like to speak to Vanitha Ma first", she said looking at him apprehensively, "in person"
He nodded his head
"Please don't hurt them in any way", Khushi requested him, "They took care of me when I had no one"
"I know Khushi", Arnav assured her tenderly, "I would never harm them"
"So, when do you want us to visit Nagpur to talk to them?", he asked running the back of his index finger on her cheek
Khushi looked up at him abruptly. "I... I would like to go by myself to meet them"
"Hmm", he said seriously
"Can I leave today?", she asked looking into his eyes.
"Ok, go ahead", he said, resigned at the fact that she would not share the secrets with him
The same evening, Vade Residence, Nagpur:
A girl in her late twenties opened the door to Khushi.
"Khushi, how are you?", she screamed seeing her friend
"I am fine Nanditha", Khushi said hugging her tight, "How are you and how is everyone?"
"Everyone is fine", Nanditha chuckled at Khushi, "Ma is in the garden with Chotu"
"Khushi", Dr. Deepak Vade looked surprised, "Is everything ok beta?"
"Papa", Khushi hugged him, "No, it is not", "I need to talk to you and Ma"
"Ok", Deepak said looking at Nanditha, "Nandu call your Ma here"
As Khushi propped down on the divan drinking some water, Vanitha entered and hugged her.
"Khushi, what's wrong?", Vanitha asked
"I met... um... He... he found me... Sir ji", she said looking down at the floor
"What?", Vanitha and Deepak were stunned.
"But how did he find you?", Vanitha asked getting worried, "Nobody knows about you"
Khushi started explaining everything that had happened in Bombay excluding the romantic encounter that she shared with him.
At Arnav's luxury suite, Taj, Bombay:
Arnav, on the other hand, was restless. He was anticipating a crucial call from Sameer. Soon as Khushi left in the morning, Arnav had called his private investigator. His phone flashed with Sameer's name on it.
Sameer (on phone): Sir, Sameer here
Arnav: Ya Sameer, so?
Sameer: She entered the house around an hour back. We have men watching the house and the movements of each and everyone of the residents
Arnav: Hmm
Sameer: Sir, I found out something of interest, it may be a small piece of information, but somehow it's not fitting well
Arnav: What is it?
Sameer: Not everything is exactly the way they portrayed sir
Arnav: meaning?
Sameer: I would like to talk to you directly, I can come to Bombay first thing tomorrow morning
Arnav: No Sameer, I want to know everything. I want you to stay there. I will start to Nagpur. I will meet you early hours tomorrow.
Sameer: Sir, please send me your flight details. I will pick you up from airport. That way we can talk in the car
Arnav: Ok, you will receive it from my PA in an hour
Next morning, Vade Residence, Nagpur:
The door bell rang incessantly in the morning hours after sunrise at Vade Residence. Nanditha opened the door to find two strangers at the doorway.
"Can I help you?", she asked politely
"We are here to meet Miss Khushi", one of the men spoke with a pleasant smile
"Aur... aap?", she questioned
"Please call Khushi", the other man's voice was curt, "this is Arnav Singh Raizada"
Nanditha's eyes dilated to their biggest size. She gasped. She definitely knew who this man was...
"um... come in", she muttered a weak welcome. She went to call everyone while the men seated themselves in the living area.
Khushi came running out of her room having heard the name of the unexpected guest.
"Sir ji... aap?" she looked dazed, "here?"
"Khushi, I let you come here to talk to the Vade couple in person", Arnav drawled, "Will you at least answer me now?"
Khushi lowered her eyes not knowing what to say.
Sameer and others watched the interaction between Arnav and Khushi.
Dr.Vanitha Vade stepped forward and said, "Please make yourself comfortable Mr.Raizada", "I will answer all your questions"
And as the riveting truth finally came tumbling out, Arnav lay completely spellbound by it...
...A cliffhanger 😉...
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