OS:Don't Do This To Me, Khushi!(Pg 8:update link)

[Author of This Post Reserves All The Copyright - do not copy /paste or reproduce the materials or ideas, in part or complete, without written permission from author]

OS:Don't Do This To Me, Khushi!

Arnav sat by poolside.. on the recliner. Deep in his thoughts. His face flushed.. nostrils flaring up intermittently, his eyes red and moist. He made a tight fist and hit it against his thigh and sighed, "Damn it!" Images of what happened earlier that night flashed back in front of his eyes...

*******

Khushi walked in the room with Arnav's coffee, "Have this! You must be tired!" she said as he was loosening the tie around his neck. Khushi put the coffee down on the table and stood up. As soon as she turned around she found Arnav standing right behind her... dangerously close.. She looked up... his eyes were intense once again... he looked deep in her eye, and swiftly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.. very close. Khushi was surprised... at the same time was very relieved. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.. closed her eyes. Arnav slowly pulled her back in his embrace to be able to see Khushi's face.. Khushi looked him into the eye.. with a question, "What's the matter?"

Arnav gently tucked away the lock of hair from her forehead behind her ear. Planted a brief but affectionate kiss on her temple; pulled her back in a tight embrace. Khushi was surprised at his actions. She wondered what might have happened. Knowing Arnav she knew too well that his heart must be restless, seeking solace in her embrace. She kept her arm wrapped around his neck and affectionately held his face in another, "Arnav ji, kya baat hai?.. What's the matter?"

"Khushi, I don't like that you are not with me here all the time anymore. Everything was going so well when .. this.. happened to Di!... I know you want all the rituals and everything... lekin..but.. now it seems like it is taking forever.. After what happened to Di, I do not feel like having any celebrations.."

Khushi looked up.. realized that Arnav held back his words, worried that Khushi might feel hurt. She said, "..magar phere?.. what about the phere?" Arnav said, "I will leave it up to you, Khushi!" I will do whatever you want as I promised.. " his eyes welled up, "..but, I just want you to know .. that I need you here.. with me.. all the time!"

Khushi hugged him tight.. her soothing hand kept playing with his hair..

Then she pulled back, helped Arnav loosen his tie around his neck.. as he tossed it aside, Khushi said, "I have something to say.." "Bolo..say..," Arnav said gently.

"Woh... that... You know how Di is happy one moment and not so happy the next?" Arnav nodded as he raised his eyebrows in agreement. Khushi continued, "Well, I have discovered that it has to do with... Aap gussa mat hoyeye!.. Don't get angry, please!" Khushi pleaded before she said anything further..

That captured Arnav's attention. He walked over to her as he was loosening the buttons on his shirt.. couple of buttons down on his shirt, his hair flirting with the breeze.. he looked as handsome as ever.. making Khushi forget what she had to say.. for a moment..

Then she came back to her senses, hesitated, said, "It's just that.. when Di had food with all of us yesterday afternoon... she forgot her phone on the dining table. When I went to give her the phone back.. I saw someone .. or I thought I saw someone by the poolside.."

Arnav's eyes got big, he clenched his teeth as he started thinking, looked up and interrupted Khushi, "Khushi! You are not suggesting...No!"

Khushi hesitated, then went and placed her arm on Arnav's and said, "You calm down!... Aap shanti se humari baat suniye... Listen to me first.."

Arnav took her arm off his, said, "How can you even ask me to be calm?... When that lowly person..."

Khushi rushed again to hold Arnav's arm, said, "Please, calm down! Think about Di!... Let me ..."

"No, Khushi!" Arnav said harshly. "I am sorry but I can't even listen to what you are.."

Khushi moved fast and hugged Arnav... "Arnav ji.. calm down!... please.."

That mellowed Arnav for the time being. He held Khushi's chin in his hand, looked her deep into the eye and said, "Don't do this to me,, Khushi!" his eyes became moist.

Khushi cupped Arnav's face and said, "Arnav ji, I am concerned about Di! I know that you want to see her happy at any cost.. then... I am just suggesting..."

Arnav separated himself from Khushi as he she continued.. disbelief in his eyes.. he could not believe that it was Khushi saying it.., " Arnav ji.. .you need to bring back Shyam ji for Di's sake!"

"ENOUGH!" screamed Arnav Singh Raizada at the top of his voice. That startled Khushi... she looked at him with shocked eyes.. It had been ages since Arnav had screamed at her like that.. She tried to take a step forward..

"Stop, right there!" Arnav told her with clenched teeth.."How can you?... Khushi, just because I listen to what you have to say does not mean.. Tumhara deemag toh nahi kharab ho gaya?. Have you lost your mind?"

Just then appeared Nani ji, Dadi, Mami and everyone else in the door..

They all had heard Arnav shouting...

Nani asked worried as Dadi looked at Khushi with disgust, "Chhotey! Yeh kya hui raha hai yehaan?.. What's going on here?"

"Ask Khushi! I can't believe..." Arnav said with clenched teeth and turned his face away...

Nani looked at Khushi, "Khushi bitiya.."

"Woh, Nani ji.. hum... I just suggested that we should call Shyam ji.. back!"

Nani's eyes went wide... shocked she said, "Khushi bitiya... what are you saying?"

"Ji.. hum toh... "Khushi started saying when Arnav interrupted..

"Not happening!... How many times.."

Dadi stepped in, "Dekha, Arnav! Did you see? Now even Khushi is asking you to call Damad ji back?"

Khushi looked at her with surprised eyes.. happy that for once Dadi took her side..

Nani just shook her head... looked up to Arnav..

Arnav looked up and said to NK, "NK, you drop Khushi off to Buaji's! ... No more discussion on this topic!"

Khushi looked at Arnav... hurt.. Arnav chose not to look at Khushi. he was hurt beyond words to say anything to Khushi..

Khushi left with NK. Everyone gradually left...

Nani stayed behind. She placed a comforting hand on Arnav's arm and said, "Chhotey! Whatever you have done until now.. you did it for your Di! .. I trust you to make the right decision... I am with you in whatever you decide.."

Then Nani started to leave when she turned around, came back and said,

"Chhotey, Khushi bitiya ki baat ka boora na maniye.. Don't take what Khushi said to heart!.. She just wants to see Anjali happy..I know she would not have said it if she did not think about Anjali bitiya's happiness... "

Arnav looked up at Nani.. his eyes became softer... Nani left...

Now remembering all that Arnav's heart had become heavy.. .. his eyes welled up.. he remembered how Khushi almost died saving him.. he remembered how Shyam had thrown her in the middle of the road to get killed.. Then he remembered how Anjali asked him to bring Shyam back... Khushi's plea to bring Shyam back..