Arshi FF: Zindagi Ke Mausam: Part 25b UPDATED! - p.86 - Page 57

Part: 25b

Khushi looked at Arnav's face and ran in to him, wrapping her arms around him. Arnav felt Khushi's body trembling as she tightly held on to him. He wanted to comfort her, but his arms just wouldn't budge. If he decided to take this step, what would this mean for him? Them?

As his arms slowly lifted to embrace her, Khushi unwrapped her arms around him and backed up in to the wall. Her eyes were panicked, her face tear stricken and that in itself was enough to tug at Arnav's heart.

Arnav: Khushi. Khushi?! Why are you crying? Damnit! Answer me Khushi.

Khushi tried to breathe her way out of this panic, she felt another panic episode building up. As she tried to regain her composure, she remembered why she had backed up against the wall. When she did speak, her voice came out in a whisper.

Khushi: My...my blouse.

Arnav: What...oh. Oh. Is that why...wait. Did someone...

Arnav didn't want to complete the thought as rage filled his senses.

Arnav: Khushi did someone...

Khushi: No! No! Can you...call Jiji for me? Her number is...

Arnav: She's not answering. I'll go get Lavanya, wait here.

Khushi: No, no. Don't go, please. Please.

Arnav: Okay. Here, take this. Wear it.

Arnav took off his suit coat, handing it to her which she put on. Khushi didn't want to speak, the lethargy threatened to overcome her as she swayed slightly on her feet.

Arnav: Khushi? Are you okay?

Khushi nodded slightly, she didn't want to speak. She wanted to go home.

They continued to walked silently back towards the hall when Khushi felt herself panic hearing the voice again.

What happened? Was she crying so much just because her blouse tore? Granted, she might've been embarrassed but...

"There you are baby. I was wondering where you disappeared off too. Oooh did you find someone else? Not fair, not fair. You're supposed to be a good time. Especially after the damage you've done, you've got to give back accordingly."

Khushi felt Arnav freeze and slowly turn around to face the man. She hid behind Arnav as she saw his position stiffen. Her nails gripped on to Arnav's wrist, digging in to the skin.

----

Earlier in the evening

Khushi ran away from the dance floor and out of the hall. Her heart was beating erratically and she didn't know what to make out of what had just happened.

Devi Maiiya...yeh kya tha. Humare beech kuch hai kya? Humein kuch bhi nahin samaj araha. Par...humein inse dhoor rehna chahiya hai. Waise bhi he doesn't think well of me and aab tho he thinks Reyaansh is my boyfriend. I can't...I have to pretend nothing happened between us. Nothing can happen between us. Or with anyone. I just make things complicated and...no one deserves to deal with that. So I'm going to stay away from him. I'm almost done with the internship anyway so it'll be easy. Yes, that's what I'll do.

Khushi realized she had wandered off from the hall and started to walk back when she heard someone behind her. As she turned around to see who it was, she saw it was a man quietly walking behind her. She moved to one side of the hall, giving him ample enough space to walk ahead. However his pace remained the same.

"Hi there."

As a reflex, Khushi responded.

Khushi: Hello.

Khushi quickened her pace but he managed to catch up quite easily.

"You're quite the beauty. I was told that you're very easy on the eyes. Now I was told only to bring you to him but I mean why can't I have some fun before that? Why can't we have fun?"

"Wh...who?"

Khushi knew she should've ran instead but she had to ask, she had to know.

"He didn't say. As long as I get payment, I don't ask questions."

As Khushi readied herself to sprint, he grabbed her from behind. Khushi tried to remember the self-defense she remembered and knew she had to act fast. So she aimed her high heel and stomped on the topmost of his foot, causing him to scream and let go of her momentarily.

"Bitch!"

He tried to reach for her, his fingers grabbing the back end of her blouse which tore away she ran. She ran in to the nearest closet and hid in it, and began to cry.

Devi Maiyya. Yeh mere saath aisa kyun kar raha hai? Why won't he leave me alone? Mein thak gayi hoon, woh itna sab kuch kaise jaanta hai? Ke mein kab kahan hoti hoon? Ab mein wapas bhi nahin jaa sakti. ...Kya karoon mein? Reyaansh...but mera phone...

She heard the door open, and after seeing who it was, relief filled her being and she ran in to his arms.

---

Arnav: Watch your mouth.

"Ooo, touchy touchy aren't we?"

Arnav: Leave. Now.

"Don't worry man, you can have your share too but"

Arnav's fist made contact with the man's face with such force that he fell to the floor. Arnav bent towards him and grabbed his collar pulling him up to be slammed against the wall.

Arnav: I told you to watch your mouth !

Khushi: Arnav Ji, please please rehne dein.

Arnav: Are you out of your damn mind Khushi?! No.

Khushi grabbed on to his hand with hers.

Khushi: NK and Lavanya ki party kharab ho jayegi. Aur media bhi hai. Please just...

Arnav: Partyy?! You're worried about how their...damnit what's wrong with you Khushi?!

Arnav quickly dialed a number on his phone.

"Security. Now."

Within the next five minutes two of Arnav's security personnel were there and grabbed the man.

"Clean the mess up and take him to the police station. And I don't care who the f**k comes to try to bail him out if anyone, he should not get bail. And the media should not even have a whiff of any of this. "

"Yes sir."

Arnav turned around to Khushi with anger flaring in his eyes.

Arnav: What was that about?! When I asked, why didn't you tell me the truth? Why did you lie?!

Khushi: I...I'm sorry.

Arnav: I don't want your fu---lets go.

Khushi: But

Arnav: Let's go Khushi.

With her hand still in his, he led her out of the hall.

Khushi: Arnav Ji...media...

Arnav instinctively held on to her hand tighter.

Arnav: I made sure that they were distracted.

They both sat in the car and Arnav began to drive.

Khushi: Where are we going?

The minutes ticked by without an answer from Arnav.

Khushi: I asked where are...

Arnav: I heard you the first time.

Khushi: Can I borrow your phone? I need to tell Jiji about why I had to leave all of a sudden.

Khushi: Hello? Jiji? Nahin, nahin mein teek hoon. I...I had to go. Nahin aisi...Jiji listen to me. My blouse..blouse tore.

Arnav's fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter as he recalled the man's disgusting words.

Khushi: No, no. I didn't have my phone, no woh...I asked Arnavji for a ride back home. He..yes, just remember to bring my purse and yeah. My phone. Oh, he is? Okay. I..I'll call him.

Khushi: Thank you. Do you mind if I make one more call?

Taking his silence as an affirmation she dialed the number.

Khushi: Hi. I'm sorry I left my phone at the party. No, I'm not alone. Yes. I need to..I'll call you once I'm home. I'm fine. Yes. I'm with...A..Arnav Ji. Yes...yes him. Okay, bye.

Arnav: Who was that?

Khushi: Reyaansh.

Arnav nodded curtly to that, unsure of what to make of the emotion bubbling inside him.

Arnav: You don't have the keys to your apartment.

Khushi: No..but it's okay. Jiji said she she would leave now and she should be home in 20 minutes or so and I can wait..you don't...have to stay.

Arnav: I didn't ask for your input on that matter.

Arnav reached Khushi's home in record time, parking outside of the front entrance of the building.

Arnav: You can leave once your sister is here.

Khushi: Okay. Thank you for...

Arnav: Why do you live here?

Khushi: What?

Arnav: Why aren't you staying at NK's? Why do you live in an apartment by yourself?

Khushi: It's better this way.

Arnav: What does that mean? You and NK...

Khushi: Mr. Raizada before you say anything else, please don't say anything that'll make me question your sanity.

Arnav: What the --

Khushi: You don't know anything about our friendship and I don't want to hear any baseless claims against us again. And then you go ahead and act like you were on the dance floor and I...

Arnav: And you what Khushi?

Khushi: Nothing.

Arnav: Fine. But why do you stay by yourself?

Khushi: NK is married now. I want his focus to be his married life and not worrying about me. That house is also the home of my Jiji's in laws and I can't ruin anything for any of them even by mistake. What they've done for an or-- for me. You have to be careful with these things. I know you don't believe it but you must know...Anjaliji is married. It's different when you have to interact with her husband isn't it? Certain limitations not to interfere in her married life.

--

The Leela Palace (Same Time)

"Where the f**k is she? He was supposed to find an opportunity when she was alone and bring her here. Good for nothing bas***d. I even had that man she's always with a reason to leave by giving him an incorrect lead."

"Calm down, it is a party. To do something so inconspicuously is not easy. I'll find out for you. I just got here myself."

Where the hell was he? He was supposed to be here with her and I would have had opportunity to save her. I'd be her savior and finally be able to have her. Beautiful, beautiful Khushi. And that idiot wouldn't stop talking my ear off. I'll find an excuse for him but where is she?

"Clean this mess up now."

What's this? Shit. What is he doing here? And what's he doing there? Why is she going with him? What the hell just happened here?

"What just happened? Where are you taking this man?"

"Sir, aap? Sir we don't know. ASR called us and just told us to take him to the police station."

"Before you take him, let me speak to him. I want to ensure he doesn't take the family's name in the station and ruin our image."

"Sure sir."

"What the f**k is wrong with you? I paid you to threaten her when she was by herself and wait till I came. Is this why I paid you, you useless shit?!

"I was trying but that man, he ruined everything. Get me out of jail. I won't say your name but get me out. "

"You shouldn't date to utter my name regardless because if I want a job done I can get it done within the confines of your jail cell as well."

"Take him away now!"

----

Multiple thoughts swirled around in Arnav's mind as Khushi's words. This wasn't the image of Khushi his mind had made up. She wasn't supposed to be sensible or mature. She was supposed to have all these flaws. Flaws that made it easier to dismiss the feelings he felt for her as just physical attraction.

Khushi: You know what I'm talking about right?

Arnav: What I did to you that day, why didn't you tell anyone?

Khushi knew very clearly what he was talking about, it was the night she became sick with a fever that wouldn't budge. Why was he bringing that up?

Khushi: I don't know what you're talking about.

Arnav: You know very well what I'm talking about Khushi and don't tell me any differently.

Khushi: From a very young age, I've had to learn how to repress bad memories. It's been more than once since I've known you to now know not think much of those interactions. Practice makes perfect. I see Akash Bhai's car. Thank you. Have a nice night.

Khushi was about to close the door to the car when Arnav spoke.

Arnav: I am sorry Khushi.

In his three worded apology Khushi, Arnav expressed and said more than he could've with a speech. Khushi acknowledged that he spoke with a nod.