Arshi FF: Fighting Fate (TVK 2) Thread 3 - COMPLETED - Page 32

Fighting Fate

CHAPTER 10 - MahaaUpdate


Part 2

I want every single budget operation to come to screeching halt before the ink is dry on that contract. Arnav commanded over the video conference call with Aman and other executives on the other end.

Everyone mumbled over phone as group disappointed with Arnav's decision. The only person kept calm was Aman who engrossed himself in deep thoughts about Anjali's wish to adopt.

Hold your horses everybody. Who is leading marketing team? Arnav questioned.

ASR, that would be me, Kim Chakraborty.

Did you clear 5th grade Mathematics.

Sir? I dont un..

Answer my damn question...

Yes Sir.

Turning on his bluetooth, Arnav walked out of his office room into drinks station, while speaking to Kim on the line, Compare numbers from page 6 addendum 1E to those on page 10 of company's tax transcripts.

Khushi happened to enter the cutlery and drink station, when Arnav was returning to his office holding a cup of ice cubes.

Read line 52. Arnav instructed Kim, stepping aside to give space to Khushi who stood with a huge tray of spoons and forks.

Khushi's eyes literally spiralled out gawking at him openly and shamelessly surprised to see him being so casual in her presence, little did she know that it didnt matter to him anymore, her absence or her presence.

Exactly, the revenues listed in the addendum dont match their actual tax papers. How could you miss the bloated numbers. I wonder how the hell you got into IIM. Mr. Chakraborty, you are fired with immediate effect.

Sir..ple

Everyone, we are dropping the contract with EmRec. Aman get us new marketing executive. Arnav rolled his instructions at lightning speed while Khushi stood shocked first time noticing how this man does business. One thing she understood, People who are not worthy of his attention will be shown exit egregiously.

The fact that she is still standing in his life without being thrown out gave her new hope as she carried onto her tasks while he closed his office door with a bang.

Aman?? Arnav cried over phone startling him.

Sorry I was...sorry Nothing important. I will find someone better. His voice sounded pale and Arnav knew something is up with his buddy.

Aman call me to my cell. With that Arnav hung up the phone not wanting to discuss anything personal over conference line.

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10mins to go for the doors of the restaurant to open for lunch, and Khushi is all ready with her dough that needs to go in the oven. With enough time at hand, Khushi contemplated to bother Arnav, as he didnt show himself up much since morning except that vague encounter at drink station. Just as she was about to exit the kitchen mentally preparing herself not to get on his nerves, she was stopped by her immediate boss Hicks with loud shriek of her name.

Where are you going? Dont you see we are going to open in less than 10mins.

I thought I could I meet Ar..I mean boss in the meantime.

Boss? What is the issue?

No, there is no issue, I was ju..Khushi hesitated feeling uncomfortable to seek someone's permission to see her husband. But then she couldnt reveal their relation to anyone until things get cleared between them.

Khushi, nobody meets him without my permission. If you have any issue, bring it to me. I will decide if he needs to be bothered or not. This is the rule set by him and I dont want my as* in the line of fire one more time because of you.

I am sorry. I will be careful next time. She said politely and turned away disappointed but not before looking in the direction of his office room hoping he would come out for a glance.

Little did she know that he had been watching her from the moment she stepped into work.

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The clock chimed 2.45PM way past the lunch time per local community preference and so staff leisured in the kitchen waiting for any last min order before the restaurant closes in 15mins. Khushi who stood at her station remained quiet, anxiously waiting for the moment to get hold of Arnav once her duties are wrapped up.

Speak of the devil, Arnav entered Kitchen shouting aloud the order, Chocolate Raspberry Souffle, Last order of the day. He said addressing to Hicks.

Aye Sir! Everyone start cleaning up your stations. I got this one. Hicks proceeded to put the order in execution, while Arnav turned his feet and walked away without sparing a glance at her.

Khushi whose lips instantly curled into grin finding him, the next moment she turned pale in disappointment. But being as professional as he is, she quickly recovered and hurtled her feet to learn how to bake souffle.

While that was on its way, one of the trainees hired along with her, looked at her curiously with his eyes fixed on her sindoor.

Khushi, he approached closer calling her name and was about to touch her forehead when she jumped back treating him like an alien.

I am sorry Khushi, I didnt mean to scare you. The young man named Tim apologised sincerely while Khushi tried to act normal, feeling embarrassed with her sudden reaction.

Thats alright, I was in some thoughts. Do you need something?

I am just curious to know why you wear that red color on your head?

Khushi tracing her finger on her maang, explained the significance of it with huge grin of pride.

Meanwhile Hicks ringed the bell to call the waitress to inform the dessert is ready and moved towards Khushi.

Khushi I didnt know you were married. You look so young. Hicks joined the group while she looked happy, quite enjoying the attention of her marital status.

What does your husband do?

What does a husband do to make her wife happy? She grinned silly diverting the topic.

Uhh You naughty girl...came one of the comments and everyone guffawed..

You guys sound very scandalous.

Fill us in with details.

Sure, when time comes. For now, just know that he loves me more than any husband could ever love his wife...

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Arnav after exchanging pleasantries with the last few guests present, entered his office and closed the door behind him. Working in the same environment as to that of Khushi and above all wearing nonchalant attitude became strenuous task at hand for Arnav. No matter how hard he tried they were many times, the nagging desperation in his mind forced him to steal glances without her knowledge.

Leaning back on his chair opening his closed eyes, Arnav watched the live security footage of Kitchen area where she looked extremely happy. He watched her hands tracing her maang and pointing to her mangalsutra with her eyes widened in excitement. Dressed in bottle green knee-length simple plain chiffon dress, Arnav noticed an unmatchable glow shining on her face, too suddenly to his preference especially in his absence and he couldnt help ponder the reason mentally.

But he needed no words nor much time to understand the interesting topic that hooked every staff as she rolled her dramatic eyes and swayed her hands. She is talking about their marriage pointing to her toe rings, He knew!

Dosing thyme, rosemary infused olive oil on the warm bread Hicks kept for him, Arnav outstretched his hands to reach for the cold water and ate in silence with his eyes on plate.

Finishing it up with a gulp of cold water, he cleaned up the mess of crumbles made on the table. If anyone notices Arnav Singh Raizada in this moment, they would admire the way he is working on the simple task with assiduity, with his eyes dutifully following his hands. But none would know that a violent turmoil is silently brewing up in his restless mind, the reality that is lot different from what he is showing to the world.

Ever since Khushi tore her passport recklessly, and a triumphant smile appeared on her lips, Arnav cocooned himself into his own shell baffled and not wanting to acknowledge what his heart is pointing to. Her return!

The insecurities that engulfed with her written letter are so strongly and deeply rooted in his every being that he adamantly chided his mind not to ponder over subject called Khushi. And thus, he maintained distant in need of his own space, to alleviate the suffocating pain that started building up to no limits.

Wiping his hands off the moistness, he popped his prescription pill into his mouth and stared at the monitor filled with her laughs. His mind grew to numbing silence since yesterday realizing that she is not going to back off no matter what he does. He probably would have been the happiest man and accepted her if it was not her one last statement, that she is unworthy of him.

What made her realize to change her stance? Many times he questioned himself but the reasons and explanations in defense dont seem to matter to him anymore, as he is stuck to that one statement after he had proved how much she meant every step of the way in their short term relation.

Arnav averted his gaze to the ringing landline.

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What happened to your mobile? I have been trying to reach you. Aman spoke in his unusual sullen tone.

Battery died. Its charging. Arnav replied fixing audit files in the cabinet.

You wanted me to call you. Wait, before that, I am sorry about not informing about Bhabhi, I wa

Lets worry about that some other time. What's going on with you?

Me? Nothing much..Just work pressure, I guess.

That is so unlike Aman Verma. Since when did the professional life started affecting your ape brain?

Aman chuckled replying, Kuch nai yaar, bas aise hee..

You sure?

Actually I am not. You are right. Wish you were here, we could have gone to grab a beer. But dont ask me what and why, its just one of those days.

Hold for a sec...Putting him on hold, Arnav launched browser on his laptop and spent next few mins with clicks and keys.

Make sure you go home early tonight...Your favorite wine 1985 Henri Jayer is on its way...

Are you kidding me?

Sorry I cant buy roses and chocolates. Can you settle with that?

Aman guffawed replying, Only if you promise you will gift my favorite boxers next time.

Sure! size XXXL...Noted my friend!

Damn! you are making me feel complex here! Aman guffawed...Please dont insult my little soul...

I wouldnt dare, there is someone else to do that. And for that you need to go home. Wrap up, what are you doing so late in the office?

I was leaving anyway...Thanks Arnie...I know you are really missing me like I do. Aman chuckled giving throaty laugh.

Aur kuch? Call me tomorrow to discuss EmRec.

Sure. Hows Bhabhi?

Did you ask me before sending her here?

Alright theek hay theek hay..Dont sulk over it.

I am only a call away when you are ready to speak whatever is bothering you.

I know! and I will soon!

Alright will speak to you later, getting another call. Arnav tried to register the second call waiting for it to be answered.

Receiving the second call, Thank you for calling DeleKtable Morsel, This is ASR how may I help you?

ASR? Arnav Singh Raizada?

That's me, Who is this?

This is NK..How are you?

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Khushi worked her fingers as fast as she could to clean the bread trays and Oven. The Kitchen clock on the wall chimed 3.40PM, just 20mins remaining for her to wrap up and meet Arnav before he leaves for the day at 4.00PM.

Ducking the large trays in the standing rack, Khushi hurriedly wiped her palms to the side of her apron, moving her feet to have a word with Arnav. She screeched her feet to abrupt halt as she was about to collide into Arnav hurtling out of his room.

Sor...Her words whooshed away into thin air as she noticed him riling with anger and most importantly hurt strongly crossed his features from the way his jaws gritted and his eyes shot daggers at her.

Kya Hua? She whispered slowly trying to comprehend the tension between them.

Ignoring her question, killing her with his deadly silence, He threw the handset to her hands, and walked out of the restaurant in determined strides.

Khushi baffled and stared at his retreating figure unable to understand the reasons behind his anger. Sticking the phone to her ear, she recognized NK's voice at the other end and her lips broke into thin smile of content, misunderstanding his anger.

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Fighting Fate

CHAPTER 10 - MahaaUpdate


Part 3

Indignation

Every bit of Arnav Singh Raizada at the moment is filled with Indignation at having been distanced from her unjustly for no mistake of his, when she kept in touch with every other bloody human being including 5 feet as*hole NK.

Well, thats exactly Arnav swore the moment NK asked to connect him to Khushi. The silent turbulence that kept brewing up in his mind since morning, exploded at once from the moment he learnt NK had been part of her life all the while. He felt more estranged from his wife than ever, forcing him to take a decision, to give her the taste of his own hurt.

The next moment he picked his cell phone and texted her number that is yet to be saved under her name.

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Khushi was half distance on way to her house, when her phone beeped with message.

Meet me @Sail Away Coffee Shop at 5

Khushi's eyes literally popped out surprised to read message from him. Clutching the phone firmly in her palms, she shrieked with excitement as her nervous fingers replied:

Do I need to change into something more appropriate?

No was his instant reply.

Will be there.

Heedless of the surroundings, Khushi scurried to the destination that is just 10mins away within walking distance, a silly grin playing on her lips not willing to ditch her at any cost.

Turning around the corner, She spotted the cafe and literally sprinted not to miss this chance to fix things between them.

Interiors decorated in cuban style with hand painted coffee mugs, beach decor, cuban cigars and with few tables spread around, She looked around anxiously and found him nowhere. She was about to text him when the cafe owner approached her and guided her to the patio where a table, in fact entire patio is booked under their name for the evening.

Dressed in white shirt & beige slacks, Arnav Singh Raizada watched his wife walking nervously towards him.

Hi! She greeted barely above a whisper with hesitant smile on her face.

He acknowledged it with a nod, and pulled a chair out for her to sit across the table. Khushi already pleased with the gesture grinned inwardly, whispering Thank You.

Kuch logi? Arnav asked holding up the waiter.

That relaxed her as she smiled and nodded NO, but as an afterthought, She replied, I think I will go with Coffee, I could use some water as well.

Arnav nodded at the waiter, finishing the order with cup of ice cubes.

You didnt order anything for yourself? Coffee?

Certain bad habits are best if left behind. He replied, noticing her smile faltering away as he leaned back against his chair, crossing one leg over other demanding remorse.

Silence followed as Khushi realized this meeting is not going to be like she imagined. She averted her eyes away from him as his gaze placed her under scrutiny.

Arnav took his own time to notice her, and he was glad she gave him the liberty and all the time of the world as her eyes glued to the lotus flowers in the pond few feet away.

For the first time in 3 years, time seemed to slow down for a good reason to Arnav. A thick tumble of black brown hair fell past her shoulders, with her sudden move of her head forcing his eyes to trail along the shining strand. He took quite considerable time and looked for any signs of scars on her neck peeking out from the wide collared dress. They are gone! He sighed in content noticing a luminous tone to her face and for a brief moment he couldn't help wonder if its the pond reflecting the evening rays highlighting her happiness or the make up masking her hidden miseries. He rolled his head back, as at once certain unwanted memories washed over his stable thoughts.

As if she heard the nagging debate of his mind, her face lifted and met his eyes. Life paused for Khushi feeling like her heart has been ripped out. He looked like death and he didnt seem to care. She knew exactly that moment that this man died the night she left him. Instantly, Khushi found herself in 2 places. One in a dreamland once they wove together, two the reality they stood apart, completely detached to each other even though they were just a feet away. His hand carelessly lied on the table within the reach, the hand which never hesitated to hold her, never before she was so scared to touch it. The distance of their hearts nearly killed her but the softness in his eyes told her something else that seemed to be unfathomable at this point. Yet again, Arnav Singh Raizada shut himself not wanting her to read him and understand him. Khushi realized she is back to square one in learning ASR and had no choice but to wait for his words.

Moments passed, and unable to contain the urge to question his intention behind this meeting, Khushi shifted to face him. Just as she was about to talk, Arnav raised his finger and stopped her gesturing that they are not alone for the moment, as waiter walked in with their beverages.

Soon after waiter left, Khushi took sip of the smoking liquid without adding sugar, unlike she was used to, something he didnt fail to notice. Leaning forward he passed on the sugar, assuming that she forgot to add.

Certain bad habits are best if left behind. She retorted staring at him from the rim of the cup.

Arnav was already at the brink of his anger cliff, her remark only made it worse. Throwing a poker face at her, Arnav leaned back stretching himself to take the wallet out of his trousers. Removing the folded paper from its safe, he opened it and slid it on the table to her.

I need you to read it, ALOUD!

Khushi scrunched her nose wondering what it is. The moment her mind deciphered it as the letter she left for him, the earth underneath her shattered consuming her into painful, numbing silence.

Words sucked in her burning throat, She looked up at him pleadingly for mercy...

Every single word you have written, Read it! He commanded with stern determination.

Her head lowered helplessly to the letter, her shivering fingers trying to hold the starchy paper in place, her eyes tried to look beyond the blur. She took a aching swallow as she felt something unusual to her fingers. Once the blurry vision cleared off her eyes, she took a painful gasp to find her signature blotted to dry. And she knew it was his tears shed in years over her name.

She looked up to find him staring at her, there was no anger, but only hurt, loneliness, and remorse of love.

You couldnt face me that day, but I am sure you can today. So read what you wanted to tell me that day! He asked one more time softly yet there was a subtle threat in his voice, she could feel. Read Khushi! I promise I will get convinced today. He said with a hint of mock in his voice.

Accepting the punishment that is worse than being burnt alive, without looking into the paper, her eyes caressed his vulnerable ones as she said aloud every word she once wrote memorized by heart,

Arnav, I am sorry is not enough for the decision I took on behalf of us...

...

... Because how I feel about you supersedes any other emotion in this world.. Another fact I realized every single day in these three years...

Arnav painfully tore his gaze away from her hearing his name on her lips after many years and a lone tear escaped his eyes to her "every single day in these three years", words modified from the original letter, indirectly making a point that she was in no better position than he is.

...

... I sincerely hope...her voice quivered with a needling pain in her heart, as she couldnt complete, her soul constricted choking her existence...Arnav turned to her and chastised her uttering the ending lines, menace evidently playing in his voice...

I sincerely hope you find someone who could be yours in all true sense, BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ONE FOR YOU...

- Khushi

Is that what you wrote, Khushi? Arnav asked taking the paper from her hands, and shoving it into his wallet.

She remained silent, nervously twitching her fingers...

Answer me dammit? Yes or NO? He yelled slamming his palms on the table terrifying her.

Khushi jerked in fear, nodding frantically.

Then say the f**k*ng words!

Ple...

I said SAY IT! He seethed rage, wanting her know how miserable he was made into in these years.

I..I...ho.. hope you find som...some..one who could be yo..yours in all true sense, BE...CAUSE I AM..I..AM NOT THE ONE FOR YOU...

Say it AGAIN! He asked her with gritted teeth.

I am not the one for you! She shivered in throes as she uttered those words. It hurt him even more to hear the voice behind those words, which he imagined every single night for all these years, throwing his every bit of him into repugnance.

YES...YOU are NOT the one FOR ME. YOU BLOODY DONT DESERVE ME. He screamed standing up kicking the chair behind, feeding her own words as venom into her.

She turned stunned, and paralyzed as her own once decided fate crushed her down to toes. She wanted to cry but she was too numbed to even think of crying, as her body raked in fear, fear of watching him break down...

Why do you think I am angry at you Khushi? He crouched pointing finger at her, shooting daggers at her; Khushi instantly jerked away in built-up fright.

I..Be..I..She stammered unable to answer him, her eyes unable to meet his...

Because I wasted my everything on someone who dont even consider herself worthy of me. I asked you to lead us and what have you done? You led both of us into graveyard. How could you be so selfish to think that you could fight it all alone leaving nothing for me to fight, love, or even hate. How could you literally take my words of choosing someone over me, punishing me for life? Aisa kyun kiya Khushi? How could you just wipe off everything we shared in a single statement? What not have I done to save us? Why did you kill me Khushi? His voice loaded with affection, the constricted pain in his voice forced her to take a look at his eyes glistening her...She stretch her hands to take his face only to be shoved away...

Why the hell now dammit, after 3 years? Arnav pounced on her cupping her face tenaciously. Feeling frightened, Khushi shuddered with horror, unable to accept the accusation nor the foreign touch. But he was so enraged and before he could come to terms with her vivid trembles, he jerked her away angrily in disgust at his own battle of emotions.

While the vulnerable part of her slowly burnt into ashes, the sane & strong part of her was glad that at least he is speaking what he buried for years...She wasnt sure at the moment, if she is being blessed or cursed...I didnt part away to make you suffer. I hoped best for you. I didnt want you to force yourself to fight all your life to accept something that cannot fulfill your..

Dont you dare say the past again, I wouldnt mind slitting that thr...Dammit...He walked away trying all his means to control his vile temper. Grabbing his wallet, leaving money on table, he stopped in his tracks and turned saying, Speaking of Past, you included everyone in your life but ME! Today you have no idea how unworthy you made me feel about everything I had in my life with you. The lady who brought me into this freaking world gave nothing and left me leaving this taveez, you did EXACTLY the same leaving this piece of shit and taking away everything you had once given me. YOU BLOODY NO DIFFERENT FROM HER.

There was small smile spread on her lips mocking her own life, to hear the comparison that she never wanted to hear from him, one of the many reasons she left him. It didnt matter at that moment how much she pulled herself up in life, she realized she failed miserably as she couldnt find anything but deep regrets in his eyes for her. Her throat moved up and down bearing his every word, and her head lowered in surrender blaming herself once again for everything that happened between them, be it their first encounter, or be it his current meltdown. If only had he seen her balled fists, he would have known the storm she withheld in herself.

I had no choice then..You have to believe me...She shook like a wilted leaf, palpitating with terror.

I never mistrusted you not to believe you...tab bhi aur aaj bhi...His voice soft and mellowed down but with a hint of taunt...You wanted to break all ties..I complied with no questions asked. You returned into my life, I will again accept with no questions asked and without any explanations for the mistake of surrendering this relation into your hands, but this time I dont want make myself a fool in the web of your stupid decisions...Didnt I tell you, the moment you take you away from me, We will be ruined?

Putting distance between them, Arnav spoke in cold and trenchant attitude, So here is my open challenge to you, I am not going to personally send you away, in fact I am now curious to see in you how it feels to be not worthy of ME. While you make every effort to bring us together...I am going to make sure I remind you that YOU ARE NOT THE ONE FOR ME, in your own words, every moment as long as you want to play this, until you walk away from my life...Because I have moved on just like you wished and nobody & nothing matters to me anymore.

With that he stormed out the shop, dismantling everything that came on his way, leaving her to nothing but wounds caused from the anguished burns, his heart suffered in these years. She leaned against the pillar for the longest hour, watching a lotus bud sink into the stilled waters as a huge burden of pebble was dropped by the flying bird in distant.

Khushi's situation was no different than a tender bud. Her shoulders drooped to a terrible weight on them, so heavy that it sank her heart into abysmal, and she couldn't straighten up to breath entirely. She turned her heels lifeless and dragged her feet along to the table. Grabbing her belongings, she plodded out of the place feeling nothing specific but severely numbed as his words surreptitiously echoed in the turbulent air around her.

What goes around, comes around...Her letter turned him spiritless, His agony made her lifeless.

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His eyes squeezed to shut, brows frowned and lips twitched in crushing pain, repeatedly reviling himself for the way the evening happened. As much as he wanted to make her aware of what he had gone through, a part of him turned unrest and mangled beyond repair worrying about her. After he left the shop, he retreated to his lone place where he spends his evenings to night. But much sooner than one could imagine, he realized he left her alone in the shop and the next moment he found himself looking for her.

Alas, she had left before he could reach the shop, and unlike other evenings of the years, he routed his bike to his house way before its routine time. The conflict of emotions, anger vs love started eating him alive so much that no distraction worked in its best to keep him calm and composed. And the stubborn pain in his heart was so severe that he felt like his entire world would come crashing down any moment.

Feeling suffocated even in the vast space his bedroom could offer, he opened the drapes of his window only to find her standing by the window in her portion, staring at the melancholy shadows of the night. Dressed in pale blue chudidar, She looked no where closer to what her name suggests of her. His hand balled into fists, stabbing his nails into his skin, He watched her losing herself in those shadows. I never cared for what fate had in store for us but we shouldnt have been like we are today. A step was taken forward as though to reach her, as he uttered hoping that the piercing silence between them could convey his turbulence.

As though his heartache was fetched to her ears, with the sudden change in the air, she lifted her lashes and he could see her sunken eyes staring at him quite innocently, and her posture too stiffened like a log, to ignore.

Aisa Kyun Kiya Khushi? His words echoed in her ears, as he narrowed his eyes staring at her sternly, questioning the same.

Suddenly, He could feel the state of depression in the air that he couldnt see himself through and on the other hand, Khushi realized nothing is ever going to be same again.

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Next Chapter Teaser on Next Saturday...