Master Chef! - Chapter 55 Posted on 01/03/2018 - Page 23

Thanks you for so many likes and comments... Bring them on again...

Here is the next chapter...

Chapter 16 ASR in Action!

Arnav was exhausted to wake up to his daily 7 am alarm after barely sleeping at night... But he had to. He has too many things to plan and do today...

He called his right hand Aman and ordered things he needed to do in office. He called his interior designer asking her team to come in by 11 am at RM. He also called his favorite continental chef Alan from Oberoi International 7 star restaurant...

Khushi was still fast asleep... Arnav switched off her alarm and closed curtains allowing her to sleep longer... She was looking so fragile, he remembered her shiver when he had touched her last night... Realization dawned upon him how much awkward and scared she is around him... She curls up in a ball whenever he sleeps next to her every night!

"I am so sorry Khushi, hopefully soon you won't be so scared of my presence..." He wanted to touch her cheek but took back his hand seeing her face frowning... He did not have the courage to hold her in his arms last night or even now... Suddenly he launched himself out of guest room feeling suffocated in his own guilt...

He went downstairs, asked HP not to wake Khushi and make him breakfast... And he could see Nani and NK up and having their tea together... He joined them at the dining table...

Nani anyways wanted to talk to him so she thought this a great opportunity...

"Chote, you did not go jogging today? HP, get coffee for Chote" Nani enquired.

"No Nani, I could not sleep well and was too tired to go jogging..." Arnav replied yawning...

"Oh, ok... Where is Khushi bitiya?" Nani enquired. Usually Khushi woke up early and first one to come down...

"She is still sleeping... I asked HP not to disturb her..." Arnav replied...

"Good Chote, I wanted to talk you regarding Khushi. Good that she is still sleeping..." Nani said politely...

"What is it Nani?" Arnav asked curiously... NK also looked at Nani gesturing her to speak up her mind...

"Chote, I have been really thinking over what you said that day... You are right, it is all my fault. I liked Khushi bitiya so much that I became selfish for myself and you. Knowing the traditional values she respects, I knew she will make all the efforts for a successful relationship with you... But without realizing that you may not like her or accept her as your wife, I forced you to marry her..." Nani sighed...

"Unfortunately my worst nightmare came true... You ignored her for whatever reasons and I have seen her sitting alone lost and depressed for hours... Then I called NK to help out and it did help to some extent... NK made sure to keep her busy and happy but her eyes were always at the door waiting for you... She was scared of your anger but still tried to do things from her side... She would always ask what you like, what you don't like but you never acknowledged her..." Nani was almost in tears...

"But Nani..." Arnav tried to talk but she did not let him...

"I am not blaming you. Chote... It's all my fault. Not only I forced you, but I cut her wings by tying her in a relationship at such a young age because I loved her and adored her... Such a selfless and positive girl! Beautiful inside out... But maybe it's time to let that angel go from our lives... Set her free... Let her live her dreams and life. I don't want her to spend life as my companion sitting in this house... She deserves true love and partner for herself... Maybe she will be able to forgive me somehow before I die... I don't know how to compensate for such a big mistake, any other girl would have walked away from you with big money but she will never touch the money... Nothing can really compensate for my mistake... I will never be able to forgive myself..." Nani could not control herself and started crying. She could not believe she hurt an innocent soul like Khushi so badly... NK rushed to Nani, hugged her tight and tried to calm her down...

Wow, Arnav thought... He never knew he could hurt his loved ones so deep...

"Hell no, Nani. I can't let her free or go away. Please listen to me Nani first... Will you please? I did not go jogging because I really wanted to talk to you... Can you please give me one chance to say things? Please Nani, I need that one chance..." He literally begged.

"Ok" Nani decided to hear him out before taking the final decision...

"Nani, if anyone is at fault here, it me and only me... Neither you nor Khushi, it's just me who is at fault here... Because of my past experiences and prejudice, I ignored Khushi completely. Even though you asked me to marry her, we got married after we both said yes willingly. And I know she tried hard... But I did not respect the marriage nor the vows we took... I failed miserably. I insulted her, tried to make fun of her wishes. The list is endless..." Arnav took a deep breath...

Nani and NK looked at him shocked... Is this their Arnav letting go his giant size ego and accepting his mistakes?

"I did everything possible to kill the hopes in her mind about this marriage... I realize now what a blunder I did... But to tell you the truth, I really like her... She is beautiful, talented, dignified, selfless and full of life. You are right, she is an angel, a colorful butterfly who brought happiness in our lives... I guess I was on a long ego trip and being selfish!" Arnav expressed his feeling for her sheepishly...

"Wow Nannav, way to go my bro..." NK did not miss his chance to tease his brother...

"Nani, I am so sorry for not realizing all this earlier, importance of marriage for her and for treating her so bad... But I am glad we talked yesterday night... I was as usual angry at first but then guilty as charged... And I need that one chance to fix things for us... Please Nani, I have thought about few things to win her back... Promise me, you will not send her back or will not let her go back to her parents' house... Only you can stop her. She may not listen to me but she will listen to you. Please Nani, I need her in my life... And I want to be selfish this time too but I promise, I will keep her very happy... She will get all the things she deserves..." Arnav concluded...

Nani and NK's face lit up with a bright smile after he stopped talking. They both did hi-fi realizing actually their efforts did work... A little late but still worked... Now all they needed to do it help Arnav win Khushi back...

"We both are with you bro... But remember one thing, she is my friend first... If you hurt her, you have to face me..." NK agreed to help after warning Arnav clearly not to hurt Khushi anymore...

"Agreed NK... I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving Khushi... You will always be her first and best friend... I will let you take that... But I want to be her true life partner..." Arnav boasted his confidence...

Nani felt so relieved... She could take this... She loved Khushi so much...

By then HP got breakfast for them and it was already 9 am... All three had breakfast and continued their planning... Arnav was pouring his heart out and Nani had to help him after seeing his willingness to fix his mistakes and win her... Nani and NK both knew they will forgive him eventually if Khushi forgives him... They could clearly see Arnav has fallen in love with Khushi but hasn't realized it fully...

"Nannav, let me ask you one simple question still. Were you blind all these days or so dumb not to realize Khushi's worth? Or you truly believe in learning hard way? It's Khushi's bad luck Nani, we must accept. Anyone else would have loved her and cherished her! She is worth it!" NK winked at Nani and could not help tease his brother...

"Given a chance, I still feel like banging your head on the walls to knock some sense inside your brain... Bro, I will not hesitate it next time if I see you ill-treating Khushi..." This time Arnav was sure NK wasn't joking at all...

"It's the food made by HP also..." Nani commented as soon as HP walked away to the kitchen... Nani and NK did hi-fi... Arnav was clueless about what HP and food made by him got to do with his behavior but he deserved their bashing for acting like a snob...

Khushi got up around 9.30 am with heavy head... Looked at clock shocked, ran to their bathroom for a quick shower... By the time she came down ready, it was 10.00 am.

"Good morning Khushi bitiya" Nani behaved normal and wished her morning...

"Sorry Naniji, I don't know how I got up so late..." Khushi was apologetic... She turned stiff as soon as she saw Arnav at the dining table... Is he still mad at me? Will he scream at me and throw me out of the house now? How will her parents feel seeing her permanently back to them? Her hands went cold suddenly with anxiety...

"It's ok Khushi, HP has already served us breakfast... Come and eat... HP, get Khushi bitiya her favorite ginger tea..." Nani started serving her breakfast... Arnav and NK were almost finishing their second round of coffee...

Arnav looked at Khushi's demeanor since she walked downstairs and felt like slapping himself for terrorizing her like that... He needs to work hard on redemption and restore her faith in relationship and marriage!

"NK, I have a vacancy in my office for a senior photographer position but we need someone urgently. If you are interested, I would say go to the office today itself. Aman will brief you about your role and Lavanya will guide you too. You are working with Lavanya in her group again... Are you interested? If yes, then I will stop the interview process else we can continue searching outside... And let me remind you this a permanent position..." Arnav asked NK suddenly, looking at Khushi...

"Are you kidding me bro, I am getting bored here without work... Who wouldn't want to work at AR? I am in. I can reach AR Designs in an hour, will that work? Please go ahead and cancel those interviews..." NK stood up and replied excited... That came as a pleasant surprise to him...

"All the best. Go ahead then" Arnav wished him...

Khushi was also surprised... Arnav listened to her and acted on her request immediately.

"All the best, NK... Do well" She also wished him... NK took Nani's blessings and ran to get ready...

"And Thank you so much Arnavji" whispered Khushi looking at Arnav after NK left... Arnav just smiled back...

Khushi was happy the day started rather much better compared to their arguments last night... She did not know what future holds for them but she was happy at least NK's life would be on track and even NK and Lavanya might get together if Arnavji was correct in his observation and mentioned Lavanya was depressed after NK went away... So there is some hope for her friend...