And Then She Found Me-Chapter 37 PG 58 13/11/17 - Page 12

"Khushi, it's a stupid plan."
"And your idea was better? Hiding in the cupboard until you get back from the office and everyone else is a sleep and sneak out like I snuck in? Yea, not how I plan on spending my day, I'll have enough of waiting around for you when we get married. And besides what am I suppose to say to bua?" He hated to admit it but he liked it when she mentioned little particulars of about their future. What he hated to admit more was that he didn't want her to leave.
"There is also the second option."
"Of sneaking up to the terrace and climbing down the fire ladder...I am sorry you wouldn't get me down that ladder even if there was a fire. I have a fear of great heights."
" Don't be so dramatic. It's only three storeys up. Your flat's on the fifth floor."
"I don't do ladders."

***

"Di, do we have anything to eat?" Arnav asked finding his sister in the kitchen.
"Arnav, I just had your breakfast sent up."
"It had gone cold."
"Ok." A confused Anjali began to heat the left over's. "You sit down I'll bring the food over to you."
"No" He almost snapped. "Let just stay here, I'll eat here."
"Chote standing whilst eating is bad for you." Knowing how insistent his sister would be he quickly poured himself some orange juice.
"Di, where is everyone else?" Anjali was more than perplexed by her brother's behaviour that morning.
"Erm Mami is in her room and Payal and Nani are in the mandir..."
"Ok." He nodded to himself. Anjali stood there and watched her brother. He looked like a boxer psyching himself up before a match. He waited until he knew she wasn't watching before he took a large sip of the juice and then started choking.
"Chote?!" Anjali panicked. She started rubbing his back as Arnav went red in the face. 'Why isn't she calling for help' he thought. He clasped his hands around his neck as though he couldn't breathe. "Hai bhagwan, I need to phone for help but can't even leave you. Payal, Mami come to the kitchen quick!" She shouted as Arnav's coughs grew louder. Within seconds the remaining women of the Raizada house hold had assembled in the kitchen.

Khushi heard Anjali shout for help and then see Mami's shadow run past the frosted double doors. She waited for a moment before she peeked her head out the door. 'Why didn't I hear him shout?' She thought. When she heard the incoherent sound of alarmed voices come from downstairs she tiptoed out of the room to make her way out.

"Di what happened?" Asked Payal as Mami called for an ambulance.
"I think he is choking on some orange juice." A teary eyed Anjali said whilst Arnav gasped for air.
"Don't worry Di I am first aid trained. Please just step aside for a minute."
"What are you going to do?"
"Bhaiya, this may hurt a little. Di I am going to have to hit his back as hard as possible, it might free the lodged particle. We repeat this step three times so I might need your help." She braced herself and drew her arm back.
WHAM!
Arnav gasped for air. The only difference was that this time it was for real. Looking at Payal you would never think she would have such physical strength, 'I have to warn Akash' Arnav thought. He was not going to wait around for another two rounds of hits regardless of whether Khushi had made it out of not. He stopped coughing and stood up straight.
"Thanks Payal." He said placing his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm ok now Di." He said before turning to leave the kitchen.
"But chote?"
"Arnav bitwa abhi abhi toh tum coughya rahain te, saans be full stop hui gava. Tum 100 percentwa teek ho hai?" Mami called behind him. But that wasn't what stopped him in his tracks. He saw a flash of electric blue from the corner of his eye.

*

Khushi could hear Payal saying something about hitting him as hard as possible, 'Poor Om Prakash.' she thought. She made a run for the front door. She yanked the large wooden door open and tried to make a dash for his car when something pulled her back. "CRAP!" She cried.

*

Arnav quickly turned around to face the women advancing towards him. 'This is what I meant about giving me high blood pressure. I never have this much stress when having to do presentations on the spot than I am having trying to control this one girl!' The pallu of her saree was caught in the door and her pulling the material from the outside side only attracted more attention. He had to stop them before they noticed.
"Ouch." That's all it took for them to come running to him.
"Bitwa Kya hua?"
"Bhaiya?
"I think there's something in my eye." He said holding his hand against his left eye whilst his right was focused on the door. The four women tried to have a look.
"Arnav moved you hand." Insisted Anjali. Arnav allowed her to move his hand but kept his eye shut.
"Chote look here." Demanded his Nani. "Don't know what's wrong with you today, how am I suppose to have a look at it if you won't open your eye." He kept glancing at the door. Finally he saw her head peep through before grabbing her pallu and disappearing.
"It's ok I am fine now." Again he stood up straight opening both his eyes and started to leave.
"Chote!" Anjali shouted. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"
"Di I seriously had something in my eye." He tried to sound as sincere as possible. Just then Hari Prakash walked down with an tray full of empty dishes.
" I thought you said the food was cold."Anjali asked.
"Di I said it was cold not that I didn't eat it."
"You know what Chote just go to work...Before I lose my temper." He could here Anjali muttering under her breath as she walked away.
"Sorry Di." He whispered. He felt a heavy weight on his chest seeing the distress he had caused his sister.He was more than happy to be a monster for the rest of the world but to torment his sister, caused him pain he had never felt before. 'It had to be done, Khushi's plan would never had worked.' The business man in him reasoned as Chote watched his Di, almost in tears, walking away from him.

***

Arnav sat in his car and drove around the corner before pulling over and stepping out. He opened the trunk of his car to find Khushi curled up. She extended her arms towards him to help her get out.
"See I told you my idea would work." She celebrated.
"My back is paying the price for that." He muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?"
"Kuch nahi...Shall we go?" He opened the passenger door for and helped her to her seat.
"You like you your 4x4's." She noted as settled into his black Range Rover pulling her knees up and leaning back.
"I like my comfort." Something told her that the statement was meant for more than just his choice of cars.

She put down the sun shade but it had little effect on the light pouring in as they sat in the Delhi traffic. Arnav removed the glasses he was wearing and handed them to her. She hesitated at first but took the glasses.
"Thank you. I never use to suffer from hangovers." She told him trying to make some conversation.
"It's because you haven't drank in a long time. Don't drink so much next time you'll be fine." She knew something was wrong. He had been lost in thought ever since they had left his home.
"I am sorry, you had to lie to everyone today because of me."
"It's not everyone that I am worried about."
"I know its Di you're thinking about. I am really sorry Arnav."
"It was my choice to make. You would have done the same for me." And he was right she would have. She sat there looking at the one person she knew would take care of her against all odds.

They finally reached her building. As always he stepped out of the car and opened her door before she did.
"You're going to be so late getting to the office, Jiji was telling me that you have the Fall collection coming up...Ithna saara kam... and here I am adding to your problems. What are you going to say to everyone, it's not like it has been a productive morning for you?" She said as he helped her off her seat.
"Khushi relax, I own the company remember? I don't have to answer to anyone."
"But I know you have responsibilities." He closed the passenger door. Where they the same Arnav and Khushi who were squabbling and playing hide and seek only half an hour ago? He walked her to her apartment. She wrapped her arm around his side and pulled him in close as they walked. She didn't what to do, what to say to make him feel better. She didn't want to see him like. She vowed to herself in that moment that she would never ever put him in a place where he has lie to his sister or his family again.

"Are you going to be ok? Do you want me to come in for a while?"
"I'll be fine." She assured him. She placed her hand against his cheek. His stubble tickling her palm slightly. "Have lunch on time and make sure you take your medicine. I'll call you in the evening." She smiled. He took her hand from his cheek and held it in his own before nodding to let her know he understood. He reluctantly let go of her hand and she turned to the entrance of her apartment.
"Arnav." She called before he stepped into the elevator but he didn't reply. "Do you trust me?"
"Enough to marry you and give you half of my company." He smiled as he called back. 'Laad Governor kabhi nahi sudreh ge! One minute he is all romantic next he back to beloved business.'She thought.

Things where moving fast, faster than Khushi had expected. The journey from hating each other to becoming friends to being somewhere in between had been shorter than she had expected and a lot easier. She had got to known Arnav so well in the past couple of days almost as if she had known him for years. But there was so much more she needed and wanted to know. Before anything else could happen there was someone else that she needed to speak to, make sure that a chapter had truly come to an end before she can move forward in her new life.