My very own Arnav-Thread 2-Part 30 Updated (June 15th 2018) - Page 24

NOTE: (FOR EASY READING)

• Narrations: in Black

• POVs: in Blue

• Conversations: in Red

• Flashbacks: in Green italics

A different kind of a chapter here- but a necessary one...

At Delhi GI branch:

Khushi sulked as she sat sown in her semi-partitioned cabin. Right now, she was very irritated, to say the least. "How can Arnav and Papa do this to me? How did I get stuck here in the office?"

Payal, who was interning in Sales department, and had come to check on Khushi in fashion designing, laughed at her best friend's discomfiture.

"Hey Khushi", she said, "You look like you are having a great time"

"Don't", Khushi warned Payal, "Don't you dare piss me more"

Payal laughed out loud.

"Alright", she raised her hands in surrender, "Arnav jiju told me that you would be enjoying here", she continued, "Wait, let me quote him- Khushi is having the time of her life in our office since the past two days"

"He said what?" Khushi's eyes dilated as her friend nodded

"I am going to kill him", Khushi humphed

"Aaah," Payal tsked, "you love him way too much to kill him Khushi," riling Khushi up even more.

"Thanks for the help Payal", Arnav was sarcastic as he entered Khushi's cabin, "Thanks for riling up my wife even more"

"Sorry Jiju", Payal's apology was genuine, "I couldn't control myself at her plight"

Payal left, laughing sofly.

Arnav turned back at his fuming wife, "In my defense Khushi, retaining you here at the office is the boss's order. I couldn't say anything"

"Really?" Khushi quipped, "You are forgetting that I was there when all of this happened"

"Well, I can't say that I didn't enjoy it", Arnav smiled as he pulled her closer to him

"Arnav", Khushi blushed, "what are you doing?"

"Relax honey, it's lunch break. There's no one in sight", he continued as he kissed her jawline, "one thing I don't understand is why aren't you given your own cabin? That would have made lunch hour more interesting"

Khushi lowered her eyes as she smiled at her impatient husband, "Because I'm still shadowing, and papa said he would give me your cabin after you left"

"Hmm", Arnav moved closer to her lips

"There is another thing you need to understand", Khushi placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back away gently as she paused for effect

"And what is it mam?"

"That- I am your boss's daughter"

"You may be my boss's daughter, but you are not my boss", Arnav winked at her

"No romance in the office", she added trying to hide her smile, "sorry Arnav, boss's order. I couldn't say anything"

Arnav was stumped as Khushi deftly released herself from his grip and walked towards the exit

"Coming Arnav?" turning back, she questioned him, with her teeth biting her lower lip sensuously knowing the effect it was having on him, "it's lunch time"

"F*ck", Arnav cussed as he adjusted himself, "when did you become such a siren?"

He had a long day ahead before he could show her the consequences of her actions...

At GM, a couple of evenings later:

Khushi was getting ready as Arnav said he wanted to take her out.

"Khushi", Garima called

"Come inside Amma", Khushi invited her mom into her room.

Since the day Preetham's truth came out, the relationship between Khushi and her mom was a bit strained. Garima was in two minds about her son-in-law, but Shashi had told her multiple times to apologize to Arnav and smoothen her relationship with Khushi.

Garima was also feeling defeated about Preetham's envy towards Khushi's life. She didn't know what to trust.

Khushi, on the other hand, was still hurt at how her mom could think so low about her husband. Arnav and Garima were just cordial with each other; Khushi was waiting for her mom to settle down mentally before she could have a heart-to-heart discussion with her. This was the first time Garima came to Khushi's room after the Preetham episode.

"Are you going out somewhere?" Garima asked

"Amma, Arnav is taking me out for dinner"

"Ready to leave Khushi?" Arnav asked stepping out of the bathroom

Seeing Garima, he realized she was here to talk to Khushi about something.

Khushi wanted to talk to her mom. It had been a while since her mom initiated a conversation with her. On the other side, her husband was waiting too.

Closing her eyes, Khushi took a deep breath, "Arnav, can I come down in a few minutes?" Khushi pleaded with her eyes

"Sure", Arnav walked out with a small nod and a tight smile at Garima which she did not reciprocate.

Arnav knew Khushi was missing her mom too. Although he did not like Garima at all, he was civil with her, for Khushi's sake.

Arnav and Garima didn't like and appreciate each other. Both of them had strong yet antagonistic views about each other.

Garima believed that Arnav was not good enough for Khushi. She felt that Arnav always overrode her daughter. Arnav, on the other hand, felt that Garima was invariably arrogant due to her social and financial status. He didn't like the way she interfered in her married daughter's life.

"What is it Amma?" Khushi asked her mom again.

"Bua and I are going to lucknow for Nitya's wedding. We received her wedding invite today. Khushi, I want you to join us"

"Wow, Nitya is getting married?" Khushi was all excited for her cousin and childhood friend

"Yes", Garima continued, "She maybe a distant relative but when she lived here with us for a while, both of you became close friends. She will feel good if you attend her wedding"

"Okay Amma, I will check with Arnav once and tell you tomorrow"

"Really Khushi?" Garima raised her voice a bit, "Can't you travel for your friend's wedding without his permission?"

"Amma", Khushi felt her mom was being unreasonable, "what is your real issue with Arnav?"

"He is not right for you", Garima was quick to voice her opinion

"Actually, nobody could be more right for me than Arnav is", Khushi spoke with conviction, "what is it that is really bothering you about him?, Why do you dislike him so much?"

"He messed with Preetham"

"Amma, don't you remember what Papa said that day?" Khushi's voice increased an octave, "she was the one behind Arnav, it was not the other way around"

"Your husband is the reason for breaking up this family Khushi", Garima had tears in her eyes, "he is the reason your Chacha and Preetham had to leave this house while he gets to stay in this house. He is the reason Preetham swayed. He must have led her on, otherwise why would Preetham behave that way? She was never that way before. I raised her, I know her. There is no smoke without fire"

"Enough Amma. I know about my husband. Whatever anybody said, I will always believe him. You may know Preetham, but I know my husband better. Even if all the evidence is against him, I will still trust him. Although here, contrary to what you think, the evidence supports him. Papa himself said clearly- Preetham's obsession had nothing to do with Arnav. Do you not trust Papa then? Preetham was jealous of me, she wanted to have an affair with my husband, whoever it was, just to spite me", Khushi took a deep breath

"Amma, like I said before, nobody could be more right for me than Arnav is. Only because it is him, he stood by me, resisted her, and exposed her. He is a man of values Amma. Again, he is not the reason Chachu and Preetham left this house. Remember the time when Chachu insulted him at work, and he wanted to leave this house; it was Preetham and you who pressured us to stay back here. Come to think of it, it was probably one of her plots to subdue him into having an affair with her. Who else other than Arnav could be more loyal to your daughter Amma? When will you stop hating him?"

Tears flowed from Khushi's eyes as she finished talking.

Garima was stumped at the pain in Khushi's voice. As Khushi started walking away, Garima called her, "Khushi..."

"No Amma", Khushi interrupted her, "if it is anything more against my husband, don't say it and lose your respect in my eyes"

"I am sorry beta, I didn't mean to hurt you", Garima apologized genuinely, "I am just worried about you"

"I understand Amma", Khushi's voice was mellow as she held her mom's hand, "I am your only daughter, and I have been a sheltered girl all my life. But Arnav is now my husband, and he has proven his worth. How many times does he have to keep proving that he is good for me in your eyes?"

"Let's say Amma, the roles were reversed; Would you like it if Arnav's family treated me with the same kind of doubt that you treat him here with? Would you like it if I had to prove myself worthy of being his wife constantly to his family?"

"No Khushi", Garima's voice was small

"I thought so", Khushi said passively

"One more thing Amma", Khushi took another deep breath, "If you have to travel somewhere, would you not check with Papa? This is not about taking permission or domination or ego. It's about not inconveniencing each other and ensuring a clear communication for smooth running of the family"

As Garima nodded, "Well then Amma, why is it wrong if I check with Arnav about my Lucknow trip?"

Garima closed her eyes in acceptance.

"Your initial dislike of Arnav is because I refused Abhinav's alliance, who according to you is better than Arnav for me. But this dislike has escalated into your deep hatred for Arnav. Don't let this hatred consume our relationship Amma"

Khushi came forward and hugged her mother tight, "I love you Amma". She then moved out of the room leaving Garima to self-introspection.

The same evening at Taj:

"Tum theek ho? (Are you okay?)" Arnav asked Khushi for a millionth time that evening as they sat down for dinner at the Taj Restaurant.

"I am fine Arnav"

"Then, why do I feel like you are not fine?" Arnav gently took Khushi's palm in his as he kissed it tenderly, "what is it Khushi?"

"I don't know how to tell you Arnav"

"You know I won't judge you, right?" Arnav said as Khushi nodded.

He knew it had to do about her mother. Her mood had changed drastically after the interaction with her mother, but Arnav didn't want to push it. Even though he disliked Garima, he didn't want to criticize Garima in order not to hurt Khushi.

"Share with me whenever you feel comfortable"

"Can you please give me sometime Arnav?"

"Take as long as you want sweetheart", Arnav sipped his Iced tea, as he tried diverting her mood, "Anyhow, I am taking you somewhere after dinner"

"Where?" it had the desired effect

"For starters, it's a game," Arnav continued, "But, a bet makes a game more interesting, don't you think?"

"Okaaay," Khushi drawled

"So, if you lose Khushi, what are you willing to forfeit?"

As expected, that got Khushi hooked, "what would you do if you lose Arnav?"

"Anything", Arnav's answer was instantaneous. He smiled, "you need guts to say what I said"

"No", Khushi countered

"What do you mean?"

"It's not guts Arnav. You trust me that I won't ask you to do anything that you despise, if you lose the bet. That's why you were quick to say-anything"

"Oh, I see, that means you think I would ask of you something that might make you uncomfortable if I win the bet. Right Khushi?"

Khushi kept silent for a while, "I am sorry Arnav, I trust you. Ok, I will do anything you ask"

"You shouldn't trust me Khushi", Arnav said with an evil glint in his eyes, "that was a mistake you did. Anyways, now that you have already given your word, you can't take it back", he winked

Khushi's jaw dropped, "wha... what do you mean?"