True Colors -Thread 2 - Page 33

They must have reached home in record speed. Khushi had seen Arnav's happy mood fade away with the phone call. He was tensed ever since. He wore the ASR mask that she had not seen for ages.

Khushi tried to get some information out of him but he refused to divulge any.

Arnav did not want Khushi to panic at this stage of pregnancy. If she got tensed it was not good for her and the baby. He would deal with this. Shyam! The scumbug! How had he ever erred in his judgement about Shyam. He was sick! If he it wasn't enough that he had ruined Di's life and attempted to ruin Khushi's, he was trying to ruin his business! Well, he couldn't get away with this. But Arnav was worried because he still did not know how many shares he had sold and if he could do anything about it. He did not want to involve Di in this either because she would again feel guilty that it was because of her that her Chote again had problems.

On the way they picked up Anjali and after he dropped them back home, Arnav left immediately. Khushi watched in worry as Arnav left. He was shutting her out again and she hated it.

The next two days were far worse. Arnav was barely at home. He only had time to give Khushi a hurried peck on the cheek or a faraway smile. Khushi felt hurt. After the beautiful bonding in the farm house, she felt cheated. But she knew something was drastically wrong. But her real problem was that he did not share what bothered him.

Well she was Khushi Kumari Raizada and she would do some detective work to figure out the problem. So, the next time Arnav took a call and walked off to the garden, Khushi followed and eavesdropped, hiding behind one of the pilliars. She wasn't ashamed at all for doing this. She wanted to help Arnav, she reasoned. But she apologized to Devi Maiya in case she had done something wrong.

"So what is the legal opinion? Shyam is still not divorced from Di. So we can't say he did not have a right to sell those shares? What are the alternatives?"

Khushi's heart stopped. So it was Shyam! He had sold AR company's shares? How dare he! Khushi seethed. He was trying to ruin her Arnav'.

"We have seen so many legal angles. So give me a good solution. I am done with dead ends. I want a good solution. What did Mr Biswas say? He is the final authority on such matters. He is the best corporate lawyer in India and I am sure he has dealt with similar cases," Arnav said.

Khushi was desperate to hear what the other person was saying, but she simply waited.

"No Akash. That's not a solution at all. If he is the one who sold the shares, why on earth will he claim that he was forced to do it. How can we make him confess he was forced to do it? Why will he try to save us? He is out to ruin us. Do you get that? I want some other solution. We are losing time. Please look for more alternatives'" Arnav cut the call.

Khushi immediately went back into the house before he saw her. Her quick mind was trying to think what could be done.

When Arnav found her in the kitchen, she was eating a pack of some sweets from her sweet shop, lost in thought.

He came and picked the pack off her hands," Enough of sweets Khushi. Remember the doctor said you have to cut down on salt and sugar intake for the next few months."

She snatched the pack right back and said, "Hmph. As if you care. You haven't even spent time with me and the baby from the time you came back," she said and then addressed her tummy,

" See Papa is a busy man. No time for mommy and poor baby, But Mommy is here honey," she said patting her tummy and looking at Arnav accusingly.

"Khushi cut the drama. I have serious work here and you are talking of spending time with you. Do you even know the kind of pressure I am in?" he asked in an irritated tone.

"No. How am I to know if you don't tell me? So what happened? Something has upset you. It started with the call in the farm house. What is it?" she asked.

Arnav desperately wanted to confide in her. He wanted her to tell him all will be fine. He wanted her to understand what was keeping him away from her. But he did not want to worry her.

So, he turned away. "Nothing Khushi. Nothing you need to know," he said.

Khushi sighed. She knew he would not say anything.

"Ok have some parathas. I made them for breakfast," she said.

"No Khushi. I don't have time. I will grab something later. Coffee is enough," he said grabbing the coffee.

"At least have this toast. You need to eat," she said.

Again he pushed the plate, "I am not hungry. I have too much on my mind," he said and walked away.

Just as he walked, he stumbled, feeling dizzy.

Khushi was instantly by his side, rubbing his palm and wiping his sweaty brow.'Arnav, I am not letting you go till you sit and eat. If you don't eat, neither will I," she said stubbornly.

Arnav gave in and ate his breakfast, supervised by Khushi.

His mind was so fogged with thoughts he forgot to even peck Khushi on the cheeks as he left. But Khushi held his hand, stood on her toes and kissed him full on his lips, "Now there, that will take care of the day for me," she said and smiled into his eyes.

He smiled back, just for a moment forgetting his worries. If only he could go back to the farm house and shut out the whole world and just be with Khushi, life would be so different. He sighed and left.

Khushi watched him go in concern. She had to do something. But what? She had no clue. The whole thing was beyond even Arnav, by the looks of it.

All through the day Khushi racked her brains. Arnav's helplessness ate at her heart. It was affecting his health too. If things did not sort themselves, he would be sick. Right now she could kill Shyam for what he was putting Arnav through. Did the man have no shame? He had almost married her despite being married, ruined Di's life'she stopped. An idea suddenly struck her and it took root and grew strong.

Arnav was having one hell of a day. He had repeated meetings with the lawyers, his financial advisors and his business advisors. The crisis was looming large, By the looks of it, Shyam was still on the verge of making the final deal with the rival company, who were verifying many legalities with regards to the deal. But he still had no way to stop him.

He was tired and his sugar level had been doing crazy things to him since morning. By late afternoon he was feeling very sick.

"Bhai, go home. There is nothing you can do today. I am here to see to all details. If there are new developments I will let you know. Please go," Akash said.

"But Akash there is still no solution. How can I just go?" Arnav said.

"Your being here is not going to solve anything. Just go. I will keep you informed," Akash insisted.

Reluctantly Arnav left.

"Hello Mr Shyam Manohar Jha," Khushi said, loathing the thought of even speaking to him again. But she would do this and much more for her Arnav.

It had taken her one more round of sneaky detective work to get his number. She had sneaked away Di's phone and taken his number. The creep had tried to call Di. So there were many missed calls. Obviously Di had not picked the calls. Poor Di, Khushi thought. It must be so tough on her.

"Well, well, well. It is Khushi Kumari Gupta, speaking to the low life Shyam after ages. I am glad of what I did to Arnav. See, you are calling me," Shyam said.

"And I am hating every minute talking to you. By the way the name is Khushi Kumari Raizada. Got that? And yes I am talking to you only because of my Arnav. Never would I talk to you otherwise," Khushi said.

"So he has sunk so low that he is using my love for you to save his company," Shyam laughed in scorn," I never thought he would sink so low."

"You are right he hasn't sunk so low. He doesn't even know what it is to be so low. He hasn't even told me about what you did. But I am his wife for nothing. His problems are my problems, his business is my business," Khushi said.

"My, my, my. I am touched beyond words. Let's see how long this love lasts once he comes to the streets. I want to see what happens to your love then. His wealth was one of the reasons for your love. Now that he won't have it, I am sure the love will evaporate," Shyam said.

"Oh Shyam Manohar Jha! You are completely delusional. If Arnav is on the streets I will gladly accompany him there. By the way I do not want to discuss my husband or my love for him with you. I don't owe you any details," Khushi said.

She completely missed seeing the door opening or Arnav standing some distance behind her because she was deep in agitated conversation.

"I have a proposition for you Mr Jha if you agree not to sell my Arnav's company shares to the rival company," Khushi said.

Arnav watched in stunned disbelief wondering what Khushi was going to suggest next'