Arhi FF : Living and Loving ~Lnk for Thd 2 on pg.1 - Page 43

So they both love Khushi but it's different types of love? I wonder what Arnav will do to get Khushi back. Great update!

loved it!

I want Arnav to grovel big time!!!!!!!

Loved the update

Hey Harshu

Thanks for the PM. Loved it. Glad that Arnav came to Goa.

That was amazing. I'm loving the new chracters and can't wait till Arnav and Ajay's friendship grows more. KHushi is doing a lot and now she has to face the devil!

Answers: The question was whether Ajay knows that the Khushi he aims to marry and the Khushi Arnav wanted to know about are the same. Yes, he does! He got really curious when he heard of House of Hope, and he just wanted to make sure that Khushi did not have any fraudulent motives behind doing so. And hence he dug up her past, and knows everything, except the reason as to why she chose Goa, to move into. 😛

My rant ends here, and here comes the update. . .

Part 5:

Khushi gazed at Arnav with wide eyes, as she caught her breath. "How. . . . . ?" She had started to ask, when she noticed Arnav and Ajay glance at each other and then back at her. Ajay looked down, almost as if he was guilty, before he looked up, and his grey eyes met hers with a calm expression. 'Why on earth would you do that?!' she questioned with her eyes, and Ajay pursed his lips. She understood it all, before she opened her mouth to protest angrily. But she clamped her mouth shut, and looked at their audience surreptitiously. Everybody else had started to dance in glee. Casey included, who trotted from person to person, sniffing and licking at their hands, hoping to get a bit of cake from them.

Such a joyous atmosphere was indeed a rare sight at Hope, and Khushi really did not want to spoil it. So she looked at the two men, who stood in front of her as if they were naughty kids, who were caught doing one of their pranks and Khushi was their mother. (And right now she did have a good mind to box their ears, if nothing else!) She looked at them pointedly, before she turned back to Shiva and Aditi. They looked at her, and nodded once, before they followed her out. Ajay exchanged a worried glance with Arnav, who in turn sighed and hugged his Di, who had ambled to him, and kissed the top of her head. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" he murmured, and Anjali laughed amidst her tears before she nodded, and came out of his embrace. Gesturing Ajay to come out with him, Arnav strode out into the garden, guiding his Di along.

Ajay had never seen Khushi so mad in the past few months that he knew her. She was practically seething, and that somehow was giving him a hard time to stop himself from laughing! "Who the hell do you think you are, barging into my personal life like this?!" Khushi asked Ajay, who glanced at Arnav as he smirked and replied, "Why, I am your fiance, Khushi. . . ." And as he had expected, both of their reactions was almost similar. Arnav growled, whereas Khushi snorted in derision, and muttered, "Dead fiance, if you keep this up!" Ajay had the decency to purse his lips, so that they did not stretch into a grin, before he looked down.

"You really are marrying him?! You will marry him?!" Arnav exclaimed, making Khushi stare at him in disbelief, and Ajay turn his face away to hide his amusement. All Arnav could think of, when Khushi accepted Ajay as her fiance was that he could not let this happen. He needed at least one, last chance. A chance, which he very well knew that he did not deserve. Khushi's glare seemed to shut him up effectively, and he watched as she bent her head and shook her head, mumbling something to herself. He could see her defeated stance, as if to tell him that she was exhausted of this game that was on between them. He turned to Ajay and saw him give shake of his head in disapproval, as if he understood Khushi's exhaustion too, before he turned to look at him, and jerked his head towards Khushi, telling Arnav to use this moment of calm.

"Khushi. . . . I am sorry. . . ." Arnav almost whispered, and if not for the deadly silence prevailing there, nobody would have heard it. Not even the speaker himself. And now, all of them stood there, waiting for Khushi's response. They watched as Khushi remained still, as if she had not heard his apology, before she squared her shoulders, and looked up with cold eyes and stared at Arnav with the same eyes.

Khushi totally had a mind to give in. For she saw the same possessive, love for her in his eyes, which she had got used to, when they were together for a few days, before the Shyam fiasco had happened. But then she remembered how much she had suffered. All those days when she had either sat lifeless, or had cried in front of her two friends. It was then she made up her mind that he did not deserve her forgiveness, and she straightened herself, before her tough act started to slip away.

"Oh, just f**k off!" Khushi yelled, making her audience gasp in horror. While the one person who had made her swear stared at her unwaveringly.

"One chance. That's all I ask." came the next reply, melting a little more of Khushi's reserve.

Khushi had opened her mouth to refuse him even more rudely, when the childishness of Khushi Kumari Gupta came out after so many days. "Shiva! Show him to the servant quarters. Decide what work needs to be allotted to him and his wages. He might be a princess in his palace. It takes physical labor to live here, or he can shimmy his ass outta here!" Khushi shouted to a now shocked looking Shiva, her eyes never leaving his. She had turned to leave, when she turned back and murmured as smugly as possible, her smirk in place, "We don't force people to sign any bonds, Mr. Raizada. That's how we roll here, at Hope."

Arnav was shocked beyond words. A good kind of shock, of course. He had never expected that he would be getting any chance. But now Khushi had offered him a chance, which let him be with her, for the whole day. Had she said physical labor? Oh, he had plenty of experience in that, alright! His toned body had not simply sprung out, you see. Plus, he had faced this problem, when he and his Di had been thrown out of their house by their uncle and aunt, right after his parents' demise. So he was sure about handling the pressures of the physical labor that Khushi had threatened him with. But this situation did force his mind back to the dark place, which he preferred to stay away from. The memories of those days, plagued by his parents' death, and the fact that they were suddenly plunged into the merciless hands of poverty, before his Nani had taken them under her wing, made him shudder, even now. He would have to strive hard, and fight against the demons of his past; he made up his mind, and gulped, taking strength from the fact that, like the same old days, he had his sister for his support. And the fact that she was well taken care of, made him relax too.

Shiva and Aditi, who had expected anything but this, looked in surprise, as Khushi informed Shiva to take Arnav Singh Raizada as an employee of Hope. Aditi grinned and saw Ajay sigh and shake his head, as an easy grin spread across his face too. She also knew how Shiva might be doing a jig in her mind. Shiva was a fiercely possessive woman, and she had cried one too many tears when Khushi had cried for Arnav. And now, she would be avenging each of Khushi's and her tears. It seemed as if Ajay knew it too, for he was considering Shiva with the same expression on his face, his eyes estimating Shiva's next move. Aditi soon followed Khushi, in order to make sure that she was okay; nodding at Shiva that she would take care of her.

Anjali knew Shiva's little secret too. For if she was been given a cold shoulder by Shiva, for making Khushi suffer, she was sure that Arnav would be made to face the problems equivalent to the Alps! She just hoped her brother would be ambitious enough to climb that and reach for Khushi. Yes, she had been angry at her brother that he had hid the truth from her, and more than that, he had almost ruined Khushi's life. But he knew of it now, and was here to make it up to her. Not that any amount of making up would even come close to forgetting what Khushi had gone through. Nevertheless, one chance, he deserved. "Devi Maiyyan, raksha karna. . . ." she mumbled, and when she looked up, she was staring into the Ajay's grey eyes, which looked too deep into her eyes. Not that she knew him personally. She just knew that Khushi had agreed to marry him. "Sorry that you will have to be disappointed, Mr. Bharadwaj." She mumbled, as she tried to walk towards Arnav. "We'll see about that. . . . Mrs. Jha." Ajay mumbled too, knowing entirely well what disappointment Anjali was talking about, but Anjali seemed to have heard him, as she turned to him with a clenched jaw, and angry eyes, making Ajay compare the faces of the angry Raizada siblings and think how similar they both were. If not for the fact that she was pregnant, she really did seem as if she wanted to slam dunk him, down to the ground. And that fact made him grin widely at her, irritating her even further.

She shook her head in disdain and turned her attention to her brother, who now stood in front of Shiva, as if he was weighing his opponent. Shiva stood with a perfect poker face, not giving a glimpse of the monumental rage that was building up for the man, who so easily stood in front of her. One flash of the haunted expression on Khushi's face, when they both had first met, and she clenched her jaw, afraid that her calm face might slip off. "Come." Shiva ordered, and turned around, walking towards the few rooms that were behind the actual building of Hope. Arnav looked at his sister, who looked back at him with concerned eyes, and then at Ajay, who nodded his head to wish him luck, before he easily joined Shiva, as she marched away.

Shiva guided him to the dingiest possible room, which they had not bothered to repair, as it had been unnecessary at the time. She opened the door, and turned to look at Arnav, who was cringing his nose at the musty smell. "Brooms and mops are through there. The roof leaks. Give me the list of how much wood and other stuff you would need to repair it, and I'll give you the money to get it." Arnav raised an eyebrow at this statement. "Excuse me?! I don't need money to get whatever stuff I want from you!" Shiva raised her eyebrows too, as she stared at him a wry look. In a very matter-of-fact voice, she replied, "It would not really matter. The money I would give you would be your money too. The same money which you paid to Khushi, each month, to lower her self-esteem by another notch. But you are no longer, Arnav-I-am-filthy-rich-to-buy-anything-Raizada. You are an employee of Hope. And if you are dissatisfied with it, you are welcome to - in Khushi's words - "f**k off"." She had used the two fingers of her hands to form the quotes too, and Arnav looked away, clenching his jaw, angry at his own loathsome self that he had been.

Shiva saw his jaws set tight with anger, and said, "Angry with me already? You have not even seen the start of it, let me assure you that." Arnav turned to look at her, and he very well knew what she was talking about. He also knew that this was the woman, who had taken care of Khushi, while he sat there, hating her for something, which was not her fault at all. "Thank you. . . ." Arnav murmured, his throat clogged with hatred for himself, and the true amount of gratitude he felt for the woman in front of him. At that moment, Shiva saw his remorse. 'Exactly! Burn!!' Shiva thought, as she smirked to herself. Ajay, who had followed them, glanced inside the dark, shambled room, and turned to Shiva, as he said, "You seriously want him to sleep in there tonight?!" Shiva frowned as she answered his question, "Yes, Mr. Bharadwaj. Do you have a problem with it?" "I do, yes. One, this place is clearly uninhabitable, and making him stay here is a human rights violation, for which, Raizada here, can sue us. And two, tomorrow is his first day at Hope. You really don't want him to be sick, do you?" Shiva raised her eyebrows at Arnav, who stood with pursed lips, lest he laugh out loud at Ajay's logic, and she very well knew Arnav Singh Raizada was not a person, who could be deterred with a musty smelling room. She barked a laugh to Ajay's credit, and said, "I don't think he can afford to lose this chance with Khushi, so suing is not at all an option. And I had not even thought for a second, that such strong men," she pointed at them both, and continued, "could be so effeminate." Ajay gasped in mock horror, as he said, "Shiva! You're calling us both pansies!"

There was no pause on the woman's behalf, as she nodded and replied, "As a matter of fact, I am. If he cannot stay here, where do you expect me to put him up at? And I do not understand how and why you come in between all this." The answer to her first question was easier and Ajay answered it without any doubt, "He can stay at my place for the night." He was never the one to hide anything from anyone. It just was not him to lie to anybody, how much ever rude he was perceived to be, when he did that. So he simply said the truth for her second question too, "He hired me to search for his sister and to know more about Khushi." Shiva gasped, and Arnav muttered, "Yeah, thanks!" for which Ajay shrugged nonchalantly, telling him to deal with it.

Shiva stared at Arnav with shock. "What did you expect to find out, huh? To see how the gold-digger was spending your hard-earned money?!" She turned back to Ajay as she questioned him this time, "He's trying to win Khushi back! Not that I see any remote possibility of Khushi budging! Nevertheless. Aren't you afraid that she would not marry you and that your company would go out of your hands?!" Shiva asked, almost desperate to make Arnav suffer alone. Ajay smiled wanly at that. He had not thought about it yet. He somehow could not help but wish that Khushi accepted Arnav back. Even though that meant that he would have to search for another bride. Anjali's face flashed in his mind and he practically cringed at that, his eyes wide with surprise, as he wondered why he had thought of her. Putting that thought away as soon as possible, he cajoled, "What if she's not here. I'll still have you. . . ." He put his strong arm across Shiva's shoulder, and pulled her to his side, making her almost forget her anger at him, for bringing Arnav back into Khushi's life.

"I still don't get why you're being all cuddly-smoochy with him, Ajay!" She said, using her power of addressing him with his first name for the first time, and her voice considerably warm now. When she had been first introduced to Ajay, he had told her to keep their relationship non-formal, but being the professional woman that Shiva was, she had kept it strictly the opposite. Ajay smiled warmly at her, and then turned to Arnav, as he said, "The poor bas***d has almost the whole world against him. I prefer to be on his side and still see him suffer the wrath of the same world!"

Arnav discovered then, as to why he shared this unexplainable bond with Ajay. Ajay was a better-speaking, most-of-the-time calm and rarely angry version of himself. Whilst he was a handicap at voicing his emotions and expressing anything verbally, except anger, Ajay had an outspoken personality. And if Khushi Kumari Gupta - the warmer version of what she was now - was to meet Ajay, they would have hit it off instantly. When he was at his most vulnerable state of mind, he would have preferred to be alone. But Ajay's presence was welcomed by him, he discovered. And he should have been mortally offended when he was addressed a bas***d, and he was sure he would have been, had it been anybody else who had called him that. But his reaction for Ajay's statement was a subtle roll of his eyes, and a quick mutter of "Eternally grateful!" Ajay's grin widened at that and Shiva intervened, "I want you here by eight, early in the morning. And if you want to stay here anymore, repair the room tomorrow and start living here. You two love-birds may leave now." Ajay made a show of saluting to Shiva, making her almost smile, and Arnav chuckle too. She relaxed a little and sighed, as she looked at the retreating backs of the two men, wondering why all this was happening. She had thought that Khushi had finally started to live her life. She shook her head, and made her way to Khushi's room.

*****

Khushi slept on the couch, her head in Aditi's lap, and Aditi stroked her head in soothing movements. Khushi, in some corner of her mind, noticed the difference between her two friends. If Shiva would prefer to talk about Khushi's problem, and solve it at the earliest, Aditi would prefer to be silent. She would give Khushi the personal space she needed, but also listen to Khushi's ramble and raving, but only if Khushi herself wanted to talk about it. Shiva entered her room, and her heart clenched at the lost look on Khushi's face. "Khushi?" she called and Khushi sat up, lifting the edges of her lips in a semblance of a smile. "Are you sure about this, Khushi? You know that there is no need for you to go through all this." Khushi's smile turned into a sad one, as she nodded, and replied, "I wanted to yell at him and make him walk out too. But I don't think I have it in me to watch him walk away from me. Again." Khushi's voice had dropped into a whisper by the end, and Shiva held her hand in support. "Do you think so too? That I should tell him to get out?" Khushi asked Aditi. Aditi thought for a moment before she answered, "Being your friend, and after seeing how much you have suffered, I would never even think of offering him another chance. But it ultimately depends on you, Khushi."

"If he wants to leave, he can always do it, can he not? Let's see how long he will last here." Shiva said, determined to make him flee, before he caused too much damage to Khushi. Khushi almost chuckled, knowing what she might be planning, and Aditi shook her head too, as she thought, 'Lord save Arnav Singh Raizada now!'

*****

Anjali listened to her brother, as he explained that he would be leaving for the night, and staying at Ajay's. Her eyes immediately traveled to meet Ajay's, and she found him staring at her, his eyes scrutinizing her every move. She turned back to her brother, and said, "I am glad you came, Chotey." Arnav nodded, and was about to tell her something, when his phone started ringing. It was Akash, and Arnav moved away from them, as he instructed his cousin, that he would not be available for at least a few more days. He told everything regarding Khushi to him, and Akash wondered if it was right on Khushi's part to go through everything again, after he knew what had happened. But when he heard the self-reproaching tone his Bhai used and the fact that Arnav was hell bent in winning Khushi back made him wish the best of the luck. He also promised that he would definitely take care of AR Fashion House, and the family too. "Naniji and Ma, they would like to see you both. And Anjali Di can come back, hai na Bhai?" Akash asked, concerned for his very pregnant cousin. Arnav glanced back to his sister, who was having a very intense talk with Ajay, standing in his arms! He raised his eyebrows wryly at this, and replied into his phone, "All of you come here at the earliest. If she wants to come back with you, then you can take her. But I personally feel its better she stays here. After all, that house still holds memory of Shyam for her." Akash agreed too, and told him that they would meet soon.

As Anjali watched Arnav move away, talking to Akash, she was about to go behind him too, when she almost tripped, and felt a firm, yet gentle hand which held the sides of her waist, and a warm, solid body pressed against her back. The contact was too gentle, as if the hands at her waist knew that, too much force could harm her child. "Careful!" A cold voice snapped at her, and she turned to the source of the voice. "Just because my brother thinks I am incapable of taking care of myself, you do not have a right to behave so too. And there is no need to concern yourself about me, Mr. Bharadwaj!"

Ajay snorted in disbelief, "Don't flatter yourself too much, Anjali!" he said and watched as she raised her eyebrows in surprise, hearing him call her name, "I was merely concerned about your child! I know how it is to never have seen your mother, you see!" he blurted out, and looked down when he realized what he had revealed. Silence overtook, except for the distant voice of a song blaring inside the building and Arnav talking on his phone.

"Maaf kijiye. . . . Hum aapko. . . . I did not mean to be rude. . . ." Anjali murmured, her hand automatically resting on his arm, feeling bad for this irritating guy, who looked very vulnerable at the moment. He smiled ironically, as he replied, "It is not like I remember anything about her. Though it doesn't stop me from wondering as to how my life would have been, if I had her in it. . . .", he continued, "And you really cannot stop being rude, I know. It is simply the way you are." Anjali's concern for him and the slight guilt she had felt when she had hurt him disappeared as her eyes narrowed at him. "You. . . ." she had started, when Arnav intervened, "Everything alright?" His voice seemed to make them realize that Ajay still had his hands on her waist, and Anjali was not protesting against the contact in any way either. He watched as his Di moved away and looked down, clenching her jaw, before she fixed her cold glare on Ajay. He watched too, as Ajay smirked at his sister, totally unwavered by her angry gaze. And he was, without question, sure that his eyelashes had ice on them, by the cold stare given by his Di to his newest-and-the-only friend. After a while though, Ajay broke the intense eyelock that he shared with Anjali, and turned to the other Raizada and asked him if they could leave. Arnav nodded mutely, before he hugged his Di once more and bid her a good night.

*****

Arnav and Ajay chatted for a while, as Arnav enjoyed the burning sensation that the scotch spread in his throat and body. Ajay was a teetotaler, thus making Arnav the only one getting drunk, though Ajay had strictly ordered the bartender not to come near their table anymore. Arnav gulped the last part of his drink, and looked up, his eyes searching for a bartender. "You really don't want to drink one more of that. You don't want to spend your first day at Hope, writhing with a head ache, do you?" Ajay asked, and watched as he gained Arnav's full attention. "What's with you and the women in my life?" he heard Arnav ask, and Ajay chuckled at his slightly slurred voice. "Seriously! You seem to be engaged to Khushi at the moment, and then you put your paws on my sister." Ajay laughed harder at the 'paws' comment. He being called a snoop-dog, by his profession, added to the joke. Arnav realized it too, and he gave out crooked grin.

"All the best, Raizada." Ajay said as he looked straight into his eyes, and Arnav looked at him too, and nodded once, before both of them looked away, both doubtful as to how their future may unfurl. . . . . . .

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