Chapter 39
Neither backed down; both on the attack. A tiger and his tigress in battle.
Both equally stubborn.
Arnav was mad. She could see the muscle in his jaw twitching as he battled to control he anger. Khushi knew that to an extent she was being childish but what was she to say? Arnav, I've fallen in love with you but I don't know if you love me... but what I do I know is that you don't want to marry me.
No she couldn't.
Khushi sighed as she rubbed her slightly sore arm and then picked her bag up. She turned to face him 'I have to go Arnav' and began walking towards the door.
What the F*CK had gotten into her?!
Arnav grabbed her hand in one hand and his car keys with the other as he practically pushed her out the door and into the elevator before marching her to the car and then slamming the door once she was sitting. He walked to his side and slammed the door again.
'Seatbelt!' he growled.
Khushi quickly fastened her seatbelt and moved back into her seat. He was livid and it was her fault she thought to herself as the force of the speeding car pushed her further back. He drove furiously and silently and in no time they arrived outside her house in Laxmi Nagar as he slammed to a screeching halt. Clearly the forty minute car ride had done nothing to reduce his anger thought Khushi in trepidation as she turned to face him. She didn't know what to say to him and she really didn't want to end their time on a sour note. Khushi was just about to turn to him when she realised he had exited the car and was pulling her door open. Khushi looked at him in panic 'What are you doing Arnav?' she asked he pulled her out and walked to her door, her hand in his, not bothering to answer her. Khushi was thankful the main door was closed and they were hidden from view. She pulled on his arm as she stopped. 'Arnav?!' she hissed.
Arnav spun around, his voice emerging in a low growl 'I'm coming with you Khushi' he said. Devi Maiya why was he insisting...'Arnav stop, you..you don't have to come in..' she said as she desperately tried to find a reason why, her heart rate increasing as she panicked. Arnav looked her point blank when he finally spoke, his eyes blazing with barely contained anger, 'Khushi, you've just spent the night with me. Your parents have no idea about what we did or didn't do; though I'm pretty certain that they'll be focusing on what we DIDNT do thinking that it's what we did. I AM NOT dropping you outside the house and leaving ' he said with a tone of decisiveness in his voice.
Khushi was astounded. What was he made off? They were in the middle of a fight and he was still putting her first; Khushi felt awful. 'Arn...' she began but was interrupted by Garima who opened the door at that very moment. Arnav let Khushi's hand dropped as he folded his raised hands, nodding his silent greeting. From the look in her Amma's eyes, Khushi knew that Arnav was right - her Amma was certainly eying them both with suspicion.
Garima stepped to the side as she let them both into the house. Khushi looked around; Bua-ji and Payal weren't there but her Babu-ji was.
Shashi Gupta looked at Arnav and then at Khushi and then at their intertwined hands. If he could, he would have sighed deeply. Clearly something more serious than what he thought was going on between the two of them. Arnav let Khushi's hand drop from his and greeted Shashi in the same manner he greeted Garima. Shashi reciprocated with a slight nod of his head and decided it was time to have a chat with the young man who stood in front of him. He spoke slowly in order to enunciate his words, 'Garima, please take Khushi. I want to talk to Arnav' he said quietly.
Garima and Khushi did as asked and proceeded to Khushi's room, shutting the door behind themselves...leaving Arnav and Shashi alone.
Shashi gestured towards the sofa and Arnav sat opposite him, rubbing his slightly sweaty palms on his jeans as he did so. It was unusual that the prospect of negotiating multi-million dollar deals didn't cause even a fifth of the reaction that sitting here in front of her father was.
Perhaps because this might be more important to you than all those deals put together, suggested the angel.
Arnav cleared this throat, someone had to start the conversation and it might as well be him he decided as he looked straight at Shashi Gupta.
'Mr Gupta...I need to explain to you why Khushi... why I asked Khushi to stay...' he began.
Shashi slowly raised his right hand, interrupting Arnav.
'Arnav, Khushi said that she will explain her reasons to us herself and I will wait for her to do that. I trust her judgement and I know she would not have made this decision lightly. I also know that she would never ever break her word or lie to me, so I know that nothing inappropriate would have taken place. If I'm not wrong - this is what you want to tell me, isn't it?' asked Shashi in a very calm measured tone.
Arnav could do nothing but nod. Conversing with a girl's father was something he had zero experience with; let alone conversing with the father of the woman he had fallen in love with.
Shashi continued.
'I will say one thing to you Arnav as Khushi's Father; whilst she may come across as strong and courageous; my Khushi is a simple girl with simple dreams. Garima and I have tried our best to build a family here with all of us. She doesn't talk about her parents' death, but we know full well that her family died that night and even though we are a foster family, she yearns to belong to someone and build her own family -- husband, children. Khushi and you are both adults. I leave it up to you both to decide the dynamics of your relationship. I just don't want my daughter getting hurt,' said Shashi as he paused for breath; it was difficult for him to have long conversations but this had to be done. 'Arnav, I might be looking at this matter more practically, but Garima is not. In her eyes, her daughter has just spent the night with a man she has no relation with. Can you understand why she is concerned?
As he nodded silently, Arnav had to admit that he understood. Asking Khushi to spend the night had merely been a spur of the moment request for him, but for her - it clearly carried significant repercussions. Serious ones. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to question his Khushi and make her defend herself. Shit. This was much much more complicated that he anticipated thought Arnav as he dragged his hand through his hair, dishevelling it even more in the process as he sighed.
Shashi Gupta observed the young man seated in front of him very closely. He could see that Arnav was clearly in a state of turmoil; the kind of turmoil that took place when one very important thing had happened. Shashi knew because it had happened to him.
'Arnav, are you in love with my daughter?' asked Shashi quietly.
Arnav's stunned eyes shot up as they met Shashi's. What was he supposed to say? Would it be seen to be brash or disrespectful to admit that he was? And what about the fact that he hadn't even admitted this fact to Khushi herself ' would he be able to bravely admit to her father of all people? Arnav leaned forward, his head bowed as his forearms rested on his thighs as he tried to assemble his thoughts. There was no contest. Arnav had never in his life felt so uncertain yet so... definitively certain about anything. He was in love with Khushi Kumari Gupta and denying it would to be equivalent to insulting her. Arnav raised his head and looked straight at Shashi Gupta.
'Yes' is all he said.
Shashi Gupta leaned back in his wheelchair. If he could, he would have smiled. Shashi didn't quite know what it was, but his intuition told him that Arnav was a man with a good heart. He wouldn't do the wrong thing by Khushi and his confidence was bolstered by the fact that Khushi had picked Arnav herself; Khushi was a good judge of character. Either way, this was going to be her triumph or her mistake and he would stand by his little girl either way. There was still one last thing to be said.
'I'm placing my trust and my daughter in your hands Arnav. Please don't disappoint either of us.' Shashi uttered very quietly.
hello Darlings
Before you throw chappals at me - I know this is a short chapter, lots going on as I mentioned plus half my team is down with the flu which mean that yours truly has to handle the workload... sooo... this unfortunately means a short chapter which I figure is better than no chapter at all...
p.s this chapter is dedicated to my dearest pa.. Shashi Gupta is modelled on him ❤️
Edited by warriorprincess - 13 years ago
Members Lounge
Cricket
334