FF|Arhi|Th#3 How IPK should've been[Ch18/Sc3 Pg117 - Page 36

It had been an extremely busy day for Arnav but he had managed to get through most of his work with relative ease. And thanks to Aman who had taken care of a lot of loopholes in Arnav's absence that there wasn't much left to be taken care of. Although he knows that right about this time Khushi must be in Purani Haveli getting wide eyed with excitement as she would be roaming around the house. A smile comes on his lips as he signs with a flourish on the papers for a tender. Arnav is actually talking to Aman about booking tickets to return to Lucknow later that night when his mobile rings. The screen says Aakash calling. Arnav takes the call.

"Bhai?" Aakash's tense voice sounds from the other end. "Drop whatever you are doing and turn on the PSR news channel." Arnav's eyebrow shoots up at hearing the panic in his brother's voice.

"Aakash, I'm in the middle of some work," Arnav explains patiently but Aakash cuts him off.

"BHAI! This is URGENT! Please do it right now!" Arnav hears the click as Aakash abruptly disconnects the call. He stares at the phone in astonishment. Did Aakash just shout at me? He wonders incredulously. He turns to Aman.

"Aman, we'll talk about the tickets later. That was Aakash. He needs us to check the PSR News channel immediately," Arnav says nodding towards the television. Aman nods in response and switches it on. He then flicks the remote for the correct channel.

At first Arnav sees some advertisement coming on the screen and he stares at the TV curiously, wondering what had stressed out his brother so much. But then, the news hour program resumes and the loud anchor comes onto the screen.

"Welcome back! Let us tell you about the breaking news of the hour. Lucknow's hospital witnessed an encounter between the well known businessman Arnav Singh Raizada and his ex- Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta!" the anchor declares dramatically. A frame-freeze of the CCTV footage animatedly flies back on to the wall behind the anchor. Arnav's eyes widen in utter shock. He could see grainy picture of himself with Khushi as they stood in the staircase of King George's hospital. "Just watch the way both of them seem to be lost in each other."

Arnav watches in horror as the CCTV footage starts playing and he can see each and every moment they had spent in the staircase being repeated in front of his eyes. There were lot of flashy animations and a garish background music as accompaniments. Just as they reached the part where Khushi was walking towards him backing him against the door, the anchor's face came back on the screen. "Seeing the intensity of these two, it seems both of them are equally eager. But if Arnav Singh Raizada and Khushi's marriage was called off, then what exactly did they have to talk about which couldn't merit a better place for their lovey dovey conversation?" Arnav grinds his teeth and clenches his fist at listening to the sensational words coming out of the anchor's mouth. A mad fury starts building up inside him.

"Aman!" Arnav barks, glaring at the television. "Get me Aradhna, right now!" Aman immediately reaches for his cellphone and dials a number.

*

[Purani Haveli]

Khushi is still dazed. She sees her jeejaji saying something to her, but her brain fails to register his voice. Everything is reduced to a numb buzz in her ears. Even though NK had switched off the television, her mind was replaying each and everything that had been shown. The part where Arnav pulled her into the staircase, then him cornering her against the railing, then the part where she was cornering him towards the door, playing over and over in a loop. She could feel the same feeling of torment that had enveloped her last year when all the news channels had a field day showing her chance encounter with Arnav at Sheesh Mahal. History was repeating itself, but to think in such a horrible way!

*

[AR designs office, Arnav's cabin]

Arnav has just finished browsing through all the news channels to see the extent of damage. So far the footage was visible only on one channel, but as far his knowledge about media went; he knew the channel could sell the footage to other channels for a hiked price. His eyes glints in anger and he clenches his fist as he watches the footage clip for the 11^th time. Suddenly, a woman who seems to be in her early thirties is summoned into his cabin by Aman. He glances at Arnav who's standing with his back to them and clears his throat to get his boss's attention.

Arnav turns around to see what Aman wants, but when his eyes fall on Aradhna's smiling face, his eyes narrow and his fury starts bubbling again.

"Tell me, Aradhna," Arnav says in a blunt voice which makes the smile on Aradhna's lips fade. "Why have I hired you?" Aradhna looks uncertainly at Aman and then back at Arnav. Arnav doesn't wait for her response. "I'LL TELL YOU WHY!" he shouts. Aradhna winces in response. Arnav furiously turns to face the TV and points to it. "I've hired you so that things like THESE DON'T HAPPEN!" Arnav yells angrily. Aradhna peers around Arnav's body to see what he was pointing at. Her eyes widen in shock as she watches the footage and the anchor going on and on about her boss's indiscretions in the hospital staircase. She looks back at her raging boss sheepishly and gulps. Oh damn, how did I miss this? She wonders to herself.

Arnav looks like a live volcano and Aradhna takes a step back in alarm. "ASR! Actually... I..." Arnav aggresively takes a step towards her. His PR manager's stuttering just seems to infuriate him more.

"I DON'T CARE HOW YOU DO IT," Arnav thunders, "but I want this footage to be off air within an hour," Arnav says menacingly. "Otherwise the only PR job you'll do for the rest of your life be it in AR designs or any other company in this country would be running the reception. Do you get that, Aradhna?" He threatens her, his voice curt but each word dripping in absolute fury. Aradhna quickly nods her head and runs out of the office. Arnav closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to clear the wave of red that was flashing in front of his eyes. He takes out his phone and dials a number.

*

[Purani Haveli]

Payal, NK and Aakash were still in Aakash's room all looking worriedly at Khushi. She seems to hace come out of her shock by now as she looks at her sister. "Why is all this happening, Jeeji?" Khushi asks Payal in an alarmed voice. Payal caresses her kid sister's head.

"I don't know, Khushi," she replies helplessly. She sits by Khushi's side and makes Khushi rest her head on Payal's shoulder. Payal looks despairingly at Aakash who purses his lips. This was a grievous thing to happen for sure. Just as he wonders what his brother was doing, he gets a call on his phone. In his surprise, he drops the phone on to the carpeted floor and the loudspeaker gets activated.

"Aakash?" booms Arnav's voice from the other end. Khushi's eyes go towards the phone as Aakash lifts it up to his face.

"Yeah bhai one minute," Aakash mumbles as he tries to switch the loudspeaker off but NK touches his shoulder and shakes his head, showing he wants the phone to remain on loudspeaker so that they all can hear. Aakash nods. "Yeah bhai, did you watch the news?" Aakash asks into the phone.

"Yes I watched it," Arnav's angry voice comes again. "Those bas***ds!" Arnav curses violently. "Aakash how the hell did this happen?" Aakash looks quite clueless.

"I have no idea bhai. We all watched it just a few minutes back." Aakash replies.

"I spoke to Aradhna. That worthless woman! Why the hell is she in PR if she doesn't know what the hell are the news channels flashing?" Arnav mutters frustratedly.

"Is she doing some damage control, Bhai?" Aakash asks sharply, trying to keep his brother focussed.

"Yes, I've told her to get the footage off air within an hour or else hand in her resignation," Aakash flinches back at hearing the venom in his brother's voice. Aradhna had been with AR Designs since the time of its inception.

"I'm sure she'll take care of it Bhai," Aakash says reassuredly.

"Aakash, obviously this footage mustn't have reached the news channel directly," Arnav says. Aakash can hear his brother's analytical mind working again. "I'm sure it must have been an employee at the Hospital who's sold it to them. We need to find out immediately." Aakash nods his head. That seemed like the most plausible explanation.

"You are right, Bhai. But how do we find out?" Aakash asks him confusedly.

"Gupta!" Arnav suddenly exclaims as if he's hit an idea. "Aakash, call up Gupta. His agency has a branch in Lucknow as well. Tell him to start investigating asap." Gupta was the security consultant cum private investigator who took care of the Raizada family's security related matters.

"Okay Bhai. I'll take care of that right now." Aakash replies affirmedly.

"How did that news channel dare to do something like this? And that bloody anchor!" Arnav suddenly thunders, no doubt the mention of the initial source having ruffled his feathers again. "If he thinks that he can insult Khushi's character like this and get away with it, then it's the biggest mistake of his life. I'LL NOT SPARE THAT SON-OF-A-BITCH, Aakash!" Khushi stares at the phone in Aakash's hands, her eyes widened in surprise at hearing Arnav's vengeful words. NK and Aakash look at Khushi, while Payal squeezes her hand gently.

"I know Bhai," Aakash replies calmly. "I'll know you won't spare anyone." Khushi looks up at Aakash, her expression becoming scared. Arnav sighs deeply on the phone. He has no clue that he's on the speaker phone and has an audience hanging on to his every word.

"Did Khushi watch all this?" Arnav's voice sounds heavy with concern.

"Yes, bhai," Aakash replies.

"DAMMIT!" Arnav swears furiously. Khushi flinches slightly at hearing his outburst. Arnav's voice again intonates to a low worried baritone. "Is she okay?" Khushi blinks her eyes as she tries to comprehend Arnav's voice. He's asking how I'm doing...

"Khushiji..." Aakash starts but Khushi immediately grabs his free hand and squeezes it tightly, shaking her head vigourously with her eyes widened in alarm. Aakash understands that she is obviously indicating him not to tell Arnav about her condition lest he gets worried. He nods at her. "Khushiji is fine. She was talking about fighting those reporters by herself," Aakash says amusedly. Khushi smiles gratefully.

Arnav chuckles on the other side. "She is a nutter. She'll tackle them all by herself," he murmurs affectionately. Khushi goes back to staring at the phone. "Aakash, please take care of her?" Arnav asks seriously, all traces of humor gone from his voice within a moment.

"I will Bhai. You don't have to ask," Aakash says reassuredly. After thinking for a moment he asks, "But bhai, Whatever has happened so far, what do we do about that?"

Arnav's steely resolute voice comes from the other end, "I'll take care of it!" and the phone gets disconnected.

A silence descends in the room. NK, Aakash and Payal all look at Khushi to judge her reaction. However Khushi was stock still and still staring at the phone. After a long moment, she lets out a sigh, dabs her eyes, and firmly wipes away whatever tears were threatening to flow.

Writer's note: I need long feedbacks okay? go AWW for the whole comment if you want hehehe

cheers! 😊