List of Smita's OS:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2652341/list-of-smitars-os
Part 1:https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2
Part 2: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=10
Part 3: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=21
Part 4: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=31
Part 5: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=43
Part 6: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=51
Part 7: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=60
Part 8: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=73
Part 9: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=85
Part 10: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2?pn=97
Part 11: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2
Part 12: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2
Part 13: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3239275/ss-keeping-khushi-part-14-updt-on-th-2Part 20: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3248201/ss-keeping-khushi-thread-2-part-22-in-th-3
Part 21: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3248201/ss-keeping-khushi-thread-2-part-22-in-th-3
Thread 3:
Part 22: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3259956/ss-keeping-khushi-3-part-31-on-thread-4
Part 14
Khushi packed lunch in 20 boxes with the help of Akansha and Varun. They filled 20 water bottles and placed them on the dining table. The children came in to the dining hall in groups, touched Khushi's feet, and after being thoroughly hugged and kissed by her, grabbed their lunch & bottle, and left for school.
Khushi heaved a sigh of relief, smiling. The cooking was done. Breakfast was over, lunch had been packed and given. The major work of the day till evening was over. Now she could focus on her music classes, and prepare for the concert in the evening. She lifted her hand to her head to untie the towel she had wrapped around her wet hair.
"Khushi!", came a murmur.
She looked in the direction of the sound to see ASR standing near the door. Her mouth fell open.
"Aap?"
He walked in. "I wanted to talk to you.", he said quietly, his eyes on her beautiful face and form, her body covered in a green sari and matching long-sleeved blouse, her hair in a white towel coiled in a bun.
"Ji?"
"Can we talk in private?"
Khushi nodded, and led him to a small room adjacent to the kitchen. She offered him a seat and sat down slightly away from him.
Arnav lifted his chair, placed it next to hers, and sat down.
Khushi stared at him, apprehensive, the fragrance of his aftershave and the nearness of his masculine body sending her limbs trembling.
"Khushi, will you marry me?"
Wide, shocked eyes looked into intent, determined, chocolate brown ones.
Maybe she had imagined him asking her to marry him. Khushi looked away from his waiting regard.
"Khushi?"
She looked at him.
"Will you marry me?"
After a few moments of looking at him silently, she asked softly, "Are you all right?"
"Never better."
"I asked because...marriage... That too to me. There must be something wrong with you, Mr. ASR."
"Arnav."
"Ji?"
"Arnav. Call me Arnav. That is my name."
"Ji." She looked to the door for escape.
"Why do you think there is something wrong with me, Khushi?"
"Kuch n..nahin..." she stammered. "You wanted me to be your m...mistress first. Now you are proposing m...marriage. That's why I..."
Arnav caught hold of her hand. The warm clasp of his large masculine hand was disturbing. Very disturbing.
She tried to pull her hand away. His hold tightened.
"Khushi, when I saw you... that day at the studio... I wanted to keep you with me. I didn't want you to leave me and go away. That's why I... I don't normally do things like that. Khushi, I am sorry. I know I hurt you a lot."
Khushi looked away.
"I forced you to leave Anand Sadan."
"Did you pay Mohanji the asking price?"
"More."
"Good."
"Uuhh?"
"He needed money for his daughter's treatment. She has cancer that can be cured if she has a surgery, chemo, & radiation. Baba had been asking him to sell Anand Sadan for days."
Arnav stared at her.
"We had hoped that the new owner, when ever Mohanji sold it, would let us stay on at a higher rent."
Arnav stared at her.
"Anyway, it all ended well. Baba has adjusted to being in Omkar now. The children are very resilient. They have gotten used to this building now."
"And you?"
"I am very happy. We don't have to pay rent any longer, and nobody can throw us out of this house. What more can I ask for?"
"A husband?"
Khushi laughed. "No, thank you."
"Why not?"
"I don't want one." She smiled.
"Khushi, is it because my father...?"
Khushi shook her head to mean 'no'. "That was an accident. A tragic one, but nevertheless, an accident."
"Then marry me.", he insisted.
Khushi smiled gently. He pressed her hand.
"Nani, Di, Mami, Akash, NK, they all want you home. As the bahu of our family."
A fleeting expression flashed through her eyes. What was it? Sorrow? Pain? He couldn't determine exactly what it was.
"You don't have to feel guilty, you know.", she said softly.
Arnav looked at her silently.
"You were not driving the car."
"But I should have done something. I was told that all four in the taxi had died. I should have asked again & again, followed it up... Then I would have found out that you had survived..."
"I was as good as dead. In fact, it was many days before the doctors could be sure that I would survive. So please don't blame yourself."
"I should have known, Khushi. I..."
Khushi smiled. "I admit that you are Arnav Singh Raizada, the shahenshah of Delhi. But you are not God, you know."
"I know." Arnav smiled.
"So why take responsibility for things that are beyond your control? Leave them. Let go. Live, please."
"Will you help me live, Khushi? Be with me, always."
Her lips twisted in a slight grimace. His hold on her hand tightened.
"Khushi!", he pressed for an answer.
"You don't know me well. Your family does not know me at all. It is foolish to propose marriage to a person you don't know."
"Then, let me know you. Let me spend time with you. Come home daily. Let my family visit you here."
Khushi looked at the door, frantic. She tried to pull her hand away, but his hold was firm.
"I... I don't want to get married." She looked at his face. She said quickly, unwilling to hurt him, "I mean, it is not because I have anything against you. I just don't want to marry anyone." She averted her eyes from his face.
"Khushi! Do you hate me?"
She looked at him, her wide eyes revealing her astonishment. "No."
"Do you think you could love me, someday?"
Khushi squirmed, her eyes darting away.
"It doesn't matter. Give me a chance to change your mind. Let me woo you.", insisted Arnav.
He kissed her palm, flicked a finger at her red cheek, and left the room, smiling.
He turned at the door.
"Khushi!"
She looked up, her face still flushed.
"Can I have lunch in a box?"
She stared at him in shock. Then she nodded, and went to the kitchen. He followed her. She packed lunch for him. As she was about to place a jalebi in the box, he caught her hand, standing behind her, close to her.
"I am diabetic. Can't take sweets."
"Oh!", she looked at him, dismayed. She put the jalebi back in the bin, closed the lid of the lunch box, and handed it over to him.
"Can I get a hug and a kiss too?" , he asked, a devilish smirk on his face.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Book Talk
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