Chapter 11
Arnav lay in bed thinking over what all happened and what all changed in the past few weeks. He rubbed his head in frustration. Never could he speak out his thoughts. He never needed to. Someone in the house would figure out what was going in his head and talk to him. Those someone were two women…his nani and bhabhi.
He still couldn't figure out how women are so observant, how they are so strong, how they aren't kept on the pedestal like some people claim, but are actually the pedestal that supports their men.
A sigh escaped his mouth and he sagged deeper into the bed. His mind and body yelled to be clear and free from the burden of his fears, worries, problems and it also yelled who it wanted to be cleared by.
But how?
A small smile formed on his lips as he thought about his good luck…Khushi. He wondered whether he had not bumped into her at the theatre, would he have kissed her at her rishta date. Whatever made him pull that ridiculous stunt was for the ultimate good. She was now his…half his…just a matter of small time and then she will be completely his.
"Mine? What the" he questioned himself.
When the hell did he decide that?
Just now.
Why the hell did he decide that?
Because that's what he wants deep inside.
"No I don't!" he pulled his hair.
Oh great, so now he was going to talk to his brain…which is basically talking to himself.
He had to get himself straight. If he didn't act now, there were high risks of ruining his life physically, emotionally and materialistically.
Sleep was not on his side tonight. Arnav gave up on falling asleep, got up from his bed, and started working on his usual presentations for the upcoming meetings.
~~~
Khushi hung up her cell and held her head in hands.
Another party, honestly!
Just by working, personal chores and attending the high class parties (only two so far), she had lost a couple of kg's, which was a good thing, but it all left her exhausted.
If this was not a temporary thing, she had no idea how she would have managed this lifestyle for the rest of her life.
It was a temporary thing right? Yes, but why?
She didn't want to get married. But why?
Apart from the rich living, marriage…being engaged didn't seem so bad. The family was good, she had already found a friend in Anjali, she was nowhere near an older sister in law like other families in town, Dhruv…mmm yeah maybe, very near in being a friend as well. Akash Bhaiya, well this dude didn't really talk to her much besides just now to invite her to the party. Oh how could she forget, dadaji, sweetest person of them all. She heard about Arnav's nani, even saw her picture but no one really talked much about her. She wished she had met her.
Shaking herself out of her analysis of her sasural, Khushi put away the files, cleared her table and sat back down with the file of next, last student of the day.
The best part about her job was the look on the students' faces when they walked in to her office. The question that follows right after that wasn't so great. She was kind of tired of politely not answering her age.
It was interesting to see how the country was so diverse. Inside this institute it felt like it was a whole different world than outside. All these people inside the school were so different. In truth, most of her counseling was done through her experience and upbringing. Yeah she had a clash with her mother but still Khushi thought her parents had brought her up well and she was very grateful for that.
There were still ten minutes for the student to come in, Khushi quickly dialed Payal and told her about tonights 'work related' party.
"Why are you asking me when you yourself know more about fashion?" Payal asked.
"Yes but I still need your help. I like your choice and need your approval. Come over, I'll be home by six" Khushi stated.
"Fine. You owe me ice cream date"
"Fine"
~~~
The sleek black BMW M6 moved at the pace of a bullock cart through the streets Delhi.
"Nice car" Khushi spoke, desperately wanting to break the awkward silence inside the close cozy ambiance.
"Thanks. Got it just yesterday" Arnav gave her his best gorgeous smile.
"Nice dress" he said looking at her through the corners of his eyes.
"Thanks. Got it an hour ago" she smiled and then bit her lip lightly to stop that smile from widening.
Arnav chuckled slightly and shifted his gear to move forward.
Khushi drifted back to past two hours, how she had got back home from work, and straight went into a quick shower, etc, etc. In short, Payal had a pretty pink formal dress out for her to wear but then Anjali had dropped by to drop of a pretty pink Indian suit for her.
Khushi mentally smacked herself for even thinking about wearing western. Yes the Raizadas were rich, filthy rich, but they were also very cultural and traditional. They showed their elegance in an Indian way…which to be honest, Khushi loved.
"You didn't have to pick me up, I could have come on my own" said Khushi.
"Yeah I know, but I wanted to come. We don't really get to spend much time together, so thought this would be a good way to…"
"What do you mean we don't get to spend much time together?" she asked confused.
"Uhh I mean exactly what I said. Since we have been engaged, we didn't really spend any quality time together."
"That's cause we didn't want to" Khushi said matter-of-factly.
"We didn't….now I want to" Arnav stated.
"Oh and when did you decide that?" she asked a bit too sweetly.
"The day after our brunch together with family…at my house…" he explained.
"Oh you mean the day after we spent useless silent time together?" she raised her eyebrows.
"You were silent"
"I was not, you were"
"If you so wanted to talk then you should have started a conversation"
"I did"
"You did not. I am a business man I can tell when a person wants to make a talk"
"I complimented your room"
"And I elaborated the topic but you stopped talking"
"What the heck! You started talking about the future, which of course shut me up!" her voice raised a little.
"What was so scary about discussing how you would like your future room to look like?" he questioned, his face frowning.
"Uhh I do not know you Arnav, we kind of had decided to keep this whole this momentary, and and and we are strangers. We meet like strangers, hang out like strangers, stare like strangers, there is nothing between us that could make me be comfortable around you! How can I think of sharing a room with you?!" she exclaimed.
"One, no you wanted it to be temporary, I wanted it to be a stranger – stranger relationship forever, two, I don't stare at you, so I have no idea where you got we stare like strangers, three, do I make you uncomfortable?"
"Yes you do stare at me and that makes me uncomfortable!" she hissed.
"I don't" he denied
"You do" she snapped.
Awkward silence, again.
"Will you be my date tonight?" he asked hesitantly and unnecessarily touched his collar.
"That doesn't really make sense. I am going as your fianc, its your party"
"What do you mean as? You are my fianc. And its not entirely my party, its half Khashyap's as well"
Rolling her eyes, she pursed her lips and folded her arms on her lap.
Why was she getting so agitated at his effortless asking out? She didn't care, did she?
Oh boy she did. Crap.
Seher Hone Ko Hai
Anupamaa
35