ArHi SS|The Search for the Perfect Bride Thread 2 - Page 38

Originally posted by: ..Naina..

Hi Everyone!

I'll update either tonight or early tomorrow morning! I had 2 chapters written on word, and I was stupid and forgot to save them, and my computer crashed and all was lost. But it'll be up soon! Thanks for being so patient!

-Naina

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for being so patient! I hope you guys enjoy the update.

A few things - your comments on the last update were so wonderful to read! I loved the huge range of feelings everyone had, some feeling that Arnav was still at fault, and Khushi was right in pushing him away, while others sympathized with Arnav, understanding his point-of-view and wanting to give him another chance. All the detailed comments and your feelings were wonderful to read so thank you so much!

And to all the new readers - Welcome to the story!
I wish I could reply individually to everyone but unfortunately, I don't have that kind of time =/

And @jakhushi - yes the Damini Gujral reference was to Love Ne Milla Di Jodi. PriDa are one of my favorite couples, and they were the second couple I everyone wrote on. ^_^

I hope you all enjoy this part and it meets all of your expectations!

Happy Reading!

Naina

PS: PMs will only be sent after I update the next part, probably on Thursday.

Chapter 16:

"So do you actually think she's not going to come into work anymore?" Shyam asked him.

Arav groaned, shaking his head, "I thought she was just angry with me Shyam. It's Khushi. She threatens me saying something along these lines every other day, but that doesn't mean she ever actually follows through with it."

"Well, you mean she didn't until this time" Shyam corrected him. After taking a sip of coffee from the mug in front of him, Shyam continued, watching his brother-in-law carefully, noting the anxious and annoyed expressions on his face. "Did you really expect her to fall into your arms and agree to everything you said Arnav? Why should she ever believe you?"

Arnav scowled in response, "Whose side are you on anyways? You're my brother-in-law. I thought you were supposed to be helping me, not taking more digs at my expense."

Shyam merely rolled his eyes, "As much as I want to support you Arnav, I don't want to see Khushi hurt either. Are you sure of your feelings for her Arnav? Why would she want to give up what she has for you Arnav? What did you do to actually show her your feelings? Make her think that you only want to have sex with her. That you lust after her. I thought you would give it some thought after our little discussion last night Arnav. I didn't realize you would jump on your feelings the next day."

Shyam's words seemed to have gotten through to Arnav, as he looked up at him warily, his voice hesitant as he asked, "Do'do you really think so? God, I just jumped her didn't I, the second she stepped into the office? What..what do you think I should do?"

"You need to talk to her. You messed up big time by jumping in and telling her that you want to marry her ' did you ever even tell her that you love her? She's engaged to someone else Arnav. Did you expect her to jump up and down after hearing your words? Oh! The GREAT Arnav Singh Raizada wants to marry me. I'm ready to give everything up for this!? Of course not! She's not going to hurt her family Arnav. Did you ever think about what her family would go through if she didn't go through with her engagement to Anand and told them that the two of you wanted to marry each other?"

Arnav looked confused, "But'but what would be the problem? We both love each other, or well we would admit it then and everyone would be happy right?"

Shyam shook his head in disappointment, "Arnav, you have one of the best business minds out here in the country, but your common sense? Have you only lost it recently or did you never have it to begin with?"

"Shyam. Either give me a straight answer and help me out or leave. You're not helping at all right now"

"Her family has committed to Anand's family. They both shook on this rishta. They are all happy about it. Springing something like this on them would be selfish on your part, and you know Khushi ' she would never do anything to break her family's heart, or break her family's trust in her. They expect her to go through with this engagement and later on with the wedding."

"So'so I should talk to them? Is that what you're saying?" Arnav's face, which had been growing more and more despondent throughout this conversation, suddenly lit up with a spark of hope, a hint of a smile emerging from the corner of his lips.

"I'm saying that you should be sure of your feelings before you go and do anything Arnav. Don't act irrationally. This isn't only your life you're dealing with. It's Khushi's as well. What you do will impact not only you but her as well, and consequences are going to be around for a lifetime. Then you have to regain her trust as well Arnav. Your actions sure as hell haven't impressed her, and I'm sure of that. She wants an Arnav who will love her for who she is, not only her body, but also her personality, all her quirks. She's loved you for a while, and it's obvious to everyone, but she'll want to be sure of your love for her too. I want you to think about it for a little bit Arnav. We'll talk soon enough, but don't go and do anything else. Just think" Shyam stopped speaking and just watched Arnav, who seemed to be far away, lost in his own thoughts. He shook his head slowly, Hopefully he would do the right thing. And with that thought, he quietly got up from his chair and left Arnav's office, closing the door softly behind him.

It was a while later before Arnav snapped out of his trance, as his thoughts floated over to where Khushi could have gone? "I should check to see if she got home safely," Arnav muttered to himself as he picked up his phone.

And since when have you bee this concerned about our dear Khushi? A voice taunted him in the back of his head.

Arnav shook his head, as if that would push such thoughts away and called Khushi's number, tapping his fingers impatiently on the desk in front of him as he waited for her to pick up.

Two rings, three rings. Four.

And then he heard her voicemail pick up ' "Hello? How are you?...Got you there, didn't I? You've reached Khushi Kumari Gupta and I'm '"

Arnav hung up the phone, annoyed, and quickly punched in the Gupta's home phone number, stabbing the call button furiously this time. Khushi must have left her phone lying around. Obviously, that's why she wouldn't pick it up right now. And this time, he didn't have to wait long to hear someone else's voice on the other line.

"Hellooo? Kaun hain?"

"Buaji, can you give the phone to Khushi? It's really important" Arnav snapped, not wanting to prolong his conversation with Buaji, knowing that once she got started on something it would be dinnertime before she even got close to finishing.

But Buaji paused, "Arreh Arnav? Why would Khushi be at home right now? It's in the middle of the afternoon. Isn't she at work with you?" Arnav could hear the mounting panic in Buaji's voice, but before he could get a word in, Buaji was yelling for Garima, Khushi's mom, "Did you hear from Khushi? Apparently she's not in the office! Oh what if she's been kidnapped?!"

"Khushi bitiya kidnapped?" Arnav heard Garima's scream and tightened his grip on his phone. Oh god, and this is where Khushi gets her crazy genes from. God help our kids.

Our kids? Arnav, what are you even thinking? He mentally rapped himself on the head, bringing his attention back to the phone call with the Gupta parivaar. "No need to panic Buaji. I just remembered that Khushi went out to run an errand for me" Arnav shouted, before he quickly pressed the end button. I sure as hell hope they heard me.

And then he proceeded to try Khushi's cell phone again, his impatience slowly turning into anxiety as he wondered where she actually was.

"Hello?" a breathless voice came through.

"Anand?!" Arnav nearly shouted into the phone once he recognized who the caller was. "What are you doing with Khushi?"

Anand waited a few seconds, "Um'excuse me?"

Arnav heard the surprised tone of voice and nearly groaned, What the hell was he saying? "Woh, I'm sorry Anand. I dialed this number by mistake" he said hurriedly before hanging up the phone once again.

Arnav dropped his phone on his desk, and sat there, stunned into silence as he tried to process what had just taken place, or actually what he thought had taken place. Khushi's with Anand? And that too so soon after our little encounter? So she didn't go home and to the comfort of her own house but she went into Anand's arms? Straight from mine to his? An expression that was a mixture of pain and frustration crossed his face. No, Khushi wouldn't do that, not to him, not to anyone. He's probably just comforting her as a friend. Arnav tried to calm down his racing thoughts, And it's all because of you Arnav. You have to get your shit together and make a move, man. The right one this time.

Precap:

Arnav seated himself at the head of the dinner table, watching for a few minutes as the rest of the family was immersed in their dinner table conversations, Di fussing over Adi, Akash trying to overfeed Payal, and Shyam ' who was just watching him thoughtfully. He quirked an eyebrow up at his brother-in-law, as if to ask him if he needed any help, if he made any progress and Arnav shook his head,a confident smile appearing on his face.

"I love Khushi, and I want to marry her. Nani, what do you about having Khushi as another daughter-in-law for the Raizada family?"

Finally an update! One more on the way this week? Yay! 😊

Arnav is screwing up things royally!

As Shyam said, he is just acting on his impulse! Not giving a thought of consequences of his deeds!

Precap: 😲