The day passed quick with Khushi resting in her room the whole time and Anjali or Nani coming up to her occasionally for either a little chat to keep her company or to make sure she is getting what she needs and resting fully. Arnav, Akash and Mamaji as usual were busy at the office and Mami had gone out with her gossip-friends for a spa treatment and off course to keep up with the latest happenings in the town.
It was almost 9:00pm at night when Anjali walked into Arnav and Khushi's room to see Khushi resting on the bed with the cup of milk Anjali had asked Hari Prakash to give to Khushi.
"So, how are you now Khushiji?" Anjali asked casually placing herself beside Khushi on the bed.
"I'm fine, thankyou" Khushi said gratefully, placing the empty glass on the side table.
"Again! You don't have to thank me Khushiji. It's high time we stop being so formal...we're family" Anjali said cheerily making Khushi give her a bright smile.
"Anyway, back to the point! Chotey called me to inform that he'll be late today...his yesterday's meeting is being held today so I thought to inform you.." Anjali stopped as Khushi just gave her a nod at that piece of information and so to cheer her up Anjali continued.
"And yeah Khushiji, I've also called your family tomorrow for dinner since the last one didn't exactly do...very well...umm...so cheer up!!" Khushi just forced herself to give Anjali a smile while her mind reeled back to that day. How she had been so scared when that man had cornered her. How she had fought him off? How she had ran to save herself? However, all these thoughts were overshadowed by how HE had saved her. Off course, she had fainted by the time she had reached him but then again, she knew she hadn't just magically landed onto the bed and judging how he had been concerned...yes that was concern...judging how he had been concerned yesterday she had gotten an idea of what could have happened to that pathetic excuse of a man.
While Khushi was busy with her thoughts, Anjali was pondering over the idea of telling Khushi about what she had noticed between Payal and Akash but ended up deciding against it. She didn't want to make the whole matter awkward by involving Khushi when she wasn't even sure about it.
Having nothing else to say, Anjali silently got up. "Okay so Khushiji, I'll get going now. You rest okay?" Giving Khushi a last smile Anjali got up and left the room, closing the door gently after leaving.
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Khushi was totally engrossed in her book when she heard a soft click near the door. She lowered her book a little only so her eyes could be seen, there she saw Arnav gently opening the door, trying to be as soundless as he could. She frowned at that, why was he acting like a thief? And didn't Di say that he would be late then what was he doing here now. Confused, Khushi looked at the bedside digital clock.
11:34 PM
Khushi gasped at that. What the hell?! She didn't even notice when time had passed so quickly...guess she was too busy in reading.
Arnav turned around to the face the room after clicking the door shut softly. He was shocked to see Khushi still sitting on the bed with the duvet spread till her thighs and her back resting against a pillow, she had a book in her hand and her eyes were staring right at him.
"I thought you had slept...didn't Di inform you?" Arnav asked, loosening his tie after taking off his coat.
"Umm...she did..I just kinda lost track of time" Khushi said nervously looking down at the book, trying not to look at him which was getting kinda hard but she didn't wanna make the situation awkward.
"What are you reading?" Arnav asked, half trying to keep on the conversation and half out of curiosity as to what was she so engrossed in that she stayed awake till now.
Instead of answering, Khushi just flipped the book around , showing Arnav the cover of the book.
"uh..the vampire love story.."
"Twighlight" Arnav was cut by Khushi .
"Yeah...I don't get that story. It's so stupid how he claims to love her and then hurts her by leaving her in the middle" Arnav said, all these love stories were stupid and they all had flaws...and how people would read those and start believing in some non-existent emotion only to be disappointed later. They all had to end up learning it the hard way that love doesn't exist. Only if he had known that before he had started loving his parents and family, thinking it would be all okay and had ended up getting hurt in one way or another. By getting betrayed by the ones who "love" him or by having the ones who "loved" him leave him forever. Life had been easier ever since he had started blocking out those emotions and feelings. He had even managed to make himself believe that what he now had for his family or Di was only concern and care and nothing else.
He was brought out of his reverie by Khushi's voice, "He did that cause he cared for her and didn't want her to get hurt" Khushi defended.
"Yeah right, he hurt her because he didn't want her to get hurt. Makes perfect sense", Khushi heard his sarcastic reply.
Khushi shook her head and mentally shook herself for even trying to explain what love is to someone who had God-knows-why stopped believing in the same emotion ages ago and the fact that he was Arnav Singh Raizada, a stubborn man just made it all the more difficult to explain him anything.
Giving up, Khushi switched the bedside-lamp off and turned her back to the bathroom door where he had disappeared a few moments ago. She shut her eyes to find some sleep and dosed off even before she knew it.
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Khushi woke up to a buzzing sound beside her. She slowly rubbed her sleepy eyes and checked the looked at the source of the buzzing. She quickly dismissed the alarm and checked the time on her phone itself.
6:30 AM
She had set an early alarm because she didn't want to get late for her first day but then realizing she would disturb Arnav in the morning, she had put her phone on vibration. She had never really heard him ever put an alarm on or something; he was probably an early riser. Putting away the phone on the bedside table, Khushi got up to go towards the bathroom when the sight in front of her stopped. There he was, sleeping with his hair totally dishevelled and his mouth open, just like a little baby. However, she could easily tell through his posture that he was highly uncomfortable on that recliner.
She took some quick steps towards him and put the quilt that was hanging off the recliner on to cover him properly. She quickly stepped back after doing that raced back into the bathroom, collecting her clothes in the way. Her mind was still stuffed with his thoughts while her hands worked with the soapy puff on her body. Why did he not just tell her to sleep on the recliner, wasn't this his room? He could have just slept on the bed himself...but he didn't? Should she do something now?
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