Trapped ARHI SS Part 24 Up Thread 2 - Page 59

What was happening to them? Arnav wondered.

Two people who had married in the strangest of circumstances were inching closer to each other every day, despite so many misgivings.

Every day seemed like a beautiful dream.

It was a joy waking up to her beautiful face each day, though she valiantly tried to keep to her side of the bed most of the time.

On the rare occasions either of them moved towards each other in sleep, it was pure heaven to feel the warmth of her in his arms, smell the sweet fragrance of her.

As he left for work, he would turn around to his bedroom window and there she would be, waiting to catch a glimpse of him. She had made it a routine, making sure she started for her office after seeing him off.

When he came home late night with a headache, she would always be there to give him a head massage and black coffee.

She kept a hawk's eye on his medicines. Fresh stock was always in before the last few were over. She never let Hari Prakash or even Anjali di make food for him. No matter how hectic her day was, she would make his food, to his taste, serve it and pack his lunch too.

The food was always tempered with less spice and butter.

There would always be a dessert with sugar free contents, at the end of the meal.

She would always announce this with great pride

' I made this for you without sugar.' When he smiled at her, she would be as delighted as a child.

It had been three weeks of uninterrupted bliss with her. He had often wondered if she had a motive for showing him so much love.

Did she want something from him? Was she leading him on for some ulterior motive? After all she needed money and he was rich.

His heart refuted it. But his mind refused to rest. He had to solve the rest of the mystery to trust her fully.

And after you trust her what? His mind asked. Will you love her as much as she seems to love you? A part of his mind asked.

Could he do all the things she did for him and show her warmth and love and promises of eternity? Did he even feel it?

He was no romantic fool. Far from it. He knew such things did not last. What Khushi felt for him would also disappear and whatever he felt for her would disappear, the moment she left his life. People survived didn't they?

Yes they did, he convinced himself. But the sinking feeling in his heart refused to go away at he thought of a future without Khushi.

Khushi looked at her sleeping husband with a deep sense of contentment.

When he slept peacefully, she felt at peace.

When he ate the food she cooked and looked happy, her heart beamed with pride.

When he threw back his head and enjoyed her gentle massage on his throbbing temple, she felt a strange elation.

When he looked up from his car as he left for office, she felt special.

His one glance, one look, one smile was all she wanted each day.

But pain clouded her eyes as she remembered the load of things she was hiding from him? What happens when he finds out? Her mind asked.

She pushed the thought away. "Live for today Khushi, the future is far away.' She told herself.

He could not let the future stretch indefinitely. For them to face the future, they had to clear the debris of the past and clean the path.

He had to know the whole truth.

He picked up his phone to call Aaron.

It was three weeks since his last visit to SS detective agencies and Aaron. He had been waiting to find out to whom the company belonged to.

In his last call Aaron had explained,

' We are trying to find out. The company doesn't seem to be listed in any directory. It seems fictional.

But we are trying our best. We are nowhere close to finding out whom the company belongs to because the company is not registered.

Now we have only one option and that is to go through bank records, which we will not get permission to do officially. So we have to do some underhand stuff. Give us some time, we should get to the bottom of this.'

Restless, he waited for the call to connect. 'Hearing Aaron's hello, he rushed to the point Is there any progress?'

Aaron replied 'Yes. We have managed to lay our hands on some bank records. By tomorrow evening, we should have some info. I will call you.'

Arnav nodded and disconnected. Fear gripped his heart again. What was he going to find out?

It was Arnav's birthday tomorrow and Khushi was very excited. She knew he did not like a fuss. But she would do all that she could.

She had hoped his mother would have joined them and made it special for him.

She sighed. Nandini Raizada was beyond her understanding. What kind of a mother missed her son's birthday year after year?

She, who had given her life, should be here to pray for his long life and happiness. Yet, she had left him alone year after year.

It must hurt to know that his mother was alive and did not want him. But she was determined that she would make it a day to remember. So what if he did not have his mother, he still had her,

A tired Arnav rang the doorbell after a hectic day. Khushi would be there, with coffee and her massage. A smile touched his face, despite his irritable mood. The moment he entered the living room, he felt a difference.

Risheek's cartoon was not blaring. Hari Prakash was not screaming at the top of his lungs from the kitchen.

Khushi was not literally throwing herself at him to snatch his laptop bag and usher him into the bedroom.

Surprised, his eyes moved from his sister, to nephew to Khushi and finally focused on the stranger standing in the corner----His mother!