Reminder to Self.

Its Subhadra Malik.

NOT

Devyani Malik.

ps. I keep messing up these two names for some reason. Hope this reminder helps :D

Part 28

Arnav was a complex man. Khushi knew that better than anybody else, not that it made things any easier for her though. Instead, what would have helped was why he was the way he was; and since that was still a mystery, it left her guessing and on the back foot. Add a layer of brooding silence over that complexity, you had one grumpy LG. Didn't mean she didn't try. Ever since their marriage, it was always her doing all the running around, trying to catch up, or understand him, his actions and even his over blown reactions. It was always her who would take that first step to mend the broken bridges, and infuse a sense of normalcy to their lives. They were inherently different and so Khushifying everything didn't always make things better. There was a whole lot of conjecture in most things she attempted. Obviously that wasn't sound footing for any relationship, and one like theirs solemnized in an empty temple devoid of its priest, under dubious circumstances, was as fragile as they came.

In the past during her lowest ebbs following the move from Delhi to Mumbai, she used to sit alone and go over everything. In those moments, she would try to make sense of that man she had agreed to let go, divorce. Arrogant, egoistic and basically a jerk were the first things she would come up with at the memory of Sheesh Mahal.

He had accused her of ruining his fashion show, broken off her pearls and even had her locked up so brazenly. Sort of a thing you do, when you are powerful and egoistic enough to completely disregard the law, consequences be damned. But that wasn't all, Sheesh Mahal may have been all of that but it was also about that one moment, a fleeting one when he held her close - and they saw each other for the first time in the real sense. For the longest time, she thought it was anger, only to learn much later truth was far from it and that the emotions in his eyes had mirrored hers, it certainly wasn't anger.

Then there was the whole torrid office experience, his relationship of convenience with Lavanya - and all his unexplained anger that was reserved solely for one, Khushi Kumari Gupta. She had no clue when things moved past all that hatred, to tunes of unexplained acidity to the erratic dhakk dhakks and ultimately onto the first stirrings of desire. The first wave of awareness - of him had scared the living day lights out of her. But that wasn't the hardest part; it was tougher to watch from the sidelines as he pursued another even while his eyes coveted her's. And be swept up by waves so powerful that it didn't feel wrong to fall apart in his arms. But when the waves crashed against the shore, the magical spell was broken, the masks slipped - hopes shattered to bits and pieces.

The sound of her own heart breaking rang so loud, she ran scared worried others might hear it too or worse see that pain etched on her face. It was much later that she realized, what that kiss would have meant. Lavanya was her friend; it would have been the worst kind of betrayal. The kind you end up regretting a lifetime. 
But that came much later, when he walked out and announced his engagement to Lavanya in the immediate aftermath of that missed kiss, she felt hurt and her tears wouldn't stop. As if his haste announcement hadn't done the needful, he unleashed a barrage of caustic words that ripped her fragile heart to pieces serving her that first heartbreak on a silver platter. He didn't want her, his words said loud and clear. His eyes denied every word and she hated herself for being able to read them. Broken and defeated, she caved into the pressures at home. She got engaged to a married man as she would find out soon. Arnav adored, his sister. How could she tell him of Shyam's duplicity?

"Khushi, did your fiance do something?" he was worried she could tell. But she wasn't strong enough to tell him the truth; she did what came easiest at that point. Ran away. That was the start of all the troubles.

Even today Khushi remembered her father's words upon discovery of her first lie, never lie. You will always have to tell more lies to cover the first one.

If only - she had had the courage to tell him the truth. Perhaps the terrace would have played out differently?

But why would any sane man marry the woman he claimed to hate?

That's where Arnav Singh Raised confounded her. That also gave her the strength to endure the toughest days of her life post that nightmare of a marriage. Somewhere Khushi hoped the answer to that held the kernel of truth, one she dared not give voice to but one that she hoped for sincerely.

Until that fragile hope was broken by the man himself, and she was convinced, no good could ever come out of this. If he had so little regard for her, there was nothing left to fight for. It wasn't easy to leave it all behind but it was necessary. With time the pain eased up and she learnt to see beyond it. Pieces by pieces she tried to pick herself up. Leaving behind her own family was a necessity because along with being her strength, they were also her greatest weakness. And if she was to come out stronger, there was only one way. And yet, whenever she looked back and tried to piece things together,  she always came up short. She didn't understand him completely.

Until now that is.

The revelation about his past may have come like a bolt out of the blue, so unexpected but it had given her a vital key to solving a riddle that was Arnav Singh Raizada. There was so much information to take in; Khushi thought as she walked back to the living room with a glass of warm milk. But in the quiet of the night, with him safe and sound in the room next door, she could finally sit back and absorb everything. 
When she put Devyani Malik, the lady with a past, the recluse who had abandoned her own family in her own admission together with Arnav, her grandson - things fell in place. By default - the tragedy of her past was his too, as was the grief. So many horrors, deaths by suicide, infidelity and a marriage breaking down before it was even solemnized scarring a young boy of fourteen, traumatizing a young girl on the cusp of a new life; the implosion of a family leaving behind two scarred orphans. The pain she knew all too well. It wasn't hard to see how his mistrust was a product of that bitter past and seen through those broken lenses, the skew seemed inevitable. She had no inkling his past was so traumatic. If only you could tell by looking at people, what pain they held in their hearts or hid through their smiles, Anjali's cheerful countenance flashed before her eyes.

So much had changed between that dreadful night at Sheesh Mahal and now, punctuated by their divorce. The future still looked hazy but may be a little part of that haze had lifted tonight. May be. "Because I love you..." his words gave her new hope but would the man trust her with that past of his? Judging by the way he reacted, she had her doubts.

She placed the empty mug on the table and snuggled into the couch using her dupatta as a shawl, thoughts still preoccupied by him but this time they were thoughts that gave her hope - like her payal that was with him and what that really meant. There was so much about this man she did not know yet. But may be she knew the most important thing?

~oOo~

"What?" he was surprised, he shouldn't have been but he was, "Are you sure?" he wanted confirmation. This was going to change everything. He was aware of that.

The voice at the other end whispered back, "hold on" she kissed her sleeping daughter after tucking her in bed, "give me a sec..." and walked out to the balcony as quietly as she could mindful not to wake her up, "I think you should go back to the Old age home this weekend" she finally lifted the ban, "To spy on them?...You do realize what that means?" he wanted to make sure she knew what she was saying, "Are you ready to blow the cover?"

"You make it sound like some stealth operation" she said, "Don't worry, if Chotte has found Khushiji, then I'm sure, we're on track"

"You are basing all of this on an if?" he cautioned reminding her exactly what was at stake here, "I'm confident Ved...and even Akash is off to Lucknow" she sat down on the swing and confessed a truth she had been struggling to keep to herself the last few weeks, "I'm tired of all this...I just want all of us to move on with our lives...I feel strongly about this now" it was a beautiful night, may be this was the start she thought, of good things. In any case, she was tired of all the games, the hiding and white lies.

"Anjali..." it was moments like this he wished they were living in the same city, "I wish we were together right now..." he said softly, the distance was getting to him too.

~oOo~

He groaned as he flung the covers away and reluctantly sat up on the bed feeling irritable, annoyed and super thirsty. Waking up after a restless night with broken sleep was never fun but here he was up early on a Sunday morning just made it that much worse. It wasn't like he did not remember anything from the previous night, he did albeit in bits and pieces and very disjointed at this point of time, he was in a crabby mood and he did everything within his power to avoid that image of his grandmother from popping up inside his head and messing with his morning. Precisely why he just wanted to fall asleep. 
He reached for a glass of water but came up empty handed. He'd already downed the glass of water during the night so there was just an empty glass staring back at him now, Mouthing curses at Hari Prakash, he got to his feet stripped down to his boxers, and tossed the clothes carelessly over the hamper at the far end of the room. During which time, his mind was already busy planning the rest of the morning; first he needed some water, then may be a nice long jog by the beach to get rid of the hangover, he could do that. But, he felt lightheaded after taking the first few steps and had to take a moment to steady himself; he had had too much to drink the night before, his body was showing the signs. There was a reason he didn't do the heavy drinking - he was diabetic and alcohol did funky things with his system. "Right" he sighed, that was before his, "aoowww" he closed his eyes as a sharp pain shot through him, "f**k" he swore as he felt a sharp object prick his bare foot.

He bent down and picked up Khushi's payal, which he no doubt had flung aside sometime during the night, "Khushi..." he sighed, "Oh Shit"and then it hit him, he had completely forgotten about her! "Shit!" Was she still here? Well there was only one way to find out.

This walk to the door and through the hallway that led to the living area with the kitchen to its side took him longer than it had ever taken him before. The confirmation of her presence got to him before he could actually see her, as the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the fresh air that was no doubt streaming through the open balcony doors. He finally did see her when he reached the end of the corridor; he stopped at the end taken in by the sight before him. He didn't realize when he leaned in to the wall and had no clue how long he stood there just starring at her working away in his kitchen, her hair held up in a messy bun, her dupatta tossed over the diner chair carelessly as if it had always been there, she was so beautiful, he could stand and stare all day!

She knew he was there even before he had noticed. Khushi had been on edge as soon as she'd woken up, feeling refreshed but nervy. So when she heard the soft click of the door, she knew he was up. And when she heard the surprised gasp, she knew he'd seen her there. She had contemplated the idea of walking away before he got up but somehow that didn't feel right. Given everything that had transpired the last few weeks, the threat of Shyam and more importantly, her own acceptance of what she had known all along but had consigned to the backburner, meant it was that much harder to walk away now.  After his confession, after that revelation - she couldn't walk away like nothing mattered. She had no clue how to fix everything that was broken but she sure wasn't going to run away from it again. Time for running was over.

She moved the eggs on the pan conscious of his eyes on her, waiting for him to speak up, say something and break this awkward air but it never came. So tired of waiting, it was Khushi who spoke first, "No you are not dreaming" she blurted out the first thing that came to her head.

"Excuse me?" he sounded, she paused to make sense of that tone, baffled? So she put the spatula down and turned around only to have the winds knocked out of her lungs, "Hey Devi Maiyaa..." she exclaimed straight away, "what are you wearing?" mortified and yet unable to tear her eyes off him. If only she could pull off a miraculous disappearance right now, she would attempt it.Damn the man, why wasn't he dressed!

"What the...!?!" he straightened up, and looked down on himself, and then a smirk replaced that confusion, "dressed?" he questioned her, seriously!? His morning had just lit up. Thanks to her.

"Fine..." she shot back, shrugged her shoulders and went back to plating herself some breakfast, like it didn't bother her anymore, "Suit yourself" but her mind was on overdrive, Dressed, did he just read my mind, she felt mortified at what else he might have seen there.

"You know, if this bothers you. I don't mind undressing" he said furthering her discomfort. Khushi could deal with an enraged Laad Governor but a flirty and half-naked LG, was well... not exactly the same thing. So when she turned around a second time ready to give it back to him, she just could not come up with anything coherent "yooou...um..erm.." open mouthed and so out of depth, the appropriate response deserted her like rains in a desert,"hmmph..."so she simply shot him a glare and took refuge in the food. Hoping he would get the message and let it go. 
It was amusing to see her react this way, he noticed all the little things - like the fact that Devi Maiyaa was back, and that adorable things she did with her head which was more like a half nod - something she did when she was too shocked to react with words.
Would he just stop starring already, he wasn't letting it go was he, she thought, "What are you smiling at?" she finally asked. His fiery siren was back, "Your nose is red" he pointed out "again..." he said. Thankfully, his little faux pass had broken the uncomfortable air, it was a good start.

He defied her dare to go back and stood there starring at her, "You are still here" he said after a few moments and waited for her response but when he knew there was none coming his way, he spoke up again, "Scrambled eggs?" he questioned hoping that would break the ice.

"I'm hungry" she said tersely, "Of course!" he nodded, and followed her to the table after getting a bottle of water for himself. 
"the coffee smells good" he said as he pulled out a chair and reached for it.

"uh uh...uh..." Khushi tried to snatch it back but he was too quick for her, "Wait a minute?" he stared at the coffee and back up at her, "black..!?" it surprised him, what else had changed about her, "for you?" he asked.

"Why not?"

"You don't drink this..." he said.

"May be I do..." it was like she was hell bent on thwarting all his attempts at striking up a decent conversation. He understood. "Right..." and was about to sit down when Khushi's patience finally ran out, "For Devi Maiya's sake" she exclaimed, "will you just put a shirt on!!" there she said it, finally much to his amusement, "So it does bother you" he smiled smugly and deliberately took a sip of her coffee, "No sugar..." his eyes lit up, "it does..." and placed the coffee next to her, "just admit it" this was more of a dare, "Fine, just..." she pushed her chair back and stood up crossing her arms over her chest defensively, "Go change first..."

He straightened up, "Will you still be here when I...?" he needed that assurance, she nodded, "I'm not going anywhere until we talk about what happened yesterday" his face lost the smile as those words hit home. She watched the color drain from his face making her regret her words. But he surprised her the next moment when he stopped midway through the hallway and turned back to say, "Thank you"

Her face must have reflected her confusion because he answered before she could even voice a word, "For still being here" she kept a straight face only to exhale when he turned around. 

But he was back just as quick, she could tell from the look on his face, something was cooking in that head of his. She stared back wearily bracing herself, "Khushi..." his gaze fixed on hers, he asked "Last night...did we..." 


"Don't even go there..." she stopped him before he could elaborate any further. 

Part 27

“Orphaned” he never heard the words that came after that nor did he pay heed to the stream of faces that flitted in those days. He didn't want any sympathy and was annoyed at why random strangers were butting into his life now, what right did they have? They moved on but that one word haunted him for a long time. In ways he hadn’t seen coming. He had questions, he asked them too but life gave him no answers. Overtime it got easier, as the pain ebbed away into the darkest recesses of his heart, hidden from the world to see; and time put a blanket over his wounds - he was free to walk around pretending he was fine. Until the winds would pick up, and move things around ruffling old feathers and exposing the raw hurt underneath, so very palpable. It did not take him long to understand that the easiest way was one where the past did not exist. When it ceased to exist, so did the pain. So he boxed the pain and hid it where no one would ever find it. And from the ashes of that painful past of what had once been his parents in flesh and blood emerged Arnav Singh Raizada. Arnav Malik died at his parents' funeral.

Senior Malik had become infamous in death. Barely a week ago, had they been a family. Eagerly planning and awaiting his sister’s marriage, those were happier times. Times which were a different lifetime away, times unmarred by the bloodshed of the following week, time so cruelly derailed, forever. Now the family was torn to pieces, riddled with gaping bullet holes that would forever bleed leaving an eternal wound to torment his soul.

The first few moments, that day and that week had been the hardest. Arnav had refused to look anyone in the eye. But by the end of the prayer meet, his heart had undergone a transformation, hardened into stone as the new found reality if his life dawned on him. Son of a philanderer, who unable to face his guilt killed himself. That single bullet had also killed his innocence forcing him to grow up. It could have been a scene out of a bad Bollywood movie, except it wasn’t, it was his life.

Eventually it did get easier and he along with his sister moved on. It was even more difficult for her, and had taken him and Nani months to bring her out of the trauma. Patiently, they picked up the pieces and rebuilt their lives. In an ideal world, she would have been married and starting a new life with her husband, and instead she had to mourn her parent’s death, her own stilted marriage lost in the tragedy. 

“She was a weak woman” HIs grandmother’s lack of sympathy towards his mother stung him; he tried fighting too but in vain, maybe he was too small and therefore too insignificant. But he resented his Grandmother for a long time after that. She blamed his mother squarely for his father’s affair. Dadi was missing after that. He had not seen her since. He spent years trying to make sense of her desertion but in the end, he realized it didn’t matter trying to make sense of it. The past was gone, it didn’t exist. And she was part of that past. Over time the hatred slowly faded to the point that it didn’t matter or affect him anymore because she didn’t.

Arnav didn’t know that he had lost their ancestral home until a year later when he accidentally over heard Manorama Mami talking to his Mamaji, “Hello hi bye bye, no mentions of Lucknow. I want ArnavBabbua happies here” she may have had her faults but she loved him and had never shied away from her responsibility towards him and Anjali di, she had never differentiated between Aakash and him. Arnav was grateful for this family he had. 

So why now? He couldn't believe the timing of it now, his eyes on the empty road as he sped through just like all the thoughts that were running through his head. His past had come in a collision course with his present. Nothing good could ever come out of it. This, he rued wasn’t part of the plan - Why did she have to resurface now? Finally when he was starting to make things right with Khushi, when he wanted to move ahead with her - Dadi came along blowing the cover and stirring the scars of his past. So he had done what he knew best, bolted from there. He had nothing to say to her.

Khushi had come after him pleading him to stop but he did not, he couldn’t, ‘Arnavji wait!’ But not now. Not like this, when he was at his weakest. What could he possibly tell her, would she even understand, a part of him now feared what the revelation meant for them?

~~~

“Pick up the phone Arnav ji” Khushi clutched the cell phone anxiously and closed her eyes in frustration when there was no response at the other end, “Where are you?” she called out worriedly, her eyes drifting to the world outside moving about frantically. The city was huge, always a crowd a humanity surrounding you, moving about their lives - and yet, there was only one that mattered. So very alone even while surrounded by a million people!

“Mohanji, can you please take me to AR?” but Arnav wasn’t there. They drove to Mama’s Kitchen – parking the car where his used to be parked all the times he’d visit or simply stop by to look at her, she had noticed. Then they went to his apartment only to be told, he wasn’t back, his car nowhere around. Khushi had no idea where to even look for him. And then it hit her, what if? “No, no, no, Shyam?” a cold chill ran down her spine at his thoughts, “no Arnav ji was fine” She prayed that Devi Maiyaa keep him safe.

Thoughts were treacherous, they flitted in and out of memories at their convenience Khushi learnt as her own worried mind wandered back and forth between the past and the present, there was a time when he had gone berserk once he’d found her. 

“Look at me when I’m talking to you dammit!” his words that day at the temple where he'd found her hiding, “I won’t go home with you” she had been adamant, “Don’t push me Khushi" he was livid.

“Is this man troubling you?” a stranger had intervened infuriating him further; “She’s my wife and I’m taking her home, does anyone have a problem?” he had declared to the world contrary to his own words. Tender one moment and then a beast another, she could never understand the man, until today.

And now he was missing.

Just last week, he had told her what she had wanted to hear for years now.

“I came to take you home” so much sincerity and honesty in those eyes, “Because I love you” his confession was the most unexpected. Trust the man to spring surprises like that. His voice still boomed in her ears, “Because I love you… I love you….love you”

“I…” Khushi whispered, but stuttered, her response didn’t mean a thing if he wasn’t around. The thoughts of a missing Arnavji paralyzing her with worry as another wave of memories crashed down upon her.

“Arnav ji, please don’t go like this?” Shd held his hands pleading through her eyes, "Please listen to what I have to say" he did stop and wait that day but, "Shyamji..." the mention of him and that coldness was back in his eyes. He pried her hands away from his and shot her a contemptuous glance, "If you go away like this….I won't be able to breathe” her heart crumbled into a million tiny pieces that moment, couldn't he see? 

"Why Khushi, why does it matter?" he asked, his eyes were red too. 

"Because it’s you” couldn’t he understand? May be he was beyond caring. He walked away without sparing another glance and she walked away from his life. That was then.

And he did it again, walked out on her evoking all those unpleasant memories right back. Just like that day, Khushi had run after him, willing him to stop, "Please wait…” but he chose not to. He walked away like he had done years ago.

When you are worried, your mind plays tricks and you chose to believe the worst of things. And if you have had a bad experience once, the mind inevitably finds ways to convince you that it will happen again, that in fact, its happening one more time. Was he walking out for good, again? Just like last time.

“Khushi Bhaabhi, where do you want to go now?” a genuinely concerned Mohan looked back through the rear view mirrior awaiting further instructions. He could see the lines of worry on her face; Khushi Bhaabhi was special to everyone at Shantivan. Everyone secretly hated Arnav Bhaiya for letting her go. 

His words did not reach her ears though lost as she was in her thoughts, of a thousand worries over a missing Arnav ji. It was the shrill of her cell phone that finally broke the spell, Khushi didn’t wait to check out the caller, “Helloo Arnavji?” she asked enthusiastically, "Um…it’s me Khushi” Deeya spoke at the other end, sensing trouble with Khushi’s tone, she asked, “Is everything alright?”

The conversation with Deeya was just what she needed, guiding her towards the right direction. Khushi walked out towards the front lobby of Arnav’s building demanding an entry into his apartment, “I’m sorry, you are not authorized to enter Mr.Raizada’s flat” the security guard politely refused. But Khushi wasn’t having any of that, “How dare you refuse me?” Mohan had never seen her so agitated, “Please try to understand. I cannot go against the rules” They argued back and forth, the guard refused to budge.

"It's an emergency" Khushi tried to make him see sense, "I need to find out..." She needed to rule out the apartment concerned that he might have fallen unconscious, he was a diabetic and his eating habits were always a cause for concern.

"I'm sorry Ma'am" the guard replied, "That rule applies for families only" he was not ready to concede. 

Khushi snapped,"Fine then” she glared at the hapless guard, an awestruck Mohan stared at this transformed Khushi Bhabhi rattle the poor security officer into an absolute shock, “When he learns that you refused to let his wife into his apartment, god save you” She could not believe what she just said, “Wife?” it worked, he mellowed down considerably, “But…” he paused, his voice suddenly faltered betraying his words, “I need to confirm” he picked up the handset and took out a big ledger like document and dialed a number, “What did you say your name was Maam?” he asked.

“Khushi” she said, “Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada” she hated herself for the way she blatantly lied but there was no other way. Divorce was an unpleasant fact of her life, one that she didn’t need reminders of. But Arnav was missing here, nothing else was more important. 

“Maam, I have a Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada demanding an entry into Arnav Sir’s apartment” he spoke looking at Khushi but his ears cued into the receiver, “Who?” the lady asked from the other end, “His wife Maam” he paused before clarifying, “Khushi..?” he looked at Khushi for confirmation, “Says she is Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada” Clearly his call had surprised the receiver but he didn’t have time to dwell on that. He wasn’t a happy chap, it wasn’t nice being a six foot something security guard and having to concede defeat to a five foot something petite woman, sometimes he hated his job.

“I’m sorry” he mumbled, “I’ll get you the keys, please wait here” he walked into the front office. 

Meanwhile, an innocuous call had virtually brought life back to Shantivan, “Nani…” Anjali screamed at the top of her voice alarming everybody at home. In no time, they all came running towards her gathering at the living room, “Bhat happens Anjali Bitiya?” an eager Mami asked her, “You will never guess what just happened” her eyes sparkled with joy, Nani could read her like the back of her mind, it had to do with Arnav and judging by her demeanor, it had to be something good, “Kya hua Anjali?” she asked, “I just got a call from Mumbai” she spoke, “Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada demanded an entry to Chotte’s apartment”

“Haawww” Mamiji disrupted Anjali’s excitement, “Arnav Bitua married again in Mumbai? she panicked.

“Relax Mamiji” a beaming Anjali quickly moved across to calm her down and smiled at Nani, “It’s Khushi Bitiya isn’t it?” she asked, Anjali nodded before calling out everyone, “This calls for a group hug Nani”

“Looks like Chotte found Khushi Bitiya” Nani had tears in her eyes, now she wanted nothing more than to welcome them both back home, “Its only a matter of time Nani” Anajli wiped the tears away. 

~~~

Khushi paced the living room back and forth, the dark starless sky mirroring her worried heart. So much had happened today, so many revelations, Mrs. Malik was Arnavji’s Dadi? But Arnav was a Raizada. There were questions, had he discarded his father’s name? May be.

“His father shot himself two days later” Mrs. Malik’s words kept playing on loop, “His mother killed himself” 

That had to be it, Khushi mused. Had the past colored his perception at the terrace causing him to react in the way he had, clouding his judgement that night? There had been a spring in her steps when she'd gone up the steps, excited, anxious about what lay ahead. The week leading up to it had been nothing short of a fairytale, one where Arnav was really the prince. Until, things turned in their heels in the terrace, then he nipped that flowering bud and crushed it, hearts got broken and lives were shattered. Things made sense now, his reaction which had culminated in their marriage, his hesitancy for the longest time to spill the truth and the tortured countenance he held for the longest time during their brief marriage. Then there were those unguarded moments when she saw Arnav but they were few and far between, our hearts beat as one. She wasn't drugged by bhang that she wouldn't remember, but his denial afterwards felt like she'd been iced. It was a harsh reminder to not ever dream along those lines. Just when she felt things were getting better, he spilled the truth which felt nothing short of lashings on her soul, how could he think that way, did he know nothing of her?

"I will not let you break my sister's marriage" he was back to being the cold hearted beast in no time.

Strangely as she waited for him, at his luxurious apartment anxious and fraught with worry regarding his safety, deliberating on the events of yesterday, she did not feel as bitter. May be the revelation had helped to an extent because despite everything they had been through and lost, she wanted to be nowhere else at this moment.She could lie to others but denial was no longer an option. The need to be with him at his hour of need outweighed everything else. 

"where are you Arnavji?" the sea breeze felt chilly forcing her to cross her arms. In his absence even the simmering city lights had lost their sparkle, nothing felt the same. She walked back inside the apartment and plonked herself on the couch, tired, frustrated, worried and annoyed as hell at him for putting her through it. It wasn't long before she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

“Because I love you” the winds whispered into her ears jerking her up from her light nap. Khushi blinked her eyes adjusting to the lights, straightened herself on the couch and picked up her phone, it was well past mid-night. A fresh bout of panic coursed through her, why wasn't he home yet? Where was he? Khushi paced about the room nervously, trying to remember something, anything that could lead her to him or provide an opening. Who was the one person that knew more about Arnavji than anyone else? And then it occurred, “Of course" her shoulders relaxed, "Amanji!" 

It was late, but Aman was the PA and this was an emergency, she was about to call him when she heard a sound and halted. Her ears perked up trying to discern the source of the sound, and her eyes moved to the front door noticing the knob rotate, the door slowly flung open - Arnav staggered in.Clueless of the anxiety he had unleashed, oblivious to the pair of eyes staring at him from across the room, clueless of the relief that washed over her knowing he was safe.

He stopped instinctively alarmed when he noticed a shadow on the floor but his eyes softened appreciably on seeing her, “Khushi” he whispered, a small smile replaced the scowl he had walked in with. As if on their own accord, he moved towards her, grateful that she wasn’t here for real, he would hate for her to see him this way. Khushi stood still studying his movements carefully, they weren’t the strides of a confident man but was he? Her suspicion was confirmed by the strong smell of alcohol as it wafted through the air and hung over them. Gone was the man who had walked in the morning - fresh and cheerful, even the slight stubble or the slight smile couldn’t hide the sadness in those eyes, she had never seen him this way. Not even during the darkest hours of the times they'd spent together!

He stood there looking at her, edges of his lips curling into a slight smile – his eyes taking in everything, that face, those eyes, her nose that went red every time he came close, even the mole next to her nose and her lips, “Khushi…” softly this time, “You are here” he said as he raised his hands, running a finger on her forehead before tucking the errant hair strands behind her ear. Catching her chin between his thumb and index finger, he lifted it slightly forcing her to look into his eyes. His touch was soft, unhurried, his gaze even softer but one that held her captive, “you came…” he leaned in closer, so close that his alcohol laden breath slammed against her face. He blinked once, twice before caressing her cheek slowly, "you are beautiful" stilling as his fingers grazed her lower lip slowly parting it, his eyes attuned to every fine detail. Then he looked up at her eyes, and then back down on her trembling lips again.

“Arnavji aap...you are drunk...." She meant to say but he silenced her at "Arn..." His finger singed her with the slightest of contact, "Shhh…” he breathed in huskily and without warning slid his fingers through her hair bringing her face closer before slamming his lips onto hers. His other arm quickly snaked around her waist and held her by the small of her back as he pulled her to himself. She tried to push him away but she was no match for his strength; his lips so urgent and desperate, drugged her giving her no choice but to give in to that desperation. If he was drowning, she was his only anchor, she wouldn't let him drown. Succumbing to the moment, Khushi wound her arms around his neck and pulled him in closer kissing him back with the same ardor, Arnav stilled at her response, this was no dream! His body stiffened immediately and he pushed himself off her. His hands still resting on waist, he blinked as he scrutinized her face, his face ashen,"you are really here" an alien vulnerability pooled in his eyes and he finally let go reluctantly, staggering back, as if he was burnt by his own impulsiveness. He had vowed not to push her. He moved back creating space between them taking away the warmth, leaving her bereft. 

"Khushi please" he raised his hand as if calling for truce and turned away not wanting to face her, "I shouldn't have..." Only succeeding to infuriate her further. She walked right up to him, held him by his arm and in one abrupt but swift motion whirled him around sharply, “Where do you think you are going?"

“I don’t…” he slurred and had to steady himself by leaning against the side of the sofa, “Arnavji" she reached up to steady him but he jerked her hand away, “I don’t want…” and began to saunter towards his bedroom. 

Khushi followed him right back, “Fine go…run away like you always do” the words hit home, even now when he wasn’t fully in his senses, “I’m not ..” he sighed, “You shouldn’t be here right now Khushi” his voice was low as he spoke with his back to her. Her eyes followed the movement oh his hands as he dumped his cell phone and keys on the bed, “I’m where I need to be” she too could play this game. If he was stubborn, she was no less. 

“And why is that?” he turned around suddenly and held her by her shoulders tightly, she flinched but did not complain, “I thought you wanted me to come home?” she asked and his grip on her arms slackened before falling through, “My head…” he scrunched his eyes and rubbed his forehead, “Khushi...I" he was clearly in pain.

“You have a headache, sit down” she forced him onto the bed, “I’ll get you something” her eyes narrowed at him, “And after that we need to talk” she said. He nodded absentmindedly, she wasn’t sure whether he heard her. She had never seen him drunk, ever! She had no clue how to deal with one either.

When she was back from the kitchen with a glass of water, the man had fallen asleep diagonally on the bed. Khushi took in the view from the doorstep halting momentarily before walking in and placing the water on the side table, “Khushi…” he mumbled incoherently alarming her but what she saw next knocked the air right out of her lungs, a tiny slither of silver had just escaped the confines of his closed fist. Khushi leaned in trying to get a closer look. A loud gasp escaped her lips as she recognized it, "Is that my...?"

His hold was tight but she needed to know so drew it out of his grasp slowly tugging it from that end, how did he find this? She looked at the inebriated man on the bed and back at the silver payal in her hand trying  desperately to discern what it meant. The simple knowledge that he had this with him all this time warmed her heart immensely and she found herself staring at the sleeping man before her almost reverentially taking in her fill. In the past, it was unguarded moments like this, when he couldn’t see her – that she would look at him, the man who was her husband trying to understand him, his actions. She would come up empty handed every single time. Time had come a full circle though and today armed with the knowledge of that horrific past, she could finally read the lines of worry on that face and discern the vulnerability of those eyes. For this to work, for them, to ever work - he would have to let her in, not shut her out. Would he do it? She wondered, lost in those thoughts running her hand through his hair brushing the errant strands off his forehead. For today, she was content to see him safe, everything else could wait.

He certainly wasn't the lad governer when he slept, he was just Arnav - the boy who made her heart race a million miles and back, she looked at him wistfully before deciding he looked better with scrambled hair, she loved to mess up the sense of order. Before leaving, she placed the payal back in his now open palm looping it around his ring finger thereby securing it in place, it belonged to him now. 

She didn't know how long she sat at the edge of the bed looking at him sleep, walking away only when sleep beckoned her, "Good night" she whispered before closing the bedroom door and walking out to the living room. She too fell into a dreamless slumber in no time satisfied that Arnavji was safe.

Part 26

Hey guys, the part is up here as well as on IF. Feel free to comment anywhere but do share your thoughts somewhere. Nothing like reading your feedback!

Part 26

Sunlight streamed through the colonnaded passage that went around the outside of the building before filtering through to Mr. Mehra's office, bringing the earthen hues of the terra cotta tiled floors come to life. Some of that light bounced off the white walls bathing the office in a warm glow of positivity. There was nothing to hate about this place. For just beyond the walls, the outside view was nothing less than spectacular. Arnav was sold on first glance,"This place is beautiful, Mr. Mehra" it wasn't a lie.

Not surprisingly, once the work was done, Arnav walked out of the office, through the intricately carved arched door and the colonnaded passage, across the lawn at the back, right up to the edge of the property that overlooked the vast expanse of the ocean beyond. The sky was a perfect shade of azure with hints of little fluffy clouds scattered sparsely, both brilliantly lit up by the streaming sun - Arnav watched as the waves crashed upon the rocky shores soaking in the soothing sound.

"Simple, understated and so alive..." he ran a hand through his hair amused at the direction of this thoughts. He was starting to think like Khushi, "Its called simplicity but you won't get it...", she had once thrown these words at this face defiantly. It also brought back memories of the time she had crashed his sophisticated cocktail party and turned it into a very desi affair.But where the hell was she now? The reminiscent smile was quickly replaced by a frown, he could take her madness but not this silence.

Which to another was a cause of concern, "Mr. Raizada, is there a problem?" their interaction throughout the past hour had been one monotonous affair. So if a smiling Arnav threw Mr. Mehra off, the change of expressions only added to his confusion.

"I'm fine Mr. Mehra" he turned towards the concerned Manager, "Just that, this place is amazing. You've done a great job with it"

"All credit to our founders" said Abhay Mehra, the Manager of the Old Age Home. He was excited because this generous donation, if it came through would be his first real contribution towards the Home. It was exciting, he had waiting three years for it. "Thanks to the generosity of people like you, its through your help, we are able to keep this running" He was still trying to assess Arnav though. Arnav Singh Raizada did not fit the usual donor profile, and even though, he sounded genuine so far, he had to get this right, so his curiosity couldn't be simply brushed aside. There was a lot at stake.

The building looked even more impressive from the back, Arnav's attention was caught by the twin Gargoyles just below the roofline, "Is this listed as a Heritage building?" he asked,the classical features of the building brining in a wave of nostalgia. 

"Not yet" said Abhay, "We have been trying to get that through for the last few years but its been a struggle" he made no attempt to hide his disappointment.

"But why?" for a moment, Arnav sounded like a clueless young man not the suave businessman who knew the ways of the world.

"Sir" Abhay stressed, "Look at this place, we're sitting on a gold-mine" Abhay looked around, "The land is worth millions. And you can understand, why there are so many people who want a piece of this" Arnav nodded. Sensing Arnav's interest in the Home, Abhay offered to take him around, "Would you like a tour of our Home Mr. Raizada?" 

"Yes!" the quick yet detached response didn't make sense to Abhay. He just couldn't make up his mind about Arnav.

Ten minutes into the tour, Arnav had met a lot of people. Abhay had enthusiastically introduced him to members, while some were happy to meet him others stayed a mile away. He couldn't understand the resentment, "Its not anything new Mr. Raizada, some of these people have been hurt by their children. So they are wary of new people"  he explained, "Bitter memories"

And still, there was no sign of Khushi; if he didn't see her, the entire purpose of this visit would be lost.

"You have to see the herb garden Mr. Raizada" Arnav stopped him right away, "Wait, what?" What did he think he was, a cook? He was about to decline the offer for the tour when Abhay gave him no reason to"We'll have to go through the kitchen, its on the other side" Arnav was instantly on-board! The kitchen seemed like the perfect  Khushi hide-out. They walked through a half-flight of steps that led to a small foyer, "I bet this has secret passages too!" Arnav joked as he descended the steps.

Pat came Abhay's response, even though he was a few paces ahead, "Not a secret passage Sir but yes, there is a cellar I'm told"

It didn't surprise Arnav one bit, "How far is it?" he asked impatiently.

"We are almost there"

Arnav couldn't wait.

~~~

"Because I love you..." Khushi had lost count of the number of times she had woken up the past week hearing his whispers. She was learning just how difficult it was to ignore LG's confession. With so much playing on her mind, that Khushi had had a troubled week was a no brainer. But that was not all. Since his thoughts, words and voice had taken her hostage, it also meant she could no longer ignore the uncomfortable question, am I missing him? In response she felt a spine tingling chill run through her every single time -no she wasn't prepared to answer yet. And then there was also this frustration she had experienced after reading a series of blind items. Basically, her mind was swamped with Arnav, Arnav and Arnav. Clearly, the no Arnav plan had backfired. 

Luckily work kept her busy. Now with Raul gone back to Italy, there was more to do at Mama's Kitchen, so that was good. Khushi was surprised to learn that Italian mothers were similar to Indian mothers in the way they fussed about their children. Their emotional farewell, made her miss own mother, and sister and the entire family. Which made her mad at Arnav because in way it was his fault. Basically everything came down to him, it was all his fault, "Damn you Raizada" those were Deeya's words. But she'd made them her own.

Just before he left, Raul had apologized to Khushi for their encounter at the kitchen . All of that had brought things back to Arnav, yet again. How would he react, if he knew that picture wasn't just a lucky camera angle? Khushi felt defiant at one end, hell with it, she thought. She was divorced, she reminded herself, and so was under no legal or moral obligation. No amount of rationalizing made things seem right though. She just wanted to go back to a few weeks ago, when LG in Mumbai was a farfetched notion not a full-fledged reality! This complexity was not her thing. Khushi preferred simplicity while Arnav was anything but. 

"Khushi?" a voice, startled her and she turned abruptly, nearly tipping the pan in haste, "Careful!" Mrs. Malik rushed forward and steadied its sway, "You can talk to me you know?"

"I don't know what to do"

"Matlab?" asked Mrs. Subhadra Malik.

"Well" Khushi sighed and turned around, taking Subhadra's hands in hers, "I told him to stay away and he hasn't bothered me since" 

"Thats a good thing" Subhadra said, "He respects your decision"

Khushi shrugged, she wasn't sure, "It's his loss Khushi, if he can't see that ..." Subhadra tried to reassure her, "besides The important thing here is what do you want"

"Told him... I want to be left alone...I don't know why he has come back now Mrs. Malik" she confessed, "I just don't know... I was doing fine by myself" she paused thoughtfully, "Now its just complicated..." the voice dropped.

"Your confusion is telling" Subhadra pointed out. Sensing a dip in her spirits, Subhadra couldn't hold herself back. Running a hand over Khushi's head affectionately, she tried to help make sense of things,"I've seen a lot, old age does that to you" she smiled thoughtfully, "You know, nothing is constant in life and nothing is more important than being happy. Anything that takes away from that is not worth clinging on to. No resentments, anger, hatred, even worry is worth carrying around" Khushi was all ears now, "Be selfish because forgiveness is not only for the one who seeks it. When you deny it, it stays in you, slowly eating you from within and that just makes you miserable. While letting go, lets you be free."

She was not done, "Have you really moved on? Because if you had, his presence shouldn't have bothered you" that made a lot more sense that anything had the past week, "If thats the case, then may be you haven't been honest to yourself. Do that Khushi, find out what you really want. Close your eyes and try to see where you want to be five years from now" she waited for Khushi's response, upon getting a blank stare, "Do that for me? For the old lady who has seen too much, made mistakes, run away... and been a coward. Will you ?" she reiterated, "Remember, be selfish, and choose that which makes you happiest as nothing else matters"

Khushi nodded in approval, "Trust me, sometimes what we truly want and what we think we want are two very different things. Don't waste a lifetime figuring that out. Time is too precious to waste that way, and old age will be lonely if you have  only regrets for company" 

"I will make the effort Mrs. Malik, Thank you so much" Khushi smiled and hugged her. These two had developed an emotional bonding over time, soon life would put that to test.

"Are you two done yet?" the cranky uncle called out from the door interrupting them, "Coming Uncle" Khushi broke the hug, "I'll get things ready in here Mrs. Malik, please take of them outside?" 

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and chanting the new mantra, "Let go" decided to pay heed. Sure she didn't have the answers yet but she could take it a day at a time.

~~~

Around the same time, the back door creaked open forcing Khushi's attention to it. Abhay walked in talking to another man, who was following him. Both men stopped at the threshold to study the errant hinge, "This is a safety hazard Mr. Mehra" And that's when Khushi's world stopped spinning, "What the!?" the words were out before she knew, loud and clear for all to hear. That voice, she recognized so well, as did he. She stared wide-eyed at him, questioning him, as to what he was doing there.

Arnav Singh Raizada royally ignored her as he walked into the room, focussed instead on pointing out the hazards of having a wooden door that creaked at the hinges as a fire-exit, "It doesn't even open to the outside" he complained, "Thats risky" he was the businessman from AR Designs now, not the man who had kissed her a week ago.How dare he! Arnav's snub had not been intentional but it kind of worked out that way, and he didn't want to let up seeing a wide-eyed Khushi with a burning red nose, she had no clue how it turned him on. A few more minutes wouldn't harm anyone, he thought.

"Khushiji!" exclaimed Abhay, drawing her attention to him forcefully.

"Unbelievable!" Arnav muttered under his breath, Khushi was like a magnet for unwanted attention, "Where are my manners" Abhay adjusted his tie, wiped his forehead before introducing who he thought to be perfect strangers, "Meet Mr. Raizada" he said, and when Khushi did not react as expected, "Arnav Singh Raizada, you know the famous AR Designs" he said, "And Mr. Raizada, this is..."

Mrs. Raizada, Arnav mused. He wasn't able to hold himself back from approaching her though, "Hi..." he greeted her softly and Khushi's heart literally skipped a beat, "How are you Khushi?" 

Their eyes met for what seemed like an eternity, in reality a mere few seconds, but the moment lingered on and neither could look away. While Arnav couldn't tear his eyes off her beautiful face, Khushi felt a surge of emotions rush through her making her deliriously happy. Dopey, to be precise. He did things to her, she hated it.

"You two know each other?" Abhay was surprised, "Yes...we... er.." Khushi struggled to come up with the right words, "umm..." Gee this was hard, she realized. Luckily for her, Arnav had her covered,"I'm a regular at her cafe, Mr. Mehra. She is a great cook" he said casually, completely unaffected. Khushi couldn't decide what annoyed her more.

"Of course! I should have known" Abhay relaxed, "She cooks the best..."

"Jalebis?" Arnav asked, "The best Italian food, our members just love her and thats why she is here every weekend" Abhay rambled on oblivious to the dynamics in the room. To them, it was just them in there. Both of them trying to discern the other, one was full of questions while the other danced around in playful mirth, the air around sizzled in anticipation.

"Ofcourse" he said but a distracted Khushi barely registered those words. Because he moved catching her off-guard, slowly but purposefully towards her, taking in what he could - of her, all of her, locking her in place, immobile and helpless under that penetrative gaze. Shaken by the sheer intensity of his eyes, she looked away. Afraid, anymore would reveal to him, what she had not admitted to herself, yet. 

Arnav stopped in front of her, bringing with him the deep woody scent that was unique to him. Khushi quickly moved away and busied herself with work. It didn't deter him though and he followed her, till he was standing behind her, "It smells good in here..." he said looking at the food lined up at the counter behind Khushi. 

Her head snapped up in surprise, "Is that Lunch?" he asked again motioning towards the food, Khushi nodded in affirmation. He stepped in closer causing her to step back on reflex. Khushi was now pressed against the counter with Arnav hovering dangerously close, he leaned in further towards the simmering curry and took in the aroma, "Hmmm...delicious" Their eyes met briefly as he swayed away reluctantly from the counter and her, the closest they had been in a week. Both of them did not want to tear away but it was the right thing to do.Except Arnav had other ideas, he stopped midway and now, his face was far too close to hers. Khushi gripped the counter tightly behind her. Arnav wanted to pull away but he felt terribly drawn to her. So instead, he leaned in closer. This was too much for poor Abhay, who could only stare wide-eyed, as the rich man flirted with the innocent Ms. Gupta. 

Their eyes met again and like before neither could look away. She waited through the knowing smile that adorned his face, "Your nose" he whispered softly, she touched it on reflex as a questioning gesture. This time though, he did pull away creating a  safe distance between them, "Its red" he pointed out. She managed to stifle a gasp but not the surprise in her eyes, "It happens..." she moved away, "It's hot in here...aaand...it happens...when I cook..." she nervously picked up a spatula from the counter. He could have spent an entire lifetime starring at her this way.

The spell was broken by Abhay, "Should we get going Mr. Raizada" He wasn't amused that Arnav was openly flirting with Khushi. Is this why, he had offered to donate so generously? Sure was a red flag for him, but he didn't know who he was dealing with, "So I'm not invited for lunch Mr. Mehra?" Arnav asked like it was the most normal thing to do leaving Abhay with very little choice.

"I'm sure, Mr. Raizada has other plans" Khushi didn't want him around, not here anyway, this was her place of refuge. He couldn't waltz in here and take over her piece of mind.

"And miss this?" his eyes dropped to her lips making her conscious at once,not for the world, he thought. It wasn't like she was expecting him to walk away. She knew better and at this point, Khushi Kumari Gupta admitted albeit grudgingly that she didn't want him to either.

"I'll set up the table outside" she darted out of the room before he could react.

Stopping only at the table outside to regain some composure."What is Arnavji doing here?" she asked herself, "Calm down Khushi Kumari Gupta..." she fanned herself and recited Subhadra's mantra, "Let go, let go...let go"

When Khushi talked to herself, it meant trouble in paradise. Subhadra had a hunch, "Whats wrong?" She asked, and one look at Khushi's expressions, her thoughts were confirmed, "He's here?" Khushi nodded vigorously,"In there?" Now that was unexpected alright. 

"What the hell" the cranky uncle snapped, "What kind of a man sneaks in through the back door!" he got up and strode towards the kitchen. His friends followed him. And in no time, Khushi saw all of them follow, "Don't look so surprised, they may be cranky old men but they love you" Subhadra spoke, "I need to see this..." her eyes reflected the excitement, "Especially you know who..." she was the last to leave followed by a weary Khushi, who did not have a good feeling about this. But even she couldn't have predicted how things  would unfold.

It took Subhadra's authoritative voice to silence the commotion inside the kitchen. All the members had surrounded a hapless Arnav, who quite frankly looked frazzled being at the receiving end of unwanted attention of this kind.

"Quiet everyone and move" commanded Subhadra and as the men moved to the sides revealing the man, Khushi's ex-husband, who stood at the other end, Subhadra froze in her tracks.

"Arnav?"

"Dadi"

No one had seen this coming, no one.

"Dadi?" it was Khushi's turn, "Arnav ji?"But there was just silence and lots of shocked faces. A moment later, something was terribly wrong Khushi knew right away, Arnav looked pale and distraught, not happy. Gone was the playfulness of a moment ago, the bleakness of his eyes unnerved her.

"Arnav..." Subhadra smiled tearfully, "Oh my god, its really you!" and rushed towards him, in small eager steps while he stayed put, "Look at you, all grown up!" 

He backed away when Subhadra reached out to him. His eyes shot a warning - don't you dare, it seemed to say. He turned to Khushi next, holding her gaze longer than usual. Khushi recognized the pained look from a night years ago - when her own life had taken an abrupt turn - it wasn't anger, she knew now. It was pain. Arnav was the first to look away, afraid she would see the vulnerability. It was too late already.

He turned around and strode out of the door without looking back. The room was still uncomfortably quiet with everyone stunned into silence, barring the muffled sounds of Subhadra's cries, "Arnav wait...!" she tried to reach out, stop him but he was long gone. When Khushi realized, Subhadra was slumping, she reached out to break the fall as best she could and succeeded with others rushing forward to steady the two of them.

"So he was..." whispered one of them, pointing towards the door where Arnav had just walked out form, "Your husband?" and turning towards Subhadra, your grandson, he didn't ask. There was no need.

 Khushi blinked trying to soak in everything! Her eyes still fixated on the door through which he had just walked out, the room was full of people but it felt terribly lonely in there. 

Part 25

Part 25

The past week had simply been torturous for Arnav. He had conceded to her request of space, and had concertedly stayed away even if it meant, it killed him to do so. What he had not realized was how difficult it was going to be to be so near yet remain so far away!

Just a week ago, Arnav had put everything on the line when he had confessed of his feelings. He wasn't expecting her to run back into his arms right away but at the same time, he had not seen this coming. But, he was not Arnav Singh Raizada for nothing, and even though, he seemed to be toeing her line on the surface, there were a lot of things going on behind the scenes. Things that Khushi was not aware of; strings of which lay firmly grasped by one shrewd Mr. Raizada. Of course, it came at a price, which by the end of the week, had taken an unprecedented toll on him emotionally. Not surprisingly, his mind had drifted off numerous times throughout the week to their conversation of a week ago and it happened again as he sat on the sofa of his living room sipping the black coffee on this beautiful Saturday morning, waiting for that one call that would rouse him into action. Inevitably, his thoughts veered back to the moment of a week ago, when she was in this room with him.

"I can't..." her tearful eyes had looked up at his, the emotions in them betraying her words, and yet she had remained firm in her resolution, "You cannot come back here and expect to make things right...I don't know what to say" He hadn't missed how she had retreated backwards creating a deliberate distance between them, "If you really mean what you say, then let me be...as I have been..."

He sighed deeply, "But Khushi...?" She stopped him by raising her hand, she was not done yet, and "There are things..." Khushi didn't want to talk about Shyam ever again but it wasn't possible to avoid who had driven them apart, "I don't know what's changed suddenly Arnavji..." Not just her words but her eyes questioned him as well, "I could still be the home-wrecker..."he didn't need any more reminders of the past and how badly he had erred "No Khushi...I was wrong" he squeezed his eyes shut trying to keep yesterday at bay, his own words coming back to haunt him and he had no way to stop them .

"I am still the same Khushi that I always was Arnavji...what's changed that you say this now?"

"Why couldn't you trust me that day when I came after you...that day at the airport...begging you to give me a chance" She recalled how he had walked away leaving her in a teary mess, "You kept walking away...without giving me a chance to..."

"I was a mess back then Khushi, do you even know what the thoughts of you and Shyam did to me...they would drive me mad..."

"You chose to believe him over me. Over everything you had seen...and experienced by yourself?"

"Over my better judgment..." He admitted ruefully, "It wasn't just that Khushi...I ran away from you and everything it meant for as long as I could because it was making me emotional and I felt vulnerable. I feared I was losing control...it was very complicated"

"Only because you let it be so..." she interrupted before continuing, "and then you ran away"

"I wanted to be by myself..." he was not as convincing in his defense.

"Like I do now, is that too much to ask for?"

"Don't do this Khushi" he took a step towards her but she backed away further.

"How could you just walk away from me?" he saw the raw hurt in her eyes, his words and actions had inflicted upon the one he cared for the most in the world, "Khushi listen to me..."

"No Armavji...I'm done listening..." Khushi did not want to be there anymore, "Can you give me what I ask for?"

"Will you come back, if I let you walk away?"

"I cannot live if you hold me back" she said, "Can you live with that?"

There was no arguing with that.

So Arnav had been left with no choice but to respect her wish and stay away. To his credit, he had kept his end of the deal. But there was only so much a man could do, especially when her safety was at risk because of the threat posed by the return of Shyam. There was no way in hell he was going to leave her without adequate cover.

But by the end of the week, Arnav conceded to himself that staying away was getting them nowhere. "At least she is safe" he would say as he observed her on random nights being driven back home late nights by Mohan. But the distance was killing him.

A week ago, Khushi had firmly rejected his offer of being chauffeured by Mohan. Knowing how stubborn Khushi was, Arnav had resorted to blackmail, and it had worked. He was not proud of it, "At least she will be safe" that's all he cared about.

"But do you know how silly I look being driven from my hostel to Mama's Kitchen, where I work as a chef??" Obviously she had to put up a fight. Arnav was in no mood to back off or heed to her obstinacy.

Arnav knew Khushi's weakness and he used it without a second thought- his instructions to Mohan before he had taken off to Khushi's hostel had been, "If you fail to make her use this car...and if I find out, she has used public transportation even once after today, you will be fired Mohan. Do whatever it takes"

As he had anticipated, he had received a call from Khushi within the next hour, she was not surprisingly, livid, "Arnav ji, how can you do this?" He loved that bite in her voice, it made him feel wanted, like she had the already given him the right to be angry at him, did she not see it, he wondered. Did she boss around every other man like this?

"What did I do Khushi?" Arnav was a master at feigning ignorance and Khushi would get a taste of it soon, he leaned back on the sofa, eager to take this conversation ahead, "You know very well. Didn't I just ask you to give me some space?" Could this man be any more annoying, Khushi wondered as she looked at the tensed face of Mohan.

"Which I have given you... otherwise we wouldn't be talking over the phone" he smirked; he could mentally picture her blowing steam off her ears, and the nose turning red in anger. And her lips would be quivering with all the nonsense she would be sprouting... those lips... brought back the memories of their first kiss... but he couldn't think too far, Khushi's voice forced him back to the present.

"So what is this ten foot metal junk doing outside my hostel?" the irritation was palpable in her voice, "Then it's a one expensive piece of junk" he chuckled, only Khushi would call a Mercedes a junk, and he had once called her a gold-digger, he had a lot of making up to do, "It's called a car Khushi...and it will be your transportation from now on"

"And what makes you think I will accept it?"

"Because Mohan will get fired if you don't"

"Whaatt!!?" She was aghast at this blatant blackmail and turned to Mohan for confirmation, his sorry figure all but confirmed his predicament, "You can't do that!?"

"I can, and I will. From now on, you will be using that car. If you refuse to use it, then Mohan can find another job"

"But that's blackmail! You love Mohan Arnavji, I know...you can't fire him, he has two young children!!" she pleaded hoping he would see sense; there was no need to include an innocent in their battle.

"Do you want to try me?" he asked, he meant business and she knew it.

"But Arnav ji...I told you" she was serious all of a sudden, "I can't accept this...we are not ..."

"Yes we still are...we are still married" he wanted to say but that would have to wait for another day. He wasn't keen on bringing her back because of any obligation, if she did come back, it would be because she wanted to, nothing else, "Khushi, I know you don't like me and don't want any interference in your life, but I can't take a risk with Shyam around"

Where the threat of firing Mohan failed, the mention of Shyam worked, Khushi went silent at the other end as the real threat dawned upon her, "I promise Khushi, you won't see me around you..." he paused hoping she would react in some way, with some words but he was met by more silence,"Just accept this offer Khushi and I won't ask for anything more..."

"But Shyam...?" she asked, if there was one person she never wanted to see again in her life, it was this man, not the man who she was talking to currently, "The police are on it Khushi...they will find him" he knew she was worried, "Khushi trust me, I won't let that man come within ten feet of you now..." he paused knowing she was deliberating his request and her silence only confirmed the same, "I can't take a chance with your safety Khushi..." he conceeded.

And somehow, despite everything that had happened between them, Khushi trusted him - she knew that he was doing the right thing. She certainly had no desire to see or fight that monster again.

It had been exactly a week since that conversation, since then there had been no phone calls or surprise meetings, Arnav knew she was safe because there was an elaborate security arrangement in place looking after her safety. But he missed her, he needed to see her and just be around her, if nothing. And so he had decided to grant his heart's request, and the plan on the surface felt perfect, show up announced at the Old Age Home in the pretext of donating some amount of money, and in the process get to spend some time with her. Surely, no one would object to that! It was time to start wooing his wife, her dictates be damned, and it wasn't getting them anywhere anyway. Arnav Singh Raizada never played by the rules, and this was the most important deal in life now, one he needed to win at any cost, all was fair in that quest!

"Mrs. Raizada here I come" Arnav smirked as he picked up the car keys and walked out of his apartment after receiving Mohan's confirmation, "Sir I've just drove Ma'am to the Old Age Home"

~~~

A week, it had been a week since that fateful morning when she had walked out on his proposal..."Because I love you...I've always had...it just took me longer to accept it Khushi" which played over and over in her mind so many times over the week that she had lost count.

At her insistence to go back to her hostel in the morning, Arnav had stubbornly refused to let her take an auto back and had insisted to drop her off back at the hostel, something she could not refuse after knowing about Shyam.

The ride back to the Hostel had been quiet. He had hardly spoken, perhaps hurt by her indifference or lack of response to his confession but what was he expecting? That she would run back into his arms and that everything would be okay?

Khushi didn't know. And she had asked for some space, but it was a week now and she had not seen him once, barring that conversation where he had emotionally blackmailed her to accept Mohan's services; the man himself had been missing! She wanted to ask him about the ring but wasn't sure if she was ready to hear his answer.

Khushi was expecting him to show up at work, may be even stop by for dinner or breakfast as he had done the week before, but nope, he had gone missing! By Tuesday night, she felt a fool for having tweaked the dinner and breakfast menus to include food to his liking. A complete idiot in her own words, "Admit it Khushi, you still love him" Deeya's response had ticked her off. And so from Wednesday onwards, the menu included things he wouldn't eat even if it was the last piece of food on Earth. Little was she aware of the psychological games being played by Arnav. Wednesday arrived with a different bang and it seriously derailed her sanity, and for the rest of the week the only constant had been news of him in the tabloids - this blind item about him and this mysterious woman. Now that had riled up Khushi to an extent like not even his absence had. Deeya had laughed at Khushi's predicament, "You.are.JEALOUS, accept it woman. You think everything written, is about him!!"

"No" Khushi had argued, "This is him!"  Even the biggest fool could make out who this man was, but it was the woman who agitated her more, "Who do you think this mysterious woman is?" she had asked Deeya, "It could be anybody, this place has no shortage of women vying for a great catch!"

"Catch?" Khushi may have lived in Mumbai but there were still things she kept learning every day, "Yes, a handsome, rich...and single young man - now you may not want him Khushi, but you have to admit, your ex is a catch!" Deeya was so forthright it only served to annoy Khushi more, "I thought you were my friend"

But Deeya was far from done, "So may be while you have spent the good part of this week keeping your distance and sulking like a child who has been forced to stay away from chocolate...oh wait" she playfully slapped her own forehead, "Forced to stay away from Jalebis, there might have been others more intelligent women who spent their time wisely"

"Wisely?" Deeya knew she had Khushi's complete attention; she loved this side of Khushi, if only she could see herself, "Yes trying to catch his fancy...and he is a young man..." she looked up at Khushi and went for the kill, "Who has needs..."

Khushi stood up abruptly putting an end to this conversation, "Alright I'm done here..."

As much sense as Deeya made, she knew in her heart- it was not true, this was not the man she knew...or had spent time with in the past, infidelity was not his thing especially after his confession just a week ago. But it still bugged her a lot, "Who is this mystery woman!!!" Khushi had gone crazy thinking about the blind item ever since the news had come out on Wednesday, "Argghhh!" and had finally tossed the paper out of the window in frustration.

And now it was Saturday, the man was nowhere, "LG can't even do this straight" Khushi would never admit it but she was missing LG just as much if not more. On top of that, she was ticked off that he hadn't tried to break his word, what happened to that man she knew before. All of this just annoyed her further, she hated that she missed him, and would do anything to catch a glimpse of him.

She mumbled as she stirred the curry mixing all the ingredients, unaware of curious eyes staring at her. Her mind still preoccupied by thoughts of him, parts of their conversation and that ring, it was a nagging thought but it didn't make sense, why would he be still wearing that ring?

"She is talking to herself" the cynical old man moved his glasses up and stared at Khushi and then looked back at Mrs. Malik, "I told you this girl is unstable"

"Shhh" Subhadra silenced him, "You foolish old man, can't you see she is bothered about something..."

"Women..." he picked up the paper from the table and walked away, "Just hope that curry doesn't turn out like her mood"
Subhadra walked up to Khushi and patted her back gently startling her in the process, "Is everything alright Khushi, you look disturbed?"

Khushi turned around to see that four other elders had gathered around her, concern well etched on their faces, she did not have the heart to lie to them, "He is back Mrs. Malik" she said.

They did not follow at first, "Who is he?" asked one, "My ex-husband"Khushi replied back promptly.

"Well he better stay away from us then" the oldest of the group replied back aggressively and the others joined in. Their care and warmth brought a smile to Khushi's lips, "You are like my family" she hugged them back, it was endearing, and she felt loved.

"Actually on second thoughts, you should invite him here Khushi...we will beat him to pulp" said Subhadra noticing how their banter was easing the worry off her face, little did she know, the man in question, who also happened to be her one and only grand-son had just driven to their front yard.

~~~