Part 21

Part 21

 Khushi paid the auto and stepped out apprehensively; now that she was here, she wasn’t too confident anymore. But since running away was not an option she took a deep breath and decided to go through with it, once and for all.

“You want to talk out here?” he wasn’t keen on that but Khushi was adamant and sat down on a chair in the middle of the restaurant, “I’m fine here”

He looked around and satisfied seeing Paradiso virtually empty “As you wish” he sat down, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you”

“So what have you decided?” he asked without wasting any more time, “I’ve already made my decision” Khushi looked at him, “I am done here”

He smirked as he leaned back on the chair, “So you have decided to pay the fine for breach of contract?” Khushi saw him twiddling his thumbs and it only reminded of his improper advances, “I refuse to pay anything. As far as I know, I’ve worked here for less than six months, and there is no notice period”

“Clearly, you haven’t read that contract you signed. Care to refresh yourself?” he asked, “After what you tried to pull off, why you think I care about anything?” If looks could kill, the man would be dead by now.

“Because... you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t care” Khushi’s face fell at the truth in those words, “So pick your best option and let’s settle this like two consenting adults” his eyes sparkled with an inappropriate mischief, “I’m not used to losing” he said, “There is an easy way out for you. It would be a shame…” he couldn’t have made things any more obvious, “You can go places, you know…so young…” It was almost as if Khushi’s fear fueled him on.

“You disgust me” she spat out, “Shh…not so loud” he looked around, “You’ve got more to lose” there was a sinister edge to his voice, “I told you its better if we take this inside my office”

“What’s the amount I owe Paradiso?” Khushi asked, “Why are you making this so hard for yourself Khushi…” he placed his hand over hers only to have Khushi pull back right away, “S.T.O.P!” she jerked back, “I’ll take you to court” but her voice was lacking any real conviction. Amused by her hollow threats, he arched his brows quizzically; “By paying the lawyer peanuts?” he was having fun now.

“You know what, do what you want, I’m through with this” Khushi got up, “You aren’t worth the trouble”

“Wait” he lunged forward and tried to grab her hand unmindful of curious eyes around them.  Luckily Khushi pulled away on time ready to flee until she hit a solid wall behind her, “What the!?” she spoke surprised by the block– there was no wall here! It was only when she saw the Manager stare behind her that it registered, and she turned around only to find Arnav glaring at the Manager! His jaws were set at a grim line and his hands fisted by the sides told her all she needed to know, he was angry. To say she was surprised would be some understatement. But before she could react, she felt him push her away slowly till it was him standing in between. She wouldn’t admit to it of course but Khushi was more than glad to see him there.

“Get lost!” the Manager wasn’t amused by this untimely intrusion, “Where is the contract?” Arnav asked, his voice was controlled but Khushi knew restraint didn’t come naturally to him.

“Who the fuck are you?” the Manager hissed angrily, “Oh wait” he stopped as it dawned on him, and then he looked back and forth between Arnav and Khushi, a sly smile broke his lips as he said, “You two …” his fingers pointed at them, “That’s why you want to quit, you found this chocolate face to screw…”

Khushi didn’t even have time to process those words when she heard a resounding slap, and the very next moment Arnav was holding the Manager by the collar, his words threatening and his tone ominous, “Get this in your fucking head, she is N.O.T coming back here”

The Manager, not a man to succumb so easily spat on his face in response and mouthed a “Fuck off” even as he struggled to free himself from Arnav’s hold. Khushi was too shocked to react.

Arnav didn’t want to create a big scene wary of the press that was always on his heels, the last thing he needed now was for them to get a whiff of this, “My lawyer will be here tomorrow to clear the dues, if any” he stressed on those words, “Otherwise I’ll see you in court”

“For what?”

“Don’t worry” it was Arnav’s turn to give him a wry smile this time, “You’’ find out soon…”

“You don’t scare me chocolate face… and I have nothing against you, it’s that bitch, isn’t it” he tried to move towards Khushi but nope, no one was going to get away calling Khushi a bitch at Arnav’s face. Enraged at his lewd insinuations, Arnav snapped and held him back and before the Manager knew what hit him, kneed him on the groin, “That is Mrs. Raizada for you” and again before shoving him away hard onto the tables behind them. The big guy yelped in pain as he staggered back, but he was quick to recover, “Raizada? as in AR Designs?” he knew then, that he’d messed with the wrong man.

Arnav walked over and warned him one last time “Stay away from her” And with that he turned around and without looking at Khushi, grabbed her hand and led her outside, she scampered to meet his pace studying his face which was an impregnable mask at this point, his words ringing in her ears, “It’s Mrs. Raizada, Mrs. Raizada…what the?” Her head was spinning already.

Eyes wide, “Mrs. Raizada?” Khushi stared at him for clues as he led her to the car “Let me go you big bully” she struggled but couldn’t free herself from his hold.

“Relax Khushi…” he said as he pushed her into the passenger’s seat and slammed the door shut, “This is not a joke, you know” Khushi argued, “You can’t just go around …” but he kept on ignoring her, “You can’t walk away like that, what that was supposed to mean?” her eyes followed his movements to the other side of the car.

“What!?” he asked, “You said Mrs. Raizada?” her voice dropped as he got in the car suddenly aware of his presence in that confined space, “Yes, So?” he raised his eyebrows like she was the one being unreasonable, “So, I said Mrs. Raizada. Now unless you want to go back there and tell him otherwise, stop complaining” No this was not how he had planned on telling her but he couldn’t change it now, “I had to get him off your back. Now he won’t trouble you” Arnav averted his eyes and started the engine hoping she would let this go for now.

“I don’t need your favors…” she crossed her arms and refused to fasten her seat belt knowing very well that irked him no ends. If only Khushi had realized he hadn’t been making things up about them…

Arnav chose to ignore her protest and focused on the road instead. It wasn’t easy for either of them, to be together like this and not really be together or to be caught up in silence when there was so much they could talk about. The silence was a shackle both struggled to break off.

It was Khushi who turned first and it was like nothing had changed between them because his expressions gave nothing away. He was still the every bit mysterious enigma who had his way, always. Would this ever change? She wondered.  Scared at the direction of her thoughts,  and afraid that the emotions she had struggled so hard to keep away would resurface, Khushi forced her eyes away from Arnav, from the only man she had ever loved; who could go from prince charming to the devil at the drop of a hat. Khushi sank back into the seat and closed her eyes, trying to shut out everything. He was not a good influence for her sanity, she knew all too well.

When Arnav finally looked at her a few minutes later, he was overcome with a strange emotion, if only he could keep her by his side like this, safe and protected, forever. If only. This wonderful person whose laughter he had robbed!

Khushi opened her eyes only when the car stopped, eager to get away from him but her hopes were dashed right away, “This is not my hostel” she looked up at the apartment that towered right above her, “You are staying here tonight” he spoke, “It’s better…” it wasn’t a request and she knew.

“Why would I listen to you? Take me back to the hostel” she demanded but he did not respond. Frustrated with his stubbornness, Khushi opened the door ready to take off on her own. And then just as she was about to get off, she stopped because it happened so quickly and unexpectedly that both of them stilled and looked at each other and then back down on his hand which was firmly clasped over hers!  A mere touch served as a reminder of happier times, when a spark was enough to light a fire. Uncomfortable under his steady gaze and his touch; she pulled back her hand awkwardly, “I should go…”

 “Khushi please…” his strained voice stopped her from fleeing, but it could not kill the uneasiness around them. Afraid that any more silence would push her further away from him, Arnav blurted out the first thing that came to his mind, “You don’t want to be hounded by the press Khushi” Arnav  was game for anything that would give him more time with her, as long as it didn’t hurt her.

 “Kya?” used to a life of obscurity, Khushi didn’t get it right away, “They follow me everywhere Khushi” which wasn’t entirely false, “and with what just happened” he played with the car keys nervously, “By now, every reporter worth his salt will have got a whiff about what happened back there. And if they find out who you are…they might…” he stopped hoping she would understand, and immediately softened up as he saw fear in her eyes,“ Khushi, trust me it’s for your own good. I promise I’ll drive you back to the hostel tomorrow morning by which time Aman will have taken care of everything”

“I don’t really have a choice do I?” she asked wryly. How could he respond to that? What was he supposed to say? The truth would only drive her away, so he chose silence and led her to the elevator lobby instead, “This way…”

Khushi went through her options and realized that there was a grain of truth in his words; and as much as she hated being with him, it was still better than having to deal with random strangers aka pesky reporters, she had no desire to entertain. A sullen LG was at least somewhat predictable. So she chose the lesser of the two evils, until Deeya’s shift gets over, she told herself.

Arnav kept stealing glances at Khushi throughout the elevator ride even as she was lost in her thoughts. It wasn’t till they were between the 11th and 12th floors, that he finally spoke “You shouldn’t have gone there all alone”

“Why?” she asked, her eyes focused on the 544 Kg weight limit as written on the wall, irrelevant information that she would soon forget.

 “He could have hurt you” he said.

Arnav could not decide which was more lifeless, Khushi or her words, “I don’t hurt so easily anymore”

“He will be taken care of. I assure you, he will never bother you again” No one could have guessed that they had a life time worth of pain to deal with beneath that calm façade.

When she did not respond to his assurance, he expected her to walk out when the lift stopped at his floor but to his surprise she did the exact opposite. Khushi turned around and looked at him squarely in the eye and said something, he would never ever forget in his life henceforth, “I expected you to do this that night” numbed with her words, he could only stare as she walked away from the elevator and towards his apartment.

 He followed her wearily. Their eyes met briefly as he took out his keys and unlocked his apartment door, Khushi walked in without another word only to stop before the French windows overlooking the vast ocean outside. It looked so serene…she noticed.

The click of the door, usually non-existent was amplified in the silence. It felt strange to be back here Khushi realized, the last time only a few days ago, she had woken up to a nightmare… and yet here she was back again! Sometimes life did not make any sense. She could see his hazy reflection on the glass but she did not have the gumption to turn around and face him, “Khushi…” he treaded cautiously unsure how to take things forward, “Please look at me…” he spoke with all the tenderness he could muster up, “We need to talk…”

Khushi turned around uneasily “I shouldn’t have come here…” he noticed she was fidgeting with her dupatta, “I…umm…” and looked towards the hallway connecting the bedroom to the living area almost like she expected someone to walk out from there, “I … will go back” her eyes furtive as she avoided eye-contact with him.

“Damn” he swore silently as it hit him, there was no point keeping her guessing, taking a deep breath he said, “I live here alone…” and saw her head jerk up in surprise. Arnav walked a few paces towards her and convinced he had her complete attention, “Natasha is a new business associate of AR Designs, it is a strictly professional relationship…just like the dinner last week was” Arnav said, “I’m not…” this was hard, “As is Lavanya who works in AR… I don’t expect you to believe me Khushi but I’ve kept my end of the deal…” they both knew what he was referring to. His honesty reflected through his eyes and it held her captive, for the first time in years; Khushi couldn’t look away even if she wanted to. Arnavji had truly surprised her.