Chapter 29
Since this FF was left unattended for a long time, I was reminded that readers may have even forgotten about the story.
RECAP
So picking up from Payash wedding night, Arnav reaches the rooftop instead of Shyam. Khushi and him have a heartfelt conversation but Arnav fails to confess and say those three words she longs for. After a little misunderstanding with Arnav thinking Khushi's going on a date with NK and is playing him, he gets mad and starts avoiding her. Khushi tries to clear the MU but it's not so easy. After an intense fight he confesses his love and they get into a relationship.
Khushi starts overthinking if he really wants to marry her, upon which Arnav proposes with a ring and intends to tell their families so they can get married asap. On Holi, under the influence of Bhang, they share their first ever kiss at the poolside. But Khushi gets to know Guptas are in debt and decides she won't get married anytime soon. Knowing their families will right away jump into wedding preparations, she stops him from telling about them and starts avoiding him. Arnav, respecting her wishes of keeping their relationship secret, wants her to work at his office again so they can see each other which she clearly denies. She takes a job at a cafe. He takes it over and fires her from there. The Guptas' are behind on their rent, so the landlord threatens to throw them out, only Khushi is at home at that time. Khushi, finally broken, goes to Arnav to loan the money gets to know he's behind this. She's hurt and he apologizes for that. She starts working at AR again. Khushi tried giving the engagement ring back but he doesn't let her and she's not able to take it off, so she's still wearing it.
Arnav, in an emotional moment, tells Anjali that him and Khushi are secretly engaged. Anjali is obviously shocked at that but also happy for them.
Also, Arnav is not happy with Shyam recently and on the other side, there's a new character called "Mehul" who Shyam wants to take care of. His plan of taking Anjali on a trip with him and killing her fell apart because Arnav fell sick.
Arnav gifts Khushi a Sari which makes Buaji suspicious. Khushi lies about the gift being from Aman stating it's an office policy.
That's the recap for now.
"What do you want to eat?" He was aware of her not even looking at the menu but asked nonetheless before asking anything of his choice. Considering her meat-less living he'd brought her into a pure vegetarian restaurant.
"My tiffin!" But her reply wasn't as plain as he'd hoped it would be. She was still shooting daggers at him for he got her here. But he had to remain calm. "That you can have at home."
"No, I had gotten it to eat at the office, not at home." She said in an adamant tone and looked around the room. This seemed an expensive place, hence her family probably wouldn't be coming here but the Raizadas were unpredictable. You never know where you stumble upon them.
"Khushi, just shut up and place your order." He instructed in a low whisper yet his tone gave away his cool slipping away. But if she were intimidated, she wouldn't agree and satisfy his ego. "I told you I won't eat anything here. You got me here by force, but you can't force me to eat."
Her stubbornness was angering the hell out of him. The girl really loved to test his patience so much that she didn't even consider the place and time. "Can't you for once act mature?"
"You forced me to come for lunch. Is that maturity?" She questioned back, not watching her volume quite as much as he did. Waiters and people from the neighbouring table eyed them, making him conscious. She was alerted too and sat straight since she had been leaning into the table until now.
"I just..." He looked at her determined expression and closed the menu. "Ok, forget it. I'm good. Let's go back."
Khushi raised her brows as he declared it with his eyes fixated on her. She wasn't expecting he'd give up this fast.
He won't even try pursuing me? Grumpy Raizada still has ways to go.
She sighed and then grimaced as if doing a favour on him. "Accha theek hai, now that we're here I'll eat something."
It appeared he didn't even listen to her. He just stood up for real and walked towards the exit without saying anything further. She looked at the waiter coming towards her, probably to enquire if everything was alright. She strode behind fast after her fiance and caught him just at the arm. He was already out of the place.
"Arnavji, I said I'll eat." But he brushed her hand off her arm and headed for the parking lot. She stood there with an open mouth in disbelief. "Oh, so you won't talk to me now?"
"Theek hai. Then I won't say anything too. I can give you the silent treatment too." She followed him to the car and flared her nostrils as he opened the passenger's door for her. "When you aren't talking to me only, then why should I go with you? I'll take an Auto."
"Khushi, just shut up and get in. Don't get me angry." He wasn't to put up with her drama anymore. He'd just wanted to spend some nice time with her but she was hell bent on acting the stubborn and mad girl she is.
"You are already angry. You are always angry. Is that how things will always be between us?" Her tone indicated a slight scepticism. No. That's not how things are supposed to be between them but he's never put up with people's bullshit and is yet to learn to not lose his patience so early, at least not with her. "No, I-- ok, I'm not angry anymore. Get in."
"I don't believe you. You have to prove it." She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him as his face hardened again. "See, see, you're flaring your nose. You just want to get me in so that you can ignore me all day. I will beg you to not be upset anymore and you will hurt me and shout at me, scold me. I'm not your fianceé, I'm still your second Aman ji."
He looked at her in disbelief. She recognized the confusion given away by his features. "You just keep shouting at Aman ji and me, all the time."
"You are crazy." He just rolled his eyes at her, for a matter-of-fact accusation.
"So that's why you don't want to have lunch with me. Don't want to be seen in public with a crazy girl." She looked down with her head bowed and shoulders slumped down as well, the act ought to be put up right.
He opened his mouth to object but realised there's nothing he can say to make it better. Her dramatic grace will interpret any meaning into it. "Just-- let it be."
"You'll still stay upset with me?" She turned to him with a pout and big shining eyes. But then again, Arnav Singh Raizada wasn't known for his patience. "Khushi, what do you want from me? Just tell me! I can't read minds!"
"I don't want you to be upset." She said softly this time. And he replied with as much softness but his undertone and expression gave away the irritation. "Then stop putting all your effort into upsetting me!"
"Hawww, it's not my fault you're so moody. First you get upset over the tiniest of things and then won't even get pacified. Now tell me, what do I do?"
He closed his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief at her. He didn't know if intentionally or not, but she loved to test his patience. And it took him a great deal of wrestling with his own mind to not fall into the old patterns. So he tried to take it in a whole another direction, knowing well he'll forget everything and be good again.
"Actually, there is something you can do to pacify me." The seriousness on his face had not let her anticipate what could be coming for her. "What?"
"You know." And now it was that crooked smirk that gave away his intentions. She narrowed her eyes at him and backed off.
"A' A...Ar-nav...ji..." She gulped as he matched her steps and strode forward. "Just one kiss. And no, not eyes, not nose, not cheeks. Lips it is."
"No lips, cheeks! Two kisses." She said firmly, trying her best to not seem desperate. The problem was, she was not standing in front of a vendor trying to buy vegetables for an acceptable price.
"Are you seriously bargaining!?" There was clearly dubiety in his tone. Was she really serious!? But then again, this is Khushi Kumari Gupta. What else was he expecting!?
"What do I do, it's in my blood!" She was quite proud of her bargaining skills, which had somehow even in this situation benefitted her. Or, did they?
"Forget it. Just get in!"
He walked around to the drivers side and got in. She made a face as this time he didn't open the door, probably thinking she'll put on another act. She climbed in her seat and put on her seatbelt before he started the engine and drove back to the AR Headquarters.
*
RAIZADA MANSION
Arnav, having changed in casual wear, strode downstairs to the dining hall and sat down next to his sister. Everyone was passing the filled bowls and rotis to each other. He served himself a sabji of his choice and paid attention to Akash, who had now shifted his focus on his elder cousin.
After marriage he'd been working from home and was to go back to the office after the honeymoon. Regardless he was still in touch and was given the information by his assistant.
„So Bhai, I heard Buaji visited the office today!?"
Not only Payal's, but everyone's attention was grabbed by that sentence. It was clear curiosity.
„Uhm, ya, she did. To meet Khushi, I suppose." He tried to answer it as casually as possible. How were he to explain the real reason? It was absurd enough even if he were not dating Khushi. Buaji inspecting Aman as a possible candidate for her unmarried niece. Although, put in simple words, it's not a bad idea that she's being cautious and trying to make a picture of the life of the man she thinks could be a prospective groom for Khushi. But an office is a workplace, not a museum to roam around and get tours of.
„She must've wanted to make a picture of it herself since last time Khushiji worked there, you two weren't on good terms and it was..."
Although Akash started it jokingly, he certainly caught up on the mixed feelings about that chapter of Arnav's life.
Arnav could barely chew as he emerged into the flashbacks of their initial banters at the office and the challenges she always arose to. How he gave his everything to make life hell for Khushi. Well, he was under the impression that nobody can be that goodie-good and Khushi was only pretending to be nice for her ulterior motives. Life hadn't been all rosy for him and he had to sharpen his people reading skills at quite a young age. So it was hard for him to believe that someone could be nice without any hidden agenda.
Nevertheless, he obviously did regret having put her through all that. Not only because he loves her now, also because she's made him become a better person. And he's realised he could be a jerk.
„Anway, have you both packed? You know you have a flight to catch tomorrow."
Anjali tried to ease the tension in the air and tried to change the topic.
„Ji Di, we're all packed."
It was Payal who gave her the nod. Her mind had definitely wandered to her sister. Ever since she got to know about Khushi working at AR again, she'd definitely thought of the last time and how it ended. But then Payal had to remind herself that Arnav was not that man he used to be. He'd softened and he was nice. And yet last she checked she couldn't forget that there still is an existing rivalry between her Jethji and Khushi. And they were always ready to argue with each other at any given opportunity. So she just prayed that nothing sort of happened and this time, considering the relationship between the families, they would behave maturely.
*
GUPTA HOUSE, LAXMI NAGAR
The family gathered for dinner. Khushi and Garima set the table while Buaji pushed Shashi's wheelchair to the dining area.
"Arnav bitua's office is quite huge and very beautiful, how it is decorated and painted, red and white. Looks quite nice." Buaji sat down and started the conversation in regards to her visit to her niece' workplace. Admitted, it was quite embarrassing but she didn't want to have her mind fixated on that.
"Haina? Arnavji has a good taste." Khushi remarked, seating herself while her voice giving away a little bit of pride.
"Haan, all that is fine but he himself is so strict and gloomy."
"Why Jiji? Did he say something?" Garima asked in concern as she filled a plate for Shashi to feed him.
"No, he didn't say anything. But that is it. He doesn't speak much even at his office, was just bossing around."
"But, he is boss na. So he will boss around. He handles that huge business on his own na, so...saw how responsible he is?" Khushi, his secret fiancée, felt the need to speak in his favour, a behaviour that the Guptas had not been accustomed to.
"Since when did you start defending him? Weren't you always complaining about him?"
For a moment Khushi was at loss of words when Buaji stated what was going on in everyone's mind. But she had the (half) truth to her side.
"Uhm...woh, a-actually, ever since Jiji got married to his brother, he's behaving nicer to me."
"Accha, I didn't see any difference in his behaviour at all."
Buaji's remark could not sit well with Khushi. Granted, from time to time they tend to go overboard with each other and do have some issues to resolve. But Khushi fully admitted that he's not the same man she met at first. He's not a bad person. He's been making efforts for her.
"He isn't that bad, I think. What do you think, Amma?" Khushi tried so hard to keep a Pokerface when in truth she was quite eager to hear what her mother thinks of the man she intends to marry.
"Haan Jiji, he isn't that bad either. He's a nice boy. Just imagine how lucky the girl will be who gets to marry him."
"If he marries at all. After so much effort our Titliya had prepared that girl to be a good bahu and then he broke the alliance. I don't think he will ever marry anyone." Buaji grimaced thinking back at the time.
"I'm sure Jiji, there's a girl made for him too." Khushi's eyes sparkled at Garima's casual remark. At least her mother didn't think of him so little.
"He may get a girlfriend, but he is not going to marry anyone. We all know he's that kind of guy. First he wanted to live with that girl, what was her name-"
"Lavanyaji" She replied, reminiscing the time with Buaji.
"Haan, Lavanya. He wanted to live with her without marriage, and then when she was ready to get married, he backed off. I tell you, he's that kind of man who just takes girls for granted."
Buaji, in her own mind, was just stating casually what she believed. Unbeknownst to her there was someone on that table with whom the conversation did not sit well. Slowly and steadily anxiety spread through her chest, Buaji's words echoing in her ears.
"Accha, that Aman babua is very nice though. I thought he was interested in our Sanka Devi, but someone at the office told me he has a girlfriend." Garima just nodded at her sister-in-law with a smile as she seemed quite disappointed.
"And it is a policy to welcome a new employee with a gift."
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Oh my God, can't believe I published the next chapter finally...after years :D Don't even know if someone is still following it but I have drafted next 4-5 chapters already.
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