Past continues........

Arnav looked at the clock 9 A.M. where is she? He thought. She always arrives before him but what had happened today. She is not here. He looked at the clock again to see it is striking 9.10 A. M. she is never this irresponsible?

Aman knocked his cabin and came inside "ASR, here your today's schedule"

"Where is Khushi?" pausing Aman "it is her work to brief me on my schedule. She is late"

Aman "She is not late ASR. She is on leave."

"Leave?"

"Yeah she had sent a mail to you, me, and HR regarding this. She also called them back minutes before to inform them about the same."

Arnav logged on his mail account and there as Aman said was a mail from Khushi. He read the mail and became concerned, he had been noticing from the past few days she had been so low. There was no complaint regarding her work, it like always was perfect but he could see the spirit in his secretary missing.

Dismissing Aman he looked at the mail again. It stated she is not well and taking leave today. Worry filled his mind but he tried to work.

Two hours later, frustrated he closed his laptop shut. He could not concentrate on his work. His mind and heart thought about one person Khushi

Taking his mobile he contemplated whether to call her or not. What will she think? And why does it even matter to him he was never this concerned for any employee other than his family? But it does matter to him, this concern for Khushi. Unknown to him she had become integral part of his heart. He could lie to others but how could he lie to himself. He should think about Lavanya who told by his family is his love, should think about the future of their relationship but here his mind and heart is running behind Khushi. He could not get her out of his mind. All he thinks and sees is her, Khushi. What had she done to him? Why was he getting attracted to her? And it is not fading day by day but instead his attraction for her is becoming strong. It is making him mad for her. This craziness he is having for her. What is wrong with him? He never behaved for any girl before like this. and he is sure he would never have behaved this way for Lavanya. It is like Khushi opening a new side of him, a Arnav he is never aware of. Is it lust? Is he lusting after his secretary? Is it true?

His finger came to halt by Khushi's name in the contact list. Not thinking anything further he dialed her number. The first time there was no answer. The second time no answer. The third time again same response. And it repeated for sometime before at last she attended his call and he blasted "Where the hell were you? Why did you take so much time to attend the call? What the hell were you doing?......." he fired her question after question but got only silence in reply. Frustrated he yelled one last time "Why are you silent...damn it?"

"Arn.....Sir" his breath hitched at her voice, it felt like she had been crying for hours or may be still crying and he had shouted at her from the second she answered his call.

"Khushi....." all he could hear from other side is her sniffing "Khushi, kya huwa?"

"Ku...ch...nah...in. Sir ca..n....I....t..alk....to...you...la...ter....Please" before he could reply her she had cut the call. Damn he cursed himself. There she is suffering and he had added to it. And she is crying.

Not able to stand for a minute he left the office informing Aman he is leaving early instructing to take care of the office and not to disturb him. Minutes later his car was racing on Delhi road towards Khushi's apartment building.

Khushi looked shocked seeing him in-front of her. Hour before she got his call, never she thought she will be able to see him today. Not because she would not be able but because she could not. She is too emotional to face him today. From past few days she had been low thinking about today and from last night she had been crying thinking her fate and cursing it for she is alone on this day.

He felt concerned looking at her state, her eyes and nose are red, her face is puffy, and she looked like ghost.

Khushi shut the door after him, he turned to her "Kya huwa?" she just stood near the door, and he walked to her and felt her forehead for any sign of temperature. It was too much for Khushi to take, she hugged him panicking him.

Shocked at the sudden hug and worried at her crying he embraced her in his arm, patting her back in soothing manner "Shhh.....don't cry.....Khushi you will get sick if you cry like this. Don't......" But her heart is too hurt to stop the flow of sorrow in the form of tears.

"Hum nahiin jee sakthe aise.......I.....I miss him...." He stiffened hearing her word. Feeling chocked listening to her talk about the guy in her life. She looked at him sniffing "Do you *gulping her sob* do you know today is our anniversary and......?"

He looked at her shocked, pulling herself away; he looked in her eyes "You are married?"

She stilled hearing his words, looking in his turbulent eyes she felt herself go mute. But Arnav wanted answer to his question, not knowing why he is behaving this way, it should not be his concern if his P.A. is not well or if she is married but here he is checking on her. And now shaking her asking urgently by what did she mean by that? As if his very life will be depending on her reply. Frustrated at not getting any reply he repeated again little loudly "You are married?"

"Hum paheli baar aaj mile the" she whispered. He breathe left in whoosh, he did not even notice he was holding it till he breathed again in relief. He hugged her. Hearing her crying again he said "shhh....shh....it is okay.....bhool jao Khushi" she looked at him stunned; pushing his hands away from her she asked "Bhool jaon? Nahiin bhoolungi. He lives in my every breathe. Jab tak sansein chalegi tab tak. How could you even say this?" she looked at him in anger, both of them not in their sense, one is in pain and other is not even in sense to realize why does it matter if she cries for her love?

"Khushi listen........"

"Nahiin sunege" she started pushing him like mad "Forget him? He is telling me to forget him. How could he? Jaan hai voh meri. Main mar jaovungi par mein apne pyaar ko alag nahiin hone dungi. Samjhe aap. No one can separate my love from me."

He held her hand stopping her from hitting him further, his own anger rising hearing her words "You are not in your sense. Look at you. You are behaving like crazy. He left you. and you......you are here pinning for him...hurting yourself"

"No......no.....he did not......"

"Listen to me......you are only hurting yourself thinking about him. He did not deserve you....He is a bas....." feeling a burning sensation in his cheek he stopped and looked at her in shock. She slapped me.....she slapped me for that person who left her.

"How dare you?" if he is spitting fire then she too was not behind listening him, his words were wounding her already suffering heart giving her more pain then she could handle.

"Haan hum daring karenge......What will you do?" looking at her imprint on his cheek. She showed no remorse hitting him and that angered him more. Clutching her arm in a tight grip and twisting one of her hand behind her back he pulled her close to him "Did you forget who I am?" shouting on her face.

"No, and I'll never" she looked at him with same fierceness. His eyes looked from hers to her lips, they trembled in anger. The rhythm of his heart changed, the anger forgotten and all he could think at them seeing them is to feel them on his.

Khushi sighed when his lips touched hers. Not in his sense of what he is doing he kissed her, his sleeping desire for her unleashed at the touch. All he could think was he wanted more of it and he took with alacrity. One kiss led to many kisses and before they knew they were in bed forgetting everything but each other. Neither feeling it wrong but giving into each other's feeling at the moment.

It was evening; Arnav woke from his sleep and looked at his side to look at sleeping Khushi, after their lovemaking they both had slept. Feeling his thumb caressing her cheek she came awake. Opening her eyes it met with his.

"Khushi...."

"hmmmm"

"I don't regret it"

She smiled hearing his words "Me too", pulling her close to him he said huskily "will you mind if I wish to do to it again", in an answer she kissed his jaw. It was all Arnav needed to dive into the heaven he lived few hours ago.

Weeks passed to month to months, Khushi and Arnav often meet in her apartment. They never named their relationship going with the flow. All they know is they wanting this and they are happy with what they are sharing. For now.....

On the other side, Raizada family got worried with Arnav's behavior. Instead of getting close to Lavanya he is running away from her. Coming home late and sometimes they don't even know when he is back or whether he is back or not. If questioned his only reply would be he is busy in work.

Even Akash could notget the reason while working in the same company. He had tried to find fromAman about the important work which is making his bhai to stay back. Not thathe does not work like robot but earlier he used to return home at least bydinner time and him staying away from home or coming late home would be rareoccurrence but now days it had become daily occurrence. He had tried to stayback and come home with his brother but his brother stubbornly would insist himto leave for home and not wait for him

"Di do something. I'm scared. I can't lose him again. Please Di" Lavanya pleaded to Anjali. Anjali looked at Nani helplessly, what would they say to the poor girl? It is getting hard for them to push Arnav into any decision and now days he rarely is seen. It is like he has become ghost.

"Di....." Lavanya called her again.

Anjali "I don't know Lavanya. I'm trying. He is remaining very stubborn in his decision. I am unable to do anything here."

Looking at the upset face Nani consoled giving assurance 'Chotte will surely marry you bitiya. Don't worry"

"When?" she asked. The two ladies became quiet since that is the answer they are looking for when?

Anjali taking Lavanya's hand in hers "You have waited until now wait for some time Lavanya. We will not disappoint you this time."

Lavanya hugged her, her voice trembling 'You don't understand Di. I lost him once and I will not be able to bear that again. Bahuth hi dar lagtha hai. I want my ASR"

Looking at the caller id he attended it, Anjali's worried voice reached him "Chotte you did not come home last night"

"Sorry Di. I stayed back."

"Aisa kya kaam hai Chotte that is keeping you away from home"

"Di what type of question is this? It is not the first time I'm staying back"

"Yes it is not but it is the first time this is happening like daily occurrence. Even Akash is not aware of the work which is so important you are forced to stay in penthouse [at the top floor of AR, Arnav has a penthouse]"

Khushi entered his cabin with Coffee. He smiled at her, his attention diverted from the call. It took Anjali to call his name loudly to make him respond to her.

"Ah sorry Di, I was looking at email so........" Khushi pressed her lips together from smiling. He glared at her which further added to her amusement.

"Chotte did you hear me?"

"haan Di bolo na"

"Did you take your medicine without failing last night?"

"Oh sorry Di, the strip is finished. I've to buy it again. Thought to have an appointment with doctor first. A small check up before continuing the tablet"

"Chotte" she called in exasperated tone "What is there to ask the doctor? He had said it is for your goodness you should continue it taking it."

"But Di, I'm taking the table for almost a year. One would hardly be prescribed to take the medication to this long. And I'm good now. Why do I need this tablet?"

Khushi looked at him curiously, there Anjali did not know what to answer, it is true one would be hardly kept in medication after the person is cured and here Arnav has recovered months back from his accident.

Arnav feeling his Di getting worried replied 'Don't worry Di. I'll take an appointment for the evening and see him."

"Theek hai Chotte" hearing her reply and after wishing her he cut the call. Khushi not holding it back asked 'Which tablet? Last night I saw you taking only your diabetics tablet"

"Yeah along with that I was prescribed another medicine."

"Kyun?"

"Khushi you surely know I got into accident nearly almost a year back. I recovered from it in month time. All the other drugs were stopped but the doctor has asked me to continue taking this medicine."

"You did not ask him the reason?"

"I did, all he said is it is the medicine for my health"

"Oh...can I see it?"

"Sure" he took the empty strip and gave it to her. She read the name of the drug and gave it back to him. Smiling at him "I'll get back to work. But before that let me go bring you another coffee, this is cold now" she left his cabin, before him she had acted coolly but her mind was too busy thinking, how did she failed to notice about him taking extra drug.

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