Arnav and Khushi had conversed about many things, things with and without any head and tail. The privacy was liberal and so, they had no disturbance in talking over lunch and after. From Arnav's initial struggles to his recent deal, he talked about everything. Leaving some of them for later. Khushi discovered he started loving long drives just like her. But still not on good terms with animals.

She loved animals and he knows that. He didn't get well with them and he still is the same. Just as they were engrossed in talks after they finished their lunch, they heard a voice calling for Khushi.

"Khushi!"

Khushi recognized the voice instantly and was surprised to find him here as he stood smiling at her.

"Hey, Jay! You here?" she was amused as she stood up. She thought he was so busy when he didn't meet her these days, after her accident, to be precise.

"Yeah. It was a day off for me and I wanted to have some nice lunch here," he shrugged his shoulders a little, avoiding meeting her gaze, telling her the reason he was here for. She looked fine and as beautiful as before, to him, at least, better than before. He didn't even know she got into an accident and when he got to know, just a few days before, about the accident, he was shocked and wanted to see her. Alas! Blame his circumstances, he couldn't.

And when he saw Khushi here, from the time she entered, he didn't want to disturb her date. It looked nothing less than a date to him. He hoped she'd move out soon and he could calm down his heart. Alas, again! She was having beautiful moments with the guy in front of her. All smiles and giggles made a permanent place on Khushi's lips while the man in front of her smiled, more on listening terms.

He couldn't stop himself from moving toward them. As he stood near her, he didn't know when he whispered her name.

Khushi nodded at him, buying his words, and turned towards Arnav, wanting to introduce Jay.

"Arnav, he's Jay Martin. My ex-husband," Khushi explained her relationship with the man, as Arnav stood up in shock.

Well, he didn't know she was married. She never talked about her relationships, anyway and he never asked.

Khushi turned towards Jay who noticed the shock on Arnav's face and was curious to know who he is, the man she is all smiles with, "And Jay, he's Arnav Singh Raizada, my friend."

Arnav recovered from the shock and stood straight, shaking his hands with Khushi's ex-husband — Jay Martin.

"Hello, Mr. Raizada. I heard a lot about your business, recently! Good businessman you are!" Jay said, after shooking hands with him. Arnav Singh Raizada is Khushi's friend? Or was there more to it?

Arnav just nodded at him, mouthing a thank you to which Jay smiled, coming out of his thoughts and Khushi gave more information to Arnav, "He's a businessman too, Arnav but in IT Sector."

"Oh, I'm unaware of the details in IT Industry!" Arnav shrugged, not really disappointed. He doesn't need to know about other industries and the businessmen there. Jay Martin — being Khushi's ex-husband made it more difficult to show any emotions on his face.

"Not a problem, Mr. Raizada. It isn't uncommon. Even I got to know about you because of my ex-father-in-law," he chuckled a little and realized he got the attention of Khushi and Arnav who frowned at him and he continued to explain his stance more, "I mean, I'm still used to watch news about him and heard about you grabbing a spot in Gala."

Khushi didn't want to drag the conversation between them anymore. Arnav looked uncomfortable and Jay looked too curious. She asked him about his present girlfriend, "Didn't Sheetal come with you?"

"She was busy!" Jay's voice was low when he said that and his smile dimmed a little. Khushi thought it was probably because his girlfriend is not with him and didn't give many thoughts.

"Anyway, I'm sorry for disturbing you, carry on, guys! Bye," Jay walked away, giving his last smile without waiting for their response leaving a surprised Khushi and a curious Arnav behind.

Khushi shunned his weird behavior and sat back on her chair and Arnav followed soon, still with the same expression.

Arnav was still curious to know something. Why that man is not able to meet Khushi's eyes all time? He asked his doubt, "I don't mean to be judgemental, but why did I think he didn't meet your eyes, or is it just me?"

Khushi answered, caressing her drink glass, "Maybe he's guilty!"

"Guilty?" Arnav doubted why would he be guilty. Did he do something wrong with her? At that possibility, he got angry and was a furious raging bull. He was protective of her, which he never showed, or better say never got the chance to show. 

Arnav realized how his question sounded. He was probing into her privacy and he quickly apologized before Khushi could reply, "I'm sorry for asking that. It's okay if you are not comfortable saying."

Khushi didn't find anything wrong with the question. If he was a stranger, maybe she'd find it weird but Arnav is not and answers chuckling, kicking his worry away, "Not that. It's that small to hide neither that big not to hide. He fell in love with another woman. Maybe that's why he's guilty. Still!"

Arnav hated men who cheats on their wives, wasn't it the reason he hated Arvind Raizada? Wasn't it the reason behind his mother's suicide? He tried to control his throbbing nerves and wanted confirmation, "Did he cheat on you?"

"Physically — No. Emotionally — Yes!" Khushi smiled a little. That was her past and that doesn't make any difference anymore, not even if her ex-husband is still here.

Arnav couldn't help cursing, in rage, hiding his fisted palm under the table, "Bastard!"

"Hey! No cursing him," Khushi reprimanded him. Not that she cared about what someone had to say about her ex-husband. People change and so could have been her ex-husband. She doesn't have any right to judge. She reprimanded Arnav only because she knows if he got a chance to fall out of love with her, it isn't his fault alone. She was to be blamed as well. Considering that, she wouldn't like it if someone blames him alone.

"Sorry but he's nothing less than that," Arnav kept his opinion, he was still raging. How much of a fool he's to cheat on her? He snorted.

"As I said, he just fell in love with Sheetal. Not his mistake alone," Khushi put her views and Arnav wasn't satisfied with her explanation.

He fires rapidly, "How could he? If he loved you, he wouldn't have fallen in love with another woman."

He was right. If he really loved her, he'd not love another woman. A true Lover can never betray someone they love truly. Arnav firmly believes that. He never saw anyone in his family loving each other as partners truly. There was always someone who didn't love their partner truly. Like Arvind. Like Shyam. Like Manorama. 

"He fell out of love with me, simple! It was easy for him to start loving her. We were not meant to be," Khushi said. True, if he is in love with her, he'd not have fallen for another. Even before he could, his love vanished into the air and he no more loved her. If he came to that conclusion, it wasn't his fault. She did things she thought her ex-husband would understand but he didn't. Both of them did mistakes. They thought they were meant to be but not anymore.

Looking at Arnav who was still not convinced, Khushi muttered, "Human emotions are easy to judge but difficult to understand, Arnav."

Arnav sighed. It was true. People judge him for his arrogance. Not that he throws his arrogance at everyone unnecessarily. Still, he did get the name of a young angry man, didn't he?

It's easy for people to judge another person's emotions and equally difficult to understand them.

"Trying to understand, though, it's difficult is better. We can try, can't we?" She put her opinion in front of Arnav.

Arnav shook his head, he tried understanding his toxic family, and every time he did, he was only hurt. He didn't find her opinion right, "But if every time we try to understand, don't we get hurt?"

He stopped understanding them long ago because it was hurting him. If he goes by Khushi's words, should he understand them again?

Khushi understood where he was coming from and explains to him on clear terms, "Yes, we do get hurt, only if it every time and it's only you in the action! Not every time you need to understand, Arnav, especially if that's taking your peace away. And again, every time you understand someone, you need not adjust to the situation and accept it always. Choose what can give you happiness — in the longer run and not pain. In my case, I know if I hang on to him, it will not keep me happy in the longer run, why opt for temporary happiness? Opt for temporary pain and lifelong happiness. The choice is mine. —" she paused, she know divorcing him would hurt her but hang(ing) on to someone who wouldn't love her will not keep them happy. She decided and chose a life that can let her move on and not be stuck in an unwanted relationship, she continued a few seconds later, "—If I'd have hanged on him, not giving him freedom, he'd not have a happy life with me, making me unhappy as well. Better understand his emotions for once, accept the fact that the love doesn't exist between us anymore, and cut off the relationship that could only pain me more, pain us more. I just did that."

"Hmm," Arnav murmured understanding her point of view. He knows he was wrong in understanding his family and did one good thing not giving them any importance anymore. He did accept the fact that the relationship between him and his family isn't great. It's only toxic. But cutting them off from his life completely is not an option until he gets to achieve what he wanted. It's the same like he gathered all the waste in the dustbin and waiting for his responsibilities to get completed before throwing them away, even after realizing the dustbin is going to do worse.

"And that's what I'm telling you to do. You already know and accept that they are toxic. Stopped understanding them and being the only participant in this understanding game a long ago. What is stopping you to not move away from your family? It is only going to make your mental condition worse!" She pointed out again. Genuinely not understanding his point of view. She remembered his earlier words. Duties and Responsibilities! What more responsibilities were left? He said his sister was married. His business is doing fine. His brother and his uncle are there to support him and take care of their family if anything goes wrong in the family. What more does he want?

"I can't move out, not until the only responsibility I wanted to do with my heart is completed." There it is. He said again and Khushi sighed at his same dialogue. If it was anyone other than her, they'd run out of patience. But Khushi knows, with Arnav, one needs a lot of patience. And she had a lot of it to offer. Why wouldn't he say what is that?

She asked, narrowing her gaze at him, "What is that?"

"My brother and his wife! They should get the respect they deserve in our home. I had to kick someone out too," he whispered, remembering his cousin brother Dhruv and Dhruv's wife, Myra.

"Who?" Khushi was curious.

"Leave it, Khushi. Not today, please. I want to have peaceful moments!" He dismissed not wanting to talk about the bastard who was unfortunately his brother-in-law.

"Alright!" Khushi dismissed and Arnav excused himself for the washroom.

...

"She has not come to the hospital," a man whispered into the phone, standing in the corridor of the hospital owned by Khushi where she works as well.

"How can she not? It isn't her day off," a voice furiously whispered into the phone, pacing around the vast room angrily.

"The timetable is changed recently," he informed, sighing.

"Who informed you?"

"The nurse and told me to reschedule the appointment for the next day," he said what the nurse had told him. He was supposed to get analyzed by Dr. Khushi today but was canceled on short notice due to the sudden timetable change by management.

"Fuck! Just take the earliest appointment possible. I want her finished!" the voice was raging mad.

"Sure," he agreed, walking towards reception to take the appointment for the next day.

The call was cut and the figure paced the room fast, cursing thousands of profanities in her mind, "What the hell is up with this woman? She never dies!"

"But I'll make sure this time you do!" The same voice smirked in the end. If not today, tomorrow it is!

...

Restaurant,

"By the way, Arnav. How many days are you here for?" Khushi asked when he came back from the washroom.

"Just three more days," Arnav replied, sipping water.

Khushi was disappointed, just three days? "Oh. I'm gonna miss you. When you will be here again?"

She wanted to know when he will be back. She's gonna really miss him.

"In a few months," Arnav replied making Khushi sad. He's always a great friend. She composes herself and mumbles, "When are you free in these three days?"

"Evenings!" Arnav sipped some more water, imagining him going back to the toxic place again — Shantivan — not really a home full of peace. A horror reality. 

"Great. I've always told you about my gang, didn't I? I'll make you meet them." Khushi was happy. Although Ziya and Arjen know him, James is still left and she'd want to introduce her whole gang to him.

"But-" he was about to protest but was cut off by Khushi.

"What would do sitting on the bed in your hotel? Come with me tomorrow," Khushi frowns at him. Sitting behind those closed doors would do nothing good. He has to get out and meet people too, sometimes.

"I love being alone," he shrugged, moving his gaze away. His eyes were on the aquarium a few meters away, and little fishes swimming around.

"But you're with me now," she points to the space between them. If he loved being, why did he come with her to the Restaurant? She knows the answer, it was because he was comfortable with her and she wanted to make him comfortable with her other friends who are just like her. He'd be comfortable with them.

"Your friends will be there too," Arnav pointed out. He'd be like a person from another world among them.

"Oh, come on. You already know them except one. Ziya and Arjen! The only one left was James, and trust me when I say this, he is not going to eat you up! In case you still feel uncomfortable, hang on with me" Khushi teases, chuckling a bit in the end. No one is going to eat him up.

"It's fine with me, then!" Arnav agreed. Not having any other choice. He can still be with Khushi if he gets uncomfortable anytime.

"Great!" Khushi mumbled and they were soon cut off by the waiter, "Madam, drink!"

"Thank you!" Khushi smiles at him as he places the drinks in front of her.

"I didn't order," Arnav mumbled when Khushi forwarded one glass toward him.

"I did, on behalf of you when you went to the washroom," Khushi explained as he stared at the weird juice which looked tasteless to him. It's giving him that vibe.

"Thank you, Mr. Ken!" She gives the waiter a tip for his exceptional service, dismissing him.

"That's your drink only. Stop staring at it and drink," Khushi mumbled sipping a little from the smoothie she ordered for herself, looking at Arnav who sulked looking at the juice.

"It's little sour," he sipped after which he twisted his mouth, and closed his eyes a little.

"Better than coffee without sugar. Healthy for Diabetics," Khushi explained as Arnav took another uncomfortable sip.

Khushi is aware only distraction would work with him to drink the whole juice without making faces. She indulges him in the conversations again, distracting him fully as he answered her little queries and discussed more — his business, his long drives, and his love for chicken and cooking. 

Nobody knows he can cook except Khushi!

And he didn't realize when he completed the juice, without a hitch. And understand as always she managed to take care of him, and make him feel better.

...

Gravity FH,

Adam was working on his laptop when he heard the knock on the door. He permitted the person to enter his cabin and soon heard him saying, "Sir, there are movements from her phone."

Adam's whole concentration was on the man with his single sentence, "Recorded?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good. Details on the other caller?" Adam waited for his answer impatiently.

"We're on it!" He stated, nodding his head.

"Be fast and until then, make sure Khushi is guarded," Adam commanded, a little disappointed to which the man only nods.

A curious Adam asked another question, "What about her present location?"

"In the restaurant, on a lunch date with Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. Her food was tested before it went to her table," he was instructed to keep her safe and he did and explained the same to her.

"Hmm. Good." Adam was thoughtful after having recovered from the shock.

Wow! Her daughter is on a date with Arnav Singh Raizada?

..and he's yet to meet the man who managed to get her daughter on a date!

To be continued..,

Let me know what you think of the update.

So, here's another twist, Khushi was married and divorced. Difficult to accept but the story will need it. 

P.S. I know emotional fidelity is as wrong as Physical one. There's a flashback and it will be revealed how the couple has dealt with it. Patience! 

Regards,

polymath_land

07/01/2023