Part 34 Getting cleared

Making Khushi lay on the back seat, Arnav started the car towards a hospital near the airport. He admitted her to the hospital. The doctor checked her and injected her.

"She should have made to smell chloroform..." The doctor said.

Arnav already guessed it. He knew they would have made her faint that way.

"I have given an injection. She will wake up in a while. After that, you can take her home"

Arnav nodded ok.

"Thank you, doctor"

The doctor left. Arnav came to Khushi and sat next to her, looking at her. His hand unknowingly extended towards her and caressed her hair. He didn't know why he did that. He wanted to help her but he could not do it in the way she wanted it. Yet, he had to do something. So, he decided to take her home. So that, she would be safe and his kids would be happy. Finally, Arnav decided something, keeping HIMSELF away. Yet, he concluded it with a slight selfishness. She would not think of getting transferred if she were with his kids. He didn't know why he didn't like her going on transfer.

He saw Khushi opening her eyes. She saw Arnav sitting in front of her. She sat jerking.

"Slowly..." Arnav said.

Khushi held her head that was spinning.

"Khushi, take a rest. We will leave afterward"

"That's ok, sir" She got off the bed.

She swayed as she could not stand. She was supposed to fall, but Arnav held her shoulders and made her sit on the bed.

"I said rest..."

Khushi closed her eyes, lying. She slowly opened her eyes and asked,

"How did I come here?"

"Don't you remember what happened to you?"

She nodded yes.

"We were talking on the phone. Someone knocked on my room door. I opened the door and found Naveen with my mother. He pressed a cloth on my face. After that, I can't remember anything" she said in a low tone with effort.

"They tried to kidnap you to Malaysia"

"Whaaaat? Malaysia?"

"Yes, they took you in an ambulance, making your neighbour believe you fainted and they were talking you to a hospital. We caught them in the airport. Your friend Preeto helped us to chase you"

"Thanks for coming for my help"

Arnav said nothing.

After a while, Khushi felt better. She slowly sat on the bed.

"Khushi, no urgent"

Khushi showed her palm.

"How do you feel?"

"I'm all right"

"Are you sure?"

She nodded yes and stood up. Arnav tried to help her but she stopped him by showing her palm. He stepped back.

Arnav made her sit in the car and started the car.

"Sir, can I get your mobile?"

"Yeah, sure"

Arnav gave her his phone. Khushi dialled a number. The call was attended.

"Preeto..."

"Khushi... how are you? Did your Boss save you?"

"Mmm... I need your help"

Arnav looked at her.

"Tell me, Khushi..."

"Shall I stay at your place tonight?"

"Sure... come on Khushi"

"Thank you, Preeto..."

Arnav extended his hand and asked for the phone. Khushi gave it back, disconnecting the call.

"I asked the phone to talk to Preeto"

"But why?"

"You are not going to stay at her place"

"Whaaaat? I'm not going to stay at my house where my mother is staying"

"Your mother is not at your house"

"Where is she?"

"In the jail... AC arrested her and Naveen"

She sighed.

"I will tell Preeto about it and go to my house"

"But, I want you to come to RM"

Khushi looked at him unbelievably. She nodded no.

"Khushi, listen, until you feel better, stay at RM"

"I'm feeling much better"

"But, staying alone is not safe"

"I will shift to a lady's hostel tomorrow"

Arnav looked at her shockingly.

"But why?"

"Because I don't think I can be peaceful at my house"

"That's why I want you to stay in RM"

Khushi nodded NO.

"Khushi, listen..."

"Don't mistake me, sir... Who am I to stay in RM? Who are

you to decide where should I stay?"

Arnav gritted his teeth.

"I don't decide it out of right. I just..."

Cutting him,

"I can manage my life, sir. You don't have to care about me"

Arnav changed the gear and speeded up the car. Khushi saw the car heading to RM. She looked at him disappointed.

"Sir, please stop the car"

Arnav didn't listen to her. taking his phone, he redialed Preeto's number. She attended the call.

"Haan Khushi... I told my mother you are coming"

"This is Arnav Singh Raizada, Khushi's Boss."

"Oh...tell me, sir..."

"Khushi is not coming to your home. I'm taking her to my house"

"Oh, Ok, sir"

"Bye..." he disconnected the call and looked at Khushi who was looking at him with dissatisfaction.

"Don't look at me like that. You are coming to RM and that's final. I'm not going to listen to you"

"May I know why I come to your house?"

"It's because you are weak"

"I said I'm all right"

"We will discuss it later"

"No... I'm not going to come to RM. You have no right to order me because this is not your office" she said losing her

patience.

"Khushi, don't make me angry"

"What will your anger do to me?"

Arnav glared at her.

"Won't you understand, Khushi?"

"No, sir... I really can't understand what you want. When I proposed to you, you ignored me. when I understand your stand and try to go away from you, you are restricting me. I don't know what you are expecting from me. I'm tired of everything, sir. On one side, my mother is not ready to understand me and, on the other side, you are also doing the same. Why don't you just let me go?"

Arnav pressed the brake and looked at her.

"Khushi, listen. I know you are disappointed. That's why I

don't want you to make a decision now. Take rest... give yourself time. Then decide"

"Ok, but I don't want to do it, coming to RM"

Arnav was about to say something, but Khushi stopped him.

"Try to understand the drawback. No, it's not a drawback... it will become a dangerous condition. It will create expectations in kids' minds. They will get hurt. Why can't you just understand the simple thing?"

Arnav sat straight, tightening the steering wheel.

"Please drop me at GH"

Arnav looked at Khushi and asked,

"I want you to stay in RM..."

Khushi was about to say something, but he stopped her.

"What do you want me to do to make you stay in RM?"

Khushi frowned.

"I don't want you to do anything...! Most probably, I'm not talking about myself but kids. I can understand your condition but you can't fulfil their expectations..."

"What if I met their expectations?"

Khushi looked at him like, HOW?

"I will manage them..."

Khushi sighed.

"Trust me... I can manage them"

"What's necessary? Why are you disappointing them?"

"When did I say I'm going to disappoint them?" he said looking at the road.

"They will..."

"What can I do to satisfy them?"

Khushi looked outside not answering.

"Tell me, Khushi..."

"I don't know," She said even though she knew.

"Do you think I can meet your expectations if we get married?" he asked an unexpected question that shook her.

She looked at him jerking.

"Get it straight, there are a lot of problems to get cleared before getting into it. We have a huge age difference. I'm not a youngster. I don't know the TREND. I didn't think of updating myself as I had no intention of getting married. You know that. I don't know what a girl's expectation...!" he stopped and looked at her who was staring at him blankly.

"More than anything, there is something. I'm not sure about my FEELINGS..."

Khushi raised her brows. Didn't he say he lost the ability to become a father? Then why did he talk about his FEELINGS?

"I don't know if I can cope with you..."

"Ok, as you spoke straight, I too talk straight. Will you leave me if I meet with an accident and lose the ability to intimate?"

Arnav looked at her not answering as he understood her point.

"No, right?"

Arnav was silent.

"Why? It's because there is something called love and affection... it's beyond SEX. You may think I'm talking like a saint. I don't say I don't have feelings. At the same time, I know it's not more important than something I'm expecting from you. I don't expect you to be intimate with me because I can understand how hard it will be for you to come out of your wife's memory. That's why you don't want to marry anyone. I can understand that. So, I have no expectations of you."

Arnav so wanted to say, he was unmarried but he decided to use it in his favour. As he was not sure about his feelings, he wanted to test it. To do that, he needed time... so, he decided to let the LIE live for a few more days.

He started the car again and drove towards RM. This time, Khushi didn't question him as she sensed a difference in Arnav.

To be continued...