Part 46 Denial

Khushi stayed with the kids until they slept. Closing the door, she silently walked out. She came to their room and found Arnav still up. Smiling at him, she removed her casuals from the cupboard and went to the washroom. She came out within five minutes and sat on the bed. Arnav smiled. There was no confusion in her mind in taking the bed. She had no oscillation between the bed and the recliner, like he had. She just came and sat on the bed, simply.

Arnav was supposed to say something but stopped as Khushi said,

"Good night," and covered herself with a quilt and closed her eyes, leaving Arnav disappointed.

She could even spend with the kids till 10 o'clock but she intended to sleep not giving heed to him who was up for her?

He intentionally coughed. Khushi removed the quilt from her and sat. Arnav saw that and continued coughing. Khushi got off the bed and brought water to him. She extended a glass of water.

"Arnavji, drink it"

He nodded no.

"Arnavji, you are coughing..."

"It's ok..." he said while coughing.

In no time, Khushi kneeled on the bed. Clutching his nape, she made him drink water. Arnav was absolutely taken back. He was shocked. He didn't expect she would forcefully make him drink water. He thought she would request him to drink water. He drank water, looking at her. She got off the bed and walked to her side after keeping the bottle on the table.

"It seems children are much better than you. They obey me without a question..." She chided.

Arnav controlled his smile.

"No one forced me for anything like you did," he said, wiping his lips.

"I too didn't force anyone for anything like I did," she said casually and sat on the bed.

"Then why did you force me?"

"It's because you are my husband..."

"What does that mean?"

"That means..." she stopped.

Arnav nodded his head, like, continue.

"Nothing..."

"Husband means nothing?" He asked sarcastically.

"It depends upon the woman who marries a man... husband gets value according to the respect given by his wife"

"What about you? Do you respect me?"

"You know my respect for you"

"I know your respect for me but I don't know about the wife in you"

"What's so urgent Arnavji? Don't we have a lifetime to know each other?" she lay on the bed smilingly and closed her eyes.

"Will you come to the office tomorrow?" Arnav asked.

She pulled the quilt down and looked at him.

"Will you go to the office tomorrow?" she questioned him instead of answering.

"Don't you want me to go?"

"Do you want people to taunt us?"

"Ok... we will go on Monday"

"Mmm"

"By the way, why do you prefer a saree all of a sudden?"

"Should not I prefer saree?"

"Khushi, what happened to you? without anwswering my question, you are questioning me in return"

"Should not I question you?" She questioned him again controlling her smile.

"Why not? You can question me. At the same time, you should answer me too..."

"Didn't I answer you?"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Don't my questions have answers?"

Arnav nodded his head and lay smilingly.

Khushi looked at him turning toward him. Arnav looked at her and raised his brows, like, WHAT?

"I'm married..." she smiled.

Arnav nodded yes.

"You are also married"

Arnav chuckled.

"It's because we got married to each other"

"That's the eighth wonder"

"Really?"

"Of course, the man who had been in penance for ten years, married me breaking his ties..."

YOU MADE ME BROKE IT Arnav wanted to say so but he just smiled.

Khushi slowly closed her eyes to sleep. She opened her eyes, hearing,

"You said you forced me because I'm your husband. Will you force me because I became your husband?"

"I forcefully made you drink water... If I had not forced you, you would have kept on coughing. That's why I forced you. so, my action as a reason"

"Oh... that means you will force me if you have reasons?"

Khushi looked at him sharply without answering.

"You can tell me straight if you don't like me forcing you for anything"

Arnav was stuck. He just extended the conversation but Khushi misunderstood it.

"I didn't mean it..."

"Are you sure?"

He blinked his eyes.

"Thanks..." she smilingly closed her eyes.

Afterward, Arnav also dozed off.

The next day

Khushi opened her eyes and stretched her body in the lying position. Arnav who was working on his laptop smiled not looking at her.

Khushi sat on the bed with sleepy eyes.

"Good morning" her voice was groggy.

"Good morning" Arnav smiled.

She went to the washroom. She came within fifteen minutes, getting fully ready. She looked brisk. Sitting before the dressing table, she combed her hair which was soft and silky.

Being so beautiful, how did this girl think of marrying him? Arnav could not hold himself from thinking.

She stood up and left the room without even glancing at him. Arnav rolled his eyes.

Kitchen

Khushi was making breakfast for the kids. She was preparing her favorite cheese sandwich. She kept two sets of sandwiches on the grill and, prepared the next sets. That was when she received a call from an unknown number. She attended the call. She spoke keeping the phone on her shoulder and she continued her work.

"Is this Khushi ma'am?"

"Yeah..."

"Ma'am, I'm a PR from an APT Ad agency. Santhosh is my name"

"Oh..."

"We would like to pair you with Mr. ASR in a jewelry Ad"

Khushi smiled.

"We think you will be apt with him"

"I'm not a professional modal"

"ASR either..."

"Yeah, but he is interested. I'm not..."

"Ma'am, he is so stubborn that he will act only with you. Of course, you guys look nice together. Your pair is so awesome. Please consider, Ma'am"

"Ok, give me some time"

"Ma'am, we heard you married to ASR yesterday. If your husband wants you to pair with him, why are you hesitating, Ma'am? You already appeared in your company Ad, right?"

"I just did that due to circumstance"

"Give it a chance, Ma'am. If it doesn't click, decide accordingly. It's not easy to get a good chance like this, Ma'am. Don't you know about the industry?"

"Mmm... ok, I will do it but not right away. We just married yesterday. We need time"

"No problem, Ma'am... we can go for a shoot as per your comfort"

"Ok, thank you"

Disconnecting the call, the APT PR called Arnav. He attended the call.

"Who is this?" Arnav asked while checking a mile.

"ASR, I'm a PR in APT Ad agency"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Sir, we would like to pair you with Khushi Ma'am and she accepted our offer"

Arnav was surprised. Did Khushi accept the offer? Really?

"Is it? When did she accept it?"

"Just now, sir. she is ready to appear on screen with you"

Arnav raised his brows.

"Oh... what's the Ad about?"

"It's a jewelry Ad, ASR"

"Is there any concept? Or, we should just appear?"

"We have a small and nice concept for the Ad sir"

"Oh... what's that?"

"Khushi ma'am is upset with you. You buy jewelry to coax her and your problem comes to an end"

"I'm sorry, I won't act in this Ad," Arnav said without any second thought.

"But why, ASR?" he asked with shock.

"I just don't want to... thank you for your offer" Arnav disconnected the call.

Khushi again got a call from the same PR. She attended the call.

"Yes..."

"Ma'am, ASR denied acting in the Ad"

Khushi was taken aback. Did Arnav deny it? Why?

"Did you talk to him?" Khushi asked.

"Just now, ma'am"

"Did he know I accepted the offer?"

"Yes, ma'am..."

"Oh..."

"Ma'am, please ask him to act in our Ad"

"I don't know if he changes his mind. I don't know why he denied acting in the Ad..."

"Please give it a try, Ma'am"

"Mmmm..."

"Thank you, Ma'am" he disconnected the call.

Khushi became thoughtful. She didn't know why Arnav denied the offer. Wasn't he the one who wanted to act only with her? Then what was his problem? It was a jewelry Ad. The payment would be big. Then, what was the reason for him to deny? She didn't know whether she could ask him or not.

To be continued...