Part 55 Killing with kindness

The next morning

Arnav didn't find Khushi in the room. He sighed running good fingers in his hair. He got off the bed and went to the washroom. Getting fresh, he came to the kids' room. He saw them getting ready for the school.

Aarav saw him and smiled.

"Good morning, Dad," he said.

Arnav was struck to see him casual. He thought the kids would be upset with him for his rude behaviour.

"Are not you upset with me for shouting at you?" He asked with repentance.

"You got angry with us only because you don't want us to spoil our health. You thought that the pizza was bought from the shop. You would not have shouted at us if you had known them were homemade"

Arnav felt proud of his kid for being understanding, but Aarav's next stands made him hithunderstruckuck.

"Khushi didi explained to us"

"Khushi?"

"Yes, we were scared seeing your anger. Khushi didi made us understand. She said how concerned you are about us..."

Arnav gulped down hard.

"What else did she say?"

"She said you are the best dad in the world. That's why you don't want us to eat toxic food"

"I'm sorry Aarav...I should not have shouted at you... I threw the food..."

"That's ok, Dad... You threw them but Khushi didi gave us fresh pizza from the oven"

Arnav smiled painfully. How generous Khushi was! He knew she was upset with him. Yet, she didn't show her anger to the kids. She could have filled the kid's ear with venom, but she didn't. Instead, she made them respect him more. What was he going to do for her?

Arnav came to his room and got ready for the office. He came downstairs thinking about if Khushi would come to the office that day.

He waited for Khushi in the dining. HP brought breakfast to the table.

"Where is Khushi?"

"She is preparing orange juice for you, Arnav Baba," he said and went to the kitchen.

Arnav saw Khushi coming with empty hands.

She came and sat opposite him. Of course, without seeing him. HP brought the juice prepared by Khushi. Arnav understood she didn't want him to know she cared for him.

Khushi didn't even look at Arnav for once, but his eyes were only on her. Eat the breakfast for formality and leave the dining.

When Arnav came to their room to finish his breakfast, Khushi came out of the room, taking her bag. Arnav sighed in relief as she was coming to the office with him. Taking his laptop bag, he followed her.

Khushi looked rigid on the way to the office. She was looking outside.

"Thanks," said Arnav.

Khushi looked at him through the corner of her eyes and again looked outside.

"Kids told me how you consoled them. I feel ashamed of myself. I don't even have the maturity you have. I am sorry for being barbaric. I am really sorry. I lost my mind because I thought you didn't mind me..."

Khushi looked at him sharply and gulped down hard. That made Arnav stuck.

"Actually, there was an argument between me and Mr. Laxman. He warned me that young girls would try to get old men under their custody."

Khushi looked at him shrinking her eyes.

"No... Actually, I didn't agree to it... In fact, I shut his mouth by telling him that my wife is not like his third wife...'

Khushi understood what made him lose his temper.

"I was so firm that you are not such a girl. I shut his mouth too. When I came home I saw kids having pizza. I didn't expect it could be prepared at home because I heard it's a tough recipe. My mind was not in the condition to think clearly. That's why I lost my mind. I'm not justifying my mistake. I was indeed wrong. That's why I'm sorry... I'm really sorry"

They reached the office. Khushi got out of the car and walked. Arnav parked the car and went to his cabin.

Aman came to his cabin.

"Good morning ASR"

"Good morning... Is the crew ready?"

"Yup... He kept the file in from my Arnav'

Arnav frowned.

"Did you change the crew?"

Aman nodded yes.

"But why?"

"Because two men from the old list are not in our office now"

"Means?"

"They resigned"

"Whaaat? Why? To date, no one resigned from AR. That too, two of them... What's the reason?"

"Leave it ASR..."

Arnav frowned.

"What do you mean leave it? Why did they resign?"

"They didn't resign but were fired"

"What? Who fired them?"

"Mrs. Boss"

Arnav was stuck.

"Khushi...! But why?"

"Leave it..."

"Aman, I know Khushi would have reason to fire them. But why don't you want me to know the reason?"

"It's because Khushi requested me not to tell you the reason"

Arnav was altered.

"What did they do?"

Aman was silent.

"Tell me damn it"

Aman told him what happened. Arnav was shocked.

"Did she hit them with a slipper?"

"Not only that... You didn't see her anger... She looked like a fireball...! She could not bear a word that pulls your respect down"

Arnav gulped the gland that cocked his throat. When she was fighting to save his reputation, he behaved like a barbarian for no reason. He regretted it like hell.

"She respects you so much," Aman said.

"She loves me more"

"Love is nothing but a sign of respect"

"Yeah... Her respect for me turned into love," Arnav said, not giving up.

Aman smiled to see him controlling his excitement.

"Mr Laxman will come today to sign the final settlement," Aman said.

"Mmm. Make sure he didn't approach Khushi"

"Why ASR? Anything particular?"

"He talks too much"

"Yeah he does"

In the meanwhile,

Khushi arranged the files and stood up to submit them to Aman. She headed to his cabin to give the files to him. She stopped moving to see Mr. Laxman entering AR. She remembered what Arnav told her about him. Because of this old man, Arnav shouted at her. She gritted her teeth. Why people didn't just concentrate on their business? She walked as if she didn't see him.

"Hi, Mrs. Raizada..." He called.

Khushi stopped and grinned at him.

"Finally, you gained the title..." He taunted.

"Not finally... I gained first place"

"However, ASR is a widower"

"Did you attend his first marriage?"

Laxman got stuck. He didn't know what to answer because he didn't attend Arnav's wedding. Of course, no one would have been because his first marriage never happened.

"Tell me, Mr. Laxman, did you attend his wedding?"

"I think I was in Singapore at that time"

"Did you get his wedding invitation?"

Again he got stuck.

"You would not have received it... Then, why are you bothered about something that's out of your reach?"

Laxman was silent.

"I'm Mrs Raizada. I'm a living part of Arnavji. So just mind about me, sir. Poor you should not stress yourself for anything. You are already fifty. Your young wife will be left alone if anything happens to you"

"ASR also have a huge age difference from you"

"But his wife is ME. I know how to make my husband strong from in and out. Stop bothering about us... Arnavji is an expert in keeping everything under his control... Everything means everything...!" She said and turned to leave, but stopped to see Arnav standing with Aman listening to her.

She silently retired to her cabin. Laxman became embarrassed to see Arnav.

"When you spoke to me yesterday, I thought you were concerned about me, but now, why do I feel something is wrong with you, Mr. Laxman?"

"Nothing is like that ASR..."

"Why are you here?"

"To finalize the deal"

"I'm not interested in dealing with you any more... You can go"

"But ASR..."

"That's final"

Arnav walked to Khushi's cabin. He entered her cabin, pushing the door wide. Khushi raised her head and looked at him.

"In the kids' eyes, you made me the best father in the world. And now, you shut Laxman's mouth taking my side. Thank you so much... not just because you lifted me... For coming into my life"

Arnav walked out. Khushi gazed at him silently.

To be continued...