Part 33 I like you

Akash smiled at Payal who brought tea for him.

"Thank you"

Payal sat next to him.

"I want to tell you something Akash ji" she slowly started.

"Tell me, Payal Ji"

"Please, stop adding JI to my name, Akashji..."

"Okay, Payal, tell me" Akash smiled

"What I am going to tell you may shock you to the core but it's true. At first, I didn't want to tell you about it because I know it would hurt you... but I didn't hide it from you intentionally. I did not know how would you react to it"

Aakash understood to which point she was going to come.

"You can tell me anything, Payal"

"What you are thinking about Shyam Ji is not true. He is not what you know. He is not a nice man. He is not loyal to Anjali ji. He is cheating on her..."

Aakash was silently watching her. Even though the matter was not new to him he was glad because Payal didn't want to hide it from him.

"He tried to marry Khushi... " she said hesitatingly looking at his face.

"If you can't believe it you can ask anyone in Laxmi Nagar..." She said.

"I don't want to enquire anyone Payal because I already know about Shyam"

"Whaaaat? Did you know about him?"

"Not only I but also bhai know about him. That was why I said Bhai would not have forced Khushi into the marriage"

"Yes, Khushi said he didn't force her. He married her because he saw her in Shyamji's arms"

"What do you mean?" Akash was shocked.

"Yes, Shyam Ji forcefully hugged Khushi and Arnav ji saw that. That's why he married Khushi"

"Didn't I say? I know something must have happened like that"

"You are right Aakash ji"

"Don't tell anything to anyone about Shyam. Bhai will take care of him"

"Jee..." Payal huffed in relief.

........

Khushi was nervous thinking about Arnav. Of course, she was Khushi... So, she would have been nervous. She was not clear about her own mind whether she was in love with Arnav or not. Even though he married her to save his sister's life what was there to think much about it? They were husband and wife. They ought to love each other.

On the other side, Arnav was thinking about the SECOND CHANCE. He knew why he was given a chance. He begged DM for a second chance to show his love for his wife... To keep her happy... to prove his love...! Then what he was waiting for? Why had not he confused his love yet? Why was he wasting time? He did not know when she would face the phrase of falling from the hill. Before that, he should get a firm place in Khushi's heart. He should make her think her life with him was heaven. He should act fast. Then only Khushi would be with him forever. Or else, he would lose her.

That was when he saw HP bringing some bags to his room.

"Arnav Baba, a man from AR asked me to give it to you"

"Yeah, keep them on the bed"

Keeping them on the bed, Hari Prakash left the room.

Arnav came out searching for Khushi. He saw her sitting in the living room with Nani and Anjali.

"Khushiii..." he called her loudly.

Khushi looked at him turning her face.

"Come to our room," he said and went back to his room, not waiting.

Khushi looked at Nani hesitatingly.

"Go Khushi Bitiya... go and check what he wants"

"Ji nani ji..." Khushi headed to their room.

She saw him sitting on the recliner.

"Check the bags," Arnav said.

"What are they Arnav ji?"

"I brought some clothes for you"

"But why?"

"You didn't have anything to wear last night... that's why... I have no problem if you wear my shirts... but I am not sure you will go out of the room wearing my dress" he said smilingly.

"I brought my clothes from GH..."

"So what? Shouldn't I provide your needs?"

She stood silently.

"We are husband and wife, remember?"

Without saying anything, Khushi walked to the bed and checked the clothes in the bags. She smiled seeing the clothes as they were exactly her kind of dresses... especially with POM POM.

She smiled seeing them.

"Do you like it?" Asked Arnav.

Khushi nodded yes. She was supposed to arrange the dress in the same bags, but stopped hearing Arnav saying,

"Khushi arrange them in the cupboard..."

She looked at him perplexed.

"Why are you looking at me like this? You are not a guest here but going to be with me FOREVER..."

Khushi swallowed down hard. She went to the cupboard to arrange the clothes. She saw Arnav already reserved a space for her. She looked at him surprisingly.

"Khushi, why are you reacting this way? We are husband and wife remember?"

"Why are you telling me that again and again Arnav ji?"

"It's because I want you to remember that again and again..."

"But you married me to save your sister's life... " she said in a low tone hesitatingly.

"I not ONLY married you to save my sister's life..."

She looked at him like, THEN WHY?

"I married you because I wanted to marry you..."

Khushi was dumbfounded. Did he want to marry her? Did Arnav Singh Raizada want to marry her? She blinked her eyes with disbelief.

"On the marriage day, I told you that I wanted to talk to you, do you remember?"

She nodded yes.

"I was supposed to say that I want to marry you..."

Khushi was speechless. Did he really want to tell her that?

"I like you. So, I married you. Do you like me?"

Khushi was fixed. Of course, she liked him...! Especially in their marriage sequence...! She liked the way he married her... the way he argued with others...the way he stood for her...the way he protected her from the blame...! She liked everything..!

"Khushi, what are you thinking?" He started advancing her.

She took a step back. Arnav clutched her hand and pulled her close to him.

"Stop walking away from me Khushi... Start walking with me hand on hand..." he said entwining his fingers with hers.

"We are husband and wife. There is nothing more than that to think. Don't you like me?"

She parked her lips not knowing what to say.

"Whaaat? Don't you like me?"

"I... Like you..."

He smiled.

"Then why are you hesitating?"

"I thought..."

"Don't think a lot... I just cleared my stand. I hope you have no problem accepting me as your husband"

"Do you really accept me as your wife?"

"Do you want me to write it on the stamp paper?"

She nodded no...

"Do you think I will leave you in some days?"

"I don't know... I was not clear about anything. I was blank..."

"You are Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada... My wife... Know your value...! You are the powerful woman of the Raizada clan! You can achieve anything with the tag of Mrs. Raizada"

Khushi did not know what to say. According to her, being Mrs. Raizada was her biggest achievement.

"You accepted me as your wife. It's enough for me Arnav Ji"

"Is it enough?" He asked smilingly.

She nodded yes without thinking. As she didn't expect, Arnav pulled her on his chest and embraced her. Khushi widened her eyes in shock. In a few seconds, composing herself, she circled his waist.

Arnav closed his eyes with the satisfaction of completing his first step to win the second chance.

.......

Shyam was frustrated like hell. Everything he touched failed. At first, Arnav locked him financially by giving HIS credit card. Secondly, Khushi said strictly that she didn't love him. She not only said that but also said she was in love with Arnav.

Arnav was the only hindrance in his life. He wanted to do something immediately to stop Arnav from attacking him more. If he wanted to live happily as per his wish, Arnav should be stopped. Arnav should be removed from his path. To do that, he needed money.

Shyam thought about how to get money. An idea sparkled in his mind. That was the only way for him to get money. Why should he bother when he had a treasure called Anjali? She was the only one who would not doubt him... Definitely not in THIS matter. Even though she doubted him he knew how to manage her.

He waited for a good chance to implement his plan. When she was in the washroom, he stole her diamond necklace from the cupboard and kept it under the mattress.

To be continued...