Chapter 19

Khushi rolled her eyes at her phone screen as yet another of her calls to Arnav went unanswered. She texted him once again as her fingers ran expertly over the keypad ‘Need to talk.Urgent’…she pressed the send button and leaned back in her chair and wondered what was going on

She knew that things would be awkward between them post the kissing episode, yes…that is what she would call it…a complete mad reaction to something so potent..But now, she was finding it difficult to understand Arnav’s behavior since yesterday afternoon after he himself had made her feel comfortable about the entire thing.

She smiled as she remembered their conversation in the warehouse and how she had confessed to being stupid about the aftermath and reaction to their sudden intimacy…she was partly relieved that Arnav had not made a huge deal out of it and things had seemed to go back to normal

But she was also partly upset that it had been so easy for him to term the entire thing as something insignificant and to be forgotten about…but isn’t that what she wanted as well? She closed her eyes and felt like pulling at her hair as images from that day kept flashing in her mind…she did not have time for all this!

She went back to her laptop as she glanced at her phone, wondering for the umpteenth time why Arnav was ignoring her…or was he really so busy that he forgot to even say a bye to her yesterday when she was supposed to catch a ride with him…but instead , had vanished before she could even look around for him.

She had not thought so much into it, assuming that he must have had some important work for which he left so hastily…plus she wanted to spend some time with someone else who had come all the way to meet her as soon as he landed in Mumbai…so she had texted Arnav informing him of taking the day off, and had only got a ‘Fine’ as a reply from him later on in the day

When she had finally gotten back home after tons of gol-gappas at Elco and a total Bollywood flick at the cinemas, she had called Arnav to check with him on some work, but he had not picked her calls…even now, since morning she was trying to reach him…only to once again not get any reply from him.

She turned her phone away in annoyance and had just managed to get back to her mails when there was a knock on her door and in walked the very man she was looking forward to meeting today….especially since it was such an important thing they had to discuss

“Moti! Are you actually working? Look at you sitting all pretty and posh behind this huge desk…” he said as Khushi grinned like a child “Shut up Motu! I’m not a geek like you…so obviously I’ll looks posh and pretty!” she said with a huge smile, her earlier morose mood changing as he came and sat on the couch

Khushi got up and went to sit next to him “So?? Did you get em?” she asked him excitedly when he nodded and took out a box from the bag he was carrying….He opened the box as Khushi pounced on the stuff lying inside it “Oh…these are so beautiful! Thanks so much for taking my opinion motu…I’m really very touched” khushi said as her eyes filled up with the gesture

“Don’t be silly! Who else would I have asked sweetheart?” he said as he pulled her in a tight hug, which khushi returned smiling…but it took her a second or so to realize that the person she had been thinking about since the past 48 hours was standing there watching her as she hugged a man on her couch.

“Arnav?” Khushi said as she quickly pulled out of the hug and stood up, only to get an icy stare from him “I’m sorry…guess I’m interrupting…” he said and turned around as Khushi came towards him and laid her hand on his arm “Arnav…please don’t be silly…do come in” she said as arnav closed his eyes for a minute before turning around to meet her confused eyes

He watched as the man on the couch got up and smiled at him….the only thing registering in his mind were the words spoken by the same man…calling Khushi his sweetheart…but why was this affecting him so much! It was anyways becoming impossible for him to act normally with Khushi after the kiss and then when he had seen her hug this man yesterday; his usually logical brain had been whirring in non-stop motion

He knew it was juvenile of him to just walk out of the warehouse yesterday without informing Khushi, but something had snapped inside him and he had not wanted to stay for even a minute. All he knew was that he had to go away from there…and did so, successfully ignoring khushi’s calls and texts…till just a few minutes ago his rational brain had finally made a comeback

He knew he had jumped to conclusions as always, and had thought of the situation in a completely different way, thinking that the guy was probably just a good friend or something…so he had made himself think that it did not make a difference to him and that whatever happens, Khushi and him had to maintain a professional outlook …so he had come to make amends and not think too much into what he saw yesterday

But this…what he saw…what he heard now…it felt like a bloody full circle…back to square one! “Arnav…is everything ok?” Khushi asked him bringing him out of his thoughts as the tall man came sauntering towards him “Hi…we have not been introduced…Khushi told me about you yesterday, but unfortunately I could not meet you since you had already left” he said as Arnav nodded stiffly

“Uh yes…I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce you, this is…” Khushi said as arnav shook his head  “Its fine Khushi…I did not know you had a visitor…I’ll come by later” he said in a stiff voice as his eyes went to the colorful stuff lying on the coffee table…Khushi saw arnav’s eyes dart suddenly to the seating area and she smiled as Arnav looked confused

“Wedding cards…we need to decide on a design today…” she said with an impish smile at the other man which had arnav fuming inside…. He looked on at the foolishly smiling pair and was in two minds…one to shake khushi and ask her what the hell was going on! Why was she selecting wedding cards with this man…and the other part of him wanted to punch this guys perfect pearly whites out..

“Yes, I had to take her opinion…obviously!” the man said as Arnav gave one last look in his direction before stunning Khushi with a freezing look…something she had never expected to ever get from Arnav…but before she could question him for his mood, he turned around and swiftly walked out from her cabin . Leaving the other two occupants bewildered and highly confused.

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Shashi Dinkaran was a happy man…he could easily say that about himself as his driver drove his car around the Gupta mansion and maneuvered around the guesthouse. The car came to a stop as Shashi thanked the driver and instructed him to come by next day at sharp 8am. He walked to the house as a sudden flash of green made him look on his left towards the path leading to the garden

There she was, running around with her hands full of saplings…he gave his bag to the help who was assigned to the guesthouse and divested himself of his coat and tie; but something made him step back outside the door and head towards the garden…following the same path he had seen her take

Garima…since the time he had met her, something about her had made his heart beat faster; he knew it had been a long time since his wife had passed away, and it wasn’t like he had not taken an interest in other women, hell he had even wanted to marry again just for his kids sake…but something had stopped him from such a commitment and since then no woman had come even close to make him feel anything for them…his entire life  had been dedicated to his kids and his work

But something about this woman, had touched a chord in him…and that something was so potent that he never even realized that his feet had taken him to the entrance of the green house which sat isolated around the end of the vast garden…he could see her pottering about with the new saplings as she cleaned and filled up little pots with wet mud and manure

“Are those Geraniums?” he asked her rather loudly, his deep voice resonating in the closed space, making Garima shriek in fear as her vision took in the man standing in front of her “Mr Dinkaran…you gave me a fright” she said with a muddy hand clutching the kurta over her heart as Shashi quickly came towards her and gestured at it

“Oh No!” she said as she took of her gloves and wet a clean tissue to wipe off the mud “No…don’t do that” Shashi said as she looked up, her eyes full of questions and something else…"Huh?” she asked him as he gave her a dazzling smile “If you rub the mud with that rag, it will only go in deeper…you need to soak that in soapy water…the mud will come off on its own” he said as she looked on with wide eyes

“Wha? How do you know that?...I mean, I did not expect…”she stared saying when he smiled deeply…the dimples in his chin digging in giving him a boyish look “ A man to know all this? Well…I was pretty handy around the house...especially when my wife was pregnant…more like a slave, if you ask me…” he said as Garima gave him a small smile “and then after she passed away, I had to be a full time slave for my kids…not that I’m complaining” he said as her smile turned sad

“I’m so sorry…” she said as he held up his hand “Don’t be…I will always cherish my time with her…I tend to remember all the good times we had…as a couple, as a family…it keeps her memory bright and happy in our lives” he said as Garima gave him a warm smile as nodded “Yes, I suppose that is what we are left with” she said as shashi looked at her curiously but did not probe further...he had no idea why he had spoken about his wife to her…but something about her presence had made him feel very comfortable around her

"Anyways…would you like my help with the plants? I’m pretty good with gardening as well” he said as she shook her head “Thanks,I’m nearly done here…but I will keep this little tit-bit in mind and let you know the next time I need any help” she said as he nodded and smiled at her before saying a quick goodbye, leaving her with her plants.

Garima stood in the same position watching him leave’ a part of her wanted to call him back and make an excuse to make him stay back and help her…why she had no idea…it was wrong of her to think of another man in such a way when she was in mourning for her husband’s death…she did not understand what had gotten into her as such thoughts assailed her mind…and what amazed her the most was that she had flirted…something which she had not done ever in her life…she had done today…what was going on with her!

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Arnav paced around his office as Lavanya rattled on about his pending meetings….it had been 15 minutes since he had left Khushi’s cabin, again without any explanation...God only knows what she had thought of him…but it serves her right…how dare she not tell him about her wedding! And that kiss? She had responded to that...had in fact wanted it as much as he did…then what was going on here!

“ASR ? Did you hear what I said?” Lavanya asked him as he glared at her “No Lavanya…I did not hear you! Does it look like I’m listening to you?” he said as Lavanya looked on in amusement at him “Ooook….should I come back in sometime? Cause clearly something is bothering you” she said as arnav have her another glare “Yes…come back in 10 minutes…I…I….just come back later” he said as Lavanya quickly made herself sparse leaving Arnav on his own in his cabin

He was still pacing about when he heard the cabin door open  a minute later “I told you Lavanya…” he said as he spun around to give his PA a earful, when he shut his mouth and a hurt glare replaced his anger as he saw Khushi standing inside his cabin closing the door “What do you want Khushi?” he asked her rudely as she folded her arms and stared him down

“Answers Arnav..I need answers” she said as he chuckled mirthlessly “Really? For what? Did you finally get some time off from your personal errands?” he asked her as she looked at him with blazing eyes “Mr Arnav Singh Raizada…who the hell do you think you are? How can you be so rude to someone? First you ignore my calls since yesterday and now…do you know how embarrassing your behavior was in my cabin few minutes ago?" she asked him as he smirked at her

“Oh really? Sorry if I disappointed your guy…but frankly you can browse through your wedding cards and have your romantic talks outside of this office…I do not tolerate such things in the office…and its goes for everyone…even you!” he said as Khushi’s eyes turned huge with total bewilderment written all over them.

“What? hold on…what the hell are you on about?” she asked him as arnav came and stood in front of her “Really? You are going to act all innocent now are you? How could you Khushi…how could you not tell me that you are getting married? How can you…that day….God!” he said with annoyance as Khushi thinned her lips

“Arnav…when did I introduce Akhil to you as MY fiancé? And do you really think I won’t inform you about my wedding? Are you that daft to think that such a thing will remain unwritten about and secret with the media hounding me down after the Sujoy thing? Seriously! I really don’t understand you at all…one moment you are this amazing guy who supports me and helps me through my tough time and the other minute you are this insensitive jerk who jumps to conclusions without having a second thought!” she said as arnav looked on with a growing sense of unease

“You know what! I’m fed up with this Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde persona’s of yours…you really think so low of me? that I would have kissed you if I was involved with someone else to this extent!...I’ve had it Arnav…Akhil is my cousin, my maasi’s son…he is getting married to his girlfriend…I don’t even know why I’m explaining all this to you…” she said as she spun around from him not wanting him to see her moist eyes when he caught her wrist and pulled her flush against him…before crushing her lips mercilessly under his.