Chapter 24

“Good morning!” a pleasant voice interrupted his walk as he turned around to see Garima walk up to him...he smiled at her warmly as he observed her in the early morning light; her hair had come astray from a tightly knotted bun, her simple salwar was muddy along with her hands, but her face seemed a lot more lively and glowing since the last time he had seen her...but more than that, she just looked all the more lovely.

“Good morning Garima...good to see you” he said as she stopped in front of him and smiled shyly “Yes, its a beautiful morning...I was just trimming the rose bushes, we expect a good bloom this season” she said pointing towards the rose garden...Shashi was surprised that she took personal interest in the vast gardens as well...but then she had told him of her love for gardening the other day

“That would be wonderful....Ah..Garima...”he said hesitantly as she looked at him with nod “Yes Mr Dinkaran” she said as Shashi burst out laughing “Please don't call me Mr Dinkaran Garima...I'm not that old...at least I hope i'm not....and a young woman like you calling me by my surnames just makes me feel really old!” he said as she too laughed with him

“I'm hardly young Shashi...I have a 28 year old daughter...” she said in a matter of factly way which had Shashi's thoughts on how wonderful his name sounded from her mouth take a u-turn and go back to the daughter part...she was married? But she did not wear any magalsutra or sindoor...and somehow she gave out vibes of not being married.

“Uh...I did not know you were married” he said as his enthusiastic voice from earlier took a slight dip...he looked on to see Garima fidget with her kameez and looked away “He passed away..my husband...actually we were divorced quite some time back and recently he passed away...you know about it” she said as Shashi looked on with relief and a bit of confusion

“Know about it? I don't understand” he said as Garima cleared her throat “You did not know that Arun Mehra was my husband right? I'm sure ma must have told you...if not, it was plastered across all the media...his m..murder that is” she said with a slight tremor as her eyes took on a glassy sheen...had she looked up at that point, she would have seen Shashi stagger back a few steps

She was Garima Gupta Mehra...why hadn't he realised this earlier! He knew Shalini Gupta's daughter's name was Garima...but it never struck him...or maybe he was so blinded by his own muddled feelings around this woman, that he never gave it a rational thought...she was Khushi's mother....in a way...his boss....what the hell was he doing!

“S...sorry...I..I'm still a bit of a mess...” she said as she swiped a finger under her eyes as Shashi stepped back...his earlier welcoming stance, now a bit weary “Shashi..is...is everything all right?” she asked him as he smiled at her “Off course...I...I need to get going...uh...I have an early meeting scheduled” he said as he turned to leave but stopped as Garima looked on with confusion

“Garima...i'm very sorry for your loss” he said as he placed his hand on her shoulder for a second before turning swiftly on his toes and walking towards the guesthouse...leaving Garima in a state of confusion as she watched him disappear around the bend.

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“ASR? Should we proceed for the meeting?” Lavanya asked as Arnav looked up momentarily from his phone....he was contemplating texting Khushi since she had still not reached office...but then thought he should not be crowding here...but he could help worry about what was going on in her mind after last night...would she decide she did not want this anymore?

“Uh..yeah Lavanya...lets go” he said as he got up and wore his suit jacket....he gave a nod to Lavanya who was a little bit confused to see her boss's mood swings....just earlier in the morning when he had arrived he had said a cheery good morning to her..which he had never done before...and then, when she gave him the wrong coffee...he just shrugged and said...'it happens'...another thing he had never done before..

But now...he seemed a bit uneasy.... “Did you check with Mathur why Khushi's not in yet?” he asked her as she followed him towards the smaller conference room...since this was an internal discussion, they were using the smaller more personal and casually designed meeting room “Yes I did...he said she had a doctor's appointment in the morning...so she'll be coming in late” Lavanya said arranging the meeting notes in her folder

“What?” Arnav asked as he stopped abruptly making her nearly crash into him “Why is she at the doctors?” he asked Lavanya who looked on in confusion 'you should know romeo! Did you get her knocked up!' she thought with a giggle but kept a straight face as Arnav glared at her “Uh...I don't know ASR...i mean, it would have been too personal for me to ask that” she said as Arnav sighed and ran a hand through his hair “Fine..just ask aman to let you know once she gets here” he said before walking inside the meeting room

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“....and since, the Gartner report speaks about the dip in the export business for India this year...we think....” the man presenting went on as Arnav's mind refused to register what was being said...he already knew all the statistics he was droning on about and his thoughts were too jumbled to pay any attention to him....Is she ok? Did she go to meet the doctor because of stress...he kept thinking when he picked up his phone again

He saw a message blinking and was relived to see that it was Khushi's...'Hey...sry running late, had some personal work...will be in office in 15' Arnav stared at the message and wondered why she did not tell him about her doctor's appointment...the thought irked him as he texted her back 'Ok, come and meet me when you here' He took a deep breath and counted the minutes for the meeting to get over...he was restless to see her and make sure she was ok.

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“Maam...ASR has been asking about you” Aman said as soon as Khushi came inside her cabin...she took off her suit coat followed by her heels before settling herself down on her chair...she took a few sips of cool lemony water and then looked up to an anxious aman “Good afternoon to you too Aman!” she said as aman looked flustered...he felt like a yoyo between his two bosses.

“Good afternoon maam...uh, like i said...ASR was looking for you..” he said as Khushi looked up with a raised eyebrow “You already told me that Aman...i'll go and meet him..but first, can you please order me a chicken salad? I'm starving” she said as he nodded and quickly left her cabin while Khushi leaned back in her chair.

She knew that Arnav might be wondering where she was, but this was way too personal for her to tell him where she was....she smiled as she recalled the look on his face yesterday at the door as she was leaving...she felt a jolt go through her spine as she remembered their kisses from yesterday....thanks to which she had hardly slept a wink.

She knocked once on his door and entered, only to find his cabin empty....she walked to the bathroom and saw that it was open with no one inside..she wondered if he was out for a meeting...and since it was lunch time, his secretary also wasn't present outside to tell her...she sighed as started dialing Lavanya's number when the cabin door opened and Arnav walked in making her stand still

“Khushi?” Arnav said as the shock of seeing her in his cabin made him take a step back....he was just informed that she had reached office and was planning on going to meet her after dropping his stuff in his cabin, but when he had stepped inside his office, her scent had overridden everything...making him aware in a second that she was inside

“Arnav!” Khushi said with a smile as she walked towards him and gave him a quick hug...making him raise an eyebrow “I expected a little bit more than a hug Khushi...” he said with a smirk as his mood suddenly lifted on seeing her...he felt relieved that she seemed to be ok and her usual sunny self and most of all she definitely did not look like she was having second thoughts

“I told you Mr Raizada that we need to be professionals....so that means, no eyeing...no touching...except for casual hugs and hand shakes...and definitely No kissing...or anything else” she said counting them on her fingers...she suddenly felt arnav pulling her towards him.

His hands were on her waist as he bent his face dangerously close to her ears “And if i say Ms Gupta, that i do not agree to these terms...” he whispered as khushi felt herself melting into him but she quickly cleared her mind before trying to push him away, only to give up when his hands tightened more on her waist “There is no choice...we need to maintain a dist..” she said as he pulled her more close to himself and took her lips in a smoldering kiss, making her shut up

Khushi sighed in satisfaction as she crept her hands into his hair and held him tighter as he deepened the kiss, his teeth nipping her lips to open which she gladly did, only to taste him so very throughly that the kiss left them both panting and wanting for more.... “Arnav....we need to....” khushi said between kisses as arnav nodded and stepped back, breathing heavily as they both tried to gulp some air.

“I don't know how I can keep my hands off you Khushi....your terms suck!” he said as she giggled and laced her arm through his...she pulled him towards the couch and pushed him down on it before herself sitting next to him, her legs crossed over the other as she leaned towards him “These aren't terms Arnav...but we agreed to take this slow right?” she said as arnav shook his head

“Nope, you agreed to take this slow...if it was up to me, we'd both be on page three today morning!” he said as she smiled at him “This is new for me Arnav...you are a public figure...more than me...and your'e always in the public's eyes....Arnav after what happened with my dad and my family and both of us being in the limelight for this, the last thing i want is people gossiping and making up spicy stories on us...” she said as Arnav looked on in concern

“Arnav, please don't think that i'm not proud of being with you or that I feel awkward dating you openly...no, never! My only concern is that I don't want your family or mine to be put through more mudslinging...you heard what Jha said yesterday...people are talking about..” she started saying when arnav placed a finger on her lips “No Khushi...no one is thinking about you that way...don't listen to that b*****d Jha...he was just trying to rile you up” he said as Khushi leaned her forehead on his shoulder

“And I don't care what is being said...I don't give a damn what Monica or Sheetal are spewing....the truth will be out soon..we just need to be patient...but i understand your concern...your mother and nani too have been through a lot, I'll be glad to wait Khushi...but please don't ask me to keep myself away from you...its virtually impossible” he said as she reached up and kissed him on his cheek

“Thanks for understanding Arnav....I promise that once all this madness is gone, you won't be able to stop me from shouting this out to the world!” she said as Arnav pulled her closer to himself once again and kissed her soundly “Umm....I'll wait for that day” he said a huskily as khushi gave him a shy smile, her flushed face glowing

“Oh by the way, where were you this morning?” he asked her casually as she quickly looked down “Oh...juts at the doctor's...had gone for a routine check-up” she said as he nodded “Ok...Nothing to worry about right?” he asked her as she smiled shaking her head...truth is, she had gone for a casual check-up, but there were certain other things she had discussed as well...but there was no need to tell that to Arnav...at least not right now.

“Anyways, the detective is coming to my house today....he's supposed to take mamma's statement and all...thanks to you, we could delay this so much...now i feel mamma is well prepared and in a better frame of mind...plus i'll be there along with her” she said as arnav squeezed her hand “Do you want me to come?” he asked her when she hesitated before shaking her head “No...i'll be fine...plus nani will also be there” she said as she got up

“I gotta go now Arnav....I don't want Aman to come wandering here! Will you be in office later? I have a few meetings lined up after lunch” she said as he shook his head “No...i'm going for the show rehearsal after lunch, need to check on everything before the final show day after tomorrow” he said as khushi nodded “Ok then..i'll see you tomorrow” she said as she ruffled his hair and left his cabin, making him smile tenderly at her as he saw her leave.

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“Mamma...are you still worried about the detective?” Khushi asked her mother in the evening as they sat sipping tea; the detective was due any minute and the anxiety in the Gupta household was climbing up every second with both Khushi and Shalini worried for Garima who seemed to have become paler as the day progressed.

“No Khushi....i'm fine....just have a slight headache” Garima said pressing her fingers against her temple as the door bell rang...Khushi got up to see who it was when her aunt's voice came through the living room “Rimmy...where are you?” Tripti said as she came across Khushi

“Maasi! You here?” Khushi asked as Tripti came and hugged her “Yes beta, ma told me about the detective coming in today...i felt it would be good if all of us were there by Garima's side...your uncle also wanted to come but was called off due to an emergency at the last minute” she said as Khushi smiled gratefully and led her to the sitting room

A few minutes later, Detective Naik showed up...he was not happy with the fact that Kushi's naani and maasi were present for the interrogation and made his displeasure known “I know you people have reach in higher places, but I cannot allow two people, totally irrelevant with this interrogation to sit through this” he said as Khushi held her hand up

“I don't see how my aunt and grandmother's presence will affect this 'interrogation' as you call it...and I don't think its against the law since we are in my house, not the police station” she said as the detective gave her a snide smile

“Oh we would have been at the police station had your Mr Raizada not interfered....Law cannot be bent for the privileged few you know” he said with a sneer as Khushi glared at him...but before she could say anything, another voice spoke up

“I agree...and right now what you are doing is very much beyond anything 'Lawful'....you know for a fact that Garimaji's name was taken by a woman who had all the reasons to kill Mr Arun Mehra....and yet instead of keeping an eye on her and interrogating her further on this, you waste your time trying to intimidate a woman who has always supported Arun Mehra and who would have not gained anything instead of more heartache from his death....is this not bending the law?...How much are you getting paid I wonder” Arnav said in an irate tone as the detective stood up flustered

“Mr Raizada...I did not know you were coming too...” he said as everyone in the room looked equally surprised “I was in the area and thought i'll come and see if everything was ok” he said looking at Garima who smiled at him gratefully “but looks like instead of asking the relevant questions, you are arguing about who should and should not be present here” he said looking squarely at the detective who looked away and cleared his throat

“I am only doing my duty...now if you all don't mind, i'd like to continue with the interrogation” he said as Arnav nodded as he stood leaning by one of the pillars...his eyes caught Khushi's questioning ones as he gave her a small smile and asked her to concentrate on what the detective was talking about

The interrogation surprisingly went on for only 20 minutes as opposed to 2 hours the detective had informed them of, Khushi suspected it was because of Arnav's presence that the detective only asked specific questions instead of probing where there was no need...once he took down Garima's statement and after a few more questions pertaining to Garima's personal life away from Arun Mehra, he seemed to be satisfied; he thanked the ladies and stood up to leave.

But just as he was leaving, he turned one last time towards Garima and regarded her with wary eyes “Just one more thing i'd like to know from you Maam, was there any other woman in Mr Mehra's life other than Monica, Sheetal and You? Anyone you knew he had a deeper relationship with instead of...you know...” he said as Tripti stood up at once

“How can you ask her such a question? Don't you see how disturbed she already is? I think you have asked her enough questions for now....even if Arun had other women he was as you say 'deeply' involved with, we don't know any of it...” she said, her eyes blazing fire as she kept a supportive hand on her sister's shoulder....the detective looked at the rest of them one more time before nodding as he left

“Tripti beta, what was that? He asked a routine question...you do know that Monica has alleged that Arun used to get calls from a woman right? That's how Garima has gotten caught up in all this...then what was wrong in Garima answering that question? What if she had an inkling about some other woman?...it would have taken the suspicion away from her” Shalini said eyeing Garima who shook her head.

“No ma, I don't know of any other woman...and please don't shout at Tripti, she was only trying to protect me...” she said as Khushi came and sat down next to her “Mamma...are you sure your'e ok? Maybe you should rest for some time” Khushi said as Tripti sighed “Come Rimmy...i'll take you to your room...rest till dinner ok...” she said as she helped Garima up, she turned towards her mother once before looking away and taking Garima with her.

“Nani...maasi was only looking out for mamma...I know she overreacted...but you can't blame her for it” Khushi said as Shalini nodded and pursed her lips...she then turned towards Arnav and smiled “Thanks for coming beta, I know the detective was within his limits since you were here...he would have probably not been so accommodating otherwise” she said as she patted Arnav's cheek “Khushi please make sure Arnav stays back for dinner...and No I will not take a no for an answer” she said as Arnav started protesting. She gave a stern look at Khushi before leaving the two alone in the sitting room.

“Arnav...what are you doing here?” Khushi asked him as soon as nani left...she watched as Arnav stepped towards her and took her hand “I wanted to come Khushi...I know you needed me here...” he said as Khushi shook her head “How...what are you talking about?” she said as Arnav smiled “Don't deny Khushi...when i asked you in the morning you seemed uncertain....i knew you wanted to ask me to come...so i came..” he said as Khushi looked on, a slight smile curving her lips

“Ok fine...i did....but I did not want to bother you..” she said as he pulled her hand till she bumped into his hard chest “Never think that anything you ask will ever be a bother ok....” he said as she kept her palms on his chest...his heartbeat erratic against them “Ok...i won't....” she said as she laid her head over his chest

“Thanks...” she said as he sighed “anytime...now aren't you going to show me your bedroom?” he asked suggestively as she hit him playfully on his arms and giggled as she pulled him along with her.... “I don't think you can visit my bedroom yet...but i have a much better place to show you” she said as he followed her...wondering where she was taking him.