He Loves Me Not - Part 12

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Chapter 12

AR Office 

“It’s a beautiful weather today, don’t you think?” Aman Mathur is back to AR today and bugging his bestie Arnav who is trying to work.
“Every day is beautiful Aman. What’s so special about today?” Arnav snaps, his gaze on the laptop screen as he types some email to a Client.

Aman pulls a chair and sits opposite to Arnav.




“It’s peaceful.. At least to me because Sheetal is off to Maldives” he mocks.
Arnav gives a quick glance to Aman.
“You knew she was planning for Maldives?” Arnav asks.
“No. She wont tell me anything which she doesn’t want you to know beforehand” “Yea.. ofcourse” Arnav spats and continues working.
“So? How did your dinner with Khushi go?” Aman asks. “Any luck?”

Arnav stops typing and leans back on his chair.

“I conveyed her what I intended to, but she is still adamant on not following that”

Aman smiles.
“I have started liking her actually” Aman replies.
Arnav narrows his brows.
“Excuse me?”
“Yes.. I like her attitude. She is very confident of what she wants. You know what I think Arnav?” Aman gets up from his chair and sits on Arnav’s desk, closer than before, picking the paper weight in his hand and playing with it. “She wouldn’t be so assured unless you gave her some sort of signal in your past”

Arnav freezes. Aman realizes he has just touched the right nerve of Arnav Singh Raizada.

“I didn’t give her any signals” Arnav looks elsewhere.
“That’s what you think Arnav. But women don’t think like us. They can see right through us and that’s what Khushi has noticed”

Arnav gets up.

“Why is everyone advising me about women today? First mom and now you?” he shouts.

Aman rolls his eyes.

“That’s because you are dumb in this subject. You are unclear about your own feelings. You have feelings for a woman and you are marrying someone else. That’s going to lead you nowhere Arnav. You got to select one and you better make that choice fast before you mess the lives of 3 and the people related to them.”

Aman gets up from Arnav’s desk.

“See you today evening in the reception” Aman reminds.
Arnav nods. Their friend married last week in Venice and is throwing a reception today.
“I will see you directly there”

Aman nods and leaves the cabin. Arnav takes a sigh of relief. Whenever someone asks him to show some clarity about his feelings for Khushi Gupta, he always feels suffocated, especially because the memories of their past start haunting him, pricking every sensitive nerve of his body. He thought after she left to London earlier, he would live in peace and do justice to both her and his family by dissolving those feelings for good. But since she has returned back, that restlessness has risen again. He has to do something about it soon.

********************

Wedding Reception – Evening 

“Congratulations Niraj” Arnav shakes hands with his friend and then hands over the bouquet.
“ASR… Meet my wife… Niyati” Niraj introduces.
Arnav wishes her too.
“Sorry Arnav… couldn’t attend your engagement. Aman and your friendship turned stronger than before now” Niraj compliments.
“And it will always stay like that, doesn’t matter what” Aman interrupts patting Arnav’s back.
“Of course. Where is Sheetal? She didn’t come?” Niraj asks.
“No.. She is in Maldives with her friends”
“Oh I see.. By the way Aman, when are you giving us the good news of marriage?”
“Not so soon” Aman sighs. “I am better single”
“For now.. yes” Arnav teases. “But not for long Aman. We want to see who that lucky girl will be”
Aman likes to hear that.
“How about I find one in this party?”

Arnav gestures him to do so.
“Khushi…” Niyati suddenly screams in joy, drawing the attention of the three men towards her.

Khushi Gupta takes a quick stride towards them, ignoring the known faces around and hugs her friend Niyati.

“Not fair Niyati.. you married before me” she fakes an angry tone.
“Ahh!! God knows when you would propose your so called man.. Who would wait for so long? So, I decided to kick off my marriage before yours”

Khushi giggles cleverly avoiding Arnav’s stunned gaze at her.

“By the way, meet Niraj.” Niyati introduces. “Niraj.. She is my friend Khushi, we studied together in London”
“Oh Yes.. Niyati told me about you a lot. Good to see you” Niraj replies.

“The world is so small” Aman interrupts. “Hi, Khushi”
Khushi then looks at the two friends.
“Hello Aman… Hi Arnav” she takes his name very carefully.
“You know them?” Niyati asks.
“Yes.. Arnav is my father’s Boss and mine too now for a temporary period and met Aman in Arnav’s engagement”
“Oh .. that’s cool. The world is indeed very small” Niraj agrees.

Arnav is confused. If this is a coincidence that his friend’s wife knows Khushi and even studied with her in London, it is not very good for him.

“You know Niraj… Khushi loves someone very deeply from her childhood but that guy has yet to confess the same to her.” Niyati explains.
Aman coughs whereas Arnav is too busy staring at Khushi for broadcasting her feelings so openly to almost everyone.

“Lucky guy.. I am sure he will confess it soon Khushi.. And then we all will attend your wedding too together.. what do you say Arnav?” Niraj asks

Arnav is speechless. He fakes a smile. He has to get out from here before it gets more awkward.

“I will get a drink. Excuse me” Arnav leaves.
Niraj and Niyati start attending the other guests too and Khushi is left alone with Aman Mathur.
“Strange” Aman sighs “You knew Arnav was coming here?”
“You think I followed him here on purpose?”
“You can” he admits coolly.
Khushi laughs.
“I know Niyati from long. And I had no clue Niraj is Arnav’s friend”

Aman smiles.

“Just curious but.. do you have a sister or a friend who is so much committed in loving someone?” he asks.
Khushi laughs again.
“If I had such a friend or sister, I would never recommend her to you.”
“ooopppss.. that hurts” Aman rubs his heart. “May I ask why?”
“Because you are Arnav Singh Raizada’s best friend.. And I know how good he is at breaking hearts. So!!” she winks at him and walks away.

Aman chuckles. The girl is smart and extremely fun loving. She is lively… humble and energetic… She has the potential to bring a smile on Arnav’s face and ensure it stays on his lips forever. But is it too late? His sister Sheetal is already engaged to Arnav and if this alliance happens to break in future, it wouldn’t go well with the two families. But he doesn’t bother of all that, he has always been a well wisher of Arnav and he will support his decision, even if it means he has to go against his own sister and father.

********************

An Hour later

Khushi meets another friend in the party and sits exactly at the adjacent table to Arnav and Aman’s, to chit chat with her.

“Just look at them Preeti.. They are so much made for each other types. Just like two hearts.. one soul” Khushi utters looking at the newly married couple.

She knows Arnav and Aman can easily hear them. Aman enjoys the ice cream while Arnav is busy drinking.
“You are right Khushi. It’s hard to find such a perfect couple” Preeti replies.

“Girly talks” Aman murmurs at Arnav who rolls his eyes and tries not to concentrate on them.
“Khushi… What happened to your man? Is he still in the denial mode?”
Khushi pouts, glancing towards Arnav once and then back to Preeti.
“It’s not far that he will accept his feelings for me.”
“Oh Wow” Preeti claps. “But how can you be so confident about it?”
Khushi goes back in the flashback of Arnav saving her from the truck the other night.

“I have read it in his eyes..” she mutters.

Arnav grips his glass.

“I have felt it when he touched me..” she continues.
Aman coughs again. When did all this happen? He is missing lot of information it seems.
“He thinks I am thorn in his path, I want to make him realize I am the only happiness he is seeking for from years”

Arnav gulps the entire drink in one shot and gets up.

“Where are you going?” Aman asks but he doesn’t reply. He heads straight to Khushi’s table.
“Dance with me” he says to Khushi in an authoritative tone, extending his arm towards her. She is confused how can he ask her for a dance but dismissing him is not what she can ever do. Preeti is speechless and gestures Khushi not to lose this chance of dancing with one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. Aman leans back on his chair. What the hell is Arnav doing? Is it just the alcohol or does Arnav have an agenda?
Khushi places her hand in Arnav’s who drags her to the dance floor.
Everyone is dancing rhythmically in the dim light, where it is difficult to even recognize each other. Arnav slides his arm around her waist and draws her closer. They are dancing but its unlike what others are doing here. It is more rough.. intense and not what she had ever expected with him so soon.

Her fingertips gripped his shoulder as he twirled her roughly pulling her back on his chest.

“Arnav.” She gasps for air.. “What are you doing?” she demands a reply from him.
Arnav shrugs off her question like he is not bothered. She stares at his face which is so radiant yet lacks any feelings on it. The moment she tries to touch his cheek in an attempt to read what he is going through, he twirls her again and she lands back on his chest, this time he pulls her by her nape and their eyes finally meet.

“Stop it Arnav” she gulps the tears pricking her eyes ever since he is treating her like this.
“Why?” he growls. “Is this not what you want? You don’t feel that passion in my touch anymore?”
Khushi swallows her tears. Arnav grips her waist and brings their lips closer.
“Can’t you read my feelings in eyes anymore?” he asks.
“Arnav.. please” she struggles to set free but he continues making them dance. “Stop it” she adds.
“You stop it Khushi Gupta” he snaps. “Stop propagating your one-sided love to people. Stop living in false dreams that I will ever turn up to you. Stop lying to yourself that I am going to fall in love with you. That is never going to happen.. I will Love you NOT!! You heard that?”

He grips her forearms tight.

“I am done with this nonsense you have been spreading around me. I know I showed you dreams that night.. of being together some day but that’s false. I was drunk and you meant nothing to me.. neither then… nor now.. !! I have tolerated you for the Software but don’t think I will endure you more. You are getting your paycheck this week and after that I want you gone. If you don’t happen to abide, then I might have to act more seriously than ever and trust me you wont like it at all”

He leaves his grip and pushes her away. Khushi’s eyes are full of tears which have now started to roll down her cheeks. He has never been so cruel to her before. Is he saying the truth? Did he never feel anything for her? She means nothing to him? But she has read it in his eyes, it cannot be a lie. Or has he changed now? All these years when they stayed apart might have changed his feelings for her.

Arnav walks out of the venue alone while Khushi stares at him, standing in the middle of the dance floor, shedding tears.


To Be Continued


Note: Small part.. but busy so couldn't draft more.



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