He Loves Me Not - Part 14

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Chapter 14

It’s been 3 days since Arnav has seen Khushi and it has started pricking him now. Earlier was different, he had numerous ways to avoid thinking about her and suppress their memories in his heart but ever since she is back and shown her determination in winning his love, Arnav is unable to ignore her thoughts. He knows this is like cheating with his Fiancée Sheetal but he is helpless.

“May I come in Sir?” Shashi knocks the door of Arnav’s cabin and comes inside.

He has some file which needs Arnav’s signatures. Arnav does that for him and decides to ask about Khushi but in his own twisted way.



“Mr. Gupta, when is your daughter resuming Office? I hope she is keeping well.”
“She has already resumed her work, Sir” Shashi replies with a confusion. “She was on leave just for one day. After that she started coming”

Arnav grips the pen in between his fingers. He should have checked her attendance before asking that silly question to her father. He is glad she is fine and not sick at home. But even after coming to office, she is ensuring to maintain a distance between them and not even seeing him once. Isn’t that good? Like Aman said, she has taken his warning seriously. That’s what he always wanted, didn’t he?

“Sir?” Shashi breaks his chain of thoughts. “Do you want to see her for some work?”
“No.. I… Nothing”

Shashi has never seen his Boss so confused and nervous at the same time over such a silly matter. Why would he bother if Khushi is back to work or not?

“I will ask the finance department to release Khushi’s cheque” Arnav covers up his edginess.
“Yes Sir”

Shashi leave the cabin and Arnav makes a quick call to the finance head to get Khushi’s payment cleared. She will need the money someday. The urge of seeing her once, clouds his mind. He could just walk on her floor without any reason and check on her. This is his office, he doesn’t need excuses, does he? At least he will come to know how she is keeping herself with the rejection?

With that thought he walks out to the elevator. He is about to step in when his phone rings. He stops. It’s Sheetal calling him from Maldives. He freezes. What the hell was he doing? Khushi is not his priority, Sheetal is. He has to be loyal to her. He walks back to his cabin and takes the call.

“hey” he answers.
“Hi Arnav. I am glad you answered”
“Why wouldn’t I?” he lies, sitting back on his chair.
“Because I was angry on you and left you alone there. I am sorry.. But you know me I get very mad when you behave so oddly with me”
“Hmm” he swallows and logins back on his laptop. “How is Maldives?”
“Good. But no place can attract me without you in it”

Arnav has no change of reactions to that statement. Why cannot he show some feelings for Sheetal or any other girl in that matter? Is he unable to think about her because Khushi is around? Will this end once Khushi heads back to London?

“When are you coming back?” he asks, coming out of his thoughts.
“Next week. I hope you will miss me until then”
Arnav stops. He is missing someone badly.. And it’s not Sheetal.
“I am already missing” he utters thinking about Khushi in his mind but Sheetal takes it for herself.
“Aww… I wish to hear that from you frequently” she replies.

Arnav feels guilty for lying her, for showing fake hopes to another woman in his life when he clearly knows she is not whom he wants.

“I am busy, will call you again”
“Okay, workaholic. Bye”

He hangs up and throws his phone aside. He has to sort his mind and try not to think from heart.

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

Shantivan 

“I have never witnessed such a dedication before” Ayush replies startled by his wife’s sudden interest in keeping a Puja at home for the wellbeing of the family.
“AYush..” she mutters with fake annoyance on face.
“Okay… I am sorry” he whispers closing the distance between the two.

Arnav clears his throat. He is just back from work and the first thing he noticed was his parents getting romantic. Revati chuckles seeing Ayush’s blushed face when he realizes Arnav has seen them.

“You deserve this” she pushes Ayush back and walks to Arnav. “Arnav… Good you are early. We have a puja at home. Go change”
“Yes Mom”
Revati walks away to check the other arrangements. Ayush comes to him.

“Since when did Mom start showing interest in all this?” he asks Ayush.
“I am clueless. Predicting a woman is hard”
Arnav gulps. He knows that too. He is unable to predict what Khushi is going through after that conversation between them at Niyati’s marriage. She has been ignoring him. Does that mean she has decided not to chase his love?

“Boy” Ayush pats his arm. “Where are you lost?”
“Nowhere. I will go change”
“Please do”

Arnav heads back to his room whereas Ayush keeps admiring his beautiful wife who is strolling here and there to check on the preparations. A sudden thought crosses his mind.

“Revati” he stops her.
“Ayush.. Move .. I don’t have time”
“I know.. Just one minute” he utters. “Why don’t you wear a traditional saree on this occasion? It will be perfect”

Revati sighs.
“You think I didn’t consider that? Actually? You know I cannot drape a saree by myself. And my dresser is on sick leave.”
“Ask the maids”
“Come on Ayush” she laughs. “A maid cannot dress me. Please”
Ayush sighs.
“Alright. What if I call someone to do this for you? Will you wear then?”
Revati nods.
“But who can come here at such a short time?”
“Leave it on me”

Ayush takes out his phone and dials a number.

“Shashi” he talks over the call. “Send a dresser at home. Revati wants one to drape her a saree”
“Okay Sir. Let me check who is available”
“Make it fast Shashi. The mahurat of the Puja is up”
“Yes Sir”

Shashi calls him back in 10 minutes.

“Sir.. There is no one available right now. They can come in Two hours”
“Two hours will be late Shashi” Ayush sighs. “There has to be someone”
“Uhh.. I am sorry Sir”

Ayush thinks of something.

“Okay.. if I may ask. Can you send your sister Madhumati here? I am sure she knows to drape a Saree”
Shashi smiles.
“Yes she does but Madhumati is sick. She has fever from last night.”
“Ohh” Ayush sighs in dismay. “That’s okay Shashi. I understand. I really wanted to see Revati wearing a Saree. She has kept a Puja at home and that’s new to me. I thought it would be nice if she dresses traditionally.”
“I understand Sir” Shashi exhales. “Uhh.. Khushi knows to drape a saree. Should I Send her?”
Ayush is surprised.
“Khushi knows?” she asks. “How? She stayed in London”
“Yes, but she knows.”
“Great then. Please send her. I am so thankful to you Shashi”
“Please don’t thank me Sir. It’s my duty”
“Okay. I will wait for her”

Shashi hangs up and tells this to Khushi who is initially very excited but in a minute she recalls how Arnav would hate to see her at his home.

“Why me, Dad?”
“Because there is no one else available. Do it for me, baby”

Khushi sighs in disbelief. When she wanted to be close to Arnav, nothing worked in her favor and now when she is trying to do exactly as he told, the divine itself is getting them closer by some means or other. Since this is her father’s responsibility and wants it, she agrees.

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

Arnav comes down dressed in another three-piece suit.

“Arnav.. We don’t have a business meeting. It’s a Puja. Wear something traditional Son” Ayush requests.
“Dad… Please bear with me. I have no traditional attire in my closet. Will buy something for the next time”

Ayush looks disappointed but not on Arnav but on himself.

“You know we could load your Closet anytime. With all variety of clothes, fashion and suits. But you don’t like it, do you?” he asks.

Arnav grips his father’s arm.

“We have discussed this before Dad”
“Yea… And its bulshit for me” Ayush replies. “You are my son. Why cannot a father get all this for you? Why do you have to take the Salary as per your Job role and not behold the company’s shares and my property like any other heir of mine would do?”
Arnav swallows hard.

“I have you and Mom. I don’t need more. You took me out from a dark ditch dad, I want nothing more apart from your blessings”

Ayush pats Arnav’s cheek.
“I am proud of your thoughts Son. But since I Love you so much, I also feel guilty for not being able to Share my wealth with you, which I really want to”
“All this is yours.. and Mom’s. I want nothing of it”

“Ayush...” Revati interrupts. “Where is your dresser?”
“Yea. She is reaching in 10 minutes.”

Arnav’s phone rings. It’s from Aman and official. He excuses from them and walks out to answer.

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

When he finishes the call and is about to return, he sees Khushi climbing the stairs towards the entrance. She is wearing a decent Chudidar and is looking extremely simple and gorgeous. It’s difficult to take his eyes off her. Is she really here? Why?
Khushi notices him and her freezes. It’s been 4 days now that she hasn’t seen him and only she knows that pain. She shrugs those thoughts which can ruin her present agenda and without giving him any sort of explanation for coming here, she tries to walk past him but he blocks her way.

“What are you doing here?” Arnav stops Khushi from climbing the stairs further.  “Or your ideas to ignore me are over and you are here to implement your next trick?”

It hurts so much when he speaks so tauntingly at her. But he is doing this on purpose. He is using her weakness against her to drive her away from his life, to make her hate him so that she moves on. So that she stops loving him further. But that’s never going to happen. Love is unrestorable.

“Please let me go inside” she requests.
“For?”
“I have been called here”
“Lie” he snaps. “no one has anything to do with you here. Just leave” he clasps her forearms.

Khushi glances at his grip and then looks back in his eyes.

“I have left you” she murmurs. “It is you who aren’t letting me go now”

Arnav takes one long minute to apprehend what she said. He notices he has been pulling her so close that it is impossible for her to go anywhere. Why does his action and words don’t match? He cannot fall weak.. Not now. He leaves his grip from her and that too so harshly that she stumbles and is about to fall down the stairs. Arnav notices it instantly and holds her hand, before she can fall. Khushi breathes hard. He saved her yet again.

“Khushi” Ayush comes out the same instance and notices Arnav holding Khushi’s hand.

Arnav pulls her back up.

“Khushi was falling” Arnav replies.

Ayush nods.
“You should walk carefully Khushi”
Khushi plainly nods at him.
“Thanks for coming”
“for what Dad?” Arnav interrupts.
“I have specifically called her to help your mother drape a Saree tonight”

Arnav then understands the reason Khushi is here.

“Come, Revati is waiting for you” Ayush takes Khushi inside the house.

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

“Revati. This is Khushi. Shashi’s daughter” Ayush introduces.
“Hello Mrs. Raizada”
“Hi” Revati looks at her husband again. “Is she a dresser too?”

Khushi tries not to roll her eyes. This woman is egoistic and so full of herself. She only respects the rich.

“No Sweetheart. But she made it here at the last moment because no other dresser was available.”
“Oh” Revati nods. “Are you sure you can do this?”
“Yes Mrs. Raizada. If I wasn’t sure about it, I wouldn’t be here to waste your time”

Ayush is impressed by Khushi’s reply but Revati takes her to be seriously adamant. But she has no choice. She wants to wear a Saree and Khushi is her last hope.

“Fine.. Come”

Khushi smiles back at Ayush and then follows Revati to her room.

To be Continued.


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