He Loves Me Not - Part 15

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Chapter 15

Arnav becomes restless as he sees Khushi walking with his Mother. He knows his mother’s attitude and temper. And he doesn’t Khushi to face any of those.

“Dad” he stops his father. “I would have arranged another dresser for Mom, you should have told me”
Ayush smiles.
“What is wrong with Khushi doing it?”
“Khushi is not even AR employee in proper terms. We cannot take such favors from her”

Ayush pats Arnav’s back.


“I agree to that. I had requested Shashi to send his sister Madhumati if possible but as she was ill and there was no other dresser available to reach on time, I decided to allow Khushi do it. And as far as I know, Khushi will not mind doing it either. Chill”

Arnav decides not to argue. He knows it is going to be hard for her to ignore those memories they had made in the past. How will she cope up?

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

Revati’s Bedroom

“What are you waiting for? Come here and start your job” Revati shouts at Khushi who is standing in her room, little away from the woman. She didn’t want to interrupt Revati so far who was busy fetching in her closet, for a decent Saree to wear.
Khushi comes forward and picks the Saree which Revati selects for herself. It’s pure silk. The woman has a taste for good selection. Without any further delay, she starts draping the Saree on Revati who observes her very closely.

“You used to come with your father here, didn’t you?”

Khushi nods with a weak smile.

“And you are the one who broke my China glass crockery once, if I remember”

Khushi swallows hard. Yes, she remembers that day too. It was one such visit of hers in Shantivan and she was looking for Arnav to get a glimpse of him. Some maid told her that he was in the kitchen, making coffee for himself. He liked to do things on his own, especially when he had enough free time. When she entered the kitchen and found him engrossed at the coffee machine, she couldn’t resist striding towards him silently and stumbled with the little table inside, which had the imported China glass crockery placed above it. She was so afraid when that happened that she had ran into Arnav’s arms and hugged him in fear. He had consoled her that no one would harm her because she didn’t do it intentionally. Fortunately, Revati Raizada was not at home that day and Arnav handled the matter. But later she might have got to know who did it and hence got the perfect opportunity today to shout at her.

Revati clicks her fingers for Khushi to come out of her stance.

“The Puja is today, can you work your hands fast?” Revati complains.
“Yes Ma’am” Khushi continues to drape the Saree to her.

It takes hardly 10 minutes for Khushi to perfectly drape the Saree on the woman. When Revati looks at herself in the mirror, she appreciates Khushi.
“Nice”
Khushi smiles. It is not easy to get more charming words from this woman. She is very much to the point with people she doesn’t want to mingle with.
“Now assist me with the jewelry too”  Revati insists.
Khushi had no such plans earlier but she doesn’t deny the woman. She agrees. Revati sits on the small chair before the dressing table and tells Khushi which ones she intends to wear. Khushi helps her wear the necklace.
“Oh” Revati suddenly remembers that she has to make a call to her friend and check if they have left for Shantivan. “My phone is in Arnav’s room. Do one thing. Go and get the phone. It’s the third room from the left, same floor”

Khushi freezes. Arnav’s room? She cannot go there. She doesn’t want to feel more hurt.

“Me?” Khushi asks again.
“Yes, who else?” Revati shots back. “Go” She continues to wear the earrings herself and Khushi frowns. This woman has so many servants, can’t she ask them to do? Wish she was little considerate about it but alas.. She is Revati Raizada. She hardly listens or understands others feelings.

Khushi heads out and straight to Arnav’s bedroom. Though she knows he may not be there but in the living room with his father, she still feels immense pain to enter that place. When she wanted to be a part of all this, fate never showered support and today when she is doing exactly what Arnav has asked her to do, she is been given tremendous opportunities again to try her luck. But she wont!! She is here for a job and she will finish it soon and rush home where she actually belongs.

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

Khushi steps in the room. It gets those memories back in her broken heart which was once full of hopes and desires for Arnav Singh Raizada. Nothing has really changed here. It’s the same.. The Poolside… that’s where it had begun on Arnav’s 22nd birthday night and everything had changed ever since for her. How does he manage to stay in this room? Don’t those beautiful memories haunt him? Or maybe like he keeps telling her frequently, those memories never meant anything to him. He was drunk and she was too young to even express what she felt about that moment. Tears prick the back of her eyes but she tries not to let them weaken her. She came here to help his mother dress up and she will do that without letting her heart fall weak. She picks the Mobile phone of Revati Raizada which she was here to fetch and bring back and turns around, only to find him leaning against the door, watching her with eyes mixed with unknown feelings she doesn’t want to analyze. A drop of tear rolls down her left cheek, bringing back the memories of that night live before his eyes. It had definitely meant something to him… something magical.. only if he could say that openly to her and accept that he wants her just like she wants him.

Khushi feels her feet tremble. The man whom she loves unconditionally has put this ridiculous request at her to go out of his life. He didn’t even consider once to understand her feelings. He is not someone who would give priority to wealth and status. He wants a simple woman in his life who can understand him, love him but he is burdened under the debts of the couple who adopted him and can do anything to ensure they are never hurt, even if it means he suppresses his own dreams and feelings. He is bound by duty and she is bound by love. Both cannot leave their stand. How was this supposed to work then? They were bound to separate and that’s what they are facing currently.

Pretending to be strong and unaffected, Khushi lowers her eyes and walks towards the door where he is leaning. He doesn’t move an inch.
“You are blocking my way” she mutters without meeting his eyes.
Arnav crosses his arms on chest.
“What are you doing in this room?” he asks. He had seen Khushi coming out of his mother’s room and entering his bedroom. Somehow, he couldn’t resist following her.

Khushi raises her head and looks at him.
“Your mother sent me here. To get her phone. I won’t be surprised if you think it is yet another trick of mine. But before you blame me, ask your mother if you suspect I am lying”
Arnav swallows. Her tone reflects the pain she is feeling inside. He didn’t mean to insult her feelings but he was really surprised to see her in Shantivan again. The frustration of not being able to see her from past 3 -4 days had haunted him and hence that outburst earlier at the door.

“Khushi..” he tries to hold her hand but she shoves him off.
“Don’t!!” she snaps. “You have lost the right to touch me, Arnav”

Arnav clenches his jaw.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he scowls back.
Khushi gives him an amused look. 
“You are asking ME that? You are engaged to someone else, you want me to stay away from you, then why the hell would I let you ruin my feelings hereon? I wanted to lay all the happiness of the world at your feet, but you asked me to get away. Now on what grounds are you questioning me that?” she shouts.

Arnav gauges the anger and meaning behind her words. He stands stiffly, without leaving his gaze from her.

“I have realized that I never had any importance in your life. You have always tolerated me and my actions, you don’t have to do that henceforth” she wipes the corner of her eye. “I am going back to London next month”

Arnav feels like someone just pushed him into a deep valley. She is going back?

“That’s all the favor I can do for you Arnav. All the very best for your new life.”

She pushes him away from the door, unlocks it and rushes out. Arnav is too touched by her words. He bangs his fist on the door behind. He can apprehend what she is going through and even though he wants to ease off her pain, he cannot. His duty and commitment towards Ayush and Revati Raizada have binded him. He cannot break that off and free himself.

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

After an hour, when Revati Raizada comes down with Khushi, Ayush praises her beauty. She takes the compliment from him and gives the entire credit to the Saree which she had got designed from the best designer of this country.

“Khushi.. you have draped the Saree really well. Thank you so much for coming here at such a short notice” Ayush says smiling at her.
“It’s okay Sir” she replies accepting his praise. However hard she tries to ignore him now, her eyes still wander waiting for one glimpse of the man she still loves. But he is not around. Hope he takes her news about going back to London seriously. If there is even a slightest of hope that it will change his mind and he realizes his feelings for her, she would like to take that step too. She is now a passive player in this game. She is not going to make him realize that she is still chasing him.

 “Ayush.. You should pay her a good tip”

Revati’s comment gets Khushi out of her stance. She is unhappy to hear that.
Ayush frowns at his wife whereas Khushi is utterly shocked.
“I didn’t come here for the Tip Ma’am. It’s more of a help, not a paid service”

Revati clenches her jaw.
“You seem to be very outspoken girl. Where is this confidence coming from? Your London education? Don’t forget that is all a…” Revati is about to complete the statement but Ayush intervenes.
“Oh come on Revati.. Don’t dig old graves. The Priest has called us. Let’s go and sit for the Puja. And Khushi, you won’t be going now. Wait till the Puja is over”

Khushi tries to deny but Ayush doesn’t let her speak.

“It’s my order. Please” he insists.
Khushi fakes a smile and agrees to stay back till the Puja is over. But she doesn’t understand what Revati Raizada was trying to prove to her? And why Ayush Raizada was trying to hide it? Is there something she doesn’t know about her sponsorship?

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

Khushi sits little away from the Raizada couple, on the mat where the Puja is being performed. She herself is surprised how can a woman like Revati Raizada entertain such a holy ritual in her house? She is not devotional neither she has time for all such traditions. There has to be a reason behind it. She hopes this Puja brings prosperity for the family.

“Arnav.. come here” Ayush calls Arnav who was not here so far. He looks extremely uncomfortable in his own house and Khushi knows why. Her presence is the reason for his discomfort.

Arnav comes and sits in the front, next to his parents. Khushi feels her heart beating faster. The puja continues. Arnav unknowingly turns around to get a glimpse of her. That’s exactly when Aman Mathur marks his attendance.

“I am late” Aman mutters walking to the mat.
“As usual” Arnav replies with a smirk.

Aman notices Khushi and is totally surprised. He waves at her and she cannot ignore it. She holds no grudge against Aman.

“What is she doing here?” Aman leans to whisper at Arnav.
“Dad called her to help Mom dress up”
“Oh.. That’s… complex. Anyways… you carry on.. I will go sit with her and give Khushi some company”

Before Arnav could even acknowledge, Aman is off to Khushi. They sit together and even begin chatting. Arnav is curious when did they happen to be in talking terms?

When the Puja is over, Ayush asks Arnav to give Prasad to everyone. He doesn’t deny. He takes the plate and starts serving it to everyone. Khushi and Aman are the last one to reach. Aman grabs the Laddoo and before Arnav could offer to Khushi, he gives it to her and picks another one for himself. Arnav is confused why Aman did that. Khushi is equally amused but she doesn’t mind.

“Excuse me” Khushi doesn’t wait to have any conversation with Arnav. He angrily passes the plate to the maid and turns back to Aman.
“You okay Arnav?” Aman mocks. “You don’t seem to be normal”
Arnav rolls his eyes.
“Why aren’t you acting normal? What was the need to sit with Khushi and give her company? Why did you serve her the prasad when I was doing the same?”
“Oh… that” Aman laughs. “I was helping you my friend. Didn’t want you to get too attached to her. After all she is going back to London next month”

Arnav swallows hard. Aman knows it too? When? Did she share it with Aman now or before that? He turns around to see Khushi who is taking permission from Ayush so that she can leave. Seems like his father has given her a green signal. She is about to leave when suddenly she notices the breeze from the window diminishing the flame lighted before the Goddess Idol placed for the Puja. No one is even bothered to take care of that and Khushi simply cannot resist herself from saving the flame from extinguishing. She runs to the idol and using her palms tries to block the breeze. Arnav Singh Raizada reaches there the same moment and repeats the action.

To be Continued.


NEXT PART


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