He Loves Me Not - Part 27

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Chapter 27

Shantivan 

Revati drops the cup of Coffee from her hand as she hears her husband mentioning about Arnav and Sheetal’s breakup.

“What? Arnav broke the engagement?” she asks again to be sure she heard the right.

Ayush holds her hand and draws her away from the broken mug on the floor.
“Sit here” he insists.
“Ayush” she shrugs. “Why would he do that?”
“There was no match Revati” Ayush explains. “We have seen how distant he had become to Sheetal after the engagement. They were good friends but that doesn’t mean they can be a good couple as well”



“Don’t give me excuses Ayush. You have always put his mistakes behind. But not today. I will talk to him and see what went wrong. We cannot sit and watch them part ways”
“Revati” Ayush grips her forearms, stopping her from making any move.
“It’s no use. The damage is done. If you really want to do anything then support him.”

That infuriates her.
“Support him?” she scoffs. “You are talking as if he did something great”
“This is the first time he is doing something for his own self, Revati. And I am going to support him for that, doesn’t matter if you join us or not”

Revati is stunned at her husband’s resolve.

“You are talking as if he has fed your ears against me” she shouts.

Ayush is confused why would she say that?

“Arnav has never spoke a single word against you. We are his parents and he has always been a dutiful son, hasn’t he? Why do you think he will ever speak against you?”

That zips her lips. She doesn’t know what argument Sheetal and Arnav had when they broke ties. If Sheetal had told him anything about Revati’s interest in becoming the President of the Club.

“Nothing” she shrugs completely from Ayush’s hold. “It will take time for me to absorb this breakup”
“Yea, for me too. But we both have to stand with him. I am going to meet Raj now. Arnav wants to apologize to the Mathurs and he has every right to do so.”

Revati weakly nods.
“I would have come along but..”
“No” Ayush denies. “Me and Arnav will handle this. You don’t need to come”
“Thanks” she murmurs and makes her way out.

Ayush knows his wife. She is not very good in terms of apologies. And it is great if she doesn’t join them because that might put Arnav in an uncomfortable zone if Raj Mathur or Sheetal speaks ill to Revati. Arnav can sustain anything but seeing his parents being disregarded.

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

Mathur House 

“Enough is enough Ayush” Raj Mathur shouts at his best friend. “What have you and your son thought about us? I had so much hopes from Arnav and look what has he done? I don’t understand why he backed off now? What wrong has my daughter done to get his denial?”

Arnav realizes Sheetal hasn’t informed her father about his love for Khushi. He thought that would be the first she would broadcast.

“There is nothing wrong in Sheetal, Uncle” Arnav interrupts. “I don’t think she will be happy if she marries me. I don’t see her more than a friend”
“Oh really?” Raj shouts back. “Where were these views when you exchanged rings with her? We had given you enough time to think about this relationship, didn’t we? Why did you conclude she is incompatible to you now? Why not before? The entire country knows you both are engaged. The media is going to mess over too”
“Raj” Ayush intervenes. “The media will take the footage for some time and then it will all be over”
“Over for you, Ayush. What about my daughter? She is heartbroken”

Arnav and Ayush have no reply to that but someone else has.

“Heartbroken women don’t go to salon the next day of her breakup dad” Aman Mathur enters the living room. It’s almost late morning and Arnav had no clue he was home too.

Raj gives his son a sarcastic stare.

“What rubbish are you talking, Aman?” he shouts.
“I am talking a valid point Dad. Sheetal is not broken, she is strong and she knows how to handle her life. I met her before she left for the Salon today. She was upset last night but today I didn’t find her shedding a single tear. I have spoken to her and she is already over this”

Raj becomes quiet. Arnav cannot believe Sheetal left this matter so easily. She was in revengeful mood yesterday.

“I was already sensing their distances Dad and had advised Arnav to take a decision sooner than later. I am glad he showed that strength” Aman exhales.

Arnav smiles weakly at Aman for still standing by him.
“You knew it? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I wanted them to tell you. They are a mature couple Dad, they know what they are doing. And don’t think your daughter is any naïve. If she has taken it up so positively it is only because Arnav told her about his disinterest in Raizada’s property and company shares”

Raj Mathur is shocked. Ayush himself didn’t know Arnav discussed this matter with Sheetal last night.

“What? Is this true, Ayush?” Raj asks him.
“Yes, Arnav has cleared me and Revati on this much earlier and however hard I have tried to convince him on this, he hasn’t changed his will. But does that even matter? I thought Sheetal is genuinely in love with Arnav.”

Raj swallows hard. However hard he tries to fight for his daughter’s side, he knows Sheetal cannot lead her life without luxury. Arnav comes ahead to Raj and holds his hand.

“I would have given Sheetal the entire world if she wanted, I believe in my capabilities to let that happen. But this is not the only reason why I chose to reject her as my life partner. If I had married her and then realized my fault, it would be a terrible disaster. We would both end up unhappy with each other and it would hurt us both for the rest of our lives Uncle.”

Raj nods. He can now sense the consequences of it had Arnav not broke things now but later.

“Whatever it is” Raj exhales harshly. “I don’t think I can forget all this so easily. Best of luck Arnav for whatever you desire to do in the future. That’s all I can say for now”

Arnav puts a smile on his face. The matter didn’t go out of hand as he had feared it would. Ayush sighs in relief and thanks Aman and Raj for understanding and taking it positively.

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

Arnav and Ayush head back to Office. While they are in the car, Ayush decides to talk with Arnav on the next important matter; the sole reason why Arnav broke up his engagement.

“Have you talked to Khushi?” Ayush asks his son who is driving the car.

Arnav recalls the last night when he had been to Khushi’s place but couldn’t get the guts to step in her home and inform her that he broke up with Sheetal. He didn’t want her to think that because he has left Sheetal now, he wants Khushi in his life. That would be a mistake. He has hurt her badly, now its time he woes her.

“No, not yet” he replies, changing the gear.
“Why not?” Ayush snaps. “This is the right time she knows you have taken such a huge step for her”
“No Dad” he keeps rejecting the idea. “I have to ask forgiveness from her as well. Putting forth a proposal directly would be a mistake and injustice on her”

Ayush now apprehends his son’s point.

“You have to do something soon but. Shashi has already put his papers and Khushi is off the company too”
Arnav turns his head to watch Ayush.
“What do you mean she is off the company? Next week is her last. Dad”
“She preponed her last date in office. She finished all her duties, handed over the work and responsibilities to the team she was training and yesterday was her last day at AR. She is not coming from today”

Arnav grips the wheel of the car. Last day? And he wasn’t made aware of it? Why? It is his mistake again that he didn’t keep a tab on Khushi’s professional commitments ever since he got tangled with breaking up first with Sheetal. He missed speaking to Khushi? Doesn’t matter, he will call her the first thing he reaches his cabin.

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

As soon as they reach AR office, the media and cameras surround them.

“ASR.. we heard you broke your engagement with Miss. Mathur. Is that true?” one of the reporters ask.

Arnav feels unprepared to share it yet with the outsiders, especially when his hands and heads are full with other issues. He keeps pushing the crowd and walks inside with Ayush. None of the two address the media. The guards secure them and walk them in the Office.

“How did the media get to know this so early? We have just spoke to Raj an hour ago. Do you think Raj did all of this?” Ayush asks his son who clearly denies.
“Probably Sheetal. She is not going to take it easily even if her father and brother supports us”
“Women” Ayush mutters in frustration. “I will try to talk to Sheetal and make her stop blazing the flames in the media like this”
“No Dad. I will settle this matter. You don’t have to get into it anymore”

Ayush nods and strides in his cabin. Arnav dials Khushi’s number. If the media has already leaked the matter out, Khushi must have got to know it too. Khushi’s number is unreachable. Why? He keeps trying for the next 30 minutes.

“Sir” Pam knocks the cabin door and comes inside with an envelope. “Khushi asked me to give this to you”

She keeps it on the table. Arnav instantly opens it up and finds the cheque.

“When did she give you this?” he angrily asks Pam.
“Uhh.. last evening Sir”
Arnav fists his fingers and bangs on his desk.
“And you are giving me now?”

Pam fears his sudden change in the mood.

“Sir. Uhh.. you… were .. busy that time and I”
“get out”

Pam feels threatened. Arnav Singh Raizada has never lost his cool like that ever on his staff. What’s wrong? She quietly slips out. Arnav keeps the cheque back on the table. She wants to settle the amount he paid for her sponsorship? That’s why whatever money she received from her software, she paid it fully back to them, not even took a penny out of it. He picks his intercom and speaks to Pam again.

“Is Shashi Gupta at office yet?”
“Yes Sir, he is in his cabin”

Arnav drops the phone and heads out.

Shashi is not very surprised to see Arnav barging in his cabin.

“Where is Khushi?” Arnav stands opposite to Shashi’s desk. Shashi stands up.
“You can tell me whatever you wish to speak to her. She is not available to talk to you anymore”
“I asked you a simple question, where is Khushi?” Arnav tries to control his tone but fails. He has never spoken so harsh with his elders before and the least he expected to be so impolite with Khushi’s father. But the situation demands him to be so. Khushi’s number is unreachable and Shashi Gupta is not even ready to share her whereabouts.
“I don’t think you should know where she is and what her future plans are. Her tenure here is over. She isn’t responsible to this office or the people here anymore”

Shashi’s reply infuriates him.

“Let me decide why she is so important to me right now, Mr. Gupta. Please tell me where she is. I need to talk to her”
“You cannot”
“Why?”
“Because she doesn’t want to meet you again. And being her father, I would warn you the same. Free my daughter, please. It’s a request” Shashi literally joins his palms to plead which doesn’t go well with Arnav again. He stops Shashi from continuing to plead like that.
“I love your daughter, Mr. Gupta. I hope this is enough to let you tell me where she is.”

Shashi’s jaw drops. Did he really say that?


To be Continued.

NEXT PART




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