He Loves Me Not - Part 45

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Chapter 45



Khushi opens the door at the second bell and faces Arnav Singh Raizada.


“Hey beautiful..” he passes her the bouquet of red roses which he specially bought for her.

She takes them, her hand shivering. She doesn’t know how he will react when he sees his father inside.

“No smile?” he asks. He is still standing out of the door. “Is it because I denied you coming to the Pub with me and Aman”

“Arnav…” she nods in denial. “There is someone home..”

“Your father is back?” he questions scanning the living room from the door. She opens the door fully and he finally sees his father. He freezes. Dad? Here? In London? At Khushi’s home? Why does he look so tired? His lips are dried. Is he been smoking? Is he not well? He is definitely skipping his medicines and his routine Doctor’s appointment too which once he used to remind his father regularly of.
Ayush’s eyes glows with tears coming face to face with his Son after such a long gap. Whilst Arnav is still able to notice them, realization of all the truths he has been hiding from him so long pricks his heart and he masks the unaffected look back at his father. He doesn’t know why he is here, why at Shashi Gupta’s home? Why now? And Khushi? Did she know his father was going to meet her? Was this all planned? Is she trying to mend their broken ties that’s why she called him here? He wants so many answers from her but none of them now. Now, he wishes to leave this place at once.

“You look busy then” he turns back to Khushi.

“Arnav… no” she tries to grab his arm but he shoves it away.

“Don’t” he snaps.

“You don’t” she scowls back. “I didn’t know he was coming. It is a surprise to me just like you.”

Arnav’s anger doesn’t mellow down. The fact that Ayush Singh Raizada is here has evoked a lot of old painful memories again which he wants to forget. Ayush comes out of the house where they are fighting.

“Khushi is not at fault” Ayush clarifies. “I am sorry to have spoiled your time. I should leave”

Arnav turns away. Only he knows how much mental strength he needed to do that. His father is here and he simply couldn’t understand how to react. Ayush gives a weak glance towards Arnav and then strides back to the elevator. When Arnav turns back to Khushi, she gives him a cold stare and walks inside the house. Arnav follows her. She heads to the kitchen and pours some starts making Coffee for them. She is clearly pissed by his behavior and he can read that by her rough actions.

“Talk to me” he urges, putting all his ego behind.

“That’s what I expected you to do when you saw Ayush Uncle here. But instead you chose to blame me for everything” she snaps.

Arnav reaches her and pulls her by her elbow to him.

“I thought you were patching us up. That’s why he was here” he speaks what he truly felt at that moment.

Khushi takes a deep breath and meets his gaze.

“I want that to happen Arnav. But not like this. I wouldn’t hurt you by planning a surprise visit of your dad. I know how much it troubles you. Why would I do that? It happened to be a coincidence that he came here just when you were supposed to. I couldn’t push him away just like that. Not after seeing his health condition.”

Arnav shows the same signs of worry. Yes, he seemed weak and low.

“Why was he here?” he comes to the point.

“For us” she answers. “He wanted to talk to Dad. About us”

Arnav is stunned.

“Oh” he sighs. “He thinks I am not even capable of talking to your father myself?”

“Arnav, stop being so arrogant” she scolds. “He came here for us”

“Why now?”

“No time is late for realization, Arnav. He sees how much we are made for each other and he knows my father better than you. They have been together for a long time. So obviously he would be able to share his views better to my father than you could.”

Arnav’s brow twitches.

“Are you telling me I cannot convince your father on my own?”

She rolls her eyes. Men are going to men. They cannot stand their woman praising even their fathers!!

“He can do it better, that’s what I mean” saying that she wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him tight.

Arnav blends in, keeping his other worries aside. But his father coming here, putting all the important work of AR Group behind, is not a good sign. It might cost him and the company both.

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

Shantivan

“Ayush is gone for a business meet. You know how it is Malti” Revati puts her card on the table. It’s a kitty party with some of her close friends. She wanted to cut her time, spend it by however means because being alone in this big house had started haunting her.

“Oh” Malti sighs. “I thought he has gone to meet Arnav in London”

Revati pauses for a second. She wanted to rule out that option but she couldn’t. Ayush is terribly attached to Arnav and there are chances he could do that.

“Anyways, I always thought Arnav would be in your debts for life. But look at that guy, he didn’t even think once about you both before resigning from the company and leaving to London” her other friend Suma adds.

“Lets not talk about him” Revati continues to focus on her cards. She wants to win this game just like every other time but she is unable to assimilate her thoughts.

“Poor Revati, her dreams of becoming the President of the club will not be fulfilled anytime soon. I heard Sheetal Mathur tried her best to even remove you from the club membership” Malti questions.

Revati throws her cards on the table in frustration.

“Lets do something else this game is getting boring” she mutters.

“It’s not the game Revati. Your life is getting boring. You couldn’t control your adopted son and now even your husband is slipping away from your grip”

All the women start laughing, igniting Revati Raizada’s temper.

“Get out of my house… all of you” she shouts.

The ladies look annoyed at each other.

“I said get out” she shouts again and this time the women take it seriously.

“Good Bye Revati. As it is.. we don’t like to bond with losers”

Revati clenches her jaw and keeps staring at the women as they leave. What the hell is wrong with everyone? Why is everyone pushing her away? There was a time when she craved for attention but she hardly received it because Ayush’s business was not very successful. But when they adopted Arnav, their fate changed. Many told them the boy is lucky for their family and will bring them wealth and prosperity which turned out to be true in the coming years. And now, when he is gone, everything is moving reverse. It’s like Arnav has took their good days away from them, this time forever.

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

“What do you think you are doing here?” Revati shouts at the 8-year-old Arnav who banged her bedroom door in the middle of the night. She was sleeping peacefully until the door knocks shook her.

Arnav was shivering. It had been just two weeks for his legal adoption and Ayush had to go abroad for work. She was already facing a bad time handling the boy alone though he didn’t give her much trouble. He was always quiet and sensible around her. Not even smiled. She kind of liked that because she was not interested in getting attached to him. He was not their child afterall.

“I asked you something” she shouts again.

“I saw a bad dream” he keeps shivering.

She rolls her eyes. Dreams? Yea. Ayush kept telling her that the boy gets nightmares and every single time Ayush has rushed to aid the boy but tonight he isn’t here. What could she do? When she looked back at Arnav to ask him to get back to his room and sleep, his pitiful expressions somehow created a ripple in her heart. The boy was very scared.

“Get inside” she gave him way to move in the room. He walked in but didn’t know what to do? Where to go? Where to sleep?

Revati accesses the situation. She cannot let him sleep on the couch because there are chances, he would fall and hurt himself. KIDS!!

“Get on the bed. You can sleep there” she commands

Arnav hesitates at first but soon joins her on the bed. She covers him with duvet.

“Don’t kick me in sleep alright?” she warns though it is hardly in his control she knows.

He gently nods but that look in his eyes says something else. He probably wants to ask her something.


“What are you thinking?”

“Can I call you Mom?” he softly requests.

Revati gets speechless. Mom!! That one word she wanted to hear from her own children, if she had. But alas, God had no such plans for her.

“Who taught you that?” she snaps.

He gets scared but answers.

“Dad”

She knew that. Ayush is the only one who teaches him so fondly. And her husband had been nagging her to allow Arnav call her Mom. She didn’t take it seriously yet, but now that Arnav himself has asked her that, she couldn’t deny.

“Yes, call me Mom” she answers. “Now just go to sleep”

She shuts her eyes and when she opens it again after few seconds, she finds him smiling happily at her. As if he just got the best gift tonight. That smile!! It never haunted her … until tonight..

Revati woke up with a jerk. She saw the flashbacks of herself and little Arnav in her dream. Why now? Is her conscience pricking?


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

London

“This is ridiculous” Aman voices out. “I got my best friend and his partner out in the pub and instead of rejoicing, blending in, grooving with the music, you guys are sitting like dumbs?”

“What’s so interesting on your mobile phone?” Khushi asks Arnav. “You have been checking it constantly. Any important message to come?”

Arnav shoves but then presses his lips on Khushi’s temple. He doesn’t want to disclose it now. Not until he gets the full details.

“Lets dance” he agrees. “What about you Aman?”

“I am better off the floor. You know what happens when I dance?”

Arnav chuckles and so does Aman. Khushi has no clue about it.

“Whats so funny about Aman’s dancing?”

“He kicks people”

Arnav’s reply makes Khushi laugh too.

“Seriously? If that’s the case you should always dance around your enemies.”

“Stop making fun of me and get lost both of you” he pushes the two to join the dance floor while he himself continues to enjoy the drinks. He cannot take enough of the two; Arnav and Khushi meant for each other and finally they are together. After all this pain and a long guilt trip, his buddy Arnav has finally got some peace but something is still bothering Arnav, keeping him engrossed. What could that be?

“You are glowing” Arnav caresses Khushi’s cheeks while dancing slowly with her.

“Ever since you returned for me” she mumbles. “But why can’t I see that glow on your face too?” she frowns.

“You will.. Once all of this is over”

“What is over?”

“My connection with the Raizadas” he murmurs.

Khushi freezes but she doesn’t let it be a hurdle in their conversation. She wraps her arms around him tight.

“I think you should talk to him once. Being cold to them or running away is not an option. You should hear his side too”

“I don’t want to” he answers adamantly.

“You have to, Arnav. You have heard one side of the truth, learn it completely before taking such big decisions.”

Arnav doesn’t want to agree doing this. She stops dancing and cups his face.

“You gave Ayush Uncle the honor of being a father, don’t snatch it from him now until you hear his complete side. Who knows if it was his selfish side or was he scared of losing you? Or maybe he was protecting you from the horrible truth? It could be anything and only Ayush Uncle would be able to tell you that. At least hear him out. He came here all the way for us. He deserves this much. You deserve this much. Please”

Arnav inhales deep shutting his eyes and then opens them again.

“I am not prepared for this”

“You will be. Just try” she insists.

Probably she is right. He should talk to his father now that he is here.


To be Continued.


NEXT PART

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