He Loves Me Not - Part 55

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Chapter 55


“Are you guys kidding me?” Aman snapped. “So much happened in my absence here. I … I shouldn’t have gone for the meeting”


Aman was disappointed that he wasn’t present when Khushi was invited for Dinner last night with the Raizadas in AK Mansion. When he returned back Ayush and Revati told him how much he was missed and what happened in his absence.

“Son” Ayush patted his back. “You should be glad that you are still on time. We are fixing the marriage date today meeting the Guptas. You should join us”

“That goes without saying Uncle. But where is the Would-be Groom?”

“Work” Revati frowned. “Running two separate Businesses shouldn’t take a toll on his health. I wouldn’t tolerate that”

Ayush wanted the same and had even asked Arnav to share his load but there were situations which only ASR could handle and no one else. AR Group was slowly recovering from the earlier setback as Arnav withdrew his resignation from the Company. The clients and investors continued to support and entrust their money and projects again which had improved the performance of the Company significantly.

“Arnav is a magic boy” Revati proudly said. “He has changed the fate of the Company again”

Aman strode to Arnav’s room to check on him. The business call was done but Arnav seemed all lost in thoughts. So much, that he didn’t even realize Aman was in the room. Aman cleared his throat to get his attention.

“All okay?”

“Yea..” Arnav tried hard to focus.

“Doesn’t seem so. I know work is stressing you. Can I suggest something?”

“Sure”

“Why don’t you merge AR Group and AK? You wouldn’t have to focus on them individually but together. Get Khushi officially on board too. That should ease down some of your work load”

“I am thinking on those lines already. Will talk to Dad and Khushi. See if they want this to happen. But there might be some business implications too. Plus, Khushi is not prepared for the Director role. She still has to learn a lot”

“We all are there to support her” Aman answered.

Arnav smiled. He knew his father and Aman have always given a helping hand to share all his problems.

“But” Aman sat on the couch leisurely. “In all this, where will you find time for love?”

Arnav crouched his brows. Aman was right in some ways. Arnav was already so engrossed in handling the work pressure that he hardly had time to focus on the marriage preps and his life after that.

“I will always have spare time for that” Arnav replied coolly dialing Khushi’s number. Aman shrugged.

“I like your confidence” he mumbled whilst Arnav talked to Khushi over the phone.

“Glad you called” Khushi shouted so loudly that even Aman could hear it. “Buaji wants me to wear a Lehnga. Dad thinks it will be too traditional and wants me to chose a Salwar instead. But Payal wants me to wear a western dress considering your mother’s taste. I am .. so confused. Please tell me you haven’t started for my home yet. I am not ready”

Arnav laughed at her messy state.

“No, we haven’t. But we can’t hold for long here. Dad and Mom are desperate to set the date and start the marriage preps.” He replied. “You said Payal?” he queried.

Khushi was silent for seconds.

“yes… She is here to assist me”

“Dr. Payal? Your therapist?”

“She is my friend too, remember?”

Arnav rolled his eyes.

“Has she changed her mind about me then?” he asked.

“You can say she has given up working on me” Khushi giggled. “Now will you stop judging her and help me what should I wear tonight?”

Arnav shrugged the other thoughts and focused on Khushi’s problem.

“Saree” he replied. “Hope you have one here”

Khushi’s jaw dropped.

“Saree?” she blushed.

“Hmm”

Aman coughed hard and got up from the couch he was resting earlier. He didn’t want to hear further and be jealous of being Single. He gave a thumbs up to Arnav and walked out of the room. It was better the love birds talk privately.


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

Evening


Arnav got down with his family and Aman before Khushi’s apartment.

“She stays here?” Revati asked. “Looks like a decent place”

“Mom” Arnav muttered.

“Don’t take me wrong. I liked the place. That’s why I asked”

Arnav sighed. At times it was so difficult to read what his mother felt like. Revati pressed Arnav’s arm.

“I wasn’t born rich” she explained. “It is just that your father pampered me a lot after marriage which is why I changed so much”

Ayush frowned.

“Are you putting the entire blame on me, honey?” he teased.

“Who else?” she smirked and curling her arm in Arnav’s allowed him to lead them to the elevator. Shashi opened the door for them and welcomed the family inside. Buaji was the next one to greet them.

“That’s my sister, Madhumati” Shashi introduced Revati Raizada to Buaji.

“Ahh..” Revati willingly hugged the woman. “Nice meeting you Madhumati”

Madhumati smiled back. Revati’s tantrums were known to Madhumati too. When Revati took her seat next to her husband, she saw Arnav searching for Khushi. The desperation to see her was clearly visible in his eyes. When Arnav stared back at her, she passed him a smile.

“Have patience” she whispered.

Shashi then introduced Payal to everyone. Except Arnav, none of his family members knew she was not just Khushi’s friend but also a psychologist whom Khushi consulted in an attempt to forget him. When Payal and Arnav’s eyes met, he ensured to be as formal as possible. He practically hated the woman though a part of his heart knew she was not at fault. She was simply helping her friend to come out of her grief.

“Uncle” Aman interrupted. “Where is our bride?”

“She must be getting ready” Revati answered.

“No, she is in the kitchen. Making juice for everyone”

“Oh wonderful” Revati got up. “I will go help her”

Ayush held her hand.

“You sure want to help, Honey? I hardly have seen you in Kitchen” he murmured only for her ears.

“You will see me often henceforth. Did I mention I am going to join some cooking classes?”

Ayush was elated to hear that.

“Don’t get so excited. I am not doing this for you but Arnav. And I don’t want my grandchildren to think their grandmother can’t cook.”

“Lovely” Ayush teased leaving her arm. Revati hurried in the kitchen as pointed out by Madhumati. Khushi was pouring the juice in the glasses. She had worn a Pink Saree and looked simple yet stunning.

“Charming” Revati rushed inside. “Don’t be shocked to see me here. I just came to assist you though I see you are done already”

Khushi nodded. When Revati stared at her properly she realized Khushi was wearing the same diamond bangles which she presented her last evening as a tradition.

“It’s good to see you wearing these”

“And you wearing those” Khushi added looking at the earrings which Revati wore. The ones which she had gifted the woman yesterday.

“They matched my dress” Revati replied. “Now come outside before the whole family comes in to check on us”

Khushi quickly held the tray of glasses and walked out with Revati. The moment she came out and started serving the juice to everyone, Arnav’s gaze stuck on her. It was hard not to notice how beautiful she looked in an attire like that. The last one she served was him and yet he didn’t mind. He took the glass from her and when she was about to walk away and sit elsewhere, he grabbed her hand and made her sit next to him.

“Where do you think you are running?” he asked her.

She was embarrassed as the question was loud enough for everyone to hear. The family did hear but none of them paid attention and kept talking to each other, giving them their much-needed space to talk.

“You met Payal?” Khushi whispered.

“Hmm” he entwined their fingers and she showed no signs of resentment. And while he did that, he threw a quick glance at Payal who was talking to Aman.

“Stop threatening her by your cold stares” Khushi scolded. “She is not to be blamed”

“I don’t blame her. But good that she is here. I need to know a few things”

“What things?” Khushi asked confused.

“You will know when I ask her”

He pressed an open-mouthed kiss on her fingers and got up from the couch taking Khushi along.

“Dad.. while you all decide on the nearest date, I would like to speak to Khushi. Payal can join us too”

That was very quick and sudden which even shocked Payal.

“Don’t worry about Payal” Aman teased. “I can keep her busy until you two have time for us”

“No… You keep an eye and ears on others Aman. Ensure they pick the best date for us. I don’t want any delays” Arnav stuck to the agenda. He looked desperate to speak to Payal about something and that almost threatened Khushi. Aman happily accepted the task whilst Payal strode with Arnav and Khushi inside.

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

“Khushi must have told you about me and the sessions…” Payal started the conversation.

“She didn’t. I got to know it from her father and that’s when she clarified the rest.”

Khushi panicked. The talks related to her therapy made her feel weak today.

“What is it have to do now?” Khushi snapped.

“Relax” Arnav rubbed her back gently. “I just have some queries. That’s all. I am not going to corner your friend and threaten her”

Payal just watched the two.

“I could have talked to her alone too, but I want to involve you because its about us. So, will you please be patient and let me talk to your friend?” Arnav requested.

Khushi’s worry eased. She gently nodded allowing him to converse. Arnav kept his arm rested on Khushi’s back as he talked to Payal.

“You must be hating me Payal, because you had to see your friend in that state because of me. I had my reasons” he stated.

“The reasons which benefitted neither you nor her” Payal smiled with sarcasm. “If I speak in medical terms Arnav, you were mentally torturing yourself as well as Khushi by your behavior. At times you showed her signs of love and other times you pushed her away. No woman in love could tolerate that. You have no idea how much messed up she was when she turned to me”

Arnav swallowed the lump formed in his throat.

“My medications eased her down, relaxed her temporarily and only when all that was working in her favor, you turned up again in her life”

Now that pissed him off.

“I came to her for forever. And there is no turning back now, Doctor Payal. I don’t care if you understand this relationship or not. I only care to know one thing from you. Did those medications have any complications in the longer run? Is Khushi prone to them? I don’t want her to need them even for a fraction of second ever henceforth”

Payal crossed her arms.

“Every medicine has some side effects. Even the anti-depressants. But Khushi didn’t take them for long and the ones prescribed to her were the safest. You need not worry”

Her reply cooled him down. Even Khushi had not thought about all this. She had stopped taking those medicines ever since Arnav returned and things started turning fine between them. A phone call diverted Arnav’s attention and he walked out to take it. Khushi pouted at Payal for Arnav’s cold behavior but instead of being mad, Payal pinched her cheek.

“Maybe he is not that bad after all” she praised.

“Seriously?” Khushi jumped in joy. It meant a lot to her.

“The way he worries about you.. says a lot. I am glad you both are together”

Khushi was relieved to hear that. She had no words to share at the moment except a tight hug to her friend.


To be Continued. 


NEXT PART
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This Edition includes the below mentioned Stories:

1. Bride Lost & Found
2. His Destined Bride

Bride Lost & Found

On the verge of getting married, Niyati elopes to fetch her lost life, only to be found again. They say when you are destined for someone, you find him no matter how far you run. Is Niyati ending up in a hopeless situation by tying this knot or is this beginning of something sparkling?
Excerpt

The elderly woman makes her sit next to the groom. He is wearing a strong masculine perfume which she is extremely allergic to. She twists her nose not to sneeze. He grips her hand and leans towards her.

“If you do this mistake again, I will chop your legs” he whispers.

Her eyes widen in shock. She knew the Zamindar is an arrogant man but his strength and powerful words is infusing fear inside her already nervous body. But she won’t let him mistake her to be his newly hired slave. She has a fitting reply ready.

“How will you sleep with a woman glued to the wheel chair for her life then?”

She finds his grip on her fingers tightening more.

A twisted tale of an unforeseen wedding fiasco

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Read the Reviews of Bride Lost & Found 
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His Destined Bride

The sequel to Bride Lost and Found (The Bride Series)

Jahaan Singh and Niyati's marriage was accidental but there was a spark in their relationship from the moment they had seen each other at the marriage canopy. While Niyati was not interested in marriage or relationships, Jahaan couldnt lose her to maintain his Royal Tag and family status. Sorting a middle way was their only option left. But what would happen if his Ex Bride returned?

A fun loving, romantic story of a Royal Heir and his commoner destined Wife.

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Read the Reviews of His Destined Bride
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