The Royal Fling - Part 27

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Chapter 27

Mussourie


The pain was worse. She felt like someone was hammering her head. She tossed on the bed, gently opening her eyes to stop this assault. There was no one around her. She was alone lying on the bed in a semi-dark room. It wasn’t night. She could see beam of light from the edges of the thick curtains. Why was she sleeping in day time? She never liked it unless she was tired and sick. Sick?? Yes. She felt sick and heavy. Her movements felt rigid and unbearable.

The door knob clicked open and Arnav Singh Raizada entered the room. Memories of their ugly fight stormed in her brain and she recalled the reason of her sickness. It wasn’t just dizziness that put her unconscious, it had to be worse which only he could be aware of. She fisted her fingers the moment he neared the bed.

“Glad you woke up” he said with a smile, taking a seat next to her on bed. “You had a very long sleep”
She looked away from him at the bedside table where the medicines were placed. Only a Doctor could prescribe all those.

“You called for medical help?” she muttered in an unhappy tone.

When he nodded in agreement her smile turned into a sarcasm.

“Why? To cure me and give me more pain once I am recovered?” she snapped.

It pricked his heart again. He touched her palm. She tried to withdrew herself but he grabbed it with no intentions of leaving.

“You should eat something” he diverted the topic.

“Feeding a goat to cut it later?” she kept taunting.

“Stop” he groaned but that didn’t pause her accusations.

“Why would a selfish man like you save me from any medical condition? What else would he want after destroying me in and out?”

“YOU” he replied almost instantly. There was guilt in his eyes which didn’t go unnoticed by her. She didn’t understand. She didn’t want to.

“I want you” he re-iterated.

She didn’t take those words to her heart. She would never.

“Well” she exhaled. “I am not for Sale then”

He frowned. Which part of this reply did she not understand?

“I don’t do Sale shopping either” he answered. “Just get up and eat. You have enough medicines to take after that”

Despite wishing to push away his efforts to make her eat, she couldn’t argue. She was genuinely hungry and a headache like that wouldn’t cure on its own without the medicines. She tried to get up and when she failed to do so on her own, he gripped her forearms as delicately as he could and made her sit on the bed, leaning against the cushions.

“My phone” she demanded.

“It’s alive. Worry for yourself first”

She recalled why he said that. Before falling unconscious she had broken things around in this room but right now it all looked like before. Clean.. everything in place and nothing disorganized. She never behaved so childish and immature. Property damage was never her forte. But somehow, she couldn’t control her anger today and it made her do abnormal things. She drank the juice he offered. It quenched her thirst. Her stomach ached for a minute to adjust the fluid supply and then eased again.

“I have to make a call”

“To whom?”

“I am not answerable to you” she snapped.

Arnav popped the medicines and held in his palms, giving her a cold stare. Had it been old times, he would have growled back with an appropriate reply but he didn’t. The doctor had clearly defined her condition and how it could worsen up if he keeps pushing her to the edge by their constant fights. He placed the medicines in her hand and then walked out in the other room to get her phone. She was surprised by his actions but knew they wouldn’t last for long. He came back with her phone. She took her phone from him

“What happened to me?” she asked. “So many medicines just for falling unconscious?”

Arnav had no concrete reply to that. Was it safe to tell the patient about her sickness? How will she cope up?

“Oh my God” she shouted. “Why are you reacting like I am dying?”

“Shut up” he snapped. “You are not dying. It was an anxiety attack”

She was silent for a minute to absorb what he just said.

“Anxiety what?”

“Attack” Arnav chewed his teeth. This was difficult.

Khushi panicked. The way she drew the quilt closer to her body proved that.

“Anxiety attack?” she murmured thinking deeply.

Arnav was about to explain she would do fine but she didn’t let him speak.

“I cannot believe this.. Anxiety attack? I got an anxiety attack?”

Arnav kept his gaze on her.

“What else would I expect?” she scoffed. “Right from the time you have barged in my life, I am always on the edge”

“Excuse me?” Arnav intervened. “I barged in your life? Have you lost your memories? It was you who hopped in the city for Suhani’s wedding. I was always there.. .with or without you.. That place has always been mine”

“My bad luck” she muttered. “If I had known a monster like you existed there, I would never have turned myself back at my hometown”

 
Monster? Arnav gritted his teeth. She opened the App on her mobile phone for booking a Cab. He saw that too.

“Cab?”

“I am going back” she mumbled. “I don’t wish to stay here.”

“That goes without saying.” Arnav snatched her phone and put it aside.

“What the hell” she snarled.

“You are not leaving this place for the next two days. Recover first and I will drop you wherever you wish to go”

Khushi was speechless.

“Wherever I wish to go?” she rechecked on that line.

Arnav swallowed but nodded in approval.

“Wherever you wish to go” he reassured.

She relaxed. It sounded convincing. She had no energy left to argue or even get down the bed. Travelling now would be horrifying. But will he keep his words?


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

It had been 2 long hours since Khushi was awake and in the room. He was attending her needs and ensured that she stayed comfortable in their room. The hotel staff were given strict dinner instructions which could take care of her present health conditions. Arnav was down in the lobby to make a few calls. Doing them in the room would disturb his wife.

“I won’t” Arnav muttered over the phone. “I won’t lose her at any cost. You understand that Angad?”

Angad, who was on the other end of the call sighed in disbelief. He knew Arnav Singh Raizada from childhood and had never seen him having such a strong attraction for anyone, especially a woman. Though it delighted him, yet he feared if his friend doesn’t mess this up. Afterall this is the first time Arnav was falling for a woman and his big fat Royal ego had always hurt the people close to him.

“How do you plan to stop her then? She is a hurricane, Arnav. And you have tested her patience enough. This time you have meddled with her career. I don’t think she is going to accept that so easily”

“Say something I don’t know” Arnav snapped. “I will handle this.”

“How?” Angad asked. “You just said she wanted to go back home right away. You stopped her for 2 days. What about the third day?”

“I will stop her that time too. Until I want.. Until she understands there is no running away from me”

There he goes. Angad was disappointed. Arnav wants to control everything he wanted – including the people he loved which never worked in the longer run.

“I can’t believe this” Angad replied. “Just be sure of what you do Arnav. I don’t want anyone amongst you hurt. This is a marriage.. not a Royal deal which could be revised with time”

Arnav disconnected the call. He didn’t need more advises if they were not helping his present state of mind. He wanted Khushi to stay back not just for now but forever in this marriage. He had no plans of ending it. But Angad was right. He had to think ways to make things better.


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

Shantivan

“She is where?” Anjali asked in surprise to Daadi who was busy reading her holy books or at least pretending to do so.

“Mussourie. What has happened to your ears? I said it loud and clear”

“Mussourie? With Arnav?” Anjali questioned back. “What is she doing there?”

Daadi was fed up by her constant poking in Arnav and Khushi’s life but she still addressed her queries.

“Where else can be she if not with her husband? Arnav was taking long to come back home. So, she went there. I don’t think it’s a sin to be with your husband” Daadi replied.

Anjali rolled her eyes. There was clearly more to this truth otherwise Daadi wouldn’t have been so hyper. Something was fishy. Anjali was desperate to find out.

“I didn’t mean it that way Daadi. And why are you always so bitter to me? I am not Khushi’s enemy. When I didn’t find her home, I thought of asking. That’s all”

Daadi exhaled. It was hard to read what Anjali was thinking.

“I hope she is doing alright. When I saw her leaving yesterday, she was not in a good mood”

“She is fine” Daadi interrupted. It was a straight forward reply with no further explanation. She herself was shocked when Arnav called her up and informed this morning that Khushi was in Mussourie. Though he didn’t give her more details she had a bad feeling about this surprise visit of Khushi.

Daadi’s expressions at the moment confirmed Anjali that something was indeed fishy between Arnav – Khushi. But nagging for more replies would be futile so she decided to find it herself.


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

Dinner – Mussourie

“This Soup is tasteless” Khushi put the spoon away. She was still on bed with a bed table over her lap to hold the soup bowl and dinner plate.

“That’s how it is supposed to taste for patients” he answered sitting next to her.

She frowned.

“It reminds me of the times when I was a backstage artist. The food we got there was still better than this”

Backstage artist? Arnav is intrigued to know what all she did to come up at this level in her career. But the moment Khushi realized she was talking about her profession which just got ruined because of him, she was depressed again. Probably the agitation inside her didn’t had the energy to bounce back. So, the tears took instead. Her lower lip quivered as her eyes grew shiny with tears. Horrified, he froze for a minute.

“Talk” he commanded. “Tell me about those days”

She was stunned. Why would he want to know about her struggling life?

“So that you could laugh on me?” she asked. “Sorry Mr. Royal Singh Raizada, but I am not going to let you do that”

“I appreciate people’s struggle”

“By snatching their jobs away?”

Arnav had no reply.

“Modelling is my passion. People who don’t like to see me in that role can close their eyes. I am not forcing anyone to like me and my profession. All I expected from you was some support which you showed in the worst possible way”

It was a sad truth but Arnav had no qualms, not yet. He just couldn’t let people stare at his wife. Heck, she is a Royal’s wife!!

“I worked as a backstage artist for months. I assisted other models dress up, did their makeup, helped them look beautiful. No one cares for a spot girl’s dignity. We were treated like servants but I still continued doing it because that industry fascinated me. Seeing myself on the stage, modelling amongst the best ones so far was my dream. Destiny favored me. After all my efforts, I got my first break and I was through. And then there was no turning back. Producers waited for my dates, directors adored my skills and sincerity in acting. I was earning as expected and then suddenly… you…” tears rolled down her cheeks. “You crushed it all”

She moved the table away from her lap and getting down the bed, strode to the balcony. Arnav ruffled his fingers through his dark hair. What a douche he behaved!! He was aggravated at his own self. He followed her in the balcony where she was still weeping silently.

“Khushi” he called her in a soft tone. But when she didn’t turn back or respond, he touched her shoulder gently.

“Just go away” she shrugged him.

But Arnav being Arnav didn’t go away. He gripped her shoulders and turned her around to face him.

“You are spoiling your health again” he warned.

“And you are not being a human” she snapped. “What would you do if someone did the same with you? If someone had snatched the very reason of your happiness?”

Arnav was no more in a dilemma. He was sure this time.. Of what to do…!!

“I would have broken his jaw” he answered.

Khushi’s mouth twisted in thought. Her cries stopped. What was that supposed to mean? Arnav’s thumb wiped off the tears from her eyes while his palms settled on her face to cup her cheeks.

“I have lost someone I loved… someone who was my sole happiness… my brother Aman” his hands shivered on her cheeks as he tried his best to calm. “I lost him because of myself.. my ego… my Royalness.. I am not going to repeat that”

Khushi fought the buzzing in her head. What should she infer from these lines from him? It didn’t seem like any lie. He was being honest. And most of all, it felt like he was going to rethink on his decision and help her out.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

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2 day Discounts on His Destined Bride (Book 2 of The Bride Series)