The Royal Fling - Part 44

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Chapter 44

Shantivan

The Doctor diagnosed Subhadra Raizada who was still unconscious. Arnav, Aman, Akash and Shyam Singh Raizada were standing at the corner, waiting for the Doctor to finish. Khushi was the only one who stood by the bedside whereas Anjali took Payal in the other room not letting her take any stress of Daadi’s present condition.

“It was a mild attack” the doctor said turning to the Royal brothers.

Arnav swallowed hard.

“Is she okay now?” he asked.

“We cannot say that until she wakes up. If she keeps taking further stress, it will affect her health, weaken her heart. I suggest you all do what makes her happy. At this age, the second attack, if any, could be serious”
The doctor was right. Shyam sighed in disbelief.

“Do we need to get her hospitalized?” Shyam asked.

“Not right now. But if her condition weakens, you should. I will send a nurse who can look after her health and reports me directly until she recovers”

The doctor got up to leave. Akash led his way out.

“Why doesn’t Daadi understand this simple thing that we brothers can be happy staying away from each other?” Shyam muttered.

“Shyam” Arnav groaned fisting his fingers. “This is not the time to discuss this”

Shyam shrugged and left the room. Arnav turned to Aman who hadnt spoken a word ever since this happened.

“You still wish to leave, I won’t stop you. But I will appreciate if you could stay for few days until I make Daadi understand the whole point”

Aman didn’t even look at Arnav but obviously he had understood his point.

“Aman…” Daadi mumbled in sleep.

Arnav and Khushi immediately rushed to the bed.

“Daadi..” Arnav held her arms as she tried to get up. “Don’t get up. You are weak”

“Aman? He.. he left?”

“No, he is here”

Arnav turned around and stared at Aman who was still deciding what to do. As soon as he realized Daadi wanted to see him, he came forward and sat next to her on the bed.

“Daadi” he murmured. “I am not leaving”

Daadi’s eyes filled with tears

“Not until you get better” he added.

The smile on her face wiped off.

“If that’s the case, I do not want to get better” she murmured.

“Daadi” Arnav snapped. “You should rest. Aman is not leaving for now but if you don’t listen to us and take care of your health, I will send him myself”

Aman turned to his brother. What kind of attitude was that? Obviously, he didn’t mean it but something was different in the way Arnav Singh Raizada took control of the present situations.


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

Angad was thrilled meeting Aman Singh Raizada again but as Aman showed no signs of knowing him either, he was depressed.

“We used to be a team Aman. You, me and Arnav” he exclaimed. “We used to go for horse riding and you always cheated when we raced”

Aman got up to leave.

“I am sorry man. I don’t recall any of this. I need to make a few calls. Excuse me”

When Aman left, Angad turned back to Arnav.

“You were right. He has not lost his memories. He remembers everything but doesn’t want to admit” Angad mentioned.

“But why? Does he want to punish me by behaving so cold and distant? Because if that’s his motive then he is succeeding. I am hurt seeing him like this Angad. He doesn’t even look at me when we talk. He … he hates me”

Angad soothed his back. Khushi who overheard their conversation reached them.

“He will hate you because you fought with him before that accident”

She sat next to Arnav.

“He has ugly memories of this place Arnav. That’s the whole point why he didn’t turn back here even once in the last two years. If I hadnt met him by chance, he would never show up in Shantivan” she added.

Arnav ran his fingers through his hair in despair.

“I don’t understand what to do.. I cannot see him like this” he exhaled.

Khushi thought deeply.

“Give him what he wants then” she replied.

Arnav was confused.

“What?”

“You didn’t let him marry Avni.. Bring her back in his life Arnav. That’s the only way he will forgive you..”

Arnav shook his head.

“Avni is a ghost” he cursed silently. “We haven’t seen her since Bali”

“There is one way to bring her here before Aman” she concluded. “Announce Aman is alive in the media. She will know automatically and come here to meet him”

Arnav was impressed by Khushi’s ideas.

“I must say your wife is a genius” Angad praised. “How easily she sorted all of it”

Arnav took the compliment and smirked hard at his wife who loved taking compliments.

“Yeah however tiny her brain looks, it is still smart” Arnav teased.

Khushi’s nose flared.

“Did you call my brain tiny?”

“And smart” he added.

Angad’s phone rang and he excused the two to pick the call, slipping away from the couple. Khushi was about to get up too when Arnav held her hand and made her sit again.

“What would I do without you?” he asked, looking lovingly in her eyes.

She gave him another casual smile.

“Maybe you would marry Anjum, if I hadn’t popped up in your life” she teased.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

“At least you agreed that it was you who popped up.. I didn’t”

Her jaws dropped.

“Mr. Royal Singh Raizada. You…”

Before she could blame him again, he closed her mouth with his palm.

“I want to take you out” he stated calmly.

Her eyes widened in surprise. He moved his palm away from her mouth.

“What?” he asked.

“Are you asking me out on a date?”

“Maybe” he replied wryly.

Words caught in her throat.

“Your Daadi is sick inside and you want to go on a date?”

“She will be fine. Besides there are so many people around us that we wont get privacy at all in this house until things calm down. I have no choice but to take you out”

Khushi’s heart fluttered.

“What if I say I am not interested?”

Arnav wrinkled his nose.

“Under usual circumstances I would have dragged you out for this date. But since I am no longer the arrogant jerk you married to, I will try to convince you” he leaned closer and whispered. “Hard” he added sexily.

Khushi immediately pushed him away before he could say anything further.

“People who know me say I am very hard to convince” she rose on her feet.

“And people who know me find it difficult to deny my wishes” he added.

Their teenagers’ style of talking started terrifying her. Going on a date with Arnav Singh Raizada was never on her agenda.

“Try everything Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. I will not be charmed”

Turning her back she walked away. Arnav leaned on the couch watching her leave. Why was she so cold hearted towards him? Had it been like old times, he would have asked Aman for help but now… ? Aman doesn’t even show interest in sharing space with him. Why will he assist him? Or maybe he should still try. Who knows, that might bridge the gap between the two? Arnav decided to talk to Aman.. Try get his advice.

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

Same Night

Aman was on call when Arnav stepped in his room.

“Mahesh, I don’t know but can we please schedule this for next week? I .. I am really sick and… auditioning at this state will be ..” Aman tried to convince the Production team to grant him few more days off.

He saw Arnav entering the room but didn’t disconnect the call. He continued speaking.

“Yes, one week should do. Thanks Mahesh”

Arnav waited for him to finish. Seeing his brother so much engrossed in his work call and discussing some technical requirements for the shoot impressed Arnav. After a few minutes Aman hung up.

“I never thought you would make your career in direction” Arnav mentioned.

“I don’t think you ever cared to ask what our personal choices were” Aman taunted. “I mean.. As far as I have read and heard about you, you seemed very ignorant to your family’s desires”

Arnav knew he purposely poked him.

“I am a changed man now Aman. Wish you see that change in me” he placed his arm over Aman’s shoulder who shrugged it off in no time.

“Why are you here?”

Arnav though felt bad by his actions, he didn’t let it ruin this moment.

“I need your help”

“Help? My help?” Aman queried. “I don’t think I have anything to offer you as help. You are at the wrong place. Ask your other brothers”

“That’s not what you did earlier Aman”

“That Aman is dead. The one before you don’t even recognize you” he replied sternly.

Arnav swallowed the pain reading Aman’s cold eyes.

“Fine. If not as a brother, you can at least help me as Khushi’s friend”

Aman couldn’t argue to that. Khushi was genuinely nice to him. So, he agreed.

“What help do you want from me?”

Arnav was relieved that Aman agreed.

“Khushi and my marriage isn’t a normal one” he stated.

Aman was confused.

“I lied to her that her sister and Akash are in danger and that our marriage was the only way we could find them before our enemies and hence save their lives”

Aman was terrified to hear that.

“God” Aman snapped. “You are a devil you know that? How could you lie such a huge thing?”

“That was the only way to find Akash”

“You cannot defend that Arnav Singh Raizada. A lie like that is almost equal to forcing a woman for marriage. And wait a minute. Why are you telling me all this now?”

“Because I want to win my wife”

Aman was speechless. WIN?

“Win? She is not some trophy which you can win”

Arnav was slowly getting annoyed. He was here for tips not another lecture.

“I want my marriage to work Aman. And I am ready to do anything for that. I don’t want to win her as my Royal trophy but as a soulmate. I cannot explain beyond this. Probably I am wasting your time”

He turned around and strode to the door.

“Have you apologized to her?” Aman asked.

Arnav stopped. Apology? Getting no reply from him, Aman understood.

“That’s where you lack” he continued. “Women want words out of us.. They need us to be more vocal on our feelings for them.. If you want to make it work, start from where you broke her trust. Apologize to her. Make her believe that it’s the last mistake you committed and would never hurt her again”

Arnav had never thought in this angle. He had told Khushi numerous times that he wanted her to stay as his wife forever but why would she when he didn’t give her the real reason behind it? And the apology was must too.

“Will she believe me?” he hopefully asked.

Aman exhaled roughly.

“Depends on how you express everything. Don’t go overboard, that’s it”

Desire simmered in Arnav’s blood as he mentally planned their date tonight. If everything worked, he would at least impress his wife by the apology and earn a plus point for himself.

To be Continued.

NEXT PART

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Excerpts

In dark blue denim, white T-Shirt and a black leather jacket, he stood at the opposite counter, sipping his freshly brewed coffee.

“Excuse me?” she snapped. “What did you just say?”

“It’s not waterproof” he came ahead.

She frowned.

“Do we know each other?”

He smirked.

“We are co-passengers”

He showed his boarding pass.

“We are on the same flight” he added.

“So? I don’t need a stranger’s opinions in buying a watch for myself”

“Stranger?” he chuckled. “Are you always so fiery or does air travel makes you so?”