Yaadein - Part 9

PREVIOUS PART 



Chapter 9



Night

“What do you mean its not there?” Khushi shouted one of the servant. “That photo frame belonged to my mother and you don’t know where it is? Who even asked you to clean my room?”

The servant apologetically looked down.

“When you left for New Zealand 7 years ago, Sir asked us to clean your room and we have stuffed everything in the store room. Probably that photo was mistakenly taken out in the process”

Store room!! She hated her father for being so mean and push all her old stuff away.

“Never mind. I will find it myself. Give me the store room keys”

“But Sir”

“I said give me the keys”
The servant shivered knowing her earlier temper. He knew Khushi ever since she was 10. He had seen her messing things, breaking them and hurting people if things don’t turn up as per her will. And though he too had noticed the soberness in her these days, he couldn’t take that risk. He immediately handed the store room keys to Khushi and walked away.

Khushi made her way to the store room and though her father had strictly told her not to get in there, she ignored it and unlocked the door. After a vigorous search of 30 minutes, she found her mother’s photo and was glad to get it back. She was about to shut the drawer from where she found this when another photo fell down on the floor. She immediately picked it up and turned it around only to get the shock of her life. It was a marriage picture.. She was the bride and Arnav Singh Raizada was the groom. He was tying her the Mangalsutra in the picture surrounded by his family and hers. What the hell!! Time seemed to have halted as she gazed at the photo again and again, trying to recollect when did this happen? Was it morphed? She checked the back of the picture and saw the date when this was clicked. It mentioned 14th Feb 2012 which meant 8 years ago. She felt dizzy but managed to hold the table for support. She and Arnav were married?? Why didn’t anyone tell her this? And… Aarav? No!! no! He cannot be her son. !! Can he? Is that why whenever she saw Aarav, her motherly feelings surfaced? How can everyone hide such an important truth from her? So what if she didn’t recollect any of this? Why did they all kept such an important fact hidden from her? She wanted answers and she decided to get them the next morning by the man himself!!


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

Shashi Gupta was startled when Ayush Singh Raizada called him again after 7 long years. They had been friends once and after that accident, they had parted their lives for the betterment of their families. They did see each other in the business parties and though exchanged greetings, they hardly spoke for more than a minute and it was strictly official.


“Ayush, nice to hear your voice again” Shashi exclaimed.

Ayush was in his study room, sprawled on his chair and looking at the family album.

“I met Khushi today in a coffee shop”

Shashi was startled.

“She didn’t tell me. I hope the meet didn’t end up bad”

“Not at all” Ayush smiled. “I liked the woman she has turned out now” he paused. “Anyway, that’s not why I called you for. I just want to share that Arnav has plans of re-marriage and you know if that has to happen, he and Khushi will have to legally separate first”

Shashi swallowed painfully.

“I understand. I will get her signatures today”

“Hmm”

There was a long silence and Ayush suddenly spoke again.

“We are selfish fathers aren’t we? Always want our children to be happy. We have always thought this separation will give our kids the required closure in life. But now, I don’t know Shashi”

“They were never supposed to be a couple in the first place. It was our mistake to pull them into this relationship” Shashi regretted.

“you are talking as if we never had arranged marriages during our times. I met my wife on the marriage day and till then never seen her photo even” Ayush mocked.

“Our time was different Ayush. We adjusted for the sake of our families, for our kids. We cannot expect our children doing the same”

“I agree” Ayush sighed. “But even then.. I feel what if.. what if Arnav and Khushi get back together? Not for themselves but for Aarav at least. That little boy needs both parent. Forget getting their love separately, he doesn’t even know Khushi is his mother and vice versa”

Shashi swallowed the lump formed in this throat.

“What is that boy’s fault in all this?” Ayush continued.

“I think it’s too late now to try any of it. I met Arnav and he didn’t seem to be interested in Khushi anymore. He even hates being in the same room as her. How can they… no… I don’t think they will ever reconcile. And my daughter doesn’t even know what wrong she did. She might never remember and Arnav will never forgive her”

“Maybe you are right” Ayush rubbed his teary eye. “Let’s see what’s instore for our kids”

They spoke again for few more minutes and then ended the call with a heavy heart.


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

Next Day – AR Group Office

Without wasting time Khushi reached AR Office to meet Arnav Singh Raizada. She had lots of questions in her mind which didn’t let her sleep the whole night. She wanted to know everything. So without informing even her father about it, she entered AR group.

“Arnav.. I want to see Arnav”

“Ma’am he is busy in a meeting and do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked.

“Look, whoever you are. I want to see him right now and if you don’t let me I will.. I will find him myself”

She made her way to the conference rooms, opening the door one by one to check where he was. The receptionist followed her with series of warnings.

“Ma’am, you need to stop this and please make your way out or else I will have to call the security”

Khushi didn’t stop. She kept pushing the doors open to find Arnav.

“Security” the receptionist shouted.

Khushi barged in the last room and that’s when she got to see him. Arnav was seated at the center of the rectangular table with two of his clients and Aman Mathur. The moment her gaze landed on him, everything else froze.

“Sorry Sir, we tried to stop her but…”

“What’s going on? Who is she to barge in here?” one of the clients queried not so happy about the intrusion.

Khushi stiffened. Arnav Singh Raizada was too blank to respond. He was still unsure what got Khushi at his office and why did she look so … so desperate to meet him?

“Will you answer that question Arnav or should I do that on your behalf?” Khushi snapped without breaking their eye lock.

The security guards rushed in the room to drag her out and because Arnav was too lost to respond on time, she did.

“I am his wife” she said turning to his Clients and then the guards.

Arnav fisted his fingers. Did she recall? Or got any clue or hint about it? The guards rooted to their spot waiting for their Boss to take a call. Arnav turned to his clients and put an apologetic smile.

“Sorry gentlemen, Aman will take this discussion forward in the other room. Aman?”

Aman quickly rose to his feet with a nod and gestured the clients out. The guards followed them, leaving the couple alone to talk. Arnav had no words for her until she told him what exactly she knew about them? Khushi pushed the photo she found in the store room last night, towards him. Arnav didn’t pick it but realized she must have loads of doubts and he was in no mood to clarify them.

“I got this photo in my store room” she informed. Arnav joined the dots and realized she just saw the picture and came here. She didn’t get her memory back yet.

“Why don’t you ask your dad about this?” he growled.

“You have spine to advise me that?” she snapped.

“Spine?” his brows arched as he rose to his feet. “If I didn’t have a spine, you would still be messing with my life”

She gulped nervously seeing the anger rising on his face.

“I don’t want these code words Arnav. I need answers. We are married? How? When? Why do you hate me so much? Is Aarav my son?”

“Stop” he growled again “Stop right there because I am not going to answer any of them”

“Why?” she shouted. “I have rights to know”

Arnav clenched his jaw.

“And you gave up those rights long long ago”

“Are we still married? Have we divorced?” she kept grilling.

When he didn’t reply, she strode forward.

“Why did we part? Did you have an affair or did I cheat on you..? Oh God.. please say something Arnav, my head is spinning”


Arna gripped her forearms and pulled her close. There was no sympathy on his face, just pure rage.

“Ours was an Arrange marriage. No, we aren’t divorced yet but we will very soon. I never cheated on you but you were interested in someone else. I don’t care if you even slept with him while carrying Aarav in your womb. And you have no rights on Aarav because you were almost close enough to abort him had I not intervened”

Khushi’s throat closed tight preventing her from speaking anything. It sounded so horrible. She recalled being a short tempered and high maintenance woman before but she tried to kill her unborn child? Could she do that?

“Got your answers? Now leave this office and never turn yourself again here. This time I forgave your intrusion, next time if you attempt the same, I will sue you and your father”

He pushed her away. He had no idea how much in shock she was and had no control over her feet. When he pushed her, she almost collided with the table and fell down unconscious. Dammit!! He immediately kneeled down to her rescue and sprinkled some water on her face but nothing worked. There was a small bruise on her forehead probably because she collided with the table and that needed to be taken care of. Unwillingly, he carried her in arms and took her to the private elevator. The AR group had a cozy suite on the top floor and it was built solely for Arnav Singh Raizada to rest and change. He even had his lunch there and showered if necessary. He made Khushi lie down on the bed and dialed Aman.

“Aman, get a medic team to the suite. It’s an emergency”

“Yes Sir”

He ended the call and dialed Shashi Gupta to give him this shock. Why would he handle it all alone? She wasn’t his responsibility anymore. The medic team came in 5 minutes. The doctor inspected her bruise and checked her vitals.

“Did she eat anything this morning?” the doctor asked.

Arnav was standing by the bed, his hands stuffed in the pant pockets.

“I don’t know”

“This bruise will heal Mr. Raizada but her Blood pressure is low. I suggest you feed her something and make her take these pills”

Arnav didn’t say a word, he just kept staring at the woman lying on the bed before him. She always had a BP problem. Whenever she was over excited, her BP shot up and when she didn’t eat on time or neglected her health, it lowered.

“She even has a mild fever”

“She had fever last week too. Was been hospitalized for the same” he didn’t hide that history.

“I see. She seems to be in some stress and when her body cannot adapt to that level of stress, her body temperature shoots up. Don’t worry, she will be alright. She needs ample of rest”

Arnav gave a gentle nod as the medic team left. Aman knocked the door and came in with Shashi Gupta.

“Khushi.. oh my god. What happened to her again?” he immediately sank on the bed, beside his daughter.

Arnav gestured Aman to leave so that he could speak privately. The moment Aman left, Ayush Singh Raizada made his way in. He was told Arnav had called for medic team in the suite and was worried if Arnav was alright. But when he saw Khushi on the bed, he was even more tensed. Arnav narrated the whole incident to them and the two oldies wondered how to tackle this situation once she wakes up.

Arnav checked his watch.

“I have meetings lined up. Need to leave”

“Arnav” Ayush stopped him. “How could you leave her here in this state?”

“She is no longer my problem, Dad. We all know this”

“She is still your wife” Ayush corrected him.

“I don’t care. She is off my life the day she gave birth to Aarav. That was the deal. She means nothing to me now. Send her home safely with her father once she wakes up. And Mr. Gupta, please fasten the divorce process. I don’t want things to complicate further. I want her out of my life by the soonest”

Shashi was too weak to react anything but Ayush fumed watching his son leave. He had become so heartless for his wife. He couldn’t believe Arnav was the same man who took so much care during Khushi’s pregnancy and now.. he said she doesn’t matter to him anymore. Was that even true?


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

“What nonsense?” Sheetal scowled at one of the employees.

“I am serious Sheetal. His wife was here this morning and she even intruded the conference. Then later Boss took her in his suite upstairs and even called the medic team. I have no idea whats happening but both bosses are there”

Sheetal got speechless. After all these years why was his wife back? And .. what would it mean to Arnav? Sheetal had never queried Arnav about his wife neither wished to know about her. She wanted Arnav to move on and focus on her instead. But now that the woman was back, she wondered if he would continue to ignore her or not. Because if he doesn’t push away his past, Sheetal can never be a part of his future. Making a mental note of that Sheetal headed back to her cabin.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

________________________________________________________________________________

Standalone Romance Book 1 from Mr & Mrs. Series

Kabier and Aashi's is a marriage of utmost convenience. Everything about the marriage is wrong yet Aashi falls for her tycoon husband who has no time for her. While Kabier is busy earning billions, Aashi battles her solitude until she decides to give up. Jealousy creeps in Kabier's heart when his wife's friend comes into the picture. Will Kabier realize Aashi's worth? How will he woo her back? 

A romantic tale of arrogant Business Tycoon Kabier Sehgal and his Former Miss India Wife Aashi Sehgal with sparks of attraction, love, jealousy and a happily-ever-after. 

READ ON AMAZON KINDLE

BUY  PDF by CARD

BUY PDF by PAYPAL

READ THE SAMPLE CHAPTER 1 HERE