Locked - Part 12

 

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Chapter 12


Arnav’s POV


Akash and Payal completed the test after me and now it’s Khushi’s turn. She sits on the couch, shutting her eyes tight. She is scared and its kind of cute to see her gripping my arm tight while letting the nurse perform the test. She didn’t realize it yet nor I stepped away. Not just my support, I am willing to offer her my everything, I want her to know.


The swab samples are collected and the results will be out tomorrow. As soon as they leave, Khushi leaves my arm and gets up from the couch, rubbing her nose to ease the prickly feeling after the test.


“Sorry. Did I hurt you?” she innocently asks as I check my arm where her nails have left a mark.

“I am honored.” I mock, making her embarrassed.

“Show me.”


She holds my hand and checks the soft bruises on my wrist.

“These look bad. I am really sorry Arnav. I don’t fear injections but even the thought of swab tests gives me goosebumps.”

Payal and Akash come back shutting the door.

“Another week and we will be back to our homes.” Payal mentions bringing a smile on Khushi’s face too but I am not happy. I am going to miss her like Hell!!

Akash pats my back.

“Did you tell her?” He whispers.


I nod in denial and then walk away. Letting someone know my feelings has never been this painful and tedious.


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

Khushi’s POV


Day 8


I am completing my morning Jogging within the vicinity of the bungalow. It’s sad that despite having a beach around, we cannot step out. I keep taking circles around the bungalow we are currently residing, speaking to Dad over my Bluetooth speaker. He seems very excited as we will get to meet him in one week.


“Miss you too, Dad. I promise after this, I am never going to leave you alone again.” I say slowing down my steps.


He laughs at that statement.

“I don’t want such a promise,” he replies. “Every daughter has to marry someday and leave her father’s home. So will you and Payal.”


Marriage! That thought itself pales my face. I sit on the bench, tying the loosened shoe laces.


“So? Did you like Nandakishore? I am waiting for your approval Khushi.”

“It’s too soon, Dad.” I retort and that’s not it. I am still confused with a lot of stuff. Arnav’s closeness has always affected me and NK could never reach the level beyond a friend. Still every night I see the same man who has been the star of my dreams from past three years and knowing he is attracted to me too, my thrill is at another level.

“Soon? I understand.” Dad replies. “That’s why I have called NK for a dinner after you are back home. He has graciously accepted the invitation.”


What? Dinner? God!!

“Dad, don’t you think you are going too fast?”

“You are the one who showed interest in marriage at the first place.” He debates.

“Fine. But that doesn’t mean I will marry in a month. I am not mentally ready.”


I wipe my face with the towel. I am aware I was the one who pushed Dad to look for prospective grooms for me thinking Arnav is dating someone else. That’s exactly how NK came into the picture. I never thought Dad would find someone so soon. And see my fate!! I got to know that I was jealous on Arnav for no reason immediately after Dad picked NK for me. All this is so twisted. I have to sort this before it gets even more complicated.


“Dad, I have got to take a shower now. Will call you later”

“Okay, but I am not cancelling the dinner invitation.”


I frown.

“Okay, let NK come for dinner once I am back. We will see how this goes.” I say and disconnect.


The moment I turn, Arnav is right there staring at me with hooded eyes. I have never seen his brooding expression like the one he has on his face now.


“Morning..” I smile but he doesn’t greet me back. “What? Won’t wish me back?”


He strides to me in three long steps and clutching my shoulders, hauls me to him.


“What the hell are you doing Khushi?” He growls.


It really pains me the way he is holding but more than that I am worried of his sudden anger.

“What did I do?” I wince in pain.

“You don’t know?” He snaps. “You are giving wrong signals to two men at the same time. How can you not get it dammit?”


WHAT? Wrong signals? Two men? What the hell does he mean by that? I push his chest angrily and step away from him.


“Mind your words Arnav. You cannot just insult me and my character for nothing.”

“I am insulting you?” He roars again. “Didn’t you invite NK for dinner?”

“Dad did.” I debate.

“And you agreed to that.”

“So?” I snarl not understanding where this conversation is leading to. “Dad has chosen him for me.. Obviously, I cannot deny if he has invited someone for dinner.”

“And me?” Arnav barks. His temper doesn’t seem to tone down. “What about me? When is my invite coming? After you reject NK after entertaining him by your frequent chats? Or are there more in your father’s list after NK?”

“SHUT UUP” I shout back.


I am pissed at Arnav and for his cheap thinking.


“Your thoughts digust me Arnav. In fact, it is YOU who annoy me now.” I rub my temple in frustration. “I was so wrong to think we can even be friends.”


Arnav goes blank at my reply. I take another few seconds to compose myself.


“This is my life and you are no one to tell me whom I should befriend with. I am capable enough to make that decision. So just stay away from me and my personal life.”


Saying that I run back to the house.


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

Arnav’s POV


WHAT THE HELL!! Khushi asked me to stay away from her? How dare she? I watch her leave inside the house. When I saw her jogging, I decided to join her and tell her my feelings but when I heard her confirming to her father that he can invite NK for dinner once she is back, I couldn’t hold myself from venting out my frustration on her. Isnt it obvious that she is dragging NK too long when she knows I like her and that she is herself attracted to me?


“Bhai?” Akash interrupts my thoughts. “What happened? Khushi didn’t look in a good mood. I wished her but she hardly smiled at me. Is all okay between you two?”


I swallow painfully and decide not to share anything with Akash yet. I don’t want anyone’s lectures now. So, I ask him to ignore and get back in the house. Khushi joins me for cooking the breakfast after an hour but we both ignore each other. For a second, I feel like dragging her to me and tell her I am sorry for behaving like that but the immediate next second I wanted to scold her too for not understanding what we both want from each other. Can she be that innocent? I don’t think so!!


After the breakfast is done, Khushi resumes back to her room with Payal but she forgets her phone on the table. I am about to ask Akash to return it to her when the phone rings aggravating me further as I see the caller id is of NK. Without a second thought, I answer the call.


“Hello”

“Uhh.. Hi.. Can I speak to Khushi?” NK asks politely, making me fist my fingers. How dare he want my woman? I know he is not at fault. He doesn’t even know I exists in Khushi’s life so I decide to change that a bit.

“Sorry. Khushi has gone to Shower.” I lie.


There is pin drop silence for a few seconds.

“Okay.. .Uh… Who are you by the way? I mean…what is Khushi’s phone doing with you?” NK cross questions.

“I am Arnav Singh Raizada. Khushi didn’t tell you about us?” I mock.


He goes silent again.


“About us?” He repeats. “What about us?”


This is my opportunity to close NK’s chapter forever and I don’t let it go.


“Khushi and I are dating each other. We stay in the same Villa from past a week too. I think she forgot to mention about me to her new friends. Don’t mind. She can be really silly sometimes to hide her secrets. Actually, she wants me to meet her father first and only after his approval, we want to make it official between her friends and social circle.”


I smirk hard thinking NK’s reactions on the other end.


“Is this Khushi Gupta you are talking about? I mean, I am sorry but she never told me.. and… Umm… never mind.. Nice talking to you mate..” NK’s dull voice gives me so much satisfaction that I want to jump in excitement.


“Same here. I will tell Khushi you called once she is out. She doesn’t take long to shower.”


I purposely add that last line to make NK realize how I know everything about Khushi which he can never do. That I am the one knowing such intimate details about her and there can never be anyone else other than me. I was always jealous about him and today this is my only chance to vent out my jealousy once for all.


“Yea..” he coughs. “I mean… sure let her know I called Bye.”


He disconnects and I put the phone back on the table. Akash reaches me again.

“Was that Khushi’s call you attended Bhai?” He asks curiously.

“Hmm, give her phone back.”

“Okay.. but whose call?”


I pat his arm with another smile.


“Don’t tell her she had got a call which I answered. She will come to know later as it is.”


I walk away leaving Akash utterly confused.


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


It’s almost evening and I haven’t seen Khushi back down. As usual Akash and Payal are taking a walk in the garden. This has been their routine now. They like spending the evenings together and I am sure something strong is brewing between them. I so wish me and Khushi also be like that someday.


“HOW DARE YOU ARNAV?” Khushi storms in the living room with the phone in her hand. She looks disappointed and I realize why?

“Good evening Khushi” I tease greeting her instead in my sexiest voice.


She throws her phone on the couch where I am seated.

“You took NK’s call?” She asks crossing her arms at front.

I get up.

“I did.”

“And you told him all that rubbish about us?”

The strength of her anger, overwhelmed me. She didn’t look in a mood to listen to me patiently. Or maybe, I had really crossed a line this time.

“Define rubbish for me please. Because whatever you think rubbish might be the most important factor in my life.”


Khushi’s cheeks turn red and I know that’s not only because of me teasing. She is clearly angry on me.

“You lied to him we are dating? Like seriously Arnav? You could stoop so low? Only to break my alliance? I…”


Before she could continue showering her disappointment on me, I interrupt.


“There was no alliance between you and NK ever, Khushi. And I didn’t lie to him. Just gave him the forecast of our future.”

“FUTURE?” she snaps and then goes silent for a second. “Are you even in your senses Arnav? Do you know what…”


I don’t let Khushi speak but pull her to me and kiss her cheek.


To be Continued.

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Happily-Ever-After is not what I was looking for after a heart-breaking love tragedy in my life 9 years ago. I still believe in love but it’s simply not for me anymore. Burying the demons that scared me, I have stepped into a new world to make a fresh identity and only when I thought things will sort out for me now, I get an invitation from the Royals of Mahalpur for teaching Painting to someone from their family. I take it up as they are ready to pay me a huge sum for this three-month tutoring. Least did I know life was throwing a challenge named Raunak Malhotra, the eldest son of the Royal family, who had an attitude as high as Mt Everest and anger which could burn a whole city in seconds.

Raunak Malhotra

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"I considered Marriage a trouble enough for lifetime until I met Tarini."

Standalone Romance Novel of Accidental Marriage Series Book 1 

Billionaire Viren Dewan’s sister was getting married in one month and Event Manager Tarini Kaur bagged that project to plan her wedding. She struggled organizing the wedding as Viren Dewan’s classy extravagant attitude kept hurdling her work. Least did she know they had a history together, a knot which his family easily forgot and hers denied to accept. What would happen when that past resurfaced?


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Standalone Romance Novel

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They say ‘Patience is virtue’ and I have lived by that term for six long years. Not anymore. The woman who has possessed my dreams all these years, is back in town and she also happen to be my newly hired PR Manager. If there is anything in this world that I have so strongly wanted, it’s HER.

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A tangled web of Love, Passion and Responsibility.

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