Bride of Sheesh Mahal - Season 3 - Part 5

(BANNER TO BE POSTED SOON) 

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Chapter 5


Arnav’s POV


I wait there, for around 15 minutes, staring at the mess me and Miss Devotee created. The papers are everywhere scattered in the store room. I have to check with Uncle if all this data we have here is already saved somewhere in the database. If yes, such mess could be avoided. A minute later Khushi comes in the room with a hot water bag.


“This should help,” she gives me the bag and though I am thankful for her to even care for me, I am more worried how to use this bag to soothe my aching back? I can’t hold the bag behind which is obvious even to her. “Let me help.”

“No thanks. I can manage”

She stops and keeps staring at me with folded arms. My struggles make me groan and I finally give up.

“Fine..” I pass her the bag and she takes it without any fuss.

“Sit on the couch.”

I do as told and the next instant she is behind me, pressing the hot water bag on my spine.. Aahh!! Feels burning at first but then the aches subside as she continues. None of us speak for long.


“You should speak to your grandmother,” she says.

“Speak what?” I turn to look at her over my shoulder.

“About her proposal. She is pushing us both in a relationship which we don’t want. I mean, I know you don’t want a woman like me in your life.”


How is she so sure I don’t want a wife like her?


I am about to grip her wrist when she pulls away from me. This is what I hate about her. She is touch-me-not types. Since the ache is better, I turn around and face her.


“Daadi has given us three days. And she has promised me she wont be forcing if any one of us denies marrying the other.”


I see a glint of hope in her eyes.


“Only Devi Maiyaa could do this. She put that sane thought in your grandmother’s head not to force us..”

“Oh yeah?” I frown. “Then who put the proposal thought in my Daadi’s head? Not your Devi Maiyaa?”


That surely makes her speechless again. The door knocks and we see her father smiling at us. I quickly get up.


“Sorry, I didn’t know you were here. I only came here to call my daughter for breakfast..”


Breakfast? She didn’t eat this morning?

“Babuji, you forgot? I am fasting today.”

“Fasting?” I ask curiously.


I don’t care what her father thinks but I don’t see a point why she would fast on a normal day like today.

“Yes, I am fasting today. You have a problem?”

“Khushi? What way is this to talk to people?” her father shouts.

“That’s fine. I don’t expect her to answer me.”


Her father immediately joins his palms apologetically.


“Arnav Beta, don’t mind but my daughter is not like this. She respects everyone. I don’t understand why she is behaving like this with you today”

I quickly hold his hands and move them away.


“You don’t have to apologize to me Mr. Gupta. And your daughter did nothing wrong. She is not liable to answer me at all. Now can I go see my office? I wont mind if you give me a quick tour of it.”

“Sure” he smiles and then turns to Khushi again.

“Have fruits at least. Don’t keep that nirjala fast like last time.”


Nirjala fast? She keeps that too? I realize Nirjala fast means you are not even allowed to drink water the whole day. How can she restrict her body from such basic necessities? I don’t question her and walk out with her father to see the rest of the office.


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

Khushi’s POV


I had to fast and that too the Nirjala fast where I am not even supposed to drink water. I have always believed the harder I fast, the better results Devi Maiya gives in my life. If people think I am too orthodox, so be it. But I couldn’t skip this fast, not when I had to pass through such a tough situation. The sudden proposal from the Raizada family has put me and my father in a deep mess. Babuji wants me to say Yes and I don’t want to accept the proposal. So, this is why I prayed to Devi Maiyaa last night, offering her my nirjala fast today so that she changes my father’s mind. When I openly reject this proposal in three days, I don’t want my Babuji to be upset about it.


I head back to my little desk and continue checking the accounts of the company. Luckily, I never had much workload as I am only handling the accounts of the Raizada charity trust otherwise for the rest of their Company they have big accounting firms doing that for them. An hour later, I again see my father with Arnav Singh Raizada and now they are headed to my small cabin. I get up to pay some respect to these men, especially the owner of this company I work.


“I am glad how everyone has smoothly carried out the operations at this office.” Arnav appreciates.

“This is a small town Arnav bitwa, and everyone here is very loyal to their work.”

“Hmm” his eyes are back on me. “You handle the accounts?”

“Yes”

“Good, show me the accounts of the last two quarters.”


I don’t have a chance to deny so while my father leaves us to continue, Arnav pulls out a chair next to me and focusses on the laptop. I am about to type my password but I look at him.

“Turn your face. I have to input my password.”


I hope I didn’t annoy him. Nope. He is grinning.


“What is so special about your password? Either it will be Devi Maiyaa or touch me not.” he mocks.


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

Arnav’s POV


Her eyes widen in surprise.

“Don’t be so judgmental.” She snaps. “Only because I am such a good devotee doesn’t make me boring or silly.”

“You mean people who keep Devi Maiyaa as her password are silly?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth..”


And I go quiet. Her threatening words forces me to avert my gaze on her lips. She has the most kissable lips on this earth.. Not very thin.. not very full, not very pink and most importantly, perfectly soft.


What the hell am I thinking? I meet her gaze again and seems like she didn’t like me admiring her lips. She instantly gets up.


“Bakshiji..” she calls out someone else.


An old man around her father’s age comes to us.

“Jee bitiya..”

“Please show him all the accounts of last two months.”

“Why?” I rebuke. “Why not you?”

“Because I am not very comfortable to do so. And Bakshiji handled the accounts before me so he knows more than I do.”


Without letting me argue over it, she walks away and the old man takes her seat!! So much touch-me-not? I should be offended by her actions but instead, I am even more curious to change this woman’s attitude. Can I ever change this touch-me-not woman to touch-me types? Damn! That’s another dirty thought and when I realize Bakshiji is waiting for my approval to start, it feels like someone just poured ice water on my head.


“Please begin..” I say oddly, staring at the computer screen.


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


I spend the whole day at that little office and feel good. Everyone here is very loyal, humble and just like family. I like this place already. I realize the wages these people are getting is way too less than the kind of work they do which is why I decide to raise their salaries from next month. Of course I don’t need to ask anyone home to implement this as they would have no issue with it either. When I announce the same, I see the staff smiling, and even thanking me for the same but Khushi Gupta is cold. She didn’t meet me again after she caught me drooling at her lips. Do I need to apologize? Jeez!! With this woman around, all I would keep doing is apologizing to her and to her Devi Maiyaa. One of the reason why I shouldn’t marry her.


The staff disperses and along with them even Khushi but not her father.


“Arnav bitwa, this is a big thing you are doing for all of us..” he says.

“Not as big as the things you all are doing for this Charity trust. So, no need to thank me..”


His eyes go teary and I feel awkward how to handle the situation.


“Mr. Gupta? You okay?”

“Yes.. I am sorry..” he wipes his tears. “Actually, I am so honored that I have got your marriage proposal for my daughter but maybe I am not that lucky to see you as my son-in-law. The final decision will always lie in the hands of Khushi and if she denies, I will be hurt. After knowing about you and your family so much, I really want my daughter to be a part of your family. But..”


I swallow painfully. Never thought this would get so emotional.

“Mr. Gupta, I …”

“I understand..” he cuts my words. “I understand my daughter is not exactly your type but she is a good woman and she will always keep you happy if you agree. She knows to cook, she is intelligent, sharp in her accounting work and she knows each and every household chore. Yes she is too much devoted to Devi Maiyaa but I see it as a blessing. It will take time for her to adjust in any family wherever she will marry but I strongly believe if she gets you as her husband, she will be the luckiest woman on this earth.”

That she will be!! I know how to take care of my family and if she becomes my wife, I’ll make sure to throw all that she ever desired, at her feet… Damn!! Am I thinking her to be my wife? Someone enters the room so Shashi Gupta wipes his tears and smiles.


“I don’t know what your and Khushi’s decision would be but I really want to invite you for dinner at our home. Please don’t say no. Khushi cooks well. You will love her cooked food.”


Oh God! I never thought her father would invite me for dinner. I can’t even deny plus a part of me want to taste the local Indian food of this place so why not?


“Sure, I will surely come for dinner.” I agree.

“Thank you. I will wait for you tonight.”

He thanks me like three more times before walking out. Huh!! This man is really a typical father who wants good for his daughter’s future.


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

Khushi’s POV

I can’t believe Babuji invited that Akdoo Singh Raizada for dinner tonight. But again, who am I to deny cooking for him? As is, I have to break the fast tonight so had to cook something good. I don’t mind cooking extra for him. I am not even sure what he likes or not. I hope he enjoys this simple meal I have cooked for everyone. Payal came to assist me but I denied her to do so she instead helped my father to clean the living room. Now my dinner is ready and our guest is here too. He’s come in his posh car and almost captured the attention of the whole Laxmi Nagar. Babuji steps out to welcome him and then locks the door once they are in.


“Khushi, Arnav bitwa is here. Bring some water.” Babuji shouts and I quickly take a tray of two glasses of water for them.

That’s when our eyes meet again. He better doesn’t see me anywhere except my eyes.. Not even my nose and cheeks.. And date he ogles at my lips. If he thinks because his grandmother has proposed me to marry him, he has the right to drool me, he is so wrong.


“Thank you” he says after sipping some water and putting the glass away. I walk inside again to arrange the meals on the dinner table while he and Babuji chat. I hear Arnav talking about his business in US and my father is gaga over his achievements. Even I am impressed but that doesnt mean I will be his wife..


To be continued.

NEXT PART

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Standalone Enemies to Lovers Romance Novel

Jhanvi Sikand
I was supposed to marry my childhood friend, Mohit Raichand. Call it fate or destiny, I tied the knot with the Forbidden Heir of the Raichand family – Aarav Raichand, instead. I knew nothing about him except that he used me as a pawn to start a war to snatch from the Raichands what was legally his.

Aarav Raichand
Despite being the firstborn in the Raichand family, they forbade me from the rights and tags I should legally own. My father was secretly married to my mother, his middle-class lady love. Yet my egoistic grandmother got him re-married to another woman from her rich circle. She considers their offspring, Mohit Raichand, as the true heir of the family now. I would have ignored it all had her actions not taken my mother’s life. I pledged on my mother’s grave to crush the ego of my grandmother and snatch what is rightfully mine, including the woman she was getting Mohit married to.

A Fight for dominance altered to War for Love. One war, Three Lives, Only Two could survive.

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