My New Boss - Season 3 - Part 23

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Chapter 23


Khushi’s POV


I toss on the bed to get some sleep but whenever I close my eyes, I see the same hotel scene flashing in my head. Were those goons sent by Shyam or his father? I don’t know but I shouldn’t underestimate their power. All thanks to Ayush Sir and Arnav for helping me out. I don’t know what I would have done had the Raizada family not been there to support me. After dad and mom passed away in that accident, I never got such strong people in my life who made me feel wanted and loved. This is the first time I feel I can trust again on life, on goodness and most importantly on my fate.


I decide to call Lavanya but then she is in Goa busy in shoots. What should I do? I want to sleep but my mind is too busy to let me rest. I get down the bed as a weak thought crosses my head. What if I go to Aarti aunty? I always feel at ease when I am with her. But it’s half past ten, will she still be awake? I’ll knock and check.

I get out of my room and knock Aarti aunty’s bedroom door only to realize that the door is slightly open already and Arnav Singh Raizada is also in the same room with his mother.


I really never thought Arnav would be here too or else I would not have knocked.

“Khushi?” Aarti aunty smiles waving at me to get inside. “Come on in. You didn’t sleep?”


I swallow nervously, glancing at Arnav once who has sprawled on his mother’s bed with his head on her lap. She was stroking his hair lovingly, when I knocked.

“I couldn’t sleep actually,” I murmur.

“Oh. Even Arnav couldn’t sleep. That’s why he came here. Come to me.”


I don’t understand what to do. Maybe I should just sit on the bed next to them, have a little chat and then I might feel better. A sudden tingle runs through my body as Arnav stretches his arm for me to hold. My brows raise in question whereas all he does is smirk.


“There’s no best place to get sleep than on a mother’s lap.”


I gulp again knowing what he is offering me. Arnav moves a little to give me some space next to him so that I too can place my head on Aarti’s aunty lap and sleep parallel to Arnav. But seriously?

“He is right..” Aunty clears my doubts. “Come here.”


She pats on the other side of her lap and I am overwhelmed with emotions. I gently lay down on her lap, with my eyes still fixed on Arnav as he sleeps parallel to me.


“You feel anything?” he murmurs, his eyes roaming on my face as if I am his to gawk.

My eyes widen in shock.

“What the F***” I mouth only for his ears.

“Motherly feelings Miss Gupta..” he says that aloud holding his grin. “The warmth of love and affection which springs out from my mother. Do you feel that?”


I know he wasn’t talking about the feelings related to his mother. He always has a double meaning hidden in his words as we converse these days. He was hinting at his feelings.. as I am so close to him and we are lying next to each other which can never happen otherwise.


“Shut up Arnav. Don’t tease her.” Aunty pats his arm gently and then lovingly strokes my hair. “Ignore him Khushi. Just close your eyes and try to sleep.”

“Yea.. you better close your eyes and stop staring at me.” He teases me again.

My jaw hangs at his open flirting.

“I really can’t believe you are Ayush Sir and Aunty’s son. They are such sober people but you…”

“I am the best man any woman would desire for herself..” he interrupts. “But not your fault, Khushi. Only Intelligent women can understand my worth.”


I push his chest this time, but I do so gently, not to hurt him. Aunty laughs at his teasing.

“Stop it both of you. You both fight like five-year-old kids. Especially you, Arnav. Let her sleep. You both close your eyes, now.”


She is right.. I better ignore this man and try get some sleep. I close my eyes but for some reason I feel hot.. And I know why.. I don’t think Arnav has shut his eyes. It’s his gaze that’s lingering on my face which makes me flushed and confused. He always brings out this woman-ness in me which I never felt before with any other man. I shoot my eyes open only to find him staring at me, up close, so hot and sexily that I shut my eyes again. God! What the hell is he doing? How can he ogle me so openly before his mother? I keep my eyes shut in the fear that his mother will know her son’s feelings for me and soon, sleep takes over.


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

Arnav’s POV


She is fast asleep and why not? She was close to me. That thought makes me grin. Fine. I won’t take away my mother’s credit. Khushi got some sleep because of my mother’s lap, her warmth and love.

“She’s sleeping” Mom whispers and I get up from her lap.

Mom gently raises Khushi’s head while I adjust the pillow beneath, without waking up Khushi.


“She looks angelic when she is asleep, doesn't she?” Mom asks and I don’t think I can answer that. I am seeing Khushi Gupta sleep for the first time. She looks divine.

“Can she sleep here tonight mom?” It’s more of a request to my mother who fondly nods.

“Of course, she can sleep in my bed tonight. Now you better go back to your room.”


I thank mom and give her a tight hug. She drops me to the door and I stop once again to turn behind and see my angel sleeping.


My angel?

“Now what?” Mom holds her laugh. Shit. I don’t want her to read my feelings yet. Not until Khushi reciprocates the same.

“I was just thinking to check on Dad actually.” I lie.

“Why?” she is confused.

“To tell him that if he isn’t getting sleep which door to knock..”


Mom’s face heats with embarrassment and she pushes me out.

“Get out of my room.”

“Sshh” I hush her. “Khushi will wake up.”

Her brows furrow at my concern for Khushi. I don’t let her think much. Kissing her cheeks, I rush out.


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

Khushi’s POV


I open my eyes, feeling relaxed. It’s morning and fortunately I didn’t wake up in the middle of the night because of any nightmares. I slept like a horse. Wait.. Which room is this? I suddenly realize I slept in Aunty’s room last night. Holy hell. How did this happen? I quickly sit on the bed when the door opens and Aarti aunty enters inside.


“I thought you would be awake. I made coffee for us. Hope you like it.”


She hands me a cup of hot coffee and sits next to me.

“I am sorry, I slept here and I didn’t even realize that..”

“Never mind. I liked that in fact. After so many years, I had someone sleeping next to me. Can’t expect my son to do that, he needs his own privacy and Ayush..” she suddenly pauses realizing her mistake.


I don’t know why I feel she and Ayush Sir still have a connection that they don’t want to acknowledge.


“How’s the coffee?” she changes the topic. I sip it and smile.

“The best.”

“Indeed” we both turn to the door to see Arnav standing there with his own coffee mug. “Good morning.”


Is that good morning for me or his mother? I must be looking like mess. I quickly puff my hair to look presentable if nothing else and when I look at Arnav again, his gaze darkens with a different hunger. It sparkles something inside my body too but we come out of it as soon as Aarti aunty speaks.


“Morning son. When did you wake up?”

“Just few minutes ago.” He replies then turns to me. “Had a good sleep?”

“Hmm” I nod sipping some more coffee.

“I am left alone down there..” Ayush Sir enters the room too with his mug.


Oh my god. What is happening here? The entire Raizada family is here in this room when I have just woken up and not even brushed? Feels odd.

“Nice coffee.” Ayush Sir tells to Arnav who points out at his mother.

“She made it for us.”


As if Sir already knew it, his eyes fix on his wife.. oops.. ex-wife who shifts uncomfortably next to me. Hmm. Not something.. but A LOT is happening between them too which is kind of cute to witness.


“After a long time, had this kind of coffee again. Thank you” Ayush Sir adds.

“Don’t make it a habit, Ayush. I am here for my son and not for too long.”


He looks crushed but Arnav handles the situation.

“Dad what time is the conference today?” he diverts the awkwardness.

“Afternoon. And you don’t worry, I’ll handle it. I am going to office in an hour.”

“I’ll come along.” I mention.

“no” Both Arnav and Ayush Sir say together.


I am confused and startled that they both are taking decisions for me. I don’t like letting others do that when I am fully capable to decide what I have to do.


“The matter is still hot.” Arnav speaks first. “Until we get some clue on this, you wont be stepping out. Not even for work.”

“don’t cage me here, Arnav.” I snap and with all due respect, I am not liking to scold Arnav before his parents but he can’t force me to stay indoors only because there is a threat waiting for me outside.

“I am not caging but protecting you.”

“Thank for that but I don’t need more protection.”

“Hell you don’t” he snaps raising my anger even more.

“Alright, stop you two.” Ayush sir interrupts. “Khushi, Arnav is just being vigilant. We can’t put you in danger again. He is right. I know you are missing office but I promise we will work an alternative for that. Until then, please stay at home. I’ll alone handle going to work because Arnav too can’t stress coming to office when his ankle needs some rest. You two work as much as you want from the home office. Anything that needs your attention, I will ask Aman to bring it here. Alright?”


That seems fair. I can’t cut off Ayush Sir’s orders.


“Okay” I nod.

“What was I telling you then?” Arnav argues to me. “Looks like you have pre-decided never to take my orders. Probably you still think I am inexperienced or you don’t want to take your junior’s commands.”


I glare at him but he is not in a mood to even look at me. He excuses us and strides out.


“This boy” Aarti Aunty sighs. “Don’t bother, he’ll be fine in some time. He’s got his father’s temper.”

“And his mother’s attitude” Ayush sir mocks in the same rigid tone as hers and marches out.


Oh my god. Not again? All these three have temper and attitude issues. Wait. Whom am I kidding? I am also one of them. That makes us four. I grin at that thought. Despite staying with an almost dysfunctional family like them, I feel blessed. Strange.


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

I spend the rest of the day, working from my room as I know Arnav is in the home office and taking the conference from there. It’s been a good day with Aarti aunty frequently asking me if I was comfortable and needed anything. But the truth was she looked as uncomfortable as I was in this mansion. I can understand. She is staying with her ex-husband in that same house where she once married and lived. This would be hard for her. I take a break from work and go looking for her. I don’t find her in her bedroom and so I start looking for her in the other rooms. One of the room door is open hence I slowly push it open to see if Aunty is here.


The room is elegantly designed in grey white theme and has a comfy poolside too. Whose room is this? Ayush Sir? Or.. Before I can guess, I hear Arnav Singh Raizada painful groan from the bathroom. I instantly rush there and knock.

“Arnav? You okay?” I knock again.


He doesn't reply making me all the more worried. The door seems to be open.

“Say something dammit or else I am coming inside..” I warn him but he still doesn't say a word.

“I am coming in” I barge inside and find Arnav Singh Raizada clad in a towel over his waist. He’s freshly showered and looks insanely hot. I mean.. the steam has turned this bathroom extremely hot. I swallow nervously as he looks for something in the drawers inside. That’s when I see his jaw has a cut.. He was shaving and the razor pierced his skin. Now blood oozes from the cut and he’s probably looking for a cream to stop it.

“Who shaves after bath?” I snap, reaching him and looking for some antiseptic cream in the other drawers.

“I do..” he groans. “And don’t pretend you care when you don’t.”

“Pretend?” I clench my jaw. “You think I am pretending to care for you? How on earth can you blame me with something so cruel?”


I find the cream and he is about to snatch it when I push his arm away.

“Wash your wound first. You can’t apply the cream on that blood.”

He snatches that tube from me.

“I’ll do what I want to do.”


What the hell! Why is he so mad at me? I try to recall and then remember I scolded him this morning before his parents. So, that’s why he is behaving so weird? What can I do now to pacify him? I stare at him as he cleans his wounds and the next instant, I grab the antiseptic cream from the marble.


“What the..” he scowls.

“Sshh. I am not going to run away with it. Relax. I’ll help you.”

“No thanks.”


I don’t like it when he throws this much attitude at me. God knows how he handles mine. But since I am the one who have to pacify him, I am not going to give up. I push him to the marble slab and stand before him, pressing the cream in my fingers.


My actions turn him motionless. I apply the cream on his bruise on the right jaw. He flinches when the cream comes in contact with his skin at first but when I blow some air over it, he relaxes. I know he is staring at me… but I make sure to only focus on his jaw and nowhere else.


“You amuse me Miss Gupta,” he speaks. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I had to…” I reply softly. “Because I care..”


Our eyes lock for a long minute until his grumpy face changes and he smiles at me.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART

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