My New Boss - Season 3 - Part 24

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Chapter 24


Khushi’s POV

“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.

“You have either stood by me in my difficult times or have offered to help even if I never asked. I do care for you, Arnav. I’m not that blind and self-centered.”

He keeps staring at me, letting me speak as I apply the cream on his jaw.

“But..” I look in his eyes, firmly because I want him to know that he can’t persuade my decisions. I don’t allow anyone to do so. “I am used to be on the decision-making side. Not the other way round.”

Eyes locked on mine, Arnav takes the tube from my hand and I assume he puts it away.

“I respect that, Khushi Gupta but when it comes to your security, I’m always going to object if you make any silly decision.”

I am about to debate when he cups my face.

“You are precious to me. I can’t risk your life.”


My heart skips a beat. I fight to keep myself from trembling when his thumbs brush my cheeks ever so lightly yet intense enough to bring goosebumps to my skin. I clutch both his wrists to stop him from doing anything further.


“You have self-created barriers around you, Khushi. And I understand why you did so,” he says, looking intently in my eyes. “A woman like you… out into the world.. alone.. without any support.. without anyone who loved and cared for her.. had to take care of herself. But these barricades wont work on me. I am going to break them, and bring you out of that hard shell which has become your comfort zone.”


Every word he said right now, tickles my heart, and I lean my face to rub his hot palms that have cupped my face. He’s holding me so tenderly which I am not used to.


“Arnav?”

Aarti aunty’s voice from the bedroom breaks our reverie and I instantly pull away from Arnav Singh Raizada. What the hell was I doing? He stares at me with the same intense look while I’m panicking that Aunty might enter the bathroom and see us together. I don’t want that to happen.

“Are you inside, Arnav?” Aunty knocks the door of the bathroom and now every chance of me leaving the room without being caught is gone.

“Yes Mom. I’m in here.” He replies, without dropping his gaze from mine. I see a mischievous smile on his face as if he is enjoying my state. That’s when I feel even more mortified because this man here is only clad in a towel. Damn Hell! What had gotten into me that I barged inside his private moment.

“Did you see Khushi? She is not in her room. The tea is ready so I wanted to call her down.” Aunty inquires.


My jaw drops as Arnav leans behind the marble slab, crossing his arms at front, raising his brows as if questioning me what his reply should be. I mouth him not to tell anything about me being inside with him and he clearly nods in denial. What the F*** is he doing? He wants to tell his mother I am in the bathroom with him? I stride to him, pointing a finger on his chest mouthing him to do as I want and give some excuse so that his mother walks away, whereas Arnav keeps grinning at my flushed state.


“Arnav? I asked you something,” Aunty shouts again.

“I heard Mom.” He holds his laugh. “Khushi is..”


I stamp his foot and he groans aloud.

“Arnav? What happened? Are you okay?” she bangs the door again.

“Yah..” He frowns. “Shaving my beard, Mom. Got a minor cut.. I am fine.. I don’t know where she is. How would I know where she is?”


Aunty laughs. Thank God Arnav lied.

“I thought you would know, son. These days you have been investing a lot of time in admiring her.”


My mouth hangs open. His mother knows this? And wait.. did she say Arnav admires me a lot these days? Nothing I didn’t know. But still. Knowing a third person also knows about it makes me nervous. I gape at Arnav who is shamelessly smiling at me.


“It’s pure admiration, mom. Just trying to figure out what she is.. in and out..”


I’ll die out of embarrassment if this doesn't stop. Arnav’s arm slides around my waist and he draws me to his body. Languid heat pools in my lower body as I place my palm over his naked chest for support.

“Have dinner with me,” he whispers. “Somewhere out.”

Breath holds captive in my lungs at his open proposal.

“Are you kidding me?” I mouth.

“Does it look like I am kidding?” he grins again. “Say yes, or else I’ll tell mom you are in here, with me.”

“You won’t” I mutter.

“Mom..”


I immediately shut his mouth to stop him from blurting that out.

“fine” I mumble. “Just one dinner and you will stop persuading me.”

“Arnav? Whom are you talking to? I heard some whispers.”


OMG. Aunty is too sharp.

“Talking to my other half, Mom”

What the F***! Did he call me his other half?”

“Talking to the mirror Mom, to my reflection. And No I haven’t seen Khushi. Can you check in the garden? Maybe she is out there. I’ll come down for tea in a minute.”

“Alright. Come soon”


I take a sigh of relief as I hear her footsteps and soon she is out of this room.

“Tomorrow.. 08:00 pm. Be ready.” Arnav says and I instantly pull away from him and march out of the door.


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

Arnav’s POV


I need another cold shower. Khushi Gupta has imprinted her memories in my bathroom and I can’t get them off my head. I can’t believe I was so comfortable in a towel when she was here beside me. All the anger I had because she was rude with me today morning, was gone out of the door the moment she healed my bruises. And she said she cared for me. That soothed the rest of my heart ache. I am so glad mom interrupted this moment between us or else I wouldn’t be able to persuade her for coming out with me. Now she’s promised to come for dinner and I can’t wait to see how that goes. With Khushi, Mom, dad and me all under one roof is giving me hopes of a happy family, something we all four have craved for secretly.


When I come down for tea, mom and Khushi are already having it. Khushi ignores my grin and keeps talking to mom. I take a seat next to my mother so that I can face her directly. Obviously, she won’t look at me, but why should I waste my chance to look at her when I can? And since I am next to mom, my mother wouldn’t even know I am admiring Khushi Gupta as they talk.


“Where were you, Khushi? Mom was looking for you.” I tease.

“I was right here..” she lies, clenching her jaw. Earlier she could threaten me by her stern expressions, now I know they are not real. This woman is way too soft inside. “What happened to your jaw??”

She pretends as if she is oblivious to my bruise whereas in reality she is the one who treated my wounds.

“Shaving cut..” I smirk.

“Be careful Arnav,” she mocks. “Where is your focus these days?”

“On you..”


Mom coughs and that’s enough hint that I should stop speaking so directly.


“I mean… All my focus these days is on the incident that you faced in the hotel.”


Khushi keeps her eyes glued to me as if reading my thoughts.

“Oh yes” Mom intervenes, “Did the police find out who they were?”

“Not yet. These goons who did it are heavily paid and they are not ready to open their mouths who sent them but one thing is sure, they were there to abduct Khushi.”


Khushi flinches. Even the thought of her feeling unsafe and in danger makes my heart race.

“I have hired a private investigator to handle this matter separately,” I add.

“You mean a detective?” Khushi queries.

“Yes, he is good in his job..”

“Don’t spend so much unnecessarily. Let the police do their jobs.” She argues.

“The detectives will only speed up the investigation, Khushi and I don’t know about you but I am hell curious to get the proofs against the Jhas so that we take the necessary actions against them. I want you safe and it will happen only when these Jhas are taught a lesson.”


Khushi swallows her anger while my mother is even more nervous.

“Arnav, you said these Jha family are very powerful…” Mom reminds. “Just be safe. I don’t want you or Khushi to land in more trouble.”

“We’ll we careful” I assure her and then turn to Khushi again who looks a bit guilty.

“You are dragged in this unnecessarily because of me..” she mutters. “If its really the Manohar Jha or Shyam behind this, I think I should handle it talking to them openly once.”

“Over my dead body you are going there alone to talk.” I scowl.

“Arnav” Both Mom and Khushi yell back at me, the same time. Mom’s worry is understood but because Khushi too shouted back at me over my remark, this time I don’t feel bad.

“Don’t talk about death.” Mom shouts at me whereas Khushi goes quiet realizing she shouldn’t have yelled like that.

“Sorry Mom. But I mean it.” I turn to Khushi again. “You’ll never contact anyone from Jha without my knowledge.”


She shakes her head in dismissal.


“You don’t need to get into this, Arnav. I know them better than you.”

“And they are dangerous. I can’t risk your safety Khushi. For once, let me lead this. I know you like taking your own decisions but leave this one to me.”

“He is right..” Mom adds. “This is no more your fight Khushi. And I have faith Arnav will lead this better if you let him support you.”


Khushi thinks for a minute and then nods in agreement.


“Fine. If they contact me, I’ll tell you and I wont contact them myself. Happy?”

“very” I grin sipping my tea.


Convincing Khushi has never been easy but I am glad this time she is letting me in… I promise to erase every problem of her life if she lets me take the lead like this.


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

Khushi’s POV


Next Day


I can’t believe I am ready to go out with Arnav today for dinner. Last night I made sure not to disturb Aunty again and even though I had to toss in my bed, I didn’t go to her room where I knew Arnav would already be there, waiting for me. That man has seriously been crossing the limits. He is openly flirting with me, teasing me and also leading me to sort my problems. For once, I feel like stepping back and letting him sort it but I don’t want to get used to his favors.


I quickly apply the nude lip-gloss and that’s when I see him in the mirror. He is leaning at the door, with his arms crossed, watching me get ready. When did he come here?

“You didn’t knock” I remind him, turning around.

“I apologize for that. But had I knocked, I wouldn’t be able to see how good you look when you think about me then.”


Thank god there is less light in the room because his remarks are flaming my cheeks.

“Let me warn you, Arnav. You’ll be bored with me by the end of this dinner. I am unlike other women who can entertain a man with her charm. I have no such interest.”

Arnav stands straight taking a step inside my room.

“You don’t have to charm me. I am already bewitched, Miss Gupta.”

“Says the man who told me during our first meet that he hates women like me?” I mock.


He halts his steps to recall that night in the club where we met for the first time. We didn’t know each other then and he still seemed to read a lot about me that night. The words he used to describe me that night is still ringing in my head.


“You look the hunting kind. Someone who wants it all for herself.. someone who wants to snatch not acquire… wants to rule not bend.. Someone who wants to dominate and not be a submissive.. And I effing Hate such women.”


I come out of my thoughts and look back in his eyes.

“I am still a hunter, a woman who wants to snatch, rule, dominate and hence the kind of woman you seemed to hate earlier. So, I don’t understand why are you interested in me all of a sudden? Why so much favors? Why the urge to take me out on date or to keep me safe? Why?”


Seems like I have stunned him by my questions and I am glad for once I could shut him up otherwise recently, he’s the one who has been doing that.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

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FORBIDDEN - PAPERBACKS ARE OUT

 

PAPERBACKS / HARDCOPIES of FORBIDDEN ARE OUT NOW. 

The Forbidden Series Book 1 (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.

The Story of Aarav Raichand continues in Book 2 of The Forbidden Series - FALLEN (Releasing Soon)

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