My New Boss - Season 3 - Part 27

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Chapter 27


Khushi’s POV

I knock the door of Aarti aunty’s bedroom praying Arnav isn’t here. After tonight’s dinner and the way he handled Shyam at the hotel, and later confessed to me that no matter how much baggage we both had, he was still interested in having a relationship with me, I wanted him much aloof from me at the moment.. at least for tonight.


“Khushi?” Aunty opened the door.

“Did I disturb you?” I ask, clearing my throat. I feel very awkward to ask her if I can sleep next to her tonight but she reads my mind.

“Kids never disturb their mothers. You are welcome to sleep here with me tonight. Come..”


I can’t thank her enough for letting me in. It’s a huge favor that I can never think of repaying her. Once we have settled on the bed, she turns to me.

“You know you can talk to me anything. Only because Arnav is my son doesn't mean I will always take his side.”

My heart beats faster.

“Why did you say that?” I ask. “I mean, I never said that I have a problem because of Arnav…”

“Oh dear” she smiles. “You might think you are good at acting cool but nothing hides from a mother’s eye.”


The moment she says this, a lone drop of tear slides down my cheek.

“Ohh.. My poor baby. Come here..”


She takes me in her embrace and I cuddle her tight. I didn’t feel this warmth of a mother from years and now that Aarti Aunty hugged me, I get the strength I needed to talk.


“Arnav wants to date me,” I find the courage to speak up.

“That’s the best thing he has ever desired.”


Her reply stuns me and I pull myself away to meet her eyes.

“Are you.. okay with that?”

“Why not?” She smiles. “I’ve always wanted to see him showing real interest in relationships. If he has taken this initiative now, I am glad he is finally on the right track.”


I keep staring at her as she continues.

“Arnav has longed to see me and Ayush together, under one roof, Khushi. We could never give him that. I wont say it was Ayush’s mistake or mine. We both were equally at fault in not giving our only son what he deserved but that has left a deep impact in Arnav’s heart. I know he thinks he is not prepared for a lifetime commitment like marriage but I know he is the only one between us who knows its importance, and values it.”


Aunty palms my face.


“You are a strong woman, Khushi and Arnav’s inclination towards you has never gone unseen by me and Ayush. We have talked about it too but it doesn't matter what Ayush and me think. It is solely on what you and Arnav feel and want.”


I swallow painfully.

“I don’t think I am prepared for this.”

She still keeps smiling.

“No one is ever prepared for anything in life, Khushi but that doesn't mean you can’t try. How would you know something is right for you unless you try it?”

She sounds right but I still have my notions.


“I come with a huge baggage.. so does he. I don’t want to burden us with each other’s problems and past.”

“Who doesn't have a past?” she asks. “Everyone has something or the other they don’t like about their pasts Khushi. People still move on and work on their future rather than repenting or grieving of the things they couldn’t control in their past.”


“I won’t force you to take a decision but think about it. Arnav is a good man, I can vouch you on that. He’ll never hurt a woman. And coming to you my child..” she cups my face. “You need to take life a bit easy hereon. You need to smile and let love find you. Even if you don’t find that love in Arnav, doesn't matter but loosen up a bit. Don’t take every little thing to your heart and stress about it. Live your life the way it makes you happy.”


I grab her hands and nod in agreement. This little talk has helped me a lot.

“Good, now close your eyes and go to sleep. I’m making pancakes tomorrow for breakfast. Do you like it?”

“Very much” I smile.

“We all do.” She kisses my forehead and keeps patting my back and stroking my head until sleep consumes me.


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

Ayush’s POV


Seeing Aarti in my kitchen makes me want to stand here and admire her as much as I could but she realizes my presence the moment I step in. I don’t think I can ever get rid of seeing her in satin robes, especially my favorite black one.


“Stop ogling me, Ayush. The breakfast will be ready in 15 minutes. Do you want anything else?”

“As if you will grant me anything I want.” I mock.


She turns around again, this time meeting my gaze with her glare.


“What do you mean? All my life I gave you everything you have wanted. You asked for a divorce, I did. You asked for Arnav’s joint custody, I did. What else didn’t I give you, Ayush?”

“Stop putting this all on me, Aarti. Our marriage broke because we both were fools to put our egos and selfish needs in between. I didn’t want the divorce until you told me you felt suffocated in this marriage. And Arnav stayed with you for 11 months of the year and I got only one month to see and stay with him.”


She looks at me like I spilled some poison on the table.

“Fine..” she gasps. “There is no point discussing this now. Our divorce is a stale subject for us and Arnav is grown up now to see us whenever he wants to instead of we making a time table for him.”


I was about to say something when my phone rang. I realized the call was important but the moment I glanced at Aarti, she gave me a mocking smile.


“Work, isn’t it? Please answer it, Ayush. You can’t ignore work for anyone. Definitely not for your ex-wife.”


My heart lurched at her remark and I disconnected the call, surprising her. Three steps is all it took to pin Aarti to the marble top. She looked nervous as hell as I denied dropping my gaze from her angelic face.


“You still look irresistible when you fight with me,” I whisper.


Her eyes widened in shock at my comment.

“I know it’s weird but I have missed our fights too apart from missing you.”

Her face softens and I know she is curbing the desire to touch me.

“Don’t you miss me?” I ask, pushing a tendril of hair behind her ear.

She shuts her eyes for a second then shoots them open again.


“No. I have enough people now to give me the company I need.”


Her reply brings back my hidden anger and possessiveness.

“You mean people like the one who offered you his private jet to fly to India?”

She frowns.

“Are you jealous, Ayush?”

“Very”

“You don’t need to be..” she argued, hiding her smile. I know she likes it when I am jealous. It’s rare, I admit.

“Whoever he is.. He is trying to impress you, Aarti. Stay away from him.”


She is about to argue when we both hear someone clearing throat from behind us. Aarti gives me a hard push before turning to our son standing at the kitchen door.


“What is happening here?” Arnav barges inside giving me and Aarti, both, confused glares.

“I.. I was making pancakes for everyone..” Aarti replies.

“And I was asking your mother to stay away from other men out there who are trying to impress her.”


Arnav raises his brow, questioningly.

“You don’t have the right to pick Mom’s friends, Dad. Just like she doesn't get the right to interfere in your personal life.”

“I don’t go out with women..” I snap. “And son, let’s not discuss what rights I have on her. It’s between me and her.”

“Actually, it always was about you and her, wasn’t it?” he scolds. “About your likes, your issues, your problems. If you both had ever taken decisions of your life keeping me and my priorities too in consideration, I don’t think I would be this messy in my thoughts about relationships..”


I am surprised he spoke to us like that but whatever he said has zipped our lips.


“Arnav, its not like that son…” Aarti tries to console him but he walks out.

“Arnav wait..” I shout but he doesn't stop on my call either.


I turn to Aarti who wipes the corner of her eyes. She gets too emotional these days.


“He is just like you were during his age. Arrogant and hard on himself,” she complains.


I don’t argue over that. She is right. I’ll pacify him and bring him down. She nods and continues with the breakfast.


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

Arnav’s POV


I can’t believe I saw all that.. My dad convincing or rather almost threatening mom to stay away from her male friends. Like seriously? Does he think he still have rights on her? I ignore the knock on the door but Dad still gets inside.


“Arnav?”

“Don’t” I say aloud, turning to him. “You can’t control anything now dad. You should have done it before.”



Dad shakes his head, little disappointed on himself.

“I’m not very proud of the way I led my past either, Arnav. I know I made mistakes and took bad decisions for our family but what if I want to rectify them now?”


I am about to debate but he doesn't let me.

“Just listen to me completely before sharing your thoughts. Please.”


I control myself and let him speak.

“Your mother is here in this house for only a few days and I want to make the most of it to convince her that I am repenting on letting her go from my life earlier. I don’t want to do that anymore. I want her back and..”

“You are getting old, Dad” I interrupt. “And that’s why you want her as your support at this age. You didn’t make any attempt to win her back all these years, why now?”

“I was blind all these years. Fool even. If seeing her again here, in this house where we began our married life together makes me realize my mistake at this moment, am I not allowed to rectify it now?”


He reaches me and grabs my arms.


“We both missed giving you a happy family in your childhood when you deserved it the most, let me try it now. I promise you Arnav, I won’t let you down this time. Please.”


His speech has rendered me speechless. Does Dad want to win Mom again? And where will this lead to? Will mom agree? Does she still love dad? Can I have that hope of we as a family staying under one roof again?

“Fine” I nod. “You have few days left to try, Dad. But if Mom doesn't want to reconcile, you are not pushing her more.”

“I accept.” He smiles at me and gives me a tight hug. “Thank you, Son. Thank you so much…”

“And no touching mom unnecessarily like you did there today in the kitchen” I snap.


He pulls back from the hug and stares at me horrified. I try pretending to be serious but when he reads me carefully, he comes to know I am just teasing him, he pats my arm.


“You were very possessive of your mother too as a toddler and a kid. I still remember whenever I tried to hug her or kiss her even, you always used to come between us and try to take her away from me..”


I laugh. Did I really do that? If yes, then I can well imagine how frustrated my father would be at that moment.

“And I always thought that time… that may you grow up soon and you get the same treatment from your child when you kiss your wife before your baby.”

“Ahh” I groan. “That would never happen. If my baby doesn't let me kiss Khushi at home, I’ll kiss her and spend good time with her at office.”


Dad looks stunned at my reply and after a few seconds I realize why? I just took Khushi’s name in the place of my wife. What a blunder!! Here she is still not willing to give a start and I had already imagined having babies with her?


To be Continued.

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SHE STOLE MY HEART (RELEASED ON AMAZON KINDLE)

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A Standalone Office Romance by Madhuri Tamse.

BLURB

How does it feel when the most charming man in the city chooses you for a dance, ignoring every other gorgeous face around? Splendid, isn't it? And what if that man is also your Boss who has never shown a bit of interest in you so far? Bizarre!! But that's how Ritwik Bajaj, the most eligible bachelor in the Fashion industry, also known for his playboy nature, swooned me. It was not just a ball night to remember but the most nerve-tickling three weeks of my life after, where he fulfilled all my romantic fantasies, which I wondered a man like him will ever shower upon me.

But Why? My mind kept asking me that a million times, whilst my heart coerced me to go with the flow.

"They say charming a woman was my art, though none ever stayed in my life cart. But with flowers and wines... gifts and dines, She Stole My Heart ~ Ritwik Bajaj."