My New Boss - Season 3 - Part 48

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Chapter 48


Arnav’s POV


Ever since the party which Aatish Ghosh had thrown ended, Khushi got busy as if she had got some clue on the present issue that’s happening in the company though my focus is completely on something else too. And amidst all this we are also preparing for Mom and Dad’s simple wedding. They want to take vows together, by proper Hindu wedding in a temple and me and Khushi are gearing up for the same.


Though Khushi hasn’t allowed to let me any closer to her nor she’s letting me sleep in her room, I am still not willing to let her ignore me. Once this issue is sorted, I will make sure we come back together and resume our love which is still blooming in our hearts.


Only a week more is left for the wedding and we have already sent out the invitation cards to very close friends and relatives of Raizadas. Now we four are here to shop some jewelry for Mom who is on a spree looking for the best designs. Seeing Khushi assisting Mom makes me smile proudly. They look good together as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Dad and I keep fetching a ring for Mom which he is going to make her wear on their wedding and that’s when a beautiful solitaire diamond ring picks my attention. The moment I see it, I know it will suit Khushi. She is too engrossed with Mom and has been glaring at if I even try to smile back at her. She is unhappy that I am still not telling her the truth behind my game plan but hiding from her is far better than seeing her breaking down. I don’t know how long I can hide it from her though.

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

Khushi’s POV – Three days later.


I have called this urgent meeting between Ayush Sir, Arnav and myself and the moment we are together I open up my findings.

“Khushi? What have you called us here for?” Arnav asks, a bit skeptical what am going to do ahead.


“It’s Shyam Jha.” I throw the evidences on the table before Ayush Singh Raizada and Arnav. They both look at me shocked. “He is with the Ghosh group of Companies and trying to bring us down.”


Ayush Sir begins to check the file but Arnav is trying to connect some dots there.

“God! These can’t be ignored,” Ayush Singh Raizada snaps. “But what I don’t understand is how did you find it?”

“By pretending to join hands with them. I always had this intuition they are not going fair with this deal so I decided to find out and took a bribe from them of 30% of the deal share so that they believe I am on their side. Aatish’s growing trust helped me reach his inner circle and then I saw Shyam Jha in his Cruise party. I immediately hired sources to find their connection and that’s what it is. Shyam is the one who is trying to use them to get to AR Group.”


My Boss looks horrified and agitated but Arnav on the other hand is glaring at me. Probably he didn’t expect me to tell his father about me pretending to cheat part so early. So far, me and Arnav were playing this game opposite to each other because he was unwilling to tell me what the hell he was trying to save us from. Not anymore.

“We should end the contract with Ghosh Group immediately,” I declare turning to Ayush Singh Raizada.

“No, not yet..” Arnav argues.

“What do you mean, not yet? Everything is out in the open, Arnav. What else are you waiting for them to do?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Hold on…” his father interrupts. “Did Arnav too know anything about this?”


I become silent as this is not my part to share but I really want Arnav to share it at least with his father why he is not letting us break this contract right away even now when we have the evidences?


“Dad, give me a week..” Arnav demands.

“A week?” His father snaps. “I can even give you a week Arnav but you need to tell me what the hell is happening? And you too Khushi.. I didn’t expect you both to hide such crucial things about my company from me.”

He is right. I should have confessed to him prior.

“I wanted to be sure before getting you in loop, Sir.”

Ayush Sir shakes his head in dismissal.

“Next time don’t you dare play that stunt. You are the biggest asset to my company and not just that, your name is going to be linked with Arnav and our family too. What if Aatish or Shyam had come to know you are cheating them and they would have done anything to tarnish your image in the media. At least if you had told me, I would be aware and be prepared for something like this.”


He is right but partially.

“I am sorry for doing this Sir, I assure this will never happen again. I’ll henceforth never hide stuff and let you know before taking such major decisions.”


He nods satisfied.

“but…” I turn to Arnav. “I don’t think anything is going to happen between me and Arnav ahead in terms of taking our relationship forward.”

Arnav clenches his jaw.

“Excuse me?” He snaps.

“What?” Ayush Sir comes forward. “Why would you say so? Did you both fight again? Me an Aarti could sense something going on between you two from quite a long time.”

I stay quiet. Arnav interrupts his father.

“Dad, nothing is wrong. We are handling it”

“Are we?” I scowl. “You are hiding things even now Arnav. From both me and you father. Even if it is for the company’s benefit, I can’t guarantee tomorrow you will not repeat something like that in our relationship. I have trusted you all long but if you keep hiding things, I don’t think that trust is ever going to last forever.”


Ayush Singh Raizada turns to his son.

“Arnav? What are you hiding? C’mon you can tell us. We all need to be on the same page.”

Arnav swallows angrily.

“Just give me a week, Dad. Please.”

And that’s it. Ayush Singh Raizada is almost giving him the time but I can’t.

“Your parents are getting married in three days Arnav.” I remind him. “That’s all I am giving you to open to me about this thing you are hiding. Because if you don’t, I am ending what we have between us on the very same day after Uncle and aunty take marriage vows.”

Arnav’s eyes flare in anger but I don’t care. I have made my decision and now he can do what he wants to do. I leave the cabin.


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

It’s night. Around 1:00 am midnight when I keep tossing on the bed, unable to sleep. Whatever ultimatum I gave to Arnav of breaking our relationship if he keeps hiding things from me, is hurting me too. But that was the only option I had to take out from him what Is so wrong that he is unable to share this with anyone of us. I have seen him making calls to someone and barking orders too as if he is busy trying to find something out. But What? Why can’t he tell me?

I get down the bed as I feel breathless. Taking a walk on the terrace is the only way I can feel a bit lighter and might get sleep. I head to the terrace only to find someone already there. It’s Arnav.. He is here too and smoking. Damn hell!! Hadnt I told him I will cut his lungs if I find him smoking again?

“What the hell are you doing, Arnav?” I snap, getting to him.


He hadnt expected me there so is obviously shocked but he doesn't stop taking another puff of the cigar.

“You made me do this tonight.” He replies. “Go cut my lungs.. heart and every other organ of my body because no matter what, if you leave me none of them are going to work as is…”


He looks away angrily and puts off the cigar. Thank God he did it or else…. Well, I have better things to argue about. I clutch his collar and turn him to me again.


“If you are so hurt knowing I will leave you, why don’t you lessen our pain and tell me whats wrong? Your silence is killing me too, Arnav. I am equally worried. What is it that you can’t tell me even when we have all evidences now against the person who is behind the crooked deal?”

“It’s not about the deal” he finally blurts it out grabbing both my arms and hauling me to his body. “It’s about you, Khushi. I can risk the deal if I have to , I cant risk losing you or letting anyone hurt you.. I love you dammit….I love you so much that I want you safe and if anyone is coming between you and your safety, I am going to make sure I do anything in my power to keep you aloof from that threat…”


I am shocked.. My safety? This is not about the deal or the company? Its about me which is why Arnav is so hesitant to tell me the truth? Arnav cups my face seeing me so stunned.


“Don’t leave me on my parent’s marriage day. It’s supposed to be the best day for us too, Khushi.. Please don’t leave me..” he begs.


Our foreheads touch and tears leak from his eyes which shock me to the core. I pull away and wipe his tears.

“Couples fight together in a relationship no matter what odds they face. If you fight this alone, you are giving me no choice but to step back, Arnav. Please tell me.”

“I can’t tell you..” he swallows his tears. “It’s going to break you down dammit.”


Now I am even more curious and scared too. Arnav is about to puff his cigar again when I throw it away from his hand.

“What is it regarding? Is it about my past?” I inquire.

Arnav nods though he is not willing to share the whole truth yet.

“Is it… is it about the … accident?” I show tremendous courage to even talk about that part of my life because I know this can be the only thing Arnav wants to protect me from.


Sharing my past with Arnav has always been a problem. I could never share the entire thing to anyone … not even to my own soul because even thinking about that accident gives me a panic attack. I .. I can’t breathe.. I am about to collapse when Arnav holds me and makes me sit on the recliner. He then kneels before me.

“Breathe… just breathe on my count… one…. Two.. three…”


And I breathe normally again while he keeps rubbing my palms giving me the warmth I need.

“Tell me..” I demand to know.

“no..”

Seeing him still so adamant, I realize he is hiding the same thing which I am hiding from him and from every other soul on this planet. It’s the only thing he can keep a secret from me if he wants me to be safe and untouched by my past again. So despite knowing this is the toughest thing to do, I share with Arnav y side of the story.


“That accident ….” I swallow once again.. to stop the shivering of my body.. “that night… that accident happened because of me.. Arnav..”


The moment I say this, he stiffens. And I am confirmed this is what he had got to know too and was trying to protect me from this truth. I shut my eyes and soon my body shudders recalling that moment.

To be Continued.


NEXT PART

Note: Stopped at a very crucial part but couldn’t draft more tonight. Will give you one more chapter on this tomorrow. 

Also, happy 11th anniversary of Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam doon to all ARSHI and IPK fans. This day holds so many memories for us. For me, this is where I began writing stories… IPK got the writer out of me. Though I always framed stories in my head before that too, the writing part came from the fictions that I madly wrote watching this one serial. Thank you all for being with me since then till now… our love and bonding is like Arshi.. HUMESHA (Forever)

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