Chapter 32B
Arnav’s POV
I can’t believe Khushi initiated this simple conversation with me. I thought after meeting me again, she would keep distance from me. But she didn’t. She asked me how I was doing. She confessed that she ran away from her date with Rajeev, and she doesn't mind even if I stay here in New York forever. But does it mean anything to me?? No! I can always have hopes but not expectations. Though we have gone silent again from past few minutes, I take it as a cue to leave from there. If I don’t, I might end up cupping her beautiful face and kissing her because I am dying to touch her. The way she is looking at me doesn't look like she would mind but again, I can be wrong. I was always wrong in predicting what Khushi feels for me. When I thought she loved me, she never did. When I thought she would give me a chance, she made me realize it was too late.
Composing myself, I put the glass of scotch on the table and then stride back inside the living room where the conversation between Maa and Di is going on. The party has ended and all the guests have gone. Shyam Jeeju has held sleeping Sara in his arms and is rocking her.
“Maa, you have to stay with us tonight. Please don’t deny.” Di urges and Maa is not very sure about it when I hear Khushi’s reply from behind.
“She is right, Maa. You should stay here tonight. They need you as much I do. And your granddaughter also needs some time with you.”
I’m just a silent spectator now as Maa and Khushi argue for each other. Khushi wins that argument and Maa decides to stay with us tonight. Di is hesitant to ask this but I know she wants to invite Khushi to stay with us too tonight but she then looks at me and realizes that’s a bad idea.
“Alright then, I’ll take a leave. Thanks for inviting me tonight here. Sara is super cute and I wish you both happy parenting to her.” Khushi says.
“Thanks for coming,” Di hugs her and then Khushi touches Sara’s cheeks as the latter keeps softly snoring in Jeeju’s arms. “Keep coming to see Sara and meet us whenever you have time,” Di adds.
“I will.” Khushi assures.
“It’s too late to take a cab alone. Arnav, why don’t you drop Khushi home?” Maa insists.
Khushi looks at me and though I really want to spend more time with her and this is a good chance, I deny.
“Jeejaji said he was going to drop Khushi back home.” I turn to Shyam Jeeju who has no idea when we conversed about this. Because we didn’t. But one look at me and he agrees to fake it too.
“Yeah. I.. I told him I would drop Khushi home.” He fakes a smile. “Let me put Sara on bed and come back.”
The moment he leaves inside, Di and Maa continue to talk whilst Khushi stares at me in.. disappointment? Did she want me to specifically drop her? Hard to believe. The next minute, she reaches me and stops a feet away.
“I never understood your mood swings, Arnav,” she whispers. “You can stalk me, but not drive me back home?”
I am about to say something but she shuts me up again.
“I have my shoot tomorrow at the mainland hotel. I hope not to see you stalking me there.”
She is about to turn around when I clutch her wrist and force her to look at me again.
“I have mood swings?” I scoff, but keeping my tone low as I don’t want Maa and Di’s attention on us. “You don’t love me, you want a divorce, you want me to stay f*cking away from you and then when I give you that space, you want me to drive you back to your home? Are you even listening to yourself Khushi?”
She is speechless.
“I am ready,” Jeeju says, coming out again and diverting our gaze on him. I leave Khushi’s hand but my heart is thudding louder than ever.
“No that’s fine, Jeeju. I.. I’ve some work outside, so… I’ll drop Khushi on the way.”
That one statement from me shocks not just Khushi but also my family who stares at us in confusion. I don’t look at them because they might read what’s going in my heart right now. I want to create distance from Khushi, but I can’t. And definitely not when Khushi too wants to spend some time with me.
“Lets go.” I say, striding to the door and open it for her to follow. She smiles awkwardly at the family and then follows me out. We are silent during the elevator ride, and also when we are inside the car. She straps the seatbelt giving me a silent glare.
“What made you change your mind?” she asks, as I start the engine.
“I don’t want you to ever say I missed fulfilling even one of your wishes. You wanted me to drive you home, I’ll do it.”
I accelerate the vehicle on the road.
*****************
Khushi’s POV
He still wants to fulfill all of my wishes? That brings a weak smile on my face. It’s the first genuine one for him in all these years. But he can’t see it as he is busy driving the car. I don’t know why but it hurt me when he asked Shyam to drop me home when Maa had clearly asked him to do so. Why did his ignorance matter so much to me now? Suddenly, I realize his hands are shivering again. I had seen it happening earlier when he saw me today after such a long gap and was almost running away from me skipping the party.
“Arnav, your hands… are shivering.”
He swallowed.
“Ignore it..” he casually says, gripping the wheel.
“This isn’t normal.” I argue.
“There was nothing normal between us ever, Khushi. Stop caring now.”
“Stop the car,” I snap. He gives me a glare and continues to drive. “Arnav, we are risking our lives if you drive with your hands shivering like that. So please, stop the car. Now.”
Clenching his jaw, Arnav finally slows down the car and parks it at the corner of the road.
“Get down. We are switching the seats.” I unstrap myself and he keeps glaring at me. “C’mon. Get down. I said I am driving the car.”
I get out of the car first and he gets down too eventually knowing I am not going to change my mind. Once he is seated at the passenger seat and me on the driver’s seat, I start the engine.
“Are you on some medications?” I ask and he ignores as usual. “Arnav?” I keep poking him with my question. “You just told me you don’t want to stop fulfilling what I wish for, didn’t you? So now I want to know why do your hands shiver?”
“Lack of medications..” he snaps, turning to me.
“Lack of … which medications?”
“Khushi, don’t,” he tries to control his tone and makes it look pleading than demanding. “Don’t get into this again. Just drive and let me drop you home.”
I realize he is hiding something. Of course I too have my secrets which I don’t want him to know but this looks serious. We reach the apartment and once I park, we get down from the car. Arnav is about to take the driver’s seat again but I stop him, grabbing his arm.
“I am not letting you drive alone with those shivering hands. You are calling Shyam or taking a cab.”
I leave his arm. Fortunately, he doesn't argue.
“I am booking a cab for you.”
I open the app and book his return ride.
“The cab will take 20 minutes to arrive. You.. you can come up and..”
“I am fine here..” Arnav retorts.
“Okay.” I understand. Of course, he wouldn’t like to come and check my apartment. I wait beside him and he is even more confused.
“You can go upstairs. Once the cab arrives, I will leave.”
He is right. I don’t have to wait here but I don’t want to go.
“I’ll wait. You came all the way to drop me, can’t I do this much?”
His hands shiver again which he ignores but this time I don’t let the matter go so easily. I touch his hand. He’s burning.
“You.. you have fever too?” I shout and he shrugs.
“It will go away once I rest.” Arnav shrugs his arm from my hold. “Go upstairs.”
“I am going upstairs but with you. I have some medicine for your fever. Come with me.”
I try to drag him but he pulls me back.
“Stop behaving like you care.”
“I care,” I yell. “I don’t know why you think I don’t care for you, Arnav. And right now I am not going to clear your misconceptions of whether I care for you or not, I just want you to take this medicine and be alright. Stop creating a scene and come with me.”
I hold his shivering hand and drag him to the elevator. He doesn't mind. Once we are in my apartment, I make him sit on the couch and rush inside to bring my medicine kit. When I come out, he is still sitting alone, looking down. His head is throbbing I guess because he is pressing it gently. Fever, shivering, headache? It can be normal but it doesn't look normal to me. I sit beside him on the couch and opening the medicine box in a hurry, I keep finding the right one. Just then a few tablet strips fall down which Arnav picks. I am so engrossed in finding the right one for him that I don’t care.
“What are these medicines doing with you?” he suddenly asks. I look at which medicine he is talking about. Antidepressants!! I am about to snatch it from him when he pulls away his arm. “Why are you taking them?”
“Give it back,” I command.
“Why are you taking them, Khushi?” This time he asks in a raged tone.
“Why should I tell you? Did you tell me about your shivering hands and why that’s happening?”
“You want to know?” he clenches his jaw. “Then listen. I was on sleeping pills for a few months and since now my psychologist denied prescribing me more, I am having these seizures at times where my hands shiver. The fever and headache are because I can’t f*cking sleep, Khushi. There hasn’t been a single night when I could sleep on my own.”
“Like me!!” I interrupt with tears in my eyes at his revelation.
His anger mellows down as he hears me. And I Know now he is waiting to know my side of the truth as well which I never thought I was prepared to share with him until now, when I heard his. Arnav is speaking to a psychologist just like me? Never thought about that!!
To be Continued.
“Maa, you have to stay with us tonight. Please don’t deny.” Di urges and Maa is not very sure about it when I hear Khushi’s reply from behind.
“She is right, Maa. You should stay here tonight. They need you as much I do. And your granddaughter also needs some time with you.”
I’m just a silent spectator now as Maa and Khushi argue for each other. Khushi wins that argument and Maa decides to stay with us tonight. Di is hesitant to ask this but I know she wants to invite Khushi to stay with us too tonight but she then looks at me and realizes that’s a bad idea.
“Alright then, I’ll take a leave. Thanks for inviting me tonight here. Sara is super cute and I wish you both happy parenting to her.” Khushi says.
“Thanks for coming,” Di hugs her and then Khushi touches Sara’s cheeks as the latter keeps softly snoring in Jeeju’s arms. “Keep coming to see Sara and meet us whenever you have time,” Di adds.
“I will.” Khushi assures.
“It’s too late to take a cab alone. Arnav, why don’t you drop Khushi home?” Maa insists.
Khushi looks at me and though I really want to spend more time with her and this is a good chance, I deny.
“Jeejaji said he was going to drop Khushi back home.” I turn to Shyam Jeeju who has no idea when we conversed about this. Because we didn’t. But one look at me and he agrees to fake it too.
“Yeah. I.. I told him I would drop Khushi home.” He fakes a smile. “Let me put Sara on bed and come back.”
The moment he leaves inside, Di and Maa continue to talk whilst Khushi stares at me in.. disappointment? Did she want me to specifically drop her? Hard to believe. The next minute, she reaches me and stops a feet away.
“I never understood your mood swings, Arnav,” she whispers. “You can stalk me, but not drive me back home?”
I am about to say something but she shuts me up again.
“I have my shoot tomorrow at the mainland hotel. I hope not to see you stalking me there.”
She is about to turn around when I clutch her wrist and force her to look at me again.
“I have mood swings?” I scoff, but keeping my tone low as I don’t want Maa and Di’s attention on us. “You don’t love me, you want a divorce, you want me to stay f*cking away from you and then when I give you that space, you want me to drive you back to your home? Are you even listening to yourself Khushi?”
She is speechless.
“I am ready,” Jeeju says, coming out again and diverting our gaze on him. I leave Khushi’s hand but my heart is thudding louder than ever.
“No that’s fine, Jeeju. I.. I’ve some work outside, so… I’ll drop Khushi on the way.”
That one statement from me shocks not just Khushi but also my family who stares at us in confusion. I don’t look at them because they might read what’s going in my heart right now. I want to create distance from Khushi, but I can’t. And definitely not when Khushi too wants to spend some time with me.
“Lets go.” I say, striding to the door and open it for her to follow. She smiles awkwardly at the family and then follows me out. We are silent during the elevator ride, and also when we are inside the car. She straps the seatbelt giving me a silent glare.
“What made you change your mind?” she asks, as I start the engine.
“I don’t want you to ever say I missed fulfilling even one of your wishes. You wanted me to drive you home, I’ll do it.”
I accelerate the vehicle on the road.
*****************
Khushi’s POV
He still wants to fulfill all of my wishes? That brings a weak smile on my face. It’s the first genuine one for him in all these years. But he can’t see it as he is busy driving the car. I don’t know why but it hurt me when he asked Shyam to drop me home when Maa had clearly asked him to do so. Why did his ignorance matter so much to me now? Suddenly, I realize his hands are shivering again. I had seen it happening earlier when he saw me today after such a long gap and was almost running away from me skipping the party.
“Arnav, your hands… are shivering.”
He swallowed.
“Ignore it..” he casually says, gripping the wheel.
“This isn’t normal.” I argue.
“There was nothing normal between us ever, Khushi. Stop caring now.”
“Stop the car,” I snap. He gives me a glare and continues to drive. “Arnav, we are risking our lives if you drive with your hands shivering like that. So please, stop the car. Now.”
Clenching his jaw, Arnav finally slows down the car and parks it at the corner of the road.
“Get down. We are switching the seats.” I unstrap myself and he keeps glaring at me. “C’mon. Get down. I said I am driving the car.”
I get out of the car first and he gets down too eventually knowing I am not going to change my mind. Once he is seated at the passenger seat and me on the driver’s seat, I start the engine.
“Are you on some medications?” I ask and he ignores as usual. “Arnav?” I keep poking him with my question. “You just told me you don’t want to stop fulfilling what I wish for, didn’t you? So now I want to know why do your hands shiver?”
“Lack of medications..” he snaps, turning to me.
“Lack of … which medications?”
“Khushi, don’t,” he tries to control his tone and makes it look pleading than demanding. “Don’t get into this again. Just drive and let me drop you home.”
I realize he is hiding something. Of course I too have my secrets which I don’t want him to know but this looks serious. We reach the apartment and once I park, we get down from the car. Arnav is about to take the driver’s seat again but I stop him, grabbing his arm.
“I am not letting you drive alone with those shivering hands. You are calling Shyam or taking a cab.”
I leave his arm. Fortunately, he doesn't argue.
“I am booking a cab for you.”
I open the app and book his return ride.
“The cab will take 20 minutes to arrive. You.. you can come up and..”
“I am fine here..” Arnav retorts.
“Okay.” I understand. Of course, he wouldn’t like to come and check my apartment. I wait beside him and he is even more confused.
“You can go upstairs. Once the cab arrives, I will leave.”
He is right. I don’t have to wait here but I don’t want to go.
“I’ll wait. You came all the way to drop me, can’t I do this much?”
His hands shiver again which he ignores but this time I don’t let the matter go so easily. I touch his hand. He’s burning.
“You.. you have fever too?” I shout and he shrugs.
“It will go away once I rest.” Arnav shrugs his arm from my hold. “Go upstairs.”
“I am going upstairs but with you. I have some medicine for your fever. Come with me.”
I try to drag him but he pulls me back.
“Stop behaving like you care.”
“I care,” I yell. “I don’t know why you think I don’t care for you, Arnav. And right now I am not going to clear your misconceptions of whether I care for you or not, I just want you to take this medicine and be alright. Stop creating a scene and come with me.”
I hold his shivering hand and drag him to the elevator. He doesn't mind. Once we are in my apartment, I make him sit on the couch and rush inside to bring my medicine kit. When I come out, he is still sitting alone, looking down. His head is throbbing I guess because he is pressing it gently. Fever, shivering, headache? It can be normal but it doesn't look normal to me. I sit beside him on the couch and opening the medicine box in a hurry, I keep finding the right one. Just then a few tablet strips fall down which Arnav picks. I am so engrossed in finding the right one for him that I don’t care.
“What are these medicines doing with you?” he suddenly asks. I look at which medicine he is talking about. Antidepressants!! I am about to snatch it from him when he pulls away his arm. “Why are you taking them?”
“Give it back,” I command.
“Why are you taking them, Khushi?” This time he asks in a raged tone.
“Why should I tell you? Did you tell me about your shivering hands and why that’s happening?”
“You want to know?” he clenches his jaw. “Then listen. I was on sleeping pills for a few months and since now my psychologist denied prescribing me more, I am having these seizures at times where my hands shiver. The fever and headache are because I can’t f*cking sleep, Khushi. There hasn’t been a single night when I could sleep on my own.”
“Like me!!” I interrupt with tears in my eyes at his revelation.
His anger mellows down as he hears me. And I Know now he is waiting to know my side of the truth as well which I never thought I was prepared to share with him until now, when I heard his. Arnav is speaking to a psychologist just like me? Never thought about that!!
To be Continued.
NEXT PART
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Armaan RaiSinghania
I know to make money, a hell lot of it, and thats what made me the man I am today. But a tenacious woman named Alisha Sethi, owning a prime property in Mumbai's hottest real estate sector stood in my way. Though I had kept women at a bay, she was the one I couldn’t ignore. Alisha’s one condition smashed down the barricades of my heart and despite all the hot and cold conflicts, she turned into an obsession I couldn’t get over. No matter how far she planned to go to test me, least did she know when I was dared, no one but me won the challenge.
Alisha Sethi
I strongly believed my romantic prince charming was just a dream away. But all I got was a pompous and demanding as hell real-estate billionaire, Armaan RaiSinghania, who was continually hounding me to negotiate a deal with him for his next project. I’d sworn never to give up fighting for what I don’t want him to have, and yet, one night, one earth-shattering moment, changed it all. I’d waited for a lover and got a disastrous inferno instead. Armaan might live in the illusion of winning me over but least did he know the game had just got interesting.
Alisha’s feminine charm and Armaan’s masculine energy were made to burn each other, but were they prepared for it?
A Fire vs Ice sizzling standalone contemporary romance between Armaan RaiSinghania, a man who had it all, and Alisha Sethi who had nothing to lose.
Book Link - Click HERE
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_____________________________________________________________
Armaan RaiSinghania
I know to make money, a hell lot of it, and thats what made me the man I am today. But a tenacious woman named Alisha Sethi, owning a prime property in Mumbai's hottest real estate sector stood in my way. Though I had kept women at a bay, she was the one I couldn’t ignore. Alisha’s one condition smashed down the barricades of my heart and despite all the hot and cold conflicts, she turned into an obsession I couldn’t get over. No matter how far she planned to go to test me, least did she know when I was dared, no one but me won the challenge.
Alisha Sethi
I strongly believed my romantic prince charming was just a dream away. But all I got was a pompous and demanding as hell real-estate billionaire, Armaan RaiSinghania, who was continually hounding me to negotiate a deal with him for his next project. I’d sworn never to give up fighting for what I don’t want him to have, and yet, one night, one earth-shattering moment, changed it all. I’d waited for a lover and got a disastrous inferno instead. Armaan might live in the illusion of winning me over but least did he know the game had just got interesting.
Alisha’s feminine charm and Armaan’s masculine energy were made to burn each other, but were they prepared for it?
A Fire vs Ice sizzling standalone contemporary romance between Armaan RaiSinghania, a man who had it all, and Alisha Sethi who had nothing to lose.
Book Link - Click HERE
Awesome Update. Arnav is trying to escape from Khushi and his feelings. Arnav thinks Khushi don't love him and is constantly fighting with himself. Glad that Arnav's mom asked Arnav to drop Khushi home otherwise Khushi wouldn't have come to know about Arnav's state. Arnav too wanted the same but he instead asked Shyam to Drop Khushi. Khushi was also willing. Arnav and Khushi love each other so much. Arnav's ignorance pricks Khushi. Khushi also cares for him. Arnav had fever. Khushi finally admits her care for Arnav and she really took good care of him. Khushi finally came to know about Arnav's depression and she is also going through the same phase. Now that they have come to know both are visiting psychologist it will be interesting to see how their relationship turns out to be. Both need only each other to heal. No psychologist can treat them. They should give their love a chance. Thanks for the Update😍😍
ReplyDeleteWow such a long update after long. Finally they will reveal their vulnerability to each other. That was quick i thought that would take long but glad the story moving forward faster than before. Can't wait for more
ReplyDeleteAnd now the mouse and cheese chase begins. Now when arnav is getting what he used to wish than he is running away. I think the medical help is only helping khushi not arnav. He is still messed up and messing around. The difference is he is messing things for him only now. Hope he relaxes and try to go with the flow.
ReplyDeleteBtw i think today arnav is gonna peaceful sleep that too without a pill;)>
Being hopeful.
Loved it! Hopefully, this will give them a sense that both are suffering without each other. Only they can heal each other. No medicine, a psychologist can heal them! Only their togetherness and love can!!!
ReplyDeleteKhushi has come so far and matured so much. How sensible person she has become now. Behaving and talking like an adult and responsible person. Now they are alone and vulnerable may be someone or everyone may get lucky because of this. I hope khushi stops arnav and let help him sleep without the pills or any difficulty.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same.. Khushi might stop Arnav and let him sleep here so they both get good sleep
DeleteThis is the beauty of your writing. There is reality in the scenes. Not the normal love story but rather how not an ideal world but real world should work. Beautiful show of emotions and you are bringing them closer but weeding the pain out first in the relationship. 👏 Fiddy
ReplyDeleteFinally arshi going to talk their struggle and psychologist visit.
ReplyDeleteAnd try to escape from khushi and being alone with her. Khushi want arnav to reduce their distance.
Hope this night clear their misunderstanding and bring some good memories to them.
Waiting for the next update dear.....
You both need to talk and by that only your all problems can get solution
ReplyDeleteYou enhance the real confusion and misconception of a realation ship that's why it's seems so real,love your writing,👍👍👍👍
ReplyDeleteO oh the cat is out of the bag let's see how they proceed from here
ReplyDeleteOhhh it Was AWESOME.....the Most Awaited Talk is About To Happen.......
ReplyDeleteIts Not Fare Madhu,We Are Hanging. .....wish We Have another Update. .....
AWESOME update love it.
ReplyDeleteNow thats what I called a genuine and productive update. For last many parts they were like fillers and the story seems like was in stalemate.
ReplyDeleteLoved today's update.
Awesome wonderful update
ReplyDeleteWow that was amazing simply loved it. Thank you. Can't wait to see what happens next.
ReplyDeleteAmazing suprub update ..
ReplyDeleteOh this so emotional from both of them. Superb update
ReplyDeleteHoping that can driver may cancel the ride request 😜
ReplyDeleteCab*
DeleteNow khushi is talking like a grown up person .they should work on their marriage coz they cant live without each other
ReplyDeleteMaybe forgiving eo really is a way forward
ReplyDeleteUpdate???
ReplyDelete🥳🤧😍🔥🔥
ReplyDelete