THE WAIT - Chapter 4

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CHAPTER 4


KHUSHI GUPTA


I wake up after a short nap in the afternoon only to find a bouquet of red roses next to my bed. Who would have kept that here? I rub my eyes before getting down the bed and holding the bouquet in hand. Before I can come to a conclusion, the door softly knocks and Anjali Bhabhi comes inside.

“You awake?” she asks and the next minute, her gaze falls on the bouquet I am holding. “Oh my god. I can’t believe he actually implemented my idea.”

She reaches me and extends the cup of coffee she had been holding so far.

“Who.. implemented.. what idea?” I ask in confusion.

She chuckles as I take the coffee mug from her.

“Well..” Anjali sits next to me admiring the bouquet and then looks in my eyes. “Chotte had scared you today by pouncing on you, didn’t he?”

I recall she is talking about the almost accident that was averted when Arnav Singh Raizada drove his car speedily inside the vicinity of the farm house and I was crossing his path mindlessly, lost in the thoughts of what this place meant to Dhruv.

“So,” Anjali strokes my arm. “I’d given him this idea to pacify you and hence suggested him to send you fresh red roses. But didn’t know Chotte would go one step ahead and send you an entire bouquet instead. It’s such a beautiful bouquet, isn’t it?”


Arnav sent me this? Why? What does it mean? What am I supposed to do with it? I lose my grip on the bouquet and it’s about to fall down when Anjali holds it.

“I got it..” she says before taking the bouqet from my hand and putting it on the bedside table.

I am so confused right now that Arnav actually sent me flowers.

“I know..” Anjali adds. “It’s unbelievable for me too. Chotte is not well versed with women’s behavior patterns. Except for me, and Nani of course. But looks like he is interested in learning and trying that on you..”


I clench my jaw. Anjali turns to me and continues.

“When Shashi Uncle proposed your hand in marriage for Chotte, I was the most happiest one to hear it, Khushi. Believe me, this family have secretly wanted to bring you in between us as the bride of the Raizada Son.”


My heart beats frantically … Raizada Son! Yes.. I would have got that title had Dhruv been alive. Anjali cups my face and wipes the lone tears from the corner of my eyes. It’s so strange that these days when I cry, people next to me comes to know first.. not me. Have I lost the ability to even feel myself?


“I know you too didn’t like it when Arnav rejected the proposal so blatantly, Khushi. I mean, he did this not to hurt you or Uncle but because he himself doesn’t realize at times how to fight for something that belongs to him.” She adds.


I don’t understand a word she says but I keep listening.

“There have been so many incidents in the past where he has sacrificed his own peace, needs and wishes for the rest of us. Be it while fulfilling Nani’s simple wishes to ensure Arnav takes her to temple despite he not very fond of praying or visiting a holy place, or my compulsion of performing Pujas and havans in the house and making sure he attends them too being a part of the family, or hiding Dhruv’s silly mistakes from the rest of the family so that he is never in the bad light, Arnav has done everything for us.. but never anything for himself.”


I freeze. Hiding Dhruv’s mistakes? What mistakes? Before I can ask her that, she continues to share her heartfelt talks, only this time I see tears in her eyes too as she speaks to me.

"Arnav has always done things for others, never himself. Maybe he thought that you are not ready for this marriage and hence to ensure Uncle or anyone amongst us doesn’t force you, he rejected the alliance from his end. But believe me, Khushi, if you even have one percent vibe that Arnav can be a good partner for you, then don’t let this matter slip from your hands. He is the best husband any woman can ever dream of. Believe me.!!”


I am speechless. Best partner?? Best husband? Maybe! But the best that I chose for me is no more in this world. And no matter what Anjali says, nothing can change that fact for me. Her phone rings, interrupting our moment. She wipes her tears and smiles.

“That’s Shyam. He and I are going on a small walk in the garden behind. You have your coffee and come out. Both the families are having their evening tea and snacks at the backside arena near the swimming pool. You’ll love it there. Come soon.”

I nod gently, faking a smile and turn my gaze on the red rose bouquet again. I think I know what I have to do with them.!!


The families are sitting out except Arnav Singh Raizada who is at the front doorway where he is busy speaking to someone on phone. He is wearing a usual three-piece suit which is too formal for a weekend getaway like this. But I have heard that this is what he is always comfortable in. Dhruv was a casual wear guy but his twin Arnav was the slim-fit custom-made suit man!! And if I’ve heard this right, this man has so many suits that he can wear a different one daily without repeating any of them for months. How can someone be that formal attire freak?


“Alex, I don’t care what the are quoting for this tender. Just ensure AR Fashions make no mistake this time. The contract should be ours, by hook or crook,” I hear him saying as I reach behind him.


As if he senses my presence, Arnav Singh Raizada turns around and his hooded eyes meet my calm ones. He looks pretty speechless at first but then that look changes to stern one and he tries to walk away when I block his way. Arnav clenches his jaw before trying to pass from my right and I block his way again. Now he gets pissed.

“Alex, I’ll call you back,” he almost barks on the phone before disconnecting the call and glaring at me. “What?” he snaps.

“I should be asking you that..” I reply. “What does THIS mean?”


I show him the bouquet of red roses that I purposely got from my room to have this conversation with him. His gaze falls on the roses and then his eyes are back on my face. There is something in his gaze which doesn’t look alien to me. It’s like I have faced it a million times before.. which is next to impossible. Only having a similar face to Dhruv doesn’t mean I get drawn to everything related to his twin. I didn’t love a face.. I loved the feelings that his heart conveyed to me.. not everytime when we were together, but a few special moments between me and Dhruv which are so precious to me and are the only ones which are the fuel to my survival even after his death.


But keeping those thoughts away for now, I focus on the current topic.

“You reject the marriage alliance my father put forth to you,” I say, “ then when I agree for it, you don’t take it seriously and ask my brother Shyam to not take it seriously either. Then when you find me lost and in danger, you save me and even pounce at me for being so negligent and risking my life. And then…” I swallow looking at the flowers in my hand and before seeing him again. “And then you send me these roses to apologize for your behaviour?”

He raises his one brow, and the way he does it reminds me of how Dhruv also used to do it when in the state of confusion. Only this one from Arnav is more of the attituded kind. He is not confused but surprised that I am here to point out his actions. I take a step ahead, before pushing the bouquet on his chest for him to hold, though he doesn’t even touch it yet.


“You either decide to go ahead with the marriage alliance, or ignore me completely, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. Your actions and words don’t match.”

Even if he hasn’t held the bouquet, I decide to let it go because I said what I had to. I’m least interested in hearing his defense but the moment I do and almost about to leave, Arnav Singh Raizada curls his arm around my waist, and hauls him to his body, such that the bouquet sandwiches between his chest and my front. This sudden closeness of our bodies, especially the way he has been keeping us glued together, with the red roses crushing between us, sucks out the breath from me. What is he doing? Arnav’s grip on my waist is too strong to even think of struggling and getting off his hold, nor I want to. Yes! This action of his.. the way I feel the pull between us reminds me of Dhruv again and the way I felt when he would touch me and get me this close.

“If you are here to seek an apology from me for being so rude to you in the morning, Miss Khushi Gupta, then I regret to inform you that it’s not happening.” Arnav huskily whispers in my ears before craning his head back and looking in my eyes. “You risked your life, and it’s way too precious. Open your eyes and live in the reality. See things around you and act accordingly instead of assuming things in your head and going with the flow thinking that’s what life wants you to do.”

I choke back the tears in my throat. Does he feel like I am restricting myself, caging myself in the memories of someone and not living my life fully? Is that what he thinks is the reason why I am always so lost and confused? How could he even catch that when even my parents couldn’t connect the dots? They too have pointed it out that after coming back to India my personality has changed but never did they comment I am losing the track of living my life fully. Then how can Arnav say it that confidently? As if one look at my face and he can read my soul?


“Khushi?” Nani’s voice breaks my chain of thoughts and also the grip of Arnav’s arm around my body, making the bouquet fall on the floor as he steps back, leaving my waist.


Nani walks in the lobby, smiling at us. She didn’t see us in that state, did she? I hope not. Because she is smiling at us casually and not with any surprise or confusion. I quickly lean down and pick the bouquet not wanting to show her that we were fighting on it.

“Oh.. so you got my bouquet, huh?” Nani asks seeing the red roses in my hand.

“Your bouquet?” I repeat mindfully. “You.. you kept this in my room?”

She nods.

“Yes. Garima told me how much you like red roses and since we had so many in the garden, I plucked a few, asked the gardener to make the best bouquet and then placed it in your bedroom so that when you wake up, you feel happy.”


Oops!! She sent me flowers? Not Arnav Singh Raizada as I assumed? I am so embarrassed right now that I can’t even look at the man whose gaze I know is piercing every inch of my face. Nani reaches us and then pats my cheeks.


“Did you like it?” she asks.

I nod gently, faking a smile on my face. That’s the best thing I can do right now.

“I knew it. My little girl..” Nani gives me a hug and as I hug her back, I raise my eyes to look at Arnav. He nods empathetically at me before turning around and walking away, making me feel no less than a fool for even considering that he could be the one to send me such beautiful flowers. Wish I could have erased this scene that happened and start afresh!!


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

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Rohan Oberoi

'Our Friendship was strong, but our Love?'

Adventurous, fun-loving and obsessed with my luxury cars, I knew exactly what I wanted from life until I met my college ex-bestie, Ishika Bhatia as the new lead designer of my jewelry brand, after a decade. Her reckless decisions in the past broke my heart and trust, ruining me for every other woman. Whilst I tried to shield my heart again from her, Ishika’s sassiness kept overpowering my tantrums. And then it happened. One unforeseen kiss and I knew this time she was in for more. A lot more!! But was I ready to reignite that love?

Ishika Bhatia

'I navigated the engine of our friendship, while he throttled the gears of his love.'

They say life is a race, and racing had been my only passion. So, when destiny played its card and brought me face to face with my best friend Rohan Oberoi, I didn't want to miss out on our only chance to rekindle our friendship. I knew I'd ruined what we had once. But don’t I deserve a second chance? No matter how much Rohan remained cold, distant and indifferent to my feelings for him, I was determined to turn his enduring grumpiness in my favour and fix our relationship, even if it meant snatching him against his will. And then it happened. One unplanned kiss and I knew this was just the beginning. But was I willing to cross the boundaries of friendship and ignite the flames of love?

Unrequited love is hard to live. But what if you get a second chance? Get ready for this super cute standalone romance of #Roshika (Rohan & Ishika) to race your hearts with their happily ever after.

Though this book can be read as a Standalone, to read Rohan and Ishika's Cameo roles, you can read the following books:

Mr and Mrs Kapoor (Vansh Kapoor and Vidhi Gupta’s Hidden Marriage Romance)

Love By Chance (Sameer Khanna and Tanisha Gupta’s Slow Burn Arranged Marriage Romance)