Arnav, Akash, and NK headed to the dining room when Arnav's phone vibrated. He paused and saw that he got a text from Aman. Akash and NK looked at him and Arnav just tilted his head, motioning them to go. The two just nodded and left to the dining room.
Khushi, Payal, and Seema were frozen still. Deviyani just looked at them, no one else realizing but her. She was about to question them if they were okay, when Akash and NK came in. They skipped the seat next to her, since it was Arnav's seat, and Akash sat next to it and NK sat next to him.
The boys looked up and in front of Akash was Payal and in front of NK was Seema. The boys just looked at them for a second and then put food on their plates and began to eat. The girls just looked at them, especially since they were all dressed for business, but the boys acted like as if nothing was going on.
Poor Khushi had it the worst. She was still frozen, a sad expression coming onto her face. Her breathing paced up a bit, as if Arnav wasting time to come in to the dining room was affecting her. Arnav sent back a text to Aman and tucked his phone in his back pocket and went in to the dining room.
Khushi felt his presence and she gulped. Arnav went behind Nani and sat down in his seat and was about to put food on his plate when he saw Khushi. Khushi looked at him, nervous, her breathing pacing up, but she couldn't help but to look at Arnav's clothes. He was in a gray button down shirt, black pants and black vest. Arnav simply looked away, ignoring her, and put food on his plate and ate.
As much as Khushi didn't want to see him, she felt relieved to see him after almost five years. Her heart lightened and she relaxed, as well as the other two girls. The girls began to eat, looking at the boys every now and then, and the boys ate away, not even looking at them once.
"So Seema betiyan," Deviyani said, "what do you do?"
"Well I just got a new job as an international embassador; I'm going to be helping in translating for when international partners arrive."
"Really? What languages?"
"Hindi, English, Bangla, and Spanish."
"Oh, that's good. What about you Payal betiyan?"
"Oh, I'm a gynecologist."
"Is that so? Maybe Anjali betiyan and dhamatji could drop by your office sometime," Nani teased.
Anjali frowned at Deviyani while Shyam smiled to himself.
"What about you Khushi betiyan," Nani asked. "What do you do?"
"I just got hired at a new place and will be working as a secretary."
Arnav paused for second, holding food in his hands and then placed it in his mouth.
That was weird, Khushi thought.
The boys finished up and were washing their hands, pouring water in a bowl and cleaning them, when Arnav got a call. He pressed the button on his Bluetooth.
"Yeah," he said into it.
Khushi's heart lightened, finally hearing his voice after all of this time, and she went back to her food.
"What," Arnav yelled.
Everyone looked at him.
"I don't give a crap, Aman! Either they pay back their loan or I will destroy them," he said through his teeth.
Khushi was surprised. This wasn't the Arnav she knew. He would've never said anything like that.
"You tell them that Arnav Singh Raizada doesn't spare anyone. They pay back, or else. Get it," and he hung up.
"Chote," Anjali said, "is everything alright?"
"Yeah Di, don't worry."
Anjali just nodded.
"Anyways, I'm going up to my room for a conference call. If you need me Di, then just call me."
"Okay Chote," Anjali smiled.
Arnav turned and left, Akash and NK following behind, going to their rooms. The girls looked at them as they left, not wanting them to leave, as much as they wanted them to go.
Everyone finished up and they all sat down in the living room, waiting for the tea to be done, Shyam going to his room to finish some work for his next court case. While everyone else was stuck in conversation, every now and then, Khushi, Payal, and Seema would look up the stairs and their eyes would wander. They tried to stop themselves but they just couldn't.
Hari Prakash came and put the tea down and Manorama sent him to bazaar to get her some stuff. Anjali took a cup up to bring it up to Shyam and just as she was about to go, she realized something.
"Um, Khushiji, Payalji, Seemaji?"
The three looked up.
"Could you three please do me one last favor? I wouldn't have asked if Hari Prakash-"
"No, it's okay Anjaliji," Khushi smiled. "What do you want us to do?"
She placed the small tray with Shyam's cup down and got three more small trays. She placed a cup on one. "Seemaji, could you please take this to NK bhai's room?"
Seema faintly smiled, covering her nervousness, and she took the tray up, Anjali telling her which way to go.
"Payalji," Anjali said, "could you please this to Akash's room?"
Payal simply nodded her head and took the tray up, after Anjali told her which way to go.
"And Khushiji," Anjali said, "could you please take this to Chote's room?"
Khushi gulped. If only "Chote" was another person, she said in her head. She looked from side to side and then meekly smiled. She took the tray and headed up after Anjali told her the way.
Anjali watched as the three disappeared and snuck a glance at Deviyani. Deviyani gave a quick wink to Anjali and Anjali winked back, no one noticing, and then Anjali headed up to her room to give Shyam his tea.
Seema stood outside of NK's room and knocked.
"Come in," NK said.
Seema shut her eyes, taking in the sound of his voice, and went in. NK was unpacking his bags and he looked up. He looked at Seema and then at the tray. Seema was about to place the tray down when NK came in front of her and took the cup. She put down the tray, anyway, and turned to leave. At the door, she paused a moment and looked back at NK. NK had put down his tea and was unfolding a button down shirt to hang in his closet. Seema just looked from side to side and walked out of the room.
Payal stood outside of Akash's room. His door was open a bit, but Payal knocked anyways. She stood there and Akash opened the door. He had a file in his hand, which he was looking at. Seeing the tray in her hand, Akash silently stepped out of the way, and Payal went in and put the tray down and left, her heart banging in her ears.
Khushi stood in front of Arnav's door. She looked at them, wondering what he could be doing behind. She knocked on the door and stood there. After a few seconds, she heard Arnav's voice and she wondered who he was talking to.
Could he still be in his conference call?
Arnav opened the door and looked at the tray in her hands and then at Khushi. "What?"
Khushi gulped. Hai Devi Maiya, what am I supposed to say?!
"Say something, damn it!"
Khushi's eyes widened. Her lips parted and she was about to say something when Arnav turned away.
"Damn it Aman! You're hired to do work, not to be lazy," and he hung up on him, pressing the button in his Bluetooth.
Khushi sighed in relief. Thank goodness.
Khushi went in and looked around, and then set the tray down on his table in front of his lounger. Khushi was about to turn and leave, when Arnav came in front of her and took the cup. He went out to the poolside and Khushi looked over. Arnav was on his laptop, typing away and taking sips of his tea every now and then.
Khushi couldn't help but look at him. What happened to the Arnav I knew? What happened to that carefree and always-having-fun Arnav? He's so… so… serious. And… I miss the old Arnav.
Khushi looked away and then walked out of the room. Once she left, Arnav looked at the door, where Khushi was standing.
~
Oh these poor ladies, though I will admit, I'm not feeling as bad when it comes to Khushi, given her behavior with Arnav the last time they were face to face. What are your thoughts on that? 10 in-line comments answering this question, and I'll post the next chapter