Part32 Unpredictable...
Khushi's denial was hitting Arnav's head again and again. How dare she said that she is not ready to marry him? Of course, she dares...does she ever get scared of him? Never... from the first day, she keeps tackling him and he keeps getting attracted to her. She is so exceptional from everyone and everything.
Arnav stopped pacing and looked at the entrance of his room as he heard a door opening sound.
Anjali arrived in Arnav's room. Arnav sat on the recliner, looking down, joining his fingers, like a small kid who is upset with his mother. Anjali came and sat beside him.
"Chotte... are you upset with me?"
Arnav was silent.
"I know you are... I didn't intend to hurt you, Chotte. If it is about something then I will fight for you, standing beside you. Don't you know that? But, Khushi's matter is different. You yourself had created a different image in her mind. And this is her life. She has all the right to decide what she wants...."
Arnav cut her and his stance stunned her.
"Why doesn't she want me Di? Am I bad? Don't I have anything good in me?" He chocked.
Anjali felt bad for her brother who is familiar with arrogance because he looked so vulnerable while asked that.
"What's my mistake Di? Our hardest past made me cold. I don't know, how could become attracted."
Anjali's eyes became teary. She has never seen him like this.
"I didn't expect that a girl could be so REAL. She is real, Di... just like you... just like Ma..."
Anjali was speechless. The man who didn't want to compare Khushi with his mother once is doing the same helplessly...wholeheartedly... this is enough for her to realize what place Khushi has been occupied in his heart. She cupped his face.
"Chotte, you don't worry... Khushi is an understanding girl. She understands you. She will definitely understand you because she is not a girl who hurries-scurries. You are not bad Chotte. Khushi will like you if not now then definitely in the mere future."
His face bloomed with an adorable smile, hearing MERE FUTURE. He so wanted her to be with him in the future.
"We will talk to her parents," said Anjali.
"No Di....not now"
Anjali looked at him frowning.
"Talk to them only after I said."
Anjali nodded yes and left the room. She understood that something is running in his mind.
Anjali was not wrong. There were many things running in his mind about Khushi. He thought about Shashi's words.
"Khushi always talks about you. She never gets bored of talking about you. Your hard work... your efforts... your management skills... she likes everything. In fact, she is your FAN."
She likes him... She likes his qualities... She is his fan...Arnav grinned like an idiot.
Next day
AR
NK and Akash came to Aman's cabin in the break time. Aman greeted them.
"Hi"
They sat in front of him said nothing.
"Why are you looking upset?"
"Why Nannav is doing this?" He asked, making face.
"What he did?"
"He wants to marry Khushi," Akash stated in a feeble tone.
Aman was flabbergasted.
"Whaaaat! How do you know?"
There was a shock and also excitement in his tone.
"Yes, Aman... he just declared it yesterday," NK said.
"Tell me completely." Aman calmly asked.
NK and Akash explained to him the complete scenario which happened in RM in the last evening.
Actually NK wanted to stop Arnav before he forces Khushi. He thought Aman is the only guy who could argue with Arnav behalf of Khushi. But, as NK and Akash didn't expect, Aman took Arnav's side.
"Really ASR said all these?"
"Yes, Aman... I really can't believe it." Akash let out his disbelief.
"I don't know what made him think of marriage," NK said.
"Khushi... What else...? He is in love with her." Aman said smilingly.
"I don't think he loves her," said NK.
"What do you mean by love, NK? Everyone has their own definition of Love. According to ASR, it's something beyond our thought. We can never understand ASR. He doesn't show it openly doesn't mean he doesn't love her. He is just different from us. That's all."
"How coolly you said that, Aman? Don't you know the wave-length between Nannav and Khushi? She has her own expectations for her Rajkumar. And Nannav is not her Rajkumar."
"How do you say that? What do you know about ASR? He is just not showing his heart to everyone as we do. He is like that."
"But Khushi won't like such a guy."
"Let her decide it, NK. If you are not ready to take ASR's side, please stay quiet instead of opposing him." Aman said strictly.
"But..."
"Being his brothers, if you don't stand beside him then who will do that? Would people respect him if they get to know that his own brothers don't have a good opinion on him?"
"We are not against him Aman. We just worried about Khushi. Marriage is about finding the right person, Aman." Akash said regretfully.
"Why Akash? Is ASR a rogue...a womanizer...a drunkard...or... a backstabber? Will you dare to say he is not the right person?"
Akash and NK spared a glance.
"Khushi will never get such a golden-hearted man, yaar. He is also pure like Khushi. They will be happy because Khushi is wiser. You no need to worry about her because she knows how to lead her life. Being her friend, you should be happy about ASR's proposal. Do you know what an achievement it is? ASR has never thought of his marriage but Khushi made it easily. Khushi is going to get a ONE WOMAN man. Feel proud of it."
Akash and NK went speechless.
"Didn't you see the difference in ASR? Did you ever see him gifting anyone? Did you see him discussing the deal with a girl who is new to the field?"
"I'm confused Aman because you are also the one who worried a lot about Khushi when Nannav wanted her as his PA. But now you are taking his side."
"It's because I see difference in ASR. I was worried about Khushi at first because I didn't know her potential at that time. But now I have confidence that only Khushi could change ASR. Mark my words; Khushi will be happy with ASR."
"But what if Khushi denies?" NK questioned.
"Let's ASR handle the issue. We are just the audience. Let's watch the game."
Akash and NK nodded ok and left Aman's cabin. Aman sighed in relief. He was damn happy that his friend took a step towards his goal.
..........
Arnav didn't call Khushi to his cabin which surprised Khushi. She thought he will keep her in his cabin the whole day and kill her with his penetrating gaze. But nope. Nothing happened like that which confused Khushi.
Do you think you could predict the mighty ASR, little girl? His way of dealing with things is magical. You are going to see that soon.
As Arnav didn't call her, she started working on the current deals. She thought to give a look at the production material. So, she went to the production hall.
Arnav saw her going out, through the glass wall of his cabin. He didn't know where she goes. So, he came out of his cabin and followed her. He saw her heading toward the production hall. He stood at the entrance of the production hall and watched her. She was sincerely examining the quality of the product.
A worker was smoking while doing work in the production hall. He didn't notice Khushi but only Arnav. He threw the cigarette in nervousness as he didn't expect Arnav's sudden visit. The cigarette fell on a waste cloth heap. Unfortunately, Khushi was standing close to the same heap. In no time, the heap started burning and the fire rose to the roof height. The production hall became heated up in tension. A worker ran towards a fire extinguisher. Before he used it, the hall got filled with smoke.
No doubt, Arnav searched for Khushi in the smoke. He saw Khushi and got shocked. She was standing, looking at the fire horrified. Her body drenched by sweat. Her eyes were overflowing like a river and she didn't sense it. Arnav rushed towards her and shook her by her shoulders.
"Khushiiiii....."
"FFFFF.....ire...." She stammered.
Arnav cupped her face.
"Khushi, you are safe... don't worry." He said, sensing that she was not in her sense.
Her lips were quivering... she blinked her eyes gasping. She tried to say something but words were not coming out of her throat. Arnav became panicky, seeing her state. What's wrong with her? Losing her consciousness, she fell on Arnav's chest.
To be continued...
Next part is available on Inkitt
The Burning Past
Arnav was terribly horrified, seeing Khushi's state who was on his chest. In no time, he scooped her in his arms and rushed towards the main building. News of the fire accident reached the main building faster than Arnav. Everyone came out of their cubicle to know what happened. The staff of AR stunned, seeing the great ASR running, taking his PA in his arms whereas NK became panic about his friend. Aman who came out also saw Khushi in Arnav's arms.