Chapter 3

"...and they banned me from having any of them for two months." Arnav looked at her adorable face with her lower lip jutted out in a cute pout lovingly, his eyes filled with those emotions he himself is not aware of. She is...she's such a child sometimes. On the other hand she is the perfect example of a smart girl who was even successful in making Arnav Singh Raizada's mouth shut. Very effectively, might I add? How come she's so lively even after all the things I am sure she must've faced in this world being an orphan? Agreed that the school was a big support for her but to what extent? I know how it felt to not to have anyone in this world that you could call yours, that you could share your sorrow, happiness, and fears with. At least at one point of time I had these things in my life. A beautiful family, a mother who adored me. I have seen them, have felt their love but she...she has no idea who are her parent. She's an orphan since childhood. Today I know that my pain is nothing in comparison to hers. No matter how much she's happy and lively from outside but there is always a constant sorrow that lingers in the depths of her eyes that I saw. I've never felt the urge this strong not even when there was always a fire to avenge my family that simmered inside me but I just I want to remove that sorrow from her eyes. I just want her to be happy in the truest sense.

"Awwe!! Don't be pouty!" Khushi immediately tucked her lips inside sending a glare towards him. "I don't pout!" She said with as much as force she could.

"Uh-huh? But khushi now also you are pouting." Looking at her fire spilling eyes he showed his hands in surrender. "Ok...ok. You don't pout. But you should be great full of them that they didn't lock you in your room for months instead just banned you from having jalebies as a punishment for making 30 kgs of jalebies at four in the morning." He couldn't control his laugh now. This is absolutely hilarious. This girl is completely crazy over that sticky-gluey-orangy things.

Khushi pointed her index finger in a threatening way. "Don't...don't you dare laugh at this. It was not just jalebies. It was JALEBIES that you're talking about. And I repeat again. I was stressed for my exams that time okay so I just had to do something or else I won't get any sleep all night and jalebies are my stress busters."  

"I get it jalebi bai. But why are you sulking now? No one have banned you from having that sticky things. You can have them as much as you want. I can order some if you want."

I think I should have some jalebies now talking so much about them, my mouth and stomach are yelling for them. Khushi nodded her head slowly and watched with a great annoyance as his lips curved up in that bloody smirk that she has come hate.

Arnav watched as she played with the few tendrils of her hairs blowing air from her mouth again and again watched as they flew up in the air before coming down slowly on her beautiful face. He ordered jalebies for as she played.

It was their tenth date and it has been two months since their first date. They have come a long way. From being strangers that are now friends who know all of the things about each other's life. From their past to their common schedules of everyday. At the end of their dates they have always shared a kiss, in true sense arnav kissed her and she has always stood there not responding, just letting him kiss her. But one thing has surely changed. Instead of bolting from there immediately after he ends the kiss, she stays few minutes with both of them looking at each other in silence before she utters a soft bye and turns to leave. Every time when she has walked few steps away from him she turns to look at him over her shoulders. A kind of strong longing was there in her eyes every time she looks at him as if she's reluctant to leave.

 "Oh shit!" Khushi shouted getting few heads turned towards them.

Startled by her voice arnav suddenly sat upright in panic. "Khushi what happen..." His looked what made her so panicked and found that suddenly weather decided to change and rain has started pouring in full force.

Khushi turned her panicked eyes to him. "How will I go now? My home is far from this restaurant. It has to start raining today only? The streets will be flooding by now and I won't be getting any cab here in this weather."

"Hey look here!" Arnav said softly. Now you won't be able to decline my offer to drop you khushi. "Do you really think that I would just leave you to find the way to your home yourself in this weather?" She looked at with wide eyes. "Of course I'll drop you khushi. Come we should leave before it gets worse."

Reluctantly khushi for the first time stepped into his car. She sat glued to the car door as far as she could go from arnav. It's a bad decision. It's a bad decision...I should get down the car. I know I shouldn't go with him. Khushi heard a rumble as the arnav started the car. Her heart started beating fast...fast...faster to the point she felt it would just leap out of her chest. No...No...No...NO! I should've even stepped inside the car. I should just get down...  Her breath stopped as he changed the gears and the car started moving. OH! GOD!!

"Khushi we've reached." Khushi looked at him then her home and blinked. Huh? We've reached? I was so nervous about this car ride. Nothing happened! She took a sigh of relief. "Thank you Arnav." She gave him a small smile and proceeded to open the door to step out of the car. Don't stop me. Please don't stop me. Her smiles widened as she stepped out of the car and moved towards her house...but is was short lived as soon as she heard the sound of slamming of the car door and knew that arnav has also stepped out of the car.

She turned to face him at the same time he called out her name. But she was not prepared to see him standing in the rain as his expression changed from normal to awe to...to...

Faster than lightning inside the clouds above, he was in front of her. "You forgot something." He didn't wait for her to say something just slammed his lips on her. There was something different in his kiss this time it has some kind of desperation. Khushi can feel it in the way he moved his lips over hers, the way he pulled her body closer to himself that not even the howling air was between them...and closer still, it was in the way he moved his fingers inside her wet hairs...and it took her breath away.

Arnav pulled away panting looking at her slightly darkened eyes and knew his would be much darker than hers. Like all the times before she looked into his for few seconds and arnav heard the familiar soft bye. He looked at her in desperation. He could not let her go this time. He has no strength to let her go this time. Not this time.

"Arnav?" Khushi whispered shakily as she felt her wrist being captured by his fingers. She dared not to turn. She couldn't in fear of what would she see in his eyes. Her eyes closed on their own as his arm grazed at the curve of her waist caging her in his arm.  "Invite me..." His breath tickled her ear as he spoke. She closed her eyes more. "Invite me in khushi..."

Abruptly she turned to face him. She took a step looking at his almost black eyes. The intensity with which he was looking at her scared her and her feet involuntary took a step back. "Please..." She heard a soft whisper. Khushi looked away from his eyes that always seems suck her inside them. Closing her eyes she thought what she wants. Of course she knew what inviting him in the house would mean.

Why? Why is she so vulnerable whenever it has come to him? She knew what would happen if he ever dropped her home. It was the only reason she has always declined his offers on every single date that they have been on. Because she knew...she knew it the first time she let him kiss her that she will never be able to deny him that she will willingly give herself to him. And that scared her, had terrified her to no end. She's not that kind of a girl for whom sleeping with somebody is nothing but a pleasurable activity for them. She also knew that for a man like arnav this would mean nothing but for her it will be everything. She knew that he is not here to stay forever in her life. That he will eventually get bored of her and will move on. Does she want that wound of his absence in her life forever? But can't she have a single moment of happiness in her life? Nothing in life is for forever. She should just live in the present and that is what she's going to do.

She looked in his eyes in time to see the disappointment and the light in his eyes fading and she knew that he ready to leave. She caught his hand just as he turned after giving her a small smile. She spoke nothing but took him by his hand inside her house. It was her decision, even if he would leave in the morning and never contact her she would not blame him because she too is doing this for her own selfish reasons.

****

Later at night khushi looked at his sleeping face. Now he was just Arnav, not Arnav Singh Raizada. She's happy that she got to see him like this. This image will always be printed in her mind; this memory will give her moments of peace when he would not be in her life. She placed a long kiss on his forehead.

I promise you arnav the moment you will leave my life, even it would be next morning I will never ever try to contact you. I will leave this place. It will have your memory and I can't live with the constant reminder of this night. I Lo... Just be happy.

Arnav woke up at the sound of his mobile ring. Groaning he searched his phone on his bedside stretching his arm when something unfamiliar touched his fingers. I am not in my room! In a flash last night came in front of his eyes. Khushi. Ignoring his mobile he looked at the sleeping beauty. She was a vision. He just couldn't describe her beauty. Not in words. Slightly grazing his knuckles over her cheeks, he gazed at her lovingly.

But that goddamned ringing returned. Irritated he leapt of the bed and searched his mobile. He answer his the call ready to bark whoever is it on the other side but before he could his tongue got caught as he listened to the other person. f**k!!

****

Khushi woke up at ten. But she just lay there with her eyes closed because she knew, have felt that the space beside her was vacant. Her fears have come true. He left! Calm down khushi. You knew this could possibly happen when you invited him inside your house. Accept it and just let him go. Yes, I will do just that. "ugrrrghh!!!!" At last the dam broke and tears poured out of her eyes. Lifting the comforter she threw it on the floor. Khushi you have long ago accepted that there is no happiness for you in this life. So just stop crying. NOW! Wiping her tears dry she took a duffel bag out of the closet and started filling it up with her clothes. It was time to fulfill her promise.

Giving a last look to the room khushi picked  up her bags and strode out her house to never enter again. But she never saw the note that has fell down from the pillow next to hers the second she threw her comforter in fit of anger. She never got read the contents of the note written in a rush.

Khushi,

There is an emergency in the office. Aman called me early morning while you were sleeping. I would never leave if the matter didn't need my presence. I would've never left you khushi, never. Just know that.

Call me when you wake up, if for some reason I am unreachable at that time then just message me ok?

Sorry baby.

Arnav.

-----EXTENSION-----

"Dammit!! Why the hell is she not picking up my calls?" Something is wrong. I can feel it. Pick up khushi. Pick up...pick up...pick up...PICK UP DAMMIT! Arnav kept pacing back and forth in his room constantly calling her in the hope she would pick up his call. He had tried to call her the second he was out from the conference room. There were no calls or messages from her. He called her but she didn't pick up. Enough of this. I am going to meet her. She must be in school now. "AMANNN!!!!"

Out of breath aman barged into arnav's office. "Ye...yes sir...what what happened." I would have gotten a heart attack by now. What the hell happened to him. Has he gone insane? He yells, everybody know, but he roars like a lion I got know this today.

"Handle them. I am going out. Settle everything with them and just kick them out of my office, very nicely." Arnav said leaving his cabin.

"But...but sir..." Arnav stopped. "What Aman?"

"But your needed here sir. The matter has not sorted out completely..."

"Them why are you here? Huh? Why am I giving you salary if have to do everything? I said handle here and it's my orders." And aman saw an angry lion leaving the cabin. Aman loosened his tie a little. Whoa! I just got alive from lions clutches. Must be my lucky day!

****

"Please khushi, you have to come tonight. He specifically told us that you have to be present at the party." Mr. Arun sat on his chair, looking very tired. Today is the day when Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada will decide the fate of the school. He will announce it to the press today in the party that he had thrown. But he has threatened us that khushi should be present in the party or else the outcome will be very bad for the school.

"But why I need to come to that party. What would I do?" Khushi was sweating profusely. It has been two months from that night and she has resigned from the school knowing that ultimately it will be arnav's so there is no possibility that she could work here. But she was in touch with the principle. And now after two months she got a call from school. Principle sir wants to meet her urgently, but what he said to her stopped her world. Arnav want me to attend tonight's party. Why? I thought he would have forgotten me by now. What is his motive behind it?

 "It's just a party khushi that you need to attend that's all. See I don't know why he wants you to be there tonight. But it is the thing that he has invited every faculty member of the school. So everyone will be there. Khushi, he literally threatened us that if will be not there then the consequences will not be good. So please I request you to just come there for a short time. Please." Mr. arun pleaded to her.

He's right it's just a party. Arnav has left me in the first place so I guess we would be meeting like strangers again. "I'll go sir. Don't worry. I'll be there tonight."

****

Arnav looked at the throngs of people chatting and enjoying the party, but his eyes were only looking or one face he hadn't looked at from two months. She will come he is sure of that. She has her heart in that school. He is just waiting for her to come.

"Sir it's time for the press conference."  Amana spoke standing next to arnav.

"Let's go." Arnav took a long swig of his drink. As soon as he looked ahead he spotted her. She wore simple clothes but what got arnav's attention was her pale face. She look sick and  she has also lost weight.  What the f**king hell did she do to herself?

Now you will see Khushi what I really am."Let's get over with it aman."

****

Amongst the sound of applauds and cheers, khushi stood shock still. Did he just...did he just say that? He is actually going to fund the school instead of buying it? Why is he doing that? But I was so sure that he would never let go of this school. And why was he looking at me with accusing eyes. What is happening here?  My head...

Arnav stepped down of the stage after his announcement. He saw her standing at the corner away from the crowd. He was just few feet away from her when he saw her grabbing her head. His pace quickened as he looked at her swaying form. He got just in to grab her limp body in his arms. Not wanting to create a scene at the party he took her to his room from the backside. He placed her unconscious form on the bed. Is she pregnant? With...with...my baby? Arnav looked at her flat stomach, imagining his child inside her. At this moment arnav felt such a joy that filled his entire being. Why you left me khushi? I...I love you. I never thought that I would any day want but now as I think about it I want to be a father of your children khushi. I want you to be the mother of my children. If you are pregnant then god help me I would never forgive you for hiding this from me.

"Hello doctor. Can you please come to my house. It's an emergency. Thanks." He sat next to her staring at her face. There were dark circles under her eyes.  You've been torturing yourself as well as me khushi. Why? Why did you do that?

"Sir doctor is here." Aman informed.

"Bring her in here aman."

****

"What happened to her Mr. raizada?" Doctor asked checking khushi's pulse.

"She just got unconscious. I really don't know what happened to her."

"Don't worry. I'll just check her..."

"Doctor..." arnav started speaking hesitatingly as soon as doctor finished checking her up. "Is she ok? What happened to her?"

"Nothing Mr. Raizada. She just fainted from starvation and stress. It's seems that she's not eating properly from past several weeks and she's takes a lot of stress upon her. I am prescribing these medicines. Just give these to her whenever she wakes up and yeah she needs lots of rest."

"Thanks doctor." Doctor left with a nod.

 After doctor left, arnav slid inside the duvet next to her. Placing his hand on her stomach he thought about his nonexistent child. He felt such a disappointment knowing that she's not pregnant with his child. He wanted it. For first time in his life he really wanted this to be real. He wants khushi to bear his child. The only woman he had ever and will ever love. I will never let you leave me khushi. With this promise arnav slept with her in his arms, leaving aman to handle the party downstairs.

****

"AAAHH!" Khushi clutched her head in her hands. Why does it paining so badly?

"You might want to take these pills if you want your head in one piece." Khushi sat up on the bed listen to his voice. Her eyes roamed around the room she was.

"You're in my room." Arnav answered her unasked question. She opened her moth to speak but he beat her to it. "You fainted last night."

Her eyes widened remembering herself blacking out. "I..." She slid out of the bed. "I...I am sorry. I'll just leave."

"Stop." Arnav spoke in a quiet voice. "Stop there only. If you so much so took a single step out of this room, I swear on the god you believe in so much khushi it will not be good for you."

Hearing the warning khushi stopped, looking at the ground. A hand came into her view with medicines on it. "Take these. I called a doctor last night she prescribed it."

Without any resistance she took them from him and downed the medicine with the glass of water he had for her.

Silence filled in the room with khushi looking at the floor and arnav at her. "Why?" Arnav at last broke the silence when it was clear she would not open her mouth. "Why?" She kept quite.

"I said Why? WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?" He shouted at her.

"Me? I left you? I left you or you left me the next morning Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada!"

Arnav looked at her in confusion. "What are you talking about huh? I left you the next morning? I bloody called you all day but didn't pick my single call. Now you're saying I left you?"

"Because you left me that morning I left that my house with my mobile,I resigned from the school you know why? Because you left me. Because I promised you that night arnav that If you ever leave me be it the next morning after we slept, I will never contact you, that I will leave that house where you...that I will let you go. "

Arnav grabbed her arms tightly his mind not able to make sense of what she's saying. "What the hell are you talking about. What promise huh? Forget the promise. Tell me how you could think that I left you after we made love even when I left a note for you. How could you?"

Khushi pushed him away. "What note are talking about? There was not a single note. You were not there when I woke up. Why are you lying arnav? I let you go because that's what you wanted. It was clear when you left me."

"I am not bloody lying khushi!" Arnav pulled her closer to himself. "I never wanted you to leave me khushi, how could I want it..." He cupped her face in his palms. "How could I want it khushi when I love you."

"What?" Khushi whispered clearly in shock from his confession. "I love you khushi. Believe me I left a note for you. I would've never left you khushi but aman called me early that morning. There was problem in the office that needed my immediate attention. I didn't want to wake you up as you were sleeping so peacefully and you were looking so...so beautiful. So I left you note on the pillow next to you. I waited khushi. I waited for your call or message during the entire meeting. But you never called. Then I tried to contact you. I called you so many times but you never answered. Then I panicked, so I visited your school thinking that you would be there but I found out that you resigned that day only. Next you were not there in your house. I looked for you. Like a maniac I looked all over delhi for you. But I never found you."

"I left city that day only." khushi spoke in a daze. "You never left me?"

He shook his head. "No khushi. I can never leave you. I love you."

"But I never found your note." She said in confusion.

"All this happened because of that note only. I should've just wake you up instead." Arnav said badly regretting his decision.

 "OH!" Khushi said a she remembered throwing the comforter down on the floor that morning. Hence the missing note.

"OH?"

"I know why I haven't found you note." Khushi said sheepishly.

"...and why was that?"

"You placed the note on the pillow no?" Arnav nodded. "I may have thrown the comforter down which may have lead to the fall of note from pillow below the comforter."

Arnav narrowed his eyes at her. "So this is your fault." Then he sighed. "Forget the note khushi but you could have contacted me once at least. You just jumped to a conclusion."

"I promised that night arnav that I would let you go whenever that may be next morning or in a month or in a year."

"Why make such promise khushi? Why you thought that I would leave in the first place?"

"You are asking me this arnav. Ask yourself. Tell me how many girlfriends you have had?" khushi waited for his answer. "You have no idea do you? You are rich, a multimillionaire, why would you want to be with me? As for the promise I made because I love you...because I just wanted you be happy with or without me."

"You love me?" Arnav asked with a grin on his face.

"Yeah..." khushi looked down at the floor.

"Then will you marry me? Will you marry me khushi, not a multimillionaire but only arnav?" His eyes were filled with hope.

"Yes..."

"What?"

"I said yes..."

"I didn't hear. Say it again."

"I said  I will MARRY you ARNAV!"

"Right answer!" With that he kissed daylights out of her.

 ~~~~END~~~~

Hope you liked the story.