Chapter 9

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Thank you all for such lovely comments. They definitely brighten my day...😳

~ CHAPTER 9 ~

"Arnavji...Where are we going?" Khushi asked Arnav as the car zoomed towards an unknown destination, unknown to Khushi that is. Arnav just smiled at her impatient, plaintive tone and kept on driving.

After a late breakfast, Arnav had asked her to get ready as he wanted to take her somewhere, but refused to tell her where. Khushi had tried multiple times already to make him tell her, but he hadn't budged.

"I know we aren't going back to Delhi because this is the wrong direction. Then where are we going Arnavji? Please bataayiye na..."

"Keep still Khushi...You are distracting me. You'll know where we are going when we get there" Arnav said in his best haughty voice.

Khushi huffed mutinously, murmuring "Laad Governor" and sulked, making Arnav bite his cheeks to stop from laughing out loud. She was such a kid sometimes.

After 5 more minutes, Arnav stopped the car near some old ruins and asked Khushi to get down and follow him. Though still irritated with him, Khushi couldn't help but be curious about the place. As they entered the old ruins, Khushi realized that though it looked decrepit from outside, the structure was still solid. Arnav instructed her to remove her shoes before entering and did the same.

"Arnavji, is this a...temple?" Khushi asked astonished as she saw the familiar surroundings. The bells, the perfume, the flowers, everything pointing to the fact that this was a sacred place of worship.

Arnav just held her hand and led her inside the temple to finally stand in front of the distinctive statue of the Deity herself, and turned to look at a bewildered Khushi.

"Arnavji...?"

"Khushi, you are the girl I love from the bottom of my heart, from the deepest recesses of my soul. But I know I can't give you the identity of being my other half in front of the world. You won't believe how much that pains me. That I can't give you the place you deserve. The place which is yours by right, the place I want you to be...By my side. But today, in front of your Devi Mayya, I want to promise you that from here onwards I belong to you and only you. Only you have the right over my heart, my soul, my body. I promise to be there at all times when you need me. I promise to love and cherish you till I breathe my last"

He stopped suddenly as Khushi kept her fingers on his lips and shook her head, tears streaming from her eyes. Arnav felt fortunate to be recipient of the love that he saw brimming in her eyes. He removed her fingers from his lips and wiped her cheeks with his own fingers.

"I promise you, I'll try my best so that you don't shed these precious pearls. I promise to share your happiness and your sorrow, not that I'll let you be unhappy for too long, mind you"

Khushi giggled through her tears at that arrogant proclamation.

"I promise you I'll always be by your side in sickness and health and I promise to protect you from all evils of the world. I may not say it always Khushi, but I promise to love you always and forever"

By now Khushi was openly weeping, moved by his heartfelt words, vows which he making in front of the holy deity.

Arnav hesitated slightly and removed a velvet box from his jacket "I know Khushi that I cannot give you my ring, but would you accept this? This belonged to my mother. It was a wedding present from my father to her which she cherished it till she the day died. She gave it to me to give it to my bride and I had kept this in the safe here on the farmhouse. Will you wear it for me?"

Khushi nodded through her tears and opened the box to find a beautiful bangle inside. She removed the bangle with trembling hands and an overwhelmed heart.

Arnav saw the acceptance in her eyes and offered to put it on for her "Shall I?"

Khushi nodded and gave it to him. Arnav pushed the bangle gently into her hand and lifted it to place a soft kiss on it. Khushi hugged him tightly overcome with the feelings and love for this wonderful man. Arnav hugged her back and thanked God from his heart for sending Khushi in his life.

-----xxx-----

When Arnav and Khushi returned to the farmhouse, it was late afternoon. They had stayed at the temple until a Pandit had arrived and after offering their respects and accepting the prashad' they had left from there. As the car drove inside the gates, Arnav was surprised to see another car on the driveway.

"What's NK doing here?" Arnav wondered as he parked the SUV in the garage. Both Arnav and Khushi entered the house to see NK pacing in the living room waiting for them.

"Is there a problem in the office, NK?" Arnav asked NK as he saw the other man freeze when he saw them. NK's eyes narrowed as he took in the infinitesimal changes in both Arnav and Khushi.

"You b*****! You slept with her! How could you?"

The punch took Arnav completely unawares. He staggered back and steadied himself before falling over. Now that he thought about it, a somber looking NK arriving unexpectedly on the doorstep of his farmhouse should have been his first clue. Arnav winced as he touched his jaw.

"Arnavji..." Suddeny Khushi's was there holding him and her hands were replacing his as she checked for damages. She turned to glare at NK "What are doing NK? Why did you hit Arnavji?"

NK ignored her and focused his narrowed gaze on Arnav "How could you ASR? You knew she was an innocent. You were the worldly one here. How the hell could you compromise her this way, knowing that you are married!"

"NK..." Arnav tried to speak, but was cut off by NK again.

"Don't try to deny that you slept with her. When Mrs. D'Mello told me that you both were unaccountably delayed, giving me some crap about bad weather, I knew something had happened. And one look at Khushi is enough to know what that something is"

"NK..." It was Khushi's turn to protest, embarrassed.

"Don't defend this jerk Khushi" NK was highly incensed "I thought you were my friend Arnav. I didn't expect this from you. You knew Khushi is blind with her love for you. Is this how you repay that love?"

"ENOUGH!" Arnav yelled in cold fury "I love her too damn it! And I'm not taking advantage of her!" he was suddenly too angry to check his words "And what marriage are you talking about? The mockery of an institution that is between me and Sheetal ? I refuse to call it as one. Sheetal ceased to be anything but an albatross around my neck the day I tried to divorce her, and she blackmailed me. She was never a wife to me anyways. In my heart, I never acknowledged her as such. I married her to give my brother's child legitimacy. At first she was my brother's girl, then his child's mother and finally my blackmailer. Is this the marriage you say I should give my life for? All these years I wasn't involved with anyone, NOT because I felt obliged to be faithful to Sheetal, but because I had lost all my dreams, all my hopes. And no one touched my hardened heart...Until Khushi"

"Arnavji..." Khushi reached for Arnav to comfort him feeling his suffering. Arnav looked at Khushi and his heart blossomed with the love evident in her eyes, for him. He held her hands gently, touching his mother's bangle, and his voice softened.

"Khushi came along and enriched my life. She came into my life and chased the darkness of apathy away, inch by inch. She came as an oasis into the barren wasteland of my heart. She filled all the vacuous spaces in my heart and life with love. Until Khushi, I was living half a life. But with her, I'm complete. I tried to resist her effect on me, to push her away, but finally I just couldn't do it. I realized I'm not selfless enough, Not virtuous enough, not courageous enough. I'm just...human"

Khushi's eyes were misty by the time Arnav finished. Even NK was speechless. He hadn't realized how deeply Arnav cared for her or how utterly miserable his life had been before. Arnav finally told NK all about Sheetal and NK listened with mounting horror at how badly Arnav was stuck. He had known Arnav wouldn't have been in an unwanted marriage, if there wasn't a solid reason but he hadn't expected this. It was a grave injustice done to a good man. And now Khushi too had become entangled in the unfortunate web.

"Arnav" NK began "I'm really sorry man. But I was afraid for Khushi. I'm still afraid for Khushi. I'm afraid of what she may have to face, if your relationship ever became public. Have you two really thought this through?" he asked concerned.

"NK, I'm never going to leave Arnavji. Please don't worry. If ever I need to face such things, I'd still remain with him. I love him. Please understand" she asked imploringly to NK.

NK sighed "Okay...I'm not completely convinced. But if you guys ever need me, you only have to call me. Now tell me, is there anything for lunch? I'm starved" he grinned suddenly "You guys might live on "love", but ordinary people like me need some actual sustenance"

Khushi and Arnav laughed as they proceeded to the dining room with NK, the atmosphere lightening.

-----xxx-----

Arnav and Khushi reached Delhi before night fall. NK had left along with them, but in in his own car while Khushi travelled with Arnav. Arnav dropped Khushi at her apartment and drove towards home. It wasn't even 5 minutes since he had left her, but he already missed her. His mind went back to all the sweet moments spent with her in the farmhouse and a soft smile crossed his lips. His Khushi...His love. He was happy that they had cleared the air with NK too. NK was a good friend to both him and Khushi. Though his punch had hurt, Arnav loved him for the fact that he had had Khushi's best interests at heart.

As Arnav entered his home, he saw his Nani waiting for him.

"Good evening Nani" Arnav wished her gaily.

"Are Wah Bitwa...What happened? I haven't seen you so happy in a long time" Nani enquired curiously surprised by the spring in her normally self-contained and introvert grandson.

"Umm...Nothing Nani. Just happy to see you" Arnav said as he flushed crimson. "I'm hungry Nani. Is dinner ready?"

Nani realized the obvious change of subject but let it go as she was glad that whatever reason, Arnav was entering the land of living. "Chalo bitwa, get freshened up. I will serve the food" Arnav nodded and left to his room while she hurried to the kitchen calling one of the Prakash brothers to set the table.

-----xxx-----

Khushi spent a restless night. She couldn't believe that after one night of sleeping in Arnavji's arms, she couldn't sleep for missing the warmth of his embrace. After waking up multiple times at night, Khushi finally gave up and woke up before dawn. Anyways she wasn't getting sleep, so she might as well get up. Also today she was going to see Arnavji for the first time in office, in other's company, after their time in farmhouse. She hoped fervently that she didn't blush into a puddle each time she saw him. That would definitely be not conducive to keeping their relationship private.

She reached the office early and went to her cabin on the top floor. Aman Sir hadn't arrived yet, so she took care of whatever pending work she had from the previous day, and before long the office was bustling with activity as the staff began arriving. Aman was glad to see her and welcomed her back warmly. After an hour, Aman was called for a briefing in ASR's cabin. He asked Khushi to get the relevant files and Khushi's heart began to race in jetspeed "dhak-dhak..dhak-dhak..dhak" as she entered the conference room.

"Ah, Good morning Aman. I hope you have brought the Desai project file"

Khushi watched as Arnav conducted the meeting with his usual competent way. Within half an hour the meeting was over and in all that time, Arnav hadn't acknowledged Khushi with either a word or a look. But as they were about to leave, Arnav stopped them.

"Aman, Can I borrow your secretary for a while? I need to speak to her about the Gonsalves project"

"Oh, sure ASR. Khushi, get me the final numbers on the Desai's finance after you finish here okay?" he left after shutting the door finally leaving the two of them alone.

Suddenly feeling conscious as Arnav walked closer to her, Khushi looked everywhere but at him.

"Hey..." Arnav whispered as he lifted her chin gently to look at him.

Khushi blushed to the roots of her hair at the intimate tone and refused to lift her gaze.

"I missed you..." Khushi quickly looked up and blushed even more at the look in his eyes.

"I missed you too..." her voice was barely above a whisper. Arnav slowly took her lips in a slow but long and thorough kiss until they both had to come up for air. Khushi hid her face in his chest once the kiss was over, making Arnav chuckle.

"You are still so shy, after all we did? It was just a kiss Khushi. I had plans for more than that. But now looking at your reaction to the kiss...I don't know. What if you melt with embarrassment?" Aranv teased, secretly loving the shy and demure Khushi.

Khushi mock punched him on his chest and snuggled closer.

"Are you all right, Khushi?"

"Hmmm..." Khushi mumbled still cocooned in his arms.

"So gayi kya?" he teased softly after a minute, noticing the extra quiet Khushi.

"Hmmm...I didn't sleep well last night" she muttered still snuggling.

Arnav smiled down at her affectionately and kissed on top of her head "Want to take the afternoon off?"

Khushi reluctantly parted from him and shook her head "No Arnavji. I still have work pending. Aman Sir is waiting"

"I'll inform Aman if you want"

Khushi again shook her head "I don't want to let Aman sir down" she smiled at him "I'll be okay after a coffee Arnavji. I love you but I don't want to take advantage of you"

Arnav pulled her back into his arms feeling proud at her ethics "I love you too Khushi. I miss you every moment you aren't there with me"

Khushi nodded sadly "Me too Arnavji. But in the office we can't be together much and in the evening you go to your house and I go to mine. I don't see how we can be together"

Arnav didn't say anything to that but smiled enigmatically. Khushi's eyes narrowed. "What's cooking in your devious brain Arnavji?"

"Me? Devious?" Arnav pretended hurt innocence "You wound me Khushi. Is that how you see the love of your life?"

Khushi didn't believe his act one bit "Whatever. I'm getting late now Arnavji. Aman Sir will be waiting for me"

Arnav watched her leave in a hurry with a smile on his face.

-----xxx-----

That evening, Khushi was removing the clothes from the drier when the doorbell rang. She dumped the clothes on the table and moved to open the door. Looking at the visitor, she was surprised to say the least.

"Arnavji..? What are you doing here at this hour?"

"I think it's customary in such situations as this to ask for sugar, but considering my condition, I don't think it's viable. So can I get some salt?" he said smiling, extending the small empty container he held.

"Huh...?" Khushi was befuddled.

Arnav's smile was positively sly as he extended his hand to greet her "Hi Khushi, Meet your new neighbor...ME!"

~ END OF CHAPTER # 9 ~

{NOCOPY]