CHAPTER 2: DECISIONS

He crushed his mouth over hers and pinned her both arms at the nearby wall. She struggled to let to go but he was very strong. He placed soft wet kisses all over her face and neck. He pulled the dress from her one should and smiled, "you are mine" he bit her hard at the shoulder

"NO!" Khushi screamed and sat up with a jerk. She looked around and found herself alone. She checked her shoulders. It was a dream. But it looked so real. How could she dream something like that about him. Arnav Singh Raizada! He is going to be death of her someday.

Khushi lied on her bed again and closed her eyes trying to calm down her heart. She turned left and right on her bed. Good thing she had a job! Finally! But something was nagging her. Something was going to happen. And that Raizada? Why was he invading her dreams. what the hell! Cant she sleep peacefully? she was frustrated. This had never happened before with her. But she was happy that she doesn't have to meet him again.

...

Arnav was yet again sitting on his bed with Khushi's picture. He smiled looking at it. He was feeling light, he felt something good was going to happen. Suddenly, joining the office didn't seem to be a bad idea. But then he remembered the accident, he closed his eyes in pain.

Why did it had to happen? Yesterday, when he met her, he wanted to be her old buddu Raizada like she used to call him. He remembered how she gave him that name.

Khushi was dribbling the ball and trying to score a basket but in vain. Why couldn't she score a single basket? Arnav was sitting little far away observing her struggling with the ball. He waited for some time and sighed. He rushed to Khushi and snatched her ball while she was dribbling it.

"what are you doing?" he asked.

"playing basket ball, buddu"

"this is not the way we play this game"

"as if you know how to play"

"Of course I know"

"Of course not"

"Khush, I know"

"no, you don't"

"khush"

"Arnav"

"stop it"

"you stop it"

"idiot"

"stupid"

"nosy"

"buddhu"

"Gupta"

"Raizada"

"Nosy Gupta"

"buddu raizada"

He chuckled remembering their banter. And from that day, she used to call him Buddu Raizada whenever she was annoyed. He sighed. When they met, he hoped that Khushi would remember something. but no, she was all blank and that broke his heart into million pieces.

Anika Singh Raizada, Arnav's mother entered his room at that moment and saw him in deep thoughts with his eyes closed. She sighed. His son was not same. He had changed completely after the accident.

"Arnav! Why aren't you asleep?" she asked sitting next to him.

Arnav opened his eyes and saw his mother smiling at him, "how did you know that I was awake?"

Anika laughed, "I am your mother. I know you better than anyone. No matter how old you get, you will be my son, always." Arnav placed his head on her laps holding her waist tightly," mom, I am sorry"

Anika smiled. Tears brimmed her eyes. Before accident, Arnav always used to sleep the same way whenever he was upset or happy about anything. But the accident, after that, he never came to her. Today, she saw a old glimpse of him.

"why are you being sorry?" her mother asked caressing his head

He smiled, "I know I have been a jerk lately but I couldn't forget what happened to Khush. And I can never forget it"

"it wasn't your fault Arnav" she said. Arnav looked at her in surprise. She smiled, "why are you so surprised? Why do I think I always told you to come out of your guilt? Whatever happened with her was not your fault. So stop blaming yourself for it."

"no mom, it was my fault. i..i was careless, I was driving the car, i..because of me she lost her memory. She forgot everything, she forgot me " he chocked. Anika shook her head," no it was never your fault. It was bound to happen, someway nor the other. But like I always tell you, look at the brighter side, she is alive, smiling in front of you. So what she lost her memory? You can always make her remember them, right?"

Arnav nodded like a child, "I am sorry again"

She smiled," now no more sorry. I was never angry. I was just hurt. Why did you have to keep all your pain bottled up? You knew that you could always talk to me right?"

"I am.."

"no more sorry now. Come on, its late, go to sleep. You have office to attend and I am sure you are going to thank me for this" she smiled

Arnav shook his head, "I love you mom"

"I love you too"

Anika smiled. she was happy. She was finally getting her son back and with Khushi joining the office, she knew the day would be here soon. Yes, she had come to know from Guptas that Khushi was going to AR for an interview. That's the reason she had forced Arnav to join the office. He had to come out of his guilt. He had to face her. she had confided this in Guptas and they being a good friend agreed and never told Khushi that AR belongs to Raizadas.

...

Arnav sat in his cabin looking outside the window when he heard a knock. He straightened himself," come in"

"good morning sir", he heard a voice. He looked up and saw a girl scantily dressed. She was staring at him with open mouth. He raised his eyebrow and cleared his throat, "what?"

"sir, I am Maya. You secretary" she smiled

"hmm...so Maya, what is on today's agenda?"

"Sir as you know that Mr. Raizada is out of town, today you will have to attend the meetings. You have two meetings, one at 3 with Mr. sharma and other at 6 with Mr. Khanna and sir we have a new interior designer joining from today. This is her file"

"keep it and leave" he said

Maya kept the file on his table but didn't leave. She kept looking at him smiling dreamily. Arnav yelled," leave I said" she rushed off.

Arnav looked at file and opened it sighing. The moment his eyes fell on the name, he smiled.

...

Khushi was late. She was late on her first day. Damn that Raizada! She couldn't sleep al because of him. He kept invading her dreams all night. She ran to the receptionist when someone called," you must be Khushi Gupta"

Khushi looked at her and smiled," yes I am."

"maya" she said "well, hurry up, sir is waiting for you. That way Khushi"

"thanks maya" Khushi said. maya smiled and nodded. She rushed towards his cabin.

...

Arnav was smiling now, "thanks mom"

Working with his Khush, was his dream once, their dream. They had decided that after their wedding, Khushi would join Raizadas but it couldn't happen. So what? it is never too late. So what if they didn't get married, atleast he will work with Khush, he will see her everyday in front of his eyes and this mere thought made him smile.

Arnav had already made his decision. Last time when he met her, he didn't knew how to act, behave with her. he was broken thinking that he would never be able to be himself in front of her. But now, after seeing Khushi here, he had a hope. He will be old Arnav Singh Raizada again, only for Khushi. He will tease her, irritate like he always used to do. May be this would help her remember something. He had already talked to doctor about this after learning that Khushi would be joining him and doctor had given a green signal but also warned him not to push her too much.

He heard a knock and he knew who it was. "come in"

"good morning, sir. I am Khushi, the new interior designer"

Arnav had his back facing the door. He signalled her to enter. "good morning!" Arnav turned and looked at her. Khushi froze on her footsteps. Damn it! Raizada again! she kept looking at him as if she has seen a ghost.

Arnav smirked," what are you doing there Khush? And stop staring like that. Its creepy"

Khushi looked away. of all places, why did she have to land up here? Only one meeting had already caused her lot of headache and now working with him everyday? No way! She would be insomniac soon. and wait? Did he just call her Khush?

"sir, its Khushi!"

"na uh! Its Khush for me. and please, stop calling me sir. I feel as if you are making fun of me"

Khushi was confused. What was he talking? He knows she doesn't remember anything. She was feeling awkward. She didn't knew what to say.

Arnav understood her plight," come on Khush!..." before he could continue, Khushi snapped," stop calling me that. Its Khushi!"

"but I like Khush"

"well, I don't. look sir, with all due respect, I know our families know each other very well, and I have kinda guessed it that were very good friends before our..I mean initially. But sir I would prefer that you will behave professionally because the only relationship I remember right now is that you are my boss and I am your employee"

Something broke with Arnav hearing her last set of words but he chose to ignore that pain," Well KHUSH, I am sorry to burst you little bubble, but you are more than employee to me" and more than a friend to me, he thought.

Khushi was irritated. How could she explain him? Its not that she was irritated when he called her Khush, but the very same name from him made her heart flutter and her stomach had summersaults. That was the very reason she was arguing with him over a name. first her sleep, now her heart, god help her!

"are you alright Khush?" he asked

"for the last time, stop calling me Khush"

"and for the last time, I like Khush"

"you know what? I quit. I don't want to work for you" Khushi said

"sorry Khush, you cant. The contract you singed says that you cant quit before an year and if you do so, legal action would be taken. now its your call" Arnav smirked

"you wouldn't"

"try me"

Khushi looked at him for sometime. He looked serious. She sighed. The only option was to work for him because she cant go through the legal things. That was the last thing she wanted.

"you know what? You are an irritating jerk."

"and you love me for this" Arnav bit his tongue. Khushi looked at him wide eyes. He immediately amended, "I mean you will love me for this"

"you are such an a** you know that?"

"and you are nosy Khush..you know the one with running nose"

"stop calling me that"

"nosy"

"I am not nosy"

"yes you are"

"no I am not"

"yes"

"no"

"yes"

"no"

"yes"

"no"

"yes"

"no"

"buddhu Raizada, you always irritate me. God knows why I love you so much"

Both froze. Khushi suddenly realised what she said in the moment of their argument. She looked at Arnav. His face was blank with no expressions. A tear rolled down her cheeks. She touched her cheek and found it wet. She didn't knew why she was crying. She walked backwards slowly and ran away from his cabin.

Arnav closed his eyes. He was happy yet sad. Happy because after a long time he had heard her say that she loves him and sad because he had unknowingly given pain to Khushi yet again.

[MEMBERSONLY]

--peehu--2014-01-05 10:20:51