Chapter 2

Pearl_Oyster

@Pearl_Oyster

Part 2

Akash was excited to meet Khushi.

He looked at the bouquet of yellow roses which was lying on the car's seat.

As he drove on, thoughts swirled in his head. He was still feeling nervous, thinking how will he propose her and how will she react!

On the other side, Khushi was eagerly waiting for Akash. After every two minutes, she was glancing at her watch.

Finally, she decided to call Akash and enquire.

His mobile wasn't reachable.

"Now what to do? Is he still at home or on his way? I can't wait anymore"

She thought for a few seconds and dialled another number.

"Hello, Arnav Singh Raizada speaking!" Khushi hesitated for a second, but then she gathered her courage and spoke, "Arnavji, it's me! Khushi."

Hearing her voice, Arnav's heart skipped a beat.

"What do you want? I thought you must be busy romancing with my brother" Arnav's voice hardened, full of accusation.

Khushi remained silent for a second.

"He hasn't reached here yet. I just wanted to know if he has left from there? Anyway, never mind! I'll wait some more. Thank you for answering my call" She replied and disconnected the call with a bite in her tone.

Arnav didn't fail to register it. He had been avoiding her and her calls ever since she had proclaimed her love for Akash in front of his eyes.

Did she not like it?

Did she really expect him to continue with everything after she had deceived his heart?

Arnav threw his phone angrily at his bed.

***

Akash stepped out of the car but was surprised to find Khushi standing in the parking.

"What happened, Khushiji? Why are you here in the parking lot? Is everything alright?" Akash asked.

But, hearing him, Khushi's face broke into a grin.

"You wouldn't believe what happened, Akashji. I called Arnavji a few minutes back, and he..he sounded so pissed off. It was like he would have bitten off my head had I been in front of him" She confessed.

Akash chuckled hearing that.

"I had already told you, Khushiji that this plan is foolproof! It ALWAYS works! Doesn't matter how cold and indifferent Bhai portrays himself to be, this was bound to make him thaw and react! But, to be honest, I feel terrible for putting him through this situation, Khushiji. Today, I had asked him to bring some flowers on his way back from the office. You should have seen his face, Khushiji. He looked dejected and beaten," Akash revealed, resting his back against the door of his car and looking at Khushi with a guilty face.

Hearing that, the grin from Khushi's face was wiped off too. She instantly felt horrible.

"Did he really look that affected? I should have known that this was a bad idea, Akashji. I don't want to hurt him. What do you think we should do? How long can we carry on with this facade?" Khushi asked sadly, her heart still pricking from the news.

"We have already waded too far into this, Khushiji. I don't think it would be right to back out at the very last minute. We had considered this before starting it. We both had agreed that Bhai needs to realize his feelings as soon as possible. If not for this charade of ours, I think Bhai would have taken another year to even realise that he loves you! I know our way is wrong, but our intentions are not! Besides, I think we have already reached our goal. From what I saw today, I think it shouldn't take more than a week for Bhai to learn what he actually wants. And then, I am sure he will confess his feelings to you" Akash said with a smile, making Khushi hopeful again.

Maybe this will really work!

Maybe she'll finally find out if Arnav really cares for her or if his innuendos were only playful attempts at teasing her.

"Thank you, Akashji. I don't think I could have come this far without your help. You're my saviour," She replied, but Akash shook his head.

"Please, Khushiji! You know this is just as important for me as it is for you! If Bhai doesn't act fast and professes his love for you, I won't be able to marry Payal ji. Your Babuji and Amma are talking about marrying her off, and in my house, it is Naniji's unsaid verdict that I can't marry unless Bhai does! So, if you see closely, I am doing this for my own selfish reasons." Akash laughed, but Khushi knew Akash was downplaying his concern for Arnav.

She knew Akash equally cared for his brother's happiness, which is why he had agreed to intervene in this whole mess.

Khushi's attention was caught by the bouquet that Akash now took out of the car.

"Yellow roses?" Khushi asked, raising an eyebrow at Akash.

Akash smiled coyly as he said, "For Payal ji. Could you please give these to her when you go back home?" Akash asked of Khushi.

"Sure, Akash ji! But hey, didn't that Laad Governor ask you why you were bringing yellow roses? He knows that I like red roses" Khushi asked Akash.

"I don't know! Bhai didn't mention it. Maybe he was too woebegone to notice. Poor Bhai!" Akash replied.

Khushi once again felt a tinge of sadness as she nodded her head.

"I think we should get moving now, Khushi ji. It's getting late. I'll drop you home" Akash said, and Khushi accepted his offer.

***

It was close to 10:30 pm and the Raizadas were almost done with their dinner.

"Where is Akash? Is he still not back yet?" Anjali asked as she helped herself with the dessert.

If Arnav's patience was wearing thin by now, it snapped hearing Anjali's mention of Akash.

"How am I supposed to know, Di? What he does and where he goes is none of my business." He said rather loudly at the table, making Anjali flinch.

"What's wrong, Chote? Why are you shouting? And I hadn't asked you! I was just wondering to myself" Anjali's words were admonishing, but it did not bring down Arnav's temper.

Cursing himself mentally, he got up from his chair and left the table, ignoring Anjali's calls of finishing his dinner first.

He walked out of the hall and into the foyer.

Where the hell was Akash? Why wasn't he back yet?

Trying to keep away the sickening thoughts from his mind but failing miserably, Arnav dialled Akash's number.

Unreachable, it said!

"Damn it!" He cursed again and readied to call again when he noticed Akash's car entering the parking.

With large strides, Arnav started walking towards Akash.

The first thing that Arnav noticed was Akash's broad, dazed smile as the latter got down from the car.

It, for some reason, only fuelled Arnav's temper.

Akash, who suddenly noticed Arnav approaching towards him, halted.

The expressions on Arnav's face were terrifying, and Akash prayed to God to help him. He knew the iron was hot, and the strike needed to be now. Consequences be damned!

"Bhai, so glad I found you here! I am dying to share the details of my wonderful date with you. It was such a splendid..."

Akash's words didn't make any sense to Arnav, as he was busy staring at the clearly visible lipstick mark on Akash's cheek.

It took Akash a second to realize that the shy kiss Payal had given him must have left a mark.

When he had gone to drop Khushi at her home, fortunately Payal was sitting outside, waiting for Khushi.

Khushi had gone inside the house to give them some moments of privacy, and when Akash had told Payal that very soon he'd be coming to her house to talk to her parents, Payal had replied with the shy kiss on his cheeks.

"Oh! This!" Akash said dramatically, fully aware that he was inviting Arnav's wrath.

"I am so sorry about this, Bhai! I told Khushiji to not do it in public, but you know how she never listens to anyone. But, it felt really good, Bhai. Even I returned her the favor when I went to drop her home. You should have seen her lips after I.."

Arnav did not hear more.

He held Akash by his collar and pushed him against his car.

"You kissed her? How dare you, Akash! How dare you touch MY KHUSHI!" Arnav shouted, still holding Akash's collar.

As two long seconds ticked by and Akash stared at Arnav with shock, Arnav realized what he just did.

He immediately let go of Akash and stepped back, fisting his fingers tightly and holding them at his sides.

"Bhai? Have you lost it? Since when Khushiji became yours? And if that's the case, how come she never told me? She would have told me if that were the case. Because trust me, Khushi and I are real close!" It took all the guts Akash had to say those words as Arnav stood there shivering with anger.

"And so what if I kissed her? She loves me. We are dating." Akash didn't know if he should stop or go on, but he watched the deafening silence on Arnav's face.

Arnav, on the other hand, found himself unable to think or respond. He simply gave Akash one last death glare and left.

Akash breathed a sigh of relief and thanked all the gods for saving him from Arnav's fury.

He knew that his job was done here. He had hit the final nail in the coffin. Now it was all on Arnav and Khushi from here.

***

Arnav was still burning with anger. He couldn't decide if he was more angry with Akash, Khushi or himself.

How and when did things slip out of his control?

What does he do now?

Can he stand aside and watch Khushi be with Akash?

No! Never! He had tried to bear it, but if today was any indication, this was not an option.

There was no way Khushi can be with Akash. She belonged to him. She was HIS!

"How could she let Akash..."

Enough was enough!

There was no way he was going to let her toy with his heart.

Not anymore, Khushi.

She needs to know that she belongs only to him, and Arnav was going to make sure that it happens.

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