Chapter 21

'I don't get it, I was prepared for anger, hatred, complete indifference. But the way Khushi treats everything, it feels like I don't matter. Nothing matters and she is fine in her ivory tower all alone. I have no clue if she even acknowledges me as I am now. She seems to be living in the past and a void around her.

I am totally lost. I don't know what on earth I should do. I don't know how to proceed,' Arnav finally ended his rant.

Opposite him was NK, looking at him serenely. After Khushi had declared she had nothing to offer him, he had tried to hang around and make some progress with her.

But she had completely shut him out, serving him dinner instead and meticulously cleaning her kitchen.

Frustrated and confused, he had done the next best thing, flown down to meet NK, who was the only missing link to the mystery that Khushi was.

After he poured out his frustration he waited for the older man to speak.

'Are you surprised she is this way ASR?' NK asked him.

'You bet I am. I would have understood anger, hatred etc. But not this stoic acceptance,' he said in a completely bewildered tone.

'You have a lot to understand then, about what Khushi has been through.

7 years ago, her love and trust was totally shattered by you. It's Ok,' he halted Arnav as he tried to interrupt,' You misunderstood and it was expected. But what damaged her was your insult on her character.

After that day in the hotel room with you, she went missing for hours. I had to literally hunt her down. But she had not cried at all. She was numb with shock,. She kept telling me, 'He called me a tramp. In a moment he forgot me and slept with La. I mean so little to people'.

For days after that she kept asking me, 'Do I ever give you the impression, I am sex starved?'

From what I understood, she hated herself as a woman and somehow she believes she is important to no one and easily dispensable.

'You have to restore her faith in herself as a woman and her worth as a person-Task 1'

Arnav closed his eyes, as a wave of regret hit him. How much had he damaged her? He couldn't even begin to know and here he had been expecting her to give him a chance.

'Her next big blow came with her father and mother's death. Her father had begged her to prepone the wedding. She had resisted as she was still hurting about you. When he died before the wedding, she was shattered and she kept blaming herself, 'All he wanted was for me to get married a little early. Why was I selfish?"

When she began to accept her Dad's death and moved on, her mother soon passed away. Her mother had often hinted at her marriage and Khushi was stubborn. But she had never expected her mother to die. Today she feels guilty she destroyed her parent's dearest wish.

She feels if she gets married now, it will be like cheating them, when she could not give them the same happiness.

You have to make her believe that by marrying she will not be disloyal to her parents and this is your task 2' NK explained.

Both men were quiet, thinking about the same woman they both cared for in different ways.

'Finally, there is her coping mechanism. You and her parents were her whole world. In quick succession, she lost all of you. Being emotional and sensitive, Khushi took it hard.

She lives in the past, with memories instead of looking ahead at the future. She feels she has no future, it is all over. And she takes each day as it comes and lives for a whole lot of reasons which is not related to her-such as her charities and the orphan girls she supports.

You have to make Khushi believe in a future for herself and to look ahead-Task 3 for you.

You have 3 very very steep challenges ahead of you.'

Again both men were quiet, both worried about her.

'So, Arnav, bringing her back to normal, to make her hope, love and live will be tough. See if you are up to it. Or go back, Leave her in the condition she is in. As a friend I have tried and given up. And I don't know what you can do,' NK concluded.

Arnav was quiet so long,. NK was worried he had given up already. Finally Arnav spoke up,

'I am not giving up. I will do whatever it takes to make her live and love at whatever cost. But, my only fear is, there is not a single reason why she will give me a chance,' he said morosely.

Nk smiled then, much to Arnav's puzzlement. 'You must be kidding Arnav,' he said.

'Why?' Arnav asked. 'I mean it. I don't know what will make her even give me a chance in her life. She just froze me out. I have no hold on her,' he said desperately.

'Are you sure yu have no hold on her?' NK asked raising his eyebrows in surprise.

'No,' Arnav said, racking his brains to know what he might have that he could use to get Khushi to give him a chance.

'It's her love for you. You still have that power. You can use it to gain access to her life. She has herself said she can refuse you nothing isn't it?' he concluded.

Arnav's face brightened at once. He was so overwhelmed with NK's help that he impulsively clasped his hands and said 'Thank you NK. Thank you for everything. For being her guardian angel for so long. For helping me come back to her and now helping me get her back and to think I once thought so demandingly of you---' he said, feeling remorse at how he had treated NK.

'Some relationships have no name. They don't need a name. There is no selfishness, no demand, just a warm wish to see the other person happy---that's what I wish for Khushi. She is a lovely person. Don't you dare hurt her again.' NK said.

'Never. Trust me,' he said earnestly.

Sighing NK said, 'I trust you. I know you made a mistake due to misconceptions. But I also know you love her. Go get her. But do you have a plan?' he asked.

Suddenly Arnav grinned devilishly, 'No. But then I am ready to play dirty,' he said and without any further explanations he left.

Khushi was tired and sleepy. It had been a long day. She did not mind the tiring work or the incessant demands of the kids in the orphanage. All these things filled the void in her heart.

A familiar pair of liquid brown eyes, full of pain, flashed before her eyes. She tried to ward away the image, 'You will be fine Arnav. You managed 7 years,' she said to herself.

The door bell rang just then. It was 9.30 pm. Who could it be at this time?

Tentatively she opened the door, with the latch intact. She was shocked to see Arnav there with a pair of suitcases.

She opened the door wide and gaped at him.

'What are you doing here?' she asked.

'Can I come in first?' he asked and before she knew he got in with his suitcases.

'Arnav what's this?' she asked pointing at his suitcases.

'You know Khushi I thought for a long time after I left. I decided, the only way to get over you is by being around you and fighting the attraction.

May be I am in a time freeze, thinking you are the same old college Khushi.

But as you said, you have changed and I have changed. So, may be I will get over you in no time. All I need is that time with you. So, here I am,' he announced trying not to be amused as her mouth formed a perfect O.

'What a weird plan! And what about people? What will they think?' she asked.

Time for the next strategy Arnav, he told himself. Picking up her hands and looking into her eyes he said, 'Do you care for the world more than me? Tell them I am a cousin or something. And please Khushi, don't deny me this chance to get on with my life,' he said.

Khushi stood silent, unable to deny him anything.

'But---what---' Khushi began, before Arnav interrupted.

'I am tired and exhausted. Can you show me to the guest room? Is it that one?' he asked moving towards a room already.

'Yeah,' she said lamely.

'Thank you Khushi, you are an angel,' he said and before she knew, he had gone into the room and closed the door behind him.

Khushi stood gaping at the door, wondering what had hit her.

Did Arnav Singh Raizada, just arrive at her doorstep lock stock and barrel and taken over her guestroom?

And she had let him?

And before she could recover from the shock he opened the door slightly and said

'And please be a nice host and fix me some dinner. I am hungry...'