Chapter 45
How is everyone today? As promised, I'm back with the next update (beware: it's almost 15 pages on word!). THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COMMENTS 
Writing Arnav and Shyam's conversation was personally fun for me too... I love both of them and their brotherly instincts!!
Writing Arnav and Shyam's conversation was personally fun for me too... I love both of them and their brotherly instincts!! A big, warm welcome to all new readers! If you want PMs, please add me as a buddy.
Silent Whispers
-CHAPTER FORTY-THREE-
Change in Currents
"See? I told you Lavs - all you had to do was just
talk to Uncle."
Lavanya
rolled her eyes. "Okay fine. You were
right, happy? But to be honest, it wasn't the talking that did it."
"Say whatever
you want, but I know that's what changed his mind."
It was a sunny
Saturday morning in Delhi, where Khushi was out for brunch with her best friend
on the excuse of finally meeting Aman. While Khushi was excited to see the
boyfriend Lavanya was madly in love with, she was happier to notice the changes
the latter seemed to have undergone. Again.
Lavanya was
back to her ostentatious outfits and dolled-up looks. Except for the
black-rimmed glasses still adorning her eyes, there wasn't even a shred of evidence
that she was the same dejected, but still determined woman Khushi had met in
the mall six months ago.
It seemed
Lavanya had come a long way from being at the brink of losing everything she
held dear.
"No Khush, Aman changed his mind."
Khushi
paused. Despite the prospect of meeting the still-yet-to-arrive Aman, the topic
of their discussion was about something else entirely. As surprising as it
sounded, they had actually spent the last half hour talking about Anand
Kashyap, Lavanya's stern father who was strongly against her relationship,
until two days ago when he had finally consented.
Of course
when Khushi first heard the news, she was sure Lavanya was joking, but now seeing
the absolute joy in her best friend's face, she knew it was nothing less than
the truth.
"What do you
mean?" she asked.
"Remember my
show last week?"
Khushi
nodded. It was Lavanya's first big break. The fashion designer she had been
working with for the past six months decided to include some of Lavanya's own
designs in the show, a feat that was nothing less than remarkable.
"Well, it was
an eventful day. Armaan, my boss, had to take care of some personal things -which I personally think was just an excuse for
him to sneak off to his girlfriend- so he dumped all the work on my head. I had
to get up at four in the morning to
get everything ready-"
Khushi's eyes
widened. "Princess Lavanya woke up before sunrise?"
"Shut-up,"
she muttered. "But yes! Before sunrise! Can you believe it?! And
obviously everything that could go wrong, went wrong. The stupid event manager
mixed up the hall we booked, the stage had all the wrong decor and the models...
urgh! Don't even get me started on
them!"
Khushi snorted.
"Of course you would have a problem
with the models."
"Hilarious.
But for your kind information, one of those stuck up snobs actually ripped one
of the dresses! I panicked so much that I fainted right before the show."
"What?!"
Lavanya nodded.
"I was running around on an empty stomach all day. And with all the chaos
backstage, I didn't even get two minutes to grab a bite. You can hardly blame
me consi-"
"Why didn't
you tell me?" Khushi asked, livid. While she had attended the show, and
congratulated her on its success, she was unaware of this particular
detail.
"Because it
was nothing. And more than that, Aman already did both his and your share of
yelling, so I didn't see the point of telling you."
"Aman? He was
there at the show?"
Lavanya
nodded. "Apparently when I told him Armaan made me in charge of everything, he
was confident that something like
this would happen, so he was there backstage the whole day, watching me."
Khushi stared
at her, unable to believe her ears.
"So
obviously, he saw me faint and called the doctor right away. After an hour of
scolding and making sure I ate three days worth of food, he let me go back for
the show."
"Wow... I mean
I know you have been together for years now, but he really does love you. A lot."
Lavanya
sighed. "All of it is so weird... I know he loves me, but seeing it like this and
more than that feeling it. I never
thought our long distance was a problem, but now I get it... There is so much of
him that I don't know, and the more I understand him, the more I love him."
Khushi
smiled. "So is that what you told Uncle?"
"Kind
of... when I went home that night, Papa
came to me, which was very surprising since we hadn't talked in weeks."
"What did he
want?"
"He asked me
if I really did love Aman, if I really did see a future with him. And of
course, I said yes. And I told him how he took care of me at the show as
proof."
"And?"
Lavanya took
a deep breath. "And Papa looks at me -calmly- and says, "I know"."
Khushi
scrunched her eyebrows, not following her point.
"Turns out,
Papa was there at the show too. He came early to wish me luck -apparently he
couldn't miss my first big break, no matter how much he disapproved of it- when
he saw Aman carrying me to a quiet place. He obviously followed us and the rest
is history."
"That's what changed his mind?"
"I know. Can
you believe it?" Lavanya said, shaking her head. "All this time, he only needed
to see was that Aman could take care of me, and there I was, banging my head
over how to convince him."
Khushi
snorted. "Unbelievable."
"Tell me
about it... I am still in shock."
"So I guess
in the end, it was a good thing that Armaan decided to sneak off to see his girlfriend."
Lavanya
stared at her, a strange expression hovering on her face. "Or maybe it was a good thing that I listened to Arnav and took
those invitations that day we went shopping."
Khushi tried
to keep a straight face. "What do you mean?"
"Because if I
didn't end up going to that party, I would never even have met Armaan, forgetting handling his show."
"Of course
you would," she replied nonchalantly. "You are talented Lavs."
Lavanya
stubbornly crossed her arms. "So you are still going to keep lying to me then?"
"I don't know
what you are talking about."
"I know both of you sent me to that party
on purpose, even though I told you very clearly that I wanted to do this on my own."
Khushi sighed,
defeated. "Fine. If you want me to confess, then yes, I knew those invitations
were to an after party of a fashion show."
"How-"
"But," Khushi interrupted, holding up her
hand. "It wasn't my idea to send you there. Arnav came up with that all by
himself - so blame him. And while you are at it, you can also blame him for
thinking that going to that party is more meaningful for an upcoming and
talented fashion designer, than two nerds who only care about the shares of AR
Designs. I know - it was a stupid thought, but I have stopped questioning his
logic a long time ago."
Lavanya shook
her head. "You really are crazy Khush."
She grinned
sheepishly. "And you still love me."
"Apparently.
But honestly, thank you. It may be Arnav's idea, but I know he did it for you."
Khushi
smiled, relieved. "Just for the record, you would have still gotten your first
break as a designer, even if you didn't
go that party."
"I know, but
I am still thankful," she replied. "And to return the favor, I decided I am
going to design your wedding outfit."
She rolled
her eyes. "You were going to do that anyway."
Lavanya
smirked. "Yeah, but now I have an excuse that you can't refuse."
"Says who? I
am still going to refuse."
"Stop being
such a spoil sport! It's your wedding
- show some excitement!"
Khushi
gloomily picked up her almost empty coffee cup. "What's there to be excited
about?"
"I am serious. By the way where's your ring? Your
brother is okay with you and Arnav, right? So why aren't you still wearing it?"
She glanced
at her bare fingers, but didn't offer an explanation.
"You know I
still haven't even seen it yet."
"I will
whatsapp you a picture of it," Khushi muttered. "If you promise to stop
pestering me after that."
Lavanya
frowned. "I am pestering you because you already said yes. How do you think Arnav is going to feel when he realizes that
you aren't wearing his ring?"
"He already
knows - the ring is still with him."
"What?"
Khushi let
out a sigh. "I am not ready Lavs-"
"To get
married or to tell the world about it?"
"Both! I am only twenty-six for crying
out loud! I haven't even saved enough money to buy myself a small apartment -
what on earth makes you think I am ready for marriage?"
"You have a
job-"
"In a company
that half the city doesn't even know exists!" she interrupted heatedly, her
patience vanishing. "You know me better
Lavs... I spent my entire life preparing for a big career. And now, when it's
time for me to actually start building it, I am supposed to settle down? How is
that ever going to be okay? If I am not happy with myself, how can I make
someone else happy?"
"No one is
asking you to give up your dreams Khushi, least of all Arnav, who probably
wants them to happen as much as you do. The point is accepting the fact that
you love him, not just to him, but to everyone."
"And do you
know what's going to happen once I do? The moment I put that ring on, everyone
is going to start treating me like Arnav Singh Raizada's fiance."
"Why is that
such a bad thing?"
"Because he is freaking Arnav Singh Raizada!"
"Khu-"
"You don't
get it Lavs! I don't love him because he is rich or he is successful. I love
him because he makes me be a better person. But not everyone knows that. And
when word gets out that we are engaged, not even a single person is going to
hesitate reducing me to a greedy, materialistic girl."
"You don't
know that."
"Maybe I
don't. But what I do know is that if I marry him without earning myself a
place, then everything I do after will be because
I am married to him. And the last thing I want in my life is to be called someone's
trophy wife!"
Silence
followed her outburst. While Lavanya stared at her, slightly aghast, Khushi
looked down at the table, wishing she had avoided this conversation altogether.
She wasn't really expecting her friend to understand her inhibitions.
"Look,"
Lavanya finally said. "I know how important your ambitions are to you. But I
also know how much you both love each other. People will talk as much as they
like, but as long as you know who you are, no one can label you."
Khushi was
quiet.
"Yes, Arnav
is rich and successful; he comes from a very affluent family. But so do you. You are his equal in every sense."
"Maybe one
day I will be, but not today."
"And what
about Arnav?" Lavanya pressed. "How long are you going to make him wait until
you find yourself good enough to get married?"
To that, Khushi
had no answer.
"I know he is
patient, but that doesn't mean you can be unfair with him. It's not his fault
he is a Raizada."
"I am not
blaming him-"
"But you are
definitely punishing him. And I don't think he deserves that."
Khushi knew
Lavanya was just being honest, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel
she was being partial. What was so wrong in waiting for a bit? She, Khushi,
never said she didn't want to ever get married.
Before she
could voice any of that, however, an unexpected voice spoke:
"Sorry I'm
late guys."
Khushi froze,
the blood draining from her face. She could recognize that voice from anywhere,
though at that moment, it belonged to someone she wasn't quite ready to meet.
It was
Lavanya who answered. "Typical Akash... always late to everything."
To Khushi's
utter surprise, Lavanya stood up and hugged Akash, who appeared to have changed
dramatically since the last time they met. While his eyes were still framed by
glasses, a noticeable stubble covered his jaw. His usually well-kept hair was
ruffled and his once handsome face was gaunt. It seemed as if he had suddenly
aged ten years.
"I don't know
what you are talking about," Akash cheekily replied, taking a seat in between
them. "I am not the one who always misses first period because I need more time
to get ready."
Lavanya
rolled her eyes. "At least I am not as sloppy looking as you! What is with the
beard?"
He
absent-mindedly rubbed his chin. "Apparently painters need to look soulful... so
I thought I should drop the good boy image."
"That's the
dumbest thing I ever heard! You have been clearly hanging out with the wrong
crowd."
"What can I
say?" Akash answered with a shrug. "Not everyone is as talented as Lavanya
Kashyap."
She nodded approvingly.
"That's a valid point. But seriously, get rid of the beard. You look soulful
enough without appearing like a forty-year-old man! By the way I forgot to
introduce you both. Akash, this is my friend Khushi and Khushi, this is Akash."
Khushi looked
up startled, almost furious to hear Lavanya's sarcasm. The situation was
awkward enough without her biting comments.
"What?" she asked feigning innocence. "Since
you two were acting like strangers, I thought you might have forgotten about
each other."
"It's not funny Lavs," Khushi muttered, avoiding
Akash's eye.
"I know it's
not," she answered, serious. "But given how childishly both of you are
behaving, I don't know what else to make of this."
Khushi
pressed her lips.
Lavanya
continued. "It's been almost a year
since both of you broke up -mutually might I add- and moved on. So why are you
still acting like bitter enemies?"
Akash
intervened. "Lavanya-"
"If you are
going to defend her or yourself," she interrupted. "Then save it! I don't know what you both are upset about, but whatever
it is, it is not going to disappear on it's own. I am tired of being stuck between
you both. So do me a favor and just talk
it out."
Collecting
her bag, she stood up to leave. "Aman is meeting both of you for dinner tonight and I hope you guys will show up
like my best friends, instead of two cut-up ex's. I will text you the address."
And she left
without another word.
Khushi
watched her retreating back, wondering when the carefree Lavanya became so
responsible.
"I never
thought I would see Lavs like that," Akash murmured.
"Tell me
about it."
He let out a
sigh and looked down at his clasped hands on the table. It seemed, like her,
even he didn't know what to say. Khushi didn't blame him. After everything they
had been through, she was sure there was nothing they could say.
Akash cleared
his throat. "Erm... I am not sure where to start."
"It's fine,"
she mumbled, awkward. "I know Lavanya forced you to come-"
"Actually she
didn't."
Khushi looked
up, amazed.
"I asked her if all of us could meet up
again, just like old times. I don't know what she told you though"
"She said Aman
wanted to meet me here."
Akash grimly
nodded, his thoughts obvious: he wasn't expecting her to have come otherwise.
So, she quickly
added, "But it was pointless. I would have come even if she told me the truth."
"You would?"
His surprised
pinched her deeply. "At some point, we were friends... best friends."
"Were? Or we are?"
Khushi stared
at him, trying to understand what he was getting at. In truth, she wasn't angry
with him. No, as she explained to Arnav months ago now, she had no hard
feelings for Akash at all. She wronged him in so many ways that she had lost
the right to be mad at him.
But she
wasn't sure what to expect from him. After he violently stormed out on her that
day, she kept her distance from him, simply because she didn't know how he
would react. Would he forgive her for feeding him lies during their brief
relationship? Would he resent her for moving on so quickly to his brother, who
incidentally was also the nemesis he tried forever to overcome? Or would he
pretend as if nothing happened?
It had been
impossible to guess any of these answers. So, instead she simply accepted his cold
shoulder as both his punishment and her way of repentance.
"I know I
really wasn't at my best the last time we met," Akash said in a guilt-ridden
voice. "And I would understand if you didn't want to forgive me after
everything that has happened since, but I am sorry."
Khushi was
stunned. Of all the possibilities she thought of, he apologizing was not one of
them. "Why are you-"
"I should
have been there that day Khushi, when your mother passed away. I should have
know what you were going through and I should have been there for you."
She looked
down at her lap. While she had long surpassed the grief that clouded her upon
Garima's demise, she was still yet to be immune. And judging by her progress,
she seriously doubted if she would ever be. There were just some things in life
that time couldn't heal and losing a parent was one of them.
"I am very,
very sorry," he finished softly.
Khushi took a
deep breath. "It's fine... you didn't know. You couldn't have known."
"But that's
my point. Dating or not, the truth is I wasn't a good enough friend... at least for
you to share your pain with me."
She felt odd
to hear that. "It wasn't about being good enough Akash. You are a great friend and a great boyfriend.
The fault was all mine."
He shook his
head. "I knew you didn't love me Khushi. I knew it for pretty much the entire
time we were together. I just thought that maybe after going out with me, you would
change your mind and see me differently."
She averted
her eyes, remembering how much she wished for the same at one point.
"But the
thing is, you can't force someone to love you... between two people it either works,
or it doesn't. There is no in-between. I should have just accepted that, instead
of dragging both of us into a big mess."
"It wasn't
your fault," she replied, earnest. "Believe it or not, I was trying to make
"us" work too... or I thought I was anyway. And for what it's worth, I didn't
give up until I had to."
Akash
shrugged. "It doesn't matter anymore... we both made our choices, so we should
just move on."
She gingerly
stretched her hand out to hold his. "I know it doesn't matter, but I want you
to know that I never stopped caring for you and I never will. I know it's
pretty rough between you and Arnav, but believe me, that had nothing to do with
us. I didn't choose him over you, and I definitely don't think he is better
than you."
"I know," he
murmured, with a weak smile. "It actually didn't take me long to realize that
my problem wasn't with the fact that you fell in love with another man, but it
was that that man was my brother, who everyone has been comparing me with since
day one. And the moment I understood that, my anger at you became pointless."
"Aka-"
"The thing
is," he continued, not letting her speak. "You were always going to fall in
love Khushi. If not with my brother, than with someone else. If not today, then
at some point in the future. But what remains unchanged is that it won't be
with me... ever."
She didn't
know what to say.
"And I'm okay
with that. Like I said, two people either work or don't. There is no
in-between. So I know you didn't choose
Bhai over me, because there is no "me" to even begin with. You love him; you
always did and you always will."
Khushi
couldn't help but be touched. "Thank you," she said softly. "For understanding,
for taking the first step... if it was up to me, we would still not be talking."
"And thank you for being the closest friend I ever
had. I know things may not ever go back to the way they were, but I want to at
least try. I really do miss having you in my life."
"I miss you
too. It just doesn't feel right not having you constantly being the voice of
reason in my ears."
Akash
grinned. "You are lucky Lavs is not here."
Khushi
snorted. "I love her to death and all, but reason and Lavs are two opposite
things. And I think she figured that out my now."
Before he
could reply, however, a waiter stopped at their table, asking for their order.
"Give us five
more minutes," Khushi said, dismissing him. Food was the last thing on her
mind.
"So," Akash
said. "Now that the awkward part is over, I brought you something."
A line
appeared on her forehead. "What?"
He neatly
pulled out a black colored file from his jacket and handed it to her. "Before
you explode, just - just give it a thought okay?"
Khushi skeptically
opened the file. What could possibly be so bad that he was advising caution
even before she started reading? Her question was answered instantly. Staring
back at her were legal documents, carrying the seal of AR Designs. She only had to read the first paragraph to understand
what Akash was saying.
She gaped
wordlessly at him.
"So?" he
asked, nervous. "What do you think?"
"You want my
opinion or my answer?!" she replied incredulously. "Because the idea is stupid
and my answer is no."
He sighed, as
if he had been expecting that reaction. "Just think about it. Please."
"Think about
what?!" she cried. "I am not taking your
shares of AR Designs!"
"Why not?"
Khushi stared
at him, aghast. "Why not? Because this is your inheritance! Do you even know what that means?!"
"No, I don't
and that's my point. I have had these
shares for twenty-six years now, and I still don't know what to do with them.
But you do. It was your dream to work
in AR Designs, to bring it to new heights. And this is your chance - take it."
"There are
other ways of me working in AR Designs without
becoming a part-owner. But why are we even discussing this? My answer is no - I
am not taking them."
"I already
signed the papers Khushi. It's done."
She was
stunned. "But why me? Why not give them to Arnav... or maybe even sell them?"
"Because you care. More than I ever did and
definitely more than some random person who buys them. You know so much about
this company, how it started and why it was started. Even now, you don't want
them because you know the sentiment my father had when he wrote these shares on
my name and after him, my brother."
"So if you
know all that, why are you still hell bent on giving them away?"
"I have said
all my life that I want nothing to do with this company. I meant it then and I mean it now. If I ever
want to be able to look at Bhai in the eye without feeling guilty or insecure,
I need to do something on my own. And I think you of all people will understand
that."
Her retort
fell away even before she could voice it. "You know I can't argue with that."
"Good," he
said simply, the least bit regretful. "I don't want you arguing with me. I want
you accept these shares. Starting Monday, you will be the part owner of AR
Designs."
Khushi bit
her lip, words failing her. She knew he had thought through his decision, that
he wasn't making it in a haste to prove himself. But even then, she felt odd
taking something that she was a long way from deserving.
"Fine," she
finally said. "I will accept them, but on one condition."
Akash sighed.
"Of course you have a condition."
"I will take
only fifty percent of your shares. You are going to keep the rest."
His face
fell. "No," he objected. "I don't want any of it-"
"I take fifty
percent or I take nothing at all."
"Must you
always argue?"
She merely
shrugged.
"How about I
keep five percent?"
Khushi
narrowed her eyes. "Forty percent?"
"Ten percent
- final offer."
"Twenty?"
"Khushi-"
"Fifteen?"
Akash simply
glared at her.
"Fine!" she muttered. "Ten percent it
is."
"Good. I see
Bhai has taught you how to compromise."
"I would
hardly call that a compromise! But seriously Akash - if you ever want to come
back, you just need to tell me."
He smiled.
"The ten percent I am keeping is my
way to come back - if I ever want to. But if I have learned anything these past
few months, it is that being a part of this company has nothing to do with being a part of this family. I always thought it
was the same thing, but it's not. This is just pure business - there is no
sentiment to it. I just wish my dad understood that before writing his will."
Khushi exhaled,
knowing he had a valid point. Shares or not, he was still going to be Akash
Singh Raizada and there was nothing in the world that could change that.
"And more
than any of that, I trust you Khush. I have been thinking about this for a long
time now and every time single time, I can only see you taking my place.
Without any bias whatsoever, you deserve
this... and not because you are my close friend or because you are going to be
married into the family, but because you are capable. You are cut-out for this
job; you have always been."
That was the
first time Khushi realized in over a year just why Akash was her best friend. And
from that second onwards, she was never going to forget it.
"Are you
ready to order ma'am?" It was the waiter, diligently back to take their order.
Akash gave
her a reassuring smile, before looking up. "Yes, we are going to take the
breakfast combo. And probably a refill for the coffee."
The waiter
nodded and left.
It was as
they eased back into a casual and not to mention, a less taxing conversation, reminiscent
of days bygone, that Khushi saw it, flashing at the bottom of the screen on a
nearby TV monitor.
"-so Payal
ended up taking the apartment," Akash finished. He had recounted the story of
how he decided to move out of Shantivaan.
Only Khushi
couldn't hear him. Her mind was occupied with the news scrolling at the bottom
of the NDTV Profit channel.
"I was
actually the most surprised with Bh-"
"Shh!" she
said, waving him off to keep quiet.
The news anchor
had just begun speaking and she had to strain her ears to hear over the murmurs
of the restaurant:
"... sources
says this incident will be a major setback for Joshi and Sons, which has
dominated the clothing industry for more than a decade. Now with the sudden and
not to mention shocking drop in shares, it has lost its prestigious place as
the highest grossing company of the city. Overtaking their numbers by a wide
margin is the broadly acclaimed AR Designs, headed by the notable business
tycoon Arnav Singh Raizada. Experts claim owner Shashi Joshi will have a
difficult time compensating for this loss and regaining his position in the
market, if it is at all possible. Let's take
a closer look at their standings as of this morning."
Khushi stared
at the figures flashing on the screen, not believing her eyes. She vaguely felt
Akash shake her shoulder.
"Khushi?" he
called. "What's wrong?"
She shook her
head absent-mindedly as her hands flew to her phone, dialing for the only
person she could think of at that moment.
"Come on,"
she muttered, her heart thudding wildly.
Arnav's
baritone voice echoed cheekily through speaker. "Is the brunch so bad that-"
"Did you see the news?!"
He paused for
what felt like a century before saying pointedly, "Have they finally aired it?"
________________________________________________________________________________
Many of you asked good questions over the last few chapters, but I purposefully saved my answers until now. So, here they are:
1) Is Shashi going to pay for what he did to Garima, Khushi & Shyam?
YES - I am a strong believer in karma. What goes around, comes around. And the shares of his company falling is the just the start of his payback.
2) What was the news Arnav was waiting for before he proposed to Khushi (Chapter 41)? Or was he just pretending to be preoccupied to annoy her?
No, he wasn't pretending. Arnav knew the stocks of Joshi & Sons were going to fall (he has useful contacts), so he waiting for that information to air. And then, as we know, in the heat of the moment he decides to propose. The reason the news is delayed is because Shashi tries to keep everything under the wraps, but obviously you can't hide things forever.
3) How did Arnav know Khushi was eavesdropping on his and Shyam's conversation?
It was the look on Khushi's face when she dropped the plates - it was guilt. And added to that, Khushi accidentally dropped her phone when she was trying to clean up, so Arnav saw she was on call with Anjali for about 30 minutes. He then pieced it together 
Waiting for your comments!
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Comments (64)
So Joshi company's position slipped yayy
1 years ago
Akash gave his AR shares to Khushi omg.
1 years ago
So Akash n Khushi finally talked. Thanks to La
1 years ago
Joshi's position slips. Arnav already knew it was coming.
1 years ago
Akash is giving Khushi his shares. Why?
1 years ago
Yay akash n khushi talked n patchec up again. I loved the talk between Lavs n khushi, glad it worked out for Lavs n Aman.
1 years ago
Chapter bookmarked! coming later to drop my comment
2 years ago
an amzazing update...love dit ...keep it up
8 years ago
This was a surprising update the way it turned out two brothers handleing it the adult way which is a good thing to see can't wait for the next update
8 years ago
read the last update again.,...now I feel like reading the one where Shyam bashed Shashi..going to read it :-)
8 years ago