Continued-
Did she bring him tosuch state?
“Yes, you did?”Her heart, or the part that adored the man unconditionally cried out indistress, accusing her and went on. “You said all those nasty things to him.You just wanted to hurt him for not loving you.”
Was that true?
Did she say allhard-hitting words at him because she was mad, angry and frustrated at him for notloving her enough?
Her cheek burned and shegroaned in despair recalling all that she had accused him of earlier today. Shehad bared her soul to him before taking it back and declaring, she could neverlove him again. No wonder the man had not said a word but accepted defeat andleft.
But she didn’t wanthim to admit defeat. She wanted him to show her that the love she felt was not justone sided. The more she thought about it, more confident she felt that he didhave some feeling for her. Maybe he would never love her as passionately as sheloved him, but he definitely felt something for her otherwise, he wouldn’t havereacted in such manner.
“No Arnav,I won’t let you off so easily.” She muttered as she lifted her chin and wiped off her tears withdetermination.
No, shewas not going to let off so easily. She was going to make him fight for her,for her love and for their life together.
She got up from thebed and came to stand in front of the mirror to give herself a pep talk. Shewas done with whining and feeling low. Now she was determined that by hook andcrook she would find out what had brought this uncharacteristic drastic change inArnav. And for that she was willing to use every trick in the book but she wasnot going to give up till she got an admission from her stubborn husband’smouth that he equally cared for her.
Suddenly she wasseeing a purpose and her path was clear. With a serene smile playing on herlips, she fixed her hair and touched up her make up.
The woman who walkedout of the room an hour later was a very different woman that had entered thatroom this morning. Their friends were due to arrive any moment and she wasgoing to make it a very special evening.
Arnav dragged his feetback to the room and contemplated for a moment whether to get in there or not.He didn’t want to disturb or distress Khushi anymore by his presence. After fewknocks when he didn’t receive any response from inside, he hesitatingly openedthe room and only got inside once he was sure Khushi was not there.
Khushi was not there,but her presence was everywhere. He rocked on his feet as he noticed her empty suitcasenow placed on the bed and all her neatly folded clothes were scattered all overtheir King size bed.
She was packing toleave him. He groaned aloud and took a deep breath to steady himself.
How was hegoing to stop her?
Would his pleas andpledge to love her and honor her till his very last breath would make her stayback with him?
But at what cost? Heknew now, even if she somehow stays back, she would never love him again. Apunishment he shall bear forever.
Before he went againinto a downward spiral of depression, he closed his eyes tiredly and grimacedas he passed a weary hand on his face and felt the prickle of beard.
Few minutes later,freshly showered and clean shaven, he sighed wearily as he stepped into oldpair of jeans and white t-shirt. Earlier he was in no mood to entertain anybodythis evening, not even his closest friends, but now he was grateful they werecoming. Because of them, in their company he would be able to spend some timewith Khushi.
From the commotiondownstairs, he knew everyone must have arrived. From where he stood on thefirst floor, he had partial view of the room below. His eyes immediately zeroedon his wife who was laughing at something that Suraj must have said to her.Sadness crept in his heart knowing he may never see her smiling or laughingwith him like she was doing with their friends. It was Suraj who caught hisgaze and waved at him, his wave back to him was an afterthought. Something thathis friend noticed and whispered in Khushi’s ear.
“Mr.Grouch looks in foul mood.” Suraj whispered to Khushi, who frowned and then smiled when she gotwho he was referring to. Without lifting her head, she whispered back.“Let him be.”
“Ah! I see.So, the misery on his face is your doing Madam?” Suraj chuckled and Khushi replied in tonguein cheek manner. “Maybe.”
“Don’t behard on him sweetheart, he had been through hell already.” He patted her head gently and she nodded,clutching her hands tightly and replied in small voice. “I know.”
Suraj and Khushi weresoon joined by Shefali and Aru. Since Tanu and Sid were already there, now theywere just waiting for Rachel and Kevin’s arrival. From the corner of her eye,she noticed Arnav making a slow progress through the stairs towards the room.As the girls got busy chatting among themselves, she noticed Arnav grimacingwhen Suraj went to him and gave a swift clap on his back and said. “MightyArnav Singh Raizada in doghouse, now I have seen it all.”
Khushi strained tohear Arnav’s reply but could only make out a grunt, she was about to turn andlook at his face when very much pregnant Rachel waddled in along with Kevin whowas looking quite hassled. Mood of the entire room changed as the pleasantrieswere exchanged and jokes were cracked as everybody made themselves comfortableon semi -circular sofas in the room.
By choice or bydesign, it just so happened that everybody decided to sit in pairs, except Aru,whose pair was missing and Khushi whose husband decided to stand in cornerinstead of sitting along with her. It was pointed out by Rachel who call out tohim and said. “Who has put you in the corner Arnav?”
Khushi almost feltsorry for him as Arnav sounded pathetic while mumbling some excuse that nobodycould hear.
“Boss,please have mercy on me and come sit in front here with your wife. I can’t keepon turning to have conversation with you.” Rachel concluded while taking Kevin’s handand placing at her lower back. Khushi noticed that and asked immediately, whiletaking her mind off from her husband who hesitatingly approached the sofa whereshe was sitting and sat gingerly towards the edge looking like an uncomfortableguest rather than the host. “Rachel, are comfortable?”
“Darling,in this stage there is no comfortable position. And we had Doctor’s appointmentjust before coming here. If I don’t go in labor today, Doctor is inducing me in2 days. I have tried every trick in the book to get this baby out.” She chuckled while indicating Kevin to rubharder.
“Babywould come when it’s the right time. For today, I am grateful we all aretogether again.” Khushisaid graciously but she was feeling very emotional also as she couldn’t imagineher life without her friends anymore.
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