Arshi SS: The Guardian Angel Pt 8 pg 63 14/02 - Page 15

"No."

Arnav raised his eyebrows. A second later, he had an annoyed expression on his face, when he asked, "Oh really?"

He released her arm and she stepped away, rubbing her wrist. He took a step back and moved his hand towards the door, and said, "Fine. You may leave now and send Mr. Mohammad in." He paused, turned to her and folded his arms. "Unless, you want to tell him yourself that I am shutting down the orphanage."

Khushi raised her eyebrows, shocked. She shook her head and took a step towards him, worried. "What? How can you do that? Where will all the children go?"

Arnav shrugged his shoulders and leaned against the table. "I don't know. You said no without thinking about my child, then why should I think about your children?"

Khushi pursed her lips, angrily. "That is different. Your kid can have any tutor, but these children have no other place to go to."

"Enough! I want you to be his tutor and you refused. Now you can find a place to take the children."

"Well, I know your kind. Money means everything, doesn't it? There is no way I am teaching your spoilt son instead of these innocent children in this orphanage, who need the education."

"Fine. You and your ego can take the kids somewhere else and teach them." He sat down on a chair and took out his mobile phone. Khushi glared at him, as he checked his email on his phone. She curled her hands into fists, her face fuming.

Arnav looked up a few seconds later, and asked, his eyebrows narrowed. "Why are you still here? I asked you to leave, didn't I?"

Khushi exhaled deeply and pursed her lips. "Fine, I will teach your son."

Arnav looked up from his mobile phone and smirked. He stood up and put his phone in the pocket of his suit. "Good. I will send a car here to pick you up at 5:30pm. Be ready on time. I don't want my driver waiting for you." He turned around and said, "You may leave now. Send Mr. Mohammad in."

Khushi exhaled deeply, turned around and walked to the door. She stepped outside and her eyes filled with tears.

Khushi stepped out of the car, wearing a bright blue salwar. Her eyes opened wide seeing the huge mansion in front of her. "You can go in, madam." She turned to look at the driver, smiled and nodded at him. The front door was open; she walked into the house, in awe of the huge living room, with lavish furniture. She stopped as she heard the sound of bells. She looked over her shoulder and saw an old lady sitting in front of a mandir, her hands together in prayer. Khushi walked towards her, as she stood up from the floor. As she turned around, her eyes opened wide seeing Khushi in front of her.

"Are you here for the tuition?" The old lady asked.

Khushi smiled and nodded, and brought her hands together in prayer. "Yes. My name is Khushi."

Nani smiled. She gave Khushi some Prasad and took her towards the living room. "I am Devyani Raizada, Arnav's Nani. You wait here, dear. I will send for Aarav." She turned around and called, "Hari Prakash. Bring Aarav bitwa here, please." She asked Khushi to sit down on the sofa and asked, "Dear, would you like something to drink?" When Khushi shook her head, Nani smiled and asked, "Where would you like to teach Aarav bitwa? Here or in his room?"

Khushi shrugged her shoulders. Nani's face became stern as she said, "I think you should teach him here in the living room the first few days, if you don't mind. Aarav is a good kid, but he is a little naughty. He is very smart though, and trust me, he will learn quickly. If I am around, he won't play any tricks on you."

Khushi smiled and nodded, Great. A spoiled brat, just like I thought. But no, I am going to stay here and teach him, else that Laad Governor will blame me and ' maybe even shut down the orphanage. I can't let that..

"Pari.." Khushi looked up, hearing the voice of a young boy. Her eyes opened wide; in front of her was a young nine-year-old boy, with a wide smile on her face. She gulped, fighting back tears as Nani smiled and embraced the boy.

"How sweet." Nani turned around hearing Khushi's voice. "He calls you Pari?"

Nani laughed. "That's short for Parnani. Khushi bitiya, this is Aarav." She turned to Aarav and said, "And Aarav beta, this is Khushi didi. She will be giving you tuitions from today onwards." She took a ladoo from the plate and fed the boy, and smiled. "You will be a good boy and study well, won't you?" The boy smiled and nodded. He turned to Khushi and gave a wide naughty grin. Khushi gave him a fake smile and rolled her eyes when he looked away.

"Good. And how about the next question..?"

"Khushi bitiya, I will be right back, ok?" Khushi was interrupted when Nani stood up from the sofa. Khushi nodded and turned back to Aarav, as Nani walked away.

As soon as Nani disappeared, Aarav closed his book and folded his arms. Khushi raised her eyebrows. "Look, Miss. I don't need any tutoring. I am sure I am smarter than you."

Khushi giggled. "You definitely need lessons on humility. Now remain quiet, and finish the rest of the questions."

"I don't want to study. Let's go play." Aarav jumped up from the sofa. Khushi exhaled deeply and shook her head. Aarav made a puppy-dog face and said, "Please'?"

Khushi smiled and added, "Ok fine. Solve this equation and find the value for x and then we can go play. Fine?"

Aarav sat down again, took the pencil from the table and quickly scribbled on his notebook. Khushi watched, smiling. She had to hand it to him; he was smart. Then why did they ask her to tutor him?

"Done." Her thoughts were interrupted by Aarav's voice. She looked up and saw him run up the stairs.

"Aarav.." She called after him, worried. What will Nani say when she comes back? How could I let him run off like that?

"And I am back." She smiled as she saw Aarav standing next to her with a red ball in his hands.

"Ball? Inside the house? Aarav beta, are you allowed to play ball inside the house?" Khushi asked, softly. Aarav smiled and nodded. He yelled "Catch", as he threw the ball towards Khushi. She smiled as she caught it and threw it back.

"Aarav", a scream made her freeze and miss the ball that Aarav had thrown towards her. It went past her and crashed into a vase that was on the table behind her. Khushi gulped as she turned around to see Arnav, at the front door, fuming. He walked towards Khushi and Aarav. Khushi looked down as Aarav grabbed her hand; he was shivering. She looked at Arnav .. what kind of a man is he? His own son is scared of him?

Arnav stopped in front of Khushi and glared at her. "Since when did your job description include teaching to play ball?" Khushi gulped. Arnav pointed his index finger at her, fuming. "You have to teach him math, science, hindi and English, not play with him. Do I need to write it down so that you won't forget it again?" Khushi pursed her lips, annoyed. Arnav added, almost in a whisper."Don't you dare defy me, again, Ms.Gupta. In that case, hundreds of innocent children will be homeless because of you."

Khushi glared at him. "You don't need to threaten me every time. I am sorry about this. It won't happen again. I will do my job and well and won't give you another chance to complain."

Arnav stepped away. "Good."

"Chotte, you are home early today?" Khushi turned around to see Nani walking towards them. Nani stopped next to Khushi, her mouth wide open. "Who broke the vase?" She stared at Aarav.

"Aarav bitwa. Did you play when I stepped away?" Aarav gulped and moved behind Khushi. Khushi raised her eyebrows and looked at Aarav.

"Aarav beta, your parnani is asking you something." Aarav looked at Khushi and then at Nani.

"Khushi didi didn't catch the ball and so it hit the vase. It was not my fault." Aarav added, pulling his hand out of Khushi's. Khushi's mouth opened wide.

"Enough." Arnav's voice echoed in the living room, startling Khushi. He glared at the boy and screamed, his face fuming. "I told you no playing inside the house. Then why do you ..?"

"Chotte, stop." Nani's stern voice interrupted him. "Hari Prakash, can you please clean the mess?" She turned to Aarav and said, with a smile. "Bitwa, you threw the ball and it broke the vase. Haven't we told you not to play inside the house? Then why do you?"

Aarav's shoulders slumped and he looked down. Arnav looking annoyed, stepped aside and walked away. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and said, "Nani, please send my dinner upstairs. Ms. Gupta, you don't have to come tomorrow if you plan to encourage Aarav to play during his study time." He walked up the stairs. Aarav burst into tears. He ran across the living room and disappeared into a corridor.

Khushi exhaled deeply. Rich people and their loveless lives!

Next: Arnav's flashbacks... thinking of Khushi.

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