Arshi SS: The Guardian Angel Pt 8 pg 63 14/02 - Page 18

Khushi sat down on the floor and smiled. Aarav was sitting in front of a television with a remote in his hand. She looked at the tv; he was playing a video game, crashing a car against another. She stifled a smile, seeing the anger on his face.

"Why are you taking your anger out on those cars, huh?"

"Leave me alone."

"Why? I can help you crash the cars too. Let's crash cars and kill lots of people today, because Aarav Raizada is angry."

Aarav stopped and looked at her, as if she was crazy. "There are no people in those cars. It is not real."

Khushi stifled a smile and faked shock. "Oh, then who is driving the car?"

"I am." Aarav scoffed and shook his head, looking back at the tv.

"But the vase you broke did have flowers in them right? Once you broke the vase, the flowers fell out and they must have died by now, right? So you did kill the flowers today."

Aarav stopped playing and turned to her, pouting his lips. "You know I didn't mean to kill the flowers. It was an accident. Then why do I get scolded?"

Khushi smiled as she caressed his hair. "Well, that's because you were told not to play inside the house."

Aarav looked away, annoyed. "But both all my friends are allowed to play inside their house."

Khushi exhaled deeply, smiling and said softly. "Well that's because their parents don't know that they might get hurt. Your family doesn't want you to get hurt. That's why they ask you not to play inside the house."

"They don't want me to get hurt? But then why do they get angry at me?"

"They love you. You get angry only at people you care about?"

"Did your parents get angry at you too?"

Khushi froze. She fought back tears, as she smiled and said, softly. "I don't even remember my parents."

"I don't remember my mother either. She never loved me. So she left me and went."

Khushi's eyes opened wide. "Don't say that."

Aarav threw the remote away and turned to Khushi, tears streaming down his cheeks. "No, that's the truth. That's what Barun and Daljeet said. They always annoy me in school and I fight with them. Yesterday, I punched Barun and he lost two of his front tooth and the principal asked me not to come to school for a month."

So that is why Aarav needs tuitions. Khushi caressed the boy's hair and touched his cheek. "If you don't like something they said, that doesn't mean you should punch them right. Why did you believe them in the first place? They don't know your mother like you do. Do you think she loves you?" Aarav pouted his lips and closed his eyes. Khushi touched his chin and lifted his face. He opened his eyes and a tear rolled down. "Aww, how could someone not like such a sweet boy. I am sure your mother loved you a lot. And so does your Papa and Parnani."

Aarav sniffled and threw his arms around Khushi. "Really?"

"Yes. They love you, so you should let them know you love them too, by being a good boy."

"How do I do that?" His voice was just a whimper.

Khushi smiled and continued, caressing his hair. "You have to apologize to them for breaking the vase and for playing inside the house. If you say sorry to both of them, we can play outside tomorrow."

Aarav pulled away, a wide smile on his face, his cheeks wet from tears. "And get icecream?"

Khushi looked at him, curiously. "This time I will ask your Parnani whether you can have icecream. If she says fine, we will go get it."

"Yay", Aarav cheered and wiped tears using the back of his hand.

Khushi interrupted him. "But, only after class. Is that understood?"

Aarav nodded his head and burst into a wide grin. Khushi smiled.

Arnav was typing on his laptop, when suddenly he got annoyed and closed his laptop. Dammit! Why can't I stop thinking about her? He leaned against the recliner. Her twinkling eyes. A smile that lit up her face. Something about her made his heart soar. All day long, he hadn't been able to concentrate on his work. Why could he not stop thinking about her? It was not like he hadn't seen anyone as beautiful as her before. He worked in the fashion industry, and he met sexy and stylish women every day. But she, Khushi Gupta was different. Seeing the happiness radiating from her made him remember how his life had been before it became complicated. He remembered his life as a kid, happy and carefree, when he lived with his parents; his father rich and successful and his mother kind and loving. He was in high school when his parents died and his sister had been three years younger than him, and since he had no other living relatives who could take over the company, the responsibility had been bestowed on him. He had attended college and grad school while running his own company, but with the help of his father's manager Aman Sharma. When he took on the responsibility of the company, he had been working day and night, to keep his parents' dream alive. And then ..

Arnav closed his eyes. Khushi's happy face appeared again. His eyes opened wide, his face fuming. He hated her smile. He couldn't bear to see her happy. How can she be happy staying in the orphanage, without going out into the world and getting a real job? And when he gave her a job, here she was, playing and having fun with Aarav, as though this was fun and not a job. And that smile, that annoying smile. How can she be happy? She has no one in this world, she has no money, no power, no real job.. and how can she be happy? Arnav banged his fist on the table and leaned forward, and closed his eyes. Khushi's face appeared again, her beautiful happy face. And yet she was happy.. and something about her made his heart feel light .. made him feel good. When he was near her, something made him want to smile, to be happy. Arnav stood up and walked to the door.

"Khushi bitiya, sit down and eat with us."

"No, Naniji. I am good." Khushi smiled, as she placed parathas on Aarav's plate.

Aarav grabbed her hand and she looked at him. "Please didi, eat with me."

Khushi smiled, nodded and sat down. Nani smiled. Just then she saw Hari Prakash walk into the dining room and she called out to him.

"Hari Prakashji, can you take a plate for Chotte? He said he wanted .. " She paused and looked at the stairs. Khushi followed her gaze and saw Arnav walk down the stairs. Just then, he looked at her, their eyes met. Khushi froze; there was something powerful about his gaze. It made her shiver all over. It made her feel weak and want to melt into the ground. She looked away, annoyed. Who does he think he is? I am not scared of him. Little did she realize what she was feeling was not fear!

Arnav pulled up a chair opposite to her and sat down. She looked up and their eyes met again. She looked away and stared at the plate of food in front of her. She looked at Aarav, as she heard him clearing his throat.

Aarav said softly, looking at Khushi, Arnav and Nani. "I would like to apologize to all of you for playing inside the house and for breaking the vase. It won't happen again."

As soon as Aarav finished talking, Arnav looked at the bowls on the table, took the curry bowl in his hand and started serving himself some curry.

Khushi was annoyed. Aarav had apologized and Laad Governor didn't even acknowledge it. No wonder, the poor kid thinks no one loves him. His father doesn't love him at all. Her thoughts were interrupted by Nani's voice.

"That's alright, bitwa. We don't want you to get hurt. That's why we don't want you playing inside the house. I am relieved that you have decided not to do that again." Nani said, smiling.

Aarav nodded, turned to Khushi and gave her a wide grin. Khushi nodded and smiled. Nani watched the exchange and said a silent prayer.

"Ok, Naniji. I need to leave now." Khushi said, as she stood up from the chair. She turned to Aarav and said, "I will see you tomorrow at 10 in the morning, ok?"

Aarav pouted his lips as he asked, "Do you have to go? Can't you stay here with me all the time?" Khushi was touched; she didn't know what to say.

Nani said softly. "Aarav beta, Khushi didi has to go home."

Aarav folded his arms and leaned back into the chair, looking annoyed. "But Pari, I want her to stay." Nani and Khushi looked at each other.

Aarav leaned forward and said, his eyes filled with tears. "Please didi, don't go. Please stay with me. Please.."

"Ms. Gupta, you will stay here." Every one turned to look at Arnav who had gotten up from his chair. He added, "I fired you from your job at the orphanage anyways, so you don't need to go back there. I will let Mr. Mohammad know that you are not going back, not until I hire you for teaching at the orphanage. I will send the driver now to get your stuff from the orphanage."

Khushi was angry, but her thoughts were interrupted, hearing Aarav cheer. Aarav got up and threw his arms around Khushi's waist. Her heart melted, and she hugged him back. She would miss the kids at the orphanage, yes, but somehow she wanted to stay here, for Aarav and ..

She looked up at Arnav who was walking towards the stairs. Just then, he stopped and looked over his shoulders. Their eyes met; a second later, they looked away.

Why did I ask her to stay? I hate seeing her radiant face, and yet, at the same time, I like seeing her smile, because it makes me happy. What the hell is wrong with you, Arnav?

Why did I want to stay? I hate that man. No, I am staying for Aarav. Yes, I love this little guy. Really, then why did you look at the Laad Governor now? Why did you have to see him, when you say you didn't stay for him? What the hell is wrong with you, Khushi?

"I like her." Arnav looked up, hearing Nani's voice. Nani had walked into his room. She sat on the bed and looked at Arnav, who was sitting on the recliner, typing on his laptop. "But you were going to Aarav's school to ask Mrs. Malhotra if she could teach Aarav right? Then why did you get this girl instead?"

Arnav turned around to face Nani and said, "Nani, I stopped at the orphanage on the way to the school, you know, to make sure the food was properly given to the kids. And I met her there and I thought she would make a good teacher."

Nani smiled and nodded. "She is a great girl. Did you see how she convinced Aarav to apologize? He never listens to us."

Arnav was thinking about Aarav hugging Khushi, when Nani touched his hand.

"Chotte, I miss her too." Arnav looked at her, confused.

Nani continued. "Your mother. Today is her birthday. If she was alive, she would have been fifty today. She was such a wonderful person, beta; your mother was such a beautiful human being."

Arnav fought back tears, as he said, annoyed. "But she isn't here. If she was, she would have taken care of everything. Of everyone. You, me, Aarav .. Anjali'" He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. "I failed, Nani."

Nani got up from the bed and stood up next to Arnav. She touched his shoulder and shook her head. "No bitwa, you haven't failed. Not yet, not with Aarav. You have a chance to make things right. He needs you."

Arnav opened his eyes and looked at Nani. He touched her hand on his shoulder and took it in his hand and nodded. He exhaled deeply and smiled. "Nani, I have a conference call now. Was there anything else you wanted to tell me?"

Nani touched his cheek and placed a kiss on his forehead. Arnav watched her walk out of the door. His eyes filled with tears.

***

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