AJHS - 9

   

Part - 9

Arnav POV

Dhruv we need to talk.

Commanding him in a tone that meant business I dashed upstairs to my room not giving a damn about the rest of the family that sat in the living room. I know that was extremely rude of me. But my mind is in a dark place. The thought of Khushi and Sid going to the movies felt like a dagger in my heart. And there is no one with whom I could discuss my issues. Apart from D. The kid is not judgemental at all. And I speak from experience.

He has helped me solve many things that were too complicated for me to decipher. I can share my feelings with him. The fella is a good listener. Leaving my bedroom door wide open I began to pace back and forth thinking of all the ways of spoiling Khushi and Sidharth Shukla's movie date. Should I pretend to be sick and ask her to be my nurse for tonight? No, she will get worried unnecessarily. Or maybe I could self invite myself to her place for dinner? No, I don't wish to bother her family. Damn it. Think Raizada.

Girl troubles?

I tilted my head to see the little man stroll inside with a smirk that rivalled my own. Wow. He is a mind reader. One look at my body language and he knows I have a girl problem. Shaking my head in agreement I acknowledged his words.

You are a genius!

How can I help you Chachu?

How do you spoil a movie date? I need ideas asap.

Dhruv POV

I smiled hearing the desperation behind Nannav Chachu's words. Man, I cannot believe my plan hit the bullseye. Two days back when I heard Khushi Maam explaining to a colleague that she is going for lunch with Sid to Amici Cafe, I coaxed my Uncle to have lunch at the same place. I even chose the table opposite hers. The next thing you know Chachu's green monster woke up. Pops was so right. Jealousy always works.

And now just look at him. He is assuring himself that what he feels for Khushi Maam is just genuine concern. Haah. Concern? That rigid jaw and clenched fist is a clear indication of burning rage. Poor Sidharth Shukla. I hid my smile behind my palm as Chachu spat insults one after another at Mr Shukla.

Nannav Chachu instead of spoiling their date we should tag along with Khushi Maam. I mean my persuasion skills are bang on.

My words acted like a balm. The wildness within him gradually disappeared only leaving traces of a frown behind. The pacing came to halt. I could see the wheels turning inside his head. I felt like patting my shoulders. After all, I did the unthinkable. I trapped the old ASR within a few minutes of his appearance. Chuckling in mind I stood a little closer to him. He opened his mouth immediately.

Oh. OH. Perfect. This movie date will become a group outing. Call her now D.

Saying so he rushed towards the restroom probably wanting to freshen up. Wow. I cannot believe him. He is doing everything to stop Sid from making a move towards Khushi Maam. And he still believes that she is just a good friend. First, my dear Uncle needs to realize that this emotion is called jealousy. Pheww. What am I gonna do with these Raizada men? Sighing in frustration I called up my favourite teacher. Thankfully she answered in two rings.

Hi Dhruv.

Hi Maam. How are you?

I am good kiddo. Aap sunaiye kaise phone kia aapne?

(You tell, any specific reason for calling me at this time of the day?)

Maam Nannav Uncle said you are going to watch Sooryavanshi with a friend. Mujhe bhi woh movie dekhni hai. I have been Team Akshay for so many years.

(I too wanna watch this movie).

Hehehe. Awe. Dhruv bas itni si baat. Aap apne Chachu ke sath aajayein. Hum sab milke movie dekhlenge. Hum aapko PVR aur time message krdete hain.

(Dhruv do not worry. You come along with your Uncle. Together we will go to the movies. I will text you the name of the PVR and time).

And just when Chachu walked out of the washroom I hung up on Khushi Maam with a promise of sharing a big tub of popcorn with her. I gave him a thumbs up and his face brightened like the morning sun. Love is in the air. Who would have thought that a gloomy man like him would ever have romantic feelings for my teacher?

Payal POV

Leave my hand Akaash.

I won't. Not until you explain the reason behind this rejection.

I sighed out loud feeling a sense of deja vu. This cannot be happening to me. Did we not start our friendship after the same lines. Rolling my eyes at him I twisted his other wrist firmly making him screech in pain. He left my hand rather quickly after that. Should have warned him about my self-defence skills.

I cannot become a docile dependent housewife. I have just begun to spread my wings. I need to do a lot of things in life. Why cannot you understand this simple fact?

Verbalizing my thoughts I let go of his hand making him rub it immediately in an attempt to soothe the pain. His eyes did not leave mine. Not for a while. It is like he was trying to decode my mind or something. Allowing him to do so I stared back, all the more determined to put across my point.

I am not saying I want to get married to you tomorrow Payal. We can make this work. Is it so wrong of you to date a man like me? Or are you into those possessive bad boys?

Damn it. He knows how much I appreciate simplicity in life. Akaash likes no he loves to put me in such awkward situations that have a hidden challenge within them. First the offer of friendship and now this easy-going idea of dating him. Shutting my eyes I counted from 1 to 10. And through the count, I knew that my answer would bring a genuine smile to his face.

Khushi POV

I stood awkwardly near the entrance of 3Cs cinema when a smiling Sid strutted towards me. I felt a little guilty for not telling him about the others. He still thought that it would be just the two of us. He did not stop and shake my hand as usual rather he chose to close the distance between us and embrace me.

The unexpected hug left me baffled. But knowing his humorous side I rolled my eyes in response. When he moved away I saw a strange twinkle in his eyes. Like he was waiting for this moment for ages. Oh. Of course. He has been talking about this action movie for a while now. He must be excited to watch Sooryavanshi. Gesturing towards the door raised his eyebrow.

Shall we?

Uh, I invited my friends too. I hope you don't mind?

Not at all Khushi. I would love to meet your girlfriends. Chicks love me.

He grinned at his joke making me laugh out loud. He has no idea about the company I keep. He thinks that Arnavji and Dhruv are my girls who will keep us company. Hey Devi Maiyya! Sid will laugh like a hyena after seeing those two. Hehe. I mused. 

As we stood observing the different people who entered the cinema's Sid lifted my palm and placed a soft kiss on my knuckles. The sudden movement startled me. However, when a small brown teddy bear greeted my vision I could not help but giggle like a teenager.

This is for you Khushi.

Ye to bahut sunder hai Sid.

(This is beautiful Sid).

Just like you.

KHUSHI MAAM!

Before I could say something Dhruv's voice echoed in my ears making me whip my head towards the sidewalk.

Dhruv jogged at a slow pace to reach me. The happy-go-lucky kid brought a genuine smile to my face. And  Arnavji followed him, but the instant his eyes met mine a smile appeared on his face. He looks beautiful. However, all the traces of a smile vanished from his face when he glanced at the person beside me.

I enthusiastically turned towards Sid. He would laugh now. But he turned more rigid with every passing moment. Uh oh. Maybe he does not like the idea of Dhruv accompanying us. After all, he is a student of our language school. But the way Arnavji and Sid glared at each other it seemed that the adults had an issue.

Uh Sid these are my close friends. Dhruv and Arnavji. You must have seen Dhruv in our school. And Arnavji is Dhruv's Uncle.

The two males did not even say Hi to each other. They nodded stiffly giving out a cold formal greeting to one another. Too much testosterone in here. We should head inside. Warna yahin par hi Sooryavanshi shuru hojaegi. Gulping my nervousness I clutched Dhruv's hand in my own and began to walk ahead but not before saying something in a nonchalant attitude.

(Or else another Sooryavanshi will begin right here).

Chaliye movie bas shuru hi hone wali hai.

(We should move as the movie is about to begin).

Arnav POV

Dhruv knew the seating plan pretty well. He sat on one side of Khushi and I quickly sat on the other end. A furious Sid had no choice but to sit beside Dhruv. We had parked our car on the opposite road, so while walking to the PVR I saw how that Shukla kissed Khushi and gifted her that hideous teddy. There was a red rose in his jeans pocket too. But when he understood that he had company the man disposed of the flower in the nearby dustbin.

Khushi is too naive. I will not allow that fool Shukla to take advantage of Khushi's innocence. For him, this was a movie date. While Khushi treated this outing as two friends going out to watch a movie. He thought no one will notice his moves. But Dhruv and I were taking every measure to protect Khushi from his inappropriate advances.

I did not speak a word to the fella throughout the movie. During the interval as planned D forced Sid to buy popcorn and soft drinks for us. And he tagged along giving me the perfect opportunity to talk with Khushi.

So are you enjoying the movie?

Haan Sooryavanshi is good. Ek baat poochu?

(Shall I ask you something?)

Hmmm...

I turned sideways to observe her up close. Something was troubling her. The frown on her face made it pretty obvious.

Aapko Sid ache nai lagte na?

(Don't you like Sid?)

Nai. I hate him.

(No).

Par kyun?

(But why?)

Kyunki woh tumhe pasand krta hai. For him, this is a date Khushi. That kiss...this stupid soft toy and that rose which he disposed of a while ago, all indicate that he likes you more than a friend.

(Because he likes you Khushi).

She turned her head towards the screen making me all the more confused. I wondered if being blunt had put a dent in our friendship. But no matter what I am sure she will appreciate my honesty over Sid's manipulative ways. I cleared my throat in an attempt to draw Khushi's attention, making her shift sideways.

Aap Dhruv ke sath time spend karte hain achi baat hai. Par aap office jaana kab shuru karenge.

(It is good that you spend time with Dhruv. But you should get back to work soon).

The drastic change in the subject threw me off-guard. So she took notice of the fact that I am not going to work. What sort of relationship did we have that Khushi does not take too long to see right through me? How could the past me hate her so much? How come I did not ask for more? It is so strange that instead of falling for a person like Khushi I started hating her.

Woh...um...after the accident...

Arnavji uss accident ko apni kamzori mat banayi aap. I think you should use this second chance of getting to know your workplace a little better.

(Arnavji don't use the accident as an excuse to hide a weakness).

Agar main office jaana shuru kardun to kya tum wahan aaogi? Mujhse milne? Issi shart pe join krunga ARD.

(If I rejoin the office would you visit me? Think of it as a condition to join ARD).

Kya?!? Hum aur woh bhi aapke office? Kyun humein phirse satane ka irada hai kya? Dil nai bhara kya...

(What?!? You want me to drop by your office? Why you are feeling the need to bully me further? Are you not satisfied...)

Enclosing her palm between my hands I pleaded to her in a voice full of desperation. This is my only chance of undoing my wrongs. I have to do this. I have to man up. I mused. Her voice trailed off feeling the sudden warmth around her hand. Her eyes dropped towards our hands only to look up in a jiffy. Comprehending that at any moment Sid and Dhruv will be back any second now I verbalized my thoughts.

I promise you won't regret coming to AR Designs this time. Of course, everything will be different for both of us. There is no pressure. Please think about it.

The movie started again and I let go of her hand eventually. Dhruv and Sid returned as well. I winked at my 10-year-old nephew thanking him for giving me the much-needed time with Khushi Gupta.

Sid POV

Sitting behind the wheel I slammed my head against the headrest of the driver's seat as Arnav Singh Raizada left with Khushi and Dhruv with a suggestive wave in my direction. That idiot spoiled my date with Khushi on purpose. And if that was not enough he used that Dhruv to coax Khushi for dropping her home safely.

When earlier Khushi had told me about her friends joining us I did not worry much thinking that a few other teenaged girls might join us. But by friends, she meant ASR and his nephew. This movie date would have ended differently if they did not interrupt us at every possible minute. Khushi had loved the little teddy. I am sure she would have appreciated the rose too.

We had become such good friends over the past few weeks. After meeting her for the first time I knew that she could be my Ms Right. It took me this long to go out with her because I wanted to take it slow. But that Raizada played his move pretty well. A girl like Khushi has to have admirers left and right.

So what if I have a little competition. He cannot take away Khushi from me so easily. I will plan another date with her soon enough. He will remain a friend that's it. And why won't Khushi Gupta choose me? I meant I have heard the rumours. ASR is no longer a tough and cold businessman. The news of his accident was all over the tv. 

Khushi feels pity for his condition. Yup. That's about it. In the end, Khushi will make the right choice. A healthy fit financially sound man like me. Definitely. There is no doubt about it.

Lavanya POV

Instead of returning to London as planned, I chose to travel. My cousin suggested I visit her. So here I am enjoying a healthy breakfast at a cafe near the beach. The wind keeps pushing my hair on my face but the new surroundings have helped my heart to heal.

After meeting Khushi in Delhi I found the closure that I was desperately looking for. ASR is now a part of my past. A mistake that makes me human. Picking up my coffee I left the cafe to hail a taxi when someone banged into me. I gasped feeling the hot coffee over my blouse. Shit. That hurts. Pushing my hair away from my face I yelled at the man.

Cannot you watch where you are going? Look what you did...

I wiped the stains using a tissue that I had with me. But the rude man did not make any efforts to apologize. I looked up shout some more but his expression left me surprised.

Surprise. Shock. Disbelief. Amazement. Several emotions appeared on his face giving me whiplash in return. What the hell is wrong with him? Is he a psycho? A stalker? I looked around to call for help when the pain in his voice startled me.

Sana...Sana...How is this possible?

What? What did you just call me?

Sana...my wife Sana...you look like her...my Sana.

I gulped feeling the intensity of his gaze. His yawning pupils captured me into a whirlpool of emotions. I wanted to scream at his obnoxious behaviour. How could he just bang into me and act so weirdly? And did he just call me Sana? So I am a doppelganger of his wife? Really? Oh crap. How can I be so stupid? This is a new way of flirting. I rolled my eyes at his craptastic way of showing interest in me.

Look dude nice try. But I am not interested in dating anyone. So better luck next time...

Stepping away from him I began to walk looking for another cab. I admit entertaining this man will be fun but my cousin is waiting for me to return home. Shaking my head I lifted my hand to flag a taxi. But the four-wheeler passed by me in a jiffy as the flirtatious dude spun me around to face him. His touch ignited a fire inside my body. The unexpected proximity made me breathless. How did it become so hot around here?

What is your name?

His husky voice made me tremble. I was not planning to give him any of my time. But the hidden command in his tone made me respond involuntarily. As if I were a robot under his control. 

Its Lavanya. Lavanya Kashyap.

He let go of me. Like something jolted him back to reality. Slowly the man retreated as if I were a wounded animal he did not wish to frighten. I opened my mouth to say something but then quickly shut it not understanding the overpowering emotions that took over my senses. We now stood a couple of feet away from one another. But he kept staring at me without blinking as he was scared that I would disappear any second. And then rubbing the back of his neck the man abruptly turned and trudged in the opposite direction.

I quickly hailed the nearest cab and left the area. But my heart kept pounding in my chest. Goosebumps appeared over my arms. Flashes of my meeting with the strange dude kept disturbing my mind. Why was he staring at me like that? Calling me his wife's lookalike...was that a trick to ask me out or did he mean it? And when he touched my arms why did I feel warm all over? Ughhhh.

Khushi POV

Arnavji and Dhruv dropped me home a few hours ago. I spend the rest of my evening chatting with Buaji and making dinner with Jeeji. After a quick meal, we retreated to our rooms. Fortunately, Jeeji fell asleep rather quickly. But even after having a long tiring day I was wide awake. So many things were running in my mind.

Sid's unexpected advances. Arnavjis hatred watching Sid's antics. His warnings. Me demanding to know why is he not going to work. And his condition for joining work again.

I don't want a repeat of what happened in AR when I was under his contract. That was a dark time for me. Visiting AR again will only trigger those painful memories. And Arnav Singh Raizada suffers from Amnesia but the rest of his staff have photographic memories. He keeps apologizing to me. He has promised to undo his earlier mistakes.

 However, all of these promises are invalid. Why? The answer is simple. Because the moment ASR will unlock his past at the same time his hatred for me will return in full vigour.

How can I trust his words? When I am aware that his cold and shrewd side is simply absent for a while but has not faded away for that matter. One day he will remember it all. His games. His ego. His hatred. His poisonous words. One day in the future everything will return to normal. Knowing the reality of ASR how can I trust him?

The phone on my nightstand vibrated twice alerting me of a new text. Glancing at the sleeping figure of Jeeji I grabbed the device and opened the message only to smile reading the words of my favourite Raizada.

I had a good time watching the movie with you Khushi Maam.

Before I could type a response another Raizada texted me. The elder Raizada. Yes. The complicated one. I read his message and felt annoyed by his overprotective tone. I am not a teenager and he is not my father.

Don't go out with Sid again. He is not looking for friendship. His motives are different.

I won't even reply to his stupid text.

What does he think of himself? The bed shook a little as Jeeji tossed and turned. She seems to be restless in her sleep. I need to talk to her about Akaash. Maybe he is the one who is disturbing her sleep. Soon I will have a word with Jeeji. Texting a quick reply to Dhruv I placed the phone under my pillow.

You are adorable.

I have noticed that Dhruv loves to talk about his father. But the kid rarely speaks about his mother. It won't be appropriate to directly ask him. Maybe I can ask Anjaliji about it. Yeah. That would do.

My phone vibrated yet again. Expecting another message from Dhruv I opened my inbox only to be horrified by the error I had done. Hey, Devi Maiyya ye humse kya hogaya? Distracted by Jeeji's movements I accidentally texted Arnav Singh Raizada. His reply left me stunned.

Am I that adorable Khushi Gupta? I like this flirtatious side of yours. Mere bare mein aur kya acha lgta hai tumhe?

(What else have you noticed about me?)

 No. Not again. He cannot use me like that. What does he think of himself? Arnavji can throw crumbs of affection at me whenever he feels like playing games with me? I am not gonna let him manipulate my emotions again. This time around I am not a mere employee dependent on his beck n call. The old doormat Khushi would have had a sleepless night in anticipation of his next words. But this new independent and strong Khushi will not budge do easily Raizada.

Determined to stop his indirect flirty messages I instantly typed something that would leave him in wonder for the rest of the night. It was time to put a full stop to his advances.

I would like to meet you tomorrow.

.

.

.

.

Precap - Khushi confronts Arnav. Her words trigger the unsurfaced memories of ASR.

AJHS - 8

Part 8

Dhruv POV

Stop crying kiddo.

Pops tried to console me but I felt heartbroken. My mind just could not accept that my teacher is the love of my Uncle's life. I witnessed their sizzling chemistry downstairs. Nothing could outgrow that kind of love. But still, my heartfelt heavy at the moment.

I wanted her to be only my friend. Just mine.

You have her as your friend. You just need to accept the fact that a beautiful human-like Khushi is loved by different people.

I sighed out loud and wiped my tears.  What if someone walks in on me? My emotional side is only meant for Pops to see. Using the tissue box I tried to clean up my red face.

Dhruv you cannot force anyone to be yours. Always remember that. I know Khushi is just a crush but never forget my words.

As usual, Pops was giving me life lessons even when he knew that I am still a 10 year old. But he is an amazing Dad who never fails to teach me about the ways of life. Today they might sound silly but these lessons will play a vital role in the future. Wiping my face I tried to smile in the mirror but it looked fake.

I get it Popsi. But I reserve the right to have a meltdown once in a while. And I am very happy for Nannav Chachu. If Khushi Maam will bring back the old him then I can give up thousands of girls for my Uncle.

That's my boy. You are a brave fella. Now listen to me kid. You need to make sure that Nannav spends as much time with Khushi as possible. Create situations for them to hang out. And yes use the age-old jealousy trick. It never fails.

I giggled as Popsi explained to me how he had made Mom jealous by hanging out with other girls just to make her confess her love for him a little sooner. My parents were a beautiful pair of love birds. Before everything went wrong and we lost her to cancer.

Of course Pops. Don't worry. Now I will do everything to make Chachu realize that he can be happy only with Ms. Gupta.

You are incredible D. Now go down and spill something on Khushi's dress when Nannav is around. This will give them another moment together. Over and out.

Over and out Pops.

Putting a little more of my favorite deodorant I rushed downstairs to accomplish the task that my Dad had ordered me to do. The guests were clapping as the couples on the floor stopped dancing. I saw Chachu and Khushi Maam standing awkwardly next to each other. Sprinting down the stairs I picked up a glass of juice from a tray and ran towards Khushi Maam.

As expected she was not prepared for my attack and in a single motion, I spilled the drink on her beautiful saree. She seemed startled by the accident. Sorry Maam but I have orders to follow. Chachu saw it too and quickly hovered around her.

Oops. I am so sorry Khushi Maam. Aapko chot to nai bhaagi?

(Are you hurt?)

Koi baat nai Dhruv. And bhaagi nai lagi kehte hain.

(No problem Dhruv. And the correct word is lagi, not bhaagi).

Khushi come use the washroom upstairs.

And just like that Khushi Maam disappeared from the hall with Chachu tagging her like a mother hen. Cool. That was smooth. Thank god Chachu did not notice much. But he won't be this disoriented every time. I will have to plan things for next time.

Khushi POV

My heart was pounding as I advanced to the room of Arnav Singh Raizada. Sweat laced my forehead as I crossed the threshold. What occurred on Diwali night flashed in my mind like a never-ending reel.

That one moment of proximity between us.

The confusion.

The questions.

The insults.

The humiliation.

Khushi? What is it? Is something wrong?

His deep husky voice brought me back to reality. It is not Diwali. It is not Diwali. I kept repeating it like a mantra to normalize my heart rate. How am I supposed to answer his questions? No. No, I won't allow that night to affect me. I will have to break the chain. Taking a deep breath I took a step forward.

Nothing. It is just a little dark.

Let me switch on the light.

He walked ahead of me and lightened the room. I deliberately looked away ignoring the poolside. Heading straight to the washroom.

Knowing that Arnavji was standing just outside the door I quickly cleaned up the juice stains on my saree. My phone vibrated once alerting me about a text. I read the message and smiled. Sidharth Shukla had returned. He had left for a conference after the first day of my job. However, we had exchanged numbers and continued to stay in touch.

Hi Khushi. Miss you bud. Sorry I could not meet you after your first day of job. But the Annual Education Conference is over. I am returning to Delhi. Wanna have lunch tomorrow?

Typing a quick response I returned to Arnavjis room only to see a figure standing amidst the poolside. I could only see his back from the distance. Deliberately with slow steps, I inched closer to the one place that still managed to give me the chills. Nevertheless, this time I was dressed in a blue saree with a clear head and heart.

Joining him I stared at the still water that had seen the highs and lows of my complicated relationship with ASR. I continued to inhale and exhale. The action kept my mind away from that unfortunate Diwali incident.

We should plan to meet sometime. I mean I cannot keep popping at your workplace all the time right?

Sure Arnavji. Maybe this weekend we can spend some time with each other.

We exchanged a smile and I was about to turn around when a screech full of pain greeted my ears. With a baffled expression I faced Arnav Singh Raizada who was holding his forehead with one hand. His eyes were shut and his jaw clenched.

ARNAVJI?!?

Arnav POV

We should plan to meet sometime. I mean I cannot keep popping at your workplace all the time right?

The words had just left my mouth when suddenly hazy images flashed in my mind. With my unclear and spotty vision, I sensed two figures sitting together. Someone was tying something around the feet of another person? An excruciating pain took over me. I clutched my head in an attempt to stop it.

ARNAVJI?!? Kya hua aapko? Arnavji kuch to boliye?

(What is wrong with you? Say something Arnavji?)

Khushi's screams made me aware that I was not alone. Like a negative reel that does not make sense to the normal brain the scenes flashing before me only messed up my mind.

Soft hands grabbed my shoulder forcing me to walk blindly. A few seconds later my vision cleared. And I found myself sitting on the recliner in my room with a worried Khushi handing me a glass of water.

Thanking her mentally I gulped the liquid in one go. My heart was beating like a machine gun. I blinked furiously in an attempt to compose myself. I felt my vulnerabilities being exposed in front of Khushi Kumari Gupta. And the feeling was not good.

Aap theek to hain na?

(Are you alright?)

Patani. Kabhi kabhi dhundhli se yaadein saamne aati hain. Jinka koi matlab nai smajh aata.

(I don't know. Sometimes I see blurry images of my past. They don't make sense at all).

Hum Anjaliji aur Vikramji ko bulakar late hain...

(Let me call Anjaliji and Vikramji...)

She stood up to leave but as if my mind was prepared for her to exit I grabbed her wrist in a firm hold. The idea of her leaving me made me anxious.

Nai. I am alright. Tum mat jao.

(No. I am alright. Don't go).

Par Arnavji...

(But Arnavji...)

Please. Stay.

Khushi POV

After explaining to my students about the different punctuation marks I gave them a 5 minutes break. Sipping a little bit of water I sat on my chair. My eyes drifted towards Dhruv Raizada who was busy chatting with another student beside him.

Watching Dhruv, memories of last night's party flooded my mind. Our dance. The beginning of our friendship. Arnav's helpless and hopeless amnesiac side. Not to forget his request for me to stay a little longer. Later he had even placed his head on my shoulder with a faraway look in his eyes. The one who manhandled me in the past was leaning on my shoulder for a change.

My phone vibrated twice pulling me out of my stupor. I quickly checked my device only to see Sid asking me to meet him at a nearby cafe for lunch. Typing a 'yes' I resumed my class.

I wonder why Sid wants to meet me outside the school. Maybe he needs my help with something. And if he does then I will do whatever it takes to make him happy.

Arnav POV

I thought Khushi would come down to drop Dhruv but that never happened. When I asked about the same to D, he confirmed that Khushi had left in a rush. I sighed as we drove away from the school.  We could have said hello to each other. Damn it.

Nannav Chachu I wanna have Pasta for lunch. Please let us eat outside?

Dhruv you had a burger two days ago. Too much junk food will do you no good.

Please Chachu. My friend Akki also visited the same cafe. I won't ask for more for the rest of the week.

Watching his puppy face my heart melted in a jiffy. Rolling my eyes I nodded in acceptance making him wiggle on the seat. Kids. Innocent creatures. Speaking of which I could not help but remember the innocent worried face of Khushi Gupta as she sat beside me last night.

Without any questions and judgment, she had given me her time and support. Something strange had happened to me when I stopped her. Her touch felt very familiar. As if me holding her wrist was a recurring event. As if we were not just friends. My thoughts came to a halt when the car stopped in front of a cafe. Dhruv eagerly dragged me towards the entrance.

The idea of lunch sounded good. The aroma of food in the cafe wafted through my nose. Placing our order we sat patiently for our meals to arrive. I began to look around the cafe when Dhruv exclaimed a name making me follow his eyes.

Two tables behind us Khushi was sitting and having her lunch. Her smiling face brightened my mood instantly. I was about to call out her name when my eyes stirred towards the person sitting opposite her.

All my happiness vanished in the blink of an eye. Khushi was enjoying herself in the company of a tall dark handsome man who was ogling at her with a smile of his own. I clenched my fist hurting my palm with my nails. A strange coldness blanketed around me. I no longer felt hungry. My anger simmered a little listening to Dhruvs words.

Oh! That is Sidharth Sir. He is one of the coordinators.

Oh really?

Yes, Chachu. And he has a great sense of humor.

Great sense of humor huh?!? Is that the reason why my friend is having lunch with this so-called Sidharth? Whatever. He thinks that by making Khushi giggle at his lame jokes, this man could impress her or what? He is so tall. Like a stupid tree. Ughhh.

Let's go.

Chachu? We just ordered the pasta. What's wrong?

The sight of Khushi and that Sidharth made my blood boil. My appetite was lost. I would end up puking my guts. The idea of watching these two felt like a punch in the stomach. Squeezing my eyes I answered Dhruv in a bizarre unfamiliar harsh tone.

Chalna hai to chalo! Coz I am leaving damn it.

(Follow me if you want!)

Pushing my chair away from the table I rushed out of the cafe. Thankfully Dhruv did not argue any further and followed me back to the car. The rest of the ride passed silently. The kid knew that I was in no mood to entertain him.

No matter how hard I tried but the images of Khushi with another man felt like being stabbed by a dagger continuously on the same very spot. Are they together? Is she dating him? Or are they just friends? Friends? Then who am I to her? Just an amnesiac guy who she pities? As all these thoughts were spinning in my mind out of the blue a million-dollar question struck a chord inside me.

Mujhe ye smajh nai aarha usko kisi aur ke sath dekhkar mujhe itna bura kyun lga?

(I don't get it. Why am I feeling so bothered if she is spending time with someone?)

The evening passed rather quickly. And after an early dinner, Vikram Jeeju and Anjali Di started recalling their pre-wedding moments. I halfheartedly heard the tales and nodded once in a while. Vikram Jeeju kept glancing in my direction. Damn it. He has to be in the army for his great observation skills.

My phone went off suddenly giving me the perfect excuse to leave the living room. Walking up to my room I answered the call with a sullen mood. The rage inside me escalated my heartbeat.

Hello Arnavji.

Hi.

Even to my ears, I sounded a little harsh. Great going Raizada. Now she will get suspicious about your attitude. Tone down the coldness. It is Khushi Gupta your friend, not Sidharth Shukla. I mused.

Kya hua aap ki tabyat theek hai na?

(Are you feeling sick?)

I am fine. Bas ye poochne ke liye call kia tha?

(Is that why you called?)

I paced back and forth in my bedroom unable to control the underlying insecurity and confusion that fueled the strange sensation of jealousy within me. The idea of Khushi dating that Sidharth Shukla irked me. And even she is in a relationship with him what can I do?

Arey! Aapka haal chaal hi to poocha hai? Itna naraaz honi ki wajah to bataein.

(Hey! I am asking about your health? Why are you getting so upset?)

Her inquiries forced me to verbalize the words that were bubbling in the confines of my mind. There is no point in dragging this feeling. The uneasiness will not let me breathe any further. With clenched teeth, I tried to normalize my heartbeat.

I went to Amici Cafe with Dhruv after his class. And I saw you enjoying a meal with that Sidharth Shukla.

Oh. Why did you not join us then?

You seemed to be having a gala time with that man. I did not wish to disturb your date.

A disturbing silence reverberated through the phone. In my hastiness, I blurted out the one thing that was plaguing my mind for the last couple of hours. But she said we are friends. So I do have the right to express my frustrations to Khushi. How come she is so not saying a word. Does this mean she is going out with that freak?

Arnavji Sid is just a friend. He returned from work after so many days and we were just hanging out together.

...just a friend...

...just a friend...

The rest of her explanation faded in the background. The storm in my mind died instantly as it comprehended the meaning of Khushi's words. Just a friend. Of course, they are just friends. A bubbly and caring girl like Khushi is bound to have a social life. What was I thinking? Hah. They are friends. The stress disappeared leaving me with only tranquility.

Oh. I...um...good. I...I mean that is great. Hehe. Friends.

Were you troubled by the idea that I dating...?

No. No, not at all. It is not that. I was just...just...worried. Yeah. As your friend, I must keep you away from men who have bad intentions.

The deafening silence that echoed this time felt more awkward than earlier. The oscillating emotions were giving me a headache. Rage. Anguish. Envy. Concern. Serenity. Weirdness. Finally taking pity on me Khushi Gupta changed the subject.

Khair chodein. Hum pooch rhe the kal weekend hai to kyun na humdono Sarojini Market chalein?

(Anyway leave it. I was wondering how about we hang out in Sarojini Market this weekend?)

Sarojini what?

Kya?!? Aapko Sarojini Market ke baare mein nai pata? Phir to aur bhi acha hai. Hum aapko wahan le jayenge.

(What?!? You don't know about Sarojini Market? Then it's good. I will take you there).

Sure Khushi just tell me where and when. I promise to be there.

Our phone call did not end after that. Khushi told me the history and significance of the Sarojini Nagar Market. Her entire family loves the market as it is budget-friendly. She told me to meet her at noon and I agreed without any hassles.

Unknown POV

What's the latest update on ASR?

Tapping my foot in the coffee table I rubbed my hands eagerly to know more about the now mentally weak Arnav Singh Raizada. He had survived the accident by luck. But this time around I wanted to kill him for good.

Sir ASR has a driver who takes him everywhere. He only visits the hospital for regular checkups and picks up his nephews from a language school.

Oh. Hmmm. Raizada is trying to play his cards well. But he won't survive for long. Hack his medical records. Let's see what weaknesses he has developed during this period.

You cannot hide for long Arnav. None can. You will be destroyed. Mind you. I don't let go of revenge so easily. I will make you wish for death. If the accident did not kill you last time then another will follow soon enough. Laughing like a hyena I imagined the different ways of murdering that arrogant fool.

Khushi POV

Standing at the entrance of Sarojini Nagar Market I glanced at Arnav Raizada from the corner of my eye. Pursing my lips I tried to control the laughter that was about to break out any minute now. He was a sight to behold.

The crowded market made his eyes touch his hairline. Arnavji's mouth dropped open as he understood the gravity of budget shopping. Shock laced his features making me doubt the idea of coming to Sarojini Market. He tried to speak something but then closed it. Repeating the act he turned sideways to face me.

Khushi yahan thodi zyada bheed nai hai?

(Khushi is not this place overcrowded?)

Arnavji Sarojini mein yahi haal rehta hai. Ab chaliye.

(Arnavji this is Sarojini it is supposed to be crowded).

If someone would have told me that one day the mighty ASR would agree to spend time with me in a crowded market place then I would have considered it a big joke. However, times have changed. This new version of Arnavji is making my heart flutter. A beautiful man who wears his heart on his sleeves. Arnavji makes me question my decision of being just a friend to him. I mused as we oscillated from one shop to another.

Arnavji admired and praised my negotiating skills. A dark red hue formed on my cheeks. He hated me as ASR. And he compliments me when his cold and snobbish side is absent. We continued to look around. Then an hour later I forced him to try the street-style mouth-watering pao bhaji. Initially, he resisted but after a lot of insistence, the man agreed. One bite turned into two and then into many.

Arnavji liked the dish so much that he asked the man to pack a few for him to take away home. I grinned knowingly. No one can ignore the street food of Delhi. It just pulls you like a magnet.

We were walking towards his car that was parked towards the end of the road. He had been silent for a while now. His behavior made me anxious. I thought we had great fun today. Then why does he appears to be lost? Suddenly he broke his silence. Arnavji touched on a subject that I was not prepared to answer.

Di told me that we Raizadas employed you twice. You worked in my office at first and then Di hired you again to train Lavanya. So did I fire you or something?

I had two choices. I could ignore the question or lie. Or else I could be honest. Something made me choose the latter. I decided to respect our newfound friendship.

You used to bully me at work. My determination and confidence did not go well with your ego.

His movements stopped altogether. He was not expecting a brutal answer. However, I could not find in myself to lie about something that had hurt me so much in the past. Slowly he swirled in my direction. The sheer intensity of his gaze made me shiver. I tried to act nonchalant about it. But the old wounds reopened watching his reactions. The grimace on my face made him retreat involuntarily.

I bullied you?!? My actions forced you to resign from AR Designs? Why? What the hell?!! How could I do this to you?

Arnavji it is fine. You were a ruthless man before your amnesia. Yes, it did hurt a lot. I was trying to make a living and you were adamant about making me walk out. In the end, I chose my dignity and self-respect.

Passing him half a smile I continued to walk ahead. His car was parked a few feet away from us. I realized he still had not moved from his spot. Whirling around to face him I called out to him. His eyes arrested mine making me his hostage.

I...I...

Kya hua?

(What is it?)

He advanced in my direction and then did something that left me astonished for a long time. Taking my palm between both his hands the man opened his mouth to grant me an unexpected apology.

Mujhe nahi yaad maine kis kis tarah tumhein hurt kia Khushi Gupta. I am sorry for every single time I disrespected you as a person. Despite all this, you still chose to be my friend. It is an admirable quality.

(I don't recall anything about hurting you, Khushi Gupta).

Tables were turned by Arnav Singh Raizada. He managed to surprise me with his actions yet again. Amnesia took away his identity but blessed him with newfound emotions. His humanity brought a smile to my face. Overwhelmed by his apology I gave him a teary smile.

Arnav POV

The pain and hurt that reflected in Khushi's eyes as she confessed about my evilness as her boss made me swallow the guilt that threatened to consume me. How could I put a beautiful person like her through an emotional trauma like bullying?

She was trying to make a living and I took advantage of her situation. The ugliness of my past made me want to puke. But somehow I found the will to be a better person. Something inside me pushed me to apologize to this strong woman who stood up to my evil ways.

Several emotions took over her face. Shock. Surprise. Pain. Hurt. Satisfaction. Happiness. Oh my goodness. This indicates that I never realized the error of my ways. The apology was overdue. Ughhhh. Damn it. Khushi Gupta has a beautiful soul. Did I destroy her spirit in my arrogance? There are thousands of questions that are currently running in my mind.

But I am terrified. What if our history is full of darkness? What if she begins to see me in a cold light? What if the memories push her far away from me? Gulping my curiosity I sat in the car along with Khushi and tried to stop overthinking. It did not work at all. Mohan drove towards Laxmi Nagar to drop her home first.

Khushi's phone went off making me shake my head. I am losing the good moments with Khushi by giving attention to our past. It is better to avoid these thoughts. My ears picked up the words that Khushi spoke to the person on the other side. And the familiar yet strange sensation of hatred gripped my soul.

Haan Sid Sooryavanshi movie dekhne to hum zaroor chalenge. Salman Khan ke baad Akshay Kumar hi humare favorite actor hain.

(Yes Sid we so have to watch the Sooryavanshi movie. After Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar is my favorite actor).

....

Theek hai to phir shaam ko milte hain bye.

(Ok will see you tomorrow. Bye).

All the happiness that I felt in the last few hours evaporated in thin air replacing it with sadness and fury. First lunch. And now a movie night. Does Khushi have any idea what is cooking in that freaks mind? He is trying to get my friend's attention through different means putting on an act of being innocent.

I won't allow him to use Khushi like that.

No matter what it takes to keep her away from him. I will do so.