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.