Part 8 Pretext

Khushi lay on the bed and covered herself with a quilt up to her neck. She felt over cold as the AC was high.

She was looking at Arnav constantly, lying on the bed. She could not believe that she was lying on the bed only to SLEEP.

Arnav went to the washroom and washed his face to get rid of the whisky smell. Changing into casuals, he came out.

Arnav came to bed and occupied the other side smilingly. Khushi gazed at him. Arnav lay, looking at the roof and tapped his fingertips. He sensed Khushi's gaze on him. He looked at her, turning his face. She smiled at him awkwardly.

"Do you want to ask me something?"

"Haven't... you drunk?"

He nodded no smiling.

"But you swayed like hell...!"

"I just pretended..." He said, with a mild smile.

"Do you know how scared I was! I thought you would drop me down, and my head would break like a coconut." She said with widened eyes.

Arnav's smile broadened, seeing her cute expression.

"I did that to make Nandhini and Aman trust me."

"But, you were stunk..."

"I just sprinkled the whisky on my face..."

Khushi became thoughtful.

"Don't you have anyone other than your uncle?"

She nodded no.

"I have no one. My father passed away when I was a child. My mother died when I was ten years old. After that, my uncle was the one who raised me. He made me do things as he wanted. He was ready to sell me as someone was ready to give him a huge amount for me. Thank God, lawyer Bhaiya saved me. Life always pushed me into something I don't like. This is the first time I escaped from something I don't like. Now, I'm relieved." She choked.

Arnav felt bad for her.

"Do you really think you are relieved?"

She nodded yes.

"You would have felt bad when I picked you up on my shoulders, right?"

She was silent.

"I have no choice. That's why..."

Cutting him off,

"I understood why you did that."

"Khushi, I want to tell you something,"

"What, sir?"

"Don't call me sir. My name is Arnav."

"Jee, Arnavji..."

"That sounds good."

She smiled.

"I would like to tell you, if you start liking what you do, it will not seem hard."

Khushi bit her nail as she didn't understand what he wanted to say.

"Don't understand?"

She nodded no.

"Start liking ME."

Khushi looked down and then gave him a sideways glance.

"Knowingly or unknowingly, we are tied in the same thread. We are going to travel together from here on. If you like me, you won't feel this life hard."

She was silent.

"Will you try to like me?"

"I like you." She said, not looking at him.

Arnav was taken aback.

"Do you like me? Really?"

"Who won't like you?" She asked in a mild tone.

"Why so?"

"You are a nice man..."

"Really?" He smiled.

"Haan? I expected you to pounce on me right after entering this room. But, you didn't do that."

"So, you concluded I'm a nice man..."

She nodded.

"This much goodness is enough for me to conclude, Arnavji, because I never met anyone like you before."

"I'm glad to be good in your eyes, and you like me as well. Trust me, I will make everything right." He smiled.

Khushi looked at him, perplexed.

"Don't you trust me?"

She didn't know what to say. Arnav understood she was confused. Nandhini lied to her and showed herself as a miserable woman. He acted like a drunkard in front of Nandhini. She should be confused about whom to trust. She needed time.

"Ok, I can understand what's confusing you. This is your first day here. As time passes, you will understand who to trust. Don't think much. Just watch others' actions because anyone can talk about anything, but actions will not be fake. Ok?"

She nodded. Arnav smiled. She nodded for everything. Poor her, she lived a worse life so far. He wanted to make it better.

On the other side,

Nandhini was on call with Natasha.

"Yes, Aman brought a girl with all the qualities I wanted. You missed meeting her. She trusted all my lies without question."

"Is it?"

"Not only that, she cried for me..."

"My goodness... I can't believe this..."

"You will believe when you meet her."

"I will meet her tomorrow morning. Hope from here on, ASR will not disturb you."

"Thank God, I found a girl. Do you know how he picked her up on his shoulder and took her to his room?"

"He became mad controlling his feelings for three years, I suppose..."

"Thank God, I escaped from him. Otherwise, I don't know what my condition would be!"

"Don't think about what can't happen. ASR could never touch you."

"No, Natasha. After he started taking alcohol, he was not in his right mind. He behaves beyond his control."

"I think he didn't tolerate your decision to bring a girl into his life."

"Can't help..."

"Mmm... A girl became a scapegoat..."

"She got ten lakhs to do that."

"Mmm... Let's see what ASR does after this..."

"I, too, want to see that."

"Will see that tomorrow..."

"Mmm..."

They disconnected the call.

The next morning

Natasha came to Nandhini's place early in the morning, as she said. She waited with Nandhini to see Khushi, as Nandhini didn't want to knock on the door of Arnav's room before 7o'clock.

Arnav was already awake and got freshened up. He tapped Khushi's cheek. She opened her eyes and looked at him, perplexed.

"Hey, relax..."

She sat up hurriedly and neated her clothes.

"Look, don't tell anyone what happened between us. If anyone asks you, tell them I behaved wildly with you."

"Wild?"

"Yes, and I tortured you sexually. No one should know, we spoke casually, shared something, and I behaved smoothly, especially Aman. He is very cunning."

"But he spoke to me soothingly."

"Yeah, he is a lawyer. He knows how to talk to others and trap them in his web."

"I thought he was a nice man."

"Just because he talks to you nicely, he can't be nice... be careful. Don't trust anyone here. No one should know I talk to you lovingly. Make them believe we have only a sexual relationship, and I torture you for that."

"Will they really ask me?" she felt awkward.

"If my guess is right, they will ask you in DETAIL."

"Detail? What should I tell them now?"

"Just pretend like we had intercourse. Show yourself tired. Tell them I didn't let you sleep the whole night and had two times without caring about your pain."

"What will they do if they get to know you talk to me nicely?"

"I told you already, they will kill you."

Khushi hiccuped.

"Will they surely kill me?

"Yes, that's why I say don't tell them anything and show them I am Barbarian. Tell them, I drank in between our intimacy."

She nodded.

"Remove your saree pins and make the saree shambolic and hair dishevelled."

She nodded ok and went to the washroom to do what he said. When she came out, she looked completely messy.

"Is it ok?" she asked.

Arnav nodded yes.

"You should leave my room every day in this condition only."

She nodded.

That was when they heard the knock on the door.

Khushi looked at him, gulping.

"Now you can go. We will meet at night. Very soon, I will get you to my room permanently..."

She gulped down and was supposed to open the door, but Arnav stopped her. She looked at him questioningly.

"Don't be scared. I'm here for you. I will not let anything happen to you." He said, making her emotional.

She nodded.

"Don't forget what I said."

She nodded and went out, pretending like she was tired and was in heavy pain. She saw everyone looking at her. She walked holding the wall, as if she might fall any time.

To be continued...