Part 22 Shocking news

Arnav rushed to Khushi, shouting her name.

*Khushiiiii*

In no time, he held her in his arms. Khushi circled his neck smilingly, making him embarrassed. She smiled even in that sudden and unexpected moment that made him wonder. He got detached from her and stood a step away from her.

*Thank you...* she smiled.

*My pleasure...* he said just like always.

*Really?* Khushi asked him teasingly.

Arnav turned his face and saw the staff were looking at them, listening to them.

*Let's go home...* She said.

*You go. I will come later...*

*What work are you going to do here?* She asked folding her hands.

*Actually...*

*It's my order... let's go...*

She walked crossing him. As Arnav didn't move, she looked at him contently. Arnav sighed and walked out. Khushi followed him. They came out of the office. Arnav was perplexed, seeing Khushi's DON'T CARE attitude. Don't know where this was taking them.

*I will drop you...* she said.

*That's ok... I will go by cab* Arnav said.

*Your luggage is in my car... get in. I will drop you home*

*No...*

*Then forget your luggage...*

She got inside the car.

*Let's go...* she ordered the driver.

*Khushi...* Arnav called her.

Lowering the window glass, she raised her eyebrows. Opening the front door, he got in. Khushi smirked at him.

*After dropping Ma'am in GH, drop me in my house* Arnav said to the driver.

*No... drop Arnav in his home and then we will go to Gupta House...* Khushi ordered the driver.

Of course, the driver accepted Khushi's order.

*Ok, Madam...* the driver started the engine.

Arnav rolled his eyes and sighed.

In the meanwhile,

The staff of GI was gossiping about Arnav and Khushi. Shyam's nervousness touched its peak. He was restless. He wanted to stop them from getting closer. He made up himself and dialled Shashi.

*Hello Shyam... how are you?*

*I'm ok sir...*

*You sound low... It's because your Boss came back to the office? Shashi laughed.

*No, sir... it's because something is disturbing me, sir...*

*What's that?*

*Sir, Staffs are gossiping about Ma'am and Arnav's relationship...*

*It's normal if a girl and a guy go somewhere together...* he said the reality.

*Ma'am asked all the girls to stay away from Arnav, Sir. it was an order, Sir*

*Whaaaat?*

*Yes, sir... staffs are talking that she loves him...*

It was undoubtedly shocking news for Shashi. He knew Khushi liked Arnav but he didn't expect she would love him.

*Please do something to stop them, sir... I can't hear people talking rubbish about them...*

*I will take care of it...*

*Thank you, Sir... and Sir, one obligation...*

*No one knows that you are the one who told me about them...* Shashi said understanding his mind.

*Thank you Sir...*

Shashi disconnected the call thoughtfully. He never expected that Khushi could go to this extent. It was indeed a shock for him. Did she order the girls to stay away from Arnav...? He was aware of how possessive she was... She thought Garima snatched him from her. That's why she hated Garima. He thought she would be a prestige freak... he never thought she would love a man who was the simple worker of her company. He didn't know how to handle this. He knew Khushi won't mind doing anything to get Arnav if she loved him. Was Arnav fine with that? Did he also love her? He sat on the couch thinking deeply.

In the car

Though Khushi was in the back seat her eyes were only on Arnav who was in the front seat.

*Arnav... where is your house?* She asked.

*Sarojini Nagar...* he answered.

*Oh... where is Sarojini Nagar?*

*Do you know Rama Krishna Puram?* Arnav asked not looking at her.

As he didn't get a reply, he turned his face towards her and she nodded No smilingly.

*You will get to know when you reach the place.*

Khushi chuckled. She asked many nonsense questions about Arnav and got funny answers.

*Where this road is going?*

*It goes to the end...* he said casually.

*Oh...* she said seriously.

Arnav knew her intentionally doing this.

*How long does it take to reach your house?*

*Forty minutes... it will take more time according to the traffic...*

*You know what... there is no traffic in Swiss...*

*Mmm*

*Don't you have the interest to roam around the world?* she asked.

*I have... but it needs money...* he said the reality.

*I have been decided to roam the world with my husband...*

She saw him gulping down. It was her success because when she said about her HUSBAND, Arnav understood that she was talking about him.

*You know Arnav, I will go to Swiss first, after my marriage...*

The car stopped in front of RM.

*Have we reached?* She asked.

Arnav nodded yes and the driver said,

*Yes, Ma'am...*

Arnav got off the car and took the luggage from the dickey. Khushi intentionally blew the horn. As she expected, Ratna came out of the house rushing.

*Chotte, you came...? Wait... don't come inside...* she rushed in.

Khushi frowned. Why did she ask him not to come in? She saw Ratna coming with a thali. She circled it and kept vermillion on Arnav's forehead. That was when she saw Khushi looking at them with an unnamed expression.

*Chotte...she...?*

Arnav looked at her and Khushi got down from the car.

*She is Khushi... my Boss...*

*Namaste, aunty...* she said joining her hands.

*What's this Chotte...? Don't you know to greet her? (Looking at Khushi) Please come in...*

Khushi entered in, looking at Arnav teasingly.

Ratna rushed to keep the plate in the pooja room.

*Arnav, what leg should I keep first to get in?* She asked him whispering.

*Left leg...* he said seriously.

*Oh...* taking a left leg, she acted like, keeping it in. Suddenly, she changed her leg and kept her right leg, and winked at him.

Arnav got in and kept the luggage in the living room. Ratna came from the pooja room.

*Chotte, keep the luggage in your room* Ratna said.

*Will keep it later*

He was not ready to go to his room, leaving Ratna with Khushi alone.

*What do you like to have, Ma'am? Hot or cold?*

*Anything... only if you call me Khushi... please cut off Ma'am...*

Ratna looked at Arnav hesitatingly.

*Even Arnav calls me Khushi... hai na Arnav?*

Ratna looked at him unbelievably.

*We became friends in Bengaluru...* Khushi said.

Ratna was more surprised. She knew how Arnav hated her in the beginning.

*I'm happy about it... I will bring you something...* She went to the kitchen.

Arnav saw Khushi looking at Ratna deeply. He knew what running in her mind.

*You know... my Amma also does the same whenever I win prizes in competitions to take bad vibes...* She sat on the couch.

Arnav looked at her and said nothing.

*You too, sit Chotte...* She chuckled.

Arnav sat on the couch controlling his smile.

*Our house is very small...* he changed the topic.

*Oh... this house is not yours?* she teased because RM was enough spacious.

*I mean...comparatively it's smaller than yours...*

*Don't compare anything and anyone... because everything and everyone would have a special quality in it... I don't like comparison... because Khushi is Khushi and Arnav is Arnav...*

Arnav liked the concept very much... why not? As per psychology, Men don't like comparison.

They saw Ratna coming with samosas and tea. She served them to Khushi. Taking it from Ratna, Khushi relished it.

*It's awesome aunty... * she appreciated her.

*Thank you beta...* Ratna said with a slight blush.

Khushi took another samosa and made Arnav's eyes wide. She ate it stylishly. Ratna admired her eating style awfully.

*I like it very much...* she said.

*Ask your mother to make it for you...* Ratna said innocently.

Arnav gritted his teeth, rolling his eyes. He looked at Khushi who stopped eating samosa.

*My mother is no more...aunty* she said composing herself.

Ratna looked at Arnav in an apologizing manner.

*I'm...sorry, beta... I don't...*

Cutting her,

*That's ok...aunty*

She finished the samosa not wanting to make Ratna regret it...after all, she is her would-be mother-in-law.

Khushi finished the tea too.

*I'm leaving aunty...*

*Thanks for coming...* said Ratna.

*Thanks...? Really?* Khushi asked perplexed.

*You are far away from us in the status...*

Cutting her,

*Please stop it, aunty... I'm tired of this status stuff...* she said looking at Arnav and hugged Ratna making her delighted.

*Keep coming...* Ratna said.

*You will repent for telling me that...*

*Why?*

*I will keep coming here often and disturb you... that's why...*

*You are always welcome...*

*Can I get your number?* Khushi asked.

*Sure...* Ratna told her number.

Khushi saved it on her mobile.

*We will keep in touch...*

*With pleasure...*

Khushi left RM leaving a good impression on Ratna's heart.

*She is a good girl...*

Arnav nodded yes.

*I think I hurt her by reminding her mother...*

Arnav nodded yes.

*Really?*

*She misses her mother a lot... She left India only because she could not accept her stepmother...*

*Oh... Shashiji got second marriage?*

*Yes... Khushi was fourteen years old at that time...*

*Didn't Shashiji ask her opinion?*

*Nope... she left all alone even having her father...*

*Poor girl... I should not have talked about her mother...* she regretted.

*Leave it... it was not intentional though...*

Ratna was not compromised. She felt bad for Khushi and she liked her very much.

To be continued...