Part 25 Accepted proposal

*Love is unconditional but MARRIED LIFE...*

Khushi amazed. Was he talking about MARRIED LIFE? She was taken back and Arnav smiled at her.

*Married life?* her lips murmured.

*I'm talking about OUR married life...* Arnav said with a lopsided smile.

*You mean....?*

*I have only one condition to accept your proposal* he said pressing his palms on her table, slightly bending down.

*What....what's that?*

*You shouldn't force me to be with you...*

Khushi was shocked. What kind of condition was this...? Of course, she wanted to be with him... in fact, every wife would like to be with her husband. She looked at him with confusion.

*Don't think much, Khushi. I have not completed my stance yet...*

Khushi sighed.

*Tell me, what your condition...is*

*I will be with my parents... forever... I won't leave them at any cause. I would like my wife to be with me in that...*

Khushi frowned as she really didn't get him.

*You should never expect me to be in your house with your father*

Khushi widened her eyes. This was what he wanted? But, what made him think so? How did he think she will force him to be in her house with her father?

*I think you have not understood me yet... when did I say that I want to be with my father?*

*Maybe not now... what if shortly...?*

Khushi rolled her eyes.

*I don't know what to say... by the way, I should answer your question... I will be with you in your house with my in-laws... I'm ready to give it to you as a written statement...* she said.

*No need... I trust you...* Arnav smiled and was about to leave,

*One minute...*

Arnav stopped and looked at her.

*What do you think of me... hann? You just came... told me your condition... and you are leaving...?*

*What do I do then?*

*When is our marriage?*

*When do you want it to happen?*

*Today?* she said controlling her laughter.

Arnav rolled his eyes smilingly.

*Let's go for a dinner date...* Khushi said.

Arnav nodded yes

*Today...?*

He again nodded yes and turned.

*Wait...* Khushi again stopped.

*What so hurry?*

*I'm not in hurry... but you...* Arnav said hinting that she was hurrying for the marriage.

*There is a difference between our hurries. You are hurrying to go away from me and I'm hurrying to come close to you...*

*Will meet you on the dinner date...* Arnav said smilingly.

*Oh, really...?*

Arnav looked at her with a smile getting her. Being his Boss, she can keep him in her cabin for the whole day.

*Let me do my work, Khushi*

*What are you doing now?* she cornered.

Arnav smiled at her.

*I will do the EXTRA work in OVERTIME*

Khushi chuckled at him. Arnav left her cabin all smiling. Khushi leaned on the seat, biting his lip. She pinched her hand and hissed in pain. She again smiled, rubbing her hand.

Arnav came back to his cubicle and started working whereas Khushi was not able to work. She couldn't believe Arnav just said he was ready to marry her with a condition. Arnav did not have to put such a condition. Khushi herself would have maintained that. If she got Arnav and his family, she would not even think about her father... the man who never thought about her and her feelings.

Khushi was thinking about their dinner date. Though they already went to Bengaluru for a conference this was the official date of their love life.

Suddenly she became thoughtful. She knew why Arnav put a condition in front of her. Her status had been always a debating issue between them. Maybe he wanted to avoid it. And she also had the responsibility of avoiding such issues.

She called Shashi. Shashi attended the call.

*Tell me Beta...*

*What salary would you have given to the post of Managing Director?*

Shashi was stuck for a while. He somehow understood what made her ask such a question.

*But... you are the managing director...*

*What if I would not come to India? You would have been appointed someone for the post...*

*It's not easy to manage GI... I would have given five lakh as salary... excluding other allowances...*

*Oh...ok, Dad. Thank you*

She disconnected the call. And again she made a call to the manager...Shyam. He attended it.

*Yes, Ma'am...?*

*From this month, deposit five lakhs in my account...*

*Ok, Ma'am*

*I don't have a bank account in India...*

*No problem Ma'am... I will call the Bank manager tomorrow. He will look after the process.*

*Make it fast*

*Sure ma'am*

Shyam disconnected the call and he spoke to the manager of the bank in which GI had transactions. He didn't think why Khushi wanted to deposit money in her account. Khushi decided to be a mere worker of GI to avoid differences between her and Arnav.

Khushi worked on their next project. She called Arnav to clear her doubts and she didn't forget to remind him about their dinner date.

*How many times will you remind me Khushi?*

*Until we go for the date*

*We will...*

*Ok...* she disconnected the call and saw Aman entering his cubicle.

Aman looked at him raising his left eyebrow questioningly.

*Tell me, Aman,*

*Who was on the call?*

*Call from HOME...* Arnav said.

*Oh...*

*Tell me...*

*Where did you go with Khushi Ma'am the last evening?*

*Where else? She dropped me at my house*

*Then?*

*Then she went to GH*

*Didn't you ask her to come to your home?*

*No... but Mom did*

*Did Khushi Ma'am come to your home?*

Arnav nodded yes.

*Then?*

*She had coffee...*

*Then?*

*That's all*

*What ASR... a gossip is roaming around our office but you seem disinterested...*

*What gossip?*

*That... you and Khushi ma'am are going to marry...*

*Really? Ask those people who are spreading the gossip to get me married to her...* Arnav laughed.

*She loves you... will you deny it?*

Arnav sighed.

*She ordered the girls to stay away from you. What does that mean?*

*What?*

*She is possessive of you... she doesn't want anyone to get close to you other than her...*

*Oh...*

*Am I telling you a story or what?*

*What do you want me to say?*

Aman glared at him.

*Relax... you will get to know if something between us clicked... Won't you?*

*Of course, nothing will be hidden for long...*

*Hai na...? * Arnav shrugged his shoulders casually.

Aman left his cubicle silently. Arnav smiled. Khushi was their Boss. She had a reputation. He couldn't spoil it. The office staff might take it in their favour. He had the responsibility of not only protecting her but also her character. He couldn't let anyone raise finger at her.

An unknown fear occupied Khushi's heart. Arnav accepted her proposal. He was ready to marry her but, what about his health condition? Was he recovering? That's why he should have taken the time to accept her proposal. Nothing should happen to him. He should be cured. She can't miss this chance of getting all the happiness in the world. She should live her life with Arnav. But, how could she ask him directly? What if he felt low? That didn't mean she should be quiet. She had to ask him...if not directly then indirectly. She decided to speak to him about his health condition on the dinner date.

To be continued...