Part 33 The Burning Past

Arnav was terribly horrified, seeing Khushi's state who was on his chest. In no time, he scooped her in his arms and rushed towards the main building. News of the fire accident reached the main building faster than Arnav. Everyone came out of their cubicle to know what happened. The staff of AR stunned, seeing the great ASR running, taking his PA in his arms whereas NK became panic about his friend. Aman who came out also saw Khushi in Arnav's arms.

"Khushi....." NK shouted.

"What happened to Khushi Nannav?" He rushed towards Arnav while asking.

"Call the doctor.... Quick..." Arnav ran to his cabin with Khushi while ordering Aman.

Aman removed his mobile and called the nearby hospital. As the call was from the manager of AR, the doctor started immediately, cutting the call. Aman hurried to Arnav's cabin. Arnav kept her on the couch cautiously. He sprinkled water on her face but no movement found in her.

"ASR, what happened?" Aman asked.

"She fainted, getting scared of fire."

"Did she get hurt?" NK asked worriedly.

"No... she was standing very close to the fire. So she became nervous." Arnav didn't say that he saw her in the terrific state.

The doctor reached the AR and staff directed him to Arnav's cabin. After examining Khushi, he injected into her.

"How is she, Doctor?" Arnav inquired with concern.

"She is in extreme stress. She should have scared of something."

"Yes, Doctor. She is scared, seeing a fire accident."

"Ohh... let her take a rest. Ask her to take this medicine tonight. She should be relaxed and this tablet will help her to be relaxed that is much needed to her."

The doctor forwarded the prescription to Arnav. Before he takes it from the doctor Aman took it.

"I will bring the medicine," Aman said.

Arnav nodded OK.

"Don't forget to give her" the doctor insisted on him again.

"Ok Doctor, I won't forget," Arnav said.

The doctor left his cabin with Aman. As NK didn't expect, Arnav sat beside Khushi and tucked her hair strands. NK was looking at him awestruck. He saw a concern in Arnav's eyes which he shows only for Anjali. Are Aman's words true? NK silently left the place.

Arnav was gazing at her with a lot of questions. Why she reacted to it that way? He knew how brave she is. Just by seeing the fire, why did she panic? She never frights for anything... What today he witnessed is totally opposite to Khushi's character. Even though she was scared what's there to faint? Is that serious? She is the only one who could give answers to his question but she won't and definitely not to Arnav. He sighed.

Arnav didn't disturb her and let her take rest. He could do nothing. His mind was not ready to do office work. He was pacing in his cabin, could not sit in a place.

After a while, Khushi slowly opened her eyes. She found herself in her Boss's cabin. She remembered what had happened. She sat on the couch freaking. She jerked hearing Arnav's voice even though it was so kind.

"Khushi, don't panic... you are alright. Ok...?"

Khushi looked at him with a wired gaze. That look told him that she was still in the fire effect. Arnav passed the glass of water to her. As she felt her throat dry, she didn't deny. She gulped it in a go.

"Khushi, relax... you need rest..."

"That's ok, sir."

She left his cabin, hurriedly, making Arnav sigh. She came to her cabin and sat on the chair, holding her head. Tears flew from her eyes. Taking a few minutes, she composed herself. She leaned on the chair closing her eyes, relaxingly. Taking a long breath, she opened her eyes. She took her mobile to unmute it. That's when she saw there were three missed calls from Home. Again she became nervous. Usually, they won't call her when she is in the office. What's the matter that they called her three times? She dialed HOME number. Garima attended it.

"Amma.....? why did you call me three times?"

"Khushi...."

That KHUSHI sounded with happiness.

"Khushi, Krish, and his mother came to our home. You know why?"

Khushi became shaken.

"What....! Why?"

"To ask your hand for marriage," Garima said excitedly.

Khushi was shocked. This is unexpected and totally unfair.

"I'm so happy Khushi... Sinha sir wants to meet you... but you should not go there like before. Understood?" Garima teased her.

It was not hard for Khushi to understand that Garima has said YES to the marriage. Garima's way of talking revealed it.

"Come home. I'm preparing sweet for you." Garima disconnected the call.

Khushi tightened her jaws. How could Krish do this? Didn't she say she wants to talk to his mother? Does he think she will accept the proposal if he got YES from her parents? Taking her phone, Khushi dialed Mrs. Pavitra Sinha's number and she attended it.

Khushi looked at the watch and the time was 6'o clock.

As no work assigned to her, she thought to go home. She came out of her cubicle to find only her boss waiting.

"I will drop you home."

"No thanks, Sir. I'm alright."

"Khushi, please go with him." She looked at Aman who came from behind her with NK.

"Yes, Khushi. It's not advisable to go home alone." NK also took Aman's side which made Aman happy.

"I'm fine Nanne..."

"Don't be so adamant, Khushi," NK warned.

"Please, accept our request." Aman almost pleaded.

"Or else, we will follow you to make sure that you reached home safely." Arnav's firm stance made the trio dumbfounded.

"Yes, we will follow..." NK said.

"Do you want it to happen?" Aman asked.

She looked at Arnav whose expression clearly declared that he will definitely do that. Without any choice, she nodded ok.

Arnav started towards Gupta House with Khushi. Aman tapped NK's shoulder in an appreciating manner smilingly and went to his cabin.

Sinha Villa

Krish looked damn happy as his trick worked. Khushi will not deny marrying him. He knew how much she respects her parents. She has no choice. She has to say YES to the marriage.

"Dad, I'm so happy."

"I'm also... I never expected that you will like a middle-class girl like Khushi." Sinha said proudly.

"She is very intelligent, Dad. We will never get such a valuable brain even though we spend crores."

"Yes, can't deny it. I'm so happy that I'm going to get such a respectful Bahu..."

The father and the son got struck, hearing,

"It won't happen." Pavitra was standing outraged.

The duo looked at her shockingly. What happened to her all of a sudden? She looked compromised when she went to Gupta House.

"Khushi can't become my bahu... a murderer's daughter can never become my bahu." She shouted like a maniac.

"Whaaaat!" The duo yelled in shock.

"It can't be true...." Sinha said horrified.

"Khushi herself told me. She is not a biological daughter of Gupta's. Her real father killed none other than her own mother... he burnt her alive... in front of Khushi's eyes... he is still in the prison."

She hit them by uttering the utter truth.

To be continued...

Next part is available on Inkitt

The Promise

There was complete silence in the car. That was the height of awkwardness for Khushi. She was sitting next to the man who proposed her for the marriage. She dined him because she knew how prideful he is. Having a bitter past, she was not ready to get married to anyone...especially a rich man like Arnav. He gives more importance to status and she herself witnessed it.