Part 60 No matter what...

Arnav saw a bowl in Khushi's hand. He didn't know what it was. She came and sat on the tea table in front of the recliner and looked at him.

"What's that?" Arnav asked, cocking his brows.

"Turmeric and Neem paste... it heals the wound." She said, keeping the bowl on the table.

The man who always goes with MODERN medicine looked at her perplexed.

"It really cures?" He asked the doubt.

"Haan... my Amma uses almost home remedies... this is one of the best." She said confidently.

Arnav was hesitant not because he doesn't like such medicine. It's because she will remove the dupatta piece of hers from his palm which she tied to stop the blood flow a few minutes ago.

"I think I'm fine..." He said.

"That's good... you will be completely alright if you get applied it." She insisted.

"Actually...."

"If you don't like this, no problem..." She was supposed to get up from the tea table,

"No, wait..." He sat on the recliner, extending his hand forward halfheartedly.

He doesn't want her to remove the piece of Shawl from his hand. At the same time, he can't miss the chance to get treated by her though.

He sighed when Khushi pulled the knot of the cloth. She checked the cloth whether if there is a blood strain or not. As she tied it only after keeping enough cotton on the wound, there was no bloodstain on the cloth. Instead of throwing it away, she kept the cloth aside making Arnav relief. She will tie it on his palm again. Clutching his palm with her left hand, she applied the turmeric paste on the wound.

"Would you use only home remedies?" Arnav asked to start a conversation between them.

"Yes... Amma always prefers this kind of medicine because there are no side-effects..." she said while applying the paste.

Arnav felt like, a peacock feather is caressing his palm.

"I use allopathic medicine all the time. I remember my mother use such things when she was alive."

Though he didn't say you are the one who uses the same as his mother Khushi understood that. She continued her work, not looking at him. She tied the shawl piece again around his palm.

"Is this salwar a new one? I had not seen it before?" he intentionally asked her.

This time, Khushi couldn't hold herself from looking at him. Does he know what she wears? Is he watching her to this extent?

"Yes, this is a new one...Amma bought it for me."

"You spoilt it by tearing it." He said not showing his real joy expression.

Khushi got the point that he is hinting her about she tore the new shawl for HIM.

"Sometimes, I do something like that," she said and bit her lip to control the smile.

Arnav chuckled.

"That means, I should be careful as you do something like tearing....?" He asked with a lopsided smile.

"You should be happy if it is JUST about tearing something." She said controlling her laugh.

"Oh..." Arnav raised his eyebrows.

"Take rest... call me if you want ANYTHING," Khushi said taking the bowl from the table.

Arnav wanted to say I always want YOU to be with me but he knew she needs time for such cheesy dialogues. He simply nodded ok gulping down.

Khushi left the room. Arnav leaned on the recliner, looking at the shawl piece on his palm. How quickly she tore the shawl seeing him bleeding...! He smiled.

That's when his mobile rang. He attended it. It was from one of the clients of AR.

"Hello ASR..."

"Hello, Mr. Stephan..."

"Congratulations...You got married..."

"Thank you..."

"Won't we get a party?" he asked teasingly.

"Sure... when you come to India..."

"Then arrange the party."

"Are you in India?" Arnav surprised.

"Of course man... I would like to extend our contract. So, I came to India. Shall we meet tomorrow in AR?"

"Yeah, sure..."

"What about extending the contract for the next five years?"

"No Mr. Stephen... you know very well about AR rules. The time period of AR contract will be for only two years."

"Yeah I know... but..."

"You can extent after two years if you want..."

"If ONLY YOU want..." Stephan said.

"Maybe..." Arnav smiled.

"I know... well, what about the party?" He came to the point again.

"Yeah... I will let you know..."

"Why man....? Should you get permission from your Mrs.?" Stephan pulled his leg.

Arnav laughed at his comment.

"Ok, ASR, We will meet tomorrow."

"Ok. Bye."

Arnav disconnected the call and obviously, he called Aman and conveyed to him about Stephan's contract.

"We already have planned to go to AR tomorrow. I will be there on time." Aman said.

"Aman... Don't say anything to Khushi. She goes to her mother's place for pagperah ritual tomorrow. Don't disturb her."

"But Khushi is the one who is handling Stephan's contract file currently."

"Ohh... I will ask her about it. The file must be in her cubicle. We will handle it."

"As you say..."

"Arrange everything before Stephan reaches AR."

"Done," Aman said.

They disconnected the call. Arnav saw HP waiting for him.

"What?"

"Dinner is ready. Anjali didi is calling you." HP called Arnav for the dinner.

"Where is Khushi?"

"Khushi bhabhi is arranging the dinner table."

Arnav nodded ok and came downstairs. Anjali saw his palm and got panicked.

"Chotte, what happened?"

"Nothing Di... it's just a sleek cut." Arnav touched her shoulder.

Anjali sighed in relief. Arnav was about to go to the dining table, Anjali stopped him.

"That's ok... what about this?" She asked touching the cloth piece.

Arnav rolled his eyes smilingly and looked at Khushi who was wearing the same shawl, arranging the table as if she didn't know about the sister and brother's gesture.

"Khushiji... your shawl is torn it seems...." Anjali deliberately asked Khushi.

"Oh... I will OVER LOCK it later..." Khushi said plastering a smile.

Lavanya who came with NK to the dinner table observed it.

"NK seems like, your brother started using everything matching... matching to his wife..." She chuckled.

NK frowned because he is not so sharp as Lavanya.

"Khushi's shawl and his band-aid are matching..."

Now only NK got the point.

"Nannav, what happened to your palm?" He asked worriedly.

"Nothing..." He sat on the chair.

"Khushi... Is it necessary to tear the shawl to treat your husband?" Lavanya asked teasingly.

"She should have panicked, seeing her husband bleeding... am I right Khushiji?" Anjali also teased joining hands with Lavanya.

"oh... there is no gauze in the first-aid kit..." Khushi said embarrassingly.

"I would have given a gauze roll if you had asked me Khushiji..." Anjali said.

"Enough di..." Arnav said contently.

Though Anjali and Lavanya shut their mouths up Arnav has to keep answering about the wound to Raizadas who came to the dining table one by one. Khushi got to know one thing about Raizadas that day which she didn't know before that there is no difference between them. All are the same, be it teasing nature or be it caring nature.

After the dinner, all of them dispersed to their respective rooms. So did Arnav and Khushi.

Khushi sat on the bed and checked her mobile. It was a clear time pass. She couldn't sleep until Arnav switches the lights off.

"Khushi..."

"Haannn..."

"Is it you who is handling Stephan's file?" He asked her.

"Yeah, it's me."

"Where is the file?"

"It's in my cubicle's computer table drawer."

"Ok..."

"His company contract is getting over in two days."

"Yeah, he is in India to extend the contract."

"Oh..."

"We will have to work for his company's contract..."

"Sure..."

"We may go to Auckland for a show..." Arnav said opening his laptop while observing her expression through the corner of his eyes.

Arnav smiled inwardly as she gulped cutely. She lay down on the bed, covering herself with a quilt.

"Do you have a passport?" He asked login his laptop in.

Pulling the quilt down, she nodded NO hurriedly.

"No problem, Aman will arrange it in a day." He said casually.

"In one day?" She asked surprisingly.

"Yup. After all, the passport is for Mrs. ASR..." He smirked.

Khushi again covered her face with the quilt.

The next day

Arnav dropped Khushi in GH for the pagperah ritual and went to AR to sign Stephan's deal.

"ASR... do you remember, we have a conference tomorrow?"

"Yeah..."

"Shall I drop a final invitation to the companies?" he wanted to get Arnav's permission for further action.

"Of course, do it."

"ASR... do you want me to invite Mr. Bhatiya too?" Aman asked thoughtfully.

Arnav got stuck for a second. He knew why Aman particularly asked about Mr. Bhatiya. If he invites him then Mrs. Bhatiya will also get participated in the conference. But he has no choice. He can't ignore one of his clients. At the same time, he is not like before. He is married now. Don't know how Mrs. Bhatiya will behave with him. She is such a shameless woman he has ever seen. Should he tell Khushi about her? Or he himself should get rid of her? Let see...

Arnav nodded yes.

"Ok ASR..."

Aman left his cabin. He knew Arnav would be hesitating, thinking about Khushi. Arnav doesn't want Khushi to know how Mrs. Bhatiya behaves with him. But according to Aman, Khushi should know her behavior towards Arnav. Then only he will do something for which he is waiting. Being Arnav's best friend, he has to do it for their betterment, no matter what.

To be continued...

The next update is available on Inkitt

I know...

GH

Evening

"Come in side, Arnav..." Shashi greeted Arnav who was standing at their door step. He was here to pick his wife up.

Khushi rushed out of the kitchen, hearing that, who was chitchatting with Garima. Arnav got inside and sat on the sofa.

"Khushi, ask Garima to get him coffee." Shashi said.

The