Part 69 Kidnapping

If it was some other situation, Arnav also reciprocated Khushi's hug. But now, it is a different situation. She is overwhelmed and also emotionally dominated.

"Khushi..." Arnav called her softly.

Khushi gripped him more not wanting to get away from him.

"Khushi, listen to me..."

He made her break the hug and wiped her cheek. Khushi held his hand which was holding her cheek.

"This is what I wanted to talk to you about," she said with restless eyes.

"We will talk... let's go."

Khushi wiped her face with her saree pallu and got in.

"Khushiji... have Prasad." Anjali handed a bowl full of keer.

Taking it from her hand, Khushi ate it silently.

"Chotte, you too have some," Anjali said.

Arnav took a spoon full of keer from Khushi's bowl and ate. Anjali nodded NO smilingly.

Finishing the keer, Khushi went to her room not waiting for Arnav to come with her. But Arnav followed her and locked the door. He saw her sitting on the bed. There was a silence in the room. Khushi's eyes flowed again. Arnav sighed at her softly. Khushi couldn't control her whimper. Arnav came and sat next to her. In no time, Khushi leaned on his shoulder, circling his bicep.

"Khushi relaxes... he just came to meet you..."

"Because of him, my mother was burnt alive, Arnavji. I saw her flesh burning into ashes. I can't forget her deathly scream, Arnavji. he is a drunkard" She cried.

Arnav turned towards her and made her lean on his chest.

"I don't like that man... I don't want to talk to him. I hate him, Arnavji..."

"Shhhh... you don't have to talk to him... there is no necessary to meet him... I won't let him near you... Ok?"

Khushi nodded OK.

"Don't cry..."

Wiping her cheek, Khushi rested on his chest. Without disturbing her, Arnav let her be relaxed. After a while, Arnav caressed her hair.

"Khushi... are you alright?"

She was silent.

"Don't be so mean ok? We will handle it."

She again nodded ok and raised her head.

"Do you know how much I was worried about you?"

"About me...? But why?"

"I was scared of my past. I thought..."

Cutting her,

"I will also be like Krish's mother...right?"

She nodded yes.

"Crazy girl... "

"You too crazy you know..." she said wiping her cheek.

"Me? really?"

"Then what? You should not have hidden the truth...we wasted our precious days..." she chided.

"Wasted? In what sense Khushi?" he asked with a teasing smile.

"Oh... I mean... I would not have been worried..." She managed.

"I thought something else..." He said looking at her, tilting his head.

"Nothing is like that..." Khushi stood from the bed.

"Like what, Khushi?" he clutched her hand.

"Arnavji, leave my hand..."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm hungry. I'm going to eat."

"Ok... but one obligation."

"What?"

"Don't call my name with JI. It feels like I'm an aged person."

Khushi chuckled at him.

"Don't laugh. call me Arnav. ok?"

"Ok..."

"Call now..."

"No." She rushed out.

"Khushiiii..." Arnav smiled.

He got inside again. Taking his mobile, he dialled Rohan.

"Yes, ASR..."

"Keep tabbing Vikram. He should not go from your eyes."

"I'm following him only, ASR."

"Good. Update me about him."

"Yeah..."

Arnav disconnected the call and sighed in relief. He sat on the bed, feeling sad for Khushi. Of course, he knew about her past already but when she cried telling about it, he was broken. Poor girl... she would have been tension free if he had cleared it. As she said, they would not have wasted their precious days.

After finishing the dinner, Arnav and Khushi sat on the bed. Arnav asked her a lot of questions about her mother and her childhood because he wanted to wipe her hesitation off. As he expected, Khushi laughed, smiled, and also cried while telling about her late mother. Most of her memories got filled with Shashi, Garima, and Arpita. Arnav marvelled, seeing her talking non-stop as he had not seen her talking like that. Arnav was listening to her with patience till midnight. After that, Khushi slept while telling him about her life stories. Arnav chuckled, seeing her slumbering. Kissing her cheek, he slept cuddling her.

The next morning

Khushi looked with an awesome level of briskness like ever before. Why not? She is stress-free now. Arnav felt so relaxed seeing her so casual with him.

He saw her arranging the dining table with Anjali.

"Di, we will be late today." He said to Anjali, sitting on the chair.

Khushi looked at him frowning as she doesn't know why.

"Why Chotte?"

"Auditing is nearing Di... there is a lot of work to be done."

Khushi raised her brows pressing her lips because she didn't know about the auditing. Arnav noticed her expression and smiled inwardly.

"Why are you working in the kitchen? Are not you going to come to the office?" Arnav asked her.

"I too don't know Chotte. Khushi looks so enthusiastic today..." Anjali said thinking deeply.

"Why Khushi, what happened?" Arnav asked seriously as if he didn't know the reason.

"It's secret..." She smiled contently.

"What's that Khushiji?" Anjali asked curiously.

Khushi hugged Anjali and kissed her cheek making her sister and brother awe. Khushi rushed to her room to get ready for the office all smilingly.

"Chotteeeee...."

"Mmmm?"

"What is this?"

"It's a secret..." he left the place laughingly.

Anjali looked up and thanked the almighty as that was the first time, Khushi and Arnav behaved so WIRED. Are not they cute?

Khushi was in the washroom. Arnav took a bag from behind the bed which he packed last night after Khushi slept. He hurried out of the room and handed the bag to HP.

"Keep it in the car."

"Jee..."

HP left the place. Anjali smiled at him contently and Arnav nodded yes. Anjali blinked at him like DONE.

Khushi came out getting fully ready. They headed to AR. Khushi was confused as there was no auditing work going. Why Arnav said that they will be late tonight? She did the assigned work without questioning him.

It was break time. As usual, Khushi went to the pantry to prepare coffee for her friends.

"I don't want this coffee. I'm not ready to leave my precious life for this coffee." Aman teased as usual.

Khushi glared at him frowning.

"ASR will surely kill me for making his wife work for us, Khushi."

"Oh, then why are you here? Just leave." She said pouting.

"Aman, Khushi's Rajkumar will not kill her friends. You can have the coffee." Akash said smilingly.

Khushi sipped her coffee nodding yes.

"Wow... finally you accepted him as your Rajkumar? What a change... what a change..." Aman teased her again.

Akash and NK laughed.

"Yeah... I never expected Khushi will suit into Mrs ASR role." Akash said.

They extended the conversation. Arnav smiled, seeing them laughing together. Don't know what topic these guys get to talk about. Anytime they meet, they laugh and the place became captivating. He remembered about their last night conversation. He chuckled when he thought about how Khushi dozed off while talking. Don't know what she is going to do today.

Evening

Khushi was working with Arnav. He was doing all the work related to the auditing to make Khushi believe his words. As time passed, Khushi became tired. It seems, there is no one in the office. Even Aman left at 9 o'clock after providing them dinner which he brought from the restaurant. They ate and continued the work. Khushi looked at the clock and was horrified.

"Arnavji... it's 11:15..."

"Ohh yeah... are you sleepy?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Ok...we can work tomorrow..."

Khushi nodded yes and Arnav winded up the work.

"Let's go."

They left AR. As expected, Khushi slept within a few minutes. Arnav drove the car to the destination.

When Khushi opened her eyes, she was horrified, finding herself in a new place. She got down from the bed and rushed out shouting...

"Arnavji... Arnavji... someone kidnapped me...." She banged on Arnav while running out.

"Arnavji... someone kidnapped me..." She said again and dumbfounded as Arnav was standing in front of her.

"You... that means, no one kidnapped me..." She said biting her nail.

"It's me who kidnapped you." He said playfully.

"But why?"

"To get your valuable time..."

Khushi looked at him unbelievably. What does he mean...?

To be continued...