Part 10 Cat is out...

When Ratna came to their room, Arvind was checking a file. Ratna smiled at him casually whereas Arvind smiled at her nervously.

"Don't know why Khushi is doing this" She sighed.

"Whaat... what did she do?"

"She mopped the floor and fell down stepping on the soap water. Her leg swelled... don't know what's in her mind" Ratna sighed again.

Arvind looked down at the file again.

"Why don't you say anything?" she asked.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Do you know how angry Chotte is?"

Arvind gulped down.

"He is going to ripe us for sure"

"She mopped the floor... what's wrong with that?"

Ratna folded her hands and raised her brows.

"She is our guest... remember? Her father saved our Chotte's life... remember? This is how we treat our guests? Our response towards Khushi shows how much we are grateful to her..."

Arvind was silent.

"I have been decided not to go anywhere until Khushi is fine to come with me"

"What does that mean, Ratna?" he asked sensing something wrong. Did Ratna find the truth of his offering her a job?

"She thinks a lot if she is alone at home it seems," she said managing.

Arvind was nervous. He knew what will happen if Arnav gets to know he offered her a job. He should not have done that but Simran wanted it to happen. What can he do when his friend wished so?

Ratna was about to leave the room,

"Ratna..." Arvind stopped her.

"Tell me,"

"What will you do if you have only one option to choose one's side between mine and Chotte's? Whom will you support?"

Ratna smiled inwardly. The cat was coming out of the box slowly it seemed.

"Undoubtedly, Chotte..." she said shrugging her shoulders off.

"Why? How could you say so blindly? Before taking anyone's side, you should listen to the full story, then only you can stand for the right side... right?"

"That's what I will do... that's why I will support Chotte"

"What does that mean, Ratna? Won't I be right?"

"Maybe, but definitely not than Chotte. If you are right, Chotte won't stand on the opposite side. He was, is, will always be right" she said confidently which shook Arvind.

"Chotte is not talking to you. Yet, you are taking his side?"

"Yes, he is not talking to me. It doesn't mean he is wrong. I was wrong, that's why he is not talking to me. He loved me, trusted me, but I failed him... that's why I'm getting punished" she left the place choking.

Arvind stood speechless.

Ratna came to Anjali's room. She saw Khushi silently sitting. Ratna didn't talk to her. She wanted to see Khushi's reaction on Simran's manipulation. She wanted to see how much Khushi will respond to it. So, she just observed Khushi.

"Anju, what Chotte said?"

"He asked me to look after Khushi, Mom"

Ratna gestured to Anjali to look at Khushi.

"How are you feeling now, Khushi?" Anjali asked.

"Feeling better, Anjaliji"

"Don't ask her that Anju, she will take the mop again. Then we will get scolded by Chotte" Ratna countered.

Anjali laughed whereas Khushi flushed. Anjali was about to say something,

"Anju, we are not going anywhere until Khushi accompanies us. What say?"

"Yes, Mom... I too think the same"

"But why, Amma?" Khushi asked.

"You think of doing something if you are alone. We don't want to give you a chance I suppose"

"Not like that, Amma," Khushi said embarrassingly.

"Anju, could you get me coffee?"

"Yeah, sure..."

"I will be back, Khushi," Anjali said.

Khushi nodded ok and Anjali went to the kitchen. Ratna followed her leaving Khushi alone.

As Ratna expected, within a few minutes, Simran entered the room. Ratna came and stood, leaning on the wall, hearing their talks.

"What did you decide, Khushi?" Simran asked.

"I'm confused... I don't know what to do"

Simran rolled her eyes.

"I have an idea... shall I tell you?"

Khushi nodded yes. Simran told her the plan that made Ratna furious. Yet, she was literally happy because Simran led herself into the lion's cave. She silently left the place, deciding to wait until Khushi implemented the plan.

After dinner, everyone was retired to their room. Khushi waited for Anjali to sleep. On the other side, Ratna was waiting for Arvind to sleep. Taking a pillow and a bedsheet, Khushi walked to the kitchen, after making sure that Anjali slept. Spreading the sheet on the floor, she laid down. That was what Simran insisted Khushi do. The girl who was highly confused, obeyed her words as she didn't know Simran's intention. Khushi didn't notice that someone was watching her. in the first floor, Ratna was standing with her phone. She went to Arnav's room. She knew Arnav had not slept. The lights of his room were still on.

Ratna knocked on his room door. Arnav opened the door and looked at Ratna sharpening his eyes. He got confused, seeing Ratna at his doorway, after a looong gap. He didn't know how to react to her. He was about to close the door again, Ratna gave the mobile to her ear and spoke.

"Anju, taking someone's responsibility is not enough. We should keep all our sense over the person whether SHE... I mean, KHUSHI is truly alright. Instead of giving her responsibility to others, we should take charge in our hands" she said looking at Arnav through the corner of her eyes.

Arnav frowned as he didn't understand what his mother exactly wanted him to know. But he didn't want to ask Ratna. So, he walked to Anjali's room to see Khushi whether Khushi was alright. Ratna didn't follow him. She knew he will come back, searching for Khushi not finding her in Anjali's room.

Arnav raised his hand to knock on the door. He stopped as the door was already open. He slightly pushed the door and peeped in. he didn't find Khushi in the room and Anjali was sleeping peacefully. He got in and checked Khushi in the washroom. It was locked from the outside. Arnav became alert. Where did she go? Did she leave RM? But why? He came out of Anjali's room and started searching for her in every room.

When he came to the living room again, he saw Ratna standing with HP.

"Where is Khushi?" Arnav asked HP.

"She is in the kitchen," HP said.

"Whaaaat? In the kitchen?" Arnav was about to go to the kitchen,

"Hari Prakash, tell him what Khushi told you" Ratna insisted to him.

Arnav looked at HP, turning his face questioningly. Taking a few long steps, Arnav reached HP.

"What did she say?"

HP looked at Ratna hesitatingly. She gestured for him to go ahead.

"Tell me, damn it..." Arnav said gritting his teeth.

"She said she got a job..."

"Job? What job?"

"Ser...servant of RM..."

"What the kkkkk..."

"HP, tell him who afford the job," Ratna said.

HP looked at her pleadingly like, why are you dragging me in between your problem?

"Tell me... who appointed her as a servant?" Arnav asked.

"Arvind Baba..."

Pushing him wrathfully, Arnav went to the kitchen. Ratna gestured for HP to leave the place. She didn't want him to be there when something sorted out.

Arnav switched the kitchen light on. Khushi opened her eyes, getting disturbed. Arnav stood widening his eyes like a beast. Khushi sat jerking.

"what the hell is this Khushi?" he asked shockingly.

Khushi stood gulping down, without answering. Taking a long step, he reached her and clutched her shoulders.

"I'm asking you something, Khushi..." he shouted making the whole RM jerk. That woke up everyone and all of them rushed out of their respective rooms.

"I feel... too much of chi...chillness in the room... tha... that's why I came here" she stammered.

"Did you come here to be out of the chillness?" his eyes were too scary to even look at.

Khushi closed her eyes. Clutching her hand, he walked out of the kitchen, pulling her with him.

At the same time, Arvind, Anjali, and Simran also came to the living room. Simran swallowed hard, seeing Arnav so wrathful.

"What happened, Chotte? Why are you dragging her like this?" Anjali asked.

"She was sleeping on the kitchen floor, Di..."

"Why Khushi?" Anjali asked shockingly, could not understand anything.

"She said your room was extremely chill"

"But..."

Arnav stopped her by showing his palm.

"It's not true Di," Arnav said tightening his jaws.

Khushi looked at him shockingly, widening her eyes. Arvind was suffocating and Simran was scared.

"Then, what's the truth?" Anjali asked.

"Someone from our family has been afforded her a job, Di..."

"Job?" Anjali frowned.

Arnav nodded yes looking at Khushi unhappily. Khushi bowed down. Arvind gulped down and looked at Ratna, seeking her help but she was not even ready to spare his glance.

Arvind looked down squeezing his hands when Arnav's sharp gaze hit him straight.

To be continued...