Part 13 Outburst

Ratna came to their room. She saw Arvind sitting on the bed looking at the floor blankly. He raised his head and looked at Ratna. She avoided, looking at him, and went to the bed. She was about to lay down, but she stopped listening to Arvind.

"You should have sorted the issue privately..." He said.

"How? Just like, you talked to Khushi about the job privately, without our consent?"

Arvind sensed anger in her tone. Of course, she was angry with him. she managed herself because that was not a time to get angry.

"The issue would not have become severe..." He said without answering her question.

"Why should I care about the severity of the problem? Did you ever care about creating problems? Did you ever thought to keep our problems privately?" she mocked.

"Ratna, you are talking like you have been waiting for this chance..."

"Of course, this is what I want... I have been waiting for this time to come in my life" she painfully.

Arvind looked at her horrified.

"Why are you looking at me like this? I didn't forget anything... you and your mannerless, selfish, arrogant friend should be taught a good lesson." She said, controlling her anger.

Arvind was dumbfounded.

"Are you this upset with us?"

"What do you think? Because of you and your friend, I'm not talking to Chotte... you are the reason..."

"Why are you connecting your problem with us, Ratna?"

"Because you are the problem... if you had been right, our family would not have faced such problems ever..."

"Rajeev is a good friend. He saved AR from many hard times... what's wrong if I'm standing for him?"

"He is the partner of AR. He has the same responsibility in AR as you do... he ought to save AR from hard times. You are treating him like he had done a big favor only to save you... You are dancing with him as if he is working for you for free. didn't you give him five percent shares whenever he saved AR? Did he say NO? No right?"

"It was me, who gave him that"

"Of course, it was you... then why are you behaving like his slave?"

"Does our friendship seem slavery to you?"

"No... not your friendship... it's only you because your friend is intelligent... he won't be a slave to anyone, especially for you..."

Arvind sighed.

"What will I do now, Ratna? Chotte asked to send Simran back..."

"Then send her back... simple"

"How could I do that?"

"How could she take advantage in this family matter, that too in Chotte's matter?"

Arvind was silent. He didn't want to tell her about Rajeev's intention of marrying Simran to Arnav. Ratna was angry. That was not the right time to talk about it to her. But, he didn't know Ratna already have guessed it. she too didn't want to talk about it to Arvind because he will try to manipulate her. Even though she could not be manipulated in that matter she didn't want to talk about it because she was not interested in Simran's matter. She laid down.

"Can't you do anything to keep Simran here?"

"Why? Do you want Chotte to send me out of RM? I can do nothing about this because we are not on talking terms. Even though I'm on talking terms with him I won't waste my energy for the girl who doesn't deserve respect"

"Ratna, please don't talk like that... this problem will cause many problems..."

"For whom?"

Arvind gulped down. Of course, he and Rajeev were the ultimate loser in the matter.

"Stop mixing up our family matters with office matters... at least now. Make your friend understand his limits..."

Arvind was silent.

"If YOU don't do that... SOMEONE will do it" she smiled.

Arvind knew that SOMEONE was none other than Arnav. That was the only reason he was scared. But it seems, Ratna was angrier than Arnav.

Arvind lost his sleep that night. Don't know what will happen tomorrow. He had to send Simran out of RM. Or else, Arnav will stop talking to him. Arnav could not be taken lightly. He was not talking to Ratna with whom he had been close, ten years ago. Arvind was scared to death.

The next morning

Khushi came out of the washroom wearing a new dress, given by Arnav, smiled at Anjali. Arnav who came to Anjali's room, stood hearing Khushi talking with Anjali.

"Looking gorgeous, Khushi"

"Arnavji gave me this dress"

"Oh... his selection would be always great..." she said that bringing a smile to Arnav's face.

Khushi nodded yes, looking at the mirror. Arnav entered smiling. He got stuck, seeing Khushi, who looked gorgeous as Anjali said.

"Chotte, is not Khushi looking beautiful?" Anjali asked making Khushi embarrassed.

"Stunning..." he said with a mild smile.

"Don't you go to the office today?" Anjali asked.

"Yes, Di... have to go... an important issue should be sorted out in today's meeting"

"Oh..."

"Let's go downstairs for breakfast," Arnav said looking at Khushi.

She looked at Anjali.

"Yeah, let's go," Anjali said.

The trio came downstairs. They saw Ratna going to the kitchen.

"I will help Amma," Khushi said.

"Khushi, you just sit..." Arnav said.

"You said this is my family but still you are treating me like a guest," she said hesitatingly.

Arnav looked at Anjali rolling his eyes.

"Answer her..." Anjali chuckled teasingly.

"I'm surrendered..." Arnav said raising his hands up, making Anjali laugh.

Khushi smiled at them and went to the kitchen to bring the dishes to the table whereas the brother and the sister took seats.

That's when they heard a calling bell sound. Arnav was about to go to open the door, he sat again as Arvind rushed to the door. Arvind saw Rajeev at his doorstep. Arnav and Anjali spared a content glance. they knew very well why he was there. Arnav made himself ready for anything.

"Hello, Arvind... hi, Arnav..." Rajeev greeted them formally as if he knew nothing about RM's happenings.

Arnav nodded his head slightly. At the same time, Khushi came out of the kitchen with a bowl. It was not hard for Rajeev to understand who the girl was.

"Hey, you..." he flicked his fingers at Khushi.

Arnav looked at him and then Khushi looked at Rajeev.

"Come here..." he called her with attitude.

Keeping the bowl on the table, Khushi took a step toward him. Arnav stopped her clutching her upper arm, making Rajeev annoyed and Arvind swallowed down.

"What do you want uncle?" Arnav asked.

"I just want water... that's why I called the servant"

Arnav tightened his jaws.

"She is not a servant..."

He pulled a chair and gestured for Khushi to sit, in the manner of giving her respect. Khushi looked at Ratna who followed her from the kitchen.

"Sit down, beta. Accept his respect..." Ratna said.

Khushi sat on the chair, hesitating.

"Hari Prakash... Arnav called.

HP rushed to him.

"Give a glass of water to Rajeev uncle... poor him, he came all the way to RM to drink water"

"Where is Simi?" Rajeev asked without giving heed to Arnav's mockery.

"She is in her room," Arvind said.

"Oh... by the way, I came to talk to you about something important with you and Arnav," Rajeev said looking at Arnav.

Arnav raised his brows.

"Come on, Raju... you too have breakfast with us," Arvind said.

"No, thanks..."

"Ok, wait for a while until I finished eating" Arnav started eating breakfast.

Rajeev looked at Arvind who bowed down.

"Arnav never leaves a chance to insult me," Rajeev said.

"He must be hungry," Arvind said sighing.

"Who is the girl?" Rajeev asked a little louder.

"She is Chotte's guest. Her father saved his life"

"Oh... she is the one? I too heard the story" he said sarcastically.

Arnav ate listening to them but without reacting to them. Simran rushed out, hearing her father's voice. Her face lightened literally. Rajeev walked to the dining, making himself ready.

"Arnav, do you know what you are doing?"

Arnav looked at him and said,

"Eating breakfast" he stuffed the poori in his mouth.

"Keeping a girl in your house will spoil Arvind's reputation..."

Arnav fisted his fingers. Anjali clutched his hand in a consoling manner. Arnav managed himself.

"You are right uncle... that's why I asked Simran to leave RM. Take her with you..." he simply said.

"I'm talking about this girl" Rajeev pointed at Khushi angrily.

"Who are you to talk about her?" Arnav stood from the chair and kicked it with anger.

Arvind was taken back, seeing his wrath.

"Arnav, is she more important to you than us?"

"Who are you? Who are you to me? Who are you to my mom and who the hell are you to my sister?" he moved towards him wrathfully.

"Arnav, I'm your father's friend and whatever I do is for your betterment"

"I'm not kid... I know what's good for me and for my family..."

"If it is true, you have to keep toxic people away from your family," He said looking at Khushi.

"Of course, that's what I'm doing... stay away from my family issues..."

Arnav's direct hit shook Rajeev and Arvind.

"I'm not Arvind to shake my head for whatever you say... Mr. Rajeev Sinha... stay away from my family... and ME..." he said gritting his teeth.

"Why can't you understand Arnav..."

Cutting him,

"I have understood you better than anyone... because of you, our family faced hell... I may forgive anything but I will never forgive for what you had done to my Di... because of you she lost her life... because of you she became a WIDOW..." Arnav burst out with anger.

To be continued...