31 Was she the one?

Arnav's mind didn't get into anything. He was thinking about Khushi and her cheesy talks. That was the first time she spoke to him like that. She fought with him, argued with him but never spoke lovingly with him like how she did that morning. She asked about his presence at home... was she going to come to RM? But why? What would be the reason for her sudden change?

Arnav came out and saw Lavanya having coffee with Ratna. He came and sat with them.

"Hariprakash, bring me coffee," he said.

HP came out of the kitchen and nodded ok. He rushed to the kitchen again.

"What's your program today?" he asked Lavanya.

She stopped sipping the coffee and looked at him and then at Ratna who was also looking at him.

"My program???" Lavanya shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh yeah, you are a changed girl now. Usually, you would not stay at home on Sundays..." He said.

"My dear brother, I'm a changed girl but why are YOU changing now?"

"Me? When did I change?"

"From when did you start caring about my program and all?"

"I just asked. Should not I?"

"Mmm..."

"By the way, what did you do with the ring you bought for your friend?"

Lavanya and Ratna were again stuck.

"Why? Are you going to give it to your would-be-wife?"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"How did you buy the ring without knowing about her interest? See, you wasted a few lakhs..."

"Chotte, what happened to you? Why are you bothering about the ring?"

"Arnav, I have another plan. However, it will reach Khushi"

"How? Are you going to her house to give it to her?"

"Me, going to her house? No... she denied taking it when I gave it here. Then, how will she accept it if I go to her house? I don't think, it works"

"Then?"

"I will give it to her as her wedding gift"

"Wedding? When is her wedding?" Arnav asked hurriedly, making them jerk.

"Chotte... relax... why are you shocked?"

"No... I mean... she is my PA and I don't know about her wedding... that's why"

"She is not your PA but Aman's"

"From tomorrow, she will be mine"

"Whaaaat?"

"Yeah, I decided to relieve Akash as he is getting married"

"YOU decided to relieve him because he is getting married?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"whaWhat happened to you, Chotte? From when did you care about others?"

"Won't I care?"

"Would you?"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Did Khushi agree to be your PA?"

"Why won't she agree?"

"I can't believe this" Ratna raised her brows.

"If you have doubt, call her and ask her"

"Do you want me to call her?"

Arnav got stuck. Yes, he wanted to know whether Lavanya knew about her arrival. It seemed Lavanya was unaware of it. Then why did Khushi inquire about his presence? If she was coming to meet Lavanya, why didn't she let her know about her arrival? Why to him? What was there in her mind? Her talks, her behavior everything looked different today. Why?

Arnav got alerted. Did she get any clues? Did she get to know she was his wife? Could his guess be true? Would Khushi be his Khushali? Might be... or else she would not have spoken to him like that. Didn't he know her? Such an arrogant and head-weighted girl she was. What would he do if she was his wife? A sudden excitement and nervousness occupied his heart.

He left the place immediately and came to his room. He paced in his room. His mind didn't work. He didn't know what to do. He recalled what she said,

AFTER ALL, YOU ARE MINE... I MEAN, YOU ARE A BOSS OF MINE...

Did she say that in another meaning? Arnav bit his inner cheek with a smile. Was that why Madam teased him? Let her come... he would show he too knew teasing.

But, what if she didn't tell him the truth? Didn't he know how to get it from her? Arnav decided to wait for her.

Time was passing but Khushi didn't come to RM. Arnav was losing his patience. He looked at the clock and it was half past five. Taking his mobile, he called Khushi who was getting ready to go to RM. She stopped pinning her saree, hearing her phone bell. She smiled as it was Arnav's call again. She attended the call.

"Where are you?" Arnav asked.

"Where would I be? Home..."

"Don't you come to RM?"

She controlled her laughter.

"RM? When did I say I'm coming to RM?"

Arnav got stuck.

"Didn't you ask me about being at home?"

"I just asked randomly..."

"Lie... I know you are going to come"

"Oh, really? How?"

"I just know..."

"Ok... so what if I come to RM? Does it make a difference?"

"You are my PA, remember?"

"So? Do you want me to get your permission to go anywhere? And, for your kind information, I'm not coming to RM as your PA but..." She stopped.

"But...? As whom are you coming?"

"As... Lavanya's friend" she said controlling her laughter.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"By the way, why are you expecting me?"

"Me...? No... I'm not expecting..." he stopped for a while and thought.

"Yes, I'm expecting you..."

Khushi was stuck. Was that Arnav who said that?

"Why?" She asked gulping down.

"Just to see you... after all, you are mine..."

"Whaaaat?"

"I mean, PA of mine" he hit the same ball.

There was silence.

"Are you there?"

"Mmm..."

"Are you coming?"

Khushi came to the composure.

"No, I'm not coming"

"Why?"

"I changed my mind... I'm not going to come"

"You will come..."

"Haan?"

"Haaannn... I'm waiting... come fast" he disconnected the call.

Khushi sat on the bed in confusion. What happened to the Komodo Dragon? Why did it feel like he would swallow her in a go? She bit her lip. She grabbed her bag and removed the mangal sutra from that.

What would Arnav do if she showed it to him? She looked at herself in the mirror. Her neck was empty. She didn't like to wear anything on her neck. Arnav might fill it with the Mangla sutra after knowing the truth if he saw this. She smiled. Keeping it in her bag, she neatened her saree and looked in the mirror. She looked gorgeous in the blue saree.

Bidding bye to Garima, she headed to the railway station with Shashi. Arnav might drop her off when she returns home. So, she didn't take her scooter.

RM

Arnav was restlessly waiting in the living room. He was looking at the clock again and again. Would Khushi come or not?

Ratna gave him tea. He sipped it.

"Mom, where is Dad?"

"He went to a conference. Didn't he tell you?"

He nodded no.

"From the time, I started the business with Aman, he stopped updating me about his business"

"Hmmm"

Lavanya came there.

"Shall I get you tea?" Ratna asked.

"You sit, Mom. I will get one" she said.

"Good change..." Ratna smiled.

Lavanya was supposed to go to the kitchen, but she stopped hearing the calling bell sound. She opened the door and shouted in excitement, seeing Khushi.

"Khushiiiii... you? What a surprise?"

Hugging her, she lifted her.

"Oh, my god... " Khushi shouted.

"Looking so dashing in this blue saree"

"Thank you" Khushi smiled and her eyes caught hold of the man who was swallowing her through his Komodo dragon eyes.

Lavanya brought her in by clutching her hand.

"You look gorgeous in a saree but you might have worn something in your neck. Then you would have been so gorgeous" Ratna said.

Khushi's eyes automatically travelled to Arnav who ought to fill her neck.

"Khushi, sit. I will get you tea" Lavanya said.

Khushi looked at her surprisingly.

"Lavanya, why are you frightening her? See her face... how shocked she is" Ratna laughed.

"Mom, come and teach me how to prepare a good tea"

"I will teach you" Khushi tried to get up,

"You sit" came from Arnav.

The trio looked at him.

"Mom, you teach her" he said.

Ratna and Lavanya looked at each other and walked to the kitchen.

"So what if I teach her?" Khushi asked.

"Nothing... you can teach her..."

"Then, why did you stop me?"

Without answering her question,

"Why did you inquire if I would be at home?" he asked.

"Just felt to admire you, sitting in front of you," she said teasingly, making a weird face.

Arnav got stuck.

"However you are going to be with me from tomorrow. You will get plenty of time to do it. Then what urgent to admire me?" he asked composing himself.

"I heard you don't like girls who drool over you... then why don't you get irritated with me?"

"It's because I know WHO YOU ARE"

Khushi got stuck.

"Who am I?" she asked looking at him sharply.

"An arrogant, head-weighted and, haughty woman I have ever seen..."

"Oh... so, you won't mind if I drool over you?"

"Why should I mind about the HARMLESS insect?"

"When did the white lizard transformed into harmless insect?"

"Just now..."

He wanted to say, after seeing the white lizard in a saree.

"Doesn't your harmless insect have a name?"

Arnav stood up from the couch. Taking two long steps, he reached Khushi and bent down towards her, making her flinch back shockingly. She was gazing at him with bewildered eyes, leaning on the couch.

Arnav smiled inwardly because he saw the difference in her. He did the same to her before too. At that time, she faced him daringly, looking into his eyes. But now, there was nervousness in her eyes.

"Do you want to tell me anything?" he asked in a husky tone.

She nodded yes automatically.

"Whaaat?"

"You are waiting for you lost wife... right?"

Arnav widened his eyes and asked,

"How do you know?"

"Nirupama told me"

"Haan... so?"

She took her hand bag to remove the mangal sutra. Both of them jerked, hearing Arvind shouting.

"Chotte... I have found her...! Finally, I found our Khushali" he rushed inside happily.

Arnav straightened himself and looked at him with unbelievable stare whereas Khushi was confused.

To be continued...