Part 38 Mangal Sutra

Arnav was shocked to the core. STAR Mangal Sutra? Did Khushi have it? was she the REAL Khushali? Then, why the hell she didn't tell him anything when he told her about it particularly? What was there in her mind? Why did she do this? If she had the same mangal sutra, then he would show her the REAL him. he gritted his teeth.

Arnav saw Akash winding up the call. Taking his mobile, he pretended like, he was waiting to pick his call up. Akash saw him and wished,

"Good morning, ASR"

"Good morning" he again pretended to concentrate on the call not wanting to extend the conversation with Akash. So, he would go to Khushi's cabin and ask her about the mangal sutra but to his disappointment, Akash got into Aman's cabin again.

Without any choice, Arnav also got in with annoyance.

"Finished talking?" Aman asked, Akash.

"Yes, sir" Akash sat on the chair in front of Aman.

"Good Morning ASR" Aman said, seeing Arnav entering his cabin.

"Good morning"

"Shall we start discussing about our next project?" Aman asked.

"Actually, Aman, I can't get part in the discussion. My head is aching. Shall we discuss it alter?"

"What happened ASR? Do you want medicine?"

"No... it will be alright if I have a coffee"

"Then have it"

"Yeah, will have it"

"Actually, Khushi prepares a good coffee," Aman said.

"Is it? How don't I know about it?"

"How do you know if you were always fighting with her?"

"Akash, could you ask her to prepare one for me?" Arnav asked.

"Sure ASR..."

Akash went to Khushi's cabin. Arnav pressed his head and said,

"I think instead of sending Akash, I should have gone to Khushi's cabin to get the coffee" he stood up from the chair.

"it seems the ache is severe..." Aman said worriedly.

"It will be alright if I get what I want from Khushi" Saying, Arnav left Aman's cabin.

He hurried his steps towards Khushi's cabin. He saw Akash standing in front of Khushi, hiding her from him. He came near her cabin and sat down, pretending to tie his shoelace as he didn't want her to see him through the glass wall.

"Ok, I will get him coffee," Khushi said.

"Ok, Khushi, take it to him soon. He has severe headache it seems"

"Mmm"

Akash walked towards the door forgetting to ask her about the Mangal Sutra. Arnav was irritated as he didn't hear Akash's voice. At the same time, again Payal called him. He closed his eyes biting his teeth. He turned towards Khushi.

"Khushi, Khushi, Payal wanted me to ask you something that I have forgotten. Thank god, she called me again"

"What did she want you to ask me?"

"She said you have a mangal sutra..."

Khushi was shocked.

"Payal wants the same STAR design Mangal sutra as she liked it very much"

"Shhhh... why are you shouting?" Khushi chided him.

"Why Khushi? What's wrong?"

Khushi composed herself.

"Nothing... I mean, people may think differently if they hear you asking me a mangal sutra"

Akash chuckled whereas Arnav raised his brows.

"Yeah, you are right. By the way, what's the mangal sutra about?"

"I... I found it somewhere. It's not with me now"

"Whaaaaat? What did you do with that?" Akash was shocked whereas Arnav was disappointed.

"I gave it in the temple"

"Ohhhh... what have you done, Khushi...? What would I answer Payal now? She was so stubborn to have the same design. She said you snatched it from her hand when she took it..."

Arnav shrank his eyes. Why did she snatch it form her?

"No... I mean, I decided to give it in the temple but forgot to do that. So, I became nervous about being irresponsible"

"Oh... ok..." he sighed and left her cabin.

Khushi removed the mangal sutra hurriedly and kept it in her kurta pocket. She walked to the pantry to prepare coffee for Arnav. Arnav waited in the sitting position until she left. He came to her cabin and checked in her bag where there was no mangal Sutra. He was fed up. He thought he got a strong clue to prove Khushi was Khushali but it went in vain.

But, how did exactly Khushi get the STAR Mangal Sutra? There was no logic in it. Her parents should have kept it with them. That was how she should have gotten that. Or... was that the same STAR mangal sutra or some other design? He wanted to get it confirmed.

Arnav walked out of Khushi's cabin hurriedly. Taking his mobile, he cut the star mangal sutra from Khushali'sphoto.

He came to Akash's cabin. He smiled at Arnav.

"What was that, you talked about some mangal sutra with Khushi?"

"Oh, it seems Khushi got a mangal sutra with a star design from somewhere. Payal saw that when we met Khushi in the restaurant two days ago. Payal wanted the same design for herself. So, she asked me to get the design from Khushi but she didn't have it. She gave it in a temple it seems" he said with disappointment.

"Oh... what about this one?" Arnav showed his phone to Akash.

"Wow... it looks great"

"Send it to your would-be wife. She may like it" saying that, he sent it to Akash.

Akash sent it to Payal immediately.

"By the way, Akash, how is your wedding work processing?" Arnav asked looking at Akash's mobile, expecting a reply from Payal.

"Yeah, it's going smooth..."

"It will not be smooth if Payal doesn't get the star design I suppose"

Akash smiled.

"When is your wedding?"

"Coming twenty-fifth"

"Did you give your leave application?"

"Not yet, ASR"

"Give it... Aman will assign someone instead of you to the project"

"OK, ASR. Will submit it today itself"

"That will be a good idea"

That was when Akash got a call from Payal.

"I think you will get scolded now for not sending the same design. Do you have a problem if I stay here?" Asked Arnav that made Akash wonder. He nodded no hurriedly and attended to the call.

"Thank you so much, Akash... the design is so marvelous. I was tense whether I would get it or not. Say thanks to Khushi"

"No, Payal. Khushi didn't have the mangal sutra. She gave it to the temple"

"Then, how did you get the same design?"

"Is it? Is it the same design?"

Arnav straightened himself.

"Yes... this is the same mangal sutra I saw in Khushi's bag"

"Oh... but it was not Khushi who gave it to me but ASR"

"ASR?"

"Yes, he was the one who had the pic" Akash said looking at Arnav.

"Convey my hearty thanks to him"

"She asked me to thank you, ASR"

Arnav nodded yes with mixed feelings.

"Is he there?" Payal asked.

"Yes, he is here only"

"Shall I thank him?"

Akash looked at Arnav hesitatingly.

"Actually, ASR, Payal herself want to thank you"

Without thinking of anything, Arnav extended his hand asking for his phone. Akash gave it to him happily.

"Hello, ASR speaking"

"Thank you so much, Sir. You have no idea how much I liked this design"

"Is this the same design you saw in Khushi's bag?"

"Exactly the same Mangal Sutra..."

"Are you sure about it?"

"Yeah... I can say that"

"Ok"

"Thank you once again"

"You are welcome"

Arnav gave the phone to Akash and walked off. He came to his cabin and saw Khushi searching for him, having a coffee cup in her hand. His anger touched its peak. Yet, he suppressed it. Khushi extended the cup towards him. Arnav took it from her. She was about to go but he moved a step, blocking her way while sipping the coffee. Khushi looked at him bewildered.

"What mangal sutra Akash asking about?" he asked and sipped the coffee, reading her face where there was a sudden shock appeared.

"It's not a big deal..."

"Tell me the matter. I will decide whether it's a big deal or not" Arnav kept the coffee cup on the table unfinished.

"Mr. Raizada, from when did you start wasting your time on useless things?"

Arnav gritted his teeth and clutched her hand.

"Useless thing? How dare you say that!"

"What are you doing? Leave my hands"

"Didn't you see my wedding photo? Didn't you see the mangal sutra on my wife's neck? Why didn't you say anything to me about the mangal sutra?"

"I don't think both are the same"

"Lie... Payal who saw that only one time that too for a few seconds recognized it..."

"She liked it. So she remembered it. Why would I do that?"

"Didn't you feel to tell me you had that with you?"

"I found it somewhere else... it's not mine"

He tightened his grip and asked,

"When did I say it's yours? It's my wife's mangal sutra. It will be yours only if you are my wife"

Both of them were looking at each other gulping down. Arnav's face softened. He saw Khushi staring at him painfully. He leaned towards her and touched her forehead with his. Khushi closed her eyes. His next stand shook her to the core.

"Why do I think you are my wife, Khushi?"

She looked at him shockingly. Pushing him, she rushed out of his cabin, leaving Arnav helpless.

To be continued...