Part 13 I'm Married...

Arnav was in a different mindset from the time he dreamed about kissing Khushi. He was thinking about her all the time. He liked to think about her all the time. It felt very good for him to have someone to think about which he never had. We already knew he was afraid of loving anyone... even think of loving someone but in Khushi's matter, he felt comfortable and positive. Khushi's approach towards him and her approach for him made him think so. The thought of marrying Khushi made him enthralled. The thought of having Khushi in his life forever gave him an ecstatic feel. He wanted to know about her to approach her. He decided to ask her about her.

The next day

Arnav waited for Abhimanyu's school bus as usual. When it arrived, Abhi waved his hand at Arnav. Arnav smiled at him and went in after the bus left. He got ready for the office. When he came out of his house, he saw Abhimanyu's school bus returning with the Children. He frowned, seeing them. Why do they come back? Is not their school going to work today? He followed the bus. He stopped the car behind the bus at every stop, looking for Abhi.

Abhi got down from the bus after three stops. He was about to walk towards his house, he stopped hearing a horn sound. He saw Arnav in the car. His face immediately brightened, finding Arnav. Arnav beckoned him to come to him. Abhi rushed to him.

"What happened? Why do you guys return back?"

"Our school teacher passed away... so it's a leave today"

"Oh... what are you going to do today?"

"Will do homework for a while and will play with my friends"

"What about my home? Will you come with me?"

Abhi nodded ok without thinking.

"Sit in the car" he released the center lock.

Abhi got in. Taking a *U* turn, Arnav drove the car towards his house.

"Are not you going to the office?"

Arnav nodded no.

"Is your office also holiday today?"

"Yes... I'm off today"

The security of Arnav's residence opened the gate for Arnav. Arnav stopped the car and got down with Abhimanyu. They entered in. Abhi looked at the house awestruck.

"Wow... how big your house is...!"

"What do you want to have?"

"Nothing..."

"Why? Your mom will scold you?"

"My Mom will scold me if she gets to know I come to your house"

"What will you say?"

"I won't say anything... I won't lie to her. At the same time, I won't tell her the truth too."

"What will she do?"

"She will get upset..." he said sadly.

"You love your mother so much right?"

"Haan... everyone does... I love my mother and she loves me unconditionally..."

Arnav smiled at him simply. Abhi thought something,

"I'm sorry, sir..."

"Why?"

"I have forgotten what you said that you don't have anyone..." he said feeling sad.

"Who said I have no one? Don't I have you?" Arnav said trying to lighten his mood.

As he expected, Abhi nodded yes.

"then why should I worry?"

Abhi shared hi-fi with Arnav.

Removing his phone, Arnav called Khushi. She attended the call.

"Good morning, sir"

"Good morning... I'm off today"

"Off? Are you alright sir?"

Arnav smiled.

"Yup... I'm alright"

"Oh ok sir"

"Will come tomorrow"

"Ok sir"

Arnav disconnected the call.

"Are you going to be with me today?" Abhi asked.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Do you take off for me?" he asked excitedly.

Arnav again nodded yes.

"Why?"

"Because you are my guest... treating you is my duty"

"I saw basketball court outside. Do you play basketball?"

"Yup..."

"Will you teach me?"

"Sure... wait. I will come, changing my dress"

"Ok"

Arnav went to his room. when he came, he saw Abhi also in the half pants and vest.

"Oh... you too changed?"

"My uniform will get spoilt and I will get caught," he said folding his lips.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Let's go"

They came to the basketball court. Taking ten minutes, Arnav taught him the rules and basic strokes of the game. Abhi observed him keenly. They started playing. Within half an hour, Abhi started playing a quality game that made Arnav dumbfound. Abhi played with a lot of interest. He liked the game. More than a game he liked Arnav. This is the first time, he plays with a MAN. He always plays chess and carom with his mother as she didn't play outdoor games.

Arnav stopped playing.

"What happened, Sir?"

"Take rest"

"I'm not tired"

"Maybe not now... but you will feel the body pain in the night if you play continuously without a gap as this is the first time. After becoming an expert, you can play without taking a rest."

Abhi nodded ok.

"You play very well and teach very well..." Abhi said.

"You too play well. Did you play ever before?"

"No, this is the first time..."

"Really? I can't believe this. Do you know, it took one month for me to pick up the game but you did it very quickly"

"Because you taught me simply"

"My trainer also taught me simply yet, I struggled a lot. I think your father would be a basketball player" Arnav said that to know about his father.

Abhi became thoughtful.

"And, your father must be good looking as you are looking good. Am I right?"

"I don't know sir," Abhi said sadly.

Arnav sulked.

"What do you mean don't know?"

"I don't know how my father looks"

"Have not you seen your father ever...?"

"No... not even for once..."

"Don't you ask your mother about him?"

"My father fought with my mother it seems. She gets upset whenever I talk about him. She says he won't come back."

"Where is he? I will try to find him if you tell me about his whereabouts"

"he is in abroad"

"Which country?"

"Gulf country"

"Oh..."

"His name?"

Abhi nodded no.

"Don't you know his name too?"

"My Mom said, It's not necessary to know his name but my initial is *A*... that means, my father's name starts with A"

"Disgusting..." Arnav thought in his mind.

"I want to meet my father and should ask him why he left us alone," he said looking down.

Arnav felt bad for Abhi. Poor boy. Because of his parent's problem, he is suffering. Who else other than Arnav knew how hard it is to live without getting parents' love? Even though Abhi has a mother not everything can be done by his mother. Being a boy kid, it's obvious to expect a father's love. His heart wanted to do something for him but what can he do?

"You can come here, whenever you want. Ok?"

Abhi nodded ok happily.

"Let's go..."

They came inside the house. Arnav brought apple juice for Abhi. The ordered food arrived. They had lunch together. Talked a lot. They had a good time with each other. Abhi learned a few drawing techniques from Arnav.

"Do you know everything?" Abhi asked wondering.

"Not everything... a little"

"My Mom says, I should be a multitasker. I thought no one could be a multitasker but you are..."

Arnav smiled.

"I'm going to call you MT"

"MT?"

"Multitasker..."

Arnav laughed.

"When will your mother come home?"

"6: 30"

"what will you do till then?"

"I finish homework before mom comes."

"After that?"

"I will be with Mom in the kitchen while she cooks. She cooks well you know"

"Really?"

"Oh, my god..."

"what happened, Abhi?"

"I have forgotten about my lunch box. Mom will scold me if she sees the food untouched"

He removed the box from the lunch bag and opened it.

"Where could I throw it"

"Give it to me..."

Abhi extended the box to Arnav. Arnav got stuck as the smell of food was familiar to him. It was Aloo and Poori. He walked with the tiffin box towards the kitchen. Taking the piece of poori, he dipped it in the aloo and tasted it. It tasted exactly like Khushi's dexterity. He wondered. How could two people bring the same taste? He shrugged the thought off. Not throwing it, he kept it on a plate and returned the box to Abhi.

"It's 4o' clock, MT. Will you please drop me home?" Abhi asked.

"Yeah..."

Arnav brought him home.

"This is your house?"

"Yes... will you come inside?"

"sure... but not now... will come another day"

Abhi nodded ok.

"Bye"

Abhi waved his hand and Arnav left the place.

Arnav came to the office as he had worked at an office. He saw Khushi keeping a file on his table.

"Good evening, sir" she smiled.

"Good evening"

"I missed your handmade food today," he said intentionally.

"That's ok, sir"

"What did you bring for me?"

"Aloo poori"

Arnav got stuck. Aloo poori? The same lunch as Abhi? Is this an Aloo Poori day? Everyone brings the same lunch...! He chuckled.

"Where is it?"

"NK sir had it as he didn't bring lunch today"

"Ohh... Thank you... for bringing me lunch" he said.

"My pleasure sir"

"is it really a pleasure for you, Khushi?" he questioned.

"Of course, yes. Feeding someone is undoubtedly a pleasure"

"What can I do to get your food for my lifetime?" he asked with a deep meaning.

"No problem, sir. I will provide you food until I'm working in Unique Software" she said casually.

"No doubt, you will work in Unique Software... but, I'm not asking about it"

"Then?" she frowned.

"Ok, leave it... tell me one thing, don't you feel low to be my friend?"

"Feeling low? But why?"

"Don't you know who I'm?"

"Of course, I do... you are my Boss... the owner of Unique Software. You formed the company only by your hard work..."

"Don't you see my negative points, Khushi?"

"Negative points? What negative points do you have, sir? I don't see anything like that..."

"I'm an orphan"

"Why are you pointing out it again and again? You might be brought up in a home but studied well... went to Canada... earned money... started an own business... don't those have values?"

"So, according to you, it's not a matter to be mentioned?"

"Not at all..."

"Won't you mind marrying an orphan?" he threw a million-dollar question.

Khushi got stuck. What does that mean? She stiffened herself.

"I do mind..."

Arnav gulped hard.

"I do mind marrying ANYONE... because I'm already married" she broke the egg...

To be continued...