Part 33 Don't you love me?

Khushi nodded on to go to the temple. She wondered and also felt relieved as Preeto didn't open up about their deal in front of Arnav.

"We will be waiting for you guys. Please don't make us wait for more. Be at temple 6′o clock sharp." Karan said.

Arnav nodded ok.

"I have to go," Khushi said.

"Ok, Khushi. Drop Abhi in the venue and come. He would be excited about the competition. Don't disappoint him" Preeto said.

Khushi nodded yes and left.

"She seems hesitant. Isn't she?" Sushma asked.

"Yes... She is confused, struggling to make a decision. She wants to make Abhi happy at the same time fears getting into a new relationship." Preeto said.

"That means she needs a PUSH," Karna said.

Preeto nodded yes.

"Then push her," John said.

Arnav became thoughtful. He didn't know what kind of push she needed. But Preeto didn't have any confusion. She was so clear about the PUSH she was Khushi's friend after all...

The person who wanted to know about Khushi listened to their talks and left the place thoughtfully... Sheetal.

"Ok, we will meet in the temple," Sushma said.

That's when Aman came with an attendee who had a juice tray in his hands. He served it to them and left.

"What's your program Di?" Arnav asked Sushma.

"We have booked tickets to Jaipur tonight," Sushma said.

"Ohh... Very tight schedule it seems...?" Arnav smiled.

"We are going to cancel it," she said wearily.

"But why?" Arnav asked confusingly.

"John got a call from his Chief. He asked him to be at work in two days" Sushma said feeling sad.

"Oh..." Arnav said disappointedly.

"We are flying back to London tomorrow morning. That's why we came to meet you. " John said.

"That's so nice of you. What about dinner with me tonight?" Arnav asked.

"Of course, sure," John agreed readily.

"We are leaving Arnav. Have to do arrangements. Then only we can come to the temple in the evening" Sushma said.

"Ok... Will meet you at the temple" Arnav said.

"Yup..."

Taking Preeto's leave, they left. Preeto came to Kushi's cabin while Karan waited outside.

"We are leaving Khushi... I will be waiting for you and Arnav in the temple" Preeto said with a smile.

Khushi nodded okay.

"I would like to see you in saree..." she added.

Khushi again nodded okay. Preeto hugged her lovingly. She was about to leave, Khushi stopped her clutching her hand. Preeto looked at her questioningly.

"Thank you for not opening up about our deal in front of Arnav sir," she said hesitatingly.

"What do you think? I just did not open it up in front of Arnav, it does not mean I am convinced..." she said without hesitation.

Khushi looked down because she knew it.

"Whatever you said is true. And your feeling is so genuine, Khushi. Arnav is Abhi's father, not your husband. Without having any relationship with Arnav, you can't be with him. I know you are not worried about just society... but yourself and your morals. I know you, Khushi. I have been studying you from the day you meet me in the hospital. I respect your morals and values and also your feelings. I won't make you uncomfortable. But, you should not forget one thing. Every problem has its solution. We just have to accept it... that's all"

Khushi was looking at her adorably. Preeto was a good friend Khushi had ever seen. She thanked God for giving Preeto as her friend.

"Do you trust me, Khushi?" Preeto asked with a penetrating gaze.

"Who else other than you could I trust you, Preeto?"

"Is it true?"

"Preeto you are the only one who always thinks about my happiness and betterment. You did many things for me that even my parents failed to do. I trust you more than myself" Khushi said emotionally and Preeto felt true to it.

"I'm happy about it..." she said happily.

She hugged Khushi again.

"Bye..."

Khushi nodded ok. Preeto went out. Khushi sighed.

That's when Sheetal got inside her cabin. Khushi looked at her questioningly.

"You are confused right?" She asked.

Khushi was stunned. How does Sheetal know about her inner turmoil?

"Our workers are looking at you differently; you couldn't understand why. Right?"

Khushi sighed.

"We got to know about you." She opened up.

Khushi frowned. About what she was talking about?

"We called Arnav sir last evening to get clear a doubt. Instead of Arnav sir, Abhi attended the call. He recited everything childishly."

Khushi was horrified. Did Abhi attend Arnav's call? Did Arnav give him that many rights?

"He told us what the relationship he and Arnav sir are sharing..."

"What did he say?" Khushi stammered.

"That you are Arnav Sir's wife. You guys fought and got separated even before Abhi was born. Then Arnav sir went to Canada"

Khushi was silent.

"I was having the doubt about your relationship from the day Arnav sir took over the company's responsibility."

Khushi looked at her frowning because she didn't know what made Sheetal doubt their relationship.

"You wanted to resign from the job when you got to know Arnav sir is our CEO... He promised you that he won't bring your personal issues in between you two. He asked you to work with him forgetting the past happenings. I doubted that day itself that he is your husband. he even talked about how optimistic you are. then he must be related to you..."

Khushi was stunned. That was how she connected the dots? Arnav spoke about the fights that happened between them and Sheetal misunderstood it in a different way.

"Abhi felt bad about your ignorance towards Arnav Sir, Khushi. I know you won't like anyone's interference in your personal matter. I would not have spoken to you about it if Abhi hadn't spoken about it."

Khushi looked down.

"Please consider his wish. He is not asking you too much but his father. I lost my father in my childhood. I know how the yearnings would be"

Khushi looked at her, raising her eyelids.

"Everyone in our office knows Arnav sir is your husband. They think you are restricting Abhi from getting his happiness."

Khushi closed her eyes helplessly.

"I just feel to say..." Sheetal left her cabin, leaving thoughtful Khushi.

Khushi wondered. She didn't know that was the reason why her co-workers looked at her weirdly. Were they thinking Arnav was her husband? Damn this Abhi... Don't know what else and who else he had done the propaganda. She sighed.

Of course, Sheetal knew Arnav and Khushi were not husband and wife. And also she knew Khushi won't accept Arnav and start a new life easily. Khushi's luck favored her and the staff of Unique Software was thinking of them as a couple. Sheetal used it in favor to manipulate Khushi. If Khushi got to know everyone was thinking of them as a couple, she might think of accepting the relationship with Arnav.

Evening

Khushi came to Arnav's cabin and knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Arnav.

Khushi entered in. Arnav leaned on the seat, seeing her.

"I want two hours' permission, sir," she asked.

Arnav knew why. She should drop Abhi in the drawing competition and should get ready to go to the temple.

"What is the drawing competition timing, Khushi?"

"Oh.. From 5:30 to 7:30"

"Oh... Shall I meet Abhi before he goes to the competition?" he asked her permission.

"Mmm" she said without thinking because she knew Arnav was the one who taught Abhi some drawing techniques. Arnav would like to give some tips to Abhi before he goes to the competition.

"Thank you. Be ready. We will go to the temple after dropping Abhi "

"Mmm"

She left his cabin. Winding up from her work, she headed home.

Abhi was already at home, preparing for the competition. He was arranging colors in his kit. He smiled at Khushi.

Keeping her handbag on the table, Khushi came to him and knelt in front of him. Abhi looked at her intensely. He knew Khushi was going to question him about leaving the home early in the morning without informing her.

"This is how you leave home without informing me?" She asked in a soft tone.

Abhi bowed down making face.

"Don't you love me? Is your Dad more important to you than me?" Khushi asked in a mild voice, clutching his hands together.

"Don't YOU (he stressed) love me?" he asked in return making Khushi stun. Abhi looked at her raising only his eyelashes.

"If you love me, you will forgive Dad. You will make me happy. But you are not doing that, Mom" He said choking.

Khushi was shocked. She didn't expect Abhi would think so.

"Abhi, don't you know how much I love you?" Khushi asked with a painful expression.

"I know... But more than you, Dad loves me because he apologized to you. He said he will never repeat the mistake. He promised you that he will be with us forever..."

Khushi gulped hard. She didn't know how to console the little soul.

To be continued...