Part 36 Targeting Khushi

"You don't like the word LOVE. If I stay here, I will fall in love with you... That's what makes me scared" Khushi said making Arnav thunderstruck.

The air around Arnav stopped. The surroundings went darker... except the one... the girl who was the reason for the darkness but she looked brighter than ever before in Arnav's eyes. Arnav gulped down hard, not knowing how to react to it.

"I'm sure you will start hating me if I love you. I could not tolerate your hatred Arnavji. Will you say that you won't hate me?"

Arnav was blankly staring at her. Could he say, I won't hate you even though you love me? Or, could he say, you are right, I will surely hate you? How could he? Could he hate Khushi for any reason? no way...

"I don't know when I had the feelings Arnavji. I realized it when a girl touched you. Even though you don't like it I felt a kind of restlessness in my heart. I know it's nothing but jealousy. Why would I feel jealous, if anyone touches you? What right do I have in you? Why would I feel so? Maybe, I would have had the feelings because I'm the only girl who is close to you. If I stay here, I will try to get closer to you. Then it will be hard for me to resist my heart, Arnavji. That's why I want to go away from you. I should do that authentically. Then only I can save myself from my jeeja. That's why I want to marry NK..." she said in a go.

Arnav was standing like a statue with a rocky expression. Though Khushi said she would fall in love with him it was clear that she had already fallen in love with him. Her statement about her feelings showed it clearly.

She loved him but she wanted to go away from him because she didn't want him to hate her. What would he do now? Should he let her go from him? Should he let her marry NK only because she loved him? what the hell situation was this?

"Don't mistake me Arnavji... I never felt so comfortable with anyone as I feel with you. I know you too feel the same with me. It doesn't mean I can expect you to love me. I know it's next to impossible because I know what LOVE means to you. I know how much you hate the word LOVE. I don't want to trouble you. I don't want to poke my nose into your private space. I can give you the assurance that I will be a good wife but I don't do that because I don't want to force you into something you don't like... I respect your feelings a lot Arnavji as same as I respect you. That's why I would like to marry NK."

Arnav closed his eyes helplessly. He felt like, his legs and hands were chained up with a heavy iron chain. He didn't know how to break the chain that was tangling his neck.

Arnav walked silently and stopped hearing,

"I know you will stop talking to me from here on"

He looked at Khushi and blinked his eyes slowly.

"Go to sleep, Khushi" he walked out.

Both of them didn't sleep that night. Both were in different turmoil. The reason for their lost sleep was the broken truth. Khushi didn't sleep because she opened up her heart to Arnav. Arnav didn't sleep because he got to know what was there in Khushi's heart. Arnav could not believe Khushi was in love with him. He never felt it in her gesture.

She didn't love NK yet she was ready to marry him only because she didn't want him to hate her. She would think he hate her if he didn't talk to her. That would make her stronger in her decision of marrying NK. What would he do now? How should he behave with her? She would feel bad if he didn't talk to her. at the same time, he didn't know what would she think if he talked to her like before. Arnav was in a crucial condition.

He never wanted to be needed by someone. He never wanted to be loved by anyone that hurt so badly. He never wanted anyone to find what was there in his heart.

But... the one girl changed everything. She trusted him like anything... that made her leave her own house. She found what was there in his heart. She knew his likes and dislikes more than he did. Whenever he saw her, she reminded him that everything was going to be okay.

The next morning

Eve's Tennis Club

Avanti Malhotra came finishing the game and sat, putting a towel on her well-waxed thigh. That was when she heard,

"Do you know, Arnav Singh Raizada humiliated someone?"

Avanti turned behind and saw Nikita standing with her friend, having a mockery smile on her lips. She was none other than Arnav's mother Amrita's second husband's relative. Amrita and her second husband Suraj wanted Arnav to marry her. Though Avanti and Nikita were members of the same tennis club they never interacted with one another before. Avanti frowned, seeing Nikita mocking her. Without thinking of anything, Avanti came to her.

"At least, I tried something from my side, unlike you. I know you too want to marry Arnav. before mocking me, just give it a try and then do it."

"I'm not a fool to do it directly. Amrita aunty will do it for me" Nikita said proudly.

"What do you think of Arnav? Neither Avinash uncle nor Amrita aunty can do anything because he doesn't like them. And... there is something we didn't know... he is already SLIPPED" Avanti said.

"What do you mean?"

"A girl called Khushi is with him. People say they are friends but I don't think so..."

"Why do you think so?"

"He became a beast when she tried to walk away from him"

Nikita became thoughtful.

"She is controlling him..."

"But, Arnav doesn't like girls..."

"Exactly... then what is she doing with him? Until she was with him, he won't think of anyone... you and I should start searching for someone forgetting Arnav"

Nikita thought for a while and left the place.

"What have you done?" Avanti's friend asked.

"What did I do?"

"Nikita will try to do something to get Arnav and remove the girl from his life"

"I know. That's why I told her about Khushi"

"What do you mean?"

"Let her remove Khushi from Arnav's life. I will make Arnav angry with Nikita by telling him the truth and replace Khushi in his life"

"What an idea sirji...!"

"How dare she mocked me... she didn't know who is Arnav. Let her get to know"

Avanti thought Nikita would try to remove Khushi from Arnav's life but her idea was something, Avanti didn't expect.

RM

Arnav came out of his room with unknown feelings. He didn't want to search for Khushi but his eyes searched for her. He saw her sitting with Nani in the living room. This was the new habit for Nani. Before Khushi came to RM, Nani hardly came to the living room. She almost stayed in her room but now, she preferred to be in the living room with Khushi.

Arnav didn't know whether he should smile at Khushi or not. But to his surprise, she didn't look at him. Maybe, she didn't want to make him embarrassed, he thought.

"Chotte, are you going anywhere?"

"Recording..."

"Don't you take Khushi with you?"

Arnav and Khushi glanced at each other and then Nani.

"No, Nani, this is not a song recording"

"Is it NK's movie?"

Arnav got stuck and nodded yes.

"Then you can take Khushi with you. They will get some time with each other if you do so"

"I'm going to complete my work. It needs NK's full concentration."

"Yeah... you are right. He can't concentrate on work if Khushi is with him..." Nani laughed.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"By the way, what do you think about your marriage, Khushi bitiya?"

Khushi looked at Arnav who was gulping down. She was about to say something, but Arnav interrupted her.

"Nani, give her some time... this is a lifetime commitment... why hurry?"

"I think..." Khushi started.

"Khushi, listen... no one will force to you decide it quickly. So, relax" Arnav said.

"I already told you, Arnavji..."

"Is it? Did she tell you the decision?" Nani asked excitedly.

"She said, she needs time," Arnav said hurriedly.

"Haan, Khushi bitiya. Chotte is right... You don't have to tell them your decision soon. Just make it with a cool mind"

Khushi nodded ok with a smile.

"I will come, taking my medicine" Nani went to her room.

"Why did you stop me from telling my decision, Arnavji?"

"What are you going to tell her?"

"I'm going to say what I told you..."

"That's why I stopped you. Nani won't let you marry if she gets to know what's there in your mind"

"Is it?"

Arnav looked at her with a strong gaze.

"I said what could happen in a few days. Before it SLIPS from my hand completely, I should decide something. That will be good for us"

Arnav stood up.

"I'm leaving" Arnav left RM without looking at her thinking about Khushi and her statements.

To be continued...