Part 7 Penalty...? (Long update)

Arnav ran to Nani's room and saw her resting, leaning on her back on the pillow. He came to the bed and sat next to her. He clutched her hand. Nani jerked, sensing someone's touch on her hand. She was bewildered, seeing Arnav. His face had been filled with regret. What happened to him? Didn't he shout at her a few minutes ago?

"Chotte... what happened? Are you alright?" she touched his forehead in a testing manner.

Arnav held her hand.

"I'm sorry, Nani... I'm sorry for hurting you... shouting at you... I'm sorry for not understanding you"

No doubt, Nani was surprised.

"Why are you regretting, Chotte? Just relax"

"Are not you angry with me?"

"Why would I be angry with you? Don't I know your anger? I know it won't be long-lasting." She smiled.

"No, Nani... please don't be so nice to me. please scold me if I do wrong... get angry with me if I shout at you unnecessarily"

"You won't shout at me unnecessarily... Whom do you have to shout at other than me? You can shout at me if it helps you to quench your anger."

"Please don't make me guilty more. Try to put some brain in my head when I'm not listening to you. But I promise I won't let it happen again. I will listen to you from here on no matter how tensed I'm"

"Chotte... what happened to you?"

"What I did is wrong, Nani. Thank you for not leaving my side. Thank you for being with me. Thank you for everything"

Nani became emotional.

"Chotte, you are always the same Chotte for me whom I brought from the hostel. Your words won't hurt me. You don't have to feel bad. Just relax"

"Thank you, Nani"

"Do you want anything to eat?"

Arnav nodded no.

"If I want anything, I will ask Hari Prakash."

"By the way, how did you get to know the happenstance of me and Mr. Avinash Malik?" Nani asked with a smile.

Arnav looked behind expecting Khushi to be there but he didn't find her there.

"Whom you are searching for?"

"The girl..."

"You mean Khushi?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"She is the one who told me about it"

Nani was stunned. Did Khushi speak to Arnav regarding this?

"She bided bye to me... I thought she left our home. Did she talk to you before leaving RM?"

"Mmm"

"She is a nice girl."

"She likes you very much it seems" Arnav uttered.

Nani raised her brows as she didn't get in which means he said that.

"Call me if you want anything"

Nani nodded ok.

Arnav came out of her room. He saw Khushi sitting on the living room's couch. She was doing something on her mobile, without noticing him. Arnav came and stood in front of her. She sensed his presence and raised her head. Seeing him, she stood up from the couch.

"Actually, I would like to tell you..."

Cutting him,

"I know, what you want to WARN me."

Arnav frowned. WARN?

"You don't have to worry about me. Just because I let you know what happened between your Nani and your father, I don't think myself an upper hand. (Arnav rolled his eyes) in fact, I don't even think you consoled your Nani by going on my words. I don't think I'm the reason for your reaction. I know you didn't do anything going on my words. I know very well I MEANT nothing to you. Don't worry, I won't think anything beyond my limits and will never try to cling to you. I wanted you to know the truth because I felt bad for Nani being sad" she said in a go and panted hard. Without waiting there, she walked.

"Won't you let me say what I want?"

She heard it from Arnav.

"You are doing the same mistake that I did. You too are behaving the same as me not giving a chance to the opposite person and coming to the conclusion without knowing what they exactly want to say..."

She was surprised but she turned towards him without showing her surprise on her face.

"What else do you want to say? Are you going to scold me for raising my voice against you? Look, Arnavji..."

"Stop"

"I just..."

"I said stop"

Khushi pressed her lips tight.

"Actually... I want to say... (he paused for a while) Thanks..."

This time, Khushi could not stop herself from bringing an amazing expression to her face now.

"Thank you so much for making me aware of the truth"

Khushi stood looking at Arnav without blinking who just thanked her.

"Welcome," She said composing herself and didn't stand there after that. that made Arnav wonder.

What kind she was? She tried to get his autograph when she met him for the first time. Of course, the first few meetings of them were bitter and created a wrong impression in one another's minds about another one. But when he was ready to THANK her, why did she blabber as if he would definitely shout at her? Did he behave with her so harshly? What could he do if that was his nature? For the first time, Arnav thought about his nature.

Shali Vilas

Khushi entered the house with a mild smile on her face, thinking about Arnav. Her smile faded, seeing Anjali looking at her with a sharp gaze.

"Hi, Di... where is Shali?" She searched for her.

"She is sleeping..."

"Oh..."

"She slept after crying for her Massi"

Khushi got rooted at the same place.

"She misses you a lot these days, Khushi," she said contently.

Khushi gulped down hard.

"I can see a lot of changes in you. You are not staying at home..."

Cutting her,

"I'm in the search of a job, Di"

"What's the necessity to search for a job so urgently?"

"What do you mean, urgently, Di? How long could I sit at home and eat without having responsibility?"

"Khushi, this is your home too"

"I didn't mean it, Di. I want to stand on my own. Don't you want to see me settling down? Won't you be happy if I live my life with reputation?"

"In the process of searching for a job, you are distancing yourself from us. I agree a girl should stand for herself but we have none other than you Khushi. Don't you have responsibility for your sister and her daughter?"

"I'm aware of my responsibility, Di. In fact, I'm working on it... I want you and Shali to be happy... always. You should learn to be without me because I will have to leave this house one day. Won't you get me married in some days?"

Anjali got stuck. Khushi was not wrong. However, on some days, she had to leave this house and should go to her Sasural.

"What's the matter Khushi, you talk about your marriage often?"

"Because my age is like that. I thought my sister will start searching for a Groom for me but she didn't. So, I remind her of responsibility"

Anjali hit her shoulder playfully.

"Pagal..."

Khushi smiled.

"Let Shyamji come... we will find a good Groom for you"

Khushi's expression changed, hearing Shyam's name. Because of that man, she had to lie to her sister. Khushi knew she would have a tough time with Shyam when he came to India. She wanted to avoid him. She should not give him a chance to near her. To do that, she should not stay at home. Anjali would surely get doubt if Khushi did that after his arrival. That was why she started not to stay at home under the pretext of searching for a job. By God's grace, she got Nani's friendship. That was unexpected. She found one more place to spend time after Preeto's place. She should go away from Anjali to keep Shyam away from her. Of course, it was damn hard for her to keep herself away from Anjali and Shali. Khushi knew Anjali was distraught but she had no choice. She had the responsibility of saving her sister's family. Anjali will break into pieces if she got to know about Shyam's intention. Khushi had a few more plans to do that. if plan A failed, she would implement her next plan.

The next day

Nani was waiting for Khushi and Khushi didn't disappoint her. Nani's face brightened when Khushi entered her room.

"Namaste Naniji"

"Namaste, Bitiya... and my hearty thanks to you"

"For what, Naniji?" she sat next to her making a serious face as if she didn't get her.

"Don't you know why?"

Khushi controlled her smile.

"How could you act like you know nothing?" Nani teased.

Khushi chuckled.

"Thank you so much, Bitiya."

"Leave it, Nani..."

"No, Khushi. It's been a long since I saw Chotte emotionally. He almost stopped showing his feelings to me... yesterday, I saw him regretting hurting me. Do you know how happy I'm? It's because of you"

Khushi smiled.

"You know what, no one dared to talk to Chotte ever before... it was you who achieved that"

"Shall I tell you my real intention?"

"Real intention? What's that?"

"keep it secret. I was not ready to miss the chance to fight with your Chotte. That's why I did that. How can I miss the chance to make him speechless?" she said in a low tone.

Nani was gazing at her for a while and burst out laughing.

"You are so mean, bitiya..."

They laughed together and stopped laughing, seeing Arnav standing at the doorstep.

"What so funny?" he asked.

They glanced at each other controlling their laughter.

"Come out," he said looking at Khushi and walking out.

She looked at Nani gulping down. Did he hear their talks?

"Hey, Devi Maiya... Naniji, I think our talks fell in his ear"

Nani also became nervous.

"Don't worry. I will also come with you"

"No, Naniji... let me handle him. just yesterday he regretted his rude behavior. Don't make him angry again. you stay here."

Khushi came out looking for him.

Arnav waited at the main door. Khushi walked to him.

"Look, Arnavji... I just am making Naniji laugh..."

"Shut up and look at there..." he pointed outside.

Khushi looked outside and frowned as a new Scooty bike was kept there. She looked at him bewildered.

"This is for you..."

She was about to say something,

"For breaking your cycle..."

"But it was a cycle, not a bike"

"Think this is a PENALTY for breaking your bike"

Khushi became speechless. PENALTY? Was Arnav Singh Raizada in his sense? She supposed.

To be continued...