Part 8 Who is a real friend?

"Penalty for breaking my cycle?" Khushi murmured.

Arnav nodded yes.

"I'm happy because you are regretting breaking my cycle but I don't want this"

Arnav looked at her unbelievably.

"But why?"

"I can't take it because this is not my cycle..."

Arnav was about to say something, she stopped him showing her palm.

"I would have accepted it if it had been a cycle."

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"What's the harm if you take it?"

"My purse will get harmed..."

"What?" he frowned.

"Don't I need to fill petrol to ride this bike? I can't ride it with water. It's not up to my capacity. So, no thanks..."

Arnav got stuck.

"Don't you have anyone?"

She smiled at him not answering.

"Get your mother or father's permission and then take. They may like it"

"They won't like it because they are no more"

"I... I'm sorry..."

"That's ok..."

"Hey, is petrol the only problem?"

"Frankly speaking, I can't accept it from someone who broke my cycle"

Arnav was annoyed.

"Don't think I'm complaining... My heart is not ready to accept it"

She went to Nani's room again. She saw Nani sitting sadly.

"Naniji... are you alright?"

"Why didn't you tell me that you have no one for yourself? Don't you feel sharing with me about your family?"

Khushi was silent. It seemed Nani listened to their talks. What could she share with her about her family? Was my sister's husband trying to have me?

"I should have asked you about your family at least. I'm sorry I missed asking you that"

"That's ok Naniji..."

"Tell me now, don't you have anyone?"

"I have... I have a sister and niece"

"Oh... her husband?"

"He is in a foreign country... coming next month"

"Oh... then you will become busy with your jeejaji and sister. You won't be coming here then..." Nani smiled.

"I will come here more often than ever before, Naniji"

Nani frowned.

"Why Khushi bitiya? Oh... you are thinking to give them space to be as a family. Right?"

"No, Naniji... It's because I want them to be a family... forever" Khushi sounded low.

"What do you mean, Khushi?"

Khushi cried closing her face.

"Khushi... Khushi why are you crying, beta? You can tell me if you think I'm a loyal person"

Khushi wiped her tears.

"He... he is trying to touch me, Naniji"

There was an extreme level of shock on Nani's face. Arnav who heard that from our side also shocked. He fisted his fingers.

"Are you sure?"

"Haan, Naniji... when he came to India last time, I saw an utter change in his behavior. I'm scared like hell, Naniji. I have no one other than my sister and her daughter. I wanted to be with them always but nowadays, I'm avoiding staying at home because I don't want to be at home when he comes. Before that, I want to find a job and should shift to a hostel"

"Will your sister agree to it?"

"No... she will never."

"Then what are you going to do? Are you going to tell her the truth about her husband?"

"No, Naniji. Not at all. I don't want her to know the truth because she will die for sure. I don't know what to do but I don't want to be at home when he is there"

"Do one thing. Tell your sister that you got a job. Until you get a job, just come and stay here"

"But, Naniji...."

"Don't hesitate to accept my suggestion Khushi. this is a sensitive matter. You should handle this carefully because this is about your sister's life"

"That's what makes me worried Naniji. I can't see my sister in tears. I want her to be happy"

"This house's door will always be open for you. You can come here anytime. I will be there for you. Ok?"

"Naniji... can I get a job here?"

"Job? What job?"

"Caretaker... I will take care of you. I will be with you"

Nani smiled.

"Ok... but not now. Be with your sister until that man comes here. When he comes to India, tell them you got a job and come here"

Khushi nodded ok.

"But, Khushi, do you think still, he would be the same?"

Khushi became thoughtful.

"Because people change every day. In the short time, anything would have happened in their life that changes them."

"I don't know Naniji"

"Just observe him when he comes back. Don't hurry because it may hurt your sister"

Khushi sighed.

"I just telling you to the other side of the issue but be strong in your decision. You have a house and Nani too"

"Thank you Naniji. Thank you so much. Now, I can even slap my Jeejaji hard" she said wrathfully.

"Relax Khushi"

"Do you know how deeply my sister loves him? I don't know why the hell men are so cheap. Why don't they think of their partner who is dying for them?" she wiped her tears.

"I too don't know what to say Khushi bitiya. Maximum of good relationship get ruined only because of such a cheap act. But, please don't stress yourself. Don't cry, beta. Crying can change nothing. Just think and act"

Khushi wiped her face and smiled.

"By the way, how did you manage my hospital bill, if you are not interested to get the petrol money from your sister?"

"He bought me a chain last time when he came to India. I felt loath to wear the chain. So, I made my sister believe that I lost the chain. I thought to throw it somewhere but I almost forgot about it. when you were admitted to the hospital, I remembered the chain and sold it out. I don't even want to touch the thing those are his"

"I can understand"

"Such a creep he is"

"Just leave the topic and forget him... Can we have tea?"

Khushi nodded ok.

Arnav who heard everything from outside left the place immediately. He didn't want Khushi to know that he got to know about her and the torture she was facing from her Jeejaji. She might feel low. He didn't want to make her feel so. He felt heaviness in his heart, knowing about the cruelty her Jeejaji was given her. he wanted to smack him down hard... he didn't know why. He got angry with the man whom he didn't even meet ever before.

Arnav walked to his room and stopped hearing a calling bell sound. He opened the door and saw Aman standing.

"Aman...?"

"Yeah... you are not even inviting me to your home. That's why I myself came"

Arnav nodded his head left to right and closed the door.

"We thought to discuss my new Movie. Do you remember?" Aman asked, sitting on the couch.

"I'm busy with NK's project. Don't you know that?"

"It doesn't mean you should not work with me"

"This is his first movie. The movie created a lot of expectations in people's minds. So I'm working hard on it"

"Yeah... NK said he is going to finish it soon. That's why I came to get your dates"

"NK movie's rerecording finishes in a week. After that, we will start yours"

"That's great..."

Aman's facial expression changed with amusement when he saw Khushi coming with tea cups. A girl at Arnav's place? He had come to RM many times and he knew there was no job for a girl in RM. Who was she? She didn't look like a servant. Was she Arnav's relative? How did Arnav allow this girl in this house? Won't he always say it was irritancy to keep any girl near him? Then how she was here?

Arnav also saw her and he knew she was taking tea to Nani.

"Khushi..." Arnav called her.

She stopped and looked at him.

"Could you bring us tea?"

She nodded yes and extended it to him.

"No... you are taking it to Nani. Give it to her. We will wait"

"That's ok... I will prepare for Nani."

She served it to Aman and again went to the kitchen.

"ASR, who is she?" Aman asked in a low tone but Khushi heard it.

"She is my friend," Said Arnav surprised Khushi more than Aman.

FRIEND? In which sense? They had never been in a good term. They got familiar with each other only by fighting. Then how could she be his friend? Khushi thought but she felt good because she knew how hard it has been addressed by Arnav Singh Raizada as his friend. She smiled.

"Friend? In which sense?" Aman asked the same question that was raised in Khushi's mind.

"Friend means friend... what else?"

"I mean, college friend or school friend?"

"She is Nani's friend and became mine too"

"Yours too?" Aman asked contently.

Arnav rolled his eyes. Aman sipped the tea and he liked it.

"Ok, ASR... we will meet next week. Call me if any changes in your dates"

"Sure. But how many days do you need to complete the movie?"

"We will complete the songs first. It depends on you. You are the one who should compose the tunes"

"I have already composed many tunes. You can use it if it suits your movie's situation"

"Ok... then give me the CDs. I will listen to them as I'm free now"

"Ok, wait..." Arnav went to his room to bring the CD.

Aman saw Khushi going to Nani's room.

"Hey, you..." he called her.

She stopped and smiled at him.

"Your name is Khushi, right?"

She nodded yes.

"Do you know who am I?"

"Aman Mathur, the movie director"

"You know me yet, didn't feel to talk to me?"

"If I would have seen you somewhere else, I had gotten your autograph"

"Why not here?"

"You are here for Arnavji's dates. I should not cross my limits"

"Now, I understand how did you reach into ASR's friend's list"

Khushi became silent.

"I have to give tea to Naniji"

"Ok... give me your phone number"

"Why?"

"You are ASR's friend after all..."

"So?"

"You must be a unique person"

"You should decide it only with your own experience instead of going with other's perspective"

"In my experience, I have never seen ASR's friend before"

"Oh..."

"If you are not interested, you don't have to give your number"

Khushi told her number and Aman saved it.

"Thank you"

"Welcome"

Aman left RM after taking the CD from Arnav. Arnav sat in the living room. He saw Khushi come out of Nani's room getting ready to go home. She saw him yet, but she didn't react. She stopped when Arnav called her.

"Khushi"

She looked at him.

"Thanks for the tea"

She nodded ok and stood hesitating.

"Do you want to say something?"

She nodded yes.

"Tell me"

"You addressed me as your friend but we never spoke nicely nor did we have good terms relationship"

"A good friendship is not about talking nicely or having non-stop conversation. A person who guides me when I do mistakes will be considered my friend"

Khushi suffocated to stand the situation and also suffocated to stand his stance. She slightly nodded her hand and walked. When she turned towards him before leaving RM, Arnav smiled at her slightly making her delighted.

To be continued...