Part 6 Intention

"By the way, what made you call me a feminist, sir?" Khushi asked.

"Didn't you feed braveness to Thara? That's why" He smiled.

"As a friend, it's my duty sir"

"Mmm... being a small girl, you are so mature"

"Sir, who said, I'm a small girl? I'm twenty-four"

"Yeah... but you are small to me"

"Do you think, maturity is about AGE?"

"No...?"

She nodded no.

"It's about experience..."

"What did you experience at this age that you are so mature?" he asked mockingly.

Khushi became silent. She rotated the pen in her hand. Arnav sensed something was wrong through her gesture.

"I hope I don't ask you anything wrong..."

Khushi nodded no.

"You called me for the dictation sir"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Take your seat"

Khushi sat in front of him, taking her notepad.

Arnav was dictating notes to Khushi. That was when he received a call from Dhadi. He attended it.

"Hello, Dhadi..."

"Arnav..."

"Haan, Dhadi..."

"Kids are upset"

"Why, dhadi? Did you say anything?" he sat straight.

"Laxmi fell and has an ankle sprain"

Arnav rolled his eyes. Laxmi was the caretaker of Shali and Shamli. She was their distant relation... a widow with no one... somehow, sister to Arnav. After Anjali and Shyam's demise, when Arnav searched for a caretaker, Subadhra brought her from Lucknow. After that, she started taking care of the kids, staying in RM.

After the Europe trip, Arnav planned to take the kids to the amusement park. Laxmi was supposed to accompany them as Arnav needed a woman to take care of Shali and Shamli. So, he always took Laxmi with them in case of an outing. Now, Laxmi was unable to come with them to the amusement park. He had no choice but to cancel the plan. He sighed. He didn't know how he was going to console the kids.

At the same time, the landline bell rang. He saw the RM number in the caller ID.

"Dhadi, Aarav is calling..."

"Is it? Turn the speaker on" She said.

Arnav turned the speaker on and kept his mobile aside. So that Dhadi would also listen to their conversation.

"Daaaaddd..." Aarav shouted.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Yeah Aarav... is everything all right?" he asked as if he didn't know Laxmi's injury.

"Dad, promise me you will take us to the amusement park tomorrow at any cause"

"Aarav, listen to me... Laxmi Didi is not well. She is injured. She could not walk. Without her, how could we take care of Shali and Shamli?"

"I will take care of my sisters," Aarav said like a big guy.

"Aarav, don't talk like a big guy, ok?"

"Won't you take us to the amusement park tomorrow?"

"We will go next Sunday..."

"Daaaaddd... so what if Laxmi Bua is not coming?"

Arnav sighed. He didn't know how to make Aarav understand. Khushi wrote something on a piece of paper and kept it in front of Arnav. He saw that and looked at Khushi with disbelief. She nodded yes.

"Aarav, give me five minutes. I will do something about it and call you back" he disconnected the call and looked at Khushi.

"Are you sure, Khushi? Will you come with us?" he asked her to confirm.

"Yes, sir... If you don't mind"

"Why would I mind? In fact, you solved my biggest problem. Thank you, Khushi" he smiled.

"Welcome sir"

"You will get two days' salary for working on Sunday" he smiled.

"What do you mean, sir?" She tilted her head slightly, shrinking her eyes.

"You are going to come with us to the Amusement park, spoiling your weekend..."

"I think you don't understand my intention. I'm not spoiling it, but going to enjoy it with kids... and for your kind information, I'm not coming to get OVER-TIME payment from you. I just thought to help you to cheer up the kids. I know how it feels to cancel the plan. Children could not understand that because they would have grown expectations about the trip. They will be disappointed if the plan gets canceled... that's why I thought to come with you. If you want to give me two days' salary for the trip, please find someone, who is ready to work for the salary... I'm not coming because I would like to come with you only for kids" she said making Arnav stunned.

Arnav smiled.

"Thank you"

"My pleasure, sir"

That was when Arnav saw his phone still ON and Dhadi was on the line. He took the phone and spoke.

"Dhadi..."

"Thanks to Khushi on my behalf"

"Done..." he smiled at Khushi.

"Kids told me about her one day when they went to AR. I thought they were exaggerating. It seems she is a nice girl"

"Mmm"

"So, your program is confirmed"

"Yes, Dhadi"

"Go ahead... I will make the arrangements"

"Ok, Dhadi. Bye," Arnav disconnected the call.

"Dhadi asked me to thank you"

Khushi smiled.

Arnav called Aarav again and said they were going to the amusement park.

"We are going to the amusement park...ok?"

"Is it, Dad?" he shouted delightedly. Arnav heard two more cheerful voices... Shali and Shamli.

"Yeah..."

"Dad, you are great... love you, Dad"

"Love you too... get ready for the trip"

"Ok, Dad... bye"

He disconnected the call.

"We have to leave early in the morning. Send your house location to me. I will pick you up" Arnav told Khushi.

"OK, sir. Ask the kids to wear skinny clothes. Then only they will be allowed in the water games" She insisted.

"Oh..."

"Yeah, you too..."

Arnav raised his brows.

"Me too?"

"Won't you get into the water?"

"I think yes"

"Then you should wear such a dress. Then only you will be allowed to get into the water"

"Are you sure?"

"Yup"

"Oh..." Arnav became thoughtful. It was hard for him to be in the skinny dress. He didn't think it would be comfortable for him, especially outside the home, that too in front of Khushi. She was his PA. She always saw him in the coat and suit. He didn't know how he was going to appear in the skinny clothes. He felt awkward but he had no choice it seemed. He could not let Aarav play alone in the water games.

Arnav saw Khushi waiting for him to complete the dictation. So, he continued dictating...!

Evening

Khushi came home and saw Naveen taking Garima's leave. She silently headed to her room. Garima followed her.

"What did you eat at lunch?"

"Nothing"

"But why? Does not your office have a canteen?"

"It does..."

"then why didn't you eat?"

"Why are you bothered whether I eat or not?"

"I felt tired this morning... that's why I didn't prepare anything"

Khushi looked at her sharply as she knew Garima was lying. Garima sighed.

"Khushi, I just wanted you to know how upset I'm"

"I too want you to know how much I hate Naveen"

"Why won't you try to understand, Khushi?"

"What do you want me to understand?"

"I ask you to accept him because Naveen loves you... his parents are so genuine. They will look after you like their own daughter. Even after my demise, you can be safe in their shadow... can't you consider that?"

"I can't..."

"Khushi..."

"Amm, please don't compel me... You don't know what happened between me and him... he tried to misbehave with me..." She shouted.

Her facial expression changed seeing Garima silent.

"I know... just now Naveen told me and apologized for his behavior," Garima said.

Khushi understood why Naveen came there.

"Ohhhh... so, you forgave him...?"

"Khushi, men are like that. They don't know how to show their love"

"According to you, forcing a girl is LOVE?"

"I don't say that..."

"Then, what's your point?"

"He did that as he was going to Bangalore for his studies... he was so upset for being away from you..."

"I can't understand...! What's love? He didn't even confess his love but forced me..."

"Khushi... happened is happened..."

"Yes, happened is happened and no one can change it"

"He is regretting, Khushi..."

"I don't care..."

"You will get a queenly life if you marry him..."

"I want a peaceful and satisfied life. I won't get it if I marry him. I will remember his cheap behavior every time I see him"

"You can change your mind if you want to change it..."

"Amma, why not you understand?"

"I can understand, Khushi..."

"Nooooo... you don't understand...! He tried to misbehave with me. I was just seventeen at that time. You and Babuji were not at home. Do you know what was my state at that time? I hit him with a flower vase. He chased me like a mad dog. I went to your room and hid under the bed shivering. He was continuously banging on the door. You have no idea how scared I was...! You have no idea how many days I struggled not getting sleep..."

"Khushi... it happened seven years ago..."

Cutting her,

"Now also you don't feel like asking me, why I didn't tell you about him...right?" She asked with disappointment.

Garima gulped down hard.

"He threatened me... he said if I tell that to anyone, he will tell everyone that he witnessed me sleeping with someone. Now also do you want me to accept him?"

"I just want to say, why can't you give him a chance? He is a changed man now"

"According to me, he is dead... I can't give a chance to the dead body."

"Enough Khushi...! You are talking too much. I'm going to fix your wedding with Naveen. That's final"

"Amma, I warn you... if you force me to marry him, I will leave the house forever and will go somewhere else you cannot track me" Khushi warned, making Garima stunned.

To be continued...