Part 6 Decision

"I already have a close-to-heart person... My wife..." Arnav said, shocking Khushi.

She sat up, jerking in shock, hearing that.

"Whaaat? Are you married?"

"Mmm..." he said plainly.

Her eyes teared up. Arnav heard her whimper and looked at her, turning his face. He sat up on the couch, seeing her crying.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, not to show his concern.

She looked at him, trying to control her whimper. Suddenly, she thought about something. Her facial expression changed. She wiped her cheek and said,

"You are lying"

"What?" his expression was still the same.

"You are not married..."

He was stuck.

"If you are married, you would have denied the hotel guy when he thought I was your wife"

"I already told you the reason why I didn't do it"

"No... It's not true. When you saved me from the goons, you pretended to kiss me. You would not have done that if you were married."

"I just pretended... only to divert them. And my wife understands me. She will trust me if I tell her the truth"

She could not hold her tears.

"If it is so, why did you not bring your wife to Nainital?" she asked, sobbing.

"She is working in a bank. Auditing is going on at her bank. She is busy. That's why she could not accompany me." He said.

He felt bad after seeing her crying, but had no choice.

"Please, stop crying..."

"I... I like you so much... I'm sure I will be happy with you"

"Don't you think this is utterly stupid?"

"Why? Why shouldn't I love you?"

"We just met yesterday. What do you know about me that you are ready to spend your life with me?"

"You are a genuine person. Saved me from the goons..."

Cutting her off,

"I respect women... That's why I saved you. I would have done the same if anyone had been in your place." Was the cold reply.

"That's what made me respect you because no one is like you. That's what makes me like you."

"This is all common in this age. Our hearts would like to lean on anyone who attracts us."

She stared at him, said nothing.

"What are you looking at? Won't you say anything?"

"It's not just an attraction... You will understand it only if you give me a chance to marry you"

"Listen, you are a young girl. You should get a good future"

"My future will be good if you are with me"

"I don't know how you can think so silly"

"Silly? You can understand my stand only if you stand in my shoes"

"What stands?"

"I can tell you about it only if you agree to marry me"

"I don't need to know it", Arnav said.

"Why don't you like me?"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"I didn't come to Nainital for the Bride seeing ceremony."

"You came for a get-together. I know that"

"Tell me, how will your parents feel if they get to know you fell in love with a guy in just two days?"

"They will feel happy because my parents fell in love with each other within an hour"

"Whaaat?"

"Their marriage is an arranged one. They just met each other and said yes within an hour. I'm much better than them"

Arnav looked at her as if she were a ghost.

"There is nothing to look at me like that. Almost all arranged marriages happen in a similar manner. It's not a big deal in India. Why are you behaving like it's new to you?"

"Listen... my friends arranged for a family get-together. I came here to attend it. My friend booked this room. He stayed here with his wife. That's why the hotel guy didn't raise questions when he saw you with me. Believe it or not, I'm married. Don't get distracted by unwanted ideas. Ok?"

Khushi thought for a while and got up. She started collecting her things.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm leaving", she said rigidly.

"At this hour?"

"Mmmm... I don't want to be with you even for a minute if you are married. It's not right to be with a person who is another person's husband. Even though I don't believe you are married, I don't want to be here." She took her bag.

"Listen, I will send you safely tomorrow morning safely"

"That's ok... Thank you for everything. I will never forget what you have done for me. If we have a chance to meet again, you will get to know my love for you is not just an attraction"

"Just now you said, you don't want to think about me?"

"I said, 'I don't want to be with you.' I can't help but think of you because I like you so much. If your wife is TRUE, tell her she is the luckiest person in the world." She gulped hard, making him swallow hard.

After wearing her mask, she walked out with her bag. Arnav rolled his eyes, sighing, and followed her.

When Khushi was supposed to reach the reception, she saw two Omni vans stopping in front of the hotel, and the goons got out. She hid behind a wall, holding her breath. Arnav, who came following her, also stood beside her and looked at her.

They woke up the hotel guy.

"Hey, wake up..." They kicked him.

He woke up, jolting, and looked at them, perplexed.

"What do you want, sir?" he asked fearfully, seeing buffalo-like men.

"Is there a girl called Khushi staying here?" One of them asked.

Arnav looked at Khushi, dumbfounded. He could not see her facial expression because she wore a mask.

"No, sir, there is no one in the name."

"She looks fair and thin"

"No, sir, we give rooms only for couples"

The goons looked at each other.

"What will we do now? What will we answer our Boss?"

"I think she left Nainital"

"No way... At Nandadevi Temple, I saw the man who fought with us yesterday and saved Khushi. A girl was with him, and her features looked like Khushi's. I swear it was her..."

"Before she leaves Nainital, we should find her. Or else, we could never find her"

"Yes, let's go to the bus terminus and railway station. She must be there"

They left the hotel and went in two directions. Arnav quickly held her hand and pulled her into the room.

"Who are they? Why are they searching for you? They knew your name, too. It didn't seem simple. Something beyond our knowledge is there, I suppose," Arnav guessed.

Khushi stood silent.

"Don't be scared. I will take you to Delhi. Ok?"

"It's ok... I will go"

"How will you go? They are searching for you at the bus terminus and the railway stations. You can't escape from them. If they catch you, they will SELL you. It seems someone is behind them. Please don't risk it and go to your parents. Now, go to sleep"

Khushi removed her mask and lay on the bed.

The next morning

Arnav woke her up. Khushi sat on the bed sleepily.

"Get Ready... we have to leave"

Without saying anything, she got ready. The cab was waiting for them. The cab headed to Kaladhungi, an hour's ride. They got out of the cab and waited for a bus. Arnav saw Khushi silent. He didn't ask her anything because he knew why she was fed up. He didn't want to converse with her. She might make him emotional. So, he stood looking for a bus. When he looked at her suddenly, he saw her hiding something. He frowned.

"What's that?" he asked.

She nodded no, hurriedly, gulping down.

"I saw you hiding something," he said, pulling her hand and dropping his jaw as if it were a mobile phone.

To be continued...