Part 37 Call from Arnav

Raveena's husband, Anil phone rang. He wondered, seeing Arnav's number flashing. Why is Arnav was calling him in the late hours? He attended the call.

*Hello Arnav...*

*How are you Jeejaji?*

*Doing good... how about you?*

*I'm fine... I would like to ask you something...*

*You can ask me anything*

*Is Di alright? She behaves weirdly these days...she doesn't mind hurting people... why does she do this?*

Anil gulped hard. What could he say? What would Arnav feel if he told the truth?

*I don't know Arnav. She is normal with us...*

*But she is not with us...* Arnav said without hesitation.

*Is she troubling Khushi?*

*A lot... I don't think she is doing this unintentionally...she makes all of us upset*

*You don't worry Arnav... I will do something about it*

*Thanks*

Arnav disconnected the call and looked at Khushi, turning his face. She was sleeping peacefully. He came in closing the French door not making noise. Switching the lights off, he leaned on the recliner to get sleep.

The next morning

Arnav woke up from his sleep and didn't find Khushi on the bed. He sat on the recliner squeezing his eyes. Taking a towel, he went to the washroom.

Taking a bath, he came wiping his hair with a towel, looking for Khushi. She was still not there. He dressed up quickly to go downstairs.

Today, he was going to go to the office. He had taken two days extra off from the office already. He has to start working. Arvind was handling AR all alone. Arnav wore the tie thinking about it. He turned around. Khushi was standing behind him.

Arnav looked at Khushi without any expression on his face whereas she was standing with a smile on her face as usual. She had something in her hand and she was hiding it behind her.

"Could you extend your hand?" She asked.

"For...?" he asked shrinking his eyes.

She showed a friendship band. This was what she was hiding...?

"To tie this..." she said looking at the band.

Arnav raised his eyebrows.

"What's this?"

"Friendship band..."

Arnav looked at her firmly like ARE WE FRIENDS?

"I know you have not accepted me as your wife yet. Let me be your friend... after all, we are roommates... and I think, more than a husband and wife, a couple should be friends... right?"

Arnav extended his hand, nodding yes smilingly. A true Friendship is a pleasant relationship people hardly get. He did not doubt that Khushi would be a good friend of his.

"I would have tied the friendship band a long ago if I had known you are fine with that..." She said while tying the band on his wrist.

"How could you have tied it a long ago...? Today is friendship day, right?" he asked frowning.

Khushi nodded NO controlling her laughter. And everyone knows what would have Arnav told.

"What the..."

*Amma told me... you always utter WHAT THE for everything... Today, I have heard it* She said.

*Oh...* he folded his hands.

"What the... what the... what the..." she rushed out singing.

"Stop..." he said strictly.

Khushi halted at the same place and turned towards him, biting her nail.

"Why did you tie this if today is not friendship day?" he asked her with folding hands

"Arnie baba... every day is friendship day... because to celebrate any friendship, one day is not enough...right?"

Arnav amazed her by nodding yes.

"You agreed..." She hopped.

Arnav as usual admired her.

"Friends...?" She extended her hand.

Arnav clutched her palm and nodded yes.

"Shall I ask you something?" she asked curiously.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Have you had girlfriends?"

Arnav looked at her shrinking his eyebrows.

"I mean... FRIEND...just friend..."

Arnav nodded NO.

"Why Arnie...?"

Arnav smiled not answering.

*Let me guess...*

She thought, flicking her fingers whereas Arnav stood all smiling.

"You didn't have a girl as your friend because all the girls should have proposed to you. Am I right?"

Arnav laughed.

"No...?" she pouted.

"I studied in a boys' school and a Men's college. I didn't have the opportunity to get girlfriends..." he said smilingly.

Without thinking, Khushi said,

"Do you know I'm the reason you didn't get that opportunity?" she winked at him.

"You...? How...?" Arnav asked confusingly.

"I sincerely prayed every day that my husband should never get girlfriends..." she said controlling her laughter but Arnav couldn't. He laughed out louder.

Hearing his laughing sound, Ratna rushed to their room. She saw Khushi standing, looking at Arnav mesmerizingly.

Arnav looked at Ratna and came to composure. Ratna touched Khushi's shoulder to get her down to the earth.

"How wonder...! Chotte is laughing...!"

Arnav was uncomfortable. Yes, he laughed a lot that day.

"Shall I bring you coffee?" Khushi wanted to move out of the place.

Arnav nodded yes.

She left the place... no... she pretended like leaving. She stood near the doorstep, hiding to hear their talks. As he didn't expect, Ratna hugged Arnav.

"I was longing to hear this laughter from you that I used to hear every day, Chotte..." she spilled happy tears.

Arnav wiped her tears.

*Stop crying...*

*She made you laugh...and made me spill happy tears...*

Arnav nodded yes.

*Didn't I say you will be happy with Khushi?*

Arnav gulped hard. Of course, he was happy with her. But...what about Khushi? Was she happy with him? Was not he testing her patience a lot? She smiled always... didn't mean she was happy because the girl always wanted her husband's love and care. Did she get it from him?

How cutely she tied the friendship band... was she his friend? Could she be...? Or...Could HE be...? His mind said clear-cut NO because Khushi had already started creating an expectation in his mind. He didn't like to consider her as his friend.

Khushi came downstairs and saw Raveenas husband Anil Kumar sitting in the living room with others. Only she and Arnav were missing. Ratna would have come to call them downstairs. She thought. She was right. She saw Ratna and Arnav coming down.

*Namaste Jeejaji* Khushi greeted him.

Anil nodded yes.

*How are you Khushi?*

*I'm good...*

She went to the kitchen to bring coffee for Arnav.

*Hello Arnav...* Anil said.

*Hello Jeejaji...*

*I came to take my wife and daughters back home*

Arnav nodded yes and Anil smiled at him contently. Anil looked at Raveena who was spitting fire at him.

*Go and pack your stuff...* Anil said.

He saw a relaxation on people's faces. He looked at Raveena who was sitting with a firm expression.

*I said something to you Ravi...* Anil said.

Raveena stood from the couch and went to the guestroom to pack her things fuming.

*I'm sorry for her behavior towards you guys...* Anil apologized.

All of them looked at each other. How did Anil know about her wrong behavior? Arnav was silent. Khushi handed him a coffee cup. Taking it from her hand Arnav drank it.

They saw Raveena coming with bags. Anil stood.

*We are leaving...* he said.

All of them also stood and nodded ok. Taking bags from Raveena's hand, Anil walked out. She and her daughters followed him. Anil smiled at Arnav turning his face.

Arnav went back to his room smirking. Khushi widened her eyes, seeing his smirking face. She ran behind him. She entered the room and came in front of Arnav panting.

*Because of you Jeejaji took her home?*

Arnav shrugged his shoulders without answering.

*You know... you are a good friend...* She said excitedly.

*Why?* Arnav asked raising his eyebrows.

He might not have liked her addressing him as FRIEND. Didn't know what he should do to get a GOOD HUSBAND title.

*Because ....* she stopped.

*Because?*

*Just like that...*

Taking the coat, he was about to leave, but Khushi stopped him.

*Shall I do something to you as a friend?*

Arnav frowned. What would she do as a FRIEND?

*I hope you won't get annoyed...*

*Annoyed? It depends on what you do...* he pressed his lips together.

*Will you be annoyed... if I spoil your sleep?*

Arnav dumbfounded. SPOILING SLEEP? What did she do to spoil his sleep? His imagination got wings and fled far away... of course, it fled towards something dirty...

*Suspense....*

She rushed out giggling.

*I don't care even if you get annoyed...* She left the room, leaving Arnav in confusion at the same time, with expectation. What is she going to do?

To be continued...