Part 22 Confession

"End your hide and seek, Khushi aka Rejoice" he smiled, making her dumbfounded.

"I just..."

"Will you still say you are not Rejoice?"

Khushi was silent. She could not say so. She already said she heard Dev and Shyam's phone talks. There was no use of hiding the truth from him anymore.

"You look tense... Sit and compose yourself" he said looking at the table that was being arranged with a few chairs.

"That's ok, sir... you are in a hurry..." She said in a low tone.

Cutting her,

"I said sit"

Khushi sat silently. Arnav took a seat opposite her. That made Khushi confused. Was not he in a hurry to go to the temple festival? She thought about it, looking down. Arnav forwarded a glass of water to Khushi with a smile.

"Drink it"

She took it and sipped it.

"I checked your mail right away and took action. Shyam is already arrested. Now, Dev is also. I took actions coolly" He intentionally used the word COOLLY.

Coolly? If he took action coolly, he should have had enough time. Then, why didn't he reply to her mail?

"I didn't reply to your mail... To bring you here..." he answered her unasked question.

Khushi was perplexed. Did he intentionally not reply to her mail only to bring her there?

"I know you will come here to stop me from going to the temple festival... I wanted to end the hide-and-seek that you are playing in the name of Rejoice. That's why I didn't reply"

Khushi was silent. She didn't know how he got to know she was Rejoice. She didn't know whether she could ask him about it. She didn't know why he was so interested in bringing her there.

"I know you are Rejoice. I found it with my friend's help, a Cybercrime inspector." He smiled

No doubt Khushi was shocked. She should not have underestimated him. After all, he was Arnav Singh Raizada... the man who had POWER in his hand...! If he had found the truth, why didn't he tell her about it? No... he asked her...! It was she, who didn't accept it...!

"Sir... actually... I..."

Cutting her,

"Scared about Dev Sinha... Right?"

She was silent.

"You don't have to be scared about him"

"You will be here only until you get transferred but we are not like that. This is our place. So is Dev Sinhga's... He will not let us live peacefully. Our family will face problems... That's why I didn't reveal my identity"

"Yet, you helped me by sending emails..."

"I wanted to... because your intentions are genuine. I understood that..."

"Mmm... You don't have to fear of Dev Sinha. He can do nothing. Trust me"

"I hide my identity not because I don't trust you... it just happened, sir"

"When...? The very next day of our dark street meeting?" he asked.

She was silent as she didn't know whether he was casual or serious.

"You were scared about Dev Sinha. If it is so, why did you come here, without caring about anything?"

"it's because it's a matter of your life, sir. How could I be carefree when my life is at stack? We must save your life, giving ours"

"How many people are ready to give their life for me? Do you have the list?" Arnav asked teasingly.

Khushi was stuck not knowing what to answer. Composing herself, she said,

"My friends will surely do that sir. They like you so much"

"How do you think, Akash and Payal will give their life when they love each other? Is not their life important for them?" he chuckled.

Khushi looked at him stunned. How did Arnav know about Akash and Payal's love affair? Khushi was puzzled. Using the gap, Arnav dialed his father and disconnected the call on the first ring. Then, he kept his mobile on the table.

As he expected, he received a call from his father the very next second. Arnav's phone rang. He looked at the phone screen and said,

"My father is calling... One minute..." He swiped the green indicator and turned the speaker ON, making Khushi confused. Why did he speak to his father OPENLY?

"Hi Dad..." he started speaking, looking at Khushi.

"Chotte, did you call me?" Arvind asked.

"No Dad..."

"Nooo?" he was disappointed.

"I think I would have dialed your number mistakenly"

"Maybe..."

"Ok, Dad, I'm a bit busy..."

"Wait wait... Give me two minutes... Just two minutes..."

"Tell me Dad"

"Seeing your missed call, I thought you would talk to me about the same matter you talked to your mother last night"

Arnav smiled. That was what he expected.

"I so want to talk to you about it, but now, I'm a bit busy. So, I thought to call you in the evening"

"You don't even have time to talk to your parents... Then how did you get time to fall in LOVE?" Arvind asked teasingly. Arnav chuckled.

Khushi looked at him jerking as Arnav expected. LOVE? She felt a tug in her heart. After all, he was her ONLY CRUSH...!

"Did mom tell you?"

"Yes, I could not believe you had fallen in love. Is that true?" he asked unbelievably.

"Dad, I told Mom that I'm in love with a girl... Still, why do you doubt?"

"Your mother was in full swing to search for a bride for you. I thought you lied to her to stop her from torturing you" he laughed.

"No Dad, I'm really in love..."

Khushi was confused. Who the girl could be? As his parents say, he should have fallen in love recently. Might the girl belong to her district? Was there any chance for it? But, who could make the great Arnav Singh Raizada fall in love? The much she knew no one in her district was up to Arnav's standard. Khushi brought all the HIGH class girls of her district to her mind but how did Arnav know them? She could not get anything no matter how hard she squeezed her brain.

She didn't understand one thing. Why Arnav was talking to his parents about his love issue by turning her speaker ON? Did he want her help to confess his love to the girl? Maybe, he was a Collector, after all. He might hesitate to do that in person. That was why he was speaking about it in front of her, turning on the speaker. So, that, she would understand that without explanation.

"How did the miracle happen? How did you get time for a girl?" Arvind asked.

"We will find time if it is worth it," Arnav said smiling, not taking his eyes from Khushi, Arnav was, looking at Khushi who was fiddling with her shawl.

"Oh... It seems she made you flat..."

"Undoubtedly..."

"Then why haven't you confessed yet? Don't delay Chotte..."

"I'm also thinking of doing that only, Dad..."

"All the best... Do it..."

"Sure Dad... I will talk to you later..."

"Wait, wait... What's her name?"

Arnav smiled, looking at Khushi. Closing the phone end, he said,

"Khushi..."

Khushi looked at him widening her eyes.

"Please give me the water," he said controlling his laughter.

He saw Khushi huffing. She passed the water hurriedly. Sipping it,

"Will tell you after she accepts my proposal" said Arnav.

"Why won't she accept you Chotte?"

"How do I know what she likes?"

Arnav was about to answer, but he heard,

"What harm if you tell us her name?" Ratna asked.

"Mom... are you also there?"

"Then what? How would not I be here when the interesting topic is flashing? Ok, don't change the topic. Tell us her name"

"KHUSHI..." Arnav said looking at Khushi, who looked at him and asked,

"Haan?" as she thought he again asked her something.

"Her name is KHUSHI," Arnav said looking at her.

Khushi's eyes popped up with extreme level of shock.

"Nice name... may god bless her to be your Khushi (happiness)"

Khushi looked down nervously. She didn't know whether he was talking seriously or kidding because she could not believe he was in love with HER.

"By the way, why did you tell me that she is your EYE-OPENER?"

Khushi's heart thudded like a horse. Eye-opener and she? She fisted her fingers which were shivering.

"Mom, I said I'm busy now... will call you tonight. We will talk about it then..."

"Ok..." Ratna sighed.

"Bye..." Arnav disconnected the call.

He saw Khushi bowing down and her hands were trembling. He smiled.

"Khushiiii..." he called softly.

She looked at him, raising her eyelashes slowly.

"Relax... why you are scared?" he smiled.

She gulped down hard.

"I... I... have ... to go...!" she stammered.

Arnav smiled, seeing her shivering.

"Ok..." he said.

Khushi stood up and was supposed to run,

"I spoke to my parents about the girl I love and you know she is none other than YOU..."

She didn't look at him.

"I hope I will get a nice reply from you..."

She looked at him gulping down.

"I like you... I really do..."

She clutched her shawl tight to control her shiver.

"Take your time... to compose yourself..." he smiled.

She rushed out. Arnav stood all smiling. He knew she was nervous, scared, shocked, whatnot. She was a nice girl. She didn't expect him to be in love with her. That was what made her collapse. Though he had no second thought in her matter he wanted to see what she would do.

He also had plan B to get her. If she didn't accept him, or, hesitated to accept him, he would go to Mr. Shashi Gupta with his parents to ask her hand for the wedding. He was more confident about Shashi Gupta than Khushi Gupta. He knew Shashi would not deny him for any cause but he wanted Khushi to accept him. He wanted her to LOVE him. He knew she liked him but LOVE was different. Completely different..!

To be continued...