Part 24 First Convo

Khushi was looking at Alan's card thunderstruck. I could see the nervousness in Khushi's face. I knew it was because I talked to Alan about her CULINARY COURSE interest. She would have been scared about how I got to know about her interest. She would have been happy like hell for the participation in the program with Alan if I hadn't talked about it. Yet, I talked about it because it was necessary. I didn't want to drag the issue. I was not sure whether Khushi would have talked to me about it or not because she might have hesitated to open it up with me as it was about going to London. I saw a shocked expression on her face when I told Alan about her Culinary course interest. That confirmed to me that she would not have told me about it... definitely not right away. So, I took a lead. Now, she had no choice other than to talk to me about it. I believed I could manage the issue in my OWN WAY.

Biding bye to Alan Smith and Abimanyu, we left the place. I knew Khushi was stealing my glance. Though my eyes were on the road I could sense it. I guessed she wanted to talk to me. I looked at her and smiled.

"How...how do you know I want to do the culinary course in his college?" She asked me, trying not to show her fear.

"Do you really want to do a Culinary course?" I asked as if I was surprised because I not only wanted to make Khushi relaxed but also didn't want Preeto to get caught. I could not make Preeto embarrassed. I wanted to be thankful to her. After all, she was the one who spread light in my DARKNESS.

Khushi became confused.

"I know you are Alan Smith's fan and have huge respect for him. So, I said that to make him delighted. That's all. I don't know, you want to do a Culinary course" I lied.

Khushi became more nervous. She understood that she herself blabbered to me about her desire to join the Culinary college. I smiled inwardly and went for her help.

"If you want to do a Culinary course, you can do it. Apply for it" I said coolly.

Khushi looked at me unbelievably.

Yes, I said so. I said that wholeheartedly. Not that I was fine with getting separated from her for a few years but I wanted her to return back to me no matter where she would go. There was a famous saying, if you love the bird, let it fly. If the bird loved you, it would return back to you. That was what I wanted to do in Khushi's matter. I didn't want to give her a chance to think of running away from me. If I gave her what she wanted, why would she think of running away from me?

"Yeah, if you like it, you should do that..." I added.

"My father will not allow me to do that," She said hesitatingly.

"Why?"

"The cooking profession is not up to Princess's standard. That's why"

"Khushi, you should decide one thing..."

"Whaa..t?"

"Do you want to be a Princess, or, do you want to be a queen of your HUSBAND'S empire?"

"Husband's Empire?" she asked.

"My HEART" I replied.

She got stuck. I intentionally said that because I didn't want our conversation to be PLAIN. I didn't want to miss a chance to make her understand my stand. Seriously, I wanted her to be a Queen in my HEART. There was nothing to hide it. But, Khushi suffocated to handle such a statement from me all of a sudden.

"Relax... You like cooking. This is your life. Choose your path. We don't know whether we will take birth again or not. Live your life to the fullest as you want. If you want to do it, you have to sacrifice your Princess tag. If you want to be a Princess..."

Cutting me,

"No... I don't want to be a Princess" She said sternly.

"Simple... do it then..."

"But, Arnav, this decision of me will put you on fire. You will have to face my father's wrath. It will affect your business" She said nervously.

"Why do you think I will face your father's wrath? After all, he is your father. He will understand what cooking means to you if I get a chance to talk to him"

"No, Arnav. He won't understand you... he will not be allowed to understand you" She gulped down.

"What do you mean?" I asked as if I didn't get her point.

Khushi was hesitating.

"I can help you only if you open up, Khushi. Don't you trust me?" I touched the TRUST stuff confidently even though I didn't expect her to say YES. But, to my surprise, Khushi nodded yes and I was not on the earth. Khushi trusted me damn it. Didn't it mean a lot to me?

"Mrs. Gupta will not let my father think correctly." She said overdrawing her saree pattern.

"Why? After all, she is your mother"

"No... she is not my mother," Khushi said looking outside.

"Means?"

"She is my stepmother"

"Is it...? But Akash dearly calls her Mom..."

"He is submissive..."

"Are not you?"

"Not to everyone... especially the one who is arrogant"

"Is she?"

"Like hell... She locks my father and brother emotionally and gets any issue under her control. She acts so well that no one could doubt her acting. Just because I didn't call her Mom, she is targeting me and my happiness... I was restricted from doing anything I liked. I was forced to do what I don't like"

"Just like you were forced to marry me?"

Khushi was silent but I could not leave it.

"This is why she made you marry me?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Using your company's downfall in her favor, she played her game," Khushi said.

"It's not true. Our company didn't face a downfall. Someone intentionally pulled it down," I said.

"What do you mean, Arnav?"

"Yeah, from when our company's shares dropped in the stock market, I was trying to figure out the reason. Recently, I found it out"

"What did you find out?"

"A group of people bought our company shares and sold it out at the cheapest rate. It happened AT A TIME. I don't think it was a coincidence. I doubt it must have happened purposely"

"Is it even possible?"

"Anything is possible if you have money and a person who is skilled in the stock market," I smiled.

"But how? It's your company. Then how others could get its control?"

"Our company is a Private Limited company. Fifty-one percent of shares would be with the owner of the company and the remaining forty-nine percent would be with the shareholders. Usually, that forty-nine percent would be with many people. When it comes to the SINGLE person's hand, the company slips from the owner's hand"

"What's the worth of the shares?"

"Nearly a hundred crores"

Khushi became thoughtful. I knew what she thought. She was right. It was Mrs. Mithra Gupta who intentionally made our share rate low, buying all forty-nine percent of shares through her men. So that, our company would eventually face lose. Then, she could give her hand in the pretext of helping us. My father who was expecting a helping hand would definitely accept not only her help but also would accept all her demands. Then she could coolly keep Khushi under her control even after her marriage, putting some conditions.

"Tell me, now... do you want to do a Culinary course in Alan's college?" I came to the point again.

"It's my ambition," She said in a low tone.

"Is it? Why didn't you tell me about it?" I asked.

Khushi was silent.

"Of course, we have not started sharing our interests yet..." I said.

I already knew why Khushi didn't tell me that before. it was because she didn't trust me. That was why she didn't tell me anything about her ambition. I was happy, at least now, she opened it up to me.

"When will the course start?"

"In three months"

"That's nice... we have enough time to apply for a visa," I said.

Khushi looked at me unbelievably.

"Don't you have any problem if I do a Culinary course?"

"What problem do I have?"

"Won't you feel low to announce your wife is a COOK?"

"Certainly not...! You are not a thief but a cook Khushi. What's there to feel low? Every wife is indeed a cook. In fact, I'm damn happy you know?"

"Why?" She asked frowning.

"Basically, I'm a foodie... then why would I have a problem if my wife became an expert in cooking? I will eat her handmade food for my WHOLE LIFE. It's a blessing to have a good cook as a wife you know..." I HINTED what I wanted.

"Actually, I denied cooking biriyani for you it's because Dolly would have sent a message to Mrs. Gupta if I had done that and would have created a big scene. That's why I denied"

I didn't interfere with her and waited for her to finish.

"Somewhat I guessed you have a reason to deny me."

Khushi nodded folding her lip.

"By the way, you will cook for me. Will you? Or, will you say, I have no time to cook for you, come to my restaurant if you want to eat anything?" I teased her.

She nodded NO, smiling.

"Thank God..." I chuckled.

Khushi looked at me as if I was a creature from another planet. I knew the reason. She would not have expected me to be so cool about her ambition. I could see a relaxation on her face. I felt happy because, finally I made it...!

To be continued...