Part 27 Thought

"I will encourage you..." Khushi said.

"Forever?"

Khushi gulped down.

"Tell me Khushi"

"Mmm... Forever..." She said, and she saw Arnav's face brighten.

"Until you are on the track, I will encourage you", Khushi added.

Arnav looked at her sharply. He must have understood what she meant.

"Will you encourage me only for my sports talent?"

"What else do you need, Arnavji? We are sports personalities. We need appreciation..."

"What logic is this, Khushi? Do only sports personalities need appreciation?"

"You are a sportsman; you need appreciation. That's what I'm talking about"

"Khushi, I want to tell you something, but I don't want to tell you that now. We are getting trained for the National meet. That's our goal as of now. So, I don't want to divert your mind. I have no doubt you will also win the State medal this year. Concentrate on your career. As of now, we don't have to think about anything beyond that"

Khushi was staring at him. Though Arnav didn't want to tell her anything, she understood what he wanted to say, no matter if he was beating around the bush. Khushi guessed. She huffed in relief as Arnav didn't want to divert her.

They walked to their classroom. They saw the physical instructor coming. He smiled at them.

"Why did you call us, sir?" Khushi asked.

"When did I call you?" he questioned.

Khushi looked at Arnav, who controlled his smile. She looked at him like did you LIE?

"Oh... actually, someone said you called us, sir," Arnav said seriously.

"I didn't call you, but I want to tell you that you should start practising for the State meet. Its date was announced. It's next month's first week."

"Ok, sir..."

"You guys should cease two gold medals."

"We will try, sir," Arnav said.

"Continue your practice."

"Ok, sir"

The physical instructor left. Khushi looked at Arnav inquisitively.

"Just feel you talk to you. That's why I lied," Arnav said and walked, controlling his smile.

Khushi nodded her head from left to right and followed him. Arnav stopped and looked at her.

"Be careful with your NEW friend..." he said and entered the class, leaving frowning Khushi.

He went to his place and sat looking at her with a smile. Khushi came to Preeto and sat next to her. Preeto nagged Khushi teasingly. She rolled her eyes.

Evening

Arnav dropped Khushi at GH after they had completed their regular practice. When he entered RM, he gritted his teeth with annoyance as his father was there. He walked to his room, not giving heed to his existence.

"I know you won't give heed to me."

"Still, why are you here?"

"I wondered when you accepted to be one of the board of directors of our company. Then you made our company become a sponsor to the girl. I didn't think you agreed to the part of our board only to become the girl's sponsor."

Arnav folded his hands and stood, looking at him firmly.

"What's your point?"

"You never let a girl be close to you. Why this girl?"

"You didn't let any woman be close to you until my mom was alive. Then why did you get married to a woman for the second time?"

"What are you connecting with?"

"You feel irritated. Right? I, too, feel this when you poke your nose in my matter. From the time you stepped out of this house, you stepped out of my life, too. I don't like you interfering in my matter..."

"What does that mean? Don't I have a responsibility in your life?"

"Stop making fun, talking about responsibility." He mocked.

"Accept it or not. I'm concerned about your life."

"I| don't need your concern. I know why you are concerned. You should have planned something, making me bait."

"I would do anything for your betterment."

"How? Just like you got married for the second time?"

"You don't understand me..."

"I understood you well... Your plans will not work. So, drop them and let me live my life as I wish."

"What's your wish, Chotte? Are you going to marry the girl?"

"So what if I marry the girl?"

"What about Lavanya?"

"Lavanya is my friend"

"A friend can be a good wife too."

"I don't want a friend to be my wife. You don't need to care about me. I know how to fix my life..."

"Are you avoiding me for a mere girl?"

"What to do? Like father like son... I felt left out for a mere woman then. This is my turn, but a difference is that she is not a mere girl but a girl who changed my life."

"What do you mean? How did she change your life?"

"I was left like an orphan in this world. She made me feel like I have someone for myself."

"You have many friends who could do anything for you."

"Oh? What do you know about my friends? When I was there to do anything for you, why did you go behind another woman? Why didn't you live for me?"

"Why are you again and again talking about my wedding? I'm just forty-seven. Don't you think I need someone for myself?"

"Like the same, I, too, need someone for myself. That someone would be purely my choice. Now, stop eating my brain and leave," Arnav said with annoyance and anger.

Arvind looked at him sharply and walked.

"One minute... if you try to harm Khushi, you will see my bad side and lose me forever", he warned.

Arvind gulped down and left the place.

Taking plenty of time, Arnav stood under the shower. Dressing up, he came downstairs. He saw HP making Khushi's dinner bag ready. Taking the bag, Arnav walked off without saying anything to HP. He didn't need to say anything because HP understood Arnav himself would provide dinner to Khushi.

Arnav came to GH. Khushi was studying sincerely. He smiled, standing at the doorstep. Khushi looked at him and stood up. Arnav entered with the bag.

"I brought you dinner," he said, keeping the bag on the table.

"You...?"

"Mmm... where is Aunty?"

"She went to her friend's daughter's baby shower function."

"Oh... may I be here for a while?"

Khushi looked at him without answering. She could see a disturbance on his face.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

Arnav smiled.

"What happened, Arnavji?"

"My father came to RM."

"Did he scold you?"

"He won't dare scold me..."

"Then?"

"He always comes to irritate me."

"Why are you getting angry with him? Can't you talk to him lovingly?"

"How could I love the selfish man? If his love for me is true, would he have thought to marry another woman and leave me behind? How could he do that when I have no one other than him? I just lost my mother at that time. He got married without even asking for my acceptance. After his marriage, he hardly comes to RM to meet me. That's all he did as a father. Now tell me, how could I love such a man?" Arnav asked painfully.

Khushi felt terrible for him. She knew Arnav had no one in his house. His father was his only relative, but he was not on good terms with him. Then what would he do?

"My heart was heavy after meeting my father. I just felt like seeing you once. That's why I brought dinner," he said, smiling mildly.

Khushi didn't know what to say. He felt like seeing her because he felt his heart heavy. What did that mean? Would his heart become light if he saw her? Was that true? Was he really needing her in his life? But how could she accept him when they were poles apart? But how could she disappoint him when she knew he had no one for himself and expecting affection from her? He genuinely wanted her to achieve her gold. He held her back and stood for her. She would have been nothing if Arnav had not been there for her. What would she do in return for him? What would she do if he directly proposed to her? Could she break his heart? No...! At the same time, how could she stand his status? Could she? She could... if she improved herself. Yes, if she achieved something big, she could be equal to his level. Then, no one could taunt her. Khushi thought inwardly, looking at Arnav, who looked upset.

To be continued...