Part 20 Brutal Anger

Arnav rushed out, taking his car key and keeping the phone in his ear.

"Mr. Puzzle, please could you come here?" Aashi pleaded.

"Yeah, I'm coming... Don't be scared. Ok?"

"I don't like this man."

"Yeah, I too... I'm coming, I'm coming, don't worry," he said, disconnecting the call.

He started the car and geared it up. He punched the steering wheel in anger while driving. He didn't know what would happen. He would not have let Khushi go home if he had known Lokesh would come soon from his native.

Meanwhile,

Lokesh grinned at Khushi.

"What do you want?"

"Your signature in the contract document..."

"I don't want to sign any document. I'm not going to stay here. I will leave this place immediately after I get a house."

"Why don't you like this house all of a sudden? You liked it at first. Then what happened now?"

"I don't owe to answer you. Yet, I answer. I don't like your cheap behaviour. That's why I want to leave this place."

"But you must be here for at least three months, per the contract."

"Already Arnav talked to you about it. I will get the advance amount after three months. I have no problem."

"But, I have... What will people think if you leave the house within a few days? Won't they misunderstand me?"

"If people think so, it will not be a misunderstanding because you are a cheap man."

"However, I created such an image in your mind. Then there is no use of being good because I'm a cheap guy..."

Khushi looked at him oddly.

"You misunderstand me. I want to be a companion to the woman who is all alone. Is it wrong to be helpful to a helpless woman?"

"I don't want your help. Get out"

"But I want your help. My wife is not home, and I'm alone like you. I need your company tonight..." He tried to clutch her hand.

"Don't you dare touch me! I will kill you..." Khushi shouted, looking for something to hit him.

She found nothing. So she rushed to the kitchen and took a knife. Lokesh was jerked, but he didn't seem afraid of the knife. He daringly advanced her. Without thinking of anything, Khushi tried to stab him. But Lokesh clutched her hand and snatched the knife. He tried to hug her. Aashi, who saw that, bit his leg. Lokesh shrugged his leg, and Aashi was thrown away. She banged on the shelf's sharp edge and hurt her forehead. Her soft skin was torn and slightly bleed. She started crying brutally. Khushi became mad seeing blood on Aashi's forehead. Khushi kicked him in between his legs and rushed out. Lifting Aashi in her arms, she tried to leave the place, but Lokesh composed himself and exited the kitchen. He clutched Khushi's hair, gritting his teeth.

"How dare you! I'm not going to leave you!" He was about to pull Aashi from her hands but stopped when he heard the door opening with a thud.

Arnav entered the house hastily and got stuck to see Lokesh clutching Khushi's hair. Lokesh was disappointed to see Arnav at the unexpected time, whereas Khushi huffed in relief. Arnav saw crying Aashi's swollen forehead.

"He hit me," she complained, crying hard.

Arnav looked at Lokesh, tightening his fist. Lokesh felt a shiver seeing his ghostly face.

"Leave her..." Arnav advanced them with a dangerous gaze.

"Stay off this... Or else..." Lokesh stammered.

In a blink of an eye, Arnav took a few hasty steps and clutched his neck with his right hand with a diabolical expression. He punched his face with his right hand non-stop. Lokesh was startled by Arnav's unbearable punches. He left Khushi's hair. Arnav entwined his fingers with his and twisted them on the opposite side. His fingers were broken. Khushi, who heard the bone-breaking sound, was horrified. Lokesh shrugged his hands, screaming; those were still in Arnav's clutch. There was no trace of mercy on Arnav's face.

Arnav punched his chest, making him hit his back in the wall. Clutching his hair, Arnav banged his head on the wall. Lokesh screamed like hell. In no time, his head was broken, and blood flowed on his bloody face.

Khushi was terrified seeing Arnav not leaving him but punching in his bloody face.

"Arnav, leave him... He will die..."

"Let him die... How dare he..." He punched him violently.

"Arnav, please stop it. Don't spoil your life for this cheap idiot."

"How dare he touch you..."

It didn't seem he could be consoled.

"Arnav..." Khushi held his shoulder. Arnav's hand stopped in the air. He panted hard, fisting his fingers into a ball.

"Please leave him, Arnav. Calm yourself down..."

"Sir, please leave me... Please leave me..." Lokesh pleaded.

"Apologies to Khushi, touching her feet."

Lokesh fell on Khushi's feet who was hugging Aashi as she didn't want her to see the brutal fight. She moved a step back with fear, seeing his miserable face. Lokesh could not even get up but stayed on the floor.

Arnav took his mobile and dialled someone.

"Whom are you calling? Please don't let anyone interfere, Arnav."

"I'm calling the police. He should be behind the bars."

"Sir, sir, please don't call the police. I will give your money back. Please..." Lokesh pleaded in a low-energy tone, joining his hands.

"How dare you! What do you think of ME? Do you think I will be sitting folding my hands? Do you think Khushi has no one? I'm here for her... I will peel your skin alive..."

"Sir, I will not dare touch ANY woman from here on... I will not even touch my wife, too... please don't call the police."

"If you don't give the money tomorrow or do anything, I will kill you."

"No sir..." He slowly got up and moved out, putting in much effort.

Arnav came to Khushi, who was staring at him. He touched Aashi's head. In no time, she jumped to him and cried, hugging his neck and lying on his shoulder. Arnav caressed her back, gulping down. Khushi's eyes teared up.

"Don't be scared. I'm with you," Arnav said, caressing Aashi's back but LOOKING at Khushi.

Arnav walked to the bedroom and made Aashi sit on the bed. She hugged his leg and sniffed,

"Don't go..."

"I'm not going, leaving you here. You are coming to RM..." He said and looked at Khushi.

"Arnav..." Khushi was supposed to say something, but Arnav stopped her by showing her palm.

"I'm not ready to listen to your stupid excuses this time. You are coming with me. That's final..."

Khushi was taken aback. She could not understand what she was witnessing on Arnav's face. Was he angry, disappointed, restless, worried, and what else?

Taking a bag, he kept it on the bed.

"Take your stuff and come with me," he said, lifting Aashi on his shoulder and walking out.

Khushi stood looking at his NEW form, not understanding anything. Though she was not okay with shifting to RM, she didn't think she had any choice. More than that, she didn't know if she could stand Arnav's wrath. Akash and Payal told her about Arnav's character: He behaved gently and wouldn't flirt with any girl. But she didn't know he would be an angry man to the unbelievable extreme.

Taking the needed things, Khushi came out. She didn't see Arnav and Aashi in the living room. Locking the house, she came to Arnav's car and saw Arnav treating Aashi's wound with the medical kit. He wiped her forehead softly with the antibiotic lotion and applied an ointment.

Khushi wondered; that was the first time Aashi needed someone other than Khushi. Whenever Aashi was scared or disappointed, she needed Khushi to console her. But now, she didn't even look at Khushi. Maybe she would have understood that Khushi herself needed someone to console her.

Arnav started the car. Khushi sat, taking Aashi on her lap. Aashi turned towards Arnav's side and held his T-shirt.

"Will you come to me?" Arnav asked.

Aashi nodded yes hurriedly.

"No, Arnav... you won't be comfortable..."

"I will drive slowly." He adjusted the seat and pushed it a little backwards. Then he lifted Aashi from Khushi's clutch and made her sit on his lap.

She leaned on him, circling his neck. Arnav started the car, gulping down. Khushi looked at Arnav, whose face was filled with anger. They did not interact. Both were under pressure in different ways.

When they came to RM, Ratna slept. Lifting Aashi in his arms, Arnav brought Khushi to the guest room.

"I will arrange another room tomorrow. Stay here as of now."

"This is enough for us, Arnav. We will be fine."

"She is scared. Take care of her. You can call me anytime if needed."

Khushi nodded,

Arnav made Aashi lay down. She circled his neck tight.

"Don't go... you, too, stay here."

"This is RM. No one will enter here. You can be peaceful. Ok?"

Arnav wiped Aashi's cheek and kissed her forehead. Khushi felt something in his heart. She never thought Aashi needed a FATHER. But today, she thought she was wrong. At the same time, she thought something. Even though Aashi had a father, would he be lovable like Arnav? She didn't think so.

To be continued...