Part 7 Intro

Arnav was stunned to see the girl with his mother. Was she? Was this girl Payal's friend? He was surprised. He looked at Aashi and smiled. She was the mother of this cute girl. No wonder this girl was smart. Like mother, like daughter. He smiled inwardly.

At the same time, her overcautiousness alerted him. The way she brought up her daughter was an example. Something horrible should have happened in her life. That must have hurt her heart deeply. That was why she was cautious about her daughter's matter. Otherwise, she would not have taught her big things at this young age. Arnav analysed quickly.

"Chotte..." Ratna's voice broke Arnav's thoughts.

"She is Khushi, Payal's friend..."

"Hi..." Arnav smiled.

"Khushi beta, he is my son Arnav Singh Raizada"

"Hi," Khushi smiled.

"And, she is..." Ratna smiled at Aashi.

"Yeah, she is Ms. SMILE" Arnav smiled.

Aashi looked at Khushi, raising her brows and folding her lips cutely.

"She explained the meaning of her name," Arnav said.

Aashi ran to Khushi and hugged her legs smilingly. Arnav thought something and asked,

"Ms. Smile, do you like the puzzle games?"

She looked at Khushi, lifting her head.

"Ohhh... I have not given it to her yet," Ratna said hurriedly.

"Hari Prakash..."

"Jee Maaji?" HP came from the kitchen.

"There is a paper bag in my room cupboard. bring it"

"Jee..." HP went to her room.

"Take your seat..." Arnav asked Khushi.

"Thank you, Mr Raizada..."

"Hey, come on, we both are Payal's friends. So, no formalities. You can call me Arnav. Just think I'm your friend."

Before Khushi said anything,

"My Mom doesn't accept anyone's friendship," Aashi said.

Arnav looked at Khushi, raising his brows.

"You refused to accept anyone as your friend in London, didn't you?" Aashi asked.

"Yeah, I refused their friendship because they were unknown people to me, but Arnav is Payal's friend..." She left the sentence without completing it.

"Are you going to accept his friendship?" Aashi asked.

Khushi smiled, not answering. Yes, Khushi accepted his friendship for only one reason. Akash told her that he was a gem of a person. Except for Arnav Payal, all the friends were flirts. Akash seemed delighted with Arnav's behaviour, so he must be a gentleman. Khushi analysed him just like he did her.

"By the way, Chotte, I didn't write puzzle games in the list. Then how did you bring it?"

Arnav's eyes automatically switched to Khushi, who was why he bought it.

"Just like it," he said.

HP brought the bag and gave it to Ratna. Taking it, she passed it to Aashi. She looked at Khushi, expecting her permission.

"Why all this, Aunty?"

"We are not just physiotherapists and patients. You are Payal's friend. She is like my daughter so that we can share some pleasant things. More than that, kids are not coming into our customs. Their world and expectations are different. They expect something from their loved ones. Or, they will accept us as their close ones if we treat them special," Ratna said.

"Mom, you could have DIRECTLY said that you want to become her close one", Arnav teased, and Khushi smiled.

"Take it, beta," Khushi said. After hearing Ratna's long explanation, she could not deny it.

Aashi removed the puzzle game first, as Arnav mentioned them.

"Mom, this is a new game..." she said delightedly.

Khushi nodded yes.

"Do you like it?" Ratna asked.

"I like puzzle games," she said.

"But she will lose interest once she arranges them, right?" Ratna asked.

Khushi nodded yes.

"No problem, we can get more," Arnav said.

"Ok, Aunty, we have to go...Payal would be waiting for me."

"What about Aashi?"

"I'm taking her with me. From Monday, she will go to school."

"Oh... How will you go to the hospital?" Arnav asked.

"I will get a cab."

"If you don't mind, I will drop you. I'm going that way only."

Before Khushi said anything,

"Then, drop her Chotte. She is new to this place. Teach her something about Delhi while going."

"Yeah, give me a few minutes. I will bring a file."

"Oh, that's why you came home?" Ratna asked.

Arnav nodded yes and headed to his room. He came with a file.

"Shall we?"

Khushi nodded.

"By Mrs Raizada. Thanks for your gifts," She said cutely.

"Come to our home whenever you are free," Ratna said.

Aashi nodded ok.

"Khushi beta, you are alone here. If you want any help, you can ask me. If you are busy, leave Aashi here. I will look after her."

"Thank you so much for your concern, Aunty. I'm glad to meet you."

"Arrey, this is a simple thing."

"No, Aunty, this world is full of selfishness... no one cares about others... it's rare to get people like you. Thank you"

"Let's go", Arnav smiled.

"Bye, Mrs. Raizada"

"Aashi beta, I don't like you calling me like this. Call me Dadi."

Aashi looked at Khushi.

"Yes, beta. This is not London. People in India will not like you calling them by their name."

Aashi looked at Arnav and asked,

"How should I call you?"

"I have no problem with being called Mr. Raizada instead of UNCLE", he chuckled.

"Don't you like to be called uncle?"

Arnav laughed.

"Ok, I will call you Mr Puzzle because you bought me puzzle games."

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Ok, Ms. Smile, let's go"

"By, DADI," Aashi said.

Ratna kissed her cheek, and they left RM.

Arnav opened the door for Khushi. She liked how he paid attention to simple things. She sat and buckled the seatbelt, keeping Aashi on her lap.

Arnav started the car.

"Did you settle down here?" he asked formally.

"Not yet completely."

"Where are you staying?"

"In Payal's house..."

"Ohh... Aashi's Dad?"

Before Khushi answered,

"NK Dad is in London," Aashi said.

"Oh..." Arnav didn't nag her more, but he told her a few landmarks on the way. Khushi watchfully listened to him.

He dropped Khushi at Payal's hospital.

"See you, Ms Smile"

"See you, Mr Puzzle", Aashi said.

Arnav extended his card to Khushi and said,

"You can call me anytime if you need anything. Feel free"

"Thanks," she said, taking the card from him.

Arnav smiled at Khushi, who nodded her head slightly and walked in. They came to Payal's cabin, who was checking a file.

"Hi..."

"Hi, Payal"

"How is Aunty?"

"She is fine... such a down-to-earth person she is. She speaks nicely"

"She gifted me these things," Aashi said, showing the bag.

"Wow... nice..."

"Akash is right," Khushi said.

"in what?"

"In judging Arnav"

Payal wondered how she was addressing Arnav by his name.

"Did you meet him?"

"Yeah, he is so simple."

"Don't conclude quickly, Khushi. He is nice to you only because you are my friend. Otherwise, he won't give heed."

"Is it?"

"Yes, he won't entertain anyone, especially a girl... as he looks handsome, girls would fall on him without hesitation, but he never let anyone get close to him."

"Is it?" Khushi wondered.

Payal nodded yes.

"Seeing him moving easily, I thought he would have many friends."

"No way... he has no friends except Karan, his manager."

"Oh..."

"He won't even participate in PARTIES... he simply denies..."

Khushi's facial expression changed upon hearing the word PARTY. Payal regretted uttering the phrase.

"I'm sorry, Khushi... I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Leave it..."

That was when they saw Akash rushing to them.

"What happened, Akash? Why are you looking tense?"

"Because I'm tensed"

"Why?"

"My brother is coming to Delhi on transfer..." he said, feeling helpless.

Payal looked at him, horrified.

"What are you saying?"

"He just called me. he will be here in two days. What will we do now?"

They looked at Khushi, who understood the issue.

"Find a small house for me. I will shift there," Khushi said.

"We are very sorry, Khushi. We didn't expect his transfer. He didn't expect it. Our house is our family property. We can't stop him from shifting to our house."

"Arrey, why are you bothering? I have lived in a strange country for five years. India is our country. There is nothing to worry about. I will manage," Khushi said.

"There are many options to find a house. I will approach a broker. There is an app, too. We can find a house through the App."

"Then I will do it. Don't worry," Khushi said hopefully.

To be continued...