Part 17 Emotional Shashi

Khushi and Shashi were flabbergasted by the reply Arnav gave about Khushi.

"You said Arnav talks less. It seems there are a lot you don't know about Arnav" Shashi said, making Arnav gulped down hard.

"You are right Dad...! He is the exact meaning of his name Arnav. There is a lot in his deep ocean heart but everything about him is interesting"

Arnav averted his gaze from Khushi because he knew not everything about him was interesting.

"You know what Arnav; this girl was so interested in going on the trip but she said clear-cut NO to the trip only because you are not going"

Arnav suffocated. Would Shashi ask him the reason for him not going on the trip? But, Khushi came for his help.

"Dad, I'm going on the trip"

"Whaaaat? Really?"

"Yes, Arnav also coming..."

"That's it...! I wondered how you agreed to go on the trip without Arnav..." He said observing Arnav who was throttling. If Shashi knew so much about him, Khushi should have told her father about him. Did Khushi tell her father everything about their relationship? Arnav supposed but he didn't know her father knew much more about their relationship than him.

"Dad, what's your program tomorrow?" Khushi asked.

"As usual..."

"Won't you be at home tomorrow?" She asked because it was Sunday the next day.

Shashi nodded no.

"Then, I'm going to Arnav's house tomorrow"

Arnav looked at her surprisingly and gladly.

"Term exams are coming. I will get all my doubt cleared from Arnav" She said.

"What about Arnav's parents? Will they be fine with your visit to their home?" He asked looking at Arnav smiling.

"They would like to be with Khushi, uncle"

"Are you sure?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"They are so nice, Dad. They won't like me visiting their house only on FULL MOON DAY" Khushi said.

Arnav looked at her shockingly.

"Why?" Shashi frowned.

"They will not be at home but will stay at the temple for the whole night on every fill moon day."

"Oh..."

"Shall I go to Arnav's house tomorrow?"

"Do one thing. Pack your things and go with Arnav. Then come with him on Monday morning directly to the college. What say?" Shashi asked.

Khushi looked at him stunned. Staying at Arnav's place? She looked at Arnav who was also in the same state.

"Shall I call Arvind to get his permission?" Shashi asked.

Before Arnav said anything,

"It's ok, Dad... I will go tomorrow morning and will come back in the evening" Khushi said as she didn't want to trouble Arnav. It would be OVER DOSE for him she supposed.

Arnav didn't know what to say but he was definitely disappointed.

"Ok... I will just come, getting fresh" Shashi went to his room.

"You said you like our house very much. Then why are you not interested in staying at our place?" Arnav asked.

"Me and disinterest? I just don't want to make you embarrassed"

"Did I say I would be embarrassed?"

"Won't you?"

"Not with you"

"Shall I stay at your place?" she asked wondering.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Will your parent be fine with that?"

He nodded yes even though he was not sure. He knew Ratna and Arvind would not show their dissatisfaction to Khushi even though they were dissatisfied. He was not ready to miss the chance to be with Khushi not because he liked her. He just didn't want to...!

Shashi came out, changing.

"Dad, I'm going to Arnav's house with him now"

Shashi was taken aback.

"Just now you were hesitating..."

"Arnav wants me to come with him"

"Oh..." Shashi smiled.

"I'm going..."

"Go ahead..."

"Arnav, I will bring my stuff"

Arnav nodded ok. Khushi rushed upstairs. Shashi took a seat in front of Arnav.

"I'm so glad to see my daughter glad."

Arnav smiled.

"I was so worried about her, Arnav. She was broken down after my mother's demise. I was so scared about her. Thank God, she GOT you. I can see the biggest change in her after you arrived in her life. I never saw her mingling with anyone like she is mingling with you. After my mother, she feels content with only you, I suppose. I can say you replaced my mother's place in her life..."

Shashi stopped for a while and said,

"My mother was EVERYTHING to her..." Shashi said emotionally.

Arnav was dumbfounded. Did Shashi mean HE became everything to Khushi now? He was confused as he didn't know in what sense Shashi said that.

"She likes you so much... she feels protective with you. That's why I'm sending her to your house because I believe she will be safe in your shadow. Take care of her, Arnav..."

Arnav was gulped down hard and nodded.

They saw Khushi coming with her bag.

"We are leaving Dad..."

"I will ask the driver to drop you at Arnav's house," Shashi said.

"No Dad, I want to go by bus, enjoying the bus ride"

Shashi smiled sighing.

"Bye, Dad" She hugged Shashi formally.

Shashi tapped her back.

"Don't worry, I will be all right" She chuckled.

"I know..." Shashi said that wondered Arnav.

They left the SP bungalow and came to the bus stop.

"I can't believe I'm coming to your house... that too to stay there... that too with you... that too by bus..." She laughed.

Arnav smiled.

"Wow... I'm going to stay in my dream house tonight...! What will be Aunty and uncle's reaction seeing me?" She asked curiously.

Arnav didn't answer because he too didn't know how they would react.

"I hope they will allow me inside..." She laughed.

"They will... they like you"

"Hope so..."

They saw the bus coming. It was not crowded. There was only one empty seat. Arnav gestured her to sit. Khushi occupied a seat. Arnav stood next to her. She pulled his bag and kept it on her lap. She admired the beauty of Ooty.

After the three stopped, the woman next to Khushi stood up as her stopping came. Arnav hesitated to sit next to her because it was not spacious like their class bench. Khushi saw him standing. She tapped the seat gesturing him to sit. Arnav sat at the edge giving space between their thighs.

"Ooty is so beautiful. If I get a chance to stay here forever, I will not leave Ooty" She said tucking the hair that caressed her cheek.

"Why would you leave Ooty?"

"Do you forget? My father is a police officer. We will have to leave Ooty when he gets transferred"

"Mmm... but, being with your father forever is not possible for you, right?"

"Yeah, I will be with him only until my marriage," She said reading his face.

She saw a sudden change in his face.

"Your father loves you so much..." he said.

"Yes, he has no one... just like me..."

"What do you mean?"

"I too have no one other than my father..." She said expecting him to say something.

Arnav turned his face not saying anything but it was clear he didn't like her telling, she had no one.

Their stopping arrived.

"We have to get down," he said and stood up.

Khushi also stood up. They got off the bus and started walking in the woods.

Khushi walked seeing the sight. They came to RM. Arnav pressed the calling bell. Ratna opened the door and was dumbfounded seeing Khushi with Arnav.

She could not believe Khushi came to their house, that too with Arnav...! How did Arnav bring her to their house? What did that mean?

She concluded that she was dreaming because, according to her, there was no reason for Arnav to bring Khushi to their house. She didn't believe that they could have become close to this extent. She was shaken to the core when Khushi said,

"Hi Aunty, how are you?"

Ratna was taken aback.

"Khushi... You?" She asked with disbelief.

"Didn't you say I can come to your house anytime if I want? To check whether your words are true, I came here..." she laughed.

"Are you really here?" She asked glancing at Arnav.

Khushi looked at Arnav and said,

"Chotte, pinch your mom... Otherwise, she won't believe it seems" she chuckled.

Ratna sighed with a chuckle.

"Will you let me in or not?" Khushi pouted.

"Please come beta..."

"No, I won't come until I get to know your stand..."

"What stand?"

"That, will you allow me to stay here or not..."

That was the big blow to Ratna.

"Are you going to stay here?" It seemed she would get a heart attack.

"For two days..."

"For two days?" She was almost shouted.

"Should not I?"

Ratna looked at Arnav who was looking at her sharply.

"Aunty, you don't have to look at him. He is the one who brought me here because he wants me to stay with him"

"Whaaat? Was that Chotte who asked you to stay with him?"

Khushi nodded yes smiling. The next minute, Ratna fainted.

To be continued...