Part 21 Frank declaration

Arnav walked to his room and locked the door, leaving Sheetal bamboozled. She has to do something about this. Her mind was not working. Sheetal stood thunderstruck. Coming to the composure, she walked out hurriedly.

Fatima slowly came out of the kitchen and heard their talk. She went to Arnav's room and knocked on the door. Arnav didn't open the door until he heard Fatima's voice. he thought it was Sheetal.

"This is Fatima"

Arnav opened the door.

"I'm truly happy you shut Sheetal's mouth down. But... I don't like what you said about Khushi..." Fatima didn't hesitate to tell what she felt.

"I agree what you are going through is unbearable. But, Khushi's condition is more miserable than you, Arnav bituwa. She is not even able to call her mother Mummy. She thinks you are her father. She has no one other than you..."

She was about to say something, but Arnav stopped her showing his palm.

"What I talked about Khushi is not true. Sheetal things Khushi is my weakness. Of course, she is right. But I don't want her to take it in her favor. That's why I said I don't care about Khushi."

Fatima was stunned.

"I'm not her mother's husband. It doesn't mean I'm not her father. She is KHUSHI... she will be with me, no matter what"

Fatima nodded okay with a smile.

"Why don't you just divorce Sheetal? Manju wanted the same. She is furious like hell with Sheetal..." Fatima asked.

"Today, Manju Didi slapped her hard..."

"Sheetal deserves it. Manju was upset because you were silent, letting her shout at you. Now, I understood why you were silent. You have done a very good job of capturing her cheap behavior in your phone"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Do something to get rid of her, Arnav. It's enough... enough of your sufferings"

"I will find a solution to this problem soon"

Fatima nodded ok and left the place.

Arnav sat on the bed thinking about Khushi... (Not Baby Khushi) he was restless from the time she cried clutching his hand. She was in pain, seeing him in pain. He knew that. He never wanted to see her crying but he was glad to see her crying for HIM. It was not a big deal for Arnav to get a divorce from Sheetal. He didn't think about it so far because he didn't think beyond the life he was living.

.......

Sheetal hurried inside the luxurious hotel room. Sarath grinned at her brightly.

"Hi, darling... did you tear Arnav into pieces?" he asked excitedly.

In no time, she slapped him hard, making him stumble. He looked at her shockingly.

"Because of you, I was slapped in front of everyone"

"Slapped? Who slapped you?"

"Who else? Manju"

"Oh... after all, she knew your story..."

"Shut up... because of your bloody idea, I went to the school in a drunken state. Arnav captured everything in his mobile as evidence of the divorce"

"Whaaaat? Divorce? Is that Arnav who talked about divorce?"

"He not just talked to me but with his lawyer also. He is not ready to give me a penny in the account of revenging me for insulting him in front of his staff"

"This is not done, baby... How will we go to Maldives then?"

"Maldives? I don't even have a penny in my hands and you are talking about the Maldives?"

Sheetal sat on the couch squeezing her hands.

"What will we do now?"

"We had made a very wrong move. We should not have touched his wrong nerves" Sheetal said.

"Why are you getting tensed? Every man has weaknesses. So is Arnav"

"Arnav and his weakness? What's that?"

"Khushi..."

Sheetal rolled her eyes.

"She is his weakness. He won't be without her. So, he must be with you"

"I too thought the same but no. He is not as attached as we thought. He is even ready to leave her to get a divorce"

"What do you mean?" there was an extreme level of shock on his face.

"Yes, I used the trump card also... but he said so casually that Khushi was not his concern"

"That means, will Khushi become your responsibility if he divorces you? Will you look after Khushi?"

"Why would I?"

"Then what will you do?"

"There are many orphanages in this country"

"Oh...yes"

"But, this divorce should not happen"

"Exactly... for that, you should pacify Arnav"

"Whaaaat? Me and pacifying that servant?"

"It's only you who is calling him a servant. He is a millionaire now. Don't forget that"

"It's my property"

"But now, it's his"

"I'm already confused"

"No need to be confused. It's not that hard for you to get your property back"

"How?"

"You can do it so simply. Turn into his wife... for a few days"

"Whaaat? Wife?"

"Yes... make him believe you... get his forgiveness. He will automatically give you what you want"

Sheetal looked at him as if he was an outer space creature.

"After all, he is a human... he too has feelings and weakness. Just show your talent... he will become a love-sick puppy and will roam around your feet" Sarath laughed like mad.

Sheetal looked at him loathly.

"You have no choice. you have to do that. Or else, we will be left on the road"

Sheetal hit her forehead wrathfully.

"I will kill my father if he comes in front of me"

"He already died...in fact, you would not have had problems if he is alive" Sarath mocked.

Sheetal rolled her eyes wearily.

"Do what I said. That's the only way of getting money from Arnav"

Taking the glass, Sheetal gulped the shot.

The next day

The independence day celebration was at its peak at the Rishab school. Arnav was watching the cultural program, sitting on the dais with the chief guest. Seemingly he was watching the program, his eyes were on a particular person. SHE also knew it.

After the program, teachers started distributing sweets to the children. Taking them, children left the school with their parents. Baby Khushi came to Khushi and waited for Rahim Chacha until Khushi finished distributing sweets to her class children. Khushi took her to the staff room. Arnav noticed it while coming back, sending off the chief guest. He came to his room. Arnav saw baby Khushi coming with a small jute bag. he leaned on the seat as he knew who gave it. Baby Khushi extended it to him.

"What's this, beta?"

"Khushi teacher gave it to you"

"For me?" he raised his brows wondering.

"Yes, this is for you" she rushed out.

"where are you going?"

"Rahim Chacha is here"

"Oh, ok..."

"Come home soon, Daddy"

"Yeah, I will come after finishing the meeting"

"Ok, daddy, bye" Khushi rushed out.

Arnav found a tiffin box in the bag. He opened it curiously. The smell of Biriyani hit his nose. Arnav closed his eyes and leaned on the seat. It took a few minutes for him to compose himself. It was his favorite dish while studying in college. He always liked to eat Biriyani and he wanted to eat Khushi's handmade Biriyani. Here... it was.

Taking his phone, Arnav called Khushi. Khushi who was with Lavanya excused herself and came a little aloof to attend the call.

"Hello..."

"Thank you"

"It's my pleasure..."

"PLEASURE? Really, Khushi?" Arnav asked, burying a lot of meaning in it.

"I just..."

"In which mean, do you give it to me, Khushi?"

"In a friendly manner..."

"Please, come and take it back, Khushi"

"But why? Can't we be friends?"

"Frankly speaking, I can't... I don't want to ruin the holy relationship called FRIENDSHIP. I can never be a friend of yours"

Khushi gulped down hard.

"We spent a valuable time together... our relationship has values... I don't want to hide in the shell of a friend that doesn't suit me"

Khushi's eyes pooled up.

"You don't have to talk to me if you are not comfortable. But, I can't cheat on myself because my feelings are so true. I'm sorry if I hurt you... Could you take it back?"

There was silence from Khushi's side.

"Khushiiii..."

"Please eat it"

"Thank you" Arnav smiled.

Disconnecting the call, he took a first morsel and ate it closing his eyes, relishing it. There was satisfaction in his heart and mind after so many years. He finished the biriyani taking enough time even though he had to attend a teacher's meeting.

When he stood up, finishing the biriyani, his facial expression changed. He saw through the window, Sheetal getting inside the campus. He frowned, seeing her. His mind worked fast. He came out of the room and went to the sports room where there was no one. He watched his room entrance from the sports room. he saw Sheetal peeping inside his room. She looked here and there and rushed to a teacher who crossed Arnav's room.

"where is he?" She asked.

The teacher looked at her plainly who was there when Sheetal shouted at Arnav the previous day.

"Sir should have gone to attend the teacher's meeting"

"When will it get over?"

"I don't know" she walked off.

Sheetal slammed her feet irritatingly.

Arnav went to the meeting hall to conduct the meeting without urgency. He started giving instructions about the upcoming quarterly exams. It was a formal one. he asked the teacher's ideas to improve below-average students. Teachers shared their ideas. To his surprise, Khushi didn't put any of her ideas in front of him.

Time was passing. After an hour, Arnav finished the meeting. The teachers began to disperse. Khushi was the one who left the hall first.

On the other hand, Sheetal started pacing here and there in the corridor with annoyance. She turned behind and collide with someone. She sulked her face, seeing one of the caretakers standing.

"Can't you walk looking around carefully?" Sheetal sneered.

"I came carefully... you are the one who turned around without watching" she back answered.

Sheetal who was already annoyed raised her hand at her without thinking. Before she hit the staff, Khushi's soft hand clutched her wrist.

To be continued...