Part 3 Face Off

Khushi could not sleep that night. How could she sleep peacefully after meeting Arnav? Suman also didn't sleep as he was thinking about what made Khushi cry. He heard a mild whimper. He turned towards Khushi jerking. Switching the light on, he sat on the bed.

"Khushi..." he called.

Khushi wiped her tears and pretended like sleeping.

"Khushi, I know you don't sleep. I heard your sob. Don't try to cheat me"

Khushi bit her lip. Suman pulled her up and made her look at him.

"If you really respect me, tell me what happened?"

Khushi bowed down.

"Tell me, Khushi"

"I... I saw HIM"

"HIM? Who?"

Khushi gulped hard.

"Arnav?" he asked, jerking.

She nodded yes.

"How could I miss this? Damn, he is the only one who could make Khushi cry..." Suman said.

Khushi closed her eyes.

"Where did you see him?"

"He is the principal of our school"

"Gosh... really? That's why you are upset?"

Khushi was silent.

"So, are you going to resign from the job?" he intentionally asked.

"Why should I? What wrong did I do? It was him who cheated me"

"I agree he got married leaving you behind but, you too got married... then, do you have the right to get angry with him?"

"I got married only after he got married to his boss's daughter for money. Don't you know in which circumstance I got married to you?"

"Maybe, his circumstance would have led him to the marriage"

"He has a kid. What about that? In what circumstance he had a kid?" she sneered.

"Ohhh... this is what makes you angry? I don't know, you will feel the pain going deep down into his BEDROOM."

Khushi glared at him.

"Are you still jealous of him that you can't tolerate him touching another woman...?" he asked not minding her glare.

"Shut up, Sumi... or else..."

"Ok, I will shut up... you too try to shut your MIND from thinking something that you can't tolerate"

Khushi lay on the bed and buried her face in the pillow. Suman knew she was crying.

"Khushi relax. Try to understand the reality. This is how the wedding works. It's unavoidable to have children after the wedding. Right?"

Khushi continued sobbing.

"Not every wedding would be like OURS," Suman said.

Khushi sat on the bed and wiped her tears.

"I'm not jealous. It's an old story. I'm a changed Khushi now"

"Yeah... I can see it clearly" Suman said smiling.

Khushi glared at him again.

"Relax baby..."

Khushi cried leaning on his shoulder. Suman tried to get her calm.

"How is he...? I mean how is he looking now?"

Khushi looked at him quietly. She didn't say, damn, he was more handsome than their college days.

"Did he talk to you?"

She nodded no.

"He didn't... how could he talk with me when he knew me well? But... I should meet him tomorrow. It's a formality"

"Oh... then there is an interesting climax waiting for Arnav Singh Raizada..." Suman chuckled.

"You know he named his daughter Khushi" she gritted her teeth.

Suman raised his brows.

"Wow... this is news"

"Just because he named his daughter Khushi, it doesn't mean he is right"

"Or, maybe, he knew he is wrong. that's why he should have named his daughter Khushi." Suman said.

"He didn't even think of calling me once and told me that his marriage got fixed..."

"He would have felt guilty to talk to you yaar"

Khushi sulked.

"Who knows, he may ALSO be still in love with you, just like, you are in love with him..."

Khushi closed her eyes.

"His daughter's name is evident to it. He wants you to be in his thoughts always... That's why he should have named his daughter Khushi."

"He is someone's husband now... nothing can be considered more than that," Khushi said sniffing.

"You are also someone's wife... does it make difference?"

"Our story is different, Sumi" Khushi said wearily.

"Every story is different, Khushi. He too might have a valuable reason for marrying his boss's daughter"

"I don't want to talk about him," Khushi said.

"But, how will you avoid meeting him as you are working for him?"

"I will do my work... that's all. I'm not going to think more than that" Khushi lay on the bed and closed her eyes.

Suman smiled at her. Didn't he know Khushi?

The next day

Suman was looking at Khushi smilingly who was getting ready for school hurriedly. She handed him a lunch bag.

"I'm leaving"

"All the best" Suman smiled.

"For what?"

"Just like that..."

Khushi rolled her eyes.

"I should say ALL THE BEST to Arnav Singh Raizada. Poor him, he is going to face a hurricane today"

Khushi glared at him.

"Ok, bye" he smiled.

"Does my condition make you smile?"

"What condition Khushi?"

Khushi rolled her eyes and left the house. Suman also went to the office.

Rishab School

Khushi came to the office and registered her arrival on the bio-matrix device as per Lavanya's instruction. Then she walked to the classroom. She entered the classroom, running her eyes on the children. Her eyes halted on a particular girl who had her name. Children stood up on their feet and greeted her.

"Good morning teacher"

"Good morning..."

That was when the bell rang.

"Come on kids, form a line. We have to go to the assembly" Khushi said.

The children formed a line without fussing with her. Khushi took them to the assembly and stood behind them. The principal of the school came to the assembly and started the prayer. Khushi didn't like to look at HIM whereas he so wanted to... but he could not do that as he was standing in front of the teachers and students. Everyone's eyes were on him and they would get to know whom he was looking at. Yet, he was glancing at her.

The assembly was over. Students dispersed to their respective classrooms. Lavanya came to Khushi.

"Khushi, go and meet the principal sir. Then start the class"

Khushi nodded ok awkwardly. Though she looked courageous from the outlook she was shivering inside. Making herself up, she went to Arnav's room. she knocked on the door and got,

"Come in..." from Arnav.

Khushi walked in and stood in front of him.

"Take your seat," Arnav said.

"That's ok SIR. I have to go to the class. I just came to meet you. Vice Principal sir told me this is a formality" she tried to be normal.

Arnav was looking at her calmly.

"Anything else, sir?"

"I know you are angry with me, Khushi"

Khushi felt something in her stomach, hearing her name from his mouth after many years.

"I have no reason to be angry with you, sir. Excuse me" she was about to go,

"Khushi, one minute"

Khushi stopped, holding her breath.

"Khushi, I'm sorry..."

Khushi turned around, gritting her teeth.

"Put your sorry in the dustbin because it won't change the pain I underwent" Though she didn't want to cry she could not resist her eyes from pooling.

"Khushi please..."

"Why? Why Arnav? just now do you feel to say sorry just because I came in front of you unexpectedly?"

"I don't know how to make you understand"

"You don't have to make me understand anything. just be like how you were till yesterday. No need to be pretending like, regretting"

Khushi left the room, leaving helpless Arnav.

Evening

As usual, Arnav came to Khushi's class last and picked Baby Khushi up even though he was hesitating. Khushi stood straight not looking at him. Baby Khushi bid bye to Khushi and left.

"Daddy, I like Khushi teacher very much," Baby Khushi said.

"Anyone likes her. she is a nice girl," Arnav said.

Khushi heard it. She faced a tough time controlling her eyes from tearing up. She went to the staff room as usual. Without wasting time in chitchatting, she wanted to schedule her next day's timetable. But, Lavanya didn't let her do that. She talked nonstop.

"I have no friend in the school, Khushi, because People gossip a lot. I don't like these guys" Lavanya said.

It seemed she liked Khushi so much. Adding to it, she was in Khushi's age group. So, she shared everything with Khushi without hesitation.

The last bell rang. Khushi and Lavanya came out. Lavanya got stuck, seeing a hot and handsome man with a long hairstyle on the premises.

"Khushi, look at the man, how dashing he is," Lavanya said excitedly.

Khushi looked at the man and said nothing.

"Usually, the long hairstyle doesn't suit men but it's so apt to him. Is not his single stone studs give him splendid look? I have never seen such a stylish man in Lucknow"

"It's because he came to Lucknow recently," Khushi said.

"Do you know him?"

"Yeah... I know him. Come, I will introduce him"

"Really?"

"Yeah..."

The man smiled at Khushi.

"She is Lavanya... my friend"

"Hello, Lavanyaji," He said.

"Lavanya, he is my husband," Khushi said controlling her laughter.

Lavanya's eyes pooped out.

"Sumi, she said you are looking dashing," Khushi said.

"Khushiiiii" Lavanya said in a feeble tone, pressing her shoulder.

Suman smiled.

"You don't have to worry. Neither I nor Suman will take it seriously" Khushi said.

"I'm really sorry..." Lavanya said.

"Relax... just feel free, ok?"

"You are so good, Khushi," Lavanya said.

Khushi and Suman smiled at each other.

"I'm leaving" Lavanya left the place hurriedly.

"Why are you here?" Khushi asked raising her brows.

"To see your MAN"

"Shut up..." Khushi said gritting her teeth.

Suman pressed his lips together.

"Let's go"

"Won't you let me see him?" Suman pleaded.

"I said, come" she gritted her teeth.

Suman was about to go, but he stopped, seeing Arnav coming out. Arnav got stuck, seeing Khushi with a man who looked extremely hot and stylish. He understood who the man could be. Khushi won't be close to any stranger. So, he must be her husband. Arnav connected the dots. His heart ached, seeing Khushi with another man. Suman's ultra-Morden look made him feel jealous.

On the other hand,

"Wow, Khushi, he looks damn striking than in the photo you have," Suman said.

Khushi was silent.

"Don't know how you are going to hold yourself" he added.

"Are you coming or not?" she asked.

"Coming..." wearing his goggle, Suman started the bike.

Khushi sat behind him and left the school, all the way looking at Arnav whose eyes were only on Khushi.

To be continued...