Main tera dushman, dushman tu mera Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Khushi stomped her feet when Arnav forced her to go inside their father's office.

"Arnav, I am really scared!" she muttered.

"Relax and take a deep breathe. He is not going to eat you...You just go in and show him your designs, and come out. I promise, he won't judge you..."

She shook her head, and was literally panting in fear.

"What if he didn't like my designs?"

He held her by her shoulders.

"Khushi!" he softly said. "I said relax. Do not expect anything. Good or bad. Second thing remember, do not be scared of failing. But I am telling you, I loved these designs of yours. They are fantastic. Dad will love them too."

"What if he didn't?" she asked, finding hard to have a grip on her furious nerves. Arnav hugged her when nothing else worked. She hugged him back tightly.

"Arnav, please don't go anywhere..."
He assured her he will stay outside and wait for her.

After giving herself much courage she pulled away from a hug and a decided to go inside Mr. Raizada's office. Arnav blew kiss at her. "You will be fine!" he muttered.

"Papa, may I come in?!"
"Khushi," Mr. Raizada said excitedly, "please my child, come on in..."
She gently closed the door behind and went inside the cabin. Mr. Raizada got up his seat.
"Good afternoon, papa!"
She went around the table and gave him the hug.
"Good afternoon, my dear. Please have a seat!"
Khushi nervously took a seat on the opposite side of her father-in-law's desk.
"So, tell me, how are you doing?"
"Papa, to tell you the truth I  am scared..."

He laughed a throaty laugh.

"Scared of me?"
"I don't know!" she answered.
He laughed again.
"Papa, here are the designs," she handed him the yellow envelope. "Inside it I have enclosed few sketches..."
"Perfect, my child. I can't wait to see them..." he said, as he was already going to open it.
"Papa, please can you open it after I go?"
"Why, my child?"
"Because I am afraid if you will like them or not..."

He had already decided to open the envelope that too in front of her.
"Don't doubt yourself, my child."

Smile from his face vanished all together when he pulled out her designs.

Khushi's legs were fidgety. She couldn't breathe that much she was scared. She wasn't even looking at his face once he had her designs out.

All she wanted to do was to run out of the office to Arnav. At one moment she was chewing her nails. Somewhere after hearing all praises from Arnav she had little self confidence, but now it was app fading away. It would not be wrong if she believed it totally died.

"Are you sure these are your designs?" he asked.

Khushi's heart skipped a beat...

"Y-yes...Papa!" she stammered. She thought her brain might explode and heart would jump out of her chest.

"You know what, Khushi, bitiya...When you are stepping in a real world you should have your work up to the mark...If not, most of the companies won't even care taking you!"

Khushi gulped down the one big lump down her throat. She failed, she knew it. She knew her father will not like her stupid designs. And she knew Arnav was just trying to give her fake hopes. She was good for nothing, she knew it, she thought. Her father was right, she cannot just walk in such a big company in front of the owner, show them a stupid work of her and expect herself to be chosen as a worker.

"I am sorry, papa!" she said, and had tears in her eyes. She immediately wiped them.

"Next time I will make sure I get some good work!" she said.

Mr. Raizada was shaking his head. "Dear, why are you crying? I didn't even complete my sentence yet..."

She looked up at him...

"It's okay, papa. I know I need lot to improve."

"Improve? You are fantastic..."

"I know..." she said, but immediately popped her head up at him questioningly.

"Yes, my dear, that's the spirit. You are fantastic. I loved your designs. They are perfect...I am really stunned that my daughter is a fresh pack of a talent...And before I say this, I want you to give this Kleenex box to you..."

She took it from his hands but wondered what he was planning on to say to her...

"After your graduation, would you like to do your internship at our company? It will be a great honour for us," he said.

Khushi's eyes stuck out, heart jumped to her throat, her nerves were over excited.

"You have lot of time to decide, if you want to work with us..."

"Y-yes! I will!" she said, without thinking. Her voice hardly came out of her throat.

"Okay, so...My company is eagerly waiting for a great person like you to work with..."

"T-thank you, papa!" she couldn't talk normally.

"I am very excited to work with you, my child!"

She shook her hand with him formally and rushed out of his cabin.

Mr. Raizada grinned at her back...

As soon as she got out of the cabin and saw Arnav waiting for him, she hugged him. Arnav got worried when he heard her cries. "Khushi, baby, what's wrong?"

Her heart was beating furiously, he could feel it against his chest. He rubbed her back to calm her.

"Arnav, papa liked my designs and he wants me to do his internship at this office after my graduation!" words came out her mouth with several pauses. He face palmed. Here he was worried thinking his father didn't like her designs. Even though he knew he would have loved them, you never know...He didn't pull away from the until she did...
"Wasn't I telling you, that he will like your work?"
He felt nod of her head...Her legs were still shaking, he could feel her body was trembling too as if she was cold...
She pulled away from a hug when her heart and mind had stopped being furious and her body was relaxed.
"Arnav, if you hadn't been here, I would have seriously died..."
"No, you wouldn't have. I know you are strong...Now would you like to eat something..."
She nodded. "But, Arnav, can we go home and eat?"
"Sure, as you say!"

Khushi took a deep breath and walked out of the office, feeling much more confident. She could feel herself free of more burden. And she was ever so ready to step out in the real world and face it. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she was ready. She had her start up kick.

"Arnav, today, I will cook food that mom taught me..."
"Woah, really? To tell you the truth I am really hungry then..." he said giving a small kiss on her cheek as they both left the office and made their way towards the parking lot.

They both sat in their car, Khushi fell back in her seat and closed her eyes. Arnav was going to start the engine of the car but stopped and watch her as she was trying to have a word with herself. He kept his arm on the steering wheel and leered at her. As if it was the only work he had, to look at her face. Khushi opened her eyes and knew he would be looking at her.

"All looks like a dream, Arnav..."
"This is what happens when you start living, learn to love yourself, and stop thinking what others think of you...and stop worrying about future and work in present..."

"But it does matter what you think of me, Arnav," she said in a broken voice. "It does matter to me a great deal, what I am for you..."

He took his arm from the steering wheel and unfastened his seat belt. He pulled his hand at the back of her head through her hair.

"You mean everything to me, Khushi. You are perfect for me just the way you are..."

She leant in and wanted him to kiss her. He didn't mind it, he moved forward, and placed his lips softly on hers. This time she let him lead her. She arched her head to have a proper access to his lips, he bit her lower lip, that made her heart do a flip, needs grew just like a demand of drinks one after the other even though it is bitter. But this one got no bitterness to it.

Their tongues fought for the possession and when they could no longer breathe they pulled back a bit, saw in each other's eyes. And then they both fell back in their seats.

Her lower lip was bleeding, he didn't know he had bit her that hard. Before he could even think to wipe it away with his finger, he pulled her towards himself once again and sucked the blood.

"Sorry, did that hurt?!"

She shook her head. "It didn't!"

***
After reaching home Arnav had gone to his room to change, and Khushi went to the kitchen to prepare food. There were not many things that she had learnt to cook but she had little idea about cooking now. One thing she didn't realise that whatever her mother-in-law taught her she grasped really easily.

She quickly washed the rice and put it in a pan with measured water in it. And then she quickly cut the vegetables of her and Arnav's liking. She just wanted to cook food before Arnav had come back. She was so excited to share her first cooking with him and wished it all goes well. She didn't want to disappoint him, just because she didn't have her breakfast, he didn't have eaten his breakfast either.

"Wow, it smells so good! What's cooking? Rice?" he said, walking in the kitchen.

"Yes!" she said. "I am sorry that's the only simple thing I have learnt to cook so far..."

"So what?" he said and stood beside her. He wrapped his arm around her waist.

"What are your plans for a new year?" she asked.

"Oh new year, I am quite booked. There are parties at the club. Even venues are all full..."

"Oh!"

"Yes!"

He opened the lid of the rice pan and give its content a little stir..."Khushi, it looks really yummy..." He said and simmer down the heat."can't wait to eat it!"

"I hope it tastes yummy as well!"

"What you want to do on a new year eve?" he asked.

"Just want to spend that time with you..." she said.

"You got all my time, baby!"

"Arnav, if I ask you something, would you mind?"

"Uh...I guess it depends what is it..."
"It's quite personal..."
"Go ahead and ask..."
"It's actually about Anjali di!"

Arnav looked away from her momentarily and unwrapped his arm around her waist. Khushi looked at him in a fear thinking that she must have hurt him. But he pulled his arm back around her waist.
"I am sorry if I hurt you..." she said.
He shook his head...
"Anjali di, married to a person whom she loved. At first our family was against their marriage. But in front of Anjali di's wish, dad and mom and elders in the house, agreed and they both got married six years ago. God knows after a year of marriage what happened in between them...Di doesn't like to talk about it...We hardly know what happened between them. Who was at fault and whom not..."
"And Shyam jiju?"
"Shyam jiju...It has been four years since I have met him...After their divorce never saw him."
Khushi noticed, he wasn't mad at him. There was no much talk in the media either about their relationship, if there was any then she had hardly focused on it. As far as she remembered Shyam had gone to the same university as theirs. He was quite an intelligent student. He had his name on the honour roll list in an 2004 badge."

"Arnav, I hope I didn't upset you..."
"No, baby, you didn't, being the part of this house you deserve to know all this. But make sure you don't talk of this in front of di. She is quite sensitive about all this!"

"I won't, Arnav!" she promised.
"Okay, so rice are ready, let's eat." he said and helped her grab a plate for themselves. She served and meanwhile he filled a glass of water.

"Khushi, when are your classes starting?"

"Next week on jan 6!" she answered.
"Not far!"
"I know."

They both sat. She filled the spoon of a rice and feed him. "How is it?"

"Awesome!" he amused. "It's really tasty. Here you taste it as well!"

Khushi doubted until she tasted herself. Everything was to the point perfect. Nothing less or more. "You are a chef, Khushi!...You know what, you are a fast learner! And you know what else work?"

"What?"

"This is the first time I am eating something made by my wife!"

She giggled.

To just see that look on his face and get that appreciation, Khushi could have done everything. She had emotionally attached herself to him and even a little thing he liked, disliked mattered to her.

Main tera Dushman, Dushman tu mera chapter 8 (A+B+C)

CHAPTER 8

"Hello everyone," a voice of a lady grabbed Raizada family members  attention, as they just had sit down on the chairs in the dinning room to eat.

"Roshni!" Mrs. Raizada said, she sounded excited to see this girl. She too was going to sit on her chair, upon seeing her guest she remained stood and went over to greet her.

"Roshni!" three bothers amused and they too were standing now to give their guest a much deserving respect.

Anjali and Mr. Raizada both rose up their respective seats.

"What a pleasant surprise, Roshni, dear! What a pleasant surprise!" Mrs. Raizada amused and hugged her.

Khushi wondered who she was, and from a look on everyone's face, she guessed nobody knew she was coming. Then she highly doubted she was summoned by none other but her husband. She eyed him angrily. Her eyes went narrowed. "Arnav if you have brought her to make me jealous you should really be rethinking that idea. Because I am Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada and I don't like jealousy tracks," she said dramatically staring at him as any moment she would jump on him to punish him. But her using his name in her name, made her blush.

"How are you, aunty ji?" she asked in her American accent.

"I am very well, dear. Why didn't you inform any of us that you were coming. We could have come up to the airport to receive you!"

"How come it would have had been a surprise then? It's a holiday season so I came up to meet with you guys."

"Perfect idea, please come in!" Mrs. Raizada mused, welcoming her in the house.

Roshni came in with a pleasant smile on her face. She first went to Mr. Raizada, and said Nameste (hello) to him.

"Stay blessed, dear. What a pleasant to see you here. How are you?"

"Looks like I have come up on a wrong time, you were going to have a breakfast."

"Oh please dear, you can come up any time. It's always good to see you!" he said.

She smiled in a gratitude.

Then she skipped Arnav and went over to hug Anjali. "Anjali di, I missed you!"

"Aww...To tell you something wicked, I don't know why I was expecting you to come!"

"Positive energy, di. You were all missing me so I came!"

"That's so true!" she agreed.

"Hey, look at you handsome man!" Roshini said as she finally looked at Arnav. She moved forward to hug him. "Delicious as always!" she said in his ear. He smiled.

Khushi heard it, her eyes widened in shock at her statement, and she stared at her coldly with her eyes narrowed.

Arnav smiled and hugged her. Roshini kissed his cheek. Khushi's blood boiled. She crumpled the bread in her hand. She so wanted to push her away from Arnav. But what's the use, she thought. She already had done everything to push him away from herself.

She smiled when Roshni finally pulled away from a hug and looked at her, but she ignored her and went to meet Akaash, NK, and Dhruv. Khushi noticed with the affection she met Arnav, she didn't meet Akaash, NK, or Dhruv. May be she was just over analysing. She didn't want to name the emotion, jealous. It wasn't hard to guess though. And the way everyone was so happy to see her made her feel they had a very strong relationship with her.

"Roshni, daughter, meet Khushi. She is Arnav's wife, our beautiful daughter-in-law," Mrs. Raizada introduced her.

"Oh, hi," she said as she was doing formality. "Nice to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you too!" Khushi didn't want to sound mean but she answered her in the same tone Roshni did to her. Formal. Which was much appropriate for their first meet anyway. And joined her hands instead of a shaking hand with her. Roshni smiled and joined her hands.

"You seem to come from a family with old customs..." she said.

"Yes, from a medieval world!" Khushi answered.

Roshni laughed at her joke.

"HP, please take Roshni to one of the guests room!" Anjali ordered.

"Uhh...I would like if Arnav will show me my room," Roshni said, looking at Arnav. "I hope your wife won't mind it, Ar-nav!" she spoke his name as she was trying to sound too sweet. "Mrs. Raizada, we are good friends!" she immediately added.

"If you are that much worried come I show you your room," she said, trying still hard not to be rude, but she was afraid she failed.

She grinned. Everyone else stood appalled at her statement. "Hehe...just kidding!" she suddenly added.

"Jealousy starts with J!" Akaash muttered in Anjali's ear.

"I acknowledged that!" she whispered back looking around if anyone heard her.

"Arnav, would you mind walking me to my room?" Roshni said.

"What are you saying, Roshni? Why would he mind? Our Khushi bitiya and Arnav won't mind at all!" Mrs. Raizada said. "Go ahead!"

Khushi noticed little anger in Mrs. Raizada's voice. She knew Arnav and her have had hurt the whole family. But she knew Arnav wouldn't have loved her back. So it was better to pretend if she hated him. Now all of sudden the entry of this gorgeous, tip-top lady made her feel rethink whatever she did.
"Please everyone start eating the food, we will join you both soon!"
Roshni wrapped her arms around Arnav's arm and Arnav went with her to take her to the room.

Everyone looked at Khushi only looking at Arnav and Roshni.

"Khushi, bitiya, Roshni is Arnav's childhood friend. Like very close friends, they are."

Khushi forced a smile. "Please, bitiya, sit and eat your food!"

"Yes, papa!" she said, but her mind was only thinking of Arnav and Roshni.

"I must say they look so good together!" NK said to Dhruv.

"Didn't bhai once said he would love to marry her?"

They both made comments enough louder so Khushi could hear. But they pretended they were whispering.

"What you guys are saying?" Anjali pretended as she didn't hear them.

"Nothing, di, was just talking about college stuff!"

"Oh okay!" she said. "But first eat."

Mr. Raizada coughed choking on food. Khushi immediately got up and gave him the glass of water to drink. Everyone looked at him worried. "Papa, are you okay?"

He nodded. "Dad, you should eat carefully and slowly!" Anjali said.

"I am okay, my daughters. Khushi bitiya, I am okay, thank you!"

She sat back down in her seat. Khushi looked towards the guest room. Arnav and Roshni has not yet back, Khushi wondered what they were doing inside.

"Khushi, bitiya, what happened didn't you like the food?" Mrs. Raizada asked.

"No, mumma, food is really good!" she said. "It's me who doesn't feel like eating!"

"What happened? Are you feeling alright?"

"Jealous!" NK muttered in Anjali's ear. "She is feeling not alright, but jealous!"

Anjali giggled, looking everyone at the table, she apologised.

"What's taking Arnav bhai this long to come back?" Akaash asked.

"Oh they are best friends it will take time for them to say hi, hello!" Anjali said. "I just love Roshni. I will talk to her late night!"

"We will join you guys too!" Dhruv said.

"That's includes me and Akaash bhai!" NK said.

Khushi felt like crying. He hated how irritated she had become. Everything was making her angry and agitated. She always had her guards up and never let anything to hurt her. But then realising her guards weren't too high to protect her. She thought, she would tell Arnav she wasn't joking about the fact she was in love with him. On the other hand, when she had convinced herself she highly doubted if he was going to believe her now, why she acted stupid. She just made fun of the love that she genuinely had for him.

"Papa, mumma, please excuse me. I will be back soon!"

"But where are you going, Khushi?" Anjali asked.

"I just remembered something, I will be back very soon!"

"Bitiya, not like, this finish your food!" Mrs. Raizada said.

"I don't feel like eating, mumma!" she said.

"Okay do as you feel like!" she said.

Khushi could tell this time she was upset.

"Mumma, I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!" she said as her heart raced in fear. "I had to go and see if Arnav...I mean!"

"It's okay, bitiya. You and Arnav had already hurt us enough, this is just a little thing!"

Khushi felt sick from inside. She didn't know where now everything was heading to.

"Mumma, I am really sorry!" she said as her lips quivered.

Mr. Raizada gestured Mrs. Raizada towards Khushi as she had a sad look on her face.

"Khushi, I hope you have learnt to make Halwa!"

Khushi looked at her and smiled. "Yes. I watched Arnav cooking it. It is simple. I would make for you if you want to eat it!" She said, as she felt little at ease.

"If you can make for me as well!" Mr. Raizada said.

"I will make for everyone," she said happily. "Mummy ji, can you teach me to cook?"

"Sure, you can start from today onwards, try to cook something for the lunch!"

"Okay!" she said. Anjali smiled looking at her. Too childish but cute.

***
"Did you call Roshni, mom?"

"No dear. I hadn't. I didn't know she was coming!" Mrs. Raizada said.

"Oh! Did you see, mom, how easily she got scared when you pretended you were mad at her?"

"I know, she is sweet. Your dad adore her!"

"Dad can't be ever wrong in choosing the right person for us!" she said. "I wish I had listened him."

Anjali sniffed. Mrs. Raizada kept hand on her shoulder, Anjali hugged her.

Khushi stopped at the door when she looked at both of them. She wondered what happened. When Anjali saw Khushi, she pulled away from the hug, and wiped her tears.

"Come, Khushi, sorry for this, mum and daughter moment!"

"I am sorry if I came at the wrong time!"

"Oh come on, dear, come on in!" Mrs. Raizada said. "Come I teach you how to make simple dishes then we will go on with the harder ones."

"I am ready, ma!" she said.

***
Arnav entered the room and didn't look at Khushi but he knew Khushi was looking at him.

"Are you going somewhere?" she asked, he grabbed his car keys, and wallet from a night table.

"It has nothing to do with you!" he said.

"I wasn't expecting you would say anything!"

"I had to, otherwise you wouldn't have shut your mouth."

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"I said it has nothing to do with you!"

She cleared her throat and nodded her head. He was going to leave when she called him and he stopped.

"I wasn't expecting you to stop," she said.

"What the eff you have to say?" he said turning on his heels.

"Looks like you are really affected by my drama!" she said.

He raised his eyebrow questioningly. Then furrows on his forehead smoothed. "You are living in a fantasy, Khushi. Your dramas only make me hate you more. Do you see, it is not good."

"Good to know, I didn't expect you to answer!" she got up the bed and walked towards him when he was leaving.

She ran after him fast enough to reach him, she tapped her hand on his shoulder. He didn't stop. "Well, tell me where are you going?" she asked.
"You know I have to tell family members if they will ask me where have you gone. I don't actually care where you go!"

Arnav stopped, held her hand, and took her to the room. He shut the door.

"I have already told the people who care  where I go that I am taking Roshni out!" he said angrily.

"Wow, Mr. Raizada, you didn't take your wife out ever and you are taking your friend out."

"You know what? She is a very special friend who understands me more than I know myself, she has been there in my good and bad times. So it is my duty to make sure that she is happy!"

Khushi didn't think twice, she took one step forward, rose on her toes, cupped his back of her head, surprising him to death she placed her lips on his.

He tried to move her away but she was quick enough to get her hold tighter on him. She pressed her lips harder and passionately, leaving him no state to move but kiss her back. He was stunned by her this act. She fisted his short hair as much she could, and bit his lower lip. A way she was kissing him made him think that she had kissed someone before. She was out of breath, but she didn't stop. And Arnav still was composed, but defiantly not alright. It was their first kiss together and she wanted to make it special, no matter what. Even if she would die due to no oxygen reaching her brain. Arnav wasn't sure what to do as all of sudden he was caught off guard. His hands wrapped around her waist and slowly they moved up her back.

Khushi all of sudden felt all her strength fade away at his gentle unintended move. She pressed her body against his hard body, today she came to know what exactly iron body meant and felt like. Her burnt skin hurt but she didn't mind this pain when she had her man slowly kissing her back.

Arnav wasn't expecting himself to do this at all, but there was not a motivation of him to pull away either when his wife needed it.

He bit her lower lip that made her moan, and he himself cried a throaty moan.

Khushi felt they both were flying in the air. She didn't know kissing someone special was this beautiful, and was so special indeed that she felt melting like an ice.

The rough breathing intoxicated them, but Arnav knew he had to stop; whereas Khushi never wanted it to end. She did made a mistake by hurting him, she accepted it. She had all her fears gone by now. She held his shoulders for support and traced the shoulder line up to back to his head.

He had to stop, his mind screamed, but the other moment his heart was telling him the otherwise.

Khushi's head spun, the soft pain jumped up and down in her stomach. Refusing to settle. When his hands touched her waist she trembled, she was going to fall, but she managed to stand upright. Then slowly and gradually they stopped. She looked at him, with a smile on her face. She looked dreamy. Messily confused. She now understood why college girls were always drooling over him.

"Have you gone mad?" It was supposed to be an angry question, but his tone betrayed him miserably.

"Now you can go and have fun!" she said and turned around to leave to her bed, Arnav spun her over, she crashed once again in his arms, "what the eff you think you did?" his anger returned, but it was gone the moment he found himself looking in her toxic eyes.

She didn't mind using her actions. She pulled him towards herself and placed his lips on him once again in a same passion as earlier on, she kissed before she pulled him away.

"Do you have anything else to ask?"

"What have gotten into you? Jeez! Have you gone nuts?"

"You enjoyed it well, Mr. Raizada!"

Arnav hated how she was making it a joke, he held her back of the head possessively, and looked angrily in his eyes to give her enough sense and indication that if she thought it was fun, he wouldn't have mind knocking sense into her mind.

"Whatever I said was stupid, and amongst that one thing was right and still is true, Arnav, that I love you!"

He searched the validity of her words in her eyes. His hold in her hair loosened.
He pushed her away from himself. He shook his head. "For a girl like you love is just a joke!"

"I can prove you wrong, Arnav!"

"You need not to prove it when love is honest! I guess you have done enough proving anyway," he said. "And please don't even start your emotional blackmail!"

"I am sorry, Arnav, for hurting you!"

"Do not give yourself this much importance, in few days you will be one of the girls who came to my life and left!" he said.

"That's why you have asked her to come here? To make me jealous?"

"What rubbish? Have you gone crazy?"

"So you haven't?" she asked.

He looked away. She had her answers. She smiled to herself.

She pouted when he left without answering where he was taking her. In seconds, she had an idea. She got ready in under five minutes and decided to follow him to place where he was going.

CHAPTER 8B

Khushi cursed herself for taking medicine that was making her drowsy. That made her work hard on to keep her eyes glued on the road and focused on her driving.

Arnav who was driving in front of her, casually looked through the rear view mirror, when his eyes fell on a BMW behind him, Sent from my iPhone

"What happened, Arnav?" Roshni asked, seeing him shaking his head as if  he was annoyed.

"Nothing!" he said. And tried to trick Khushi.

"So, Arnav, tell me how is life going?" she asked.

"Pretty much a roller coaster ride!" he said.

She laughed.

"I mean it!" he said making himself clear, at the same time kept his focus on Khushi's car.

"You tell me, how are you? What's new?"

"My life is pretty exciting!" she said. "New is mom dad are looking for an eligible bachelor for me. I am so sad that you got married, Arnav."

Arnav hardly focused on what she was saying. He pulled his car in the right lane to pass the car ahead of him when no car was coming from the opposite side.

Khushi wondered what he was doing, so did Roshni. "You seem to reach club fast!" she commented.

"Very!" he said. He had a move but later regretted, he was worried about Khushi. What if she made the same move as him, he thought...

Before Khushi could make the same move as him, a car coming from the opposite side stopped her from doing so, she was forced to stay on her side of the road. She grunted. And hit her hand on a steering wheel hard. Ouch! 

"If she hasn't called him then who did? Has she come on her own? And if she has, doesn't she have common sense that he is my husband?" she fumed, and on a second thought she was thinking since when she became so possessive.

"Where has he gone?" she thought, and jumped in her seat to see if she can track his car. She saw an opportunity, she speeded up her car and overtook the car in front of her. "Idiot!" she literally rolled down the glass and said to the driver. "Can't you drive faster?" she yelled, and speeded her car to follow Arnav's.

Arnav had slowed down his car, so that Khushi could catch up with him, he saw her again following him.

"There he is!" Khushi said with a sense of accomplishment, patted her shoulder. Arnav was mentally shaking his head, but was thankful that she was safe. Khushi didn't know he was aware that she was following him.

"I am pretty sure she is high on something!" he muttered.

"Did you say anything, Arnav?" Roshni asked as his gibber made no sense to her. They reached the club.

"No, nothing. So, have you found someone good to marry too?" he asked.

"No, not yet," she said sadly. "I don't think after you I will find someone good."

He let out a little laugh. "You should rethink that..."

"I don't have to..." she said and laughed. "Just kidding, I am happy for you. Your wife is cute..."

"Crazy as well."

"You are no less..."

"I would take that title away actually, I am nothing in front of her," he said. Roshni let out a fresh bark of laughter.

"I have heard you didn't want to get married to each other..."

"Yup, some things aren't in our hands...I wish our parents didn't think they have every right to make decisions for us..."

"Aren't you happy with her?" she asked.

For a moment he looked at her. "We both are not happy with each other," he answered.

"Hmm...Both of your story is rather interesting..."

"Very...interesting!" he said. "We are figuring out ourselves, you see we are stuck with each other."

"That's good...Since you both are married you should learn to be a better option for each other..."

"We are!" he answered more to himself.

"Wow, whole outlook has changed of this building..." Roshni said.

"Yeah, after Akaash guys decided they want to own a hotel, restaurant, we needed to make a club big," he explained.

He parked the car and Khushi parked the car far behind his.

"That's grand. I like it."

"Thanks!" he said, he got out of his car and tried to just casually look at Khushi's side. As soon as he saw her, she appeared hidden behind a car. He once again shook his head.

"Crazy woman!" he muttered, and went to open the door for Roshni.

"Thank you, Arnav!" Roshni said smiling in a gratitude.

"I hope you will like the club from inside as well!" he said. Before entering the club he let Roshni go in first and himself stopped by to say something to the guard.

"Don't see the direction I am asking you to look at. You see one girl coming?" Guard nodded as he looked momentarily at Khushi.

"Don't let her in easily."

"Okay, sir!"

Khushi squint  as she wondered what he was saying to a guard.

Khushi was normally going to enter when guard stopped her, "Ma'am you cannot go in!"

"How dare you to say that to me? Do you even know who am I?" she revolted.

"Ma'am, you need a pass to get in. Today, there is a special party kept and only special people are invited in."

Khushi's mouth fell. "You, I am Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada. The wife of Arnav Singh Raizada. I need no invitation."

"Mam, there are strict orders from Arnav sir!"

"You wait, I call my father-in-law, Mr. Rajwansh Raizada, and I see how you don't let me go in..."

Guard got scared. "Ma'am, please don't call him..."

"Then let me go in..." she ordered.

"Sure, ma'am!" he said and opened the door for her.

"I hope next time you will remember me," she said, and flaunted her hair in the air and like a princess giving him whatever look she walked in the club.

It was her first visit here at this club. She had heard lot about it but never ever thought to come just because of Arnav, and ironically, today, she was here just because of him.

She opened the door that separated a club from the restaurant, and one person she looked for was Arnav, forget about Roshni. Then looking around from left to right she tracked down Arnav and Roshni both. She didn't go to them. She knew he had brought her at the club to make her jealous and she wasn't going to give him any satisfaction of such.

Roshni did see her. "Arnav, is that Khushi?"

Arnav turned to his right in his seat and kept his arm on the back of the chair. He saw Khushi talking to some random guy, whose face he can't see.

"You said she wasn't coming."
"That's what I thought..." he said.
"Wait, I call her," Roshni said.
"Khushi!" she shouted. But due to the loud music she couldn't make herself hear. Plus she wasn't looking at their side either.

Khushi gulped a glass of the strongest wine down her throat in one go. It burnt her oesophagus. She tapped her chest. But it wasn't as bad thinking of Arnav talking to Roshni.

"God, Khushi can drink!" Roshni wondered out of curiosity.

Arnav turned around once again in shock. He had to stop her before she had gone all crazy. But why he bother, he thought.

"Yes, she can drink!" he said, simply turning around to face Roshni again.

"Give me the most alcoholic drink that you have..." Khushi said.

"You just had that ma'am!" Bartender said.

Arnav had said he didn't care but he literally forced himself to go to her and stop her before she hurt herself. Knowing that alcohol and her was not a good combination.

He got up his chair.
"Excuse me, Roshni, I will be back..."
"Sure," she said.

He walked up to her.
"Khushi!" he called.

"Hey, Mr. Raizada, Shauraya, meet my husband, Arnav Singh Raizada. The owner of this club!"
"Hi!" Shauraya said.
Arnav returned his hi. "Khushi, come with me!" he said and held her hand.
"Where are we going? Please don't throw me out of the club," she pleaded.

"I won't, come with me!" he said and took her out of the club.

Khushi didn't protest hearing his words, and went wherever he took her. She stuck her tongue out at Roshni, thinking she was after her husband. Roshni missed it.

"Khushi, what you are doing here?" Arnav asked, angrily.

She crossed her arms against her chest. "You didn't invite me to come with you so I came alone," she answered.

"Did you say that you want to come with me?"

She looked at him and smiled. "Did you have brought me here?"

"No, never!"

Khushi wiggled her lips side to side. "This is why I came alone!" she retorted. "And I won't ask you to give me company, you can enjoy with your friend!"

She went in. "Khushi, wait!"

She didn't listen him. He followed her and caught her hand. "Khushi, I am warning, you are not drinking!"

Khushi stopped and kept her elbow on his shoulder. "Why not?"

"Because I am saying it!" he replied, and took her to the table where Roshni was sitting.

"Hello, Roshni!" she said.
"Hello, Khushi. Why didn't you come with us?"
"Because I don't trust his driving. His car flies in the air when he drives. I get so scared."

Arnav held his head in an annoyance. She was high on one drink, he wondered what really she drank.

Roshni looked at Arnav questioningly.

"She is kidding!" he said instead of telling her that when she is drunk she talk nonsense.

"Oh! Khushi, you are really funny!"

"Thank you, Roshni! So tell me what are you doing with my husband?"

Roshni looked at Arnav embarrassed.

"Khushi, remember I told you she wanted to see the club?" Arnav said.

"Why aren't there any in America?"

Roshni laughed. "There are..."

"Okay, tell me what you do?"

"I...I completed my graduation and will soon join a medical school."

"Oh wow! You are smart!"

"I guess so, I am sure you are as well!"

Khushi for few seconds looked at her and then at drink in Arnav's hand. She took it from him. "You shouldn't be drinking!" she scolded him, when she herself was the one who wanted to drink it.

"Uh...where were we?" She scratched her forehead. "Smart, me?"

Arnav saw a ghost of sadness on her face that she was trying hard to conceal.

She started drinking. Before Arnav could stop her she had half of the drink slipped down her throat. To prevent her from going completely insane he had to force her to give him the bottle.

"Arnav, I think you should take her home..."

He agreed with her.
"Khushi, let's go home!"

"Home, no!" She cried. "Arnav, please no home. Can we dance?" she said and had already stood up.

"Go ahead!" Roshni said laughing.

"Khushi, we should go home!" he said, but gave his hand in hers and she dragged him towards the dance floor.

She took his hand and placed it on her waist.

"DJ," she shouted thrice, when he looked at her, she shouted even louder. "Change this crap to something romantic!"

DJ looked at Arnav and he nodded his head to go ahead.

DJ changed the song to a calm slow romantic music. "All the beautiful couples on the floor please!" he announced.

Arnav resisted to laugh. "You are crazy, Khushi. Aren't you?"
"You made me. You know never in my life I drank. I was a very sober girl!"
"Sober? Doesn't go well with your image!" he said.
She soft laughed. "You are to blame, you always make me wild!"
He pulled her little closer to himself. She trembled a bit. "You make me aggressive, mad, and then all of sudden love you. I guess I had hated you enough. And you know that there is a limit to everything."
"Will there be a limit to your love?"

She was quite for a while.

"The day the moment will come it will be a end of me," she said.

"Is that you speaking or your intoxication?"
"What you think?"
"I don't think anything that has with you!"

She looked sadly at him.

"I believe!" he said.

Sadness from her face vanished in the air, when a smile sparkled on her face. His eyes were magical, and the way he was looking at her made her believe that she existed.

"Can we kiss?"

"You are drunk!" he said. "And I don't want you to do anything such when you are not in your senses."

"Doesn't matter if I am drunk or not. Nowadays, I am never in my senses when you are with me. I am always drunk in your love."

A little smile eloped on the side of his lip that made him look irresistible. "I had heard that in love person become a poet and today I have seen and heard it."

Khushi's head fell on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her back to keep her steady. "You alright?"

"Uh-huh!" she said, and nodded her head against his chest. She placed her hand on his chest to feel his heart beat.

"You have a heart and it beat!" she said, in a tone as if she couldn't get herself to believe it.

"Is there a limit to your nonsense?" he asked.

"I thought you didn't have a heart..."

"Glad you think the otherwise now!" he amused.

For few minutes he heard nothing from her, he raised her head up a little, she had fallen asleep. Her head fell back, and he caught it. He looked at Roshni who was now accompanied by his brothers. He gestured towards them telling that he was taking Khushi home.

He picked her in his arms and made his way out of the club.

Chapter 8C (Maha Update)

MAHA UPDATE

"Arnav, where are you going?" she asked, squinting her eyes at him.
"Going to change!" he answered.
"Come soon!"
"Sure!"

But she suddenly got up the bed, just when Arnav was going to walk into the washroom, she pushed him away and ran to the toilet seat to throw.

"See, this is why I was asking you to not to drink!" he taunted.

"Arnav, it's all because of you."

"Excuse me?...May I know how come it was because of me?" he asked, looking at her in disbelief.

"Yes, if you hadn't gone to the club with Roshni, neither I would have followed you, nor I would have drunk..."

"You followed me?" he asked.

She looked at him. "I mean!"

"It's okay, that I knew. Khushi, you say you love me?"

"Yes, why are questioning it? Do I have to prove it now by giving my life for you?"

"Oh! Don't be so dramatic I told you this before. If you love me, you should trust me. The bottom line is you are insecure, otherwise you need not to follow me."

Khushi looked at him weighing his words, but then all came to her as a tangled mess of words.

"If you are talking about insecurities yes, I am insecure. I know these feelings are just nonsense. But I am only insecure because I don't know what do you want, you want me or not!"

"Mrs. Khushi Singh Raizada..."

"It's Mrs. Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada!" she cut him off and corrected him.

"Stop behaving like kids who is after her mother."

She tried not to not to spill a tear in front of him.

"I am sorry I was insecure. You will not be bothered by me again. Please do me a favour. Do not show me your concerns. Do not talk to me. I will not cross your ways, will try my best at least. And I guess, we were better when we were enemies. If you please leave me alone now. That will be great."

Arnav glared at her, she had already made herself clear and he didn't wish to say or do anything on that.

"Khushi, listen!" he said, seeing her hurt, and took a step forward towards her. But she flushed the toilet water, and stepped into the cold water shower to get rid of her intoxication. Arnav saw her sinking down on the floor lifeless.

"Mom, are you going to my school parents meeting today?" she asked, excitedly, in a hope she would hear yes.

"I wish I could have come dear. But sorry, your Payal di has a school function where she will be performing."

She felt sad, but didn't let her feel herself bad about it.

"Dad, you would not able to come as well?" she asked. Instead of asking weather he would go.

"I am going to your sister's annual function as well. What they are going to say anyways, that you are weak in studies! And an average student who doesn't pay attention in a class. We hear that most of the times when they call us at the principle office!" he said almost very certain.

Payal giggled, "Mom, dad, didn't she show you the test results? She got zero in social studies and maths tests!"

Khushi stuck her tongue at her.

"Khushi, you better behave," her mother said.

***
"Dadi, how do I look?" Khushi asked.

"Oh look at my Khushi baby, you look so good in that dress!" she said.

"And dadi how do I look?" Payal asked.

"Dadi, why Payal di has a better dress than me?"

"Oh look at that how beautiful my Payal bitiya looks!" dadi said and kissed her cheeks and hugged her. At that time she felt neglected. Was she being too sensitive, she didn't know.

***

"Insecurity" Khushi had not felt it more than she had heard the word. Being a younger child, one gets more affection, Khushi didn't remember when did the last time that held true for her, and she got affection or was pampered by her own family. When did she felt she was equal to her elder sister. They say parents, grandparents differentiate between girls and boys, there are differences between girls too, she didn't know, until she felt it.

 Being a child with a performance at school, even at university below than an average made her stupid in the eyes of her parents, even teachers. She admitted, studies was never her thing.

"Attention seeker!" Payal would sometime call her, but she wasn't an attention seeker. She only needed was love. Love of her parents, her grandparents, when they pretended she didn't exist.

At university her admission was not on a base of her marks, but because of her father.

Another disappointment for her. Another being, she got into the university just because her parents wanted it, so that they can tell their daughter goes to university. They had nothing to do with it if she liked it or not. Then all she could do was try as hard as she could. Nobody asked what her interests were.

How ironic! She never wanted to get married, and she was forced. The most important decision wasn't hers. Initially she was afraid, or one could say she was sure that she will not get the love of her husband and the family. It was wrong for her to think, her in laws love her more than their own daughter, but it is the relationships that she didn't want to leave. Now it was all going to end. She was going to lose everything again.

Everyone called her crazy as her first name rather than it defined her behaviour, but nothing really understood real her.

Arnav watched her thinking that she might get up on her own, that's what he wanted her to do, then he realised she was in no condition to do so. He stepped in a cold water shower along with her.

"Khushi, get up."

She was lost, he made her get up by her shoulders, and she was back to now, she could no longer take the cold, and her body was numb. She wished somehow her mind was numb too so that she could no longer feel anything. No pain, no love.

Arnav pulled her out of the shower and wrapped bathrobe around her wet body, and took her inside the room. She followed.

She stood where he stopped, he went to her cupboard.

"Khushi, get changed!" he said, and went out of the room.

He was gone. She sat down on her bed, and slipped out her personal diary from underneath the bed.

She took out the pen clipped on the front cover of the diary. Her wet body trembled, but that didn't held important for her. She pinned the tip of a pen against the paper to write but she realised she had nothing to write, but the last thing that buzzed in her mind was...

"I wish, I hadn't stopped myself that day. I wish, I was in that plane crash." 

It was absolutely stupid thing to write, she thought, but she was sick and tired of pretending she was Happy-go-lucky person. She was tired of being insecure.

And yes, she was not used to concerns at all, however, whenever she got them, she welcomed them with her full heart. For the first time she felt to give up on everything.

Reluctantly, she changed her wet clothes to dry night suit that Arnav gave her. She could feel her body getting the warmth, but she couldn't get herself to enjoy it.

She wished, as a bad dream the pain she was feeling would go away with this night. She tugged her diary well secured under the mattress. She laid to sleep but only ended up turning and tossing. She stared at the ceiling and possibly did everything she could do. Neither sleep came, nor Arnav. Truth was, she wanted Arnav to come more than her mind needed sleep to rest her thoughts.

She felt as if her soul wanted to wretch her body and get out of it. Her heart felt as if it was caged in a tight box and it only begged for one thing, freedom.

She sat on the bed, feeling restless. Her left over intoxication did nothing but fuel her worst thoughts that only gave her the pain.

***
Arnav walked in the room and saw her sleeping. Then he saw his night clothes were kept on the bed already for him by Khushi.

He removed his jacket and his t-shirt and changed into a black vest and black Pyjama and put his clothes in his cupboard.

He turned on the lamp of his side and looked at Khushi. She had her face towards him. For nearly an hour he didn't know why he was staring at her. He went on to her side and checked her forehead if she was okay.

He leant in and kissed her forehead. "Sleep tight!" he muttered, and moved back to his side.

When she moved, and was going to open her eyes he quickly rested his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. She looked at him.

She checked the clock wondering when did she sleep. Then she saw Arnav was back.

She pulled blanket on top of him, when she saw he was sleeping without blanket on him when AC was on, she moved her hand in his hair and kissed his forehead deeply before she got out of the bed, and shut off the lamp before leaving the room.

As soon as he knew she was gone, he opened his eyes and was back in deep thoughts.

***
"Good morning, Khushi, bitiya. You already up?"

"Good morning, mumma!" she said. "I didn't feel like sleeping anymore. I knew you must be up so I thought of coming down to help you!"

"Aww! Dear, you should be sleeping!"

"Mumma!"
"Yes, bitiya!"
"I went to the club last night."
"Yes, bitiya, I know. You asked for the permission!"
She looked down. "Mumma, there I...I got drunk I am sorry. I promised I won't but then also I got drunk, but I don't know what had happened to me!"

Mrs. Raizada walked up to Khushi.
"What happened, bitiya. It's really alright. And if there is anything else I am like your mother, you could really talk to me!"

Khushi looked up at her, when she saw tears in her eyes she made her sit in the chair.

"What's bothering you?" she asked calmly.

She shook her head.

"Can I hug you?"

Her mother-in-law looked at her in awe and herself embraced her in her arms and kissed her hair. "You don't need permission for it, my dear!"

Khushi couldn't able to hold her tears, "Are, what happen? Dear, you are old enough to be responsible for your actions. It's okay if you got drunk. So what's the big deal?"

"Good mo..." Anjali walked into the kitchen and when she Khushi crying, she rushed to her.

"Khushi? Mom, what happened to her? Khushi, what happened dear?" Anjali sat on her knees and put her hand on her shoulder.

Khushi pulled back away from the hug. Mrs. Raizada sat in a chair next to her.
Anjali looked at Khushi worried.
"Did, chote, say anything to her?" she asked, angrily.

"No, di, he didn't!" she said.

"You can tell us, you see what we do to him!"

Khushi giggled.

"Oh my sweet sister-in-law, always keep smiling, because we love you when you smile. But now tell, what happened?"

"Mummy ji, I promise I won't drink again!"

"What you were drunk again?" Anjali asked. "Khushi, what's up with you dear? Are you thinking of becoming a lady Devdas?" Anjali asked.

"I promise I won't drink!" she wailed.

"Khushi, I know there must be some reason for you to get drunk! May we know the reason as well?" Anjali asked.

"I don't know..."

"Hmm!"

"Khushi, you know what you need to be more out going. After whatever happened last week did leave you tired. How about going for a shopping?"

"We just three!" Anjali said.

Khushi agreed. "But for now just go and sleep, you look really tired to me. You need a beauty sleep."

Khushi nodded. "Come I drop you in your room!"

***
After breakfast Anjali, Khushi, and their mother left for a shopping. Arnav was sleeping until 11:00 o'clock, his sleep broke when NK came to call him.

"Bhai, wake up!"
"What, NK?" he asked in a complaining tone.
"Bhai, come on get up, it's almost afternoon."

Arnav yawned and stretched, as he looked at NK irritably. "Is that Khushi less that you have come?"

"Well bhabi isn't home!"
"Why? Where has she gone?" he asked, leaning on his elbows. His laziness was gone.
He shrugged his shoulder. "I don't know after breakfast she went somewhere."
"Went somewhere? Without telling?"
"I don't know, bhai. You are her husband you should know it!"

Arnav tiredly sat up on the bed. "Yes, why did you come?"

"To wake you up and to tell you that there is a clash between two parties at our club. By mistake one of us booked two parties on the same date."

"So, what's the big deal? Ask one of them to shift one of their parties and if they didn't agree organise both their parties in different club, Montana and Pearl, and say that Dice club would be closed due to some problem."

"Sure, that sounds like a solution. One thing more uncle wants to see you in his office in an hour," he said. "Now I go!"

"Go, go. You guys never have good news to bring for me. What yaar, at home lady Dracula and at work Godfather! I feel like I am stuck between the zombie world and the underworld. But where did she go?"

He picked up his phone to call but she had left her phone at home. He was worried now.

***
Around 2:00 o' clock, Arnav came home, his brothers had gone to their classes, and Roshni must have gone with them, he thought. Khushi he couldn't see anywhere as well.

He called Anjali to ask if she knew Khushi was with her. "Hello, Di, is Khushi with you?"

"Yes, we had come for a shopping."

"Shopping, I thought you must be at your work!"

"No, mom, me and Khushi decided to shop around."

"It's a relief," he muttered. "I hope you are enjoying your day out."

"Yes, we are. Why did you call?"
"Just to inquire that whether Khushi was with you. Like other times I thought I had to run around the town in search of her."
"No, she is with us."
"Good, you enjoy my day, by di. Take care of yourself."
"Bye, chote!" Anjali said amused.
"What did he say?" Mrs. Raizada asked.
"Khushi, you lost the bet. He called to inquire about you."
"He cares for you my dear, man are just little foolish when it comes to knowing that they are in love."
Khushi doubted if it was true for Arnav.
"Dear, don't you worry, now come and let's shop more, I am so enjoying it!" Mrs. Raizada said excitedly, to boost her mood.

Khushi smiled. She was actually feeling much more relieved and liberated coming out with her sister-in-law, and mother-in-law, they were so much fun to be around.

More attachment meant disappointment? she thought. For now she brushed off the negative feelings, she wanted to live in the moment. And it worked, naturally she felt happy with two pleasant ladies that proved they were their for her.
"Khushi, you want to eat...I think we should go to ice cream parlour...Why not a restaurant actually?" Anjali said.
"Let her decide where she wants to go?" Mrs. Raizada said.
Khushi smiled. "I think we can go at both places!"
"Perfect!"


***
Arnav walked into his room, the first thing he noticed was pink room, and quite stunned by the fact that more than being angry he was quite tolerant. It didn't even bother him. The smell of her perfume sweet, and light helped him relaxed his nerves as she was right here in the room.

He could hear her voice in his ear that touched his ear drums.

And without her he did feel the void in a room as if no one lives in the house. Even in his life.

"Arnav!"

"Khushi!" he immediately said, but when he turned around the excitement inside him died as soon as it arose, when he saw Roshni.

"Hey, Roshni!"
"You were expecting Khushi?"
"No, it's nothing like that, I was just..."
"And what the, what happened to your room? I actually didn't get to come here till now...Khushi did it?"

He smiled, and looked around the room, "yes, she did it, in my absence. Pretty crazy she is!"
"Arnav, you like her?"
Arnav felt little awkward when she stood close to him. "Why I feel you are not happy with her? Why I don't see the chemistry the one that should be in between a normal couple?" she asked.

"It's nothing like that. We are still trying to figure out each other."

"Why are you lying, Arnav? There is still a time, you can free yourself."

"Roshni, you are mistaking it!" he said.

"You married because your father put a condition that you will be evicted from the property and as far as I know you are enemies."

Khushi's breath stuck in her throat and shopping bags fell from her hands seeing Roshni standing this close to him and hearing her talk as if she was trying to force him to leave her.

Roshni moved back and Arnav looked at Khushi shocked.

"Hey, Khushi, you back?" Roshni said.

"I am sorry!" she said, as she pointed at the fallen bags on the floor. "I tripped," she lied. Arnav went to help her, but she had already picked them up.

"Arnav, tonight I have held the party at the club, you should really come. Khushi, you too. You should come as well!"

Khushi smiled, and faintly nodded, the best response she could have given at a moment.

She left a feeling of uncomfortable in Arnav.

"So you went for a shopping today, how was it?" he asked, distracting himself.

She put her bags in the cupboard and Arnav lazily laid on the bed. "Hey, lady Dracula, at least show me what you have got?"
"Why? You want to try them on? Ladies dresses?"
"Well, I am sure there will be something for me as well!"
"And what made you think that?"
"I am your husband, usually a wife would get something for her sweet husband."
"You are a bitter gourd!"
He resisted to laugh.
"Then also you fell in love with it?" he said, with a smirk on his face. "By the way, I didn't expect you to answer any of my questions."
"In this way, you wouldn't shut up!" she said, and threw a bag at him. "For you!"
"Oh wow!!! a first gift from you to me!" he said. "Let's see what is in it?" he said, and saw her going to the washroom to change. He smiled. He took out a box, "Pink? Bloody pink!" he said, loudly to irritate her, but laughed to himself at the same time. When he opened up the box, he was expecting a watch or a tie or a ring. He carefully opened the packing, a light baby pink ribbon, and then the box lid.

He burst into a shrill laugh when he took out the receipt of her shopping, and his credit card.

Khushi came out of the washroom. "My sweet husband, how did you like my first gift?"

His laugh vanished.

"Khushi, I am sorry that I hurt you yesterday!"

She looked at him in awe.

"It's okay you didn't say any wrong!" she said.

"So, I can go out with Roshni without any guilt, right?" he said, as he decided to play along. "I mean, you won't follow me to the club, right?"

Her nose flared. "Sure, I don't care. You both deserve each other. Perfect match," she said, as she tried to kill her anger and jealousy. Of course she failed miserably.

"God, why wife's are always melodramatic? Now where did I keep my wallet? I am pretty sure she has hidden it somewhere."

He checked under his mattress and then in the night table. But failed. He went to check under her mattress, and found her diary. "Her personal diary? Urggh, again bloody pink," he took it and kept it back just the war it is. "I am sure like her brains it will be empty. But where the heck is my wallet?"

***
"Mom, did you see Khushi somewhere?"
"She is with your dad in the library."
"What is she doing there?"
"Why, can't she talk to her father?"
"By all means, mom! By the way, was that your idea of letting Khushi take my credit card and buy like the whole shopping mall?"
"Don't exaggerate, we had to force her buy things, but the only thing she wanted was our times."
"Hmm...Mom, if you are free can I talk to you?"
"What is it, son?"
"It's about Khushi!"
"What happened? Is everything alright with her?"
"That's what I want to talk to you about."
"Sure, son, give me few seconds, I have to sign few checks!"
"Sure, I go and see Khushi meanwhile!"
"That will be perfect."

***
Arnav heard Khushi giggling and chuckle of his father coming from inside of the library.

"And you know what, before exams I used to fall sick. And my grandfather would say to my father that I can't go to give the exams."

Khushi couldn't stop herself from laughing. "And my dad would know that I was just pretending but he never used to say anything because he was scared of his father. Also, knew in my little head nothing would go..."

"Papa, you are so funny."

"So, that's why I say, don't take your grades seriously, you should have the motivation to do whatever interests you. You tell me what interests you?"

Arnav leant against the wall, and carefully payed attention to what she was going to say.

"I want to be a fashion designer, but..."

"But...what?"

"Nothing, papa...I don't have goof grades."

"Again the same thing? Do you have designs that you have drawn?"

"I had, but I burnt them..."

"Oh goodness, okay that's alright, can you draw them now?"

"But it will be not so good..."

"You are not to decide that, you gave them to me. In our office we need fresh ideas from the young minds like you. You have your sources. Your husband, he is your primary source. Right now I don't push him much because I don't want him to kill his youth, this is the time when he should enjoy his life, but I also know that he will not say no to me if I will ask him to join office permanently. I would also tell you the same thing, stress is good but to some extent. Especially when it motivates you, not take toll on your health.  It is okay if you don't want to study further. Do what you like, I will support you. And yes, now I know you like to design, my dear daughter, bring them on."

Arnav smiled, and just seeing her face he could tell how happy and relaxed she was. But at the same time nervous.

"Papa, I don't know how to thank you!"

"There is absolutely no need to it, dear. I heard that you went to a shopping with your mom and sister-in-law, how was it? And what did you get for me?"
"Papa, there is nothing in this world that you can't buy, or you don't have, but this card from me."
A glimpse of happiness was not on Mr. Raizada's face but in his eyes. And nothing touched him more than her sweet little gesture to show him, her love for him. "Papa, me and Arnav, have done many mistakes, we hurt you, but that was in ignorance. We didn't mean too. So, for all those mistakes I want to say sorry and promise that you will not be hurt from our sides. And thank you for tackling us positively."
Mr. Raizada embraced her in a warm hug. Khushi hugged him back. The best hug that she could ever imagine.
"It's really okay. You both are our kids and kids do such naughty stuff."
"Thank you, papa."

Arnav leaves from there to talk to his mother.

"Papa, it's time for you to go to sleep. And did you take your medicines?"
"Yes, my child. I did. Now you go to and sleep, I go to my room. And don't forget to give me your designs, also do not take stress about it at all. You have all the time in this world."
"Okay, good night, papa!"
"Good night!" he said.
***

Main tera Dushman, dushman tu mera Chapter 7 (A + B + C)

Chapter 7 A (Maha Update)

"Here you go, perfect medicine for you!" Arnav said.y

"Chote, why don't you make her drink it with your own hands?" Anjali suggested. 

"Di, I would have loved to, instead I am going to pack her suitcase."

"Suitcase, why?" Anjali asked, even Khushi wondered where they were going.

"Her parents wants to see her!"

Khushi looked at him, her mood suddenly was turned bitter. "And she will be going to see her parents for a week!"

"You are going as well?" Anjali asked.

"Sadly, I am sorry. My wife has to go alone."

"I am sad you will not be going with me!" Khushi mocked, even though she wasn't feel at her best, just because she didn't want to go to her house. 

"Aww! Chote, look at her. She feels so bad that you would not be going!"

Arnav looked at her amused face, when Anjali was looking at him.

"Chote, you should go and pack your stuff! I prepare for the gifts with mom!"

"Anjali di, gifts will not be needed.  You can give them when we all would go!"

"As you say, dear! Chote, do go with her!" Anjali said and exited their room.

"Excuse me I am not going with you at all!" he said. 

"Do not worry even I won't loose a chance to enjoy this week without you!" she said.

"Why did you say I will go with you then?"

"Just for fun my dear husband! I am sick, keep packing my bag pack! Put all the good dresses!"

"Even these?" he asked as he picked her inner wear.

Khushi had her mouth wide open. "Put that down, you man with a dirty mind! Leave everything I shall pack my stuff on my own!"

"No, it's okay, I will help you!"

"Shut up, Arnav!" 

"Look at this, what days have come a wife keeps on telling her husband to shut up. Learn something from your mother-in-law, even though she is modern but dare she even raised her voice in front of her husband."
"A person should be worth of respect as well. Stop comparing yourself to papa he is at the top you are not even close to him!"
That was true he didn't argue on that.
"But I will be generous enough and pack your bag pack!" he said. "Oh god it's a different feeling to see the storm going out of your life!" he said. "I can feel how your parents have felt it! But I don't know why they are welcoming you now!"
She looked down at her soup. He looked at her when she didn't say anything in return. "What happen?" he asked.
"Nothing, I am thinking what shall I do in a week? How would I spend the happiest week without you?" she said and grinned.
"I was thinking exactly the same. I might go to my girlfriend's house and of course I can do late night parties! Here I have packed your clothes. Dude, do me a favour you can live for more than a week if you want. See I am trying to being the best husband."
Khushi looked at him smiling. "If you can explain this to mumma papa, I can be away for two weeks."
"Oh lord, I love you for this. Perfect! You leave that on me I will convince mom, dad, they won't mind their loveable daughter in law having fun."
"And I love you for being sweet to me! This is the one advantage to live an enemy!"
"If this worked fine we will go often do this. Like me sometimes going out for a business trips and all that!"
"Perfect! You enjoy your days, I can live a week or two without you in a perfect solace!"

***

Khushi saw off to everyone in the house, and her driver drove out of the Raizada mansion.

"Driver Kaka, drop me at the airport!" she said.

"Airport?"

"Yes!" she said.

"Kaka, please don't tell this to anyone that I didn't go to my house."

"As you say, bitiya!" he said.

***

As Khushi sat at the airport, she had no idea where she would go. Tears flowed down her eyes as she wiped them before they made their way down her eyes. She looked at her passport, and thought she should go to America, but she didn't want to. She just wanted to have some time alone.

She closed her eyes and then opened it. The first name she saw on the flight board was America. She decided she would go to America then may be she was meant to go there. Luckily she got a ticket to the only flight that was going to leave to America, and she didn't have to wait much.

She didn't know why but she felt really bad when Arnav sounded so excited and wanted her to leave. She shut her eyes to stop herself from crying. She put her shades on so that no one has the idea that she was crying. But what made her feel guilty was lying to her in-laws that she was going to see her parents when it was not even on her mind. 

"I do not want to see you mom, dad, dadi, and Payal di. I don't like you all. Dad, you made me marry Arnav, but I haven't forgotten that you gave importance to more to a business than your daughter as always. I surely have gotten a best family who loves me unconditionally, but you surely lost me!

The thing is you never understood me. You as my parents too thought I was a trouble maker. The attention that I needed from you I got from my in-laws, Payal di was right, this was my real house, I know how hard it is tolerate me, but I was your daughter. At least you should have shown me some fake concern. You didn't do good by marrying me off to a person who would never want me as his wife, neither me him as my husband.

"Attention please, departure of a flight SH 1001 to America, passengers are requested to proceed at terminal 11."

Khushi heard the announcements and wiped her tears and took her luggage and proceeded towards terminal 11.

***

Arnav was getting ready for the party when his phone rang. He checked it and picked up the phone.

"Hello!"

"Hey, Arnav, it's me, Payal!"

"Hi, Payal, what's up?"

"I am good, how are you?"

"I am good as well as your sister going to be away for a week!"

"You are so mean. By the way, where is Khushi? Hasn't she left RM yet? We all are waiting for her."

Arnav looked at his watch. "She left like at 2:30 PM. Hasn't she reached GM yet? She called home and said she has reached already. Wait you are tricking me, right?"

"Arnav, why would I joke? Seriously she hasn't reached home. We thought she will leave home late!"

"I got no idea why did she say she has reached GM!"

"Did you call her?"

"Yes, multiples times, but her phone is out of reach!"

"Even driver kaka returned home after dropping her. Wait, Payal, I guess she has gone to America instead."

"America?"

"Yes, I guess her friends have gone for a vacation there!"

"How irresponsible this girl is? No wonder why her phone is unreachable. Okay, I shall call Lavanaya instead in a day when she will reach America."

"Payal, don't tell anyone that she has gone to America, as for yet, until it is confirmed. It was our plan to take a break from each other for a week!"

"I can't believe you both are doing this!"

"Payal, you understand how much we hate each other..."

"I have given up on both of you seriously. You are married and better deal with it alone."

"Good on you, thanks, Payal!"

"Bye, by the way how is your ankle now? Khushi told me that she fractured your foot. She sounded really worried!"

"She admitted that?"

"Yes!" she laughed.

"It's fine now, I can walk!"

"That's really well. Okay so I should let you enjoy your evening!"

"Good night, Payal. Nice talking to you!"

"Nice talking to you as well!" Payal said. "Bye!"

***

"Chote, where are you going late at night? To meet your wife?" Anjali asked as she sat in the family room watching news.

"What a joke! I am going to club!"

"Chote, you are married now, you should look after your wife. Call your wife and ask what is she doing? How is she doing? I am very disappointed that you let her go alone. At least you should have gone with her."

He ignored her, went to her, and kissed her forehead.

"Bye, di!"

Anjali shook her head at his ignorance.

"Come home soon!"

Arnav haven't gone far when he heard a news. He came running back,  "Flight SH 1001 that aired to America this evening at 4:30 PM, crashed. The only flight that went to America today. Over 200 people died in an airplane crash, cause has yet been investigated."

Arnav's heart beat stopped hearing the news.

"Shit!" he muttered.

"I know right, it's so tragic!" Anjali said as she looked at Arnav.

His phone rang, and it was payal's again. "Hello, Arnav, did you hear the news?" she asked, as she was unable to speak. "Arnav, what if Khushi was in that flight? Hello, Arnav are you there?" when he was too numb to say anything.

"Huh! Yes..."  Anjali got up the sofa and walked up to him.

"Chote, what happen?"

"Di, Khushi."

"Khushi, what?" Anjali asked afraid.

"Khushi was in that flight!"

"What are you saying, chote? How could our Khushi be in that flight?"

"Di...she...she...went to America not to her house!"

"Are you guys kidding me?" She asked."She called me and said she went to GM. And you are saying she went to America?"

"Di, I didn't know until, Payal called me. Even Khushi said me she was at GM!"

Anjali fell on the sofa in shock. "Chote, this can't happen. Our Khushi can't be in that flight!"

Arnav's brain had stopped working. "Di, I call the airport and ask them if Khushi boarded on that airplane!" he immediately said.

"Please god let our Khushi be safe!"

Nothing was suggesting to Arnav. He felt utterly sick. He raked his hand in his hair in fear. He ran upstairs to see if her passport was in the locker. He opened the locker with his shaking hands. Her passport was not there.

His heart beat went even more wild.  He called at the airport.

"Hello!"

"Hello, hi I am Arnav Singh Raizada, please can you check if my wife, Khushi Singh Raizada, was in the flight that got crashed."

"Hold on a moment sir. Let me check!" Lady said.

Arnav's heart jumped to his throat. His head spun and he held a cupboard for support. He couldn't stop thinking of her face. The time she left. He wished he hadn't let her go. He wished at least he had asked where she was going.

"Hello, sir. Unfortunately, yes, your wife, boarded on this flight!" 

Phone fell from his hand on the floor with a loud sound and with it he himself fell on the floor with a loud thud.

Phone fell from his hand and with that he himself. His legs was shaking. But he shook his head. "That fatso can't leave this world easily. I just know that. She is one heck of a mischievous miss that even can mock death."

He called back at the airport. This time one of his friends. "Hello, Sharon, Arnav here. Dude can you check if my wife, Khushi Singh Raizada, boarded on the flight that flew to America today in the afternoon."

"Hey, Arnav. I hope she didn't. But let me check!" he said. "What name did you say? Khushi Singh Raizada?"

"Yes," he said as his voice betrayed him.

"Arnav, right now I have the latest names. What I see is your wife did bought the ticket to America, but she didn't board on it!" Arnav's nervous system all of sudden was relieved and returned to normal hearing that.

"Instead what I see is ticket was traded to someone else. And then for the second one is to Shimla. I think she went to Shimla!"

"Are you sure?"

"That's what my computer tells me. And I hope I am right. Dude, just try to call your wife and do let me know if I am correct!"

"Sharon, I hope you are right!"

"Good luck, dude!" Sharon said.

***

Someone knocked on the door and she walk to open it.

"Arnav, Payal di, Anjali di!" she said.

They all three were so relaxed to see Khushi, as they have gotten their breaths back after being suffocated for hours. But she wondered why they had come and why they looked worried.

Payal came into the room and slapped her.

"Di?" Khushi said, shocked.  Payal didn't see here and there and gave her another slap.

"What do you think of yourself? Without telling anyone you are here enjoying in Shimla and you didn't even bother to tell anyone," Payal shouted. 

Khushi cried and asked what she had done that she was so mad at her, except for the fact that she came to Shimla instead.

"Do you even know Khushi how scared we were? Arnav, thought you went to America. Have you heard the news? The only flight that left to America crashed."

Khushi was shocked. "I was going to America, but I changed my mind!" she said.

"Khushi, at least you have been enough responsible to tell me that you haven't gone to America, but have come here!"

"I didn't want to tell anyone," she shouted, and whined. "I wish I had gone to America."

Payal was so irked that she slapped her again. "Payal, please relax!" Arnav said.

"This is all you have been doing!" Khushi shouted, "since childhood. If I went against you, you slapped me. And I don't think I haven't done anything wrong coming here. I wanted an alone time. Nobody wants me, my own parents married me off against my wishes. Mom dad only had thought about their image and business. Not about my happiness. You never asked what I wanted!"

"Khushi, get hold of your tongue!" Payal yelled. "Have you ever thought because of you how many people suffer? Today you even know how worried we were."

Khushi couldn't breathe due to her sobs. Arnav and Anjali looked at each other. "Payal, let's go out. Chote, look after Khushi!"

Arnav nodded. "Don't worry!" he said to Payal. 

Payal looked at her angrily, but left when Anjali asked her to go with her. Arnav locked the door and Khushi sat on the bed. Sniffing, hiccuping. Her sobs raking her body.

Arnav gave her his handkerchief. "You have even come here?" she asked, as she blew her nose. 

"Come on, calm yourself first."

"Why are you being nice to me? Aren't you mad that you had to come here to see if I am really alive?"

"You should have told me, Payal, Anjali di were really worried about you."

"And you?"

"If that matters to you, yes, but I knew that you are such a stubborn lady that even you can mock death! And dude, I am not that lucky that I can free myself from you!" Right now he was joking, but he himself knew his insides were still shaking with fear.

She softly laughed and coughed. He looked around to see if there was water around. It was on the night stand. He stood up and went to get water for her. He filled the water glass from the jug. "Drink some water, Khushi!"

She looked at him through teary eyes.  "Have some water," he repeated. She took the glass and with both hands tightened around the glass she drank the water.

"When I came here I was going to call you and to tell Payal di that I was here in Shimla. But I was really tired and even my phone battery had died. And I had just closed my eyes and dozed off. I had just woke up when you came.

"Khushi, you seriously scared us. Thank god you are safe. How come did you end up coming to Shimla?"

"I don't know what made me change my mind."

"Khushi, next time please don't do anything like this. I seriously don't want to loose my enemy. I wouldn't have mind slapping you, but I guess Payal is a better performer. She gave you such a tight slaps, I must say you deserved them. Let's get a selfie done. It's a moment worth capturing I would say!"

He took out the phone and clicked picture of her in tears and looking at him and him at the camera grinning.

"Arnav!"

"Hmm!"

"What if I was actually..."

He kept finger on her lips and shook his head. "Khushi, don't ever say that again. You only saw payal's anger, but you didn't see her concern, her relief. She was really worried about you. You cried in a whole journey to here. Your life is more important than anything. Yes, we don't like each other but I am sure we really don't wish bad for each other."

***

"She isn't happy in this relationship!" Anjali said to Arnav.

He nodded his head. "I have told you, di. We both will not ever be happy. In order to have a love in our lives we should have something in common. We have nothing in common. We can't even stand each other's site."

"I wish we had understood this before! She wouldn't have to run away like this to seek for happiness, and for some time alone. I talk to mom, dad. And see what they say. If you both are not happy then we won't force you to stay together."

Arnav couldn't just wait to give this happiness to Khushi, he knew they were soon going to be free from this unwanted relationship.

***

"Guess, what?"

"What?"

"Di said she will talk to mom dad regarding our relationship!"

"What about it?" she asked.

"She was quite sympathising with us. Especially you, as you said you aren't happy with this relationship that is why you were seeking ways to be alone!"

Khushi looked at him wondering what he really meant to say. "Really?" she asked.

He nodded. He stood up and took a deep breath. "I just didn't know that this incident although so stressful going to be so fruitful. We will finally be free from this relationship."

"Thank god! I don't have to seek a ways to be free you!" she said.

"I know!" he said.

"Excuse me, I update my brothers about it. Dude, now it will be a freedom. A real freedom."

"I know!" she said. 

Arnav left the room in excitement. Khushi locked the door and rushed inside the room and fell on the bed crying.

***

"Hi, Khushi!" Anjali said.

"Hi, di!"

"I am pretty sure, chote have told you everything!"

"Yes!" she said.

"I will talk to mom dad for sure, okay? Dear, you both don't have to bear the burden of this relationship at all! I know how it feels like. You don't have to seek for the ways to be alone. I know you hate each other. We thought you both could manage together, but you didn't. It's really our fault that we both got you married in a hurry. We really had let you both spend sometime. It's okay. It's not that too late!"

Khushi didn't say anything but did nod her head.

CHAPTER 7B 

"Heck, I don't think we can reach the airport, car is out fuel!" Arnav complaint. 

"What the, Arnav? How could be so careless?" Khushi said. 

"What do you mean so careless? You are saying as I did this purposely!"

"You can do anything!" she said.

Arnav gritted his teeth in anger. "It's good Payal slapped your face, you deserved it!"

"What if I slap your face now?" she said.

"Thankfully, I would be free from you now, fatso!"

"And you who? Mr. Pooh!" 

***Car stopped***

"Urghhh!" Khushi grunted.

"You were already a bad luck for me, see even car was so fed up with your shriek tone!" he said. "Wherever you go problem follows you!"

"Arnav, shut up!" she said in a hoarse voice. "Do something I don't want to miss the flight!"

Arnav mimicked her tone. "Arnav, shut up!" And made a face. "You shut up!"

He took his phone from his pocket and called Anjali.

"Hello, di!" he said as she picked up the phone.

"Yes, chote, where are you?" Anjali said. "Me and Payal are waiting for you both, it's almost a time for the flight to take off!"

"Di, we are stuck here."

"Stuck where?"

"Di, my car is out of fuel!"

"What?"

"Yes, di, what you guys do is leave now. We both will catch the next flight as soon as we get out of here."

"Okay, as you guys say. But please take care of Khushi. She is not feeling well yet!"

"Di, she is perfectly fine!" he said angrily.

"Okay, bye, we have to go now!" she said and hung up the phone.

***

"Now what we would, Arnav, we are too far from the airport, and this area is so desolate."

"Yes, I have heard here there are lot of scary wild animals. Wolves howl, and lion, tiger you could hear them roaring, I am pretty sure they will have a great supper tonight."

"Arnav, do not think that I will get scared, okay? Like a heroine in a films and will clung to a hero in a fear. First of all if I had my real life hero with me I wouldn't even have mind pretending that I am scared so that he could get worried about me, but from you I don't expect anything like that. And from none angle you do look like a hero. Wild animal!"

Arnav shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Oh really? What was that when it was lightening? Arnav, can I sleep with you? Arnav, I am scared of lightening. And you did clung on to me. And stop dreaming, I wouldn't have mind if I had one of my hot girls standing beside me, for whom I might have not mind going wild, you are nothing near to them!"

"Huh!" Khushi mocked. "Those girls are blind who go after you!"

"Yes, they are blind in love with me!" he said. "Now keep your mouth shut, I call someone for a help!"

"Please, I don't want to be with a sick man like you!" she muttered.

Arnav gave her I-handle-you-later look. Before that he had to find a way to get some help. He dialled the hotel. "Hello, thanks for calling at hotel Charles!" Manager said.

"Hello, hi, Arnav Singh Raizada here. We had stayed at your hotel and we recently checked out. The problem is my car is out of fuel. Can you please manage to get a new car or get someone to help me?"

"Yes sure, sir. Please may I know where you are at the moment?"

"It's a jungle area, I can't see anything nearby but in a distance a dim lighted city. However, we were going to the airport."

"You must be nearby Park Avenue, sir!"

"That I don't know. We surely are half an hour away from the hotel already, towards the airport, and at the highway!"

"Sir, please give us the time, I send someone to help you out there!"

"That will be awesome!" he said and hung up the phone.

Khushi stood beside him, shivering, her arms wrapped around herself. He looked at her and took off his jacket. "Here, wear this jacket and get in the car!"

"Excuse me, I am not that weak that I need your jacket. Stop being so filmy. I can bear this cold."

He shrugged his shoulder and wore his jacket back. "Why are you being so dramatic, by the way?"

She looked at him coldly and went to sit in the car. "There is no point talking to you!"

Her teeth cluttered as she sat into the car.

He laughed and sat on the car bonnet as he looked around. He rubbed his hands to keep it warm and hugged himself.

Khushi looked at him and shook her head. "Don't know what he thinks of himself!"

Arnav took out his phone to check the weather. "Woah, -7 degrees!" It was not completely dark but it was getting dark anyways. He got up the bonnet and started walking forward as he stood at the edge of the hill to see a city properly.

"Khushi, come here fast!" he shouted.

Khushi couldn't hear him, but she saw him gesturing towards her, looked like he was calling her.  She got out of the car.

"What?"

"Come fast!" he said.

She walked towards him. "What?"

Arnav wrapped his arm around her and pointed towards the city lights. That one by one was being lighten. As now people slowly switched on the lights of their houses. Then at the bridge they saw cars, it felt bridge was a river with cars a water shimmering diamonds streaming down the bridge.

"It's so beautiful!" she said.

"I know, right?" he said and he didn't realise he was standing too close to her and his warm breath was hitting her cheeks.

Khushi smiled to herself as she was looking at him.

"Stop looking at me!" he said, without arching his head to look at her,

She made an angry face. "I want to say is unwrap your arms around me!" 

Arnav instantly removed his arms around her.

"View was so beautiful, I thought my girlfriend was standing beside me, sorry!" he said.

Khushi felt something but she looked at the city lights to fade away the feeling that was so strong.  "When we will separate I will settle here in Shimla!"

"Wow! You got plans too! What else would you do? Would you get married again? I mean to someone whom you will be able to fall in love?"

"For quite some time, no! Surely would enjoy my freedom that I couldn't able to before marrying you. But yes, surely, I will get married to someone nice whom I will love!"

"What you would do?" She asked.

"Oh me? I have no idea yet, but surely I won't get married soon as well, or may be never. I have my girlfriends I can probably enjoy with them!"

Khushi was shaking her head, "you gotta be kidding me, Arnav. You are always talking about your girlfriends. Are you a playboy, I exactly explain myself before you make your assumptions if I am saying this because I am jealous, in that case, no, I am not."

"No, I was not going to ask that," he said, "looks like you know me really well, don't you?"

"Well, I have started knowing you!" she said. "I am feeling cold, I am going back to the car," she said, and already had started walking down towards the car.

"Listen!"

She stopped and turned around. "Take my jacket, inside the car it must be really cold! Don't think I am worried about you, di said to take care of you!"

"I am fine," she said, Arnav watched her go and mentally slapped himself, for wrapping his arm around her, "Hey!"

"What now?" She asked as she stopped and turned around once again.

"What do you eat that you don't feel cold?"

"Until now normal veggie food, tonight I might kill you and eat you, moron!"

Arnav laughed. Khushi resumed her walk and softly laughed to herself, she stopped and turned around.

"Arnav!"

"Yes!" 

"Come and sit in the car you might catch cold!"

He smiled and didn't argue. He walked after her and they both sat in the car.

"Twenty more minutes and our help will be here soon!" he said.

"Hmm!" she muttered.

"What happen, Khushi?"

"Nothing," she sniffed her nose. He took out his jacket.

"Move forward, Khushi!" he said.

She did without being assured why he asked her to do so.

He wrapped his jacket around her.

Khushi looked at him in affection.

"You are being too sweet!" she said.

"Sorry, mam, no bad intentions. Just being selfish so that I don't have to take care of you in case if you fell sick again."

"Aren't you feeling cold?" she asked.

"When would my muscles will come to use?" he asked. "I am a man!"

She softly giggled. "Thanks for letting me know that, and the jacket, it is really warm!"

"You are welcome," he said. "It's  getting more and more cold!" he said. "I wish I had kept blanket."

"I know!"

He saw her, she was drowsy.

"Sleep, if you want to! I will wake you up when the help will arrive!"

She nodded.

He got out of the car and called the hotel again. "Hello, I have been waiting for help for the past half an hour, where is the person you have sent in?"

"Sir, weather is getting worst. Chances are it is going to snow. May be weather conditions are not well that's what taking a lot of time for the help to arrive!"

"Please man, do something. My wife is sick!"

"Sir, I have done my best and sent a person for help, that's the least I could do."

"Give me the number of the guy whom you have sent!"

"Okay sir, please right the number down!" Arnav got back inside the car and jot down the number on the piece of paper. He looked at Khushi her colour of the skin was turning pale.

"Thank you!" he said and cut the phone.

"Khushi, are you okay?"

She opened her eyes and nodded. "It's little cold!"

Arnav looked around there was nothing that could have kept her warm.

"Khushi, come at the back seat!"

"Why?"

"If you want to keep yourself warm, come!"

"What? What are you thinking of doing?"

"Don't worry, you can trust me!" he said. She got out of the car to sit in the back seat. And he too did the same.

He wrapped his arms around her. She looked up to him. "Help will be here anytime soon!" he said.

"Thank you, Arnav!"

"It's okay, I will make you pay for this!" he said. "By the way, I don't want my enemy to die like this!"

"Very funny!"

"Hmmm...You cannot speak and still..."

"Arnav!"

"Hmm!"

"You aren't bad!"

"What made you think I was not good before?" he joked.

"Can we be friends?"

"Sorry, I don't friends with enemies!"

"You won't get a good friend like me!"  she said.

He looked at her tired eyes. She moved back.

"What happen now?"

"I don't take help from enemies!" she said.

"It's a very tough decision for me to take!" he said, "but since friendship is from your side, I accept it!" he said.

She smiled, as her heart did the flip again. They both looked into each other's eyes. Her eyes shut.

"You sleepy?" he asked. He touched her forehead she was awfully sick.

"It's really cold, Arnav. I can't take it anymore," she finally told him. 

Arnav felt her pain. In this condition there was nothing he could have done either. There was not a single car that had passed by, also he had no lighter with which he could have lighted the fire.

"Khushi, please be little more strong, help will be here and don't sleep. You probably have hypothermia."

He was going to call the person whom the hotel manager had sent in. But he wasn't picking up the phone now. "Damn it!"

Arnav had only one way now he had to call the emergency, and even looking at Khushi he knew she won't be able to take more cold than this, when her teeth were cluttering. 

"Hello, hi, it's an emergency, can you please send an emergency vehicle, the exact location I don't know but roughly I could tell that it might be park avenue."

"Sir, don't worry about that we will trace your call, but what kind of emergency it is?"

"Look my wife is not feeling well!"

"Okay, sir, ambulance will be there, till then please tell what is the condition of the patient."

"She has a high fever, colour of her skin is pale, and few days ago she suffered from fever."

"Is there any warm clothes that you could find around, she must have hypothermia. Keep her awake."

"No, the problem is we don't have enough warm clothes."

"Is she feeling anxious? Dizzy?"

"Anxious, dizzy, no!"

"Is she talking?"

"That she does nonstop!"

Khushi hit him.

"Sorry?" Nurse said.

"Yes, she is talking, I meant!"

"Please, wait up, emergency vehicle will arrive at the place in just few minutes. If the condition of the patient worsens you can call again."

"Thank you so much!" he said and hung up the phone. 

"Why are you doing this?"

"Well, you are cold, Khushi! I can't risk your life! If you look at yourself in the mirror you will get to know!" he said.

She looked away as her eyes were filled with tear.

"Khushi, are you crying?"

"Don't give me this much attention, I am not used to it!" she said.

Arnav made her look at him. "Khushi, look at me!"

"What's bothering you, beside you are feeling cold and sick?"

That was it she couldn't hold it now, "Arnav, I lost the bet!" she said.

He looked at her confused. "Khushi? What do you mean?"

"I love you!" she said, as she slowly moved her eyelids up to see him.

CHAPTER 7C

"I love you!" she said, and slowly moved her eyelids up to meet his eyes. Slowly because she didn't know if she should be. And simply to just look at him was now difficult. The look of understanding she could see in his eyes, hope in her heart grew, but slowly she saw a laugh on his face, that she actually expected above all the hopes.

He was trying to laugh as he was told a joke, but he couldn't more than just a nervous, momentary laugh, "you are kidding me, right?" 

"You could ask me to do anything now," she said, and suddenly his maneuverd laugh vanished from his face. He could feel the sickness taking over him. 

Fleetly, finding himself out of words, especially when he should have to answer her back, but what exactly he would have said? His silence was debilitating her. His mind wasn't able to process the overwheming emotions, and he was afraid his own tongue will betray him if he chose to speak. He looked outside the car to calm his violent furious mind. Khushi misunderstood his silence.

"It's okay, Arnav, we never said what the person among us will do! You don't have to accept me, you can tell me to do anything. The only reason I came to Shimla was I couldn't control my feelings towards you!"

Arnav heard her due to already shocked by her confession he chose to stay tight lipped. Did he feel the same for Khushi, he didn't know. 

Khushi's heart fluttered in fear, she knew he would hate her much more now, she shouldn't have confessed her love, but they had promised that they will be true to each other. She too looked away from him when he didn't say anything. In her head she already knew it was the end of their relationship.

Emergency vehicles siren wailed, and Arnav went out of the car. Khushi cried as her heart cried and covered her face. She knew she was rejected once again first by her parents and now by her husband. But he wasn't at the fault either, just because she was in love with him didn't mean he had to accept her, she thought. 

"Mam, please come out," paramedic said, Khushi saw a man standing in front of her, as the gush of cold air seeped down to her bones, when the window of the car opened. 

She looked at him melancholy.

"Sir, you can go by the taxi to the hospital, we take the patient to the hospital!" one of the paramedic told Arnav, and the other wrapped warm blanket around her. 

"Mam, can you walk?" Nurse asked, as she held both her hands. Khushi was only looking at Arnav.

"Do you feel anxious?"

She shook her head, and nurse helped her walk. 

"Sir, she is responding, that's good. Nothing to worry about I guess. She will soon be fine!" Nurse said to Arnav, but he hardly heard him. 

"I am fine, I don't need to go to the hospital!" she said. 

"Mam, its important for you to get to the warm place at least."

She wanted to protest and run away, but she was tired of running. But in her mind she had already thought of it, however, next moment she found standing still walking towards the ambulance. The thought dithered her.

Arnav saw the door of an ambulance close and with that a glance at Khushi.

He took his belongings from the car, and Khushi's phone. Out of the havoc created by his own mind, he could hear every single beat of his heart beat, it was rapid. 

He recalled the moments they had spent together, starting from their fights at the college itself, and then at the mall, then engagement day. It made him smile, then the chain of emotions and memories followed. Clear and vivid. The way she had taken care of him, plus she was so worried at the hospital, he did have joke about it but now it seems to be precious. 

Their selfies, the first kitchen, the time she was hurt when he called her "Tom boy."

He hadn't seen her this side of her ever, the way she said she didn't want to leave her in laws. Then the realisation, more than getting mad she was hurt.

He now cognized why? He now capiched what bothered her was that nobody actually paid attention to her.

Even though unintentionally, he did care for her, no matter how he or  they both said, regardless of how their relationship started, they did take care of each other when they were in need. 

He was surprised he understood her so well, that the things she never said, he apprehended. 

He smiled to himself and sat in the taxi. 

What he would have asked her to do? He had never thought about it. How stupid enough they had been to even make bets that should have known that it doesn't work especially when they were already bonded together. How confidently they had made the bets when they didn't know how it would have turned anyway, in reality. 

"Driver take the taxi to the hospital!" he said.

***

"May I know in which ward my wife, Khushi is?" Arnav asked the receptionist.

"She is in the ward 50, sir!" nurse told him.

He nodded and went to the room 50 by the given directions. For the first time he was little unframed and anxious to meet Khushi, because more often they both were ready to cut each others head off. He did not notice how restless and shaky he was.

"What I would say to her when I will meet her?" he jittered.

"You have come?" she asked, he looked immediately hearing her voice without realising he was in Khushi's ward already. 

"First I was thinking of leaving to back to Mumbai. Then I thought what I would really say to the family."

"I wouldn't have mind!" she said. 

"Are you feeling okay?" 

"Yes, do not forget, we just needed a lift so we got it."

"I go and talk to the doctor," he said, unconvinced by her detail.

"I am allowed to go to home!" she said.

"It's alright, you can take some rest, I can postpone the flights...we can go tomorrow instead."

"It's not needed!" she told him. "I am feeling okay," she said getting tizzy. 

"Are you sure, you don't want to take rest?" he asked.

She nodded her head. "I just want to go home!" 

He helped her to stand up. "Thank you, I am fine." She didn't take his help, he looked at his hand that was not taken, he moved it away and tugged in his pocket. 

"Khushi, we can go tomorrow!" he tried once again to convince her. 

She shook her head. "Arnav, I am really tired, please, I want to go home!"

"I book the tickets then!"

"I have already," she said. "Our flight is in an another half an hour. I don't want to miss this flight, airport is not that far, only ten minute away. I have called in the taxi too."

He nodded. 

***

"Hi, doctor."

"Hi!"

"I am Arnav Singh Raizada, Mrs. Khushi Raizada's husband," he introduced himself.

"Oh!" doctor said. "Hi, how are you?"

"I am good. How are you?"

"I am very well. Please tell me, how can I help you?"

"I was here to ask how Khushi is doing?"

"She is absolutely fine. Nothing much to worry about. Often because of cold body temperature goes down."

"She can travel right."

"Yes, absolutely. She is fine to go."

Arnav moved forward for a handshake. "Thank you, doctor."

"You are welcome and have a great new year."

"Thank you, you as well."

***

"Khushi, you want coffee?" he asked when air hostess came to offer coffee, but she was too lost to answer.

"Yes, she will have it," he said, on her behalf. Air hostess passed on to the coffee tray to him

"Thank you!" he said. 

"You are welcome, sir. Hope you have a comfortable journey!" 

Arnav placed his hand on her shoulder to grab her attention but she continued to stare out the window. 

"Khushi, have a coffee!" Arnav said. She still didn't answer.

***

At RM!

Arnav and Khushi both sat in the family room the next day.

"What happened to all you?" Arnav asked.

"Chote, we have realised that we did a mistake by getting both of you married!" Mrs. Raizada said.

Khushi's heart beat stopped for a while as she already knew what was coming next.

"Anjali has told us everything, so we have decided that we will rectify our mistake. We and your in-laws are sorry to both of you for making decisions for you. So you guys can both decide what you both want. We will be happy with your decision. Even if it means you don't want to live together with each other."

A shock prevailed on his face.

"Let's go everyone!" Mr. Raizada said abruptly, and one by one everyone left. 

"Congratulations, Arnav!" she said, and moved her hand forward for a handshake. "We are finally getting what we wanted!"

She laughed looking at his confused face. "Arnav, you are such a fool. You were right, I was joking. Oh god, I didn't know that it was so easy to make you fool," she laughed. 

Arnav got up the sofa and she too stood up as well "You were kidding?" he asked.

She stopped laughing. "Why, Arnav? What you think only you can make fun of me? Leave my arm!"

"You are such a great actress!"

"That's so I am!" she said. "Don't tell me you actually took that to the heart!" She whispered, looking deep into his eyes, hiding all her pain. "Me going to Shimla instead of home was all planned. I didn't know my plan will go all this good. Phew! Yes, Arnav, it's finally the end of our unwanted relationship. Remember this because of you my parents forced me to marry you. A person like you cannot be my love interest. You will always be my enemy!"

"Arnav, let go of my arm!" she said coldly as he hadn't reoeased her arms yet.

Arnav released it. 

"You played quite well, Khushi. Thank you for this, even now I can't wait to get free from you.!" 

"That was your big mistake, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. You have really hurt me, you always fooled me, now look at yourself."

"Yes, it was my mistake, but seriously did not expect this from you!"

"You are saying this as you are hurt."

"Not really, but surprised!"

"Everything is fair in love and war, Mr. Arnav. Never consider your enemy to be  a weak person!"

He laughed. 

"If that's so you haven't seen me playing dirty, Khushi. Wait and watch now what I do!" he challenged her. 

"Let's see what you do!" she said, and left. 

Arnav shook his head as he sighed. "Lord, I have seen many woman but not like her, always riding high on her hormones. Crazy woman."

***

"Mom, dad, you think we have taken a good decision?" Anjali asked worried. 

"Anjali, bitiya, don't worry they won't separate. It's just a drama. Before they become one they need to know each other really well. We have seen their caring side for each other, now you see their loving side."

"Ma, what we will do?"

"We won't do anything, it's them who have to do everything," she said.