Chapter 5 - My Broken Shell

Okay so I know Arnavs a bit scary but his character has many shades and one of them is a bit dark, if it wasn't his character would end up being a lot more vulnerable than I aim to make it ;).

And he didn't end up in two places at the one time, the little **** indicate either a different scene, or a gap in time. So he's sitting watching the video at night after he has dropped Khushi home ;).

She bit into a large jalebi, closing her eyes to savour the sweetness of the syrup that flowed through her mouth. "Mmmm!" Arnav did the same, her expression mirrored in his face, this was the one food they shared the same passion for. "So do you mind telling me why we are randomly out eating jalebis?" She asked licking the syrup off of her lips.

"You'll know soon enough," he replied biting into another jalebi.

"You know we should get separate boxes, you eat like three in the space of time I take to eat one!" She accused, pointing a finger dripping with syrup at him, her eyebrows arched.

"Well maybe you should talk less and eat more then!" He retorted indifferently.

"Shut up!" She slapped his wrist, "why am I here?"

"I dunno. Why are you here?" He questioned back, making a face.

"Argh! You are so annoying!"

"Really?" He looked at her questioningly, cocking up an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes at him, grabbing another jalebi out of the box, then biting into it.

"Khushi," his voice was serious all of a sudden, the dark edge back in his eyes, turning them into a burnt caramel. "What's really wrong?" He was struggling to find the right words, he breathed out a sigh then moved his hand forward to touch hers and she looked up at him, a pained expression taking place on her bright face. "You know, if you'd tell me what was wrong at least I could help you," he finally managed to say.

"There's nothing wrong Arnav," she was willing determination into her eyes, "I wish you would just let it go!" She moved her arm away from his and gripped the edge of the chair, looking away and focusing her eyes on a shell that had fell on one  of the wooden boards. What followed was a deafening silence between the two and Khushi wanted to lash out and smack him. He knew how much she hated his muted waiting, how it made her blurt out things she didn't want to reveal. "And stop staring at me like that! You know I have nothing to say!"

"Okayy, let's pretend for a minute that nothing is wrong," he started, a scary calm to his husky voice, "then tell me Khushi why do I see a jarring distance between you and Aakash? You hardly speak, he's never there. You know I could go on forever," he listed as if he were talking to a client and not his best friend.

She felt his eyes boring into her, taking in her every slight move. This was the Arnav Singh Raizada talking, the one that presented the facts in front of clients and always had his way and she was afraid to look him in the face, for fear of breaking down in front of him.

"He's just got a lot going on and really Arnav if it's not bothering me then it shouldn't bother you," she eventually replied, her voice a lot quieter, still staring at the shell, fidgeting her fingers against the ragged wood of the chair she was sitting on.

He appraised her silently for a moment, giving her the opportunity to let it all out if she wanted to but to no avail. He sighed heavily then, "okay Khushi whatever you like, I need to get going now," he continued, looking at his watch and stood up. If she wasn't going to let him in, he'd have to do what he hadn't wanted to; sort it out himself.

"Are you going?" She asked finally looking up at him, a painfully sombre look to her face. "Yeh sorry, I have a meeting," he said pouting slightly then smiling at her. She returned a tiny forced smile then took her handbag, checking for her keys and began to fall in step with him as they walked out.

****

He looked up to see a very ecstatic Lavanya knocking on the door, he closed his eyes briefly to prepare himself for this meeting, any meeting with Lavanya was exhausting.

"Lavanya stop trying to smash the glass on my door and come in!" He snapped, glaring at her face which refused to break out of a grin.

"ASR!" She almost jumped in through the door, "this is Payal!" She exclaimed, moving back and introducing him to a slender girl with a simple face, her features emphasised by the layers of hair surrounding her face. The simple white blouse and grey blazer on top emphasised her broad shoulders, and the tight pencil skirt hugged her curves, outlining her hips which formed an hour-glass figure. "Well this will be a fun ride," he thought to himself, then extended his arm, grasping her hand in his for a firm hand shake. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you Payal," he said, regarding her face once more, she smiled a curt smiling, only making eye contact for a brief minute.

"So I understand you are looking for an internship?" He began, pulling a chair back for her then making his way back to his own chair. She nodded back, her eyes on the floor. "Okay sweetheart, I'll give you an internship on one condition." He let the words hang for a moment and watched as her face darkened, the smile slowly fading out of her face, he took in the slight tremble of her fingers and smiled to himself, "you'll need to talk some more," he finished off winking, rapidly noticing the relief that spread over her face.

****

"Shyam! Who the hell is dead?! Because last time I saw Arnav is very much ALIVE!" Arundathi Raizada screamed, exasperated into the phone.

"I know ma'am. I only just found out a few minutes ago. I was just about to call you."

"Whatever Shyam! Well it doesn't matter anyway. It's a good thing he's alive, we can't have him dead just yet. I only want him frightened, do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am but..."

"But what Shyam?"

"Ma'am everything we've planned till now has failed somehow, I..."

"Well make sure you plan something that works this time then!" She yelled into the phone then slammed it into the cradle.

****

"Sir, you have three meetings arranged for tomorrow," came Amans voice through the phone.

"Yes Aman, got it. Thanks."

"Sir, another thing."

"Yes Aman?"

"We found out that it was Payal Kashyap that was making the booking."

"Interesting," Arnav replied, twirling the globe of glitter Khushi had given him on the table, "good work Aman, I'll let you know what to do in a few days time. And Aman, another thing."

"Yes sir?"

"Get me the itemised phone bills for everyone in the house."

****

Aakash stormed into the hotel room, having had yet another heated argument with Khushi. He quickly walked over to the table, pouring himself a double shot, then swallowed it, letting the effects of it numb his mind.

"What's wrong baby?" She whispered in his ear, her soft lips brushing against his ear calming his mind. But then the events of that morning came back to him and he instantly turned round, grabbing her by the shoulder.

"Why the hell did you go to meet Arnav despite me telling you not to?!" He questioned, shaking her. She struggled out of his grip then shoved him back.

"Stop it Aakash! I have a degree! I can't sit at home idly all day! If he's giving me an opportunity I'll take it!" Payal yelled back at him, her temper flaring.

He stood glaring at her for a few seconds, "and why the hell is he offering you this bloody internship!?" He growled.

"Because La asked him for one! And no before you accuse me of asking her, I didn't!"

"You are getting yourself into deep waters Payal," his voice was gentle now, he moved closer to her, taking her in his arms, "I just don't want you getting hurt, you don't know what he's capable of," he said moving her hair back, kissing her ear.

"And he doesn't know me yet," she said placing a kiss on his neck.

***

"what does he think of himself? Telling me what to do?" Khushi huffed to herself. "Urgh!" She exclaimed tucking her hair back then grabbing all of her hair back and tying it in a tight bauble. But what he had said was right, he was always right for some reason but Aakash just wouldn't give her the opportunity to speak with him and because of that every attempted conversation turned into an argument. Was she even prepared to get married to a man that didn't seem to have the time for her anymore? But it will pass, she pacified herself, he'll get into a rhythm at work and then be able to accommodate her again. "But... Maybe I should talk to him," she said aloud.

"Aakash we need to talk. Not on the phone but in person, tell me the place and time and I'll turn up," she spoke out the words as she typed them into a text, "please," she added at the end and pressed send. "There. That'll work," she smiled pleased at herself.

Garima watched from Khushis doorway as her daughter sent a text to Aakash. She had never liked him and no matter how much sweet talk he attempted she still couldn't get herself to come to terms with him as her future son-in-law. Her husband wanted them married and that was for his own gain. The Raizadas were big influential people, association with them would bring her husband a better name in the field but was it really worth the unhappiness of their only daughter.

Then there was Arnav, he would keep her happy, it remained a mystery to her why they were so close yet love never seemed to have blossomed between the two. It made her wonder.

****

Arnav walked out from behind the pillar as Aakash entered room 128 and smirked to himself. "Aw brother how naive you are," he tutted, "you should have known surprise is an element that'll never be on your side when you play with Arnav Singh Raizada." He sauntered past the room, a morbidly amused expression to his face, it was time to bring in the knights...