I know you guys love my Arnav and I love him too, he's my sweetheart :P. But I feel as if I haven't explored Khushi enough yet, so this chapter will provide you with a better insight into her - hence the title: "A Delicate White Rose", because she also has thorns ;)
Warning: no amount of explanation will excuse how stubborn she is, she was born in my mind as a stubborn character and that's just a fact that I've accepted :P x.
~”It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” - Vince Lombardi~
"Arnav?" Garimas worried voice came through the phone.
"Yes
Aunty?" His heart immediately constricted, his mind jumping to all sorts
of conclusions. Garima didn't usually call him unless something was wrong. He
liked her, he saw glimpses of a mother in her, one he had never had.
"Arnav beta,
I need to meet you," there was a trepidation to her voice, she sounded
troubled.
"Is something
wrong aunty, is it an emergency?" His voice was heavy with concern, almost
on the edge of panic.
"No no beta,
nothing urgent. I just needed to talk to you," Garima smiled slightly, a
slow calmness spreading through her at the thought that she would not be alone
in this.
"Okay aunty,
just tell me the time and place and I'll be there," Arnav finally said, a
bit calmer than before.
****
Arnav had his eyes
closed, as if he were in pain and sat massaging his temples whilst listening to
the chattering voice on the other end of the phone. He would let Lavanya talk
today, he was the one that needed the job done.
"So,"
she finally breathed, "what have you been up to?" The phone was quiet
on the other end. "ASR?" She tried louder this time, "are you
there?"
Arnav snapped out
of his quiet reverie on hearing his name, "oh La sorry I was just quickly
glancing through something," he lied not showing that he had no interest
in her useless daily activities. "Glad to hear you're enjoying yourself,
so when are you coming back?"
Lavanya smiled to
herself, overjoyed that ASR at least cared for her, maybe the distance was
making him miss her. "Well I'm pretty much done with my shopping so I
could come back early if you want me to," she replied gleefully, never one
to back away from fulfilling any wish he would command upon her.
Arnav smirked to
himself with contempt, he had her just where he wanted. "Oh that would be
great La! Works piling up and I dunno it would be great if you could make it
back early."
"Aw of course
ASR! I'll come tomorrow itself!" She announced, already too excited at the
fact that he was possibly missing her company.
"Oh good
lord," Arnav though to himself rolling his eyes to the heavens, "No
no La don't be silly, have another day of rest and come back the day
after," he said, praying that she would agree.
"Oh okay are
you sure?"
"Yes La,
positive. Now I got to go. I shall see you when you get back. Bye."
****
Khushi paced
around her room, forming a plan. She had to do something, she couldn't involve
Arnav because Aakash was his brother. She couldn't tell Anjali because she was
Aakash's sister. She couldn't tell her mother because she didn't want to create
a rift. She would have to plan this out her self.
Now that she
thought back on it she didn't even know why she had fallen for Aakash, had she
even loved him? If she had would she have been able to make this decision of
not marrying him so quickly? "Am I fooling my heart? Oh god heart you are
so stupid!" She mumbled, placing her hands on her heart. If Arnav hadn't
been so stupid so many years ago this wouldn't have happened. If he still
wasn't the ignorant idiot things could have worked out differently.
But there had to
be a reason for Aakash's sudden distance from her. For longer than she could
remember he had been completely smitten by her. And why was he turning up home
in the wee hours of the morning, where was he staying over during the night?
And why was Arnav
suddenly so concerned over her relationship with Aakash? Ever since she had
announced their relationship to him all of those years ago he had refused to
comment on it. Refused to answer any question she would ask regarding Aakash
and all of a sudden he was taking such a large interest into their
relationship. Why? It had been like an unsaid rule among them, he wouldn't
enquire about her relationships and she wouldn't ask about his many affairs or
the many women he slept with. She made a face in disgust at that thought and
came to a stop in front of her bed, exhausted from asking herself questions
that she didn't have the answer to. She sat herself down, sinking into the soft
mattress of her bed and sat lost in thought for a few seconds. No plan was
coming to her, her mind kept on telling her to ask Arnav for help. "Shut
up! Shut up! Shut up!" She shouted in her head for what must have been the
fourth time and brought her hands to her hair pulling at it.
"Do I have no
other option but to marry Aakash?" She finally thought to herself. Her
father was a man of few words and when he did speak, his word was law. Would it
even be right to defy the parents that had taken in an orphan? Heavy tears
slowly brimmed her eyes and she let them fall, the frustration and despair
bubbling up inside of her, threatening to push her over the edge. She
desperately wanted to tell Arnav but she couldn't, she wouldn't! He already had
his own problems; a mother that never loved him, a brother that he had never
been close to and she didn't want to widen those gaps, she couldn't do that to
him. Maybe she should just marry Aakash, he wasn't a bad person, maybe things were
just getting a bit too much for him lately. "Urgh!" She exclaimed,
flinging herself back onto the bed, sinking her head onto the large plump
pillow. She tightened her eyes shut, she would wake up to a decision.
Garima came and
sat on the bed, watched as Khushi turned around at the sudden disturbance,
sighed then resumed her light snoring. She smoothed the hair back off of
Khushi's face, smiling down at the gentle face of her angel. The little angel
that her and Shashi had brought home from the orphanage so many years ago.
Garima liked to imagine her daughter had her features, even though Khushi was
not her offspring, fate had declared her womb unfit to hold a child but it
hadn't declared her childless. Ever since that moment when Khushi had ran up to her
and entwined her tiny little hand around Garimas finger Khushi had become her
daughter. Her eyes welled up with tears as she looked into the innocent face of
her only daughter and wiped the tears sliding down her face away. If only she
wasn't this stubborn, she thought to herself, if only she would share her pain.
She watched as Khushi frowned in her sleep, lightly mumbling something to
herself; something she did whenever something deeply troubled her. Garima
closed her eyes in prayer and asked for Devi Mayya to look after her Khushi, to
make Shashi see reason.
****
"Ma'am I'm
here to have a look at the computers."
Arundathi looked
the dark, skinny, scrawny man up and down with distaste. He moved his
glasses up his nose once more as he continued to smile at her."Look at our
computers? I didn't call anyone," She said annoyed, ready to escort him
out of the door.
"But ma'am I
was told to," he continued, the smile fading as Arundathi began ushering
him towards the door.
"I asked him
to come." Arundathi's head instantly snapped up to see Arnav walking down
the stairs, fixing the sleeves of his shirt. She glared at him then quickly
fixed a kind smile on her face, "but why beta? There's nothing wrong with
our computers," she said calmly.
Arnav watched her
face with a look of dark amusement, "that's okay. The computers in my
office are being checked for this new virus that's spreading over networks. I
though there would be no harm in checking the ones at home." he replied
matter-of-factly.
"But
Arnav," she tried to protest.
But Arnav
completely ignored her and walked over to the scrawny IT guy, "you
can start off with my computer and Hari Prakash will bring the rest of them
into my room. Give me a call once you are done," he ordered then walked
out whilst Arundathi stood throwing daggers at his back, seething with rage,
then stomped off in the other direction ordering Om Prakash to bring her a
glass of water.
--
Arundathi sat
tapping at the glass of water with her nails, racking her brain as to what the
real deal with this computer guy was. A deep fear had once again planted itself
in the pit of her stomach, Arnav had the same calculative mind as her husband.
She gulped loudly, a shiver once again riding up her spine.
She stood up
suddenly remembering something, her heart hammered in her chest as she started
taking shaky steps up the stairs then broke into a run. She ran through her
bedroom doors, her eyes searching around for her laptop. Her eyes widened in
fear and her breathing increased as she tried to process what had just struck
her. "Shit! Hari Prakash!" She screamed, unable to contain her fear
any longer.
She turned around,
throwing a death glare at Hari Prakash as he shuffled into the room.
"Where the hell is my laptop?!" She shouted through gritted teeth.
"Ma'am.. woh..." He stuttered. "Answer my question you fool!
Where the hell is my laptop?!" She screamed as he shook with fear.
"Ma'am woh Arnav sir told me to take it to his room."
"Urgh!" She screamed and stomped out of the room, shoving Hari
Prakash out of the way.
Her whole body was
trembling as she knocked loudly on Arnav's door, he was away, which meant she
would be able to make up a lie and take the laptop off of that stupid man.
"Damn it open the door!" She muttered through gritted teeth, knocking
once more and her eyes widened in shock at the person that opened the door.
Arnav's eyes at
first widened in amusement, smirking ever so slightly, he furrowed his brows, feigning surprise and concern. "Is something wrong?" He
asked watching a shaking Arundathi.
"I thought
you were away," she finally managed to say, whilst calming herself down.
"No I just
went out, I came back."
"But haven't
you got work today?" She asked a little confused.
"Well I don't
have any meetings so I thought I'd work from home," he replied calmly,
almost unable to contain a chuckle.
"Oh well erm
that's good isn't it," she replied, unable to meet his eyes. "Well
I'll send you up a glass of juice," she said whilst walking away, lost in
her own thoughts.
Arnav smirked at
her retreating back then turned back into the room, closing the doors he spoke
to Sushant, the computer hacker. "Check Arundathi Raizada's laptop
first," he ordered then walked off and took a seat at his table at the
poolside.
****
"Stop! Stop
here!" Khushi screamed at the taxi driver and her head banged off of the
seat rest as the taxi driver stamped on his break. "Idiot!" She
growled under her breath then narrowed her eyes to watch Aakash step out of his
office and get into his car. "I want you to follow that car," she
then ordered the taxi driver.
"What?"
He asked turning around at her bewildered.
"Arrey yar!
Follow that car! Don't you guys do this kind of thing all the time?" She
exclaimed, exasperated.
"No
ma'am," he replied a little amused.
"Oh
god!" She exclaimed. "Fine! I'll give you double the fare! Just
follow him please!" She exclaimed.
****
Khushi turned the
phone on without even looking at who it was, "Hello!" She snapped
into the phone gruffly.
"Whoa! Calm
down there pumpkin," the voice on the other side chuckled.
She narrowed her
eyes immediately, annoyed at him, "Shut up! Why did you call?"
"I shouldn't
have called?" Arnav questioned, continuing to chuckle.
She breathed a
heavy sigh, lying back on the pillow on her bed, "Hai Devi Mayya!"
She chanted, rolling her eyes.
"Aww what
happened baby? Did you stub your big toe?" He laughed, annoying her to the
core.
"I lost
him!" She droned, exhausted, closing her eyes.
"Huh?"
Arnav questioned, instantly sitting up.
"Huh?"
Khushi replied, as her eyes flew open, "Shit!" she whispered to
herself, scrunching her eyes shut as she sat up and thumped the mattress.
"Err, I asked
first," Arnav retorted lifting an eyebrow.
"What?"
Khushi questioned back, now confusing herself.
"What the!
What the hell are you saying? Are you okay in the head?" He half-shouted.
"Shut up
Raizada! You're confusing me!" She exclaimed in the end, throwing her hand
in the air.
Arnav rolled his
eyes not comprehending a word she was saying, "oh whatever Gupta! You know
what I couldn't care less. Anyway I need to go out tonight."
"Oh me
too!" She exclaimed back almost instantly, her eyes lighting up.
"Well let's
go then," he smiled.
"What
now?"
"Yes
sweetheart! Get your ass outside now!"
"Now?"
Her eyes widened as she scrambled out of the bed.
"Yes now! 10
minutes then I'm off!"
Khushi flung the
phone on her bed and began rushing around her room, upturning it and sending
everything unwanted flying to the other side.
****
"You smell
nice," Khushi declared, sipping at her beer as she swung her legs off of
the balcony she was sitting on whilst resting her head on Arnav's shoulder.
"I always
do," he smirked, resting his head on hers, sending his arm round her and
cuddling her to him.
They both sat
together like that, in companionable silence, slightly drunk, gazing at the far
horizon. Both so unaware of the emotion much deeper than friendship that bound
them together. Both hiding that feeling in the depths of their hearts, that
they had buried so long ago.
When it's black
Take a little
time to hold yourself
Take a little
time to feel around
Before it's
gone
You won't let
go
But you still
keep on falling down
Remember how
you saved me now
From all of my
wrongs
"Look
Arnav!" She pointed, her hand waving about as she attempted to point it at
a specific spot in the sky, "look at those two bright stars! Amma and
Babuji are looking down at me," she announced smiling in glee. She turned
her head to look up at his smiling face, "and I know yours are looking
down on you too," she said, placing her hand on his. He smiled down at
her, his sleepy eyes twinkling. "You know those two stars next to my amma
and babuji, those are yours," she smiled. He nodded back grasping her hand
in his, as they both gazed into each others eyes.
If there's love
just feel it,
If there's life
we'll see it
This is no time
to be alone, alone, yeah
I, won't let
you go
Say those words
Say those words
like there's nothing else
Close your eyes
and you might believe
That there is
some way out yeah
Khushis eyes
suddenly welled up with tears, she quickly turned away, trying to wipe them
off. He pulled at her arm.
"Khushi
what's wrong?" Arnav whispered as he cuddled her against him once more,
looking down at her face. She buried her head in his
chest, unconsciously letting herself go.
Open up,
Open up your
heart to me now
Let it all come
pouring out
There's nothing
I can't take
"I need you
Arnav," she sobbed drenching his shirt with her tears.
"You know
I'll always be there," he whispered back, bringing his other arm round to
hold her in an embrace as he kissed her hair.
If your sky is
falling
Just take my
hand and hold it
You don't have
to be alone, alone
I, won't let
you go
And if you feel
the fading of the light
And you're too
weak to carry on the fight
And all your
friends that you count on have disappeared
I'll be here,
not gone, forever, holding on...
If there's love just feel it,
And there's life we'll see it
This ain't no time to be alone, alone
I, won't let you go
If your sky is falling
Just take my hand and hold it
You don't have to be alone, alone
I won't let you go...
Lyrics credit:
I Won't Let You Go by James Morrison. Do listen to it, it's been playing in my
car on repeat for the last couple of days and I found that it was actually
perfect for this chapter ;) x
awesome :)
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