'If you want to say something than say it; otherwise stop that!' Arnav complained two hours later in the car, when he could no longer take her murmurs. For Khushi had been mumbling ever since they had hit the motorway and Arnav's already speeding car had doubled it's velocity.
'Khushi please stop that, it's really annoying.' He said again after ten minutes, when she still hadn't stopped and was continuing her rant. When she still didn't respond or take heed, he side glanced at her and saw that her eyes were firmly shut, one hand gripped the door handle, while the other clutched the edge of her seat as she feverishly chanted something, closer inspection told him it was some prayer. What was wrong with her? Did she not like travelling on highways or something?
He slowed the car slightly and asked her in kinder tone, 'Khushi what is it? Why are yo-'
BAAM!!
Suddenly, the car swerved dangerously and Arnav gripped hard at the wheel to stop the car from going over the edge, while Khushi's prayers magnified ten fold in volume, so that Arnav felt like his ear drums may burst. Once managing to steer it back on the road the car swayed from left to right as he slowed it down to a stop. He parked it on the side of the road, turned the hazard-indicators on and then went out to investigate, while Khushi continued to chant her prayers in an ear-peircing shril. Upon examination he found that the back tyre on the driver side had punctured and now was in smithereens as he had driven with it for another metre or so after it ruptured.
Damn it. Now what was he going to do, he was halfway to Nainital, who would fix his tyre here in the middle of nowhere, and there was no point in calling Ram Singh as it would take him another two hours to get here to bring him the other car and take back this one. Brilliant. He was stuck here on the highway, with a blown up tyre and a crazy woman, who was still screaming out prayers even after they had stopped.
'Khushi!!' He shouted over her voice as he yanked open her door, 'Khushi stop!! We're fine, nothing happened. You can stop shouting your prayers now!' Yet she still went on. Bloody hell. 'Khushi!!' He shook her vigorously, which did the trick and she quietened as she opened her eyes to see that she was still alive and that the car was no longer in motion but was parked on the side of the road. She was quiet for a moment as she let it all seep in, then she lashed out on him like a tigress.
'Were you trying to kill me?!!! What did you think, that considering I wasn't leaving the car you would kill me off and then go to Nainital. Here I am riding along with you for your sake, your health and you aren't the least bit considerate about my health or safety. Well I should have known, you already tried to kill me once why not again!! What the job wasn't complete in Khawab-Mahal so you decided you would do it on the road to Nainital?!! It would be much easier wouldn't it, just dump my body in this vast jungle and no one would ever know!!!' She went on rampaging as she kicked and slapped him with her fists and legs, clearly still reeling from the shock of the near accident.
'Khushi! Khushi!! Stop! Stooop!! KHUSHI!!' Having had enough of her beating he caught hold of her hands and twisted her whole body around and pinned it to a tree trunk off the side of the road.
'Sshh...enough. Breathe. You are fine. Nothing happened, the tyre burst that is all. Ok? You are fine. Nod your head to tell me that you understand. You are fine.' Slowly she gulped back her fear and nodded, then without warning she took him into a bear-tight hug.
He froze under her warm body. She was crying and he didn't know what to do. She needed him to soothe her, calm her, tell her again and again she was fine, but he couldn't. This had never happened to him before, no one, expect for Anjali, had ever turned to him for emotional support. He didn't know how to give it. He yearned to, for he couldn't take her crying, it seared his heart but for some reason he couldn't manage to bring his arms around her and complete the hug, instead it hung frozen in mid air, while she cried away on his shoulder.
'I...was soo sc-aaa-red...I hate f-ff-ast cars...and th-that noise...the tyre bursting I thought that was it...I was going to die...die the same horrible death my p-parents died. The death my...my...mooother had pr-ooo-tected me from...I wa-as going to ennnd up dying in a car cra-aassh just like them...she cushioned me lllast time but this tt-time...this time I was going to die...I don't like ff-ast cars...I...I...hic! Hic!' Her hiccups rescued Arnav from her embrace as she dislodged herself to get a control over them.
Once out of her encircling arms his limbs and brain began functioning again and he returned to the car to fetch the bottle of water he kept in the dash board to stop her hiccups. He came back and handed it to her, she took a big swig that ended her hiccups and then handed back the bottle. He took it and then looked at her nervously, trying figure out whether she would try to hug him again now that the hiccups were gone and if so what should he do, should he let her or not? But she didn't hug him again, instead grabbed the corner of her dupatta blew her nose on it, which disgusted Arnav greatly but he kept quiet. She was quite emotional at the moment and he didn't wish to make her start firing her arms and words at him or worse crying again.
'S-sorry. I just...my parents...fast car...the tyre...' She stammered trying to figure out how to explain.
'Don't worry about it.' He said testily, still not sure if she was okay now or not, then added, judging that she seemed better now, 'I didn't know you were afraid of speedy cars you should have told me I would have slowed down. It's understandable...what with your parents...were you with them in the car?' He asked before he could stop himself, but worried as soon as he had released the question that she may start up again. But she didn't, she only nodded. He didn't say anything, what could he have said. But he understood her pain well, he had lost his parents too and that too in front of his eyes, he knew the scar that sight left behind. No one else could see it, but it burned before his eyes every night, haunting him. Just the way it probably haunted her.
Not knowing what to say next or do now, he fiddled around with the bottle cap in his hand. To his relief she broke the silence. 'So I guess we should get going then.' She wasn't looking at him when she spoke, not yet ready to meet his eyes, but her voice was steadier.
'About that...we can't. We're stranded.' He stated.
'Why?'
'The tyre burst Khushi.' He reminded her, what had she forgotten the big loud noise that had scared her witless?
'Yeah, so? Do you not have a spare?' She asked, now looking at him worried.
'Yeah I do.'
'Then what's the problem?' Relief settled in her eyes, as she heard there was a spare and so they wouldn't have to stay on the highway and wait for a passing car to come and give them a lift.
'Uh who is going to change it?' He asked her, annoyance seeping back in at her taking so long to figure out why they were stranded.
'You.' She said it in an obvious tone, then added, won't you?' When she realized he didn't seem to want to.
'No.'
'Why not? Do you not want to get to Nainital?'
'Yeah I do. But I can't get there with a burst tyre. We will have to ask for a lift.' He said, irate at the thought of travelling in another's car.
'Why? When you have a spare tyre, why not change it and get back on the road?' She asked not understanding what his problem was. 'What afraid to get a bit of oil on your suit? Well get past that fear because you need to get back on the road, we are going for your meeting remember, which is in about three hours. Don't worry about the suit, don't you have like another ten inside your carry-on, just change into one of them here in the jungle once you're done with the tyre.' She mocked him.
'No I'm not afraid about getting oil on my clothes, I'm not going to change the tyre because I don't know how to!' He exhaled angrily.
'Wait, what?!!' She burst out laughing. 'You can't change a tyre. Arnav Singh Raizada, youngest business tycoon of the country doesn't know how to change a tyre?!! Oh this is a good one.' She laughed hard, clutching at her stomach and using the tree trunk behind her for support.
'Stop laughing. I don't see what is so hilarious about it? So I can't change a tyre, big deal. It's not like you can.' He defended haughtily.
She sobered up at that, making him give her a smug smile, thinking how he had quietened her taunt once and for all. However, to his alarm, she took off her dupatta, tied it loose around her waist and with an air of superiority marched towards the car, motioning him with her eyes to follow and learn. He followed more out of outrage at her condescending manner than because he wished to actually be taught by her. He didn't think she would actually try to change the tyre let alone knew how too, but to his disappointment she surprised him on both fronts, by going about changing the tyre and doing it correctly.
She popped the boot open, got out the necessary equipment and got down to business: elevating the car with the jack, then unscrewing the knuts and bolts, wheeling out the weathered tyre, wheeling in the spare, screwing back the knuts and bolts, lowering the car, putting the equipment back and then stood back to show off her work triumphantly as she wiped away the treacle of sweat that had crawled down her face.
'And that's how it's done, Mr Raizada. Guess you did need me after all, hunh?!' She declared, more than asked. While he just gave a grunt, annoyed that she knew how to do this when he didn't and made his way to his door, but before he got in he turned back around and walked right up to her.
Thinking that he came to say thank you she looked right at him and smiled in anticipation, but instead he raised his thumb and wiped the grease off her face, then added, 'FYI, Khushi, you would not have died alone if the car went off the bend, I would have too, so no I was not trying to kill you not today or the other night in Khawab-Mahal, they were mere accidents.' That said, he took out his handkerchief wiped the grease off his thumb, that he had gotten from wiping her face, and went back to his seat, leaving a stubbed Khushi.
What a wretch!! First he scared the daylights out of her. And then when she helped him instead of thanking her he further insulted her!! Abnoxious Laad governor!!
'Khushi do you plan to stay on the highway or come with me?' Arnav called out after a minute, seeing her still standing outside where he had left her.
Skulking, she made her way around the car and into her seat. Once inside she closed the door, buckled up and crossed her arms, all the while keeping her head turned away from him in anger. She was giving him the silent treatment. He smirked, she was such a kid sometimes. Well good for him, her silence meant he could drive in peace.
----
Two hours later Arnav parked his car into the hotel parking lot. He would have reached earlier had he not consciously slowed down the speed keeping in mind Khushi's fear.
'Oh my, the valley looks so beautiful!!' Khushi exclaimed as she got out of the car and surveyed the scene before her. The hotel was situated on one of the peaks surrounding the valley and therefore gave a great vantage point. One could see the beautiful eye shaped lake and the surrounding sights that sent shivers of amazement down the onlooker's spine. It was a breathtaking sight. 'I'd always heard how beautiful this hillstation was but now that I get to see it, it's indescribable, I don't have words...' She went on chirping happily.
'And yet you still mange to find some...' muttered Arnav under his breath, who had had enough of Khushi's chatter. The silent treatment had not lasted long, the woman was incapable of silence. She had started talking five minutes after they had set, not to him at first, apparently still aware that she was angry at him but soon she had forgotten that and was ogling aloud about all the scenes she could see as they got closer and closer to the valley. Arnav who had seen this valley many a times now, did not share her enthusiasm and silently cursed himself for fainting today of all days and that too in front of her.
'Ooo...my friend, Jemilla, visited Nainital in grade three when she came back she told me that it snowed here? Do you think we will see snow?!!' She asked excitedly, I've never seen snow, but it looks so beautiful in pictures. So do you think it will snow in front of us?' She asked eagerly.
'No.' Was his monosyllabic answer.
'Hmpf.' She grunted, clearly upset. 'I knew I shouldn't have believed Jemilla she always was a liar. You know she stole my hair tie in year four and wore it in her own hair the next day, when I confronted her she claimed it was hers' and called me the liar, can you believe that?!!' She said in outrage, clearly still upset over the hair tie.
'Khushi she didn't lie -'
'How do you know??! You weren't there you didn't see my hair tie, mine had the golden berries on it and one of them was broken because I had believed Jiji when she had said they were actually edible...and the one she wore the next day had a broken berry too!!' Khushi defended.
'I was talking about the snow Khushi...' Arnav said as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes to quench the irritation, 'she didn't lie about the snow, it does snow, but in winter, not now, it's monsoon season right now, remember. We just had showers back in Delhi too...' Arnav prompted her memory in a drawn out tone, so that she would follow and not go off on her tangents again. He didn't care about Jemilla or her golden-berry hair-tie.
'Oh...' Khushi said in a hollow voice, but she still lied about my hair-tie!' Khushi added so that he wouldn't think that Jemilla wasn't a liar. Arnav shook his head in despair, there was no running away from this woman.
'Shall we go inside, if all your childhood stories are done?' Arnav asked, unable to disguise the exasperation in his voice.
'Yeah, of course. When did I stop you?' Khushi chided as she began walking towards the hotel.
'Uh...Khushi?' Arnav called after her, still standing next to the car.
'What? Now why are you still standing there, weren't you the one in a hurry to get inside?' She nagged.
'I'm not your chauffeur...'
'I never said you were.'
'Well then do you plan on taking your bag out?'
'Oh...right.' She replied sheepishly as she walked back and took her bag out of the back seat, only to turn and hit him with it. 'Hunh. Oh my God I'm so sorry. What were you doing standing right behind me for?!!'
'Oh right, blame the victim!' He groaned angrily.
'Here let me see, where did I get you?'
'No thank you, that's quite alright!' Replied a slightly pale Arnav as he slapped her hand away and cupped his shin region in agony. Seeing him buck over in pain made her realize where her bag must have injured him and her cheeks and ears went pink at the thought of it. Oops. 'Just go in and ask for the room booked under my name.' He cried out in pain, 'Oh and Khushi...' he called out as she began walking away as she clearly could not help him, 'as you were a surprise company I haven't booked you a room so you will have to ask for one, tell them to put it on my tab.'
'Why on yours? I can pay for my own room thank you very much.' She rebelled.
'For once will you do what I ask you to do?! Go!' He groaned again. She opened her mouth to argue back, but seeing his pain decided to do as he asked, she could argue over the bill later, right now the man wished to howl alone in his privacy, or more like without her in earshot, for he would have no privacy as such in the parking lot of what looked like quite a busy hotel.
'Hi...there is a reservation under the name of Mr. Raizada?' Khushi inquired.
'Umm...yes ma'am.' Replied the young receptionist. He looked like he was in his teens, this must be his summer job.
'Good. He is here and I am with him.' She said.
'Oh...but he didn't mention a guest with him. We only have a booking for one person.' He stated a little confused, had he heard wrong, if so his uncle would skin him alive, this would be his third mistake today.
'Yes. Yes. My plan was a last minute one...always is somehow. Even when I went over to Delhi with my sister, that was last minute too...I never seem to pre-plan you know, I guess I just like the whole spontaneous thing you know, living life for each moment...' Khushi rambled while the boy looked at her incedulousy, unsure as to why she was telling him all this.
'He doesn't need to know about your life history Khushi, just ask for a room.' Arnav growled from behind her. He was clearly able to walk now, although his face was still strained and there was a limp in his walk.
'Right. Can I have the adjoining room to his please?' She asked politely.
'What? No way...give her the room furthest away from mine...make it on a separate floor if possible!' Arnav declared in alarm.
'What will be the point of my coming here then? How will I look after you if I am on a different floor, no get me the adjoining room.' She repeated.
'No. And for the last time Khushi I don't need you or any of the care you wish to offer! Get her the furthest room.' He restated.
'No. You need me, whether you like it or not, you do! Without me you wouldn't even have gotten here!'
'Khushi, you did nothing, I would have gotten here fine without yo-'
'Uh excuse me, sir, ma'am...' the boy interrupted nervously.
'What?!' They both demanded at the same time.
'Umm I can't get you the room...'
'Yes!' Arnav exhaled happily. While Khushi scowled at him.
'Why not? Is the adjoining one taken? If so find us another adjoining one.'
'No. That's not the problem.'
'Then what?'
'There is no adjoining room in this hotel, but that's not it, I'm sorry, but this is actually a small hotel with only twelve rooms and three suites, and as it's tourist season the twelve rooms are booked. I'm sorry. The twelfth went to Mr Raizada. Now either you can share that, we can put up a camp bed in it or-'
'No way.' They both said together, not at all prepared to be in the same room as each other.
'What's the other option?' Arnav asked.
'Or you can take a suite, our family suite has two rooms in it with a common living room in between that has a balcony which overlooks the valley, it's a beautiful sight.'
'You don't need to sell it, we won't ta-' he started declining the option when -
'We'll take it.' Khushi accepted.
'Excuse me?' Arnav asked, she hadn't been happy to share a room with him but now was gladly taking a suite with him?!!
'Yeah. It sounds perfect. This way I can keep an eye on you and get a great view.' She smiled happily.
'Khushi I'm not sharing a suite with you.' Arnav said in an undertone, knowing too well the talks that would spread across in a small town like this. She may be not care about her image, moraless as she was, but he certainly cared about his very much.
'Why not?' She asked, not at all understanding.
'Because I will not.' He said clearly repulsed by the idea. He had entertained her for the past month at his house and for the last four hours in the car, but that did not mean he would entertain her in the hotel suite! He should have known, that this was her plan all along, she had never cared about him but had targeted him, after all he was a successful businessman with a great amount of doe under his name, of course she was targeting him. Wasn't that what woman like her did? And he had actually fell for it, believed her sob story about her parents, she had probably used her past to get under his skin, maniputalitve as she was. He had been fooled yet again by her, her well display of care' towards him in the morning and then her parent's crash story. Well played Khushi Kumari Gupta, he may have caught on late but now that he had he would not let her win.
'Uffo...stop being such a prude, I will not attack you.' She teased, not at all realizing the insinuation he took from it, 'I know I can be a little loud at times but don't worry, you will be safe with me, remember I came to take care of you.'
'Khushi Kumari Gupta, I'm not one your me-' He began his tirade, no longer able to reign in the anger, however, got cut off in the middle as his phone began to ring. It was Anjali. 'Hello.' He said a little more feircley than he had intended.
'Chotay?!'
'Di...Di what's wrong? Why do you sound so worried?' All the anger drained away as worry set in. Thus without realizing he agreed to the suite, for the receptionist waved the key in front of them asking whether they would take the room or not and he grabbed it not wishing to have a personal conversation infront of the world. 'Are you okay?' He asked as he got into the elevator closely followed by Khushi, who also let go of the fight hearing Arnav's worried tone, she listened to his side intensely trying to figure out what was the problem.
'Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Did you leave for Nainital already?' She asked hoping he would reply in the negative, or that he had not gone far so that he could turn around and head back, to help her.
'Yeah I just got here. Why? What is the matter?' He asked again, Anjali generally didn't deliberate when in a small problem, so there must something serious if she was trying to figure out how to tell him.
'Oh...um then nevermind you can't help...' she said, now sounding more scared, for who would she turn to with Arnav a good three hundred kilometers away from her.
'Di tell me what's wrong. Just because I'm here doesn't mean I can't solve your problem. Tell me what is it?'
'I...Chotay...I can't find her anywhere.' Anjali gave in, may be he may have a solution.
'Who Di?' Arnav asked confused, then, 'wait do you mean Nani? I thought she went with you, what happened, did you get separated?' Arnav asked as the lift blinged and he walked over to the suite and stopped to open it as Khushi walked right into him trying to keep tabs on the conversation, not realizing he had stopped. With an annoyed look he pushed her away as he opened the door.
'No, no. Not Nani. Nani is here with me.'
'Then who?'
'Khushi, Chotay.' She breathed exasperatedly, as Arnav dropped the key-card in exasperation for he realized all the scare was in regard to Khushi, who was tailing him like a Spaniel.
'She is not in the outhouse or at her sister's house, I didn't tell Payal yet that she was missing, I called her and when she asked about Khushi I realized she wasn't there so I just cut the phone after exchanging a few words of polite conversation. I'm really worried. Did you see her before you left? Oh no. Did you say something to her again?'
'Calm down Di. You have nothing to worry about. Khushi is here with me.' He said annoyance coming back full-fold; he had panicked for no reason.
'With you? What is she doing with you? And why didn't you tell me?!! I was so worried. 'You should have told me that Khushi is going with you!' Anjali scolded.
'Di relax...it wasn't planned it was last minute for...um work...I needed her to come with me for work.' Arnav lied, he didn't want Anjali to get worked up about his fainting spell, Khushi was annoying enough.
'Work? But I thought you're there for an AR project, not LaANK.'
'Uh...yeah...but Khushi mentioned there being some great cloth market here for winter clothes, so then I brought her with me so that she could check them out see if LaANK should buy material from here for our winter collection...it was all last minute, you know how Khushi is...she mentioned just before I was about to leave so then I told her to come with me...we didn't get a chance to tell you...sorry.' Great now he was having to lie to his sister because of her, while she stared at him with accusing eyes for telling the lies. What a hypocrite! If she lied for her benefit it was ok, but him lying for someone else's peace of mind was a sin?!! At least his motive was self-less!
'Oh ok. She's with you. That's a relief. Ok well you two take care and I'll see you when you get back. That's tomorrow, right?'
'Yeah, we'll leave early morning, should get there by ten.'
'Ok. Bye Chotay.'
'Yeah, bye Di.' He cut the line and looked at her intensely. What a woman? She always got what she wanted, even right now, knowingly or unknowingly she had gotten Anjali wired so that it distracted him in order to let her get the suite to share. She was one heck of a player. He would have to be more guarded and vigilant with her.
'Why did you lie to Di?' She asked reproachfully. What a nerve, for her to stand there and reprimand him for lying to Anjali when her every breath exhaled a lie instead of carbon-dioxide.
'Because I do not wish to upset her, when I am completely fine, you already have rattled her, she doesn't require another ordeal...Now you listen...just because you managed to get me where you wanted does not mean that I will let you get away with what you are planning nothing of that sort will happen Khushi Kumari Gupta, you forget I am aware of the likes of you, you do not fool me!'
'Hunh? What are you talking about?' Completely confused and taken aback.
'Don't act dumb I know you know exactly what I am saying...so you better take heed of the following, while we are here, you better stick to your room, I do not want you anywhere near me understand!'
'I-'
'Good.' With that he stalked off to the room towards her left leaving her highly confused in the lounge between their rooms.
'Khushi please stop that, it's really annoying.' He said again after ten minutes, when she still hadn't stopped and was continuing her rant. When she still didn't respond or take heed, he side glanced at her and saw that her eyes were firmly shut, one hand gripped the door handle, while the other clutched the edge of her seat as she feverishly chanted something, closer inspection told him it was some prayer. What was wrong with her? Did she not like travelling on highways or something?
He slowed the car slightly and asked her in kinder tone, 'Khushi what is it? Why are yo-'
BAAM!!
Suddenly, the car swerved dangerously and Arnav gripped hard at the wheel to stop the car from going over the edge, while Khushi's prayers magnified ten fold in volume, so that Arnav felt like his ear drums may burst. Once managing to steer it back on the road the car swayed from left to right as he slowed it down to a stop. He parked it on the side of the road, turned the hazard-indicators on and then went out to investigate, while Khushi continued to chant her prayers in an ear-peircing shril. Upon examination he found that the back tyre on the driver side had punctured and now was in smithereens as he had driven with it for another metre or so after it ruptured.
Damn it. Now what was he going to do, he was halfway to Nainital, who would fix his tyre here in the middle of nowhere, and there was no point in calling Ram Singh as it would take him another two hours to get here to bring him the other car and take back this one. Brilliant. He was stuck here on the highway, with a blown up tyre and a crazy woman, who was still screaming out prayers even after they had stopped.
'Khushi!!' He shouted over her voice as he yanked open her door, 'Khushi stop!! We're fine, nothing happened. You can stop shouting your prayers now!' Yet she still went on. Bloody hell. 'Khushi!!' He shook her vigorously, which did the trick and she quietened as she opened her eyes to see that she was still alive and that the car was no longer in motion but was parked on the side of the road. She was quiet for a moment as she let it all seep in, then she lashed out on him like a tigress.
'Were you trying to kill me?!!! What did you think, that considering I wasn't leaving the car you would kill me off and then go to Nainital. Here I am riding along with you for your sake, your health and you aren't the least bit considerate about my health or safety. Well I should have known, you already tried to kill me once why not again!! What the job wasn't complete in Khawab-Mahal so you decided you would do it on the road to Nainital?!! It would be much easier wouldn't it, just dump my body in this vast jungle and no one would ever know!!!' She went on rampaging as she kicked and slapped him with her fists and legs, clearly still reeling from the shock of the near accident.
'Khushi! Khushi!! Stop! Stooop!! KHUSHI!!' Having had enough of her beating he caught hold of her hands and twisted her whole body around and pinned it to a tree trunk off the side of the road.
'Sshh...enough. Breathe. You are fine. Nothing happened, the tyre burst that is all. Ok? You are fine. Nod your head to tell me that you understand. You are fine.' Slowly she gulped back her fear and nodded, then without warning she took him into a bear-tight hug.
He froze under her warm body. She was crying and he didn't know what to do. She needed him to soothe her, calm her, tell her again and again she was fine, but he couldn't. This had never happened to him before, no one, expect for Anjali, had ever turned to him for emotional support. He didn't know how to give it. He yearned to, for he couldn't take her crying, it seared his heart but for some reason he couldn't manage to bring his arms around her and complete the hug, instead it hung frozen in mid air, while she cried away on his shoulder.
'I...was soo sc-aaa-red...I hate f-ff-ast cars...and th-that noise...the tyre bursting I thought that was it...I was going to die...die the same horrible death my p-parents died. The death my...my...mooother had pr-ooo-tected me from...I wa-as going to ennnd up dying in a car cra-aassh just like them...she cushioned me lllast time but this tt-time...this time I was going to die...I don't like ff-ast cars...I...I...hic! Hic!' Her hiccups rescued Arnav from her embrace as she dislodged herself to get a control over them.
Once out of her encircling arms his limbs and brain began functioning again and he returned to the car to fetch the bottle of water he kept in the dash board to stop her hiccups. He came back and handed it to her, she took a big swig that ended her hiccups and then handed back the bottle. He took it and then looked at her nervously, trying figure out whether she would try to hug him again now that the hiccups were gone and if so what should he do, should he let her or not? But she didn't hug him again, instead grabbed the corner of her dupatta blew her nose on it, which disgusted Arnav greatly but he kept quiet. She was quite emotional at the moment and he didn't wish to make her start firing her arms and words at him or worse crying again.
'S-sorry. I just...my parents...fast car...the tyre...' She stammered trying to figure out how to explain.
'Don't worry about it.' He said testily, still not sure if she was okay now or not, then added, judging that she seemed better now, 'I didn't know you were afraid of speedy cars you should have told me I would have slowed down. It's understandable...what with your parents...were you with them in the car?' He asked before he could stop himself, but worried as soon as he had released the question that she may start up again. But she didn't, she only nodded. He didn't say anything, what could he have said. But he understood her pain well, he had lost his parents too and that too in front of his eyes, he knew the scar that sight left behind. No one else could see it, but it burned before his eyes every night, haunting him. Just the way it probably haunted her.
Not knowing what to say next or do now, he fiddled around with the bottle cap in his hand. To his relief she broke the silence. 'So I guess we should get going then.' She wasn't looking at him when she spoke, not yet ready to meet his eyes, but her voice was steadier.
'About that...we can't. We're stranded.' He stated.
'Why?'
'The tyre burst Khushi.' He reminded her, what had she forgotten the big loud noise that had scared her witless?
'Yeah, so? Do you not have a spare?' She asked, now looking at him worried.
'Yeah I do.'
'Then what's the problem?' Relief settled in her eyes, as she heard there was a spare and so they wouldn't have to stay on the highway and wait for a passing car to come and give them a lift.
'Uh who is going to change it?' He asked her, annoyance seeping back in at her taking so long to figure out why they were stranded.
'You.' She said it in an obvious tone, then added, won't you?' When she realized he didn't seem to want to.
'No.'
'Why not? Do you not want to get to Nainital?'
'Yeah I do. But I can't get there with a burst tyre. We will have to ask for a lift.' He said, irate at the thought of travelling in another's car.
'Why? When you have a spare tyre, why not change it and get back on the road?' She asked not understanding what his problem was. 'What afraid to get a bit of oil on your suit? Well get past that fear because you need to get back on the road, we are going for your meeting remember, which is in about three hours. Don't worry about the suit, don't you have like another ten inside your carry-on, just change into one of them here in the jungle once you're done with the tyre.' She mocked him.
'No I'm not afraid about getting oil on my clothes, I'm not going to change the tyre because I don't know how to!' He exhaled angrily.
'Wait, what?!!' She burst out laughing. 'You can't change a tyre. Arnav Singh Raizada, youngest business tycoon of the country doesn't know how to change a tyre?!! Oh this is a good one.' She laughed hard, clutching at her stomach and using the tree trunk behind her for support.
'Stop laughing. I don't see what is so hilarious about it? So I can't change a tyre, big deal. It's not like you can.' He defended haughtily.
She sobered up at that, making him give her a smug smile, thinking how he had quietened her taunt once and for all. However, to his alarm, she took off her dupatta, tied it loose around her waist and with an air of superiority marched towards the car, motioning him with her eyes to follow and learn. He followed more out of outrage at her condescending manner than because he wished to actually be taught by her. He didn't think she would actually try to change the tyre let alone knew how too, but to his disappointment she surprised him on both fronts, by going about changing the tyre and doing it correctly.
She popped the boot open, got out the necessary equipment and got down to business: elevating the car with the jack, then unscrewing the knuts and bolts, wheeling out the weathered tyre, wheeling in the spare, screwing back the knuts and bolts, lowering the car, putting the equipment back and then stood back to show off her work triumphantly as she wiped away the treacle of sweat that had crawled down her face.
'And that's how it's done, Mr Raizada. Guess you did need me after all, hunh?!' She declared, more than asked. While he just gave a grunt, annoyed that she knew how to do this when he didn't and made his way to his door, but before he got in he turned back around and walked right up to her.
Thinking that he came to say thank you she looked right at him and smiled in anticipation, but instead he raised his thumb and wiped the grease off her face, then added, 'FYI, Khushi, you would not have died alone if the car went off the bend, I would have too, so no I was not trying to kill you not today or the other night in Khawab-Mahal, they were mere accidents.' That said, he took out his handkerchief wiped the grease off his thumb, that he had gotten from wiping her face, and went back to his seat, leaving a stubbed Khushi.
What a wretch!! First he scared the daylights out of her. And then when she helped him instead of thanking her he further insulted her!! Abnoxious Laad governor!!
'Khushi do you plan to stay on the highway or come with me?' Arnav called out after a minute, seeing her still standing outside where he had left her.
Skulking, she made her way around the car and into her seat. Once inside she closed the door, buckled up and crossed her arms, all the while keeping her head turned away from him in anger. She was giving him the silent treatment. He smirked, she was such a kid sometimes. Well good for him, her silence meant he could drive in peace.
----
Two hours later Arnav parked his car into the hotel parking lot. He would have reached earlier had he not consciously slowed down the speed keeping in mind Khushi's fear.
'Oh my, the valley looks so beautiful!!' Khushi exclaimed as she got out of the car and surveyed the scene before her. The hotel was situated on one of the peaks surrounding the valley and therefore gave a great vantage point. One could see the beautiful eye shaped lake and the surrounding sights that sent shivers of amazement down the onlooker's spine. It was a breathtaking sight. 'I'd always heard how beautiful this hillstation was but now that I get to see it, it's indescribable, I don't have words...' She went on chirping happily.
'And yet you still mange to find some...' muttered Arnav under his breath, who had had enough of Khushi's chatter. The silent treatment had not lasted long, the woman was incapable of silence. She had started talking five minutes after they had set, not to him at first, apparently still aware that she was angry at him but soon she had forgotten that and was ogling aloud about all the scenes she could see as they got closer and closer to the valley. Arnav who had seen this valley many a times now, did not share her enthusiasm and silently cursed himself for fainting today of all days and that too in front of her.
'Ooo...my friend, Jemilla, visited Nainital in grade three when she came back she told me that it snowed here? Do you think we will see snow?!!' She asked excitedly, I've never seen snow, but it looks so beautiful in pictures. So do you think it will snow in front of us?' She asked eagerly.
'No.' Was his monosyllabic answer.
'Hmpf.' She grunted, clearly upset. 'I knew I shouldn't have believed Jemilla she always was a liar. You know she stole my hair tie in year four and wore it in her own hair the next day, when I confronted her she claimed it was hers' and called me the liar, can you believe that?!!' She said in outrage, clearly still upset over the hair tie.
'Khushi she didn't lie -'
'How do you know??! You weren't there you didn't see my hair tie, mine had the golden berries on it and one of them was broken because I had believed Jiji when she had said they were actually edible...and the one she wore the next day had a broken berry too!!' Khushi defended.
'I was talking about the snow Khushi...' Arnav said as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes to quench the irritation, 'she didn't lie about the snow, it does snow, but in winter, not now, it's monsoon season right now, remember. We just had showers back in Delhi too...' Arnav prompted her memory in a drawn out tone, so that she would follow and not go off on her tangents again. He didn't care about Jemilla or her golden-berry hair-tie.
'Oh...' Khushi said in a hollow voice, but she still lied about my hair-tie!' Khushi added so that he wouldn't think that Jemilla wasn't a liar. Arnav shook his head in despair, there was no running away from this woman.
'Shall we go inside, if all your childhood stories are done?' Arnav asked, unable to disguise the exasperation in his voice.
'Yeah, of course. When did I stop you?' Khushi chided as she began walking towards the hotel.
'Uh...Khushi?' Arnav called after her, still standing next to the car.
'What? Now why are you still standing there, weren't you the one in a hurry to get inside?' She nagged.
'I'm not your chauffeur...'
'I never said you were.'
'Well then do you plan on taking your bag out?'
'Oh...right.' She replied sheepishly as she walked back and took her bag out of the back seat, only to turn and hit him with it. 'Hunh. Oh my God I'm so sorry. What were you doing standing right behind me for?!!'
'Oh right, blame the victim!' He groaned angrily.
'Here let me see, where did I get you?'
'No thank you, that's quite alright!' Replied a slightly pale Arnav as he slapped her hand away and cupped his shin region in agony. Seeing him buck over in pain made her realize where her bag must have injured him and her cheeks and ears went pink at the thought of it. Oops. 'Just go in and ask for the room booked under my name.' He cried out in pain, 'Oh and Khushi...' he called out as she began walking away as she clearly could not help him, 'as you were a surprise company I haven't booked you a room so you will have to ask for one, tell them to put it on my tab.'
'Why on yours? I can pay for my own room thank you very much.' She rebelled.
'For once will you do what I ask you to do?! Go!' He groaned again. She opened her mouth to argue back, but seeing his pain decided to do as he asked, she could argue over the bill later, right now the man wished to howl alone in his privacy, or more like without her in earshot, for he would have no privacy as such in the parking lot of what looked like quite a busy hotel.
'Hi...there is a reservation under the name of Mr. Raizada?' Khushi inquired.
'Umm...yes ma'am.' Replied the young receptionist. He looked like he was in his teens, this must be his summer job.
'Good. He is here and I am with him.' She said.
'Oh...but he didn't mention a guest with him. We only have a booking for one person.' He stated a little confused, had he heard wrong, if so his uncle would skin him alive, this would be his third mistake today.
'Yes. Yes. My plan was a last minute one...always is somehow. Even when I went over to Delhi with my sister, that was last minute too...I never seem to pre-plan you know, I guess I just like the whole spontaneous thing you know, living life for each moment...' Khushi rambled while the boy looked at her incedulousy, unsure as to why she was telling him all this.
'He doesn't need to know about your life history Khushi, just ask for a room.' Arnav growled from behind her. He was clearly able to walk now, although his face was still strained and there was a limp in his walk.
'Right. Can I have the adjoining room to his please?' She asked politely.
'What? No way...give her the room furthest away from mine...make it on a separate floor if possible!' Arnav declared in alarm.
'What will be the point of my coming here then? How will I look after you if I am on a different floor, no get me the adjoining room.' She repeated.
'No. And for the last time Khushi I don't need you or any of the care you wish to offer! Get her the furthest room.' He restated.
'No. You need me, whether you like it or not, you do! Without me you wouldn't even have gotten here!'
'Khushi, you did nothing, I would have gotten here fine without yo-'
'Uh excuse me, sir, ma'am...' the boy interrupted nervously.
'What?!' They both demanded at the same time.
'Umm I can't get you the room...'
'Yes!' Arnav exhaled happily. While Khushi scowled at him.
'Why not? Is the adjoining one taken? If so find us another adjoining one.'
'No. That's not the problem.'
'Then what?'
'There is no adjoining room in this hotel, but that's not it, I'm sorry, but this is actually a small hotel with only twelve rooms and three suites, and as it's tourist season the twelve rooms are booked. I'm sorry. The twelfth went to Mr Raizada. Now either you can share that, we can put up a camp bed in it or-'
'No way.' They both said together, not at all prepared to be in the same room as each other.
'What's the other option?' Arnav asked.
'Or you can take a suite, our family suite has two rooms in it with a common living room in between that has a balcony which overlooks the valley, it's a beautiful sight.'
'You don't need to sell it, we won't ta-' he started declining the option when -
'We'll take it.' Khushi accepted.
'Excuse me?' Arnav asked, she hadn't been happy to share a room with him but now was gladly taking a suite with him?!!
'Yeah. It sounds perfect. This way I can keep an eye on you and get a great view.' She smiled happily.
'Khushi I'm not sharing a suite with you.' Arnav said in an undertone, knowing too well the talks that would spread across in a small town like this. She may be not care about her image, moraless as she was, but he certainly cared about his very much.
'Why not?' She asked, not at all understanding.
'Because I will not.' He said clearly repulsed by the idea. He had entertained her for the past month at his house and for the last four hours in the car, but that did not mean he would entertain her in the hotel suite! He should have known, that this was her plan all along, she had never cared about him but had targeted him, after all he was a successful businessman with a great amount of doe under his name, of course she was targeting him. Wasn't that what woman like her did? And he had actually fell for it, believed her sob story about her parents, she had probably used her past to get under his skin, maniputalitve as she was. He had been fooled yet again by her, her well display of care' towards him in the morning and then her parent's crash story. Well played Khushi Kumari Gupta, he may have caught on late but now that he had he would not let her win.
'Uffo...stop being such a prude, I will not attack you.' She teased, not at all realizing the insinuation he took from it, 'I know I can be a little loud at times but don't worry, you will be safe with me, remember I came to take care of you.'
'Khushi Kumari Gupta, I'm not one your me-' He began his tirade, no longer able to reign in the anger, however, got cut off in the middle as his phone began to ring. It was Anjali. 'Hello.' He said a little more feircley than he had intended.
'Chotay?!'
'Di...Di what's wrong? Why do you sound so worried?' All the anger drained away as worry set in. Thus without realizing he agreed to the suite, for the receptionist waved the key in front of them asking whether they would take the room or not and he grabbed it not wishing to have a personal conversation infront of the world. 'Are you okay?' He asked as he got into the elevator closely followed by Khushi, who also let go of the fight hearing Arnav's worried tone, she listened to his side intensely trying to figure out what was the problem.
'Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Did you leave for Nainital already?' She asked hoping he would reply in the negative, or that he had not gone far so that he could turn around and head back, to help her.
'Yeah I just got here. Why? What is the matter?' He asked again, Anjali generally didn't deliberate when in a small problem, so there must something serious if she was trying to figure out how to tell him.
'Oh...um then nevermind you can't help...' she said, now sounding more scared, for who would she turn to with Arnav a good three hundred kilometers away from her.
'Di tell me what's wrong. Just because I'm here doesn't mean I can't solve your problem. Tell me what is it?'
'I...Chotay...I can't find her anywhere.' Anjali gave in, may be he may have a solution.
'Who Di?' Arnav asked confused, then, 'wait do you mean Nani? I thought she went with you, what happened, did you get separated?' Arnav asked as the lift blinged and he walked over to the suite and stopped to open it as Khushi walked right into him trying to keep tabs on the conversation, not realizing he had stopped. With an annoyed look he pushed her away as he opened the door.
'No, no. Not Nani. Nani is here with me.'
'Then who?'
'Khushi, Chotay.' She breathed exasperatedly, as Arnav dropped the key-card in exasperation for he realized all the scare was in regard to Khushi, who was tailing him like a Spaniel.
'She is not in the outhouse or at her sister's house, I didn't tell Payal yet that she was missing, I called her and when she asked about Khushi I realized she wasn't there so I just cut the phone after exchanging a few words of polite conversation. I'm really worried. Did you see her before you left? Oh no. Did you say something to her again?'
'Calm down Di. You have nothing to worry about. Khushi is here with me.' He said annoyance coming back full-fold; he had panicked for no reason.
'With you? What is she doing with you? And why didn't you tell me?!! I was so worried. 'You should have told me that Khushi is going with you!' Anjali scolded.
'Di relax...it wasn't planned it was last minute for...um work...I needed her to come with me for work.' Arnav lied, he didn't want Anjali to get worked up about his fainting spell, Khushi was annoying enough.
'Work? But I thought you're there for an AR project, not LaANK.'
'Uh...yeah...but Khushi mentioned there being some great cloth market here for winter clothes, so then I brought her with me so that she could check them out see if LaANK should buy material from here for our winter collection...it was all last minute, you know how Khushi is...she mentioned just before I was about to leave so then I told her to come with me...we didn't get a chance to tell you...sorry.' Great now he was having to lie to his sister because of her, while she stared at him with accusing eyes for telling the lies. What a hypocrite! If she lied for her benefit it was ok, but him lying for someone else's peace of mind was a sin?!! At least his motive was self-less!
'Oh ok. She's with you. That's a relief. Ok well you two take care and I'll see you when you get back. That's tomorrow, right?'
'Yeah, we'll leave early morning, should get there by ten.'
'Ok. Bye Chotay.'
'Yeah, bye Di.' He cut the line and looked at her intensely. What a woman? She always got what she wanted, even right now, knowingly or unknowingly she had gotten Anjali wired so that it distracted him in order to let her get the suite to share. She was one heck of a player. He would have to be more guarded and vigilant with her.
'Why did you lie to Di?' She asked reproachfully. What a nerve, for her to stand there and reprimand him for lying to Anjali when her every breath exhaled a lie instead of carbon-dioxide.
'Because I do not wish to upset her, when I am completely fine, you already have rattled her, she doesn't require another ordeal...Now you listen...just because you managed to get me where you wanted does not mean that I will let you get away with what you are planning nothing of that sort will happen Khushi Kumari Gupta, you forget I am aware of the likes of you, you do not fool me!'
'Hunh? What are you talking about?' Completely confused and taken aback.
'Don't act dumb I know you know exactly what I am saying...so you better take heed of the following, while we are here, you better stick to your room, I do not want you anywhere near me understand!'
'I-'
'Good.' With that he stalked off to the room towards her left leaving her highly confused in the lounge between their rooms.
*****
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