Khushi moved in the next day. She packed her bags the night before, after they came back from Shantivan and dropped it in the afternoon at the outhouse. Nani and Anjali were ecstatic to see her come, although Anjali looked a little concerned. When Khushi asked she said it was nothing but she could tell something was bothering her, however, she didn't pester as she didn't know her too well hence thought it would be best not too. After she had left her things, she spent the rest of Sunday with Aakash and Payal, as it was her last day with them, as Payal kept on saying.
'Oho Jiji, it's not like I'm moving to Banaras or something, I'm only going to be half and hour away, you can drop by whenever you want.' Exhaled Khushi when Payal mentioned it for the hundredth time in her presence.
'But you won't be in the same house anymore, it will be different.' She said teary eyed.
'Well I was going to move out one day wasn't I, I can't live with you forever, you are married now you have your own life and I, my own. It's just the way it is, but at least we will be close by, unlike with Amma and Bauji who are so far away. Imagine how they feel?'
'Yeah , I know, but it's just that when you were with me, I felt like a part of them were with me too, but now when you leave too, it will be me on my own.' Payal sniffed.
'How will you be alone Jiji, when you will have Jeeju to keep you company...' she winked and Payal blushed.
'Khushi-
'No...no more of this Jiji, come on what will Jeeju think, look he is coming back with the Kulfi's...and besides like you say this is my last day with you all, as your roommate, so are you going to spend it all crying or will we actually spend some fun times together, hunh?'
'Kulfi's here!' Aakash chirped, as he joined them and they both ended the converstation, Payal, because she knew Khushi was right, Aakash would not like to hear her sob yet again, he had been sweet about it uptil now but she didn't wish to test his patience; while Khushi ended it as she didn't wish to talk about being on her own anymore, as the thought scared her very much. She tried to be brave in front of Payal and acted like she was excited about it and she was, but a large part of her was terrified, she had never been on her own before, she was on the brink of a very big step in her life and it made her extremely anxious, but she knew she had to take it. This was what she told herself over and over again as she finally parted from Payal in the evening when they dropped her at Shantivan after a wonderful meal.
She too had gotten emotional when the parting time had come but Anjali and Nani had been sweet about it, they had stood by her as Payal and Aakash drove away. After they had gone they had spent the rest of the evening with her telling her about their lives as she told them about hers'. From them she had gotten to know how Anjali and her brother had had similar heartaches to hers'. Anjali and her brother were orphans too and they had had their heart-broken too. Anjali by her husband's betrayal and her brother due to his fiance dying tragically in an accident, just three months earlier, a wound he was still festering. Her heart went out to the grand-son, how much he must be hurting, she knew the heart-ache of a loved one being taken away so unjustly too well. She still had not gotten over it and it had been fifteen years since her parents had passed away.
'Khushi are you ok?' Anjali's soothing voice cut across her thoughts.
'Hunh? Yes, yes I'm fine Di. I just...hearing about how your brother's finacee was taken away it just brought back memories of my parent's accident. I know that pain well.' She said with a sad smile. 'Where is your brother though? I haven't seen him. Is he out of town?' She asked as she scanned the living area. He hadn't joined them ever since she had come.
'Oh he's at work.' Anjali said, with a sad note that also had a hint of relief init, which Khushi didn't understand.
'At work? On a Sunday and that too at nine o'clock in the evening?' Khushi asked before she could stop herself, she didn't understand, why he would be at work right now.
'Yes, Chotay is like that. He was always been a workaholic but recently has become an even bigger one after the accident, I wasn't even sure if that was possible for him but apparently it was.' Sighed Nani. 'We think he blames himself for the accident, they had a fight that night Lavanya and him, hence she left in a storm. That's why he wishes to swamp himself in work all the time to escape from the guilt...'
'Chotay, actually prefers to work on weekends as he says the office is quiet then and so he gets more work done then in the whole week.' Anjali said in her brother's defense, although Khushi could tell this was the response she most likely got from her brother when she asked him why he went in the weekend's as she didn't sound to convinced by it herself.
'Oh.' Was all Khushi could say. She didn't wish to upset Anjali or Nani by saying how that was not the way to deal with grief, that he should be with them to accept it and move on, just the way she had shared it with Amma, Bauji and Payal; but then just because she chose to grieve with her family didn't mean everyone did that way. Plus his injury was fresher, it had taken her quite some time to come to terms with what had happened and how she was not responsible even though it still felt like that sometimes, so it was understandable that he was cutting himself off from the world. Her heart went out for him, whenever she finally met him she would do her best to help with his grief. After all, this was something she was experienced in and could help with.
'Ok well I'm off to bed. See you girls in the morning.' Yawned Nani as she got up. Khushi and Anjali too, got up after that and headed for their bunks. Anjali, only stopping to tell Hari-Prakash to heat the food for her brother when he got in.
As Khushi sat on her bed un-zipping her bag to take out her salwar kameez for the night she looked around the room. Unfamiliar as it was, there was something homy about the place. She had been scared that she would not be able to stay on her own but the setting around her filled her up with a safe feeling and she knew that even though alone for the first time she would be fine. This was her house now and so there was nothing to be afraid of.
BANG! What was that?! The feeling of safety vanished as the sound of the front door banging open jolted her.
'Who is here? Come out with your hands in the air if you wish to live!' a male voice boomed around the pool-house.
A man in her house? Oh god? What was she going to do? She glanced up at the mantel it was eleven o'clock. Di and Nani would surely be asleep by now and even if they weren't she couldn't call out to them, they would never hear for their abode was on the otherside of the mansion. She was toast. She glanced around her small bedroom in hope to find some sort of weapon, she was going to have to confront this man and it was in her best interest to go out rather then wait for him to come into the bedroom. Her eyes landed on a broom. Desperate times... Grabbing it with a shaky hand she ventured outside her room.
'Who's there, I'm armed and not afraid to use my weapon, come out in front of me!' Khushi too called out, her voice husky with nerves. She gripped the broomstick with both her hands as she forced her eyes to open wide and try to decipher where the man was. The lounging area was in darkness and she couldn't see him. She had to get to the lights. Using the light that was coming out from the bedroom she made her way towards the kitchen area to turn on the lights there first and then make her way to the front door where the other set of the switches were, that would bring the whole lounging area into brightness.
'Ouch!'
'What the-?'
She bumped into something. No, someone.
'SQUATTER!!' The man yelled right next to her ear, just as she yelled
THIEF!! THIEF!!!' and began brandishing her broom fiercely in the air, she caught him a few times, he had not been expecting an onslaught. She had the element of surprise and thus the advantage on him.
'Ugh...STOP IT!!! STOP IT!! I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU ARRESTED!! YOU WRETCH!! STOP!' He screamed.
'YEAH, YOU WISH, YOU COME INTO MY HOUSE AND THINK THAT YOU CAN GET ME ARRESTED...I'LL HAVE YOU ARRESTED YOU THIEF!!' she went on beating him with the brush end of the stick, until he finally fell onto the kitchen floor, panting. Once he was there, she turned to hit the lights and see who had dared to come into her home.
'HUUUH!!! ARNAV JI?!!!' her eyes dilated as she took in a shaken Arnav on her kitchen floor. He was shielding his eyes from the sudden exposure to the lights and so hadn't turn to look at her until she hadn't shouted out his name, but now as he saw who was trespassing on his property he was gobsmacked. Out of all the people in the world...
'Arnav ji, you are a multi-millionaire, why would you need to indulge in theft?' Asked Khushi in shocked whisper.
'WHAT?!!' Did this girl ever think before she spoke?!!! 'Up until now I only thought you were insane Khushi Kumari Gupta, but today you have proven it!!! I'm not here to steal anything!!' he yelled at her as he got up.
'Well then, if not that then what are you doing in my house at an unsensible hour?' She said defensively.
'Your house? Your house?!!' he stared at her in disbelief. The nerve of this girl.
'Yes my house.' She said possessively. 'Look just because I know you I won't call the cops but you need to leave now, otherwise I will have to call security.' She added, to let him know while she may not get him arrested she would not hesitate to get him booted out, if it came to that.
'You call security? You won't have to because I will call them before you do, to get a crazy person off my property!' he snapped, as he menacingly came towards her.
'Your property? Who is losing it now? How is this, your property?!! I think you have had too long a day at work Mr Raizada and have forgotten where your house is!!' She glared back at him, she would not get intimidated by this man in her own house.
'I haven't lost my way, you have Khushi Kumari Gupta, the way to the mental asylum for that is where you belong!! Calling other people's home your home!!!' He shouted, irritation surging inside him. He'd had a long day of NK today and he was in no mood to deal with her afterwards and that too in his own house.
'Huuh!! Mental aslyam!!! You're being rude. Now I have had enough!! It is the middle of the night, this is my house and I have no wish to entertain you not now or ever!!!' with that she turned on her heel, picked up the intercom and buzzed security to come kick her intruder out. Arnav stared at her, she had actually called security up, did she want to be kicked out!! Well fine, if that's what she wanted he wouldn't stop it from happening. It would be a treat to watch, her being turned out for calling her own bluff.
They stood in silence for the next minute staring smugly at each other, neither realizing that the other had every right to be there, for the people who knew were sound asleep in their beds, unaware of the commotion taking place on the other side of the house.
'Yes Ma'am...Sir, where is the intruder?' the security personel walked in and addressed both of them as he looked around for the trespasser.
'Ma'am?' Arnav looked at him baffled, just as Khushi voiced the same astonishment, 'sir?' they looked from the security guard to the other and then back at the guard not comprehending.
'What do you mean Ma'am?'
'What do you mean Sir?' they both asked at the same time.
'Uh...just that sir, ma'am...' The guard replied, now confused himself, 'Where is the trespasser?' he tried again.
'He is.'
'She is.' They both said together again. Arnav gave her an annoyed look for speaking at the same time then went on to talk to his security guard. 'Vikram, this woman, she is the trespasser, kick her out.'
'What? No sir she is not trespassing she is living here now, she moved in today.' Vikram stated realizing that Nani and Anjali probably hid this fact from him. He had wondered how they had gotten him to agree. Now he understood.
'What?!! Living here!!' Arnav hollered, unbelievingly.
'Yes. I moved in today. This is my house.' Khushi said all too smugly, before Vikram could say anything. Arnav ignored her.
'On whose authority was this decision made?!' he spat, but before Vikram could answer, Arnav read his face, 'Oh of course, Nani...' Arnav gritted his teeth in annoyance. Why did Nani suddenly decide to have a PG? Probably to find another way to irk him. Hence out of all the things she could have done with this pool house she put it up for rent and then lent it out to his worst nightmare. Why was everyone in the world out get him? It seemed everyone's mission in life to find the best way to wire him up!! Ugh!!
'Now that it has been resolved that I live here, Vikram ji, can you urge this man to leave, I do not enjoy his unpleasant company in my home!' Khushi said with a hint of superiority. It wasn't everyday, she got to prove Arnav Singh Raizada wrong, she may as well relish in it while she could.
'Ummm Ma'am...I can't.' Vikram said as his cheeks grew warm at the thought of the order she had just asked him to carry out.
'Why?' Khushi asked with, wide eyes.
'Because- he began.
'Because this is my house.' Arnav cut him off.
'Really? Still? After Vikram ji, explained to you that I moved in here, you will maintain that this is your house. Who is the crazy person now?' Khushi said adamantly.
Having had enough of her nonsense and annoyance surging in his veins for the position Nani and Di had put him into, he closed the gap between them in two strides, gripped her arms and spoke into her face, to clarify the problem once and for all, 'You may be renting this house Khushi Kumari Gupta, but I own it!! Shantivan is my house, you are renting out my outhouse. That room across the pool belongs to me. Now do you need me to show you the property papers or do you finally understand whose house this is?' he said rather rudely.
Khushi's whimper jerked him out of his rage and he realized the proximity. Annoyed at how his anger had led him so close too her yet again, he pulled away from her. Leaving her pinned to the wall where she massaged her arms as she let the truth sink in.
Arnav Singh Raizada was Di's brother. Nani's grand-son. Her neighbour. Her landlord. Oh god why?!! Why he out of all the people? Why did their paths have to cross in every aspect of her life? She stared at him as he directed Vikram to go back to his station as clearly no one had broken in. There was no intruder. Only a viscious neighbour. No that was harsh of her to say, if she didn't know anything about him she could have continued on to assume that but she did and it was wrong of her to call him viscious. For he was grieving. She had learned that earlier this evening, had she not? She should be more considerate. She knew his pain, knew his grief, she should let him know that it would be ok, that he would get through this. Time was a great healer along with a loved one's support.
Making up her mind, she approached him cautiously. 'Arnav ji...' oh, how was she supposed to do this? 'What a confusion hunh? You thought I was an intruder and I thought you were...' she gave a laugh as she recalled the whole scene her beating him with a broom. 'I hope I didn't hurt you too much with that broom.' She stretched out her wobbling hand to check his face but he beat it away, not looking at her, he was seething. Ok, change the approach Khushi, talk about what's common between you, was there anything? Oh yes of course...grief... 'Di told me about what happened, between you and Lavanya ji, I can understand how you must feel-
Oh no, not that!!! He would tolerate anything but her sympathy. He didn't need her meaningless pity. She didn't know him and had no right to discuss his personal matters with him. He had tolerated her presence at work but not here, this was his house, damnit!!! Without warning he turned on his heel, yanked her by the wrist and led her out through the open door.
'Wha...what are you doing?!!' Khushi shouted in alarm. 'Stop. Where are you taking me?!' She questioned as he threw her into the passenger seat of his white Prado.
'Put on your seat-belt.' He growled, as he put the jeep into ignition. Fear trumped logic and Khushi did what he asked rather then opening the door to get out. He blared the horn as he approached the main gate. Vikram hastily made his way to the door and opened it to let the menacing vehicle out.
'Where are you taking me?!' Khushi asked again, as she held on to the door and dashboard for dear life. She hated fast cars.
'I will endure you be being my employee but I will not undergo the torture of having you as my neighbour! Of you giving me your fake sympathy!! I don't need it not in my own home and that too from you, who doesn't know the first thing about loss!!' he snarled, as he made a sharp swerve, causing Khushi to close her eyes and chant her prayers. This further infuriarated him.
He came to a sudden halt and Khushi opened her eyes. They had skidded to a stop outside a boundry wall. The sign next to the gate, which Arnav got out to tear open, read - Khwab Mahal. Before Khushi could try and decipher what was happening and where she was, Arnav was back in his seat and pulling the gear to make the crusier trudge furiously across the gravel driveway. He stopped a metre away from the porch of the house. He got out and was by her door in moments. He wrenched the door open and pulled her out. Shoving her, mercilessly towards the house and threw the keys at her feet.
'You're my tenant but that doesn't mean you have to live on the same property as I do. This is Di's house, you can live here, not across the pool from me!!' with that he got back into his Prado and without a backward glance at her zoomed out of the driveway leaving Khushi standing alone outside Anjali and Chetan's house.
'Oho Jiji, it's not like I'm moving to Banaras or something, I'm only going to be half and hour away, you can drop by whenever you want.' Exhaled Khushi when Payal mentioned it for the hundredth time in her presence.
'But you won't be in the same house anymore, it will be different.' She said teary eyed.
'Well I was going to move out one day wasn't I, I can't live with you forever, you are married now you have your own life and I, my own. It's just the way it is, but at least we will be close by, unlike with Amma and Bauji who are so far away. Imagine how they feel?'
'Yeah , I know, but it's just that when you were with me, I felt like a part of them were with me too, but now when you leave too, it will be me on my own.' Payal sniffed.
'How will you be alone Jiji, when you will have Jeeju to keep you company...' she winked and Payal blushed.
'Khushi-
'No...no more of this Jiji, come on what will Jeeju think, look he is coming back with the Kulfi's...and besides like you say this is my last day with you all, as your roommate, so are you going to spend it all crying or will we actually spend some fun times together, hunh?'
'Kulfi's here!' Aakash chirped, as he joined them and they both ended the converstation, Payal, because she knew Khushi was right, Aakash would not like to hear her sob yet again, he had been sweet about it uptil now but she didn't wish to test his patience; while Khushi ended it as she didn't wish to talk about being on her own anymore, as the thought scared her very much. She tried to be brave in front of Payal and acted like she was excited about it and she was, but a large part of her was terrified, she had never been on her own before, she was on the brink of a very big step in her life and it made her extremely anxious, but she knew she had to take it. This was what she told herself over and over again as she finally parted from Payal in the evening when they dropped her at Shantivan after a wonderful meal.
She too had gotten emotional when the parting time had come but Anjali and Nani had been sweet about it, they had stood by her as Payal and Aakash drove away. After they had gone they had spent the rest of the evening with her telling her about their lives as she told them about hers'. From them she had gotten to know how Anjali and her brother had had similar heartaches to hers'. Anjali and her brother were orphans too and they had had their heart-broken too. Anjali by her husband's betrayal and her brother due to his fiance dying tragically in an accident, just three months earlier, a wound he was still festering. Her heart went out to the grand-son, how much he must be hurting, she knew the heart-ache of a loved one being taken away so unjustly too well. She still had not gotten over it and it had been fifteen years since her parents had passed away.
'Khushi are you ok?' Anjali's soothing voice cut across her thoughts.
'Hunh? Yes, yes I'm fine Di. I just...hearing about how your brother's finacee was taken away it just brought back memories of my parent's accident. I know that pain well.' She said with a sad smile. 'Where is your brother though? I haven't seen him. Is he out of town?' She asked as she scanned the living area. He hadn't joined them ever since she had come.
'Oh he's at work.' Anjali said, with a sad note that also had a hint of relief init, which Khushi didn't understand.
'At work? On a Sunday and that too at nine o'clock in the evening?' Khushi asked before she could stop herself, she didn't understand, why he would be at work right now.
'Yes, Chotay is like that. He was always been a workaholic but recently has become an even bigger one after the accident, I wasn't even sure if that was possible for him but apparently it was.' Sighed Nani. 'We think he blames himself for the accident, they had a fight that night Lavanya and him, hence she left in a storm. That's why he wishes to swamp himself in work all the time to escape from the guilt...'
'Chotay, actually prefers to work on weekends as he says the office is quiet then and so he gets more work done then in the whole week.' Anjali said in her brother's defense, although Khushi could tell this was the response she most likely got from her brother when she asked him why he went in the weekend's as she didn't sound to convinced by it herself.
'Oh.' Was all Khushi could say. She didn't wish to upset Anjali or Nani by saying how that was not the way to deal with grief, that he should be with them to accept it and move on, just the way she had shared it with Amma, Bauji and Payal; but then just because she chose to grieve with her family didn't mean everyone did that way. Plus his injury was fresher, it had taken her quite some time to come to terms with what had happened and how she was not responsible even though it still felt like that sometimes, so it was understandable that he was cutting himself off from the world. Her heart went out for him, whenever she finally met him she would do her best to help with his grief. After all, this was something she was experienced in and could help with.
'Ok well I'm off to bed. See you girls in the morning.' Yawned Nani as she got up. Khushi and Anjali too, got up after that and headed for their bunks. Anjali, only stopping to tell Hari-Prakash to heat the food for her brother when he got in.
As Khushi sat on her bed un-zipping her bag to take out her salwar kameez for the night she looked around the room. Unfamiliar as it was, there was something homy about the place. She had been scared that she would not be able to stay on her own but the setting around her filled her up with a safe feeling and she knew that even though alone for the first time she would be fine. This was her house now and so there was nothing to be afraid of.
BANG! What was that?! The feeling of safety vanished as the sound of the front door banging open jolted her.
'Who is here? Come out with your hands in the air if you wish to live!' a male voice boomed around the pool-house.
A man in her house? Oh god? What was she going to do? She glanced up at the mantel it was eleven o'clock. Di and Nani would surely be asleep by now and even if they weren't she couldn't call out to them, they would never hear for their abode was on the otherside of the mansion. She was toast. She glanced around her small bedroom in hope to find some sort of weapon, she was going to have to confront this man and it was in her best interest to go out rather then wait for him to come into the bedroom. Her eyes landed on a broom. Desperate times... Grabbing it with a shaky hand she ventured outside her room.
'Who's there, I'm armed and not afraid to use my weapon, come out in front of me!' Khushi too called out, her voice husky with nerves. She gripped the broomstick with both her hands as she forced her eyes to open wide and try to decipher where the man was. The lounging area was in darkness and she couldn't see him. She had to get to the lights. Using the light that was coming out from the bedroom she made her way towards the kitchen area to turn on the lights there first and then make her way to the front door where the other set of the switches were, that would bring the whole lounging area into brightness.
'Ouch!'
'What the-?'
She bumped into something. No, someone.
'SQUATTER!!' The man yelled right next to her ear, just as she yelled
THIEF!! THIEF!!!' and began brandishing her broom fiercely in the air, she caught him a few times, he had not been expecting an onslaught. She had the element of surprise and thus the advantage on him.
'Ugh...STOP IT!!! STOP IT!! I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU ARRESTED!! YOU WRETCH!! STOP!' He screamed.
'YEAH, YOU WISH, YOU COME INTO MY HOUSE AND THINK THAT YOU CAN GET ME ARRESTED...I'LL HAVE YOU ARRESTED YOU THIEF!!' she went on beating him with the brush end of the stick, until he finally fell onto the kitchen floor, panting. Once he was there, she turned to hit the lights and see who had dared to come into her home.
'HUUUH!!! ARNAV JI?!!!' her eyes dilated as she took in a shaken Arnav on her kitchen floor. He was shielding his eyes from the sudden exposure to the lights and so hadn't turn to look at her until she hadn't shouted out his name, but now as he saw who was trespassing on his property he was gobsmacked. Out of all the people in the world...
'Arnav ji, you are a multi-millionaire, why would you need to indulge in theft?' Asked Khushi in shocked whisper.
'WHAT?!!' Did this girl ever think before she spoke?!!! 'Up until now I only thought you were insane Khushi Kumari Gupta, but today you have proven it!!! I'm not here to steal anything!!' he yelled at her as he got up.
'Well then, if not that then what are you doing in my house at an unsensible hour?' She said defensively.
'Your house? Your house?!!' he stared at her in disbelief. The nerve of this girl.
'Yes my house.' She said possessively. 'Look just because I know you I won't call the cops but you need to leave now, otherwise I will have to call security.' She added, to let him know while she may not get him arrested she would not hesitate to get him booted out, if it came to that.
'You call security? You won't have to because I will call them before you do, to get a crazy person off my property!' he snapped, as he menacingly came towards her.
'Your property? Who is losing it now? How is this, your property?!! I think you have had too long a day at work Mr Raizada and have forgotten where your house is!!' She glared back at him, she would not get intimidated by this man in her own house.
'I haven't lost my way, you have Khushi Kumari Gupta, the way to the mental asylum for that is where you belong!! Calling other people's home your home!!!' He shouted, irritation surging inside him. He'd had a long day of NK today and he was in no mood to deal with her afterwards and that too in his own house.
'Huuh!! Mental aslyam!!! You're being rude. Now I have had enough!! It is the middle of the night, this is my house and I have no wish to entertain you not now or ever!!!' with that she turned on her heel, picked up the intercom and buzzed security to come kick her intruder out. Arnav stared at her, she had actually called security up, did she want to be kicked out!! Well fine, if that's what she wanted he wouldn't stop it from happening. It would be a treat to watch, her being turned out for calling her own bluff.
They stood in silence for the next minute staring smugly at each other, neither realizing that the other had every right to be there, for the people who knew were sound asleep in their beds, unaware of the commotion taking place on the other side of the house.
'Yes Ma'am...Sir, where is the intruder?' the security personel walked in and addressed both of them as he looked around for the trespasser.
'Ma'am?' Arnav looked at him baffled, just as Khushi voiced the same astonishment, 'sir?' they looked from the security guard to the other and then back at the guard not comprehending.
'What do you mean Ma'am?'
'What do you mean Sir?' they both asked at the same time.
'Uh...just that sir, ma'am...' The guard replied, now confused himself, 'Where is the trespasser?' he tried again.
'He is.'
'She is.' They both said together again. Arnav gave her an annoyed look for speaking at the same time then went on to talk to his security guard. 'Vikram, this woman, she is the trespasser, kick her out.'
'What? No sir she is not trespassing she is living here now, she moved in today.' Vikram stated realizing that Nani and Anjali probably hid this fact from him. He had wondered how they had gotten him to agree. Now he understood.
'What?!! Living here!!' Arnav hollered, unbelievingly.
'Yes. I moved in today. This is my house.' Khushi said all too smugly, before Vikram could say anything. Arnav ignored her.
'On whose authority was this decision made?!' he spat, but before Vikram could answer, Arnav read his face, 'Oh of course, Nani...' Arnav gritted his teeth in annoyance. Why did Nani suddenly decide to have a PG? Probably to find another way to irk him. Hence out of all the things she could have done with this pool house she put it up for rent and then lent it out to his worst nightmare. Why was everyone in the world out get him? It seemed everyone's mission in life to find the best way to wire him up!! Ugh!!
'Now that it has been resolved that I live here, Vikram ji, can you urge this man to leave, I do not enjoy his unpleasant company in my home!' Khushi said with a hint of superiority. It wasn't everyday, she got to prove Arnav Singh Raizada wrong, she may as well relish in it while she could.
'Ummm Ma'am...I can't.' Vikram said as his cheeks grew warm at the thought of the order she had just asked him to carry out.
'Why?' Khushi asked with, wide eyes.
'Because- he began.
'Because this is my house.' Arnav cut him off.
'Really? Still? After Vikram ji, explained to you that I moved in here, you will maintain that this is your house. Who is the crazy person now?' Khushi said adamantly.
Having had enough of her nonsense and annoyance surging in his veins for the position Nani and Di had put him into, he closed the gap between them in two strides, gripped her arms and spoke into her face, to clarify the problem once and for all, 'You may be renting this house Khushi Kumari Gupta, but I own it!! Shantivan is my house, you are renting out my outhouse. That room across the pool belongs to me. Now do you need me to show you the property papers or do you finally understand whose house this is?' he said rather rudely.
Khushi's whimper jerked him out of his rage and he realized the proximity. Annoyed at how his anger had led him so close too her yet again, he pulled away from her. Leaving her pinned to the wall where she massaged her arms as she let the truth sink in.
Arnav Singh Raizada was Di's brother. Nani's grand-son. Her neighbour. Her landlord. Oh god why?!! Why he out of all the people? Why did their paths have to cross in every aspect of her life? She stared at him as he directed Vikram to go back to his station as clearly no one had broken in. There was no intruder. Only a viscious neighbour. No that was harsh of her to say, if she didn't know anything about him she could have continued on to assume that but she did and it was wrong of her to call him viscious. For he was grieving. She had learned that earlier this evening, had she not? She should be more considerate. She knew his pain, knew his grief, she should let him know that it would be ok, that he would get through this. Time was a great healer along with a loved one's support.
Making up her mind, she approached him cautiously. 'Arnav ji...' oh, how was she supposed to do this? 'What a confusion hunh? You thought I was an intruder and I thought you were...' she gave a laugh as she recalled the whole scene her beating him with a broom. 'I hope I didn't hurt you too much with that broom.' She stretched out her wobbling hand to check his face but he beat it away, not looking at her, he was seething. Ok, change the approach Khushi, talk about what's common between you, was there anything? Oh yes of course...grief... 'Di told me about what happened, between you and Lavanya ji, I can understand how you must feel-
Oh no, not that!!! He would tolerate anything but her sympathy. He didn't need her meaningless pity. She didn't know him and had no right to discuss his personal matters with him. He had tolerated her presence at work but not here, this was his house, damnit!!! Without warning he turned on his heel, yanked her by the wrist and led her out through the open door.
'Wha...what are you doing?!!' Khushi shouted in alarm. 'Stop. Where are you taking me?!' She questioned as he threw her into the passenger seat of his white Prado.
'Put on your seat-belt.' He growled, as he put the jeep into ignition. Fear trumped logic and Khushi did what he asked rather then opening the door to get out. He blared the horn as he approached the main gate. Vikram hastily made his way to the door and opened it to let the menacing vehicle out.
'Where are you taking me?!' Khushi asked again, as she held on to the door and dashboard for dear life. She hated fast cars.
'I will endure you be being my employee but I will not undergo the torture of having you as my neighbour! Of you giving me your fake sympathy!! I don't need it not in my own home and that too from you, who doesn't know the first thing about loss!!' he snarled, as he made a sharp swerve, causing Khushi to close her eyes and chant her prayers. This further infuriarated him.
He came to a sudden halt and Khushi opened her eyes. They had skidded to a stop outside a boundry wall. The sign next to the gate, which Arnav got out to tear open, read - Khwab Mahal. Before Khushi could try and decipher what was happening and where she was, Arnav was back in his seat and pulling the gear to make the crusier trudge furiously across the gravel driveway. He stopped a metre away from the porch of the house. He got out and was by her door in moments. He wrenched the door open and pulled her out. Shoving her, mercilessly towards the house and threw the keys at her feet.
'You're my tenant but that doesn't mean you have to live on the same property as I do. This is Di's house, you can live here, not across the pool from me!!' with that he got back into his Prado and without a backward glance at her zoomed out of the driveway leaving Khushi standing alone outside Anjali and Chetan's house.
*****
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