FF: It's Not Right - Chapter 10

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Chapter 10

'Wow Chote, you look like you're in a good mood today,' Anjali said as she brought in his tea that evening.

'What Di?' Arnav replied while discreetly checking his reflection in the mirror. He didn't notice anything unusual.

'Yes look,' she put down the tray and sat beside him running a hand over his forehead, 'usually your forehead is all creased with worry lines and today you look so relaxed.'

'Oh Di please don't start your nonsense.'

'No really Chote I'm so pleased to see this, even earlier when you were coming in the house I noticed you were smiling. Did you have a good day in the office?'

'No Di, work was work but...' Arnav thought about dropping Khushi home and he suppressed the urge to smile. Assuaging his guilt; that was all today was about. He would let Lavanya or someone else deal with Abhinav's contract and he wouldn't have to see her again. Simple.

'Chote! Did you even hear what I said?' Anjali shook his arm to get him to respond.

'Er.. yes Di, you were saying?' He tried to look interested and as if he'd been listening the whole time but it obviously didn't work.

'Never mind Chote, you drink your tea. I'll go.'


***

'Khushi! I've been calling you for so long and you're sitting here looking out of the window? Come on quickly, there's a phone call for you.'

'Phone?' Khushi quickly scrambled up from where she had been sitting ever since she got home and rushed to pick it up, 'hello?'

'Hello, Khushiji?'

'Anjaliji?' Khushi recognised the voice immediately but she couldn't believe it, 'three weeks I've spent wondering what's happened to all of them and now in one day I get phone calls from both the brother and sister?'

'Khushiji are you listening to me?'

'Erm yes of course Anjaliji, please tell me why you phoned? I almost felt as if you'd forgotten me.'

'No no Khushi, how could someone forget you? Actually I managed to convince Nani that we should give Chote at least a little bit of time to get over Lavanya before we start looking for a bride. And I think finally he's over her so if you could come tomorrow then we can start looking together. What do you think?'

Khushi only stood there gaping. 'Is this really happening? Am I really finding a wife for that devil? Oh God what am I doing? He'll eat me alive for sure now.' She cleared her throat before speaking to Anjali again, 'actually Anjaliji I have a new job now so I can only come after my work is finished. Is that okay?'

'Oh wow, congratulations Khushiji I'm so happy for you. Of course it's not a problem when you come, are you sure you won't be too tired?'

Khushi longed to jump onto the excuse of tiredness and save herself but Anjali sounded so happy she couldn't bring herself to say anything except 'no, no I'll be there, I'll be fine.'

***

Arnav left work at the same time as the rest of his staff. This entire day had been boring for lack of a better word. None of his work had interested him and he had spent most of the day convincing himself that there was no need to phone Khushi. He had even come up with a cover story for phoning her office and almost dialled the number before he had slammed the phone back. 'Just a few days and then I'll forget she even exists.'

Despite his protestations he couldn't help but feel pleased when he got out of his car and saw Khushi standing at his front door with her eyes closed, hands together and muttering to herself in prayer. He walked up behind her slowly not wanting to disturb her and then lowered his head near her ear.

'When I said you should visit,' the rest of what he had been about to say was cut off as Khushi was startled and jumped backwards into his chest. Arnav held onto her arm and put one arm around her waist to steady her and found himself unable to look away from her eyes. Were they always this big or was it just whenever she was around him?

Khushi swallowed visibly and Arnav found his eyes drawn to her lips. 'I didn't mean you had to come straight away,' he continued but his voice was considerably softer now, almost a whisper.

Khushi vaguely registered the sound of the door opening in the back of her mind but still she kept staring at Arnav. The sound of the door was almost negligible to all of the other things Khushi was experiencing at that moment. She had both of her hands on Arnav's chest and under her right she could feel a faint heartbeat. She was even more aware of Arnav's hand on her waist and her bare arm and his abs ever so lightly pressed against her chest.

'Chote? Khushi?'

'Di! Khushi tripped...so I...we...' Arnav pulled himself back from Khushi and let go of her arm.

'Oh no Khushiji are you okay?'

Arnav sighed in relief; of course his Di wouldn't think anything strange. And why would she? There's nothing between me and Khushi he told himself once again.

'I...I'm fine Anjaliji' Khushi tried to inject some animation into her voice so Anjali wouldn't suspect that right now Khushi's heartbeat was probably akin to a mouse.

'Come on then let's go inside,'

Anjali took Khushi's hand and led her in as Arnav realised his hand had been on Khushi's waist the whole time. He followed them inside shaking his head slightly to get rid of the memory of Khushi's in his arms.

'Khushi ji come tell me about your new job.'

Khushi was glad Anjali was still holding her arm and leading her towards the sofa, she wasn't sure she would have been able to walk there under her own steam. 'It's erm... I mean it's good. I... my boss, Abhinav, I mean Abhi is very nice.'

Arnav had unconsciously been walking behind Khushi and Anjali to sit with them but stopped at the sound of Abhinav's name.  Abruptly he turned around and walked towards his room instead.

How did Di even know about Khushi's new job? Wouldn't Di have told him if she'd been in contact with Khushi? 'Oh Abhi is so nice' he mimicked to himself. How long has she even known him? How can she tell if he's nice or not?

Arnav decided to go and sit with them after all and changed his clothes quickly before Jai Prakash brought his tea upstairs and he'd have no excuse to go down. He saw that Nani had joined Di and Khushi on the sofas and was also chatting happily to Khushi. The image seemed to fit somehow and made Arnav feel almost content.

Nani looked up and saw Arnav walking down the stairs and smiled at him, 'Come Chote. I want to talk to you and Khushi about your wedding.'

Arnav almost missed a step and stumbled in shock as he heard the words. 'Our WHAT?!'