FF: It's Not Right - Chapter 25

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Chapter 25

'Khushi, we should really be going.'

Akash stood up immediately, 'I'll drop you both off Payalji.'

Khushi also stood up although much slower. Anjali had gone to sleep over an hour ago and Khushi had been dreading leaving since then. She hadn't seen or heard from Arnav in three weeks but she'd thought at least today she would finally get a glimpse of him.

She'd spoken regularly with Anjali on the phone in the past three weeks simply listening while Anjali talked about Shyam. Good, bad, in between, Khushi listened to it all simply grateful that Anjali didn't hold her responsible. If anything Anjali blamed herself despite Khushi telling her numerous times that the only person to blame was Shyam himself. When Anjali had asked Khushi to visit, she had jumped at the opportunity and even arranged to visit on a Saturday because she knew there was a greater possibility of him being home but apparently not.

'Please Devi Maiyya help Anjaliji recover. She's such a nice person and deserves only happiness. I know you must have a plan and there must be even greater happiness waiting for her but please don't make her suffer long.' Khushi pulled the blanket further over Anjali and turned to leave the room, 'come on Jiji...'

He had seen Akash and Payal leaving the room engrossed in conversation and known that she was here. He knew logically he should avoid her, just like he had done since that day at the Temple but his legs moved of their own accord until they came to a standstill at the door so he could gaze at the sight in front of him in wonder and awe.

The clever thing to do, the logical thing to do was for her to truly and finally move on and leave this whole mess, him, his sister, his whole messed up family behind and forget they ever existed. Instead here she was, praying for his sister's happiness as if he had never used that same sister as an excuse to hurl abuse at her.

In the past three weeks Di had done only three things. Cry in the small mandir in their house, cry in his arms or cry while one the phone to Khushi. He had stood at her doorway often listening to their conversations as she told Khushi things she hadn't even told him.

'Khushi,' he stepped forward hesitantly unsure of her reaction to him, perhaps her compassion was reserved only for his sister, 'I... I want to thank you. I mean I never thanked you for what you did for Di and what you're still doing...'

'It's okay Arnavji, you don't have to say anything! Anjaliji is like a sister to me, I would do anything to help her.'

He nodded slowly and watched in amusement as she fiddled with her scarf while looking everywhere around the room except at him.

'I should go, Jiji will be waiting,' she began to move past him when she heard him call out her name.

'I... I want to thank you properly. I can't... I mean  I'll pick you up from work on Monday.'

'Huh? You... You don't need to give me a lift home Arnavji, there's a bus stop right outside and if it's raining or late then Abhi always gives me a lift.'

'Khushi Kumari Gupta, you're unbelievable! I'm not offering you a lift home! I want to take you out to dinner!'

'What? But why? I mean I can...'

Arnav cut her off harshly before she could go off on a tangent, 'are you free or not?'

His tone implied that there was only one answer he wanted to hear and Khushi found herself nodding almost immediately.

'Okay then,' Arnav turned around and began to walk to his room unable to control the smile on his face. He had no idea what had possessed him to ask her to dinner but now that he had and she had accepted he found himself looking forward to the idea.

Khushi stood in Anjali's room wondering exactly what had happened for another 5 minutes before she heard Payal call her to come down.

---

'It's not a date!'

'Khushi, you're going out with him to dinner. Alone! That sounds like a date to me.'

Khushi looked away from Abhi who was sitting at her desk playing with a paperweight annoyingly although if she was truthful his words were annoying her more than anything.

'Look Khushi, I'm just trying to understand why you would willingly put yourself in any type of situation with that man when all he does is use you when it benefits him and completely disregard you when it doesn't.'

She began to type furiously, the tears prickling at her eyes making it hard for her to even see the document she was supposed to be typing up.

'Oh hell,' Abhi put the paperweight down heavily and came around to sit in front of Khushi. 'I'm sorry. Khushi?'

Khushi turned her head away from Abhi's gaze but he simply moved his head every time until his adorably apologetic face had her laughing.

Abhi smiled along with her until she stopped and he continued to simply look at her searchingly. 'I don't want you to get hurt Khushi. I'm on your side because it seems like no one else is. Not even you.'

'But Abhi...'

'No Khushi. Tell me, are your Aunt and Mother still blaming you for apparently bringing shame to the family by faking a wedding? '

Khushi looked away, she knew her Aunt and mother loved her they were just expressing their concern at another broken wedding in the family, that was all.

'Your father can't make his voice heard over your Aunt's 'Haire Nand Kishore' and your sister? Why doesn't she ever stand up for you? Why doesn't she work? You know I would give her a job instantly!'

'She's shy Abhi! You know...'

'That's not an excuse Khushi! If you can go out and earn for your family, why can't she?'

Khushi hugged her arms around her chest and looked down at her lap, not wanting to hear anymore. 'I still like him,' she said softly.

There was a pause as Abhi took one of her hands in his and squeezed it reassuringly.

'I know what he said to me and what he's done but I... even if he says something, hurts me later, I just want to... For one day... I want to... Oh I don't know what I want!'

Abhi put his free hand on her chin lifting her head so she was looking at him, 'you want to go.' He said simply before he smiled at her encouragingly, 'you should go. I'm sorry; I was being overprotective but come on! You're Khushi Kumari Gupta! You don't need protecting! And for what it's worth, I hope it is a date!'