FF: It's Not Right - Chapter 41

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Chapter 41

The hush that descended on the living room with Arnav’s entrance would have caused Khushi to giggle if she didn’t see how Dhruv’s eyes shuttered and his face became impassive once again. Akash was now shifting uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes darting from Arnav to Dhruv while Anjali had her eyes completely focused on Arnav. Khushi caught Payal’s eye and shrugged turning to look at Arnav who had seated himself next to Dhruv but with enough space in between them that Buaji and Mamiji could have squeezed in quite comfortably.

‘Erm so Dhruv, are you naughty at school or are you one of the good boys? I know you must be clever of course.’

Instead of an answer Khushi received a grunt in response but before she could pose her question to Dhruv again Arnav interrupted.

‘Dhruv! Answer Khushi properly!’

Khushi began to protest against his harsh tone but it went unheard as Dhruv stood up and walked towards Anjali, ‘Di can I go up to my room? I feel a bit tired.’

Anjali smiled nervously and nodded, stroking Dhruv’s arm before he quietly taking his leave from the rest of them. Khushi watched him practically run up the stairs, her heart breaking for Dhruv. She was now used to Arnav’s caustic tongue and quick changing moods but she still remembered how he had treated her when they first met and how much hatred she had held for him because of it. She didn’t want Dhruv to hate Arnav or feel rejected by him in anyway.

Khushi turned back to Arnav who apart from looking slightly perplexed didn’t seem to realise the magnitude of what he’d just done. She coughed, catching his attention and then tried subtly to indicate he should follow Dhruv upstairs.

Arnav watched Khushi make crazy eyes at him and rolled his own. He knew they had both unofficially decided to keep their relationship a secret but now she was just being ridiculous. ‘Khushi, come with me, I want to talk to you about something.’ He ignored her shocked face and walked up to his room, preparing himself behind the door.

Khushi fumed, completely determined not to listen to his Laad Governer orders for once but Anjali’s questioning when she still hadn’t moved 5 minutes later forced her grudgingly up the stairs and into the lion’s mouth. She knocked on the slightly ajar door before stepping through and found herself swept up and spun around before she was placed back on the floor and Arnav placed his lips on hers.

She almost gave in to his drugging kiss but remembered just in time that she was angry at him and pushed him away.

‘What the...?’

‘How could you Arnav?’

‘What? Oh come on Khushi, we’re allowed to talk to each other in private nobody will say anything. They don't know what we're really...’

‘What? You think... I meant how could you talk to Dhruv like that!’

Arnav let go of Khushi’s arms and stepped back, ‘what?’

‘You shouted at him for no reason when it’s so obvious he’s scared of you!’

‘Scared of... what crap. Why should he be scared of me?’

‘I don’t know why he’s scared of you Arnav but he is! He was talking to me perfectly fine until you came along. You shouldn’t treat him like that! He can’t help who his parents are.’

Arnav turned around and grit his teeth, talking about his father and that woman always made him angry. ‘Khushi.’

‘No Arnav, he’s just a little boy who’s lost his parents like you and you don’t even...’

Arnav swiftly turned around and caught Khushi by her wrist twisting it behind her and pulling her against him. ‘Khushi, stay out of it! Dhruv is nothing to do with you. Just because I let him come here for the summer doesn’t mean you can...’

‘Let him come here? What do you mean ‘let him come here’? He’s your brother! Isn’t this his house as much as it is yours?’

‘No! This is my house! His house was in Lucknow, the house that his father lost to my bastard uncle!’

‘Arnav he...’

Arnav pushed Khushi away from him and turned around again to face his wardrobe, ‘just stop Khushi! Stop it! Stop trying to fix everything, stop trying to make everybody like you, stop interfering in my life and just let me be!’ He waited until he heard his door closing behind her as she inevitably left before collapsing onto his recliner and groaning in frustration.