Chapter 24 – Arnav’s POV

We walk inside the penthouse a half hour after the meeting ended. Khushi has been trying to act normal since we left the conference room. Even now, she follows her normal routine as we walk past the foyer.

“What’s all this?” She points to the bags that are by the side table, then slips out of her heels holding onto my shoulder for support.

“Di brought some of your things over this morning. She figured you could use them since we won’t be going there this weekend.”

“That’s great, I hope she packed some of things we purchased over the weekend. Did I tell you we went shopping, just the two of us? It was so much fun…  here it is…” She speaks in one breath, going through the bags until she finds what she’s looking for.

She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes, as she holds up a sweater against me.

“I knew when I saw this pullover, it will look dashing on you, and I was right. I love it, do you like it? I hope it fits. Oh, I also bought you some t-shirts, but try this on first…”

“Khushi, please let’s…”

She shakes her head, taking my hand, then drags me to the bedroom.

“Take off your suit jacket.” She orders, then gives me an audacious wink. “Don’t worry, I won’t take advantage of you… yet.”  

If it was any other time, I would have reacted differently, but this is her way of suppressing her emotions. I shake my head, and she pretends not to notice, placing the pullover on the bench at the edge of the bed. She comes closer to stop a few inches away from me.

“Arnavvv… Why are you still standing there? You know what, forget it. I will do it…” She takes off my jacket, and places it on the bed.

Her shaky hands struggle to take off my tie, while she avoids looking at me.

She swears under her breath, unsuccessful with her attempt. I take over, pulling off the tie, then throw it on the bed in hopes she will finally look at me.

But she doesn’t.   

“Sweetheart, please look at me…”  I whisper.

She starts to shake her head furiously with her eyes on the pullover. I take off my shirt throwing it on the floor, and then slide on the pullover. Just as she had wanted me to do.

“See I am wearing it now. It’s okay, I guess. I think it makes me look like an old man.  What do you think?”  

She refuses to look at me, staring down at the floor.

That’s it, I have had enough, needing  to break her out of this shell. There is only one way to do it. I pull her chin up, trying to force her to look at me, instead she closes her eyes.

“Khushi! You can’t avoid me, we need to talk. Open your eyes, damn it!”

She winces, and I immediately feel guilty for yelling at her. But at this point, there is no other option. I take a hold of her shoulders, and shake her gently which gets her out of her trance.

“I… Arnav… I am…”  Her gaze finally meets mine. But I notice the color drains from her face for the second time today and she trembles.  

I can feel the agony that exudes from her, and only wish I could take it all away to bring back my Khushi.

Tears that she has been holding back all day trickle from her dull eyes. I pull her into my arms, seeing her knees about to collapse. I sit down on the floor leaning against the bed, and cradle her in my arms.

She clasps the back of my pullover, burying her face into my chest as she bursts into tears.  

Every tear, every sob, hurts me like I have never hurt before. I am reminded that this is because of me, for bringing her past back into her life.

I hold her tightly close to me, rocking her in my arms, waiting for her to stop crying. But it seems endless.  

“Sweetheart… shhh…please stop crying… Khushi…” I speak softly into her ears, feeling a lump in my throat. I gently rub her back, kissing her forehead, and finally her tears subside.

“Arnav… I… am … sorry for letting you down…”  She murmurs between her soft cries.

“Why would you even think that you let me down? I am so proud of you for standing up for yourself today. I should be the one that is sorry… it’s all my fault you are like this right now.”

She stares up at me, and I feel as if my heart is being ripped out seeing the intensity in her eyes.  

“This is not your fault, Arnav… and um… I am not crying for him. For the last two weeks, I have kept this away from you. It has been so hard, but I didn’t know what to do. Seeing the look on your face this morning, it was… like a nightmare. I can handle your anger, but the disappointment in your eyes is what hurts the most…”

“Listen to me, we can’t change what happened. I get that now. Your intentions were in the right place.  However, I hope you understand what I was feeling, and still feel. If I never acquired Symphony, heck if I didn’t go to Delhi, you would not be like this right now. Khushi, I am really sorry for you having to face your past again, and that too alone…”

“I don’t care about my past anymore, I stopped caring a long time ago. That’s not what is bothering me. What I care about is us, only us and AR, which is the only reason he is there. So, I want you to stop feeling guilty. Can you please stop blaming yourself for my sake?”

“Please don’t ask me for something I can’t give you right now. As long as he is there I won’t be able to stop feeling that way.”

We both don’t say anything for a long moment. I decide to break the silence.

“Khushi, I only held back from attacking him this afternoon for you. I knew you needed to take care of this on your own, so I sat back. But I am not sure if I can do that the next time he talks to you or sets his eyes on you…  Do you see why he has to go?”

She cups my face in her hands, then caresses my cheeks.

“I promise baby, he will go soon…”

“Not soon enough for me… but promise me no more tears. I can’t bear to see you this way, ever.”

“As long as you are by my side, then I will never feel this way.”

“Always, sweetheart…”

She straightens herself on my lap, winding her hands around my neck, and then leans her forehead against mine.

“I am so sorry.” She whispers placing a kiss on my forehead.

“Me too…”  

“Thank you for coming back early for me.”  

I close my eyes as she kisses both of my cheeks.

“I would say it was more for me than you.” I say, returning the kisses on her cheeks.

“I missed you my love.” Her eyes darken with desire, before she moves forward placing sensual kisses down my neck.

“Khushi…”

“I want you to make love to me, Arnav.”  She whispers in my ear, then brings hers lips over mine.

I pull her closer, kissing the corner of her mouth, and she shivers in my arms.

The air surrounding us fills with desire, as we stand up. As I look into her hazel eyes, they are filled with passion, and the need for love.

The sheer desperation for me to love her weakens my knees, and I pull her by the waist.

“I love you more than anything, Khushi.”

“I know.”  She whispers with a lone tear escaping her eyes.

With her acknowledgment, I kiss away the tear before unleashing the scorching passion with a frenzied kiss as our lips meet. Both of us giving ourselves into this kiss, wanting more as we explore each other.

She moans, as her hands make their way inside my sweater touching my bare skin, making me groan feeling her soft touch.  I pull away as her drugged filled gaze looks up at me as she slides off the pullover with my assistance.

Then she surprises me by taking off my remaining clothes with ease, leaving me with only my boxer briefs on. I watch as she takes off her blouse and skirt, revealing her new sexy red lingerie.

“It looks like you have done quite a bit of shopping. I hope you purchased a few more of those.”

“I did, just for you.”

“And only me.”

She smiles at my possessiveness over her, and then nods. I scoop her up in my arms, and place her on the bed.

“You are so beautiful.”  

I admire her, looking down at her as she puts out her inviting arms. The sight of her on our bed with her body covered in barely anything, sends blood rushing through me.

This woman has the power to make me feel emotions that I have never felt before, and right now what I am feeling for her supersedes anything I have ever felt.

She doesn’t have the patience to wait around for me, and takes off her undergarments.  

Love and lust, is what runs through my body as she lays there naked waiting for me.

I lean down, taking her lips in an intense kiss that deepens as our mouths battle to take control of the other. My hands wrap around her neck, pulling her body flush against mine

We pull away, and her passion filled gaze pulls me into the depths of desire as I caress her body with sensual kisses which has her craving for more.

She moans when my lips are on her taut peaks, before molding her breasts with my hands. As I sweep the peaks with my fingers, she arches up crying out my name. I smile down at her as she shakes her head, grabbing the sheets in her hands, having had enough.

But then it’s her turn to smile as her hands find their way to my arousal, and she begins stroking it outside my boxer briefs.  

“Khushi, if you continue this I won’t last…”

The raw desire in her eyes matching mine is enough for me to lose control. I remove her hand away and slide off my brief, throwing it on the floor.  The intensity as our bodies come together makes me tremble with the barest touch.

I slide inside her with a single thrust as she cries out my name. Feeling her welcoming heat, I continue to thrust into her gently. I groan feeling her hands on my hips, pushing me to increase my pace, matching me with vigor as we continue to find our release.  

The intensity, desperation that emanates from her is something I have never seen or felt when we make love. And, I realize this is her way of trying to lose herself with us being united. So I give all of myself to her to fill the void she has been feeling inside.

She cries out my name as her body clenches around me, finding her release, digging her nails into my back. I pull her closer to me, lifting her legs against my shoulders as I place soft kisses on her ankles. And then continuing to thrust inside of her hard, as I find myself climaxing deep inside her. I cry out her name in ecstasy, collapsing onto her as she holds me tightly, feeling satiated after making love to the woman I love.

I look up feeling something fall on my shoulder, and I sigh pulling out of her to lay next to her taking her into my arms.  

The tears brimming in her eyes right now, remind me of what has transpired today, and what she has been dealing with the past couple of weeks alone.

“Was it that bad today, that you are crying?” I decide to distract her with humor, and hearing her soft laugh, I smile, knowing it has worked for now.

She smiles as she looks up at me, and I pull her face closer to me kissing her tears away.

“Baby, I don’t think it can ever be bad.  Sorry, I am just an emotional mess.  Today has been overwhelming with everything at the office, and now I am exhausted.”

“Yes, today has been rather eventful.  Close your eyes, and try to get some sleep.”

She places her head on my shoulders, wrapping her arms and legs on me. I tighten my hold around her and then kiss the top of her head,.

“I promise to fix this soon, sweetheart.”    

I am awoken from a disturbing dream about Khushi, one that I would rather forget and never have to face.

Looking down at her, I smile as she sleeps peacefully in my arms. I kiss her forehead gently, which makes her stir and she shifts to the side. I watch her sleep for a few minutes, something I often do. There is something about her when she sleeps, that makes me feel content.

I run my hand through my hair, feeling a headache coming on. As much as I don’t want to leave her alone in bed, but it’s better I do so I don’t disturb her. My sleep is gone after the disturbing dream I just had.  

The dream felt so real, it was more of a nightmare. Khushi was in trouble, and I couldn’t get to her. Oddly, I can’t remember the details, but her screams and the torture in her eyes are vivid. I rarely have these types of dreams, and I am bothered since it was about Khushi. I pinpoint this to what has transpired today, and in my absence for not being here for her.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly get out of the bed to avoid waking Khushi up. I pick up my phone, and make my way into the closet to get dressed. I slip on my black sweatpants, and white nightshirt.

As I see Khushi’s robe on the hook on her side of the closet, I decide to take her silk green nightgown and place it on the bench at the edge of the bed.

Looking at my phone, I notice it’s only ten o’clock, which reminds me neither one of us has had dinner. And knowing her, she probably didn’t have lunch either. I should wake her in a little while, but before that I need to take care of my headache, preferably with a stiff drink.

After making myself one, I go sit outside on the terrace taking in the cold air.  

How did this get so complicated?

Khushi and I need to talk about her plan, but I need to figure out the best time to do that. Based on the earlier meeting, I am confident she can handle herself around him, but at what expense? I can’t see her breakdown again, it’s too painful to see her go through the agony.  

This needs to end soon, and I need to figure out how.

With that thought in mind, I make my way to my study to check on a few files Aakash and Khushi sent over after the meeting with the details on the issue.

Looking at my phone as I walk into my study, I notice Di has texted to make sure all is okay. It looks like Aakash has filled her in on the details, and she isn’t very happy that Sameer is still there. But she understands, Khushi needs to take care of this. I send a quick text letting her know we are fine, and will call her tomorrow with Khushi.

I sigh in frustration, for even bringing that asshole back into her life as I take a seat at my desk.

How did I not know more details about him to catch this beforehand?

“Fuck!”  

I yell out opening the side drawer with my key, and go through the pile of files before I find what I am looking for. It’s the sealed envelope that has Khushi’s extensive background check that I had requested after interviewing her.  

How did I forget about this after filing it away?

“Damn it!  This would have told me what I needed and this all could have been avoided. Why did I not look at it?”

I gulp down my drink as my heart starts to beat rapidly, and I feel myself losing the control that I have been trying to keep a handle on.  

My breaking point comes realizing this is indeed my fault, and I can’t hold back any longer. Screaming out, I throw the glass against the wall, along with other things from my desk. I start pacing the study as my hot rage boils over, finding myself unable to think straight.    

I feel my face burning, and vision blurred as I finally take a seat on the couch with my face buried in my hands.  

And all I think about is- what have I done?

“Arnav, oh my God… what happened in here?”

I can hear her frantic voice, as she makes her way inside and then comes to sit down next to me.  But I can’t let her see me this way.

“Baby, what’s wrong?  Please tell me what happened.”

She squeezes my shoulder, trying to make me look at her.

After a few moments, she gasps seeing my face. As she lifts her hand to wipe my tears, I shake my head and stand up. I walk over to my desk picking up the envelope and hand it to her. But she doesn’t open it, looking at me questioningly.

“It’s a background check I ordered for you when you started with AR.”

“So? I know everyone goes through an background check. Why is this any different? I don’t care. First tell me what is the matter with you?” She takes my hand, gesturing me to sit down.

“Oh but this is different. Khushi, after I interviewed you and met you for the first time, I knew I wanted to pursue you outside the professional aspect. But before you came into my life, I always had an extensive background check whenever I got involved with anyone.  Which I did for you as well, but as you can see I never opened it. After spending time with you that first week, I realized you were different and I didn’t want our relationship to start out this way.  So I had filed it away.”

A myriad of emotions are visible in her eyes as I wait for a reaction.

“I can understand why you needed to do what you did, which is common nowadays. It doesn’t matter at this point, does it? Wait, did you think I would be upset?”

“Don’t you see, it does matter… if I would have opened this, then I would have known about Sameer’s whereabouts and would have never gone after Symphony.  Khushi, I brought him back to your present, and that too, leaving you alone to handle him. How can I be so stupid?”  

“Arnav, look at me… stop blaming yourself for this. This is exactly why I didn’t tell you while you were in Delhi.  Do you know how much I respect you knowing that you didn’t look at the report?”

My heart swells up, seeing her reaction to this news and taking it in her stride without any resentment towards me. I sigh taking a hold of her hand, pressing a gentle kiss on it before placing it against my heart.

“In a way it’s good that the prick came back into my life, now I get to teach him a lesson with you by my side. Did you see me today? Your ASR habits are rubbing off on me, though I find you rather sexy when you are angry.” She winks, and I can’t help burst into laughter at where we have ended up tonight.

I wrap my arms around her shoulder, pulling her closer to me.

“I would have to disagree with that Ms. Gupta. Watching you kick his ass was a major turn on… I am extremely proud of you, sweetheart.”

She leans up, and places a gentle kiss on my lips. Before I can kiss her back, we are interrupted by her stomach which apparently is growling for food.

“Your stomach always has the best timing.”

She hits me on my shoulder, before pouting and I know she needs some food.

“Come on, let’s figure out what to eat. Then you can pout, and watch what I do to those delectable lips of yours.”

“One track mind, Mr. Raizada.”

“I can’t help it with you around, now let’s go so I can have my meetha afterwards.”

“You are incorrigible!”

The weekend becomes a mission for me to figure out a way to get Sameer out of AR.  

Khushi fills me on all the details, including her recommendations which is impressive and her best work to date.  This solidifies her as the best person for the COO position.

While I understand her rationale behind why she has kept Sameer on board, I still don’t agree with him staying onboard at AR working closely with her. This leads us to disagree on numerous occasions during the weekend. Though I still want to kick him out, not giving a damn what happens, but I see how important this is to her.

After spending both days locked in my study, I find a gap in Sameer’s trail on the leak to the customers which is enough for us to have him forfeit his name off the patents. And if he doesn’t agree, we can press legal actions. Either way a win win for Khushi and AR. I make a few phone calls to get things rolling, to end this matter once and for all early next week.

“Sweetheart, what are you cooking?  It smells delicious, I am famished. Can we please eat now?” I walk up behind her as she is stirring something on the stove, and then wrap my arms around her waist.

“I am making Chole Bhature, and also made some biryani for you. Are you done obsessing over the prick for the evening?”

“Very funny… just so you know my obsessing over him, has paid off.  You shall fire his ass early next week, maybe even tomorrow if it works out, and I shall watch you take him out. How does that sound?”

She turns around with her eyes widened biting her lip, and my lips curve up in a smile.

“Really? I mean Aakash and I have been trying…”

“Arnav Singh Raizada always finds a solution to his problem under any cost, and I don’t rest until I do. And when it comes to you, I will go to all means to make sure you are always happy.  When my Khushi is happy, I am happy.”

And with that, I finally see my Khushi truly smile and her hazel eyes glisten as they meet mine.

“Is Khushi Kumari Gupta ready to throw the prick out of AR?”

A smile curves my lips, and I extend my hand towards her, which she grasps firmly. We both look down at our joined hands, and I can see the shimmering determination in her eyes, as she responds confidently.

“Yes, I am ready!”

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