Khushi and Payal had been dealing with women coming up to them, judging them and giving their approval and cooing at how beautiful the two sisters were and consequently how lucky the Raizada brothers were for having such beautiful women as their wives. Khushi felt happy but flustered, thus far she had seen only a little bit of Arnavji all day, at least Akash was making excuses to be around the festivities to look at Payal, Arnav didn't even do that. She began to sulk slightly when her mood turned sour very quickly, Shyam entered the living room pretending to check on Anjaliji when in reality he was staring at Khushi slyly hoping no one would notice. Khushi's cheeks flamed scarlet with anger, she wanted to get up then and there and leave but the festivities weren't over. Khushi didn't know what to do, Shyam's eyes were examining her, carnivorously soaking in her every move, whether she moved a hair from her face or turned her face so she didn't have to see him. It made no difference to him because he could still see her and Khushi felt sick at that. She closed her eyes wishing someone would call him away or he himself would grab hold of the little decency he had, for the sake of his wife and unborn child and just leave. But of course Shyam had no plans on doing that, that was until Arnav walked into the living room. Arnav saw Khushi looking distressed and then saw the reason for it standing over his Di, Arnav bit his tongue, fully aware he could not say anything outright to him and so he decided to speak through actions instead. Arnav walked over to where Khushi and Payal were sat, he ignored the cooing middle-aged women (who were more upset that the Raizada boys were off the market rather than happy for them) and he stood besider her. He wrapped one arm around her and then crouched down so that he could whisper in her ear.
"Tum tik hoon na? Woh, Jeejaji...." Arnav began and Khushi raised her hand and clasped his, her eyes revealing to Arnav that she was far from alright. He raised his other hand on hers and looked into her afraid eyes with his strong and resolved look and he then stood up, letting go of Khushi's hand. He went over to Naniji. "Naniji, tumhe nahi lagta ki zyada ho gaya? I mean look at Khushi and Payal, its been a stressful few days, Khushi doesn't seem to be feeling very well and she did faint the night of the Havaan." Arnav reminded Naniji. Naniji mulled this over Payal appeared to be fine but Khushi did look worse for wear and Naniji knew she couldn't send everyone home early. She walked over to Khushi.
"Khushi betiyaan tumharee tabiyaat kuch tik nahi lagta, jaon upper jaake araam kar." Naniji ordered, Khushi looked confused until Arnavji winked and she understood, she began to feign weakness and Naniji ordered Arnav to take her upstairs.
Arnav held Khushi's hand and waist and guided her upstairs trying not to smile. One because he knew she was faking and two because he noted how Jeejaji had just made some excuse to go out and Di had also noted the timing of his exit. Arnav was hoping that along with getting evidence to prove Shyam's infidelity maybe Di herself would clock on. Arnav also noted that Khushi was much more relaxed with him than she was when that snake's eyes were on her, there was no way she had forced Shyam or entrapped him, Khushi just wasn't like that. She was innocent, sweet, slightly stupid, very odd but good at the heart. He knew this from all the experiences he'd had with her, there was no way that this little lamb would have intended to cause damage to another especially when she loved and respected Di just as much as he did. No his Khushi most certainly was not in love with Shyam, Arnav believed her account more so now of how Shyam had sought her out in Lucknow and then chased her down here in Delhi. After all it had been Shyam who came down to look at Khushi, Khushi had never attempted to go anywhere near nor look at Shyam. It just made Arnav's faith in Khushi stronger which made his resolve in his plan weaker. This plan would only work if he could keep his feelings for Khushi separate from his attempt to uncover Shyam's truth. The idea of putting Khushi in the path of that psycho seemed less and less appealing but they'd both agreed to do this and so they needed to stick it out. They reached the room and Arnav let go of Khushi, he opened the doors to the room and sat back down to get on with some work, Naniji said no going out for work she said nothing about doing work at home. Khushi watched as he sat down to work on his laptop and remembered the parody she'd done about him at Jiji's sangeet and it was all true. Khushi muttered to herself, "Sach mein, inkee sagai to laptop se karnichaidi." Arnav heard her mumble and looked up at her.
"What the-" Arnav began and Khushi began to laugh, it'd been a while since he'd said that and scrunched up his face in confusion like that. She couldn't help herself. "Why are you laughing?" He asked, now getting slightly irritated.
"No, woh, you're face!" She said whilst trying to contain her laughter. He slammed the laptop down and walked towards her, only millimetres apart now.
"Kya? What about my face?" He said towering over her, Khushi was backed up against the door and her breathing rate had raised to a ridiculous level. Arnav could see his closeness made her nervous and he knew he should begin to back away now but he didn't.
He stretched his arm up and leant against the frame of the door, resting his other arm against the frame at level with Khushi's waist. He turned his head slightly and looked straight into her eyes unabashedly, Arnav assumed she'd look away or squeeze out of his grip but she didn't she stared back too. His eyes turned confused as hers only became more wild, he saw the love and what he could only take as hunger he'd seen on Diwali although that night her eyes also conveyed a coyness and worry that had long faded from her eyes now. He felt like the one caught in a dangerous situation now rather than making her feel that way, he didn't like feeling out of control but he still didn't move. He began leaning in, slowly, painfully slow Khushi thought. Their lips were almost touching both of them had their lips parted in wait when Shyam walked in from the poolside entrance of Arnav and Khushi's bedroom.
"Kya baat hain? Waa, pyaar ka raang hi kuch aur hai isike saat? Haina Saale-saab?" Shyam asked Arnav, Khushi gripped onto Arnav who stepped in front of her, forcing Shyam to look at him and not his wife.
"Get out." Arnav said through gritted teeth.
"But why? I was only here because Rani Sahiba wanted to check on Khushiji, luckily I had returned home and told her all this running around wasn't good for our baby and so I came here. Good thing I did, otherwise well...kya paata aaj kya hota?" Shyam said proud in the fact he had gotten between them and happy to have seen Khushiji with hunger in her eyes, hunger he knew she had for him and it was just Arnav and his sister getting in the way of Khushiji and himself. He knew she loved him and it was only a matter of time until he would find a way to be with her. Khushi's grip tightened on Arnav's arm, he quickly looked back to see his wife silently sobbing at Shyam's cheap words. He placed a hand over Khushi's shaky hand that was glued to him. He'd had just about enough of his brother-in-law now.
"If you don't get the f*ck out of our room, I will break your jaw." Arnav said getting angrier.
"By all means Saale-saab carry on." Shyam said as he began to walk out. Arnav turned and looked at Khushi, he wiped a falling tear away and she looked at him longingly, she was about to thank him when Shyam peered around the corner once more.
"Oh and Khushiji, I will most definitly see you later." Shyam said, Arnav had to stop himself from chasing after Shyam and beating him until he could no longer use that filthy mouth of his but he knew this is what he needed. He needed reactions from Shyam until Shyam would confess his actions so that they could show Di. However when he saw the fear and pain in Khushi's eyes his resolve weakened, all he wanted to do was protect her but he also wanted to protect his Di. There was no way he could do both.
Read other parts to this here.
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