Chapter Fifteen

Dhakdhakdhakdhakdhakdhakdhakdhakdhak!

I swear, I think I just might die!

After Anjali, or should I say Di, told everyone to speed up the date of the wedding, everyone had gotten curious. She didn't exactly "out" us, but she said that there were "hot sparks" between Arnav and I. Could that be any bit more embarrassing?

Both families decided that it was a good idea, especially Buaji and Di. So the dates were set for each event and ever since we had left Raizada mansion, my heart has been acting up like this.

Help me! If my heart continues to do this, I will most likely die before the wedding!

But then again, I understand why my heart is doing this.

"There's just something about you... I can't seem to control myself."

He's right - there's just something about him that makes me... gosh it's hard to explain. Especially since I can't understand it myself.

Is this love? Like in all of the romantic movies, when they show the girl walking along the beach and twirling in the park, lost in thought all of the time? I seem to be in that position a lot these days. Take for example the other day - Buaji was talking away but I didn't hear a single word she said because my mind was stuck on Arnav. Babuji was teaching me a recipe and yet, I could only think of Arnav. Amma was teaching me crochet, and even then my mind was on Arnav.

Arnav, Arnav, Arnav - nothing but Arnav.

And I absolutely loved it!

I wonder - does he think of me that way too?

Hiccup!

"Oh? Looks like someone is thinking of you," Buaji grinned.

Hiccup!!

"I wonder who?"

I hiccuped and frowned at her. "That's not real."

"Sure it is," Amma piped in, placing her tea down. "Watch."

I glance side to side, then hiccuped. "See!"

"That's because I haven't said any names yet. Kabir."

Hiccup!

"Payal," Buaji tried.

Hiccup!

"Garima!"

Hiccup! Hiccup! Hiccup!

"Wow, I was sure it was one of them," Amma frowned.

"It's probably you," I hiccuped.

"Oh no dear, it's not me, I'm right here."

"It's not me either," Buaji frowned. "Though I wonder..."

"Wonder-" Hiccup! "What?"

A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips. "Arnav."

"Oh that's just absurd!"

"Is it," Amma questioned.

"Yes it is! Just because we're getting married, doesn't mean he's thinking of me. I mean we don't even know each other like that, mostly as employer and employee. Besides-"

"Gee, that's a lot of words you just said. That too without a single hiccup."

I frowned and thought about it. There wasn't a sound and not a single hiccup hiccuped. Which means.... "I'm cured?"

"Indeed you are."

My eyes widened at the thought. "Arnav was thinking of me?"

Buaji smirked. "And you said you were just employer and employee. Though I'd have to disagree, especially after the hic-"

"Buaji!"

Buaji bit her tongue. "Right, sorry."

Amma looked at us curiously. "What are you two hiding?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," I tried to laugh off. If Amma finds out, I'm gonna kill that woman!

"Nothing at all, just silly stuff, nothing important at all," Buaji smiled.

Amma was still curious, but she decided not to push it, thank goodness.

Though a question still floats in the air - why was Arnav thinking of me?

*~*

This needs to stop, it needs to end right now. I can't do this to her.

Zooming down the road, driving along the beach side, Arnav Singh Raizada had only one mission in mind.

I can't do this to her. I can't.

The words repeatedly echoed on his mind and it rang in his ears.

Arriving to a villa, Arnav parked his car on the driveway and entered the home. It was his one of his many homes that he owned, though this one he had put up for sale. There were some things in life you just needed to let go of because they would only remind you of your own foolishness and stupid mistakes.

Though sometimes, you just needed to bury them.

Walking up the stairs, Arnav walked into the master bedroom. The room had been mostly cleared out, only a few furniture left in the room. Among those few was the bed, which currently held a naked woman - waiting and wanting.

"About time you got here," her seductive tone said.

Arnav felt his body react, as it always would do at the sight of her.

Only now, unlike all those times before, his body reacted with disgust.

The woman sat up and reached her hand out to him. "Come here," she smiled softly.

Arnav looked at the 38 year old woman carefully. All of her flaws were now crystal clear to him, Arnav noticing the slight wrinkles by her eyes. But he not only noticed her flaws, but his own as well.

The woman looked at him curiously, but she had a small smile on her face. "What is it Arnav?" She reached out for him. "Come here dear-"

Arnav stepped out of reach and the woman looked at him with confusion.

"Arnav-?"

"What are you doing here Kinjal?"

Kinjal scrunched her eyebrows.

"I meant it when I said that this," he stressed, gesturing the space between the two of them, "is over."

"Arnav-"

"It's over Kinjal. It's been over."

"Is it? You came here didn't you-?"

"I came here to get it through your head Kinjal, nothing else. We're over - we've been over. You just can't get it through your head."

The woman got up and went over to him. "Arnav please, I know you were mad at me-"

"Yes, I was. But it's over, and not just because of that."

She looked at him incredulously. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it means. So stop bothering me, stop sending me nudes like some mother fucking horny teenager, it's over!"

"Is it? Is it really? We've been doing this for years now Arnav. You know how I feel about you, and I know how you felt about me," she said seductively.

"That would be nothing Kinjal. You were just a pass-time, just a fuck, and if I remember clearly - which I do - you were the one desperate for me when I tossed you aside. The error on my part was taking you back every time."

Kinjal smirked.

"But that won't be the case this time."

Kinjal frowned. "Why not?"

Arnav smirked lightly and stepped back, retreating.

"Arnav! Arnav stop! I- is it another girl?"

Arnav paused and Kinjal looked at him carefully.

"Arnav, this has happened before. Remember when you liked that other girl and-"

"She's different."

"So it is because of a girl. Arnav-"

"It's different. And no matter what Kinjal, you're not coming back into my life."

"What-? Are you getting married, is that what it is? I know your family has been wanting that for a while-"

"Yes, yes I am."

Kinjal's eyes widened. "Arnav-"

"And I want to marry her," and he turned away.

Kinjal watched his retreating back. "But... Arnav stop! What we have is-"

"What we have is nothing," he said, with his back facing her. "It never was anything."

"But you have something with that girl?! You don't even know her!"

"You're right... but she's special."

"Special?!"

"I can't explain it but..." Arnav faced her. "But there's no reason for me to explain that to you."

"Arnav-"

"We've been over for almost 3 weeks now, a bit more than that actually. And when it comes to my future wife, she is none of your concern."

Arnav walked out of the room and Kinjal grabbed a robe, then went after him.

"Arnav please-!'

Arnav whipped around, his eyes filled with rage. "Enough!"

Kinjal flinched, her eyes widening. 

"There is nothing between us! You and I are over and have been for quite some time now! Stop texting me, stop bothering me, and get out of my life! The only woman who matters to me is my future wife."

"How can you say that when you hardly know her?!"

"Because I love her."

Kinjal's eyes widened. "You what," she breathed. 

"I love her. Even if I don't properly know her, I know that I love her. With her, it's different. And I don't know why, but all I can do is think of her."

Kinjal couldn't believe a word she was hearing. 

"Don't ever bother me again."

Arnav went to the bottom of the stairs, ignoring Kinjal's cries for him, and walked out of the villa. He went to his car and drove off, sighing as he let off all of that pressure. 

No more of her, good riddance. Gosh, if I could go back in time, I'd stop my naive adolescent self from ever being trapped by that woman's magic. But that doesn't matter now; what's done is done. Khushi is going to be my partner now, my wife. And even if I don't know her like that... there's just something about her, something special, and I can't explain it.

Arnav scoffed. 

Listen to me, I sound like some sappy Romeo. Arnav Singh Raizada isn't a sappy Romeo. Yet when it comes to her.... It's like Di and Jeejaji would say, all the sap and romance. I used to think they were crazy but... now I feel it too. 

Arnav came to a red light and looked out to the horizon. 

With her, it'll be different. Around her, I won't have to keep up a charade, but be myself. I won't have to be the cold-hearted CEO the world expects from me. I can just be myself. 

The light turned green and Arnav pulled forward. 

It's crazy, but I think I love her. I don't know what else to call it; I've never felt this way before and it's almost exactly the way Di and Jeejaji describe it. So if it isn't love, then what is it? Whatever the case, I look forward to knowing you better Khushi Kumari Gupta. 

With a small smile on his face,  Arnav drove home. But while he had a smile on his face, Kinjal had a scowl. 

She was tossing anything her hands could find and throwing it to the floor. 

"I am not losing so easily! How dare he?! How dare he give up a woman like me? Me! Someone so beautiful! How dare he?!!

"What does he think, that I'll just let him go so easily? Not a chance! Until I get his money, there is no way I'm letting him go. Until I get him like all those other chumps, I will not let him go."

An evil smirk appeared on her face. "So, he's going to get married eh? We'll just see about that."