Not so innocent vixen - ArShi FF (completed)

12. heart or brain?

Precap - "ASR, we had heard you were engaged to your longtime girlfriend Lavanya Kashyap. Its not even a month to that and now we hear you married someone else? Can you tell us why a sudden hush-hush marriage?"

Arnav froze! This wasn't something he was prepared for.

"I would like to answer that if you don't mind." Everyone looked surprised to see Khushi politely interrupting them asking if she could take the question. And Arnav, still a little confused, passed her the mike, nevertheless.

Khushi confidently took the mike and turned to the reporter.

"As a wife of Mr. Raizada, I will answer your question but before that can you please help me with your name?"

"Naina" the reporter replied looking irritated at why this woman was answering a question directed at ASR. She was looking for a spicy gossip or a tantrum thrown by ASR, so she had deliberately asked a personal question. Besides, she was paid a hefty amount to specifically irk ASR. But thanks to this woman, her efforts seem to be going down the drain.

"Miss naina, are you married?" Khushi asked calmly

"What? Yeah, I am but what has that got to do with-?" the reporter asked angrily but khushi stopped her

"Did you date anyone before you married your husband?" she asked in same calm voice

"Excuse me? I am sorry Mrs. Raizada but you're getting too personal" the reporter was visibly angry

"Am I? and what were you doing just 10 minutes ago to MY HUSBAND? You are here to ask about our project, our work then do that. Just because we are in public eye, what makes you think you can ask about our personal lives in that way?" it was Khushi's turn to be angry now and the press was amazed to see first glimpse of Mrs. ASR in such an impactful way!

On the other side, not only Arnav but also Mr. Mittal was mighty impressed! Khushi was indeed a headstrong, courageous and brave young lady....much like his lovely daughter Trisha. After losing Trisha in an accident 5 years ago, for the first time he felt like he saw a glimpse of her in someone..

--*--

"What the hell Khushi? Why would you do that?" Khushi received a call from Shyam after the conference.

"What do you mean?" Khushi who was massaging her forehead, still composing herself after her much volatile press-conference, asked irritated

"tumne sare kiye karaye par pani fer diya Khushi (you ruined it all). why did you step in between when Naina was doing her job I paid her for?" Shyam said with a sigh

"You mean it was set up by you?" her eyes went wide when she realized what he meant

"of course, what did you think? And since when did you start taking his side? That too in front of the world?" Shyam sounded very annoyed. Khushi was becoming more and more unpredictable and that scared him

--*--

'How could I do that?' Khushi herself didn't understand what had gotten into her when she said it. Probably she had felt insulted when the reporter blamed him for making it seem like he broke up with Lavanya because of her. But wasn't it true?

Khushi was still in her thoughts, when her cabin door opened, and a smiling Arnav entered

"I didn't know you had this talent too Khushi. That was impressive" Arnav said obviously happy that she put the reporter on spot. But Khushi only felt more angry hearing him as that was exact opposite of what she had intended when she had joined his office back

"Yeah, its not a big deal" she said looking in a file, trying to dismiss him and that irked him

"What's wrong with you? I am trying so hard to understand you Khushi, but you are making it so difficult. One moment you want to save my image, next you are indifferent? Your on again off again attitude is beyond me" he said running his fingers through his hair, obviously frustrated

"Yeah, not like I have a choice you know. Being your wife and all? Besides, I am doing this for only 7 weeks, remember?" she said sarcastically.

"Stop making it sound like I forced this marriage on you Khushi. Have you forgotten what happened between us on that Diwali night? Or are you going to say you didn't have a choice then too?" he reminded her of their moment that night, which led to all this

Her silence irked him more

"I always had thought you didn't have what it needed to make things work Khushi, its called brain! And I was right. You are a messed up emotional fool who only does what her heart says" saying so he left from there, slamming the door shut behind him. Khushi stood there trying to keep calm after his yet another insult.

'Lets see mr. Raizada who's really using their brain and who is being led by their heart' she said smiling to herself.

--*--

When arnav left, Khushi slumped to her chair, feeling drained out. First the press conference, then Shyam reminding her of her mission and then a confrontation with Arnav left her tired

So when she again heard a knock on her door, she had no mood to let the person in, until she heard who it was

"Khushi? Can I come in?" It was Mr. Mittal. Khushi had told him to call her more informally, by her first name, and he had happily obliged, as long as she called him uncle instead of Mr. Mittal. Her first mission already accomplished, getting in his good books. Although, she was not totally faking her affection to the old man, he reminded her of her babuji so much

"Mittal uncle, of course, please come in" she said getting up from her chair, smiling at him

"I thought you might be busy." He said with a smile, he had seen Arnav leave her cabin few minutes ago. Although he was surprised to see the look on arnav's face, and he was worried if everything was well between them. He didn't want to intrude but he couldn't help feel protective of khushi, like he did for his deceased daughter!

"No uncle, I am ok. Just trying to make our next strategies for Panache" Khushi said, and added in her mind, 'and strategies about how to make you back out from AR'

"hmm. But I must say, I am very happy to see you and Arnav having each other's backs" he started tentatively

"Its not what it always looks like uncle" Khushi said in a low voice, obviously deliberately.

"What do you mean?" he asked, alarmed.

"Nothing uncle, let it be. After all, I am supposed to be a dutiful wife, my late parents would be disappointed in me if I didn't and so will be my amma-babuji who adopted me" khushi said making a sad face, subtly telling him all wasn't well in her life and she wasn't happy with Arnav, in fact he was the one causing her some distress.

"Khushi, you are not alone, always remember I am here for you now. And if you really consider me your uncle, you will share your problems with me. Ok beta?" hearing him call her beta made her give a most genuine smile she had in past few months

"Thanks uncle, I will. Give me some time" 

--*--

Arnav had been observing Khushi for the entire 2 weeks that she started working as their event manager. After the press conference, her attitude had drastically changed. And he could swear he had caught her making a 'blunder' a couple of times which could have costed them dearly. He had dismissed it thinking why would she do it but now he was not so sure.

"Aman I want you to keep a watch on someone. The person is very important to me yet I am sensing something is being hidden from me. And I can only trust you to help me with this" Arnav said and Aman listened to how his boss's tone was commanding yet helpless. Of course, he would stay loyal and help his boss with anything he needed help with!

"Sure ASR, who is it?"

"My wife, Khushi Singh Raizada" Arnav said shocking Aman.

--*--

A/N – bowled ya didn't I? lol. What did you guys think Khushi would let go of everything so easily? It doesn't work that way. Arnav has a long way to go to earn her trust. Let's see what happens along the way, if Arnav gets to know what she is upto, what's the deal with shyam, what will Mr. Mittal do, what shital's backstory really is, and what will happen to arshi. Uff too many issues. We'll solve them slowly 😎 😉

Stay tuned.😃