Until You..

Chapter 07

Hope you are enjoying the story so far. Please don't forget to vote and comment. Happy reading! :)

......................................................................

"Kuchi, you sleeping?"

Khushi was laying in her bed when Sifu entered her room.

"Come on in baby, do you need something?"

"Papa ok?"

"Yes baby, papa is better. He is sleeping now, you can meet him in the morning ok?"

"Ok, can Sifu sleep with you?"

Khushi had no problem having Sifu here, but she was afraid of Arnav, he might not like this new arrangement. But who can say no to this face? She'll deal with the devil later.

"Yes my darling, jump in"

Sifu was sleeping on top of Khushi but sleep was nowhere near Khushi. She was caressing Sifu's head while remembering everything happened today.

What was she thinking when she talked to Arnav like that? Has she gone mad? He was sick and his energy was down, so she got spared today. But what about tomorrow? How can she face him?

She definitely knew he no longer is just her boss. They passed that bridge already when they moved into first name basis. She felt older each time he called her Miss. Gupta. Hearing her name from his mouth increased its value, thought Khushi. She preferred him calling her Khushi than Miss. Gupta. But then what are they? Friends? Acquaintances?

Arnav's situation was no better. His fever was down when he woke up. At first, he thought he was dreaming of Khushi massaging his head and putting the warm cloth over his forehead. But he saw the bowl of water and the cloth by his bedside table and realized he wasn't dreaming.

He started thinking of the incidents that happened today while having the soup. He must admit, Khushi is a good cook. The biriyani she made that night was better than one he can eat at a restaurant and this soup, he is ready to get sick every once in a while to have this soup.

Arnav was in a dilemma on figuring out whether Khushi is a puzzle or a riddle. She came into his life like a breeze. Until yesterday, she was just another employee for him but events today definitely made them more than that. He never liked the way she called him Mr. Arnav. Arnav Ji sounded more close, more intimate.

His energy resumed after having the soup. He remembered a time when he got sick while he was married to Lavanya. She got a caterer to prepare the food and avoided coming close to Arnav until he was fit saying she didn't want to catch the fever. She was his wife but yet she acted as if she meant nothing to him whereas Khushi, she took care of him. He is just her boss who in fact has been rude to her since day one, but she ignored everything and took care of him. 

Not once, she complained this was out of her job description or she should get paid extra for this. 

It was almost midnight and Sifu is sleeping like an angel. Khushi thought to check on Arnav. His health is not her problem, but only 3 of them live in this house. If she was sick, Arnav might do the same. Khushi got up without waking Sifu up and walked towards Arnav's room but much to her surprise, he wasn't in the room. That's when she saw the study room lights.

She walked down to the kitchen and prepared a coffee for Arnav. If he is up doing work, he needs something to keep him going. She also prepared a sandwich in case he is hungry. It has several hours since she gave him the soup. 

Arnav heard a knock on the door and looked at the time. It was midnight. Who could this be? Maybe Akash came home?

"Akash is that you?"

"Um, it's me Khushi"

"Come on in"

Arnav asked her to come in while reading the file he was working on. 

 "What are you doing up so late? " asked Arnav still without lifting his head.

Khushi entered the room with a cup of coffee and a sandwich. 

"Actually I wanted to check how are you feeling. I went to your room but saw you were here so I made you a cup of coffee and this sandwich in case you are hungry"

"You didn't have to, but thank you. Were you working on your thesis?" Yet his head was still down and he continued reading the file.

"Not really, well...., umm...."

Her stammer got Arnav's attention. He closed the file and looked up. Khushi stood there in her light pink cotton suit. Arnav couldn't help but admire her simplicity.

He remembered Lavanya, she used to put light makeup on even before she went to bed. He has never seen Lavanya without makeup. But Khushi was different. She hardly wore any makeup or tried to dress up.

"Stop it Arnav, stop comparing Khushi with Lavanya, do not go on that road" 

Arnav's inner voice warned him. Recently he is comparing Lavanya and Khushi a lot. He has to stop doing that. He will never let anyone else come into his life and hurt him again. 

He quickly changed his posture and straightened up and looked at Khushi raising one eyebrow.

"Actually Arnav Ji, sorry, Mr. Arnav..."

"Khushi, you and I both know that we are past that point, so no more Mr. Arnav"

"Umm, Well, Arnav Ji....."

"Khushi, I am not trying to dismiss you but I have a very important quote to prepare so if you have something to say please go ahead beyond Arnav Ji...."

That made Khushi angry. How dare he? She gained all the courage she needed and said, 

"Well, I just wanted to let you know, last night because of the bad weather Sifu came to my room and wanted to sleep with me, Given the circumstance, I couldn't say no to her. Tonight also she came into my room wanting to sleep with me. I am sorry, but I couldn't say no to her face. I know I shouldn't let her attached to me like this. Whenever you remarry, your new wife would want to make a connection with her. So I understand Sifu getting attached to me will make it hard. But I don't know how to say no to that face"

"Are you done? Or do you have any more plans for my future? Come on, go on I am listening"

"I didn't mean it like that. But you are still young, Sifu is a sweet girl, and you have already achieved most of the things so I assumed you will remarry in the near future. You can't spend the rest of your life alone"

"Really, so according to you, I am not capable of being a single dad or being a single guy?"

"That's not what I mean, why do you take it the wrong way, Arnav Ji? I am just stating what everyone is thinking?"

Arnav forgot about the quote he was supposed to prepare. He enjoyed this conversation. He couldn't help but let out a smirk looking at Khushi's situation. She was trying hard to stay strong but was failing miserably.

"I am not talking about everyone Khushi, I am asking if you think I am not capable of taking care of myself and Sifu without a wife?"

"Please Arnav Ji, you are getting it wrong. I did not mean in like that"

"Then what did you mean? As far as I understood, you are letting me know that I must get married while I am still young because I am not capable of looking after my daughter by myself and for some unknown reason, I need a wife"

"Good night Arnav Ji, it's pointless talking to you. I just wanted to say, if you have any issues with Sifu sleeping with me please deal with it because I do not have enough courage to break that little heart of hers"

Saying that she left the room without giving Arnav a chance to come back. 

Arnav let out a small laugh. This girl, she is completely crazy. She has zero sense to realize he was pulling her leg. But he can't blame her. He has always been an uptight person so no one expects his behavior from him. Maybe, it is time for him to change a little.

No one can change a person, but someone can be the reason for a person to change. Khushi can never change Arnav, she can never make him be the old Arnav but she can be the reason for Arnav to change and be his old self.