The Wilted Rose: Chapter 8

Writer's Comments
Well, I am back with another chapter. Most people wanted to know more about Arnav. Well here it is! I hope you like it!

Love you all,

Mishty

Chapter 8

The ETF members had left them. Arnav came to Khushi’s side and sat beside her. He held her arm and whispered sweet nothings into her ear. She found his presence calming. It helped her forget the events of the past few days for a few seconds and relax.

He had helped her a lot, when he didn’t even know her. That was one shocking thought. He knew so much about her, but she didn’t know anything about him. She looked up at him frowning.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

“I don’t know anything about you!” said Khushi.

“What do you want to know?” asked Arnav feeling amused.

“Anything and Everything!” said Khushi happily.

“Okay, well – like I told you, my full name is Arnav Singh Raizada. I work at AR,” said Arnav. He was about to say something but got interrupted by Khushi.

“AR?” repeated Khushi.

“What you have never heard of it?” asked Arnav, slightly miffed at that thought.

“I have heard it somewhere, oh yeah! My best friend Lavanya works at AR, but she has that her boss was really mean. He shouts all the time, and fires anyone if they make a small mistake. She said he was a rakshas but apparently he is really good looking. All the models want to date him. So what do you think? Is he really that mean? I mean you work under him right?” said Khushi, not knowing that Lavanya’s boss is sitting right in front of her.

Arnav felt anger course through him, when Khushi mentioned that he was a ‘Rakshas’. He felt like ripping Lavanya’s head off. He normally didn't get angry that often, but his office staff were useless. He was a genuinely calm, composed person, but in business he had learned to be ruthless. You have to be ruthless, if you want to succeed.

He had wanted to succeed. He had that drive in him. He had seen the world. It was too cruel. In order to survive in this world, you had to have power. That was one of his first lessons in life. He looked at the innocent Khushi, in front of him.

“Khushi, I am Lavanya’s boss!” said Arnav finally. Khushi gasped in shock.

“What?” shouted Khushi, “You told me that you work at AR!”

“Actually, I was going to tell you that I am the owner of AR but you interrupted me!” said Arnav.

“Oh my God, I am so Sorry. I didn't know. Please don’t fire Lavanya. It is not her fault. Plus, now come to think of it, you aren't like that at all. You are kind, caring and friendly,” said Khushi.

Arnav looked at her in surprise. No-one had called friendly before. If his sister found out, she would be shocked, he smirked at that.

“Okay so who is in your family?” asked Khushi.

“I have my sister; her name is Anjali. Then there is my Nani, Mami and my Mama and then my brother, Akash,” said Arnav.

“What about your parents?” asked Khushi. When Khushi had asked that question, she saw a flicker of emotion in his eyes, but then darkness covered it in the space of a second. She wanted to ask; what was wrong but then he replied.

“They are dead!” he said in a low voice.

“Oh I am Sorry. I didn't mean to..” stammered Khushi.

“It’s okay!” said Arnav. Khushi could see that he wasn't okay. 

“My father had a mistress and my mom soon found out. She couldn’t take the pressure, so she killed herself in front of me. She jumped off the terrace. I couldn’t save her. When my dad found out, he killed himself too because he couldn’t take the guilt. He was filled with regret!” said Arnav.

“You know Khushi; we must all suffer from one of two things, the pain of love or the pain of regret. My mum felt pain because of her love while my dad felt pain because of regret!” said Arnav.

“That’s why, when I heard you talking about suicide, I couldn’t take it, because I know how it feels,” said Arnav. Arnav’s eyes were filled with tears. Khushi took her hand and rubbed his tears away, but more kept pouring out. She then brought her lips and kissed his tears away. She nodded her head, telling him silently to stop crying.

“I am sorry for asking you about this,” Khushi uttered with tears in her eyes. She didn’t know that this man was carrying so much sorrow with him. He knew what this type of pain was.

The pain of losing someone.

The pain of being hurt.

Khushi hugged him. He was hurt in the past. She was being hurt in the present. They were two people in the same boat, sailing together in no-man’s land. She rubbed her back.

“Promise me, that even after this case finishes, we will still be in touch! Promise me that!” said Khushi.

“I promise!” said Arnav. In a few days, they become relatively close. They had learnt to depend on each other. They didn't know where life would take them. They were just living in the present, not worried about what the future holds.

They soon sat apart, when they felt a knock on the door.

The doctor stared at the duo and gave them one of his rare smiles.

“Khushi, I have been given orders by ETF to discharge you. Personally, I have would have kept you for another day, but you have made a vast improvement since yesterday, so I do not mind discharging you early. When I did the checks this morning, everything was normal. However, you stood still take care of yourself. I have also been told that to tell you that both of you are required in the ETF office in an hour’s time,” said the doctor.

“Thank you doctor, for everything!” said Khushi.

“You’re welcome. Now no more suicidal thoughts!” said the doctor with a smile. Khushi nodded.

“Doctor what about the treatment cost?” asked Khushi.

“Oh don’t worry about that, I have sorted it out,” said Arnav.

“What? Arnav I can sort it out trust me!” said Khushi.

“Khushi, don’t worry about that,” said Arnav. Khushi nodded.

“Alright then, I hope I never see you two again!” said the doctor with a smile. Then the doctor left.

The nurse came in then.

“Khushi, we need to get you out of hospital clothes. The ones you were wearing before are torn and were covered with blood. Is there anyone you can ask to bring you clothes?” asked the nurse.

“Don’t worry, I will bring the clothes but you have to give me half an hour!” said Arnav. The nurse nodded then left.

“Arnav, I can ask Lavanya. Don’t worry!” said Khushi.

“Khushi, right now no-one can know that you are here. Two days ago, Arjun texted me saying that it has to be kept a secret that you are here in this hospital. Why do you think we haven’t informed any of your relatives?” asked Arnav.

“Oh, but then who should I ask?” asked Khushi.

“I own a fashion house remember, I just need to make a few calls,” said Arnav.

“Oh okay!” said Khushi brightly.

“But I am paying you back for all of this!” she muttered, while Arnav nodded his head at this woman in front of him.