Although Arnav and Khushi were worried from inside wondering whether Lavanya had heard their conversation, they tried to hide it as they didn't want Lavanya to smell something suspicious.
"Lavanya, what are you doing here?", Arnav asked, trying to act normal.
"Rahul told to take your signature for this legal document. It is for the upcoming project", Lavanya explained the reason for her visit.
"Oh yeah, right. After the way you talked to my fiancee, I thought we were not on friendly grounds anymore", Arnav said a little firmly, as he was not comfortable acting all friendly with Lavanya.
"Well, I'm sorry Arnav. But even you accused me of something I haven't done, didn't you?', Lavanya asked, hoping to remind Arnav the way he accused her of spending nights with other men. "I know that I was wrong to accuse Khushi, but I didn't know what I was saying at that moment because I was trying to fight the anger that was flaming within me. So I think we should leave behind what happened, and move forward with peace", Lavanya said, as she didn't want to fight anymore.
"Fine. I'm sorry for accusing you of something you have not done. I hope this kind of things won't happen again. Since you are working with me, I don't want us to be strangers. I guess we should forget what happened", Arnav said.
"Great. So can you sign here? I need to go quickly. I have to meet one of my friends", Lavanya said, while handing over the papers to Arnav as she was in a hurry.
Arnav signed carefully, and handed them back to Lavanya.
"Ok then, I gotta go. Let me know whenever you need me again. Call me whenever you want, and if I'm not reachable tell Rahul", Lavanya said.
"Okay, I will. I think I will need you in the office next Monday, as we will be getting the new interns. You know they should sign the contracts, and other legal stuff. So can you come on Monday?", Arnav asked, as he wanted Lavanya on the office next Monday.
"Yeah sure. No problem. I will be here by 9.00am", Lavanya agreed with a smile.
"Okay then. You can go now. Rahul knows what kind of legal documents are required on Monday. I have given him all the details, as he is handling the legal issues and the selection of interns", Arnav said.
"Oh, don't worry. I will talk to Rahul and get the details. So I will leave now. Bye Arnav. Bye Khushi", Lavanya said, while leaving the cabin.
"Bye", both Arnav and Khushi said in unison.
Khushi hadn't said a word throughout the conversation between Arnav and Lavanya. One reason was that she was not all comfortable with being all nice to Lavanya again, after the way Lavanya accused her. But most of all she wanted to observe Lavanya's words, actions, expressions, everything. Because she still couldn't figure out whether Lavanya had really changed or not. After observation, Khushi realized that it was not easy to read Lavanya so easily, as she was clearly not an open book.
"What happened to you? Where was my chatter box lost while Lavanya was here?", Arnav asked, hoping to bring back Khushi from the world of thoughts.
"Nothing. I didn't feel like talking with her after what she had told to me that day", Khushi said.
"Really? Nothing? Oh come on, what have you figured out about her after observing her for almost 20 minutes", Arnav said, hoping that Khushi would tell him what she was thinking all this time. Arnav was fully aware that Khushi was observing Lavanya throughout the time she was present in his cabin. Arnav had observed Khushi so well, that he knew Khushi's silence meant that she was either sad, or trying to figure out someone, or trying to plan something.
Khushi was surprised when she heard what Arnav said. "How did you know that I was observing Lav?".
"Oh, you might have thought I don't know about you. But I do. I know you so well, so it was easy for me to figure you out. You may be a closed book for the others, but for me, you are simply open", Arnav said, hoping to tease Khushi.
"Okay, okay. Enough of your big talks. I was just trying to figure her out. She is like a puzzle. I can't understand whether she is really trying to be nice or not. I feel as she is playing a game with us", Khushi said, telling what she felt about Lavanya.
"I agree", Arnav said thoughtfully,
"Do you? But you seemed to move on pretty well with her, for a person who is doubting her actions? I have to say you are so unpredictable", Khushi said, with a smirk on her face.
"Well, what can I say? I'm glad that I played with her well. She is up to something Khushi. She have started a game. I know the main targets are you and me. That's why she is trying to be nice to us. And that too especially with me. I don't know whether this game involves my family, but I have to keep a close eye on her actions. She started the game, but I will finish it. You should be careful too", Arnav said, as he was now sure that Lavanya was up to something.
"Wow! No wonder your employees are dead scared of you. You really do have a mastermind", Khushi said, while lightening up the mood.
"What about you?", Arnav said, with a lopsided smile.
"What about me?" Khushi asked, while lifting her eyebrow.
"Are you scared of me? After-all you are also an employee", Arnav said, with his unique smirk.
"Haha. I'm not scared", Khushi said, while laughing.
"Really? And may I know the reason for that?", Arnav asked.
"Let me remind you. I didn't join as your employee, I joined because you were my fiance. And you didn't have much of a choice at that time, did you?", Khushi said, while getting down from the table.
"I gotta go. I promised Chachi that I will join her for tea", Khushi said, while turning her back towards Arnav hoping to leave.
Arnav quickly grasped Khushi's wrist and pulled her towards him. As a result, Khushi landed on his lap. Khushi was now feeling nervous and Arnav saw her blushing like a red opal. He was amazed at the way Khushi blushed whenever they tried to get intimate. The strong headed woman vanishes in just a matter of seconds, whenever they were close to each other.
"Arnav, what are you doing? Let me go, please. I'm getting late. Somebody will come. What will they think? The boss is romancing with the...", Khushi said, softly. Arnav cut her off, just before she could finish the sentence.
"the employee? I thought you were working as my fiancee? You will have to choose one Khushi. Fiancee or employee?", Arnav asked, continuing his smirk that could make thousands of girls forget breathing.
Before Khushi could answer, Arnav's phone rang. It continued to ring, but Arnav didn't answer.
"Arnav, answer the phone", Khushi said, in a faint tone.
"Tell me Khushi, how do you want me to consider you in the office? Fiancee or employee?", Arnav asked again.
Khushi leaned towards his lips slightly smiling and Arnav was staring straight in to her eyes. He was lost in her hazel coloured eyes, that his grip on her wrist became weakened. Khushi realized that she was free, and she suddenly placed a sweet kiss on his cheeks and said, "Fiancee". She stood up and ran towards the door and turned around.
"That's not fair Khushi", Arnav said with a pout.
"Everything is fair in love and war", Khushi said with a wink and left the cabin.
Arnav smiled to himself while thinking about Khushi's antiques, and dialed the number from which he received the missed call.
While driving towards home, Lavanya was thinking about everything that happened in Arnav's cabin. When she entered she felt as if they had been talking about her, because both Arnav and Khushi had shocked faces. How she wished if she had heard what they were talking about. Then later she was surprised to see Khushi sitting on Arnav's table on his side. Frankly speaking, she was jealous of Khushi. At that moment she realized that Arnav was totally into Khushi. How she wished that it was her in Khushi's place? But it was too late, and she knew that it was useless to try and win over Arnav. So she thought of planning her own game. She had already won over the whole Raizada family, and now it was time to somehow make Arnav and Khushi realize that she had changed for good. Few days before, the goal of her game was to win Arnav. But after Arnav accused her for something she didn't do, she was hurt. So now her goal was to show both Arnav and Khushi, who she really was.
After returning from the office, Arnav had a wash and refreshed himself. He was feeling as tired as a beaten boxer, but he wanted to talk to Nani about Lavanya. And he felt that what had to be done today, has to be done today. So he went to Nani's room before going to the dining room for dinner.
Arnav saw Nani resting on the bed, while reading a book. He went and sat beside her.
"Arrey Chottey, when did you come?", Nani asked in a surprised tone.
"Half an hour before, Nani", Arnav said.
"Why Chottey? You look tired and upset. Did you want to talk about something?", Nani asked kindly. She could tell from Arnav's expressions that he wanted to talk about something and she wanted to know what he was upset about.
Arnav told to Nani about everything he had talked with Khushi about Lavanya. Nani was surprised at first. After sometime she started to calm his grandson down.
"I can understand Arnav. Khushi and Lavanya are different. Khushi is the ideal daughter-in-law for this family. I'm not going to say Lavanya is perfect, but she can manage. And what's important is Lavanya is Akash's type. Both of them love fun-loving people. Lavanya may go to clubs, but you yourself told that she hadn't crossed her limits. So I don't think there would be a problem. And according to what I have seen from my eyes, Arush seems to like Lavanya a lot as well. Also Akash seems to be back to his normal life style. Don't worry about Khushi. She is an intelligent girl, and I'm sure she will handle the situations well. With Khushi around in this house, Lavanya might change her habits as well".
Arnav felt that his Nani was right. He felt that if he panicked right now, everything would go wrong. He just had to calm himself down and watch what was happening. He thanked Nani for listening to him and left towards the dining room.
After having dinner, Arnav and Akash were left alone on either side of the table. Others had retired to their respective rooms. Just when Akash was about to leave, his phone rang. Arnav didn't leave, as he wanted to wish "good night" to Akash. So he waited until Akash finished his call. After about 5 minutes, Akash hung up.
"Arrey Arnav, you didn't leave?", Akash asked.
"No, I wanted to say good night", Arnav said with a smile.
"Oh sorry. It was Lav. She told that she wanted to take Arush to the park tomorrow, so that she can get to know him better", Akash said.
Arnav realized that Akash was happy with Lavanya and he thought of supporting Akash for now.
"Hmmm... You like her, don't you?", Arnav asked.
"Yep. She is nice. She is not Chaya, but she is like me. No one can replace Chaya in my life, but I have to move on. Not for me, but at least for my son's sake. And the way Lav have bonded with him within such a short time shows that she would be a perfect step mother. I know she has her own flaws, like clubbing, selfishness, etc. But who is perfect in this world? After-all even I love clubbing, and even I like to have some fun once in a while. So I think she will be good as my life partner", Akash said, letting Arnav know what he felt about Lavanya.
"I'm glad that you are moving on Bhai. Just be careful, don't take any wrong decisions and don't act without thinking. I'm telling this because I care for you. You know what Sheetal...", Arnav was stopped in the middle by Akash.
"Don't worry Arnav. I know what I'm doing. Lav is not Sheetal", Akash said.
Arnav felt a little hurt by the way Akash tried to defend Lavanya. But he thought that he had worried himself enough by thinking about Lavanya. So he wished Akash good night and embraced him in a hug. Then after few minutes, both of them walked towards their rooms.
Later after returning to his room, Arnav was busy in his laptop. After replying an important e-mail he had received with regards to the new project, he dialed Khushi.
Khushi was on the verge of entering the dream world, when she heard her phone ring. Khushi cursed who ever the person who was calling her at the middle of the night, and checked the caller ID. When she saw who the caller was, she apologized to her Devi Maiyya and told that she wanted to take her curse back.
"What the hell, Arnav? Do you know what time it is?", Khushi said a little angrily, as she was feeling tired and sleepy at the same due to the hard work she had done during the daytime.
"Sorry angel, but I wanted to tell you some thing?", Arnav said, feeling sorry for waking his angel in the middle of the night.
After she heard him calling her angel, she calmed herself down and she replied with a smile. "Okay, tell me what it is? This better be something good", Khushi said, in a threatening manner.
"I want you to be free on this Friday", Arnav said, hoping that Khushi would be happy after hearing what he said.
"What the... Are you kidding me Arnav? You know that I can't take leave on Friday. Today is Monday. And from Wednesday onwards I have to interview the applicants for the Fashion Designer post. And you of all people should understand that I can't take leave on Friday. We don't have much time. If you want this project, we need to work hard, 24x7", Khushi said, anxiously.
"I know Khushi. I understand. But it's just one day", Arnav said, softly.
"Arnav try to understand. I know I'm your fiancee, but I work for you. You can't keep on favouring me like this", Khushi said, in an upset tone.
"I know Khushi. But only for this time. Please. For me", Arnav said, in a pleading tone.
"Okay. Only for this time. So tell me, why you need me to be free on Friday?", Khushi asked, as she was clueless of why Arnav wanted her to be free on that day.
Why does Arnav want Khushi to be free on Friday?
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