21 Plan
Part 21 Plan
Khushi didn’t think even if Aashi had a father, he would be lovable like Arnav. How sweetly he was taking care of her! What a lousy anger he had! Thank God he didn’t kill Lokesh. He might have killed him if she had not stopped him. Her thoughts went back to Arnav and Aashi.
“He pushed me”, Aashi sniffed.
“That’s why I broke his fingers… didn’t you hear the sound?” Arnav asked, composing himself, understanding the need to console her.
She nodded no.
“Didn’t you hear how he screamed?”
She wiped her cheek without answering.
“How did the Dragon Monkey scream?” he asked.
Aashi looked at him from the corner of her eyes.
“Sir, sir, please leave me… Ahhh…. Ahhh…” Arnav screamed as Lokesh did.
Aashi bit her lip to control her laughter cutely.
“Didn’t you hear?”
She nodded no, looking at somewhere, biting her lip.
“Aiiiii… I know you are lying…” he tickled her.
Aashi started laughing. The laughter spread into Khushi’s face. She admired them unknowingly.
“Mr. Puzzle, stop…”
“Then, accept the truth that you heard him screaming.”
“I heard, I heard.”
Arnav stopped ticking and smiled at her.
“I like you so much.” Aashi circled his neck and kissed his cheek.
“I, too, like you so so much” Arnav kissed her cheek.
“If you like me, will you sleep with me?”
Arnav looked at Khushi and blinked his eyes. Then he turned towards Aashi.
“Ok. I will be with you. ok?”
“Thank you.” She kissed his cheek again.
Arnav pulled the couch close to the bed and sat on it, closing his eyes. Holding his hand, Aashi smiled at him. Arnav opened his eyes and swallowed hard.
“Don’t you sleep?”
Aashi nodded no.
“Why?”
“I’m not feeling sleepy.”
Arnav knew she was sleepy. She didn’t want him to leave. That was why she intentionally controlled her sleep. So, he spoke to her.
“Ok, what do you like to eat?”
“I like prawns…”
“Is it?” Arnav lifted his brows.
“Yeah, I like it very much. Nanne Dad brought me once.”
“Oh…”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Oh yes. I, too, like it. Then, what do you like?”
“Then, I like you,” She said, tilting her head.
Arnav smiled.
“Sleep. I’m so tired of fighting with the Dragon Monkey.” Arnav closed his eyes.
Aashi slowly drifted into sleep. Khushi gazed at them, feeling something in her heart. Who was this man who cared for them? When her own family threw her out, not giving heed to hear her, how patiently he was listening to Aashi’s blabbers and consoled her!
After a few minutes, Arnav opened his eyes and saw Aashi sleeping peacefully. He slowly removed his hand from her clutch and stood up. Arnav removed a pillow from the cupboard and safely kept it beside Aashi.
“Call me if it’s necessary,” he said.
Khushi nodded.
“Good night”
“Good night,” Khushi said.
Arnav walked out, and Khushi closed the door. She went to bed and lay beside Aashi. She could not understand what was happening in her life. Until a few days ago, Arnav was a stranger to her, but today, she was in his house, and her daughter needed his protection. Of course, she too! If Arnav had not arrived on time, she didn’t know what would have happened. She might have killed Lokesh, and Aashi would have become an orphan. No… she would not have become an orphan. Arnav would not have let it happen. He would have taken care of Aashi.
Khushi was struck. What was she thinking about? How could she expect Arnav to be the saviour of her daughter? It was because of Arnav’s nature. He was a lovely man who loved Aashi unconditionally. She didn’t know why Arnav didn’t want to get married. His wife would be the luckiest woman in the world if he got married. He would look after her like anything. Khushi smiled. But why did he refuse to marry? What would be the reason? Thinking about it, she dozed off.
On the other hand, Arnav was lying without getting sleep. He had the most significant responsibility of protecting Khushi and his daughter. Though he did that, what would have happened had he not gone to Khushi’s house or gone there late? He punched the bed and sat, running his fingers on his hair.
What was he going to do next? Though he brought them to RM, he knew it was not permanent. Khushi would start nagging him to search for a house. How would he hold her? Could he hold her without telling her the truth? It was not at all possible. On some days, however, he had to tell her the truth. Before doing that, he should get a firm place in her heart. Then only she would trust him. It might have taken time, but he had to. He had no choice.
He lay again. His lips curved into a smile when he thought about his baby. It was a blessing to have a daughter, and that, too, a cute and clever kid like Aashi. Was he that blessed? Suddenly, his facial expression changed. Why did he not ask Payal about Khushi and get to know her story? Tomorrow was Sunday. She would not go to the hospital but at home. However, Khushi would tell Payal that she had shifted to RM. Payal might call him to ask him about it. If she didn’t, he would call her with the excuse of telling her about it and would inquire about Khushi. He might get some point in getting Khushi’s trust.
The next morning
After waking up, Arnav came to Ratna’s room. She had already taken a bath and looked fresh.
“Mom…” Arnav came to her and made her sit on the bed.
“What happened, Chotte? Is everything all right?”
“No, Mom. Nothing is all right…”
“What are you talking about?”
“Last night severe issue held”
“What?”
Arnav narrated everything to Ratna, who was shocked to the core.
“Thanks to Devi Maiya, you went to their house guessing the seriousness. Or else, I can’t imagine what would have happened.”
Arnav nodded yes.
“How are they?”
“Khushi was scared like hell… more than Aashi.”
“Let’s go”
They walked to the guest room. Arnav was about to knock on the door, but Khushi opened it herself. She smiled at Ratna and Arnav.
“Come in, Aunty”
“How are you, beta?”
“I’m fine, Aunty.”
“Chotte said you were scared last night.”
Khushi looked at him, stunned. How did he know she was scared? She didn’t show her fear but stayed stern. Then, how did Arnav find it out?
“You didn’t tell me how scared you were. It doesn’t mean I didn’t understand that,” Arnav said, understanding her mind, which stunned her more.
They didn’t find Aashi on the bed.
“Did Aashi wake up?” Arnav asked.
“Just now. Brushing her teeth.”
They saw Aashi coming out of the washroom. Arnav smiled at her.
“Go, you left me ALONE.” She turned her face and made a face.
“Who said? I was here only. I just went to my room to get fresh. Am I right, Mom?”
“Yes, he came to my room to tell me how he hit the DRAGON MONKEY,” Ratna said seriously.
“Is it, Mom?” She asked Khushi, who nodded yes.
“Dadi, you know how he hit the Dragon Monkey?” She asked, climbing the bed.
“How?”
“Mr Puzzle broke his fingers… banged his head on the wall… kicked his stomach…” she said, making a cute expression, like fighting.
“Really? I missed seeing the fight,” Ratna said, feeling sad.
“I, too, didn’t see the full scene. Mom didn’t let me see.” She complained.
“It’s because you were crying. Right?” Arnav asked.
“He kicked me. See, my forehead is injured” She showed the wound to Ratna.
“Leave it, beta. You are in the safe zone now. No Dragon Monkey or, Dragon Donkey will touch you.”
“Dragon Monkey got another name… Dragon Donkey…” Aashi giggled, clapping.
The trio chuckled.
“Let’s have breakfast. Come,” Arnav said.
In no time, Aashi circled his neck from behind.
“Take me to the dining.”
“Aashi… what’s this? Is this what I taught you?” Khushi chided.
“You taught me about good touch and bad touch. Mr. Puzzle is soooo good. He won’t touch me badly. Right?” She asked Arnav, looking at his face and tilting her head cutely.
“Yeah, your mom taught you not to let anyone touch you. Likewise, my mom taught me not to touch girls,” Arnav said seriously, reading Khushi’s face.
“See, didn’t I say? He is soooo good.”
“Let’s go,” Arnav walked, talking to her on his back.
Khushi sighed. What did she try to say? What did Aashi understand? She was afraid of Aashi’s attachment to Arnav. She followed them, sighing.
HP brought breakfast and kept it on the table. Arnav served it to Khushi and Aashi and said,
“Welcome to the Raizada Family”
Khushi smiled.
“Hariprakash, get the room next to mine ready for Khushi.”
“Jee…” HP left.
“Arnav, we are comfortable in the guest room.”
“It’s a small room with no facilities. Aashi will not be comfortable there without a study table…”
“Arnav, it’s just a matter of a few days.”
Arnav blinked his eyes as if ‘HERE, IT CAME’.
“So what? Let it be for two days. Let her be comfortable.”
Ratna looked at them silently. She didn’t know why Arnav bothered a lot about a matter of a few days.
How did Ratna and Khushi know Arnav had a severe plan to make them stay at RM forever and would never let them go away from him?
To be continued…
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