CHAPTER – 3

                                              

Arnav got up the next day with a hangover. He felt his head splitting up. He saw medicine and water on the side table. He took it and after freshening up he came down for breakfast. Anjali was already there at the dining table sitting with her hands supporting her head. She too was down with the hangover. Viren was making the breakfast today.

Arnav: Morning Di!

Anjali: Ugh! Mornin’

Arnav: Thank you for the party yesterday Di. I enjoyed a lot.

Anjali: Yeah we had a lot of fun na. It felt like old times.

Both Arnav and Anjali were smiling at each other when Viren walked in with breakfast.

Viren: Good morning, breakfast is ready.

Arnav straightened up and his change didn’t go unnoticed by his sister.

Viren: Saale saab, I hope you are feeling better.

Arnav just nodded. Anjali could not take this cold war between them any longer.

Anjali: Arnav, what kind of behaviour is this? You are here with us after so long and still you are holding onto things that happened in past? Don’t you think it’s high time you behave properly with your jiju?

Viren: Anjalii..Let’s have breakfast...please?!

Anjali was angry, her head was still hurting and she was feeling irritated. She ate grumpily while Arnav ate without any expression on his face. A silence boomed over the table; hence Viren decided to break it.

Viren: Umm...Anjali just give a call to Kushi after you finish. Just check with her if she is okay. She was very angry and upset yesterday.

Anjali: Kyun? What happened to her?

Arnav too looked up.

Viren (trying to hide a smile): Well won’t she feel angry when someone puked on her yesterday before passing out.

Anjali (shocked): What??? Who???

Viren: Your chotte!

Now it was Arnav’s turn to be shocked.

Arnav: WHAT????? No wayyy!!!

Anjali: Are you serious?

Viren: I am.

Anjali: OMG! Already she doesn’t like him, now this.

Arnav: What the! Di girls die over me!

Anjali (rolling her eyes): Yeah but not Kushi. (Then to Viren)How did this happen?

Viren: Well, you were all high yesterday.

Anjali: That’s true.

Viren: And to top it, you were giggling seeing the scene.

Anjali had her mouth wide open while Arnav was cursing under his breath.

Viren: Saale saab, it seems like you don’t do well with drinks. Then why did you drink so much?

Arnav ignored Viren’s question and addressed Anjali.

Arnav: Di, I’m leaving. I have to join hospital tomorrow. Have to get my stuffs ready for that. I will just shower and leave.

Anjali nodded with a serious expression on her face. Arnav turned to go before turning back again.

Arnav: And Di thanks for the medicine, the hangover is better now.

Anjali: I didn’t keep them for you, your jijaji did.

Arnav and Viren had an eye lock before he again chose to walk away without talking to Viren. Anjali saw him going and was depressed.

Anjali: I can’t take this anymore. Why is he behaving like this with you for something that happened in the past?

Viren: Baby, you shouldn’t force him to talk to me if he doesn’t want to. Give him some time.

Anjali: Didn’t I give enough time already. You keep telling me the same thing for past 5 years but see there is no change in chotte’s behaviour with you and for what? The fault was not yours, why is he punishing you for your mother’s mistake.

Viren:  even I’m to be blamed. Only if I had stood by you when you needed it, then the situation would have been different. I have hurt him baby, by remaining silent when you were getting hurt.

Anjali: But all that was in the past. Now I’m happy; we are happy. Can’t he see that? Can’t he move on too?

Viren: He can see you are happy. But it takes more than that to have an amicable relation between him and me. In his eyes, I am a failure as a husband and jijaji....

Anjali: No Viren, don’t say like that.

Viren: I won’t say he is wrong baby. He has every right to be angry with me. I never did anything but stand a spectator when you suffered in my own home. Even you were hurt by my silence but you had a big heart to forgive me.

Anjali (hugging him): Shh it’s all in the past. All that matters to me is we are happy now and will always be.

Viren (retuning the hug): Hmm

Anjali: You both are the most important people in my life. I just want you two together and happy.

Viren: Time will see to it baby, have patience.

                                            *****************

Arnav walked into the lobby of the hospital in white shirt and blue jeans. All girls, be it patients, or people present with patients or visitors or nurses or office staff or lady doctors had their eyes only for him while he strode casually through the premises of the hospital. He kept walking ignoring the comments passed on him from all sides guessing his identity. After reporting to the MD of the hospital he got to his duty. When he walked out of the dressing room for staff all looked at him with wide eyes. He was dressed in a blue shirt and pant, the uniform for male nurses!

Now I have to meet Kushi before I took charge.

                                              ************

Arnav knocked on Kushi’s consulting room.

Arnav: May I come in?

Kushi: Come in

Arnav walked in. She still hadn’t got over the humiliation last day. Arnav had vomited and passed out; but she was the one who had to face the embarrassment. She had to change into Anjali’s dress which Viren offered before leaving home. Not to forget the laughter of all those drunken toads. Arnav is going to pay hell for this! Now that he is going to work under her, she is going to have her sweet revenge.

 Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, welcome to hell!!!!!

Arnav: Hi sexy. I’m joining work from today.

Kushi(raising her eyebrow and with a smile) : Oh is it? Good. And by the way, (putting on a stern expression)in hospital,  it’s Kushi maám for you.

Arnav: Umm yes. Se...I mean ma’am... I’m sorry for what happened last day. It was not intentional, trust me. It just happened like that and I’m really sorry for it.

Kushi was taken aback by his apology. Arnav never, never ever apologized for what he did. So this was quite unexpected. She melted for a moment, but then she remembered all the times he had teased and irritated her. This is the only time she will get to give him a payback. So even if he did that intentionally or not, she did face embarrassment; so he has to pay for his mistake.

Kushi (suddenly plastering a smile on her face): it’s okay Arnav, it happens.

Arnav felt weird. Kushi had never smiled like that at him; something was definitely off. But he brushed it past him and took to job. But soon he realized his hindsight was true. Kushi was driving him up the wall with neck breaking work. Though he is new to the place and mostly equivalent to an intern, she made him work like a slave. He almost worked 18 to 19 hours each day leaving him drained out. Lavanya felt bad for him. Though she too joined at the same time in the same post, she relatively had lesser work obviously. They didn’t have to report to a particular doctor but yet Kushi found ways to torture Arnav. She was feeling immensely happy at how the things were working out. Anjali did feel sorry for Arnav but since she knew Kushi’s temperament she didn’t interfere in what was happening. Afterall Arnav did deserve it for all those things he did with her. She actually found it funny – their cat and mouse relation.

                                                *************

Arnav was fed up. He had to put an end to this. He cannot continue like this. Kushi was surely having a gala time seeing him suffer. She was exceptionally sweet to him these days, but he clearly saw through the sarcastic smile behind her acts.

Just then Lavanya walked into the corridor where he was standing and thinking.

La: Hey Arnav, how come you are standing here? Didn’t Kushi maám give you any work today?

Arnav: Hmm actually I am thinking of giving a work to her instead!

La: Oh com’on Arnav. You are actually paying for all those teasing you gave her. Now are you going to rile her up again and attain more torture?

Arnav: I have no other choice La. Otherwise she will make me travel through hell and back.

La: Hmm what are you going to do?

Arnav(mischievous smile): You don’t wanna know!

La: Arnav, whatever it is, do carefully. If it backfires then you will have even tougher time.

Arnav( smirking): You said this because you don’t know our famous history. Arnav Singh Raizada has always won over Kushi Singh Malik. It is always going to be like that. You wait and watch.

                                          **************

Kushi had a tiring day. She saw some staff and nurse etc giving her weird glances. She could hear some murmurings around her though she cannot make out what it is hence she ignored it.  She had missed her breakfast and lunch. Hence she ordered a pizza and was waiting for it to be delivered when she heard a knock.

Kushi: Come in

Arnav: Hello sexy!!!

Kushi (already tired): Arnav, its ma’am.

Arnav (leaning on her table making her scrunch her eyebrows): Oh and why should I? After all now that I know what is between us!

He winked at her while Kushi remained confused.

Kushi: What is between us?

Arnav came around the table and leaned on her reclining chair and stood very close to her face making her uncomfortable; with a smirk intact on his face.

Arnav: Oh come ‘on baby. Why this act? I know.

Kushi (getting irritated now): What do you know?

Arnav: The reason behind why you are making me work a lot for you...with you.

Kushi (suspicious): What?

Arnav (with his best romantic expression): You want me to be with you....always.

Kushi (wide eyed): What?

Arnav: Yes babe. You want to spend time with me and you can do it without others suspecting is by making me work with you. Know what, already there are rumours about us, so I’m going to tell everyone openly so they stop with their speculations and leave us alone.

Kushi( eyes ready to pop out): You are going to tell what?

Arnav( shrugging his shoulders): That we are in love!

Kushi: WHAT?

Arnav (adjusting her fringe behind her ears): Yes sexy!

Kushi (angry now): Arnav, is this some kind of your sick jokes?

Arnav: No babe. Already people are talking about us. So I thought we better make it official. You see I’m so hawt, and has huge fan following here. I know that is upsetting you, so if we come out clean they will stop having eyes on me and I will be yours (coming more close to her) only yours!

Kushi (pushing him off): Arnav stop it.

Arnav: Okay if you want me to stop then you will have to stop first.

Kushi: What?

Arnav (sitting down on her table before her): Simple. Let’s just be professional and not bring in our personal feelings into our work.

Kushi: When did I mix it?

Arnav: Come ‘on ma’am. Who are you fooling? We both know what the truth is.

One minute silence boomed over their heads. Kushi sat with an angry red face while Arnav sat coolly with an innocent face.

Kushi: And what if I don’t?

Arnav: Then this news goes official.

Kushi: Oh please!!! I don’t care what others think. Moreover if they are planning to think that I will date a guy so young and to top it a male nurse then they can think all they want.

Arnav (crossing his arms): Exactly and if the rumour of such an unconventional love reaches your orthodox family in Lucknow?

Kushi looked at him with angry eyes.

Arnav : Let me think; then it will be end of your career here right?! You will have to pack up and leave for your home no matter what the truth is. And soon get married and be trophy wife to someone?!

Kushi: ARNAV!!!!

Arnav (leaning back): I’m sorry Kushi. I know this is not fair. But you haven’t been fair to me too. All I did with you was harmless teasing. And in party, I told you I didn’t do it intentionally. But you have crossed all limits by linking personal affronts with professional life. Just because I work under you or have a degree lesser than you, you have not right to treat me like shit.

Though his voice was low and calm she could clearly see he was angry; Arnav who was always a happy-g-lucky-guy was having serious expressions on his face. Even Kushi knew what he was saying is right, she did take it far. But what to do, she had Malik blood running in her and she hurt people who hurt her and with vengeance. But yes she was being childish but hell would break up if she admitted that to him.

Kushi: Ok, we will have a truce. But I want you to agree to two of my conditions.

Arnav raised his eyebrow.

Kushi: You will apologize to me sincerely for everything you did to me till date and also promise that you won’t be after me teasing, again. Then we can have an amicable relation.

Arnav pretended like he was thinking for a moment before giving up and smiling seeing her getting riled up again.

Arnav( smiling): Okay. But no one, not even Di will know about this truce.

Kushi : hmm okay.

She signalled him to ask for apology with her eyes.

Arnav: I’m sorry sexy.

Kushi: Arnavv...

Arnav (grinning): Okay I’m sorry....Kushi!

Kushi nodded satisfied.

Arnav: And I think for your second condition to turn true, we will have to bring our hands together for a friendship, what say?

Kushi looked at his extended hand and thought for a moment. She was not sure if Arnav really means it but then she thought to let go of her suspicions for once and take a leap. She did not know why she wanted to do it; maybe she was tired of their cat and mouse games. A friendship is a refreshing thought, if Arnav behaves like a gentleman. Anyways she extended her hand. Arnav smiled as they shook hands.

Arnav: Now we are friends Kushi. So everything is fine between us; right?

Kushi nodded.

Kushi: But what about the rumours going around?

Arnav: Oh Kushi, don’t worry. People just need a new gossip to forget this one. And a gossip in Canada is surely not going to reach your home without someone informing them, so chill.

                                          *******************

Days passed by. They shared a better equation these days. Arnav was very friendly with her while Kushi still had reservations but maintained a relationship that bordered on formal and informal grounds. Arnav adapted to the new work well. Kushi did not burden him anymore and they shared a healthy professional relationship. Arnav admired her professional calibre; her personality and nature towards her patients and her dedication and service mentality. He is glad that he got this opportunity to work under her.

It is already one month since Arnav reached Canada. And today Arnav, Anjali, Viren and Kushi have planned to go on a picnic.

Precap: Picnic