ARSHI: MY LIPSTICK GIRL

PART - 25

“Why did you come here?”, Kushi asked softly seeing his first angry avatar after the marriage.
Arnav was silent. If he opens his mouth, he would surely hurt her. Kushi too saw him and sat without uttering the word. She took the phone to take off the silent mode and that’s when she saw Arnav’s missed calls. She guessed it.
“Am sorry. I always put my phone in silent while am at work.”
After 20 minutes, they reached the house. Kushi saw Arnav went ahead if her. Kushi felt bad.
“Kushi, where were you?”, La questioned
“I was at work”
“How can you not inform anyone? And you lied aunty that you went to your mayka”
“I didn’t lie, I went there and then to work”
“Kushi, you came? Arnav was missing you”, Ratna teased her.
“Yes, aunty. Your bahu came home safely. Arru picked her up. Kushi, you know he was really tensed about you. Inform him hereafter, okay” Concern was filled in La and Kushi didn’t failed to see that.
“But I did tell Chote about Kushi”
“He called her but she didn’t take the call”, Before Kushi could come up with a reason, La came front.
After Ratna went, La patted her back and went. Kushi went to her room.
“Where is he?”
“I am here” Arnav came out of the restroom wiping his face with towel.
“I am sorry. I will inform where ever I go”
“No, Kushi. I will not ask you anything. Just inform my mom and she will tell me”
Kushi saw his hurt face. But she didn’t have the courage to face him. She moved out silently. Arnav expected her to say something which will sooth him but no. Arnav threw the towel with force on the bed and went to the pool side. Kushi turned and saw that.
Two days later. Arnav talks with Kushi but she didn’t see the flirty Arnav which she missed. La felt bad for the couple.
“Hey girl, so can we have another bet?”, La tried to do something.
“I am not interested”
“Seems like you don’t have guts”
“I don’t want to play over some stupid bet”
“Fine, no bet but let’s just see”
“Say it”
“You ask Arru to bring your favourite color lipstick”
“Why are always coming between us?”
“If you want you try. No bet and you can try, right?”
Kushi saw Arnav and went towards him.
“Hmmm, can you do me a favour?”
Arnav looked at her and nodded.
“Get me my favourite color sweetheart, can you?”
Arnav sighed hearing sweetheart and then looked at La.
“No, don’t look at La. I just want one and so”
“Okay, I’ll get you one”
“Thank you”
Arnav went to work and Kushi was going to the bank to find about her father’s company and so, Arnav granted her leave.
At night, Kushi was waiting for Arnav. Don’t know why, she was not interested in La’s challenge but now she wanted Arnav to bring the orange shade.
“Waiting for your favourite sweetheart, huh?” La questioned.
“Yes, so?”
“Even I am waiting. It’s good to see you losing, you know?”
Kushi didn’t answer. She didn’t mind to lose but she wants Arnav to bring her favourite. She failed again to understand something. But she will understand that in a few minutes and La was ready to make her understand.

After some time, Arnav came with a small bag in his hand. He came to Kushi and gave her and went to his room. It was just a gesture for Arnav to give her what she wants but for Kushi, she felt heavy.
“Open it, Kushi”
Kushi looked at her and took out her new sweetheart. Looking at Kushi’s hand, La said,
“It’s neither win or lose”
There were number of lipsticks in that bag. Kushi’s heart felt a tug as she thought he would bring her favourite alone.
“Kushi, say is there your favourite in that?”
Kushi nodded her head with disappointment. Arnav came and saw her face.
“I didn’t know your favourite and so, I took all”
Meanwhile, Ratna called all for the dinner.
After the dinner, Kushi was keeping the plates in the kitchen. Kushi found La staring at her.
“What do you want? I lost okay?”
“Win or lose, it has nothing to do with me. I know you feel bad that he didn’t bring your favourite? But don’t blame him. You didn’t give him the permission to know you, you didn’t allow him for anything yet he loves you. Do you know how he was hurt when you didn’t attend the call? Is he a monster to you? You can inform him at least. He knows about your part-time. Only because of you, he shed a tear.”
“What?” It was a shock for Kushi.
“Yes, can’t he deserve a chance. Oh god, why to mention chance? Can’t he deserve a normal life? You know what he said to me? He said, ‘I don’t want Kushi to feel bad on Aakash marriage and so, I have to do something.’ He said this. He wanted you to feel happy. Tell me Kushi, If Aakash comes now and asks for your love. Will you give him?”
Kushi stood still. She didn’t expect such questions from Kushi. Kushi’s mind travelled to the thoughts of Arnav, his flirt, his smile, his ASR avatar and then lastly, his silence.
“If you want, he will surely leave you but you will be the one regretting. And if you don’t, anyhow you have to marry one day, at least for your mother. Think this is an arranged marriage. Of course, it is and just focus on that. Leave your ego aside. Didn’t you feel bad when he didn’t get your favourite? Then think of him, how bad he would have felt these many days. When you called him sir, when you talked with him with ignorance. You can’t say you don’t love him because I can see that. You are just trying to avoid that.”
La was right. Kushi felt bad for Arnav. She felt like she can’t forgive herself for what she did.
“Okay, now will you be giving him a chance if I say your father wants Arru to get married with you?”
“Whatttt?”
“Yes, Arru said me”?
“Why didn’t he say to me?”
“What if you had mistaken him again and that he is taking advantage of your situation that you can’t ask your father anymore and so, he didn’t say. He doesn’t want you to think that he married you for your father but for his love.”
La left Kushi behind thoughts. Kushi slid against the wall and sat with a thud. She cried thinking of Arnav and her father. ‘Was I a monster? How much I have hurt him? How much he tolerated me? I am so bad. I am sorry. I am really sorry”, Kushi kept on murmuring. Kushi stood up, wiping her face and then she went to her room.



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To be continued…

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Dated: 08-02-2020

Yours,

Lily