Desert Rose

Chapter 5

KHUSHI'S legs were shaking as she made her way through the restaurant area toward the staircase.

How dare he hold her like this in public? Particularly when the entire hotel staff and the people on the street were watching?Though he hadn't kissed her, that is how it would have looked to the onlookers in the darkness, she thought with resentment. She was shamingly aware of the grins and nudges between the waiters who were preparing the tables for dinner. She heard someone say, 'Raizada ki aurat' and laugh.

What on earth had possessed him? She raged inwardly as she went upstairs, avoiding a look of disapproval form Bhairav Chauhan's wife, Sona who was standing outside the kitchen.

Was he trying to punish her for being the sister of a girl who had become pregnant out of wedlock? Well, she would make sure he would pay for judging them so harshly.

And if he thought these caveman tactics would scare her into running away to Delhi, he had better think again.

In the meantime, she had decided not to tell Payal about what was going on. She would somehow get Payal and Akash to meet. But it would not be a good idea to tell her anything until she had figured out a way.

She remembered Dr Manav has asked her to come to the clinic for an injection. She would take that opportunity to ask him about Akashji's amnesia, its treatment and its duration. At least she would know what to do after that.

But Laad Governor's intransigence was another matter altogether. She had no idea what could cure that, she thought as she went into the room.

**

'F!@#!' Arnav swore loudly as he drove back. That woman was going to be a pain he realized. But what on earth had possessed him to grab her like that? He had never done anything like that before. But she had provoked him to the hilt. No one ever dared to speak to him like that -----except for his Di.

His sister's bright coloured saree on her made her look like a super hot ......school teacher. School teacher? Well, her hairstyle and glasses made her look like one. Was it weird that he had still wanted to kiss her? Only he knew how it taken super human strength on his part to stop himself. God! He desperately needed a distraction he thought as he pulled up in front the house.

When he went up to his room, Hariprakash came to him with a glass of water and informed him that Anjali was waiting for him for dinner. He made it a point to eat dinner with her every night, in nani and mami's absence. The two ladies were in Jaipur visiting some relatives. Akash's dinner was sent up to his room as he was immobile because of his cast. He was also suffering from chronic headaches triggered due to his amnesia.

'Chotte I have been waiting to hear from you for so long.' Said Anjali looking up at him. 'What happened? Where is Khushiji?'

He updated her briefly about his conversation with Khushi, carefully omitting some parts.

'What?' she asked incredulous. 'How could you do this? We can't just ignore this issue Chotte.'

'We can and we will,' he said relentlessly. 'One way or the other.'

'That poor girl is going to have a baby!' said Anjali emphatically.

'Di, the problem with you is that you trust that people a little too much.'

'And how can you be so sure that they are lying?'

'That is beside the point.' He said grimly. 'Taking care of Akash's health is top most priority now.'

'But Chotte ____'

'How is the "politician in the making" doing?' Arnav asked Anjali. 'Haven't heard from him in a long time.'