AHEA Chapter 7: Lunch Insecurities

Chapter 7: Lunch Insecurities

It was around lunchtime when Khushi decided to go and surprise her husband with lunch. She left her company and took a car to AR. She was heading up to her office when Aman spotted her.

“Khushi babhi.” He said when he spotted her.

“Namaste Amanji, I’m just here to have lunch with Arnavji.”

“Can I talk to you before you have lunch with ASR?” he asked nervously.

“Sure.”

“Umm it’s probably not my place to say but sir has been acting very strangely lately.”

Khushi frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Well, since he started dating you, he’s been less ASR and more human. And when he married you he was like a boss sent down from heaven. But today he’s back to his old self. He’s yelling at us for no reason and staring into space. He hasn’t done any work since he got here this morning and when I asked him why, he blamed it on me. I just thought I’d warn you before you went in.”

“Thank you Amanji, I’ll have a word with him.” She then saw the panic in Aman’s eyes. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell him you said anything.”

“Thank you Khushi babhi.”

Aman went back to doing his job and Khushi went up to Arnav’s office. She went in without knocking and saw him staring out into space.

“Arnavji?” asked Khushi with concern.

He looked up. “Khushi what are you doing here?”

“I thought I’d surprise you with lunch.”

“Thanks but I’m not hungry. Feel free to keep me company while you eat.”

“Yeah like I’m going to let that happen. You’re going to eat and then take your pills even if I have to force you.”

Arnav smirked. “I like it when you’re forceful.”

Khushi blushed. “Besharam!”

Khushi came to his desk and started to feed him whilst eating herself. They ate in silence. After they finished eating, she gave Arnav he’s pills.

“So what’s wrong?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re staring out into space and you’re employees are on edge. Something’s up.”

“They should be on edge.”

“Arnavji.”

“What do you want me to say Khushi?”

“I want you to open up to me. I want you to confide in me because I am your wife.”

There was a long pause before Arnav spoke. “I don’t know who Di is anymore.” He said in a small voice. “And that scares me.”

Khushi went and hugged him. “It’s going to be ok Arnavji.”

“How do you know?”

“Because it’s always darkest before the dawn. She’s seeing a therapist and I’m sure that they are helping her get her life together and as soon as she’s better, she’ll come back and live with us again.”

“What if she doesn’t?”

“Then we’ll respect her decision of independence and hope she doesn’t forget her family. The more we push her, the more she’ll pull away. We need to let her have some space to figure out who she is. We can’t help her do this but we can be there to support her through it.”

Arnav smiled. “I married such a wise woman.”

Khushi grinned. “I know.”

Arnav held her close. “Yeah? What else do you know?”

Khushi brought her face closer to his and then slipped out of his grasp. “I know that lunch is over and that we should be getting back to work.”

As she was leaving, Arnav called: “You own me a kiss.”

“You can collect it tonight.” She said before leaving.