Chapter 21: Arnav

                                    

                                          
30th January
                          
"Khushi, get back here!"
                          
Ignoring him, Khushi ran around the pool to stand on the other side, giggling as she waved a sheaf of papers around. They'd been left alone in his house, briefly, and she was taking the opportunity to annoy him, as usual.
                          
"No, Arnav-ji. If you want them back, you'll have to catch me."
                          
"Stop being a child, Khushi. Give them back."
                          
"No!" she stuck her tongue out and started up the stairs towards the terrace.
                          
Arnav let loose a string of expletives as he chased after her and caught up when she was halfway up the stairs. She squirmed in his grip, laughing breathlessly as he carried her back to the poolside. He set Khushi down at the bottom of the stairs, still holding her tightly in case she tried to escape.
                          
"What are you doing, you crazed woman?"
                          
"You were so busy with your papers, you weren't even paying attention to me!"
                          
"So you ran off with them?"
                          
"Yes!" she grinned up at him, exceedingly pleased with herself.
                          
"And what do you think is going to happen to you now that I've caught you?"
                          
Her smile faltered, "You're going to let me go because you're very, very nice?"
                          
Arnav pulled her closer and lowered his voice, knowing how it affected her. "And what if I'm not feeling very nice right now, baby?"
                          
Khushi squirmed, trying to free herself, but he could tell that her efforts were half-hearted. They had this in common - they both hated losing. He gave a mock-growl and pretended to bite her neck, making her giggle. He held her tighter when she tried to get away and tickled her until she couldn't breathe.
                          
"There. That's what you get for messing around with me," he sat on the edge of the pool, pulling her down next to him.
                          
She was still smiling widely as she began apologizing for annoying him, but he waved her into silence. She was right. He'd been busy with an international contract and hadn't spent much time with her outside of their twice-daily drives. He missed her too. Arnav contemplated the sun-lounger, wondering if he could take a nap for a few minutes, when his entire right side was suddenly drenched water. He turned to Khushi, who squealed and bolted.
                          
"Sorry, sorry, sorry. Arnav-ji I'm really sorry!" she screamed as he caught her again, and this time, he decided that she needed to be punished properly.
                          
He held her over the pool. "You want to play with the water?"
                          
She hiccupped, looking down at the water and back at him. "You wouldn't."
                          
"Oh, really?" he raised an eyebrow at her confidence.
                          
"Arnav-ji I was just joking, I'm sorry!" her legs kicked in the air and she flailed her arms wildly, trying to get down.
                          
"Khushi, stop moving around or I might drop you accidentally."
                          
She froze.
                          
"That's better. Now apologize."
                          
"I just did."
                          
"No. Apologize properly."
                          
"What the—?"
                          
Arnav smiled. The exclamation, harsh and cold when he voiced it, was adorable when it came from her lips.
                          
"Okay, repeat after me: I, Khushi Kumari Gupta ..."
                          
Khushi blinked up at him, confused, and then slowly repeated "I, Khushi Kumari Gupta."
                          
"Am sorry for stealing Arnav Singh Raizada's things."