Chapter 4 Best Friend Turned Enemy

Khushi eyes were fixed on Arnav. She couldn't understand what kind of emotions they were giving out. She felt really numb for the first time in her life. She wanted to go and embrace her best friend but at the same time how could she forget this was the man whom he rejected in the collage, unknowingly. No wonder she felt a pull towards him from the very first day she had set her eyes on him. No matter how much she wanted to deny her attraction it came rushing towards her like a drug.

She took a step towards him and flinched when he stepped back. The concern the love seemed to be gone now replaced with anger and desperation. What was he thinking? Why the sudden change in expression. She did see the way he looked at her at the beginning with so much love. But now it changed. It changed to anger. His eyes that could never hide anything from her, not even in college when he was attracted to her and now, when she desperately seeking for his warmth, she was left with his cold and retreating behaviour.

Arnav was shocked when he saw her. It cannot be true he thought. How suddenly he could feel her presence the moment he entered his house? And she was actually there. He was more shocked for the knowledge that more than his childhood sweetheart he felt her as Khushi, the girl he was attracted in the collage. Attracted would be an understatement what he felt for her then maybe because Khushi was his chutki and he could feel that connection. Just because they did not know the truth about each other his heart did not stop feeling for his chutki. He felt happy as well as sad at the same time. Happy because the feeling he thought could never exist came back to him instantly when he saw Khushi and that the girl was none other than his chutki for whom he felt for and sad because she can never be his anymore because she chose his brother over him.

Please talk to me Arnav, Khushi pleaded inwardly but did not spell it out because she was scared, scared of the man who was standing right in front of him without any expression. Was he like his Dadi? She thought, will he blame her for everything that had happened? His brother, the brother he loved the most, will he choose him over his friendship with Khushi? Of course, he would and he should. After all, he was his brother with whom he had grown and Khushi? She was just a little past. Who was there like and autumn and exited when the winter came. She herself never tried to contact him so why even expect that he would be ready to listen to her? Then what was it that she first saw when she turned? Why his voice was extraordinarily soft when he pronounced her name? Did he remember all those cute moments between them?

Khushi took another step towards him and saw him flinch once again. Should she touch him? Ask him what was going on in his mind? Or had she lost all the rights when she got married to his elder brother?

"Say something Arnav. Don't look at me like that. You are scaring me off". She saw him close his eyes for a brief moment then she watched him looking at her. This time thoroughly.

She was clad in pale saree. Her mendi was still fading but not totally faded. Her maag still had a slightly reddish colour, the proof that she now belongs to someone else and that someone else is his brother and who was now dead. Gone from both of their lives. But it has left behind an unwanted relationship between them. Devar and Bhabhi. That's what they are now and will be forever. She was a part of his family. Now the question was why did she choose his brother over him and suddenly he was furious, furious like an untamed tiger. Out of all the people his best friend ditched him and surprisingly this girl never failed to ditch him, nor in the college and nowhere. He fisted his arms till his knuckles turned white. Oh, how he hated his woman now. When she did not care about their friendship then why would be. If it doesn't matter to her, then he would make sure that I wouldn't matter to him as well. He felt like a stupid a** for waiting for her. And now, in reality, she happily married to someone else. Had she ever felt for him like the way he did? NO, NEVER. You are a big fat delusional guy and this woman took you for a ride.

He looked at her in anger and greeted his teeth until he could hear the friction himself. "Why the hell did you marry my brother?" he shouted "Miss Khushi Kumari Gupta".

That was it, her name was enough for her to know that she lost her best friend forever. Chutki was gone and replaced with Khushi. It stabbed like a sharp knife in her heart. This was the last thing that could have happened. She stepped back as if her legs gave up and almost tumbled against the glazed window.

"oh no," he tongue touched his cheek. Or should I say "Mrs Khushi Raizada...my b.h.a.b.h.i?" he mocked hating his own tone. There he was planning to take away her every damn pain and now he was doing what his dadi must have done. Hate her, Taunt her.

"Stop...please stop" she Khushi while her tears ran down her cheeks. "Please you are suffocating me now Arnav. I want to be left alone for some time. Would you mind..." she could not complete when he towered over her, intimidating her even more.

"This is my house and you cannot dismiss me as you did in the collage. I make rules here, not you. I hate to admit that you were the only girl I have ever loved...thought you to be my soul mate" he saw her about to say something when the cut off "and now you are the only girl I hate the most. Bhar me jaye dosti, bhar me jaye pyaar. I hate you...did you listen to me? I hate you to the core", he grabbed her shoulders and jerked her.

Tell me, little girl, is it because of the money you got married? Where is your father's so-called ego? He took you away from me so that we don't end up getting married right? Then why did he agreed to get you married to my brother?

"How dare you talk about my father like that you jerk?" Khushi unable to control her anger held his collar and pulled him forward. "you have no right to taunt my father when you don't know anything that had happened Arnav".

He grabbed her hand and pushed it down. "don't you dare try to touch me and don't even take my name from you smart mouth".

"Get out of here...just get out", Khushi covered her face with her palm.

Arnav held her wrist and forced her to look at him.

"aah!" she cried in pain when his grip fell on her bruises. Arnav flipped her hand and checked those cut marks and that's when his eyes fell on the mendi. "A" still had the darkest colour, which can right in the middle of her palm inside a heart. He looked at her face, which was now red due to her constant crying then looked back at her palm. Why he suddenly felt that "A" was for Arnav and not his brother and that's why it was still the darkest of all the other designs.

Arnav composed himself and took a deep breath. "You owe me an explanation Khushi. You have to tell me why you chose bhai over me Khushi?"

"I know owe you anything Arnav, after that insult you threw at my father. You have become an animal. Do you get that? You have become an animal. You badmouthed about a person who is dead and who was your favourite chacha".

Of course, you owe me an explanation. Why the hell did you marry my brother?

Khushi was shocked with Arnav pinned her against the wall. She checked her hands trapped by Arnav on both sides of her face and with sudden fire looked back at Arnav.

"Arnav!" she spoke horrified.

Arnav narrowed his eyes and pressed his fingers more almost biting her wrist with is fingers.

"Why did Bhai leave on his marriage day Khushi? What did you tell him that he was so disgusted and left the house?"

Khushi gasped in shock. She was unable to believe what Arnav was asking her. She certainly did not want to discuss what happened with his brother. She was scared out of her life. No way she wanted to tell anybody. She couldn't say anything.

"Tell me Damn it" Arnav screamed.

"Aaah" you are hurting me Arnav. Khushi winced in pain when his fingers dug even more.

"I will kill you Khushi for what you have done. You.."

"You what?...what else is left to insult me Arnav? You have tagged me something, which my father always feared to be levelled as.

"And yet you get married to the man with whom had no connection. You had a connection with me. We had a connection. The connection which I always cherished...I always lo..." you know what lets just cut the crap because you are not worth. You disgust me. You took away my brother from me, from this house, from all of us. And I am the greatest fool", with that Arnav pushed Khushi and released her hands then turned his back to her. "you are going to pay for this and that too big time. Remember that. I will not leave you in peace. You will never find peace by ruining three lives. Ruining my feeling forever. I am your enemy from now onwards and I will hate you forever. I am the last one who will ever support you. My friend is dead for me. You are the greatest betrayer".

Arnav left the room leaving behind a jita jagta laash in terms of Khushi.

She saw him leaving and then slid against the wall by which she was standing and closed her face.

Oh Arnav, you were my last resort. I thought you would at least listen to my pain...I never wanted to get married to your brother. I thought it was you when my father called me and asked me to come and meet him. He told me that Aarav uncle was insisting on this marriage and I thought he was referring to you. I promised my father that I will get married and on the same night he passed away. When I saw your brother my life fell apart but I was tied with the promise and I could not let my father down. So I sacrificed my life for my father's promise. I lost everything Arnav and now the only thing I had I lost that. I lost you.