Chapter 7

Part 6: Love, anger and pain, again!

Khushi woke up, feeling sunrays on her. She opened her eyes and looked around for Arnav. He was sleeping, leaning against a chair that was pulled up right next to the bed. She smiled and tried to stretched, then realized that he was holding her hand. She smiled and kissed his hand. She got up, removed his hand and put it on his chest. She smiled, looking at Arnav, his eyes closed in deep slumber. She remembered all the wonderful moments she had spent with him; when she had fallen into his arms, when they had hugged accidentally, when he had helped free her from the lights and the kiss on Diwali. She leaned forward and kissed him on his forehead. She smiled and looked around for water; she was thirsty. The jug at the table was empty, so she picked it up and walked to the kitchen to get some water.

Arnav woke up and looked at the bed. "Khushi", he softly said her name. He got up and looked around, where was she? Just then there was a hand on his shoulder. He turned around, saying, "Khushi, you.." and saw Lavanya. Her eyes were filled with tears. "ASR, why?" She asked. Arnav was confused. "ASR, why do you not want to marry me?" Arnav felt bad, he put his hands on her arms and said, "Lavanya, I'm really very sorry for what I did. I loved you, but only as a friend, a really good friend, but I don't think I ever saw you as anything more". She looked at him and a tear rolled down her cheek. Then she looked angry and pushed his hands away. "Why, ASR? Is it because you love Chamkili? Is that what this is all about?" He raised his eyebrows; so she knew about it. She scoffed, angrily, "You have got to be kidding me ASR. What do you see in her? She will never be happy as your wife. She will not be able to adjust to your lifestyle. She can't even speak English, use cutlery, dress like a lady and she will be ASR's wife? Come on!" Lavanya's attitude annoyed Arnav and he became angry. But then Lavanya's face softened. "ASR, I saw you looking at her yesterday. I wish you had looked at me like that even once. Why, ASR? How could you love her when I loved you so much? You hated her, right, ASR? When did you start loving her? I was so angry." Lavanya remembered last night how she had walked to Khushi after seeing Arnav look at Khushi and hearing him ask Hari Prakash to ask Khushi to come to the poolside. No way, she had thought. No way is he going to leave me and get married to Chamkili. What does she have that I don't? How dare she try to steal him away from me? No, I will make sure she knows that he is mine, only mine. She had said, "ASR loves me and I love him. We are getting engaged today and soon, I will be his and he will be mine, only mine!" She looked at Arnav; he had tears in his eyes. Arnav felt miserable; Anjali was right. He wished he hadn't made the decision to marry Lavanya so quickly. Now she was hurt and it was all because of him. Khushi was hurt too; she made the decision to marry Raj because he had agreed to marry Lavanya and then Raj hurt Khushi and that was his fault too! Di was right. It is all because of me! "Lavanya, I'm sorry". He touched her arms. Lavanya couldn't control herself. She hugged Arnav and started crying, "I love you ASR, I love you a lot".

Khushi walked in at that moment and saw Lavanya in Arnav's arms and Arnav hugging her. She turned around and walked away, quietly and passed Anjali in the corridor. Anjali called her name, but Khushi ignored her. Anjali wondered what had happened and walked to the guest room. Lavanya had pulled away from the hug and wiped her tears. "ASR, I'm sorry. I like Chamkili a lot. I'm sorry I said all that about her. I didn't mean it. It was just I was angry, angry with you and with her. Angry with you because you used me to rebel against Nani. Angry with Chamkili, well I'm not angry, I'm jealous; I'm jealous that she and you.. ASR, I need to leave now. I'm going back to London. I don't think I can face Chamkili now, but tell her that I'm really happy for her and do take good care of her!" Lavanya smiled. "I know she will be fine. Only she could ever stand up to you and I guess that's why you love her". Arnav smiled and started saying, "Lavanya.. I". Lavanya shook her head, "No, ASR. I'm fine. Do keep in touch." She smiled and turned around and saw Anjali. She walked to Anjali, hugged her and bid her goodbye.

Arnav turned to look at Anjali and he sat down on the bed. "Di, you were right. I messed up big time. I hurt Lavanya and .. and Khushi too. I need her, Di, I need Khushi in my life. I need to tell her how I feel about her, but" he turned to Anjali and took her hand in his. "But I'm scared that I won't be able to . Every time I felt that I was getting close to her, I pushed her away." Anjali raised her eyebrows, "Chotte, what did you tell Khushi? I saw her walk away from your room, clearly upset." Arnav was shocked. "Khushi walked away from this room, when?" Anjali replied, "Just now." Arnav stood up, "What? She was here. Oh no, what did she see? what did she hear?" Arnav took his phone out and started calling Khushi. Her phone rang by the bedside. Anjali touched his arm. "Chotte, what happened? What do you mean?" Arnav threw his phone away and said, "Di, Lavanya was telling me that she loved me. I hope Khushi doesn't think that I.. " He ran his hand through his hair. Anjali asked, "Chotte, how did this get so complicated? I warned you last week. Last night, Khushi wanted to break off her engagement. She was coming to talk to you, but she almost changed her mind thinking that you will be happier with Lavanya" Arnav raised his eyebrows and looked at Anjali. He smiled and shook his head. Anjali was shocked, "Why are you smiling, Chotte? Is that funny?" Arnav replied, still smiling, "I was planning to break off my engagement with Lavanya and talk to Khushi. But then Raj.." he looked away and continued, "Anyways, I thought Raj will keep Khushi happy; I thought she would be happier with him than me". Anjali was annoyed and she shook her head. "Chotte, really? You thought she would be happier.. Good lord!" Anjali closed her eyes and shook her head. "Anyways, leave that. Tell me, do you want to get married to Khushi?" He looked at his sister and his eyes filled with tears. "Di, do you think she will want to marry me? After the way I have made her cry and after I have insulted her so much? I don't know if I can keep her happy, Di." Anjali touched his face and smiled, "Trust me, Chotte. I don't think anyone else on this earth can give her as much love and care as you can. Go find her, Chotte and tell her how you feel before its too late!" Arnav hugged his sister and ran out of the room.

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Are you waiting for the confession? Keep waiting.. sabr ka phal meeta hota hai (The fruit of patience is sweet!)

Can't wait to hear what you have to say about this update..

So did you like La's reaction better in this story? I mean I don't think any girl would just let her best friend hook up with her love that easily. Come on. I'm a girl, I would be angry, at least for a few minutes.. then I would cool down!

Raj is a guy, who thinks he is God's gift to women. He is not a villain, he is just a normal rich guy, full of ego. His ego was hurt first when Khushi didn't pay attention to him. But then he saw his rival (Raj was insecure; he felt he had to be better than ASR), ASR, being comfortable with her. Raj realized that maybe Arnav loved her. That made him want this girl more, want to get her before ASR could. So he proposed. Things worked out for him because of the Diwali kiss and ASR's anger and his proposal to Lavanya which annoyed Khushi and made her agree to the wedding. He never wanted to hurt Khushi, but he never loved her either. She was more like an infatuation, something he wanted. Again, I say he is not a villain because he didn't cheat anyone, nor did he try to attack her. Well not until later, once he realized that she still preferred ASR over him. That hurt his ego more and now he had to have her! I'm not justifying that what he did was right, all I'm saying is its typical for a guy to react that way and for a girl to react the way Lavanya did! Such is life! Sigh!

Anyways, enough of justifications. Hope you guys liked the story. I will be back soon, with the confession. Yes, I'm excited!!! 😆

Part 7: I love you