Chapter 8

Sorry to disappoint you guys, but this chapter is just a filler. The main objective was a much-needed conversation (not b/w ArShi)

-Amzy

Chapter 7 ~ Me and My in-Laws

When Khushi woke up in Arnav's arms the next morning, she made a firm resolve.

She would HAVE to be tough! She shouldn't melt at any cost! She wouldn't STAY at any cost! She wouldn't fall for him all over again, only to have herself hurt again! She would toughen herself against a storm called Arnav Singh Raizada, who had wreaked havoc with her heart and life. She would love to give him another chance, but no… not at the cost of another heartbreak.

She wiped a lone tear that fell out of her eye, and decided that it'd be the last she'd shed for him. Now on, she'll think about her future with Bhaiyya and Di. She'd take care of both of them. She WOULD leave after six months… Then something struck her… Why six months? She could leave any day now! Di knew the truth and the main reason behind their marriage itself was now absent. So without the foundation, there is no building; and without the main reason behind the contract, there IS no contract.

She pulled herself out of his arms, and her mind began to work at top speed, deciding it was best she leave as early as possible… Because even the hardest and iciest of ice creams would melt if kept for too long in the sun.

*

Arnav and Akash were welcomed warmly by the Guptas. Payal and Akash were given the guest room, on Payal's own insistence, while Khushi and Arnav got into Khushi and Payal's room.

Arnav looked around the room, and his eyes fell on the little poster of Khushi and Salman Khan. "What the-!"

Khushi turned and giggled dreamily at the picture. "Not what the. Salman Khan. My very first love…"

Arnav, he is just an actor! It is called a celebrity crush!

Arnav told himself.

Khushi continued. "His muscles are just…. Hayeee!" she said looking at the ceiling with a smiled.

"Khushi, seriously?"

"Oh right. You are the ANGREZZ types!" she said sarcastically. "So you'll know Hollywood people I suppose?"

"Khushi I-"

Khushi ignored him. "Hollywood… Let's see. Tom Cruise of course! Ahh his smile! Oh then there is Liam Hemsworth! THAT guy, has no taste! MILEY CYRUS?! Really!? And then Harrison Ford! He is old, but hot! Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr too! How could I forget Johnny Depp! And diCaprio! His hair, I like! Then-"

"Dammit Khushi, you're married!" Arnav said, annoyed.

"So? They are celebrities! They probably won't even know I exist!" she sighed.

Arnav quirked an eyebrow. "And if they did? Which one would you marry?"

Khushi laughed. "Oho! Celebrity crush does not mean I am so desperate to marry them! Ever since I was a child, I'd dreamt of a husband who'd love me!"

She turned away from him, and wiped a stray tear away.

She turned to him again and said with forced smile. "Of course, not EVERYONE'S dreams come true…"

Before Arnav could say anything, she'd walked out of the room.

*

Lunch was a very warm affair. Everyone chattered, and Buaji's favorite idea of entertainment was telling the ladies' husbands embarrassing childhood stories of their respective wives.

"And the time Khushi bitiya had gotten caught sneaking a red rose in the house!" she laughed pompously.

"Buaji! Not that one!" Khushi plead.

Payal giggled. "Of COURSE that one! Now that Arnavji is here, it'd be more fun!"

Arnav frowned. "What do you mean!"

"When Khushi was twelve…"

"JIJI NO!"

"… she had a crush on this boy from her class…."

"WHAT!"

"JIJIII!!!"

"….he had given her a red rose on rose day and the little imp was so happy that day… she had come home hopping and was singing 'Phoolon Ke Rang Se' all the way home. Amma had seen it and…."

"….I had smacked her head. She was just twelve!"

"… and now I am 23 and MARRIED so can you please stop!"

"What happened next?"

Khushi turned and scowled at Arnav. "What happened!? Well, Amma told me to return the red rose to him or marry him and since I am married to YOU it is OBVIOUS that I returned the red rose….!"

"Thank God for that!" Arnav smirked.

Payal giggled. "That is not all. She had told him that she was sorry and that though she wanted to keep the rose in her flower vase, she wanted a yellow one because otherwise she'd have to marry him…."

Arnav looked at Khushi incredulously. "You TOLD him that!?"

"So what!" Khushi said, annoyed. "Jiju, you know Jiji kissed a boy!" she said, turning to Akash for revenge.

Akash choked on his water. "WHAT!"

"Akash, I was ten! He said he'd give me a chocolate!" Payal wailed, as tears filled her eyes.

Garima and Buaji stood up at once. "Payaliya…"

"I-Its okay Payal…" Akash said worriedly.

"Hormonal monster…" Khushi muttered. Her plan had backfired! =(

*

"It's so hot!" Arnav muttered, as he prepared for bed.

"Well Arnavji, this is how common people live in middle class houses…" Khushi said.

"Why don't you put up an AC?"

"That'd take too much power and the whole of the neighbourhood might black out…." Khushi said, yawning.

"Khushi at least take this net thing off!" he plead.

"I don't want to get malaria!" she muttered.

"WHAT!"

"Taking those nets off would mean mosquitoes could get to us…" she said, her voice beginning to grow softer.

"Close the windows and take this off!"

"Do you want to die of suffocation and lack of oxygen?"

Arnav sighed.

Not one step. Not a SINGLE step had he progressed when it came to her. He knew she was still planning to go away soon. She had even said that she'd leave anytime. He was afraid to close his eyes, afraid that he'd close them and then open his eyes to a life without her.

He spent the rest of the night staring at her, as she moved in her sleep. He hesitantly took her hand in his and interlocked their fingers. He kissed her fingers and tucked them under his chin, savoring the warmth of her hand.

*

When Khushi woke up, Arnav was already (or rather, STILL) awake the next morning. She caught him staring at her, and felt her hand tucked under his chin. Without a word, she gently pulled away and jumped out of the bed.

She heard a loud honk and peeped out of the window to see a huge water tanker.

"Oh God! I am late!" she squealed, and Arnav watched in surprise as she tied her hair in to a messy bun and ran out of the room.

He rubbed his eyes and stood up. He stretched his arms and legs and heard the commotion outside. He peeped out to see a huge line behind the tanker and Khushi standing with two buckets, Akash behind her with two more, Buaji and Garima with two each as well. Payal was standing to one side, looking anxiously at them.

"What the heck!" Arnav muttered and walked out of the house.

*

"Payal, what is this?" he asked softly.

"Arnavji! You're awake! We have water shortage in our area, so this tanker comes here every morning and we have to collect water. Best as many as possible and it won't do if you are late…."

"What, he leaves at a specific time?"

Payal laughed. "Arnavji, in our localities, there is nothing called 'time'. Anyone can do anything at anytime! If you're late, you might not be lucky enough to get water…"

"That's ridiculous!"

Payal smiled at him with amusement. "Arnavji, just because your lifestyle arranges for everything with the click of a finger, doesn't mean everybody's does. We don't have servants to buy vegetables for us… We can't afford to waste a single penny so we have to bargain to lower the costs… We try to save every little thing we get… Leaving the fan on in one room when no one is there is a terrible thing to do for us…" she turned to look at him. "After all, we don't have money that we can spend as easily as water flows… The irony is we don't have water either…." She turned back at the crowd. "And this habit of our saving every penny and trying to get things at a lesser price, is branded by you high class people as 'cheap' and 'miserly'."

"Payal, you are-"

She shook her head. "No matter which family I am married into Arnavji, my roots are here. Me and Khushi have grown up with all these problems. She even lost her parents, I at least had mine…"

As Arnav watched, Khushi easily lifted two buckets filled with water and walked past him into the house.

"I know you are shocked to see her so strong when she is so clumsy Arnavji. Khushi has always been strong physically, but mentally quite weak and emotional. She doesn't show it, but I can see how much she suffers…" she looked at him again. "How much she is suffering…"

Arnav closed his eyes. "Payal I'm trying to make it up to her…."

"Arnavji, let me tell you, that Khushi doesn't go by material things. Getting her things and physical displays of affection are not enough to convince." She tapped her temple. "She needs to start believing from here…" and then place a hand over her heart "….and here…."

"But let me tell you that no matter what she decides, I'll support her… Though I'd prefer if she left you…" she said.

"Why do you Gupta siblings keep saying that!"

"Because it's the truth. She loved you a lot Arnavji. I won't be surprised if she still does. Do you even know the extent to which you have damaged her? This may seem harsh to you, but I have seen how she was before she met you, and I can tell you for sure that she was much happier and more carefree then…."

"I am sorry Payal…"

"It is not me who you should be apologizing to, its her… And remember what I told you… Just affectionate display is not enough… She needs to believe it…"