Part 13

Lavanya was back in India after 3 years. And in these 3 years, she not only kept a low profile but also didn't keep any track of things happening in Delhi, especially in ASR and Khushi's lives! When she was leaving Delhi 3 years ago, she was an emotional mess. Having had a broken engagement with ASR and a broken heart courtesy a girl- Khushi, who became very dear to her, was a tough time in her life. Khushi had become so precious to her that the term 'Chamkili' which initially was supposed to be a demeaning name became an endearment. She knew she could not blame chamkili for snatching the man she loved much less hate her for that. She had not done anything to catch his attention. In fact, she was just being herself, her usual pure, innocent, giving and forgiving self which was enough to make ASR fall for her. Thus, Lavanya herself made it easy for all 3 of them and freed Arnav from this namesake relationship. He was never really there anyway; it was always her who had weaved dreams with him. So, better set things for the right outcome.

But today, 3 years since that tough time in her life, she felt she had fully moved on from her break-up with ASR. She had put that heartbreak behind her and could now remember it with a smile on her face. The happy moments brought a fond smile, and a few heartbreaking moments brought misty smiles. But all in all, she was able to look back at that time without any sad or depressing thoughts anymore. And that meant she was ready to come back to her workplace, to AR headquarters, to Delhi.

She spent the first 3-4 days getting over the customary jet lag. And then getting re-acquainted with the infamous weather difference. Having spent the past 3 years in south American country of Brazil, where the temperatures rarely dropped below 20 degree C, the early-November chilly air in Delhi was a stark difference. So, she spent some time getting used to it again. And finally, after nearly a week since landing here, she felt she was ready to step her foot into the lives of Arnav Singh Raizada and Khushi-presumable-Singh Raizada.

.

.

There were only two things that occupied Khushi's thoughts these days. One was her upcoming dance performance in her college which was hardly weeks away and second was Arnav. For the former, she could rely on her talent, her practice etc. but for the latter, she did not have much in her hands. It depended on him- on knowing him, his life, his nature, his past and of course, her family's say in it. Surprisingly, in the past few days that she started going to AR regularly, her Anjali di didn't put many restrictions on her, neither did she try to persuade khushi from interacting with Arnav. In fact, just a day before when Aakash had to leave office early for a supplier visit, khushi had to return home with only Arnav in the car. But her di didn't say anything about it which surprised her. Maybe her di started trusting Arnav now...

The second person whom she knew did not have a very good bond with Arnav was Payal. But even she was seemingly ok with khushi's increased interaction with him nowadays. Albeit she did keep tabs on her. Like the other day when payal visited her room post dinner and asked her if she was ok with going to office, and was there anything or anyone making her uncomfortable there etc.

"Khushi, tum se kuch baat karni thi, busy ho (I wanted to speak with you, are you busy)?" it was yesterday evening when Khushi was brushing her hair before plaiting it for the night, and Payal came there knocking on the door.

"Bhabhi? Of course, please come in." Khushi said turning around and walked a few steps in her direction, "What's up?"

Payal sat on the bed and unnecessarily straightened the saree she was wearing, indicating she was nervous. "Khushi, it's been a few days since you...you've started going to office. How are things going there?"

Khushi smiled. This was her worry? "It's going great! I've been learning a lot."

Payal nodded. And then her eyes narrowed in concern as she asked, "Thik hai (good). But are you sure you're comfortable there? I mean, is everyone welcoming to you? Ar- Arnavji... Aman etc? Does anyone trouble you?" she asked, trying to hide her pinpointing at Arnav.

Khushi was confused, "No Bhabhi, everyone is nice to me. Arnav too." she said, as a slight tint of pink rose on her cheeks.

Payal looked at her for a long moment and nodded. She reached out to hold Khushi's hand in her and said, "I just want to make sure you're not facing any issues, Khushi. Sometimes things might seem fine on the surface, but you should always trust your instincts."

Khushi did not understand the exact reason for her tone but went on to assure her that she was indeed enjoying her visits to AR and had been learning how the design process worked. She had also made a suggestion in one of the designs about adding gota work and it was instantly loved by the design team, making her elated.

Payal had smiled weakly hearing that as she knew khushi was oblivious to the fact that her ideas came from a suppressed knowledge she had of Indian ethnic clothing, especially a deeper understanding of Lucknow chikankari and gota work. Also, she did not know the reason why payal was trying to ensure she was ok visiting AR was because her past stint there had only given her pain and insults at the hand of ASR- the very same man who all but laid rose petals in her way there these days!

Speaking of Arnav, after that encounter in his cabin last week, Khushi had kept clear of his ways. Her curiosity about his office had been overpowered by her embarrassment from getting caught again like the last time under his table. But that didn't mean they didn't come in front of each other at all. They did. In the hallways, in or around meeting rooms, in the evenings when he and akash often traveled with her to Shantivan. She kept seeing him almost all day, every day. But their conversations were limited. He was still a man of few words, and she was tongue-tied when he came before her. Still a simple 'good morning' and 'how was your day' became significant conversation for them. It never failed to bring a smile to her face, and she was happy with the way things were at that moment. This gave her liberty to be close to him at the same time keep some distance...until she figured out where was this journey taking her and him.

And that was where her mind was as she entered into the main lobby of AR late that morning. Arnav and Akash had come here much earlier but since she had to attend one class, she went to her college first and then came to AR. Today she was going to work with the design team on one of the designs for the upcoming fall collection of AR. This was a big deal, and she was already excited.

However, she had barely taken a step towards the spiral staircase leading to the first floor when a woman's excited cry fell on her ears, and she was pulled into a tight embrace.

"Chamkili! Oh my god, I cannot believe I am seeing you after so long!" the woman said, wrapping her delicate arms around khushi's tiny frame.

Khushi didn't know how to react. This woman seemed to know her and from the warmth seeping from that hug, it seemed they shared a loving bond.

The woman slowly pulled away from the hug and looked at Khushi with misty eyes. "Gosh, I am so happy that I met you first before ASR. You know this new staff at AR doesn't recognize me? They kept me waiting to meet him. Imagine! But I don't mind. I know he must be busy. Anyway, leave him. Tell me, did you miss me? And chamkili, please, this time I won't let you call me Lavanya ji, ok? Just Lavanya is fine or even La." She giggled, taking a break from her non-stop chatter.

Khushi's eyes widened in shock hearing that last sentence, forcing her to take a sharp breath. Of course. This was Lavanya! "The Lavanya!". From the one article she had found on the internet from Arnav's personal life, was about his engagement and there was a photo of him and her with that article. That is how Khushi had gotten to know he must be married to Lavanya.

But this woman in front of her looked different now, than the photo. Her simple yet elegant dress, her very light make-up highlighting her dusky complexion and the curtain bangs framing her beautiful face. Who was khushi kidding, Lavanya was still very pretty. Perhaps prettier than the past if she could judge from that one photo.

By then, Lavanya started realizing she hadn't gotten a customary 'khushi' style excited reaction yet. She frowned wondering why was khushi not showing any sign of excitement of seeing her.

Lavanya was about to ask her when Khushi's phone rang. It was Aakash and he had called her upstairs urgently. So, saying a quick 'excuse me', Khushi left from there. Honestly, happy that she was given this leeway to escape from further interaction with this woman who was with Arnav in the past- and their current equation was still a complicated one to her.

--*--

Arnav stood up and paced around the room as he finished explaining to Lavanya about Khushi's condition, her accident from 3 years ago, and her subsequent memory loss. Lavanya was not thrilled obviously, especially when arnav also told her about how he had married khushi- albeit in short summary. But she had felt angry at him for breaking her innocent friend's heart. However, hearing his self-declared penance in the past 3 years and clearly his regret and changed behavior towards khushi assured her he still loved khushi, only khushi.

Arnav stood facing the glass wall of the room, not really looking at anyone or anything. But there was an avalanche of emotions going through his head. When Akash called him a few minutes ago, to urgently come out of the meeting room, he didn't know what was waiting for him. Or rather who. Aakash who had gone out of the meeting room for a restroom break had seen Lavanya talking with Khushi and had instantly understood they had to step in before khushi learnt of her past when she was not prepared for it.

Thus, he had called khushi asking her to come meet him instantly and then called arnav telling him to go to his cabin as Lavanya was here to meet him.

That was enough for arnav to rush out from the meeting.

And then he had explained to a perplexed Lavanya about their situation.

She was honestly the only person from their past whom they couldn't tell about khushi and prepare her for any eventual meeting with her. They had tried to look for her in the past 3 years, but it was as if Lavanya had vanished without a trace.

Now that she was back, they had to ensure that she didn't threaten khushi's condition in any wrong way...

"So, you are saying you have been lying to her about your marriage for the past 3 years?" Lavanya asked after a while. It took her quite some time to come to terms with what had happened with Khushi and ASR.

Arnav only nodded, without turning around.

"And she thinks you are married to me?"

Arnav took a deep breath and turned around this time, "She hasn't directly taken your name in front of me, but she had asked Aakash and Anjali di about us. She found our old engagement photo and asked them if it was true news. And since we all wanted her to disassociate her from myself at that time, they didn't clear her misunderstanding."

Lavanya didn't know how to react. Once upon a time she would have wanted this to be true but now she only felt annoyed hearing about it.

"Look, Lavanya, I know I have no right to ask you anything or any help, but can you please avoid talking to Khushi from now onwards? At least until she is ready to hear about everything from me. I want her to know the truth only from my mouth."

Lavanya stood up, "Khushi is very dear to me ASR and I am not doing anyone any favor by doing whatever is best for her at this time."

Arnav's nodded in thanks.

But before leaving, she held the door open and said, "I hope you know that I am here for you too, ASR. You can count on me. I know this time must be tough for you. As you've always kept avoiding confrontations, avoiding emotions– be it with me or with her, but now when you want to open up to her, she is not letting you. Life truly comes a full circle, doesn't it?"

Arnav smiled weakly. She had indeed been speaking the truth. Although such mature talks from Lavanya Kashyap were once unimaginable, hearing it from her today made him see her changed mindset.

On the other side of the office, Khushi was finally preparing her mind to face the woman in Arnav's life, Lavanya. The fact that some of the biggest truths about her past were soon to be revealed to her was still a fortune-teller's forecast...

--*--

Precap - "What exactly are you afraid of, Khushi? What is stopping you from knowing the past? About Arnav's relationship status and about you two?" the questions made her speechless.

--*--

A/N - Apologies for missing out on the Sunday night update but meeting my brothers and extended family after a long time kept me very occupied until yesterday. I took hold of my laptop as soon as I could though. About the chapter and the current status of this tale, let me quote Justin Bieber to say,'we are burning on the edge of something beautiful'! ♥

p.s. Does anyone else feel like time is flying at the speed of 3*X? I mean I barely started with my new-year goals in January, and we are already in September? :(