Chapter 1

[MEMBERSONLY] [NOCOPY]

Never Say GoodBye

Part 1

Khushi stared at him for what seemed like lifetime.

Was it him? Yes it was. The firm step. The confident body posture. The chiseled face. It was him. No doubt.

Was it her? He had to be hallucinating. What would she be doing in Kentucky of all the places? But how could he mistake that flawless skin, those beautiful hazel eyes, the prettiest face on earth that he had ever seen?

'Arnav?'

'Khushi?'

There was a moment of awkward silence. That moment of hesitation.

'How are you Arnav?' she asked.

'Fine' he said, 'And you?'

'Perfect' she said.

The moment of odd silence, the silence that was deafening.

'And how is she? Lavanya?' Khushi asked.

'She is good,' he said. Then he collected himself and asked,' And how is NK?'

'Fine,' she said,

'Is she here with you?' she asked.

'No. And NK?' he asked.

'No,' she said.

'Oh ok. It has been so long Khushi. You dropped out of circulation; none of our friends knew where you were. You were not even on social networking sites, No mails. Nothing. It is as if you disappeared into thin air,' he said. He could not keep the faint accusation from his voice.

'You did it first. You went to US. And then Lavanya followed. And one fine day you told me, you will be tying the knot. Then nothing. No news.' She said.

'I did not have your number Khushi and I could not find you,' he said

'And I did not have yours and did not even know you wanted to talk to me.'

Silence again. 7 years could not be discussed in a minute.

'So have you and Lavanya got any kids?' she asked feeling a painful constriction in the heart.

'No. Not yet. And you and NK?' he asked.

'No. Not yet,' she said shaking her head.

Silence. Painful days and nights could not be expressed in a few words. They needed tears to wash them away.

'Why are you in Kentucky?' he asked.

'My company sent me on an assignment,' she said.

'You work?' he asked surprised.

'Yes. I do. A lot has changed. I am not the small town girl that rich guys made fun of,' she said, throwing a steely look at him.

'No you are not. But even back then, you were not worth laughing at. ' He said solemnly.

Tears pricked her eyes. No she would not cry,

Abruptly she turned and said, 'Bye Arnav. See you some time. Do you live here or are you here on a trip?'

'I live here,' he said.

As she turned to walk away he said, 'I want to meet you again. Where do you stay?'

'Homestay Inn. Louisville. Room number 15' she said, after a moment of hesitation.

'See you around.' He said extending his hand.

She put forward her own delicate ones in his.

The warmth of his hands crept into her heart and tried to thaw it.

The soft touch of her hands knocked at the recess of his hardened heart.

And then it happened----------

'No wedding band' she noted.

'No wedding band' he noted.

Part 16: 86229246

Part 17: 86307874

Part 18: 86389712