Chapter 19

'No Khushi, not again. Can you reverse the seven years of pain and self humiliation you have lived through?

Go Khushi. Go live your life.

Don't look back.' Her mind commanded.

Quickly she turned away with one last glance at the face she had always loved, though she kept losing him as people moved past him.

She memorized every detail of it again.

'Sorry Arnav. But I don't have the courage. I don't hate you. In fact never stopped loving you, despite everything.

But I have stopped believing in prince charmings and fairy tales and love stories,' she whispered to herself.

Turning around she walked away.

He felt her eyes on him.

He was sure it was her.

His eyes searched everywhere close to the terminal.

And then he saw her.

Her back was to him and she was dragging her hand baggage and walking towards immigration.

'Khushiii' he screamed, uncaring of who was looking.

He saw or rather felt her back stiffen.

But she kept walking till she disappeared into the immigration area----

Her tears never stopped all the way from immigration till she boarded and even afterwards.

She had barely managed the formalities till she boarded.

She felt as if she was betraying him by walking away.

She felt she was leaving behind the lonely boy she had once comforted in the park when he was crying for his mother.

She could not think of what he had done. She could only think of the pain he must be going through---

He was sure she had heard.

He knew it.

But she hadn't stopped.

Why would she?

She had gotten over him.

But the fool that he was, he still hoped.

How long he sat in the airport lounge, he had no idea,

But he was shaken out of his reverie by his phone ringing.

It was NK's number flashing,

He answered it eagerly,

'Yes NK,' he said.

'I have news for you buddy. Khuhsi does not want to talk to you,' he said.

All his happiness and hopes died again. He felt drained.

'So why did you call me? To gloat?' he asked.

'No. In fact, guess what. I am going to give you her number. Better still I will give you her address.

Go get her.

And mind you I am not doing it for you,

I am doing it for her.

For some weird reason you are the only man she loved.

And I know you are the only man who can free her from the past.

She deserves a future, happiness, kids, love----and she wont look for it, unless it is with you.

So, go get her and don't you dare do anything stupid or painful

I will kill you,

And don't try cheesy romantic stuff. She is not 21 now,' he concluded.

By the time NK finished, Arnav had a full smile on his face. Was he actually beginning to love this guy he hated once?

When he hung up he looked up at the horizon where flights were taking off