Chapter 23

Arnav held NK's questioning gaze with confidence. "You're right, NK. It has everything to do with the announcement of Khushi's engagement."

Khushi felt the blood in her veins chill at his words. NK glanced warily at Khushi, scanned the equally stunned crowd, and turned back to look at the smug looking man that was Arnav Singh Raizada.

"I...Excuse me?" NK raised his eyebrows.

"Arnav? What's going on?" Anjali asked cautiously, well aware of the glint in her brother's eyes. He looked like he was about to demolish a rival company and do a hostile takeover.

"What?" Arnav frowned at her. "Oh come on! You know me!"

Arnav casually walked to the couch and plopped down next to Khushi. Khushi stiffened slightly at his proximity, recalling the earlier events in the change room.

"Remember when you two tricked her to go on a date with Joel?? Do you remember how angry I was?" Arnav chuckled and turned to NK. "I'm possessive and very protective of Khushi...actually...all three ladies...it's just that I know Ro and Akash so I don't worry about Anjali and Payal as much but Khushi here always manages to find a stranger."

"NK is not a stranger." Khushi fired at once. "He's my friend."

Anjali and Payal exchanged a glance. It was just a tad bit odd that she referred to the man as her friend' when she was engaged to marry him!

Rohan caught Akash hiding a smirk and instantly, his brows etched into a frown before his eyes moved to an amused looking Arnav. Something was going on that Rohan wasn't aware of.

The first retort that came to Arnav's mind was: So he's just your friend? I was under the impression that you're engaged to him...

But he knew he couldn't say that to her...not yet anyway. Khushi was already showing every sign of subtle defiance and he knew she was on guard. Arnav could almost hear the wheels in her head turning as they tried to decipher Arnav's behavior.

"Of course he is, Khushi...I just meant that there is always some guy that I don't know in the picture...first it was Joel...now NK...but I'm sure once I get to know him, I'll be able to treat him just like Ro and Akash." Arnav casually picked up a glass of juice presented by one of the house butlers and took a sip.

NK shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was just starting to get used to this man's hostility and curt behavior and now he had to go and change everything. This was the friendliest he had been...the most relaxed NK has ever seen him. What the hell brought this on?

The topic was brushed off quite quickly as everyone dived into telling stories of Arnav's possessive antics. Arnav participated with complete attention during the long conversation that followed. An hour past midnight, people left to sleep, one by one. By the time the clock showed a perfect 2:00 am, only Arnav, Khushi, and Lavanya remained. Of course, if Arnav's anger was a person, he'd be the most unnoticed, yet present, individual.

Lavanya was yapping away about the intricate details of NK and Khushi's performance which refused to leave Arnav's mind.

"I can't imagine how much work you two must put in..." Lavanya shook her head. "I couldn't do that..."

"With that attitude, you won't last two days in that Gala..." Khushi laughed.

"Why aren't you going to it?" Lavanya frowned, clearly disappointed.

Arnav looked back and forth between the two as if following the ball in a tennis match. Did they even realize that he was still sitting here?

"I told you...I have to be with Amma...besides, NK and I went to that Gala last year..." Khushi shrugged.

Lavanya sighed. "Oh well...okay...now I'm sleepy...Good night guys! Tomorrow is going to be a busy day!"

Khushi groaned. "She's turning out to be quite the Bridezilla..."

"What's tomorrow?" Arnav blurted, the curiosity getting the better of him.

"Anjali and Rohan...well...mainly just Anjali wants to do a photo shoot with the group...Aman volunteered to use his photography skills...you can bet anything that she'll be on your tail about it..." Lavanya smirked. "Make sure you dress nice...preferably...ditch your button up shirts for a day...or ditch a shirt altogether..." Lavanya winked flirtatiously.

A ghost of a smile appeared on Arnav's face even as he shook his head at her. This woman was never going to stop, was she? "Good night Lavanya."

Without warning, the woman flung her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tightly. Arnav's eyes instantly flickered to Khushi, who seemed suddenly too interested in the carpet. The hope that had flickered in his heart upon seeing her kiss the tattoo on her hand reared its head once again, turning into a fully fledged fire.

Lavanya let him go only to gather Khushi in a hug. Both Arnav and Khushi waited, as still and silent as statues, until Lavanya's bedroom's door closed behind her.

"Are you unhappy that I'm back?"

Khushi jumped in her seat and turned to look at Arnav, pondering over his question. What was he on about now?

"What?"

"What??" Arnav shrugged. "You don't seem particularly pleased that I've come back..."

Khushi looked at him for a long minute, while he held her gaze unwaveringly. Khushi searched for a hint...anything that would tell her or give her the gist of what is going on in his head. There was zilch indication.

She sighed dejectedly and stood up. For a second, Arnav feared that she may leave. She paced back and forth in front of him as she answered, "I don't know anything about you anymore, Arnav. I don't know...I can't gauge your reactions...I can't seem to tell what you're thinking...hell, I don't even know if me being back has upset you! Are you upset that I'm back?"

Arnav's hand shot out as fast as lightening and grabbed a hold of hers. He stood up and waited only a second until she turned around before pulling her into a familiar embrace. "Don't be ridiculous, Khush...I can't tell you how happy I am that you're back."

She pulled away while her hands pushed him off. "Then why did you leave like that for four days?! You're purposefully avoiding me!"

Arnav eyes fell down to her left hand and then slowly rose back up to meet her angry ones. "I already explained that."

Khushi scoffed. "Please...you may have others believing that story but you can't sell that to me..."

The lid on Arnav's temper rattled dangerously but he willed himself to stay in control, reminding himself that he was dealing with Khushi here. "I'm not trying to sell anything. Every word of that sentence was true. I think my exit from the table and the house that day was ample display of just how upset I am about your engagement."

"Yes, I figured that out. I'm not an idiot, you know! But your reason isn't good enough, Arnav. I haven't been blind to the way you treat NK since the day he has set foot here and now suddenly you're being...or at least acting cordial with him...what brought on the change? What changed, Arnav?"

"Everything has changed, in case you haven't realized it, Khushi!" Arnav held her by the shoulders and pulled her against himself. "Everything has changed. When you showed up at that party...I made instant plans to bring my Khush back...to have my best friend back...I wanted to solve all our unresolved issues! You wanted to wait until after Anjali's engagement to talk over those things and I agreed despite my better judgment. And then I find out that the woman I'm trying to bring back into my life is already set to be a part of someone else's."

Khushi's mind ran off with his statement and instantly started scanning vigorously to find some underlying message.

"Why didn't you tell me Khushi?" There was so much pain in his voice as he spoke the sentence that Khushi had the fleeting idea that he was talking about something else entirely.

"Because I knew you'd react this way!" Khushi snapped.

"I'm sure you remember just how angry I was when you were tricked into a simple date with Joel...did you expect any better reaction from me about your engagement?" He let her go roughly and ran his hand through his hair.

This wasn't supposed to go this way. He didn't want to blame her for any of this but he couldn't help himself. He had messed up in the past and he was paying the price now but Khushi wasn't completely spot free either, was she? She had hidden things. She had stopped talking to him. She had moved on and gotten engaged. She was entitled to some blame for this situation, wasn't she? Doesn't it always take two people to tango?

"Do you love him?" There. He'd asked the question. He knew the answer to that of course. But it was always better to make sure by hearing from the horse's mouth.

As much as he hated to admit it, if she did love that stupid Kohli man...Arnav would step aside. He had been separated from Khushi, the girl he loved, by some outsider and he wouldn't put Khushi through that pain even if it meant crushing his own heart with his own hands.

Arnav watched her keenly, making a note of every expression that skittered across her face. His question had surprised her, angered her, made her sad, and then thoughtful. In that moment, Arnav knew she would lie next.

"I don't believe in love." She crossed her arms as if that gesture would add any weight to her false statement.

Arnav couldn't help but throw back his head a laugh a little. She looked ten years younger and reminded him of a stubborn Khushi in high school. The funnier part, of course, was her proclamation that she didn't believe in love.

"That is as true as the fact that I'm going to let NK marry you..." He noted sarcastically.

Khushi looked startled for a second before she gathered herself. "What are you trying to say, Arnav? Get to the damn point."

Much like he had earlier, Arnav circled his arms around her waist and pulled her against himself. "The damn point, Khushi...is that I'm not going to let NK take you away from me."

Khushi felt a wave of anger rising in opposition to a wave of love for the man in front of her. How these two emotions can come forth simultaneously for the same person was beyond her. She hated how he still managed to make her feel special by saying these things. His possessiveness was what had given her hope all those years in the past when he was sowing wild oats and she felt the Khush in her clutching onto that ray of hope tightly now, as that same possessive rippled off of him.

"My stupidity and childish ways have already taken you away from me and I'll be damned if I let you go away again. I didn't let that Joel have a second date with you...and if you think that I'll let some Nakul Kohli marry and take you away from me, you need to think again." Arnav's voice was a husky whisper, as if the words were meant for her ears only.

Khushi closed her eyes when he leaned in closer. She willed herself to stop the gasp that threatened to escape her as he placed his lips on her right cheek, dangerously close to the corner of her mouth.

"Good Night Khush..." and with that, the devil turned on his heels and started walking towards the staircase.

He had just set foot onto the first step when her voice stopped him. "Why does NK bother you so much?"

All he wanted to do at this point was to scream and tell her what feelings he harbored for her and how long he has kept them but he didn't. He knew it wasn't the right time yet. He had figured out that she didn't love NK but he still had to figure out where NK stands in all of this. Until then, he wouldn't disclose anything to her.

But that didn't mean he couldn't give a small hint. Or a big hint...

After the unnaturally long pause, Arnav turned to look at her. She blinked once as she registered the carefully schooled expression and shuttered eyes.

"Why NK bother me so much? It's simple, isn't it?" Arnav shrugged once. "He bothers me for the same reasons my ex-girlfriends used to bother you."

_____

"Stop. Yawning." Anjali poked Khushi's arm with force to get her attention.

"Sorry." Khushi mumbled even as she stifled another yawn.

Khushi tried to look energetic and posed for another picture, the unnatural smile in place for the camera. She felt guilty about being less than enthusiastic for this photo shoot. Since the moment she'd gotten into the car with them, till this very moment, Khushi had been yawning and lost in her world of thoughts.

Why?

Because she hadn't slept for a second last night.

And because Arnav had dropped an unexpected bomb on her last night.

Khushi casted a glance at Arnav who was taking a break from Anjali's nagging. He was sitting on one of the train tracks close to the tunnel's mouth, uncaring of the fact that the rust dust on the old metal will probably ruin his jeans. He looked like the Arnav she had known years ago. A simple white polo shirt paired with a pair of navy blue jeans.

He hadn't spoken to her much this morning...or rather, she hadn't given him the chance. After their conversation last night, she felt an odd sense of constant fear in her heart. As if something was going to go wrong...as if something that wasn't supposed to happen has. She had tried every possible thing, grabbed every presented opportunity to put physical distance between him and herself.

She looked at NK, who was also sitting on a train track, a few steps away from Arnav, hence, a few steps closer to the group. He was in a simple black t-shirt and cargo shorts. He was a contrasting sight to the brooding man who sat alone in the company of music which no doubt must be blaring from those headphones in his ears.

She turned away and took in the beautiful surroundings. They were currently situated behind a hill. The ground expanded into clear ground for a few yards before the crops of the farms grew wild. The pair of railway tracks curved around the base of the hill before disappearing abruptly around a bend and into a tunnel.

"Okay...now I want one with Arnav and Akash..." Anjali's excited voice brought Khushi back to her immediate surroundings. Khushi frantically tried to think of a reason to escape as she watched Anjali wave Arnav over frantically.

They moved closer to the crops to get the corn fields more clearly in the pictures. Khushi busied herself in helping Aman set-up the tripod in this new spot when she heard it.

Anjali's scream was so loud that Aman dropped his camera and everyone who heard her nearly got a heart attack. Khushi heart lurched painfully at the sight that greeted her when she turned to see what Anjali was screaming about.

The next second, they were all running.

"Arnav, get out of the way!!" Rohan screamed.

Arnav, who was strolling casually in the center of the track, slowed down and looked at them, trying to understand why everyone was running.

No! Don't slow down!! Move! Khushi wasn't sure whether she had screamed it out loud or just in her mind.

She couldn't think anything past the fact that there was a train speeding up towards Arnav and that man was standing there, with his back turned to the danger, without a clue in the world.

She watched on even as she ran, as he looked at the ground, then up at NK who was also running towards him, and then finally, he looked over his shoulder. Khushi felt as if the life was sucked out of her when he didn't move after that. Instead, he stood there, almost as if committing suicide.

She herself wasn't aware that she couldn't see him anymore. The train was zooming across in front of her, but she still ran towards it as if some magical gap will appear and let her cross the track and go to Arnav. She felt a painful yank on her arm before another arm circled her waist, pulling her away from the speeding vehicle.

She was vaguely aware that right next to her, Anjali was sobbing while Rohan tried to hold her back as well.

_____

Arnav watched her with a fixed gaze, his eyes refusing to leave her even when she saw him looking at her. She had been cleverly avoiding him all morning and he wondered whether or not he'd hinted away too much last night. If he were being honest with himself at the moment, he didn't care. He didn't care if he'd said too much. He'd spent long hours the previous night questioning the efficiency of the plan he had made with Akash and Arvind.

The plan's execution was going to be too slow for his liking and he wasn't going to stick to it. Not that he had, anyway. He had veered from the plan yesterday the second he had decided to stay in the room until Khushi was there. The conversation that had followed, the hints he had given weren't supposed to be a part of the picture until he was certain of NK's feelings, or the lack of them, for Khushi.

Step one was supposed to be to figure out NK's role in all of this and then approach Khushi accordingly. He didn't care about NK...not in the slightest. Whether or not her so called fianc loved her, Arnav wasn't going to become a sacrificing saint if he got the slightest indication that Khushi still harbored feelings for him.

He sighed and tore his eyes away from Khushi to change the song on his iPod. He turned up the already deafening volume, hoping that the crudeness of the rock track will serve as a distraction. But he found his eyes searching for her almost immediately. Anjali's frantic waving got his attention first and he rolled his eyes as he realized that she was waving him to them.

Sighing, he stood up and started walking towards them, the gravel on the railway track crunching under his feet. He watched Khushi, dressed in an A-line white and black floral print dress, as she helped Aman mount the camera on the tripod. A frowned appeared on his face when she turned abruptly to face him. The next second, everyone was running...towards...him?!

Arnav focused on them with squinted eyes. Were they making gestures or just running crazily? He couldn't ponder on the thought much as the shudder of the ground under his feet stole his attention. Instinctively, Arnav looked up to check but he found NK running towards him at full speed. When NK made a sweeping gesture with his hand, Arnav turned to look over his shoulder and shock paralyzed him instantly.

His mind was screaming at him to jump out of the way, that he only had seconds to save himself and yet, he couldn't move. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the impact. His mind suddenly filled with memories of Khushi.

When the impact did come, it knocked him over sideways. For a fleeting second, he was sure he was going to die. As the adrenaline shot through his veins, the numbness dissipated and awareness came to him.

There was a train moving at incredible speed on the track where he was standing mere seconds ago. He felt the weight of an arm around his ribs, pinning him to the floor. There was a stark pain at the back of his head where it had hit the metal track. He even heard distressed cries, over the screeching of metal wheels on metal tracks, from the other side of the train.

"f**k!"

That wasn't his voice but it was close by. He realized that he was lying haphazardly on the second, vacant, track with someone else. He turned to see who had just saved him and he felt a feeling akin to guilt pierce him icily.

There lay the man who Arnav had never imagined to play the hero in his life. He was supposed to be the bad guy, the guy who was trying to take away Arnav's happiness.

NK.