Chapter 39
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[MEMBERSONLY]
NK slid out of his own seat just in time to gather her in an embrace. As they shared a close embrace, Arnav and Khushi tore their eyes away to provide them what little privacy it would in this caf whether some other guests were already looking at them.
love_iqbal_khan 2015-03-15 21:57:15
Chapter 31: Revealed (Part II)
The conversation with NK's parents had been a tad more difficult than Garima. For one, this was a shock to them. As far as they knew, they had no inkling of anything that had happened here. The second thing that made it all worse for NK was the fact that he had fallen in love with a girl that wasn't chosen by them. NK had pleaded with them to understand for nearly half an hour and at last, Khushi had snatched the phone away from him. She had spoken to them calmly, explaining the entire situation over again, adding the necessary apologies here and there. She could hear the disappointment in NK's mother's voice even as she agreed to hold her judgments until she met Lavanya.
Both Khushi and NK felt emotionally drained yet relived by the end of that conversation. But they knew it wasn't over yet.
"We should probably talk to Arnav and Lavanya." NK suggested.
"Together or separately?"
"Together sounds better." NK sighed. "Let's meet them somewhere. We'll put everything on the table so everyone knows what the hell is happening. I don't think I have enough energy to have this conversation multiple times again..."
Khushi nodded. "I have to agree with you on that one...I'll call Arnav..."
Khushi dialed his number, an odd anxiety taking over as she waited for him to answer. When he did, the second-long pause made her frown. It didn't feel right.
"Khushi."
Khushi's frown deepened, her heart sank hearing the pain in his voice. Confusion muddled her mind and she asked him the obvious question. "Arnav? What's wrong?"
Another pause that made Khushi uncomfortable. Just as Khushi was about to question him again, he spoke. "Nothing. I'm just...a bit exhausted."
"Arnav..."
"What's up, Khushi?" He cut her off. "You and NK left quite suddenly."
Khushi's eyebrows perked up in response. So that is what this is about... "Yeah...just...listen. Are you free? Can you meet me at that caf where we met last time in say...half hour's time?"
"Why?"
"We need to talk, Arnav." Khushi spoke gently, as if speaking to a raging child.
Another long pause stretched between them, increasing the uncomfortable nagging feeling in Khushi's mind.
"Fine. I'll see you there."
And then he disconnected the call. Khushi pulled the instrument away from her ear and stared down at it, confusion written clear on her face.
"Everything okay?" NK questioned, seeing the worry in Khushi's stance.
"Something's happened...he sounded...disturbed." Khushi muttered more to herself than NK.
"Probably because we left without saying anything. Lavanya was anxious when we split ways at the airport this morning, too." NK shrugged. "Give me the address of this caf and I'll call Lavanya there."
______
Arnav clenched and unclenched his jaw, willing the painful sight to evaporate from his mind. He glared out of the windshield, threatening to bore a hole in the surface. He could see the innocent looking caf right across the lot but he knew that it was anything but that.
After what he'd seen this morning, he was sure what this talk' would entail. Why he had agreed to come see her here was beyond him. He could have just asked her to tell him over the phone...it might have been easier to deal with. Perhaps it was just that.
He had heard from Khushi what the experience was like for her when she had to witness him with one of his girlfriends...but to experience that first hand was a different thing altogether. After that, after knowing that he had put her through that repeatedly, he knew he owed her another apology, though it wouldn't change the past or her hurt in any way. This apology, he didn't want to make over the phone.
He climbed out of the car and closed his door with more force than necessary. He crossed the small distance to the entrance of the caf in long strides that betrayed none of his inner turmoil.
Ignoring the flirty look the receptionist gave him, Arnav let her lead him towards a table in a semi-secluded corner of the caf"the same table by the window where he had read Khushi's diary entry which had revealed her feelings to him. He had to wait barely five whole minutes when he saw the small black Toyota Camry pull into the driveway.
His heartbeat slowed to a loud lubb-dubb which echoed in his ears as he watched Khushi step out of the car. His brows knit together, first in confusion, then in chagrin as his eyes zeroed in on the man accompanying her. NK.
He exhaled a deep breath slowly, watching them walk towards the entrance, then through it, and then finally towards him. Out of courtesy, he stood to shake hands with NK and not being able to meet Khushi's eyes, gave a controlled smile before settling down.
Confused as ever with the change in his behavior as well as his almost-guilty gait, Khushi took a seat opposite him and next to NK. For nearly an entire minute, no one said anything...the tension in the air so thick that it could be cut with a knife.
Luckily, a young boy dressed in black jeans, black shirt, and a brown apron approached them with a notepad to take their orders. For those few seconds, everything seemed normal"a trio of friends hanging out at a caf. As soon as the server left, the silence returned. Before the awkwardness could bloom, NK decided to nip it in the bud.
"I don't think we want to beat around the bush here, so let's just get down straight to the point, okay?" He folded his hands together on the table, looking earnestly at Arnav who nodded tightly in response.
"I figured we'd be having this conversation." Arnav smiled with a tint of sadness to it. "Rest assured...I won't make it difficult. I'd promised her that whatever she decided, that's how it would be. And although every part of me wants me to fight for her...if this is what she wants...I won't get in the way."
NK blinked bemusedly and then glanced at Khushi who seemed equally perplexed. NK mulled over the words in his mind once more, ensuring that he had heard that right.
"I'm sorry...what?" NK leaned forward slightly as if that would make him understand better.
Arnav sighed and decided honesty was the best policy"as always. "I saw you two. This morning. In the yard."
NK winced before he had even finished the statement. Khushi groaned inwardly and laid her face in her hands. It wasn't difficult to guess what Arnav had seen and what conclusion he had drawn from that.
Not another misunderstanding. That was the last thing they needed.
"f**k!" She swore running her hands through her hair until she was holding her head in frustration.
NK put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, silently letting her know that this was an easy fix. If Arnav loved her as much as he claimed to, then he would not only understand but would also trust Khushi.
"It's okay Khushi...I--" Arnav sentence was interrupted.
"You're misunderstanding Arnav. That...what you saw was my fault." NK spoke urgently, wanting to rectify this misunderstanding right away. "Let me explain...Khushi and I were talking and th--"
"Khushi!"
Arnav was now beyond confused as he watched Lavanya run in and haul Khushi to her feet before hugging her tightly. NK watched them with a small, knowing smile on his face.
"I'm so sorry! I know I was out of line but I swear I didn't do it on purpose!" Lavanya refused to let go even as Khushi try to pull away from the embrace.
"Lavanya..."
"No! Tell me you forgive me! I'm so sorry!" Lavanya raged on, not listening to Khushi's small reassurances.
"La!" Khushi spoke sternly at last, managing to pull away with force. "It's fine! You don't need to apologize! In fact, I should be thanking you!"
"You're not mad?" Lavanya didn't seem to believe Khushi's words.
"Most definitely not! How could I be? How could you even think that? You know everything..." Khushi ended in a whisper.
Lavanya offered a small smile and a gentle nod. She did know about Arnav and Khushi's equation. She often wondered whether her attitude towards NK would have been different if not for that knowledge.
"Wait!" NK interrupted, catching on the last bit of information which he was sure wasn't meant to be heard by him. "Lavanya knew everything?" NK looked accusingly at her. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't my secret to tell, NK. I thought it would be best if you heard from Khushi." Lavanya explained calmly.
"Will someone tell me just what the f**k is going on?!" Arnav broke the three out of their little private conversation, irked to no end by the secrecy and confusion.
"He doesn't know yet?" Lavanya questioned, eyebrows high up on her forehead.
"Do I freaking look like a man who has any clue about what's happening?" Arnav snapped.
The server who had arrived with Khushi and NK's orders stopped abruptly a couple of steps away from the table.
"Let's all settle down...Khushi and I have news to share." NK suggested gently, taking note of Arnav's ill-contained temper.
When they took their seats, Lavanya took the seat next to Arnav, opposite NK's. NK clasped his hands again and looked straight at Arnav, unfazed by the scowl on his face.
Only when the new woman who'd joined the table smiled politely did the serve approach. All fell quiet while the young boy placed Khushi's caramel cappuccino and NK's Latte on the table and then took Lavanya's order.
As soon as the four were left alone again, NK turned to face Khushi and the two exchanged a small, knowing smile. A hint of communication passed with them and at the same time, both of them lifted their hands and smoothly slid off the rings that signified their engagement.
Arnav's heart thudded loudly as they placed their rings on the table and pushed them towards each other. He lifted his eyes from Khushi's hand, which now held the ring NK has been wearing, towards her face. He found her watching him keenly, her expression hopeful.
Lavanya sagged with relief as she processed what the gesture meant. "So we're all good?"
"Yes." NK grinned. "Arnav and Khushi are in love with each other...and I'm hopelessly in love with you Ms. Kashyap."
"What?" Arnav's head snapped towards NK.
"That's what Khushi and I were talking about this morning...after what you saw." NK sighed. "I kissed her because I wanted to see if she felt anything for me..."
From the corner of his eyes, NK saw Khushi glance nervously at Lavanya.
"She knows." NK spoke quietly. "I told her on the phone..."
Lavanya smiled. "Of course...no girl wants to hear that the man she loves kissed someone else...but I understand his reasons...he's been exceptionally guilty this entire week."
"The entire week?" Arnav questioned, looking at Khushi.
Khushi nodded gently and launched into a recap of her conversation with NK this morning. Both NK and Lavanya supplied information to fill in the gaps of their side of the story while Arnav stepped in to complete Khushi's story about what all had happened here in their absence.
Khushi relaxed back in her seat now that everything was revealed. "So NK and I decided that it made absolutely no sense to remain engaged. He spoke to Amma and I spoke to his parents..."
"Now, both of us are officially just friends..." NK cleared, lest there was still any confusion left.
"But I'm still confused about one thing..." Khushi glanced at Arnav and then at Lavanya. "That night...when you walked in on Arnav and me when we were arguing...you said..."
"The sooner he realizes you don't love him, the quicker he'll see that I do?" Lavanya smiled, recalling the slip of her tongue that night.
Once again silence prevailed as the server returned with Lavanya's Green tea. If the tension in the air was tangible the server's calm expression didn't give it away. He completed his job and left quietly.
"You...were talking about NK..." Arnav thought out loud as the last piece in the puzzle fell in place.
Lavanya nodded. "It was an impulsive mistake on my part...luckily you were there so Khushi didn't suspect anything..."
Lavanya and Khushi looked at each other, a weary expression on their face as if they were communicating telepathically.
Arnav hand reached across to take hold of Khushi's. Khushi smiled down at their hands and then glanced at him, a thin film of moisture glazing her eyes--tears of joy, at last.
"This means..." Arnav trailed off, the overwhelming feeling choking his words.
Khushi covered his hand with her free one, squeezing gently. "Everything's alright."
"And Thank God for that!" Lavanya chirped, getting out of her seat.
NK slid out of his own seat just in time to gather her in an embrace. As they shared a close embrace, Arnav and Khushi tore their eyes away to provide them what little privacy it would in this caf whether some other guests were already looking at them.
Disbelief was still written all over his face as Arnav lifted Khushi's hand pressed it to his lips, leaving multiple adoring kisses.
She smiled at him, somehow understanding the request he didn't make. Perhaps because she wanted the same.
The last time they were here in this caf and confessed their feelings, the bliss of that moment had been tainted by the worry about NK's reaction. Now that everything was out in the open and there was nothing they had to worry about...
"Alright guys...I'm sure you want some alone time...so Lav and I are going to head out soon but before that we need to decide when we want to tell the others." NK smiled at them, holding Lavanya by his side protectively.
"I say we invite them out for dinner and announce it to them..." Lavanya suggested with a small smile, aw-ing in her mind as she took in Arnav and Khushi's clasped hands on the table.
"I agree with you Lavanya." Khushi smiled brilliantly at her and then turned to give Arnav a meaningful look. "I think it's about time everyone moved on from this mess."
Arnav's agreement came in the form of a small nod, his eyes never leaving Khushi's face. As they discussed where and when to call the others and made small talk, Khushi, NK, and Lavanya nursed their drink of choice while Arnav's cup of coffee grew cold, untouched.
Once their plan was set, they all stood to leave. Despite the small argument from Khushi, NK insisted on picking up the tab.
"You can buy me dinner tonight!" He grinned at her, feeling lighter than he had in days. "We'll see you guys tonight."
After a small exchange of friendly embraces and whispered thank you's, the two couples split their ways.
No sooner had NK's car gone out of sight than Khushi felt herself being hauled into a rib-breaking hug. She wrapped her arms around him and held him as if her life depended on it. His heart raced madly in his chest, under Khushi's ear and she couldn't help the face-splitting smile on her face. Crushing her in his arms a little more, he kissed the top of her head--a gesture of relief.
"I think I'm still in shock." Arnav murmured.
Khushi turned to look up at him. "I think I am too...after this whole mess...it's hard to believe that everything's falling in place."
"Everything's falling in place..." Arnav murmured after her, repeating her sentence as a form of reassurance.
After all those highs and lows...all those stupid decision and childish actions...after a gap of three years and fresh tiffs between friends...finally, everything was falling in place.
______
I know there wasn't that much ArHi in this chapter but these clarifications were needed...now that Arnav-Khushi have officially cleared everything with everyone and are 'together'...you can expect a whole bunch of their moments...glimpses of the two crazy best friends as well as lovers that they now openly are! everyone ready to relive those happy times with slight altered equations and two new additions (NK & Lavanya)??
See you all very soon!
Love,
Katie
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