Chapter 9

I have seriously no words to thank each one of you for your reviews for the latest update. Most of the comments turned me beetroot red! I was so apprehensive to even post this story but you guys never fail to make me feel otherwise 🤗

I was pleasantly surprised to know that the previous update got over 620 likes 😲 Thank you ❤️


Also, I think my note was a little unclear. You will get two detailed chapter. But not together. This is a detailed chapter compared to what I had previously planned. But the next update will be the longest of all updates of Make Me Love :) And I think I will post it within this week itself :)


Thank you so much to simi58, opsyellow, Skiran, aashi12,, jas0308, poojasidd123, sunitikapoor, Nandz, IDatIF, mbbsrocks, Hawa1997, aashi12, chulbuli94, lalarukh, yoga123, sincereme, sessy, lazylad8-FauZi, luvraj4ever, undercoverhappy, binimoti, chandi00, Shilpasabui, dj_arshifan, archmink, Divyahet, dhanyabinu, manikka, karankarankaran, sandhya-sp, ...Bubbles..., Kishmish, neha2013g, rulama, nirmal1992, KtotheM, beenish248, sudhareddy, chavvi16, Asiyamajeed, dima_a, DIYA_21, AR_Eternallove, nishu_shorna, JCJS, janu6669, ragvir.fan, amashula87, shubhanji, celinawalters, dsbj, MayaBS, ranogill, ara_000, sweetdoll32, siamesecat, sakhi001, zahra2709, aaradhya1688, akaps, shruti46, anamnoor, ifsaal044, sruthick, vandana.sagar, kannansangee, dennisdmenace, Arjuhisis, DMGFan-2b-not2b, joe4joe, _Devaki_, shaz007, Theepthidevi, IronButterfly, ..Divya.. and all those who continue to show their support to me and this story 🤗


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Chapter 11
(2400+ words)

As Arnav realized that he had kissed her properly, he brought his hands back to her waist and tenderly lifted her down, breaking the kiss. He looked down at her, waiting for her to look up. He placed his index finger under her chin and gently lifted it but she didn't open her eyes "Khushi, open your eyes"

In response she shook her head as a tear slipped out of her closed eye.

"Hey what happened, tell me?"

"I am scared to open my eyes and not see the love for me in your eyes" she said and contrary to her words, she opened her eyes, looking up at him dolefully.

"Khushi..." he whispered her name, caressing her hair "I will need time. Can you give me that?" he asked and she nodded.

She looked up hesitantly at him then bent her head down, taking her lower lip between her teeth. She again glanced up at him, her teeth still biting her lips.

"Khushi, what is it?" he asked, concerned.

"Erm...do you still love her?" she enquired, looking at him hopefully, wanting the answer to be in the negative.

"Love her? Love who?" he bunched his eyebrows in confusion.

"Payal" she breathed out, not looking at him.

She heard him give out a short laugh followed by "No, Khushi. Of course not. I don't love her"

"Really?" she confirmed and when he nodded in the affirmative, she threw her hands around his neck, hugging him. A small smile danced on her lips as she thought that now it will be easier to win his heart.

*

"He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not..." she sat on the white iron wrought bench in the back yard with a red rose in her hand, a few petals of the same flower strewn carelessly at her feet.

She continued to pluck petals as she spoke out loud, "He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me..."

"He loves you" he interrupted her, settling next to her.

"...not" she plucked the last petal out of the flower and looked up at him tearfully.

*

It had been over six months since Arnav had kissed her for the first time and the day they had spoken to Devyani about them. Devyani had spoken to Khushi at length laying the pros and cons of being in a relationship with Arnav and was left happily satisfied with Khushi's answers. My grandson has finally gotten his happiness!

They had decided to walk the path that normal couples do and had mutually agreed to date first and know each other better. Although Khushi had initially requested to skip this 'step' as she knew him like the back of her hand. And during this period she never failed to amaze him by the extent of her knowledge and love for him. He too was surprised by the level of his comprehension about her, be it the gifts that he bought for her or the food he ordered. He always knew what she wanted.

But being with Khushi 'in a relationship' made him realize something which he had previously overlooked. He noticed that Khushi had molded herself in such a way that she now resembled him to a great extent. He compared her to the girls of her age and found that she was too serious for a girl in her mid-20s. She was trying to act older than her age, only so that he feels that she is mature enough for him.

But what pained him the most was even with respect to choices as mundane as the dress colour was highly influenced by his life. Whilst shopping, she would make sure to buy clothes of only those colours which he bought as well - black, blue or white. And only then he realized that she didn't wear bright colours at all!

Not only this, he was surprised to know how each of his words mattered to her and had a deep impact on her life. One day, he had casually said during one of their many conversations that he thinks long hair when let loose, have a beauty of their own. From that day onwards, she never tied her hair when she was with him.

Even when they would talk on any matter, she would look at him with much reverence and agree to whatever he said, without letting him know of her original opinion.

He felt extremely sad of the fact that, unintentionally, because of him Khushi was losing her individuality.

And he couldn't let that happen to her.

Hence, he had decided to undo a few wrongs which he had committed, albeit in ignorance.

Hence, whenever they went shopping after that, he made sure to make her buy colourful clothes. He would praise her beauty incessantly in her new brighter clothes. And it was true, in fact. She made many heads turn when she wore a red dress to one of their dates. Dressed up in vibrant clothes, she actually looked like a girl in her full youthfulness and not someone who was trying to match up to a middle-aged man.

He also made sure that whenever they spoke on any issue, he let her speak first. He saw how hesitant she was initially to speak on anything, lest he wasn't in agreement to the same. But his encouragement and support did help her in sharing her thoughts without fearing of getting his disapproval or rejection.

He remembered how astonished she had become when one day, while she was reading a newspaper on their living room sofa, he had come behind her, had taken her long luscious hair in his hand and made a plait for her. He had then sat next to her and told her that every hairstyle suits her and she needn't be conscious before him.

And during this period, she had found a job on her own and had started working as well. He was extremely happy for her. He thought that meeting new people and being away from him will give her a new perspective to life and that she will finally realize that something better is still waiting for her, if only she looked beyond him.

And he hoped and prayed that it would happen. But it never did.

She would share all her office experiences with him but she would never talk about anyone with as much affection as she spoke about him with him. The first time she had spoken with enthusiasm about a male colleague in her office, he had rejoiced at the fact. But then he realized that she spoke about everyone in the same manner - be it a male or a female co-worker.

He remembered how furious she had been the day she had returned from office upset at being asked out by the same male colleague she had already turned down once. Instead of subtly encouraging her, he had ended up consoling her and only his tender words had made her feel better. She had so innocently asked him that day Can't they see I belong only to you?'

And he had no answer to give her. He had only hugged her and explained it to her that it was a part of life and she would learn how to not let these things affect her. Here he wanted her to get over him and he had ended up guiding her in the opposite direction!

Hence, he had slowly given up on the fact that she would ever love someone like she loves him. He had accepted that fact. She was utterly happy which was quite visible in every smile she gave him, every gesture that showed him how much she loved him, every little thing that she did for him. He let her do his room, cook for him, choose his clothes for him, hug him, kiss him, make a claim on him. She was happy. What more did he want?

He tried his best to be a good boy friend' to her. He had mentally laughed at this term. He was neither a boy' nor was he a friend' to Khushi. But this was the term that people would generally use while dating. When he had shared his thoughts about the same with Khushi, she had yet again left him flabbergasted by her depth of love for him by saying that his presence in her life was above every name or tag.

When will he ever understand this girl completely? He wondered to himself and she left no stone unturned to make him think about the same repeatedly, without an affirmative answer ever.

Arnav reached home early to find her already seated in her room on her bed, her chin on her gathered knees, hugging them tightly with her hands. She didn't look sad, he noted with relief.

"Khushi, didn't you go to office today?" he asked as he dropped a kiss over her forehead. Khushi had joined a firm three months back which kept her busy during the day time and left the evenings to be spent with him.

"I didn't feel like going today" she replied, not looking at him.

Touching her forehead and neck for a high body temperature, he asked "Do you want to cancel our plans for today?"

"Yes"

He was taken aback at her immediate answer and nodded in acceptance "I will cancel for today and book for tomorrow instead" he said getting up from the bed, taking his phone out of his pocket but was halted by her hand on his wrist.

"You don't have to do this" she said unemotionally, staring at the bed sheet, clutching his hand, but refusing to look up at him.

"I didn't get you..." he admitted, not able to understand the sudden change in her mood.

"You don't get me because you don't want me" she replied looking at him with empty eyes.

He immediately wrapped his hands around Khushi pulling her on to his lap, her face above his now.

"Who said I don't want you?" he rhetorically asked as he dropped a kiss on her cheek but she pulled back right after. He sat perplexed for several moments trying to decipher her behaviour. He didn't understand what the problem was. He hugged her regularly, often kissed her on her cheeks and forehead and occasionally kissed her on her lips too, he took her out for dinner dates at least thrice a week, watched movies, took her to shopping and sometimes brought her favourite dish home.

"Khushi, can you please tell me what's wrong with you before I die out of worry?" his question brought the reaction he wanted from her as she covered his lips with her palm, her eyes turning wide with fear.

"Don't say that, please" she requested as she dropped her hand from his lips, the vacant look taking the place of fear in her eyes.

"Don't make me" he retorted, as he leaned in to kiss her when she stopped him by covering her lips with her fingers.

"What's wrong, Khushi?" his voice came out a few notes higher than he had intended and closed his eyes in frustration.

"I know and have accepted the fact that you don't love me" she spoke in a resigned tone, getting off his lap, taking several steps away from him. She had realized over the past six months that despite of his efforts and hers, he still didn't love her. So she had decided that she would end this today, stop forcing him to love her even though it broke her heart into pieces so many.

"Khushi, why do you say so? Have I ever made you feel that way? Don't I show my love for you?" he asked her, coming around her to face her.

"Because you don't. I can feel you trying very hard to fall in love with me but you are not able to. You seem to be doing things written in romantic novels or love websites and I really appreciate your efforts but..." she came closer to him, covering his jaw with her palm and continued looking straight in to his eyes "...but you are not happy" He shook his head to defy her but she didn't let him by adding "I know what goes on in your mind. If I am happy then you are happy, isn't it?" He hung his head in acceptance which encouraged her to speak more "And I too will be happy if you are happy. It's a vicious circle, isn't it?" She laughed without humour.

"I think this wasn't meant to be. Us wasn't meant to be. I failed to break your walls and make you love me. You might think it is too premature to say this, but a girl knows when she is not loved" Her voice had turned in to a low whisper.

A sudden fear had gripped him when she read his mind - yes he still didn't love her the way she wanted him to. So he was trying to keep her happy. Well, he wasn't very good in performing his role then, he breathed out in defeat.

He finally looked up to see her. Instead of seeing pain and hurt in her eyes, he just saw acceptance. It marveled him that she could see him, read him and understand him like no one did. He couldn't let her think that she was right. He had to try once more.

"Khushi, listen..." he said walking forward, his hand raised in air to hold her face but she moved away from him.

"Please don't lie to me again. If you care for me then please tell me the truth. Save me from further heartbreak. Do you love me or not?" she asked one last time, looking frail in a blush pink summer dress that neither covered her hands or her legs below her knees.

"No" his shoulders slumped as he confessed and saw her nod perceptibly.

"Please don't let Nani know about it. She won't be able to take it" Khushi requested thinking about the weak condition Devyani was in at the age of 85.

*

Brushing her tears away with the back of his hand, he asked her "Why do you think he doesn't love you?"

"He has never told me so" she replied throwing away the flowerless stem on the green grass with vehemence.

"Does everything need to be spoken?" he questioned, taking both her hands in his, lending her support.

"Sometimes, yes" she breathed out followed by a hiccup.