Chapter 3

Khushi wiped her tears, which had assembled at the back of her eyes due to constant giggling. She was thinking of how she teased Payal that she won't be able to put Haldi on her and Payal running back, protesting, complaining and yet claiming that she will.

She wrote this piece of memory on the page and sighed. On the next page, with the most exquisite writing, she wrote

"I miss you jiji. May DM bless with all the happiness you deserve or maybe more than that too".

She looked at the notebook once again and put it inside the drawer. There she found a picture of her payal, freaking Buaji out. Khushi took it out and clutching it to her chest, she laid on the bed.

The much awaited marriage had finally come to an end. After much arduous attempts by Arnav and Khushi, Akaash and Payal were now together with acceptance from the family. Though there was some resistance from Mami but everyone knew when the entire family's with the newlywed couple, all Manorama could do was to huff and puff.

Now that the wedding was over, Khushi pondered over how far she and Arnav had come. It all had begun from the challenge over the sangeet, then Arnav's dance with Khushi, the kiss, the bet, winning the bet, her so called accident which scared Arnav so much that he literally lost his senses when he saw her alive, then nursing her wound and finally getting her bangles.

Bangles!

She glanced on her side table, as she had placed them there. She hadn't thanked Arnav and thus decided to call him. His cell was unanswerable, so she called Akaash and then, she heard him calling she didn't want to repeat.

Whatever feeling she had for him were then overshadowed by her anger. He was caring and soft towards her but then what had happened was dj vu. This has always happened. Whenever there was a soft side to Arnav Singh Raizada, a nightmare stood behind a pillar to scare Khushi out of wits.

He saved her from falling that day in Sheesh Mahal and then made her life hell, he cured her twisted ankle and then deserted her shattering her heart into mighty tiny pieces, he stopped her from saying sorry when she apologized to him so that he may return her ring back and then he insulted her by first giving her desired necklace to La and then saying that she can accept this dress as a tip from Arnav Singh Raizada and finally, he is all romantic and then out of a sudden calls her a lunatic, a maniac and freakin inane idiot.

Khushi was burning inside, just because she didn't belong to an elite class didn't mean she had no feelings, or that she wasn't hurt.

But then, he always had his ways to console her, to provide a mean of solace and peace. He was rude to her in Naintal but then he took care of her too, fought with those goons and when they returned to Delhi, he actually patted her head. Though he hadn't spoken anything but his one simple gesture was like a dandelion in the spring, that yes, hope is still there. He made her hopeful just like he did today.

Since the day she met Payal, she had given her sister her heart. She was everything to Khushi and she feared that when it was time for Payal to bid adieu, Khushi would die out of lamentation, but she was smiling because Arnav made her do so.

So what if there's always a cruel side of Arnav Singh Raizada? There's always been a placid side too and if the bad side hurt her, the good side made her much happier.

**~~~**

The rituals were going on and there was a festive atmosphere, everyone was laughing, even Mami was enjoying but there was one person who wanted all of these stupid things to get over because someone would be crying this instant.

Arnav Singh Raizada couldn't believe how Payal could actually get so much involved in these damn rituals that she forgot that she left a crying sister back home, the sister who suffered so much to save her previous marriage and then did so much for this one. He silently retired to his room, making sure no one notices him.

He took of his coat, blazer and threw it on the bed. He folded his sleeves up to his elbow and washed his face. He then dragged his recliner out to the poolside and laid on it.

Had he ever in his wildest dream thought that he would be dancing, kissing and getting worried for a girl he previously felt revulsion even to have a glance of? But then, he never thought he'll save her so many times from one thing or another.

Arnav himself was unaware that what happens to him when she's around. His heart which, with all these efforts has not stopped feeling anything, feels yet craves for her presence, her smile, her blush, her concern for her.

Never in his life had Arnav felt like this before. Never in his life, he had cared for a girl after screaming on her, never nursed a wound when she had it due to her own negligence, never nursed her when she's burning with fever even if it's his own fault and never did any girl stir the desire to kiss in Arnav Singh Raizada. Never did tears affect him; never did a smile swell his heart. So if it's happening, it's something big.

He was thinking of her 24/7 365. He was not supposed to be tangled in the thoughts of a mere middle class girl; his mind chided him. She was there in front of him all the times that was why he was attracted to her or the better way was to say used to of her, otherwise all she was a crazy girl, who didn't know what she's saying and didn't do what she says.

"It's just mere attraction." He yet again claimed to himself.

"And I need to get her out my my mind or else she'll drive me crazy, and no one can drive ASR nuts."

"Chote" Anjali voice entered his ear and he jumped

"Snap it's di"

He quickly pulled the recliner in, put on his blazer when the door knocked.

"Coming di" He adjusted the position of the recliner and opened the door.

"Why are you here chote?"

"Di.. I.. you know I get bored" Arnav replied and Anjali laughed

"Oh Chote what will you do on your marriage? I guess I would've to search someone as serious as you or else she'll be upset because she won't be able to do all the rituals."

"Please Di" Arnav said irritated. He didn't know why but he could imagine Khushi's face, pouting because Arnav wouldn't let her sit in the ritual

"GET HER OUT OF YOUR MIND" He thought much more irritated.

"Umm chote I wanted to talk to you." Anjali asked, now becoming solemn.

"What's up Di? Is everything alright? Are you al"

"Shush Chote. At least listen to what I've got to say"

"Yes Di"

And they both went to sit on Arnav's bed

"Chote, I now you and Khushi ji don't get along, and it's because you are so opposite"

"Doesn't opposite attract?" Arnav couldn't help but think.

"But Chote you got to admit that she's an amazing person. She's like beauty inside out. She's kind, mannered and she loves to love people."

"DI I don't know what you are trying to say" Arnav said, not being able to listen more of this "good side of Khushi Kumari Gupta"

"Chote all I need to say that you need to put your prejudice aside and start looking at the good side of her. I agree she can be childish and immature at times but"

"Di get to the point"

"Chote you have to accept Khushi"

"WHAT THE HELL DI. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY?" Arnav bellowed, accept Khushi

"as bhabhi Chote" Anjali replied, not feeling bad of what Arnav said.

"What?" He stood up from the bed. He couldn't bear Khushi being engaged to someone and she was asking to accept her as a bhabhi

"Chote you do not need to over react. She's a human and not your private property, she's a wonderful girl and I would always want to her come to this house, talking to you to marry her would be like initiating a world war but NK bhai, I've seen in his eyes that he really likes Khushi ji"

"And Khushi?" Arnav asked, not wanting to hear her answer

"I didn't get you Chote?"

"What have you seen in her eyes?"

"Well, all I have observed is that she likes him because he's friendly to her but I know Khushi ji, she'll start loving him if she knows that all she needs to do"

Khushi love NK, NK love Khushi, Nk marries Khushi... What is going on?

"What do you want me to do in this entire Khushi NK marriage thing?"

"Just try to be nice to her. I don't want another Mami fiasco during this wedding. NK bhai won't live here. He'll back naturally so Mami doesn't need to be so bothered but you, you know Chote, sometimes you are a very hard nut to crack" Anjali patted his cheek.

Arnav didn't reply. His inside was burning, out of an emotion, he knew not. Now he realizes what it must feel like when he declared his engagement in front of her, but then she doesn't cares.

"Oh who am I kidding? She cares, she definitely does! Who can ignore those blushes and stammering and concerns" He thought.

Anjali observed Arnav being lost in some deep thoughts and smiled.

"Mission Accomplished" She said to herself.

"Good night Chote" She said and left, fully aware he hadn't heard her.

**~~~**

Precap:

"Why are you doing this?

Khushi didn't fail to notice that there was no anger in his voice, in fact his voice was emotionless.

"Kia karrahi hain hum?" She replied with same emotionless voice.

"What am I doing?"

"Don't act dumb. You haven't looked once since the past two hours or wait, since the moment you arrived!"

"And why do even care?" She snapped back.

Arnav walked forward and pulled her towards him

"TUMHE KITNI BAAR KAHA HAI K MUJHSE AISI BAAT NA KIA KARO" He bellowed, and she winced. But this time there was no moving back.

"How many times have I told you that don't talk to me like this" He bellowed and she winced. But this time there was no moving back.

"Aap ki marzi, aap ka ghusa, or humara kia?" She screamed back and pulled her out of his grip.

"It's always about your wished, you anger and what about me?"

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Arnav asked irritated.

"And shall I ask you the very same question?" She asked her voice heavy with sarcasm.

*******

Please like and comment. 😳