Chapter 4

Inside the marquee, Akaash and Payal were busy greeting guests while rest of the family members did something or another. Arnav, NK and Mama ji stood the reception waiting for the guests and guiding them inside. Just then, appeared Buaji and Arnav became restless, she had arrived.

The similar situation, breeze fanning her face, heart going Dhak Dhak Dhak and Khushi knew he was somewhere near to her.

"DM please don't let it go berserk today especially when I am wearing the lehenge he pestered me to wear"

Just then she heard.

"Namaste"

And shot her eyes up, there he stood in navy blue three piece suit, looking as ever extremely handsome.

She clutched her lehenga and walked inside.

"Remember Khushi, you don't have to interact with a person who drives you nuts"

Arnav saw her arriving and his heart swelled with happiness, she had kept her words, she was wearing the same blue and red lehenga which he had help her choose making him poignant for thinking that she doesn't even does what she claims to.

NK: "Khushi ji"

Before he could even react to her arrival, NK had already called and Khushi's face broke into a radiant smile.

Khushi: "Namaste Nanhe ji"

NK: "Looking nice Khushi ji"

Khushi:L "Dhannewat"

"Thank you"

NK: "Let's go in. I've been standing here ever since to accompany you"

Khushi: "Aww, thank you so much"

"What the hell! I thought he was standing here with us to receive the guests but.." Arnav couldn't even complete his sentence out of rage.

"And this Khushi, what is up with her? She didn't even look at him once" He thought feeling peculiar.

**~~~**

All the guests had arrived and the ceremony was on its full swing. The pictures were being clicked and Arnav spotted Khushi posing with Anjali and looking extremely cute.

"Chote" Anjali called him as if she understood what was going in her mind."

"Dulhe ka bhai or dulhan ki behen. Perfect!" Anjali beamed as she brought Arnav next to Khushi but Khushi backed off at once.

"Sorry Anjali ji, but I need to go to jiji" She said, not looking at him. Standing next to him? Na baba na.

"But Khushi ji one picture won't do any harm"

"Anjali ji I am sorry I just ca" She said trying not to look so defeated already.

"What is it Khushi? Are you alright?" He asked in his normal voice so because there were plenty of people around them

Khushi at once looked up at him, with angry eyes and sighed.

"Fine then, Nanhe ji is also the brother of the groom, let's call him too" She suggested and Anjali agreed while Arnav couldn't believe her ears.

"Okay" Anjali smile faltered for a while but then it turned into a grin. Perfect. She excused herself to look for NK.

"Did it help?" Arnav asked gently, leaning closer to him but she moved aside.

"I don't want to talk to you" She said and turned her back to him.

"What?" He thought but before he could react in any possible mean, NK arrived and stood in between Arnav and Khushi.

"NK bhai, let khushi ji come in center"

"Okay Di"

Khushi looked at Arnav from the corner of her eyes and found him smirking.

"Damn that smirk! Wish I could wipe it once and for all" She thought pissed of but then dejectedly came in center.

"Dude you guys are not waiting to tear each other apart." The photographer called out.

"Trust me I do" Arnav and Khushi thought simulteanously.

"Make some pose, smile and laugh, after all its wedding" The photographer shouted from behind the camera as 3 of them stood like statues

"Common Khushi ji, what happened to you? Be yourself and pose in the camera"

Khushi looked at Arnav and then remembered that smirk.

"Of course Anjali ji.I will be myself." She said, and grabbed NK's arm much to Arnav's dislike.

"Hoo Arnav! It's your brother's wedding mate, stop breathing fire buddy. Smile!" He said out loud to Arnav and earned laughter from everyone around. He couldn't leave these two alone nor he could stay solemn or people will think he's jealous. He thus faked a smile.

"Now that's what I am talking about. Say Cheese!" He said.

**~~~**

"Di I need to attend a conference" Arnav said, while looking wistfully at Khushi and NK taking selfies in NK's cell

"But Chote it's your brother's damn reception. You just can't lea"

"Di I'll come in few minutes, I promise!" Arnav tapped her cheek and left.

"I hate it when Chote works on such special days." Anjali said as she sat on the table.

Akaash and Payal kneeled in front of her and tried to pacify her when Nani appeared with a slight smirk on her face.

"Where's Chote bitya?"

"He went to attend some stupid conference."

"Wonderful!"

"What's so wonderful in it?" Anjali asked looking up to her Nani.

"You wait and watch bitya".

Nani called HP and told him to escort NK to the main hallway to greet the remaining guests. When NK was out of sight, Anjali was ordered to act as if she was in immense pain and needed Arnav by her side much to Akaash and Payal's surprise.

"Khushi ji have you seen Nanhe bitwa?" Nani asked as deep concern and worry was palpable on her face.

"No I haven't. What's wrong?"

"Anjali bitya is not feeling well and I need to call Chote. HP is busy, NK is I don't where and Akaash can't leave like this to look for him"

"I'll go and fetch him Nani"

"Nahi nahi bitya.. you are our guest I can't le"

"Nani please" Khushi gave a Nani a reassuring look and left for the mansion.

"Wow Nani, that was brilliant" Anjali beamed as she saw Khushi's retreating until both of them heard someone clearing their throats. Anjali and Nani turned to find Akash and Payal looking at them incredulously.

"What is going on here?" Akash asked, raising his brow.

**~~~**

"DM raksha karna.. rakha karna DM" Khushi chanted her mantra as she walked up the stairs to his room, bracing herself for all sort of outcomes. When she reached his room, she gulped and knocked the door.

"Who's is it?"

"Umm..wo..A.."

"Come in Khushi"

Arnav looked up at him and found her fiddling with her dupatta, her worry too conspicuous on her face.

"Chooriyan main doon, or pictures kisi or k saath?" Arnav said as he continued typing on his laptop.

"I get you bangles and you click pictures with others" Arnav said as he continued typing on his laptop.

"Umm.. Even NK got me bangles and you were there in that picture too" She snapped. How could someone be so insecure?

"Oh. Let me then rephrase myself: You were bangles given by me and click selfies with other huh?" Arnav said, looking up at her while she stared back at him with disbelief.

"So what do you want? A selfie with me?" Khushi replied urgently, desperate to get out of here.

"I have no issues" Arnav said, shutting his laptop.

"What is up with you?" She asked, conflicting emotions appearing on her face

"Why?"

"You were never like that? You and selfies? I mean.. Arnav Singh Raizada could be..so.." She thought of the perfect word while Arnav guessed it right away.

"Desperate!" Only the word itself arouse the monster within Arnav. How could she trespass the strong boundary wall he had established? Was she even able to see the havoc she had created within him?

He needed to get her out of his room, out of his mind, out of his life or she'll be able to see everything, and every single feeling within me would be palpable in front of her.

"Get out" He said, calming himself with all the might he could muster

"Jee?" She replied, not ready to be too credulous to believe his monster that was resurfacing again.

"I SAID GET OUT!" He shouted, closing his laptop with a bang, shaking her from head to toe.

"Theek hai. Hum jarahe hain" She said, within her sobs, her words alluding her departure both from his room and his life and left.

"Dammit!" He had ruined it all over again.

**~~~**

As if the dissension with Arnav wasn't enough, the ceremony had now come to an end, and Khushi was more ludicrous. She was finding some solace in her sister's presence and it was time to bid adieu to it as well. She had managed to ignore him so much so that she was found a meter away from him. It was two hours since their dissension and Khushi hadn't even come in his way, let alone looking at him and her sister was her companion. She had spent the time, teasing her, although she was solemn at her heart but now the time had arrived to go back home and cry over her broken heart.

"I am coming tomorrow Khushi. Don't cry sweetheart" Payal tried to console her but there was no stopping Khushi. She was crying incessantly.

"Jiji I can't leave you."

"I know but it's just one night. I'll be there tomorrow. Please Khushi, you need to be strong" Payal tried to make her little sister understand and she nodded.

"Promise me"

"I promise"

Garima put an arm around her and tried to console her, until she was better than before.

The Raizadas went to see of the Guptas to the car which was doing the task of escorting them during the entire wedding. Arnav saw her leaving and a tight knot was felt in his stomach

"Khushi" He called but she didn't stop.

"Khushi"

"Bitya Arnav bitwa is calling you. Why don't you go and listen to him. We'll meet you by the car" Garima patted her cheek and she nodded. She had nothing to lose by talking to him. She had always been terrified to be alone with him after a moment of passion because she always knew what comes next but this time, the argument was over, the hopes were shattered so the conversation would bring her no more loss.

" Tum yeh kyun karrahi ho?"

"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.

Arnav simply raised his brow

"First you act all nice to me and then the next second you always do or say something that breaks my heart."

"When did I ever do that?"

"When did you ever do that? Aap Mazak karrahe hain? Think of all the times we spent together and you'll know. Let me give you a hint, do you remember what happened at Diwali? Or let me remind you something which recently happened. Do you even know how much I attracted I was to you this wedding that I actually realized you were not that ruthless but yesterday, I heard you calling me you know what and do you even realize how it feels to be called such things by the person you actually start"

She stopped. What was she saying? She actually started what?

Arnav eyes widened. Why did she stop? What did she mean?

"Khu"

"Nahi rehne den." She replied and started walking away and Arnav ran to match up her pace

"You and I need to talk" He said, walking and looking at her.

"I don't see why" She replied not looking at her.

"I see why" He came in front of her, blocking her way and ultimately bringing her to a halt.

"Arnav ji please. I don't want to talk to you. Don't worry. I always feel this bad and get over the fact and yes, I won't be coming to your house anymore so you may now live in peace so I am keeping your words and GETTING OUT" She said and started to walk away but this time Arnav didn't follow him.

PRECAP

"Nani and I want Chote to marry Khushi ji"

"What?" Payal was the first person to react, however her reaction, shocked the other three people. She had literally jumped on the bed.

"Di?" Akaash said incredulously, his eyes still viewing his wife out of shock.

"Yes Akaash and Payal, Khushi ji's a wonderful girl and I always wanted her to be a part of our family."

"I don' t think so" Payal replied gravely.

Anjali and Nani's face fell. They hadn't expected such refusal from Payal.

"But Payal bitya, they both look great together" Nani tried to explain

"But Nani ji, Khushi has suffered surfeit at Arnav's hand. I can't see my sister in pain. She has gone through enough already." Payal tried to be gentle but stubborn at the same time.

"I know that Chote had been excessively rude to Khushi ji but Payal you need to understand that she's the only girl who can change him, who has changed him."

"Anjali ji, marriage is not a child's play or a commitment for mere weeks or years, it's a matter of entire lifetime and I can't push my sister in the well with my own bare hands"

********

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Chapter 5