Chapter 13

One week passed quickly. All of them worked really hard for their final term and their exams went really well. All were satisfied and happy.

Today is the Fest evening. All of them did their dance practices separately. The Fest preparations were done by them. This kept them busy throughout the week.

The dance performance list was out and among them La-NK was the first to perform. NK called La and told her to get ready for the performance. All things were going smoothly. La and NK were waiting backstage as within few minutes the anchor gonna call them on stage.

La was little nervous from beginning. " I hope we perform well NK", La said as she nervously looks the crowds cheering for the couple who were performing on the stage.

NK saw La's nervousness and held her hand and started to walk towards the terrace stairs pulling La along with him.

" What the hell do you think your doing NK? Where are you taking me? They gonna call us anytime. Are you even listening damn-it?", La said angrily as she tries to take her hand out of NK's hold.

NK went to the terrace and left La's hand.

La began to say something but stopped as NK put his finger on her lips and said, " Shhh... They can wait but I cant."

" You talk too much La. Now I am going to speak and you have to listen to me. Do you get it?", NK said in a soft but confident tone.

"Hmmm" was the only thing La replied as NK's finger was still there on her lips.

" La after that day you dint talk to me about your feelings nor u asked about my feelings", NK said as he removes his finger from her lips.

"Now I want you to answer my few questions. You just heard my conversation with Riya and followed me. What if I was actually dating any other girl? You would have ruined my date. Without thinking once or clearing your doubts with me, you jumped into conclusion", NK said while walking away from La.

La was tongue tied. She dint know what to reply. Yes it was true she made her own conclusion without even hearing the whole telephonic conversation.

"I am really sorry for that NK. Actually I saw you with a girl when we all went for the dinner that night. Your closeness with that girl somehow irked me. That time I dint even know that I have already fallen in love with you", La said as she walks towards NK.

"After that evening when we came back to our apartment, I saw Payal was arguing with Aakash. I dint interfere as now they were already couple and need to sought out things by themselves. Later that night I asked Payal about the matter", La continued as she looks towards the black shinning sky.

"Payal told me how she spotted Aakash talking with a girl and she got mad on him as the girl has a habit of sticking to guys. I asked her how she felt when she saw Aakash with that girl", La said as she looks into NK eyes with full of love and pain.

"When Payal told me her feelings, I was shocked because I felt the same when I saw you with that girl. That night I came to know that I am actually in love with you and I got jealous when I spotted the girl with you", La said as she takes his hands in hers.

"Because of my Jealousy I dint think once before following you that day. But when I realized it was quite late. I am so sorry for my behaviour NK. Please forgive me!", La said and starts to take her hand back.

NK held her hand securely and said, " La, you said all your feelings but you are leaving without listening to me."

" I understand what you did was out of your insecurity. I dint sleep after that day, always I was thinking about you, your confession and my feelings. Till now I haven't thought about the flow of my life. I was in dilemma not because of your confession but for my feelings", NK said as he guides her to sit on the nearby swing on the terrace.

" I thought of talking to Arnav or Aakash about this but before that something happened with me that cleared all my doubts", NK said as he looks towards La's confused face.

" That day I saw a dream that you were getting married to someone else. But you weren't happy and your sad face was disturbing me. I woke up and thus realized that it was a mere dream. That nightmare cleared my doubt that I cant see you with anyone else", NK said as he looks at La with painful eyes.

" La I wont say that I have fallen in love with you in these past week. But I would like to confess that I was observing you since last week. Your smile brings a smile to my face, I get worried when you were disturbed. Your presence and absence do affect me. It will take sometime for me to say I Love you but I am sure about one thing that my life is incomplete without you. I want to live my whole life with you, till my last breathe", NK said as he looks into her eyes reading her every single feeling.

La couldn't control her tears anymore and broke down in NK's arms.

Aakash saw NK and La going towards terrace. He immediately understood the situation and postponed their performance. Instead of them Aakash and Payal performed and it was hugely appreciated by the guests and the audience.

NK and La after composing themselves came down and thanked Aakash for postponing their performance. Aakash and Payal saw the glow on their faces and hugged them.

Khushi was getting ready for her performance but she was all lost in Arnav's thoughts. She tried to ignore her feelings but couldn't as they were as strong as their friendship.

Arnav was getting restless by each passing second. He has decided to say his feelings to Khushi as soon as possible. He asked few gals about Khushi and they told him that Khushi was in green room getting ready for the performance. He made his way towards the greenroom. His heart was beating so loudly that even he can hear his own heartbeats.

Arnav entered the green room as Khushi left the door open after she was done and saw her lost in thoughts. Arnav was so nervous but confident about his moves. He slowly approached towards Khushi and called her.

"Khushi, I want to talk to you please", Arnav said as he guides her to the nearby couch.

Khushi was waiting for Arnav to speak but instead of speaking Arnav lifted a piece of paper. Khushi's face immediately flushed but she covered up her expressions and looked away.

"Khushi, you wrote this for me, didn't you?", Arnav said as he opens the letter and show it to Khushi.

"I don't know what are you talking about", Khushi said as she gets up and start to walk away.

Arnav grabbed her hand causing her to freeze on the spot. At his sudden touch electricity passed through every core of her body. Arnav asked her to sit on the couch and kneeled down on his knees and started to read the letter written by Khushi.

Letter...

Dear Arnav,

I LOVE YOU...I am writing this letter to you as you haven't figured it out yet. I don't know when I fell for you. Whenever I was with you, I saw no other than you. I know you since childhood but now I feel carefree and light whenever I am with you.

I haven't blushed so much that my cheeks hurt around anyone, but I have always been this way around you.

When after La's confession you came to my room and asked me those questions, I became sure of your feelings for me.

Now I am happy, blissful and content. I don't care about anything as long as I am with you. I just know that, I am sincerely in love with you.

With love,

Khushi

" Khushi, I wanted to say that you mean a lot to me and I figured it long back that I am unhappy and incomplete without you", Arnav said as he takes her hand in his.

"I Love you Khushi", Arnav said as he looks deeply into her tear filled eyes.

"I Love you too Arnav", Khushi said as she smiles and places her palm on his cheek.

Time stopped , no words required for them to express their love. Their eyes speaks volume.

Arnav leaned closer so that his lips brushed against Khushi's lips. Then he started kissing Khushi fully and she reciprocated instantly, moving her lips against his.

Her body started trembling as if she will fall down anytime. Soon her knees gave away but Arnav grabbed her and supported with his arms around her waist.

They were not sure for how long they kissed each other. Tears flooded in her eyes as her heart continued thudding rapidly against his chest. Arnav rested his forehead against Khushi's , caressed her cheek and wipe away the tears.

Arnav closed the space between them and hugged her tightly, wrapping his arms around Khushi and she also did the same. Arnav parted and pressed his lips softly on her forehead and said, " I am so happy today Khushi, and you are the reason behind my happiness."

Khushi smiled and hugged Arnav and said, " Lets go Arnav, all must be waiting for us."

Arnav gave a nod and after composing themselves they left for the performance.

After 2 or 3 performances the anchor called Arnav-Khushi on stage. They walked to the stage confidently hand on hand. But as the DJ played the song all became surprised as he played a different slow number by mistake.

NK, La, Aakash and Payal all became tensed and both of them practiced on some different number and they don't want Arnav-Khushi to lose the competition.

Arnav gave a wink to Khushi and held her hand asking her to look into his eyes. He then placed her hand on his shoulders and started to move along with the beats placing one arm around her waist.

They looked into each others eyes and performed the song so beautifully that the audience was aww-ing all the time. Their chemistry and way of dancing was enough for the rest of the gang to understand that what was going on between them. Aakash mentally thanked god and prayed for the new couple but NK, Payal and La were equally surprised with the new information. But all were happy to see them together. Their trance was broke as the host announced the winner of the contest and it was none other than Arnav and Khushi. The audience cheered for the winning couple and Payal, NK, La and Aakash joined Arnav and Khushi on the stage. All were happy as all of them will be together for eternity.