Chapter 15

Chapter - 15

When he saw her in front of him, all the doors that he tried so hard to keep shut tightly just opened back and flooded his mind with her thoughts.

Arnav sat in the big hall with everyone and looked up as Khushi walked down the stairs and ran into Payal's amma's arms. The love they had for her was very evident. He watched amazed as she carefreely smiled at them as he had never seen before. The smile that was so pure, so innocent and so content.           

The whole afternoon passed by with conferences and phone calls, restricting him from going out of his room. Anjali walked in a few times trying to grab his attention but only to leave enraged. It was almost 5 in the evening when he completed his last conference and collapsed on the bed. He closed his eyes mentally going through everything he just discussed with Aman and others when suddenly the visual of Khushi dancing flashed before his eyes.

His thoughts flew back to that morning when he saw her dancing and a tiny involuntary smile curled upon his lips. It was there only for few seconds before disappearing and getting replaced with a frown as he remembered Khushi calling Payal's parents amma and babuji. He wondered what her relation was to Payal and her family. He knew Payal's family for quite a few years now and was sure she is their only child. She cannot be her cousin either, courtesy Akash, who spoke about Payal every day before he left for the UK. And according to him, all her cousins lived overseas and hardly ever visited India.

As his mind wandered for answers, Anjali entered the room to check if Arnav was finally free. Seeing him laying on his bed made her even madder and she spoke sarcastically, "Sleep, Chote. That's what you came here for right, work, and sleep. Your cousin's engagement which by the way is tomorrow is not important at all..."

Anjali kept on speaking but nothing was registering into Arnav's brain. Out of nowhere, he whispered, "Khushi" stopping her mid-sentence.

"What?", she shouted bringing Arnav's attention to her.

"Di... did you say something?"

"What? Did you even listen to a single word I said? By the way that is my question, what did you just say?"

"Who me? Nothing."

"I am pretty sure you said Khushi."

Taken aback, he spoke quickly, "No"

"I know what I heard, Chote. Tell me, What about her?"

Even though he wanted to right away deny about uttering her name, he didn't. His curiosity won this time and he spoke, "Who is she?"

"Who, Khushi? Isn't she sweet? She is Payal's childhood friend."

"Friend? But she calls Payal's parents amma and babuji."

"Oh, that. Khushi and her family lived next to the Sinha's when they lived in Lucknow. Payal, Garima aunty, and Sashiuncle know her since she was a child. Payal said Khushi is like her younger sister. Maybe that was why she calls them that."

"If she is that close to the Sinha's, why have we never heard about her?"

"That was because Khushi's family suddenly moved to Mumbai and around the same time, Sinha's moved to Delhi. After that, they lost touch with Khushi."

"..."

"Arnav? Are you even listening?"

"Huh! yes."

"By the way, why are you so interested in Khushi?", she asked, looking at him suspiciously.

His facade back on he replied, "Me... Come on, Di. Don't get ahead of yourself. I asked because Sinha's are going to be part of our family soon and I want to know everything about them before I let them near my family. And also, information is key in business."

"You think so much Chote. I should have known, you really can't think beyond profits and losses. For you, everything is a deal. Ok, fresh up and come down to help at least now."

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That night during dinner, Arnav's eyes searched for Khushi but she was nowhere. "Where is she? Why is no one calling her for dinner?", he wondered.

As if answering his turmoil, Anjali asked, "Where is Khushi? Did someone call her?"

"She went out and asked us not to wait up.", Mrs.Sinha replied.

Arnav looked at his watch. It was 9:00 p.m. "She went alone, at this hour. What was she thinking? Someone should have gone with her.", his thoughts screamed at him.

Again Anjali saved him from his thoughts, "Out alone, at this time? She should have taken someone with her."

Payal answered dejected, "I wanted to go with her, but she insisted I take rest. She always goes out of her way to help others but never accepts help. She makes me angry at times. "

Payal's mom, Mrs.Sinha answered, "She will be fine. The driver is with her. She wanted to leave early but she got delayed from helping with all the arrangements. She will be back soon. Don't worry."

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Arnav kept circling around his guest room balcony. It was 9:45 and his restlessness was increasing with every passing minute. "Where is she? Why is she still not here?", he questioned concerned.

Around 5 minutes later the car entered the premises and Khushi got down. Arnav kept looking at her from his balcony till she disappeared into the building. He heaved a sigh of relief and walked to his bed. He didn't understand, why he grew restless when she was out late. Why he was worried so much for her safety? Why it mattered to him? But he stopped bothering about those questions for time being as he himself didn't know the answers. For now, she was safe and he was happy with that.

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- Hope