Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“Is there something you want to ask me, Akash?” Doctor Kumar said after Akash had opened his mouth and then closed it for the fifth time. They were in the car, heading back to the Mahal. Akash and he hadn’t talked ever since Malik had decided to spill the entire truth before his adopted son. Doctor Kumar could guess that Akash had questions.

Akash just shook his head, going back to staring into the screen of his cell phone.

“Are you sure?” Doctor Kumar gave a long look to Akash.

Akash turned his head towards Doctor Kumar. Both of them were sitting in the back seat. Akash spared a glance at the driver in the front of the car and then looked again at the doctor.

“There is nothing to ask. I just want to thank you for being here for Baba. In spite of all that your family and you suffered, you stuck by Baba’s side. I…It has only multiplied the respect and love that I always had for you, Uncle” Akash said.

Doctor Kumar processed the words and a barely imperceptible nod was all he gave in return.

~~**~~

When Arnav walked into the waiting room he found Khushi deep in thought.

“I thought the doctor said he is going to recover” He said and Khushi looked at him, blinking back into the present.

“Yes, he will” She said.

“So, what is on your mind? Worried about your growing age?” He said, taking a seat beside her.

Khushi noticed the hint of amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth and shook her head.

"You are the one to talk? You're already old." She said, resting her back against the couch, arms crossing loosely over her chest.

Arnav frowned at her, mock-offended.

"That is not even close to funny. I am not even thirty." He replied.

"Aww! So defensive." Khushi returned the amused smile, this time making Arnav shake his head, a reluctant grin tugging at his lips despite himself.

"So, are you going to tell me? What are you thinking?" He asked seriously, leaning forward slightly.

"Isn't it strange how we think we know someone and then it turns out we don't really?" She posed the question, her eyes searching his face for something.

"It is not strange. We can never know anyone completely. We only think we do. But, the truth is that most of the time, we do not even know ourselves completely." Arnav stated after taking a pause, his voice quieter now, more considered.

"What do you mean?" Khushi looked at Arnav. He looked back at her, steady, unhurried.

"Sometimes we decide to do things one way but then we go ahead and do the exact opposite. We surprise ourselves. You know what I am saying?" Arnav said.

"So glad to know it is not just me then." Khushi gave him a half-smile, something softening in her expression.

“Definitely not just you!” Arnav replied back.

Khushi's half-smile turned full, warming her whole face. She found herself looking at him longer than it was needed or appropriate, the silence between them stretching just a beat too far.

"What?" Arnav asked her, noticing. She looked away quickly, heat rising in her cheeks.

"Nothing! I am going to check upon Malik Uncle." She said, standing up abruptly.

"He is asleep." Arnav stood up too, unfolding to his full height beside her.

"I'll go check again." Khushi said, walking around the center table to leave, but ended up bumping into its edge, her hip catching the corner.

Before she could fall, Arnav's hand had found its way around her waist to balance her, quick and certain, closing the distance between them in an instant.

"Sorry, I keep stumbling." She mumbled, trying to straighten up but found him staring at her, hands still wrapped around her, warm through the fabric of her kurta.

"All the time." He said, letting go slowly, his fingers trailing away almost reluctantly. Khushi noticed the subtle way in which he flexed his fingers after they left her waist.

She cleared her throat and stepped away from him, to a safer distance. She could still feel the pressure of those fingers around her waist, a phantom warmth that lingered.

“You said he is asleep. How do you..”

"I checked before I came in." He replied and settled again into the chair, entirely unbothered.

Khushi gave him a perplexed look, head tilting slightly.

"As I said, sometimes we surprise ourselves." He said, a faint smile ghosting across his face.

Khushi wanted to say that she was proud he was trying to be on his best behaviour, but she didn't. She might not know him completely, but she now knew him enough to know that he didn't want to hear that.

~~**~~

As evening fell and the doctors declared that they will release Birendra Singh Malik the next day, Akash volunteered to stay the night at the hospital.

Khushi contested him on it saying he was already here the previous night.

“Both of you will go home. I will stay” Doctor Kumar stated in a tone that left no room for further argument.

So, both of them nodded and Doctor Kumar walked out of the waiting room.

“You are dropping me home?” Khushi asked Akash once both of them were alone in the room.

“Do you even have to ask?” Akash replied, texting on his phone.

“No, I don’t. But, I was thinking we can continue our conversation from earlier” Khushi said.

“Not today” Akash replied, still absorbed in his phone.

“Why not? And who are you texting?” She tried to look into his phone but he stepped away, angling the screen out of view.

“No no! You are not looking at my phone” He said.

“What? Since when?” Khushi placed her hands on her waist, eyes narrowing.

“Since now. Come on! We should get moving” He said, putting away his phone and Khushi frowned at him.

“You can frown on the way back to your house” He said, already moving.

Khushi mimicked his words under her breath and followed after him.

Once both of them were inside Akash's car, Khushi turned to him.

“I hope you’re not planning some birthday surprise for me”

Akash looked at Khushi.

“I am not. You already told me not to.”

“I am just making sure you listened” She said.

“When do I not?” Akash said.

"I could write a book on all the times you didn't. And how it always backfired." Khushi said, slightly smirking.

Akash merely nodded his head and continued with his driving. Once they reached Chowk, Akash parked his car at the nearby garage.

“You know you don’t have to walk me till home” Khushi said as they walked together.

“Just like you don’t have to say that every time I do” Akash replied.

“I am noticing that you’re coming up with a lot of rebuttals these days” Khushi commented.

"Glad you're noticing. Lately, you haven't been giving me the attention I deserve." Akash said, and Khushi laughed, the sound bright in the narrow street.

Akash just shook his head and knocked at the door, his expression sobering somewhat.

"Hey." Khushi said, noticing that he didn't seem to find it funny anymore.

"Were you serious?" She asked, placing a hand on his arm.

Akash looked at her, something unguarded in his eyes.

"I just miss the old times, you know? The fun and simple times." He said.

Khushi knew what he meant. She missed the old times too. Before she could say that, the door opened.

"Everything good at the hospital?" Her father asked when he looked at the serious faces before him, concern immediately etching his features.

"Much better than yesterday, Uncle." Akash turned towards him and said with a smile, the earlier heaviness dissolving.

"That is what I was expecting to hear. Now come in, you two" Shashi Gupta said and Akash walked in, Khushi following after him.

"What is this?" Khushi's eyes turned bigger when she noticed the spread on the table — ten kinds of food arranged in careful rows, the smell of it filling the entire room.

"It is a celebratory dinner. My daughter is turning twenty-five tonight." Shashi Gupta said, moving to the kitchen.

"You cooked all this? All by yourself?" Khushi walked after him while Akash plopped down on the couch, watching the daughter and the father.

"I anyway needed to get back to practice. Now, go sit with Akash. It'll be done in another half an hour" Shashi Gupta said to Khushi who looked at Akash suspiciously.

"What? I didn't plan it!" He said, raising his hands in surrender.

"Really? Who were you texting?" She demanded.

"I guess he was texting me."

Khushi turned and found Arnav at the door, holding bags heavy enough to strain his forearms.

"What is going on?" She looked back at her father, who was stirring a pot without a hint of guilt.

"Don't ask me! I only planned to cook" Shashi Gupta replied and went back to his cooking.

Khushi turned away from her father and watched as Arnav walked up to the kitchen and stuffed the boxes in the refrigerator, moving through the space with an ease that surprised her.

Then he walked past her and into the kitchen.

"Why don't you go get changed, Uncle? I can take it from here." He said to her father.

"Thanks, son!" Shashi Gupta said, placing a hand on Arnav's shoulder, the gesture easy and familiar.

Then he turned towards Khushi.

"Look at her! Still standing here. Go get changed, Khushi! And do not take much time." Shashi Gupta said, and left for his room, wiping his hands on a towel as he went.

Khushi first watched her father leave, then she looked at Akash, who was sprawled on the couch watching television, and then she finally looked at Arnav, who was now filling the bowl with kheer, his sleeves pushed up to his elbows.

"What is going on, Arnav? How? When?" She said, arms crossing.

"Oh come on, Khushi! We know this isn't the best birthday surprise but the least you can do is look excited." Arnav said, and before she could say more, she noticed his gaze sweeping her from head to toe, assessing.

"Yeah. You are not cutting your birthday cake in that. Go, get changed" He said.

"Why?" She asked, glancing down at herself, trying not to feel conscious under Arnav's gaze.

"You were right, Akash! This is less of fun and more of an ordeal." Arnav said in a louder voice.

"Hate to say 'I told you', Bhai." Akash's voice floated from the drawing room, muffled by laughter.

"Yeah. I should have listened." Arnav said, shaking his head.

"I am right here." Khushi said, hands on her hips.

"We know." said both the brothers, in unison.

"Now, go get changed! I have not eaten anything since the afternoon." Arnav said.

"Yeah. I am going. Just tell me this. Did you plan all this?" She asked, pausing at the doorway.

"If I say yes, will you go and get changed?" Arnav asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes." She said.

"Then yes! I called Shashi Uncle to ask if he was doing anything. He said he will be cooking a special dinner for you. I volunteered to buy the cake. That is all the planning that went into this" He said.

"You called Babuji?"

"Yes, I did. Akash gave me the number." Arnav said, and watched as Khushi stared at him, something unreadable flickering across her face.

"What?" He said.

"Nothing!" She said and left quietly to her room, her steps quicker than usual.

Arnav watched her go and wondered what made her so quiet. Was he doing too much too soon? After the doctors had given the green signal that Birendra Singh Malik was going to be discharged the next day, Arnav had approached Akash and asked if he had any plans for Khushi's birthday. Akash had shaken his head.

"I thought she wouldn't want to celebrate, you know? With Baba's cancer and all that? Although, I do plan to buy her a gift" He had said.

"Yeah. But to not do anything will just add to the gloom" Arnav had countered.

"That's a point too, Bhai. So, what do you think we should do?" Akash had said.

"Give me Shashi Uncle's number. I'll check up with him and then let you know" Arnav had said before leaving the hospital.

After that, he had called up her father and asked if he had any plans. Shashi Gupta had told him about the dinner he planned to prepare, and Arnav had offered to help.

Thus, here he was.

Once Khushi was gone and Arnav decided he was overthinking about her reaction, he got back to putting the food in serving bowls.

"Do I have to issue a royal decree before you come and assist me, Akash?" He addressed Akash again, who was still sprawled on the couch, eyes glued to the screen.

Arnav heard the immediate shuffling of feet, and Akash was in the kitchen in an instant, nearly tripping over the doorframe.

"Sorry, Bhai. Dhoni was about to hit a six." Akash said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"What is new in that? Take these dishes and put them on the table. Then carry these plates. I will go and check upon uncle." He said, and Akash got to work, balancing plates with exaggerated care.

Arnav went to Shashi Gupta's room first and knocked on the door once.

"The table is set, Uncle" He said.

"I shall be out in a second, Arnav. And please Khushi or we will be waiting till her next birthday" He said.

"Sure, Uncle" Arnav replied and moved towards her room.

~~**~~

Khushi had gotten into a faded blue salwar kurta which was paired with a red dupatta. All the while she was getting dressed, she kept mumbling to herself about the futility of it all.

They were having dinner at home. Why does she have to dress up? She was going to tell off Arnav for doing this. Malik Uncle was in the hospital and she is having a birthday dinner? She had already said they will do this dinner a few days later. But, no! No one listens to her.

Or in this case, Arnav didn't listen to her. Akash did. He planned nothing. He did nothing. Exactly what she wanted. He is a good friend. Arnav? Not so much. She told herself, fingers fumbling with the fabric.

"God!" She said in exasperation when she struggled and failed to reach the dori at the back of her kurta. How did she forget this one had a deeper back? It will take half an hour for her to get this thing tied.

She was still trying to reach her fingers to the dori when she stilled. Another set of fingers brushed against the bare skin of her back, unhurried, deliberate. Her skin heated at the touch and she tried to turn.

"Stay still." The words were quiet, low, a command that left no room for argument. Khushi turned her neck just enough to see Arnav standing behind her, close, closer than she had expected.

Slowly, he gathered her hair to one side, his knuckles grazing the side of her neck as he moved it out of the way. He didn't hurry. His fingers found the first string of the dori and paused there, resting lightly against her skin.

"Arnav.." She shivered at the contact, her voice barely above a whisper. What is he doing inside? What is he doing to her?

He didn't answer right away. His fingers moved again, slow, unhurried, tracing the string upward before looping it, and every graze of his fingers against hers felt deliberate, felt like he was drawing the moment out longer than it needed to be drawn.

Khushi's heart had picked up an unsteady rhythm, loud enough that she was certain he could hear it in the silence between them. She should say something. She should step away. She did neither.

"I am famished, Khushi." He said finally, his voice rougher than before, as he finished the last knot, his fingers lingering just a second too long against her lower back before he let them fall away.

She turned to face him, startled, still caught in the pull of whatever had just passed between them.

"What?"

"Hungry!" He said, and there was something almost teasing in it now, though his eyes hadn't quite let go of hers. He was still standing close, closer than the moment called for, and she was half-turned towards him, close enough to see the flicker of something unguarded cross his face before he caught it.

He finally stepped back, and his eyes held hers a beat longer than they should have.

"I know it is your birthday but can you step out now? I cannot wait to get started with the delicious food outside." He said, and just like that, the air between them shifted back to something lighter, something safer.

She blinked, pulling herself out of it.

Hungry! He meant food. They have dinner waiting. She stepped back too quickly, putting distance between them as though the space itself could undo what had just happened, what she had felt.

"I am ready." She said, failing to contain the rush of colour in her cheeks. What the hell is going on with her? And with him? That reminded her, she was supposed to be upset with him.

"You and I are going to have words after the dinner." She said to him, narrowing her eyes, though her voice lacked its usual conviction.

"Words? I was thinking kheer!" He replied, tongue in cheek, already turning toward the door as though nothing at all had happened.

"That is not even a joke! And who's delaying now? Get moving." She said and walked out of the room, making sure to cover her back with the mass of her hair, though it did nothing to erase the memory of his fingers still tracing warm lines against her skin.

Arnav didn't follow out immediately. He stood there a moment longer, staring at the space where she had been, his own pulse refusing to settle. He knew he had taken longer than necessary with those strings. He knew exactly what he had been doing, drawing it out, feeling the exact texture of her skin, the small catch in her breath when his fingers had grazed her neck. He had no right to linger like that. But he had felt like he had every right, in that moment, with her standing so close and so still beneath his hands.

She didn't even chastise him for it. That, more than anything, stayed with him.

Well — if she wanted to have words with him about it later, he would let her. He had already cleared things with Akash. Maybe it was time to give her more than a hint. He liked being around her, he liked talking to her, he liked listening to her. And he liked the quiet weight of her attention, the way she stilled when he touched her. She should know that too.

Suddenly, he found himself looking forward to having 'words' with her more than he cared to admit.

~~**~~

The clock had struck 11:50 by the time dinner was a done affair and Khushi had insisted to clean the dishes. Akash had told her she was being dull but she didn't care to listen.

Arnav had offered to help with the dishes but she had dismissed him. So, the three men sat before the television and watched the highlights of the match, the room filled with the low murmur of commentary.

When only three minutes remained, Arnav hinted Akash to get the ball rolling.

Akash nodded and disappeared from the room.

Shashi Gupta walked up to Khushi and told her it was time to cut the cake.

Arnav arranged the cake on the dining table and lit the candles.

"One more minute to go" Akash said, walking in the room with a huge box in his hand.

"Where did that come from?" Khushi said.

"Fifty seconds. Take position" Arnav said, clicking his fingers before her eyes.

"Take position? This is a cake, Arnav. Not a war front" She rolled her eyes.

"Be a sport, will you?" Akash said, putting the box beside her.

"Twenty seconds" Her father said.

"Babuji, you too?" She said to her father who just smiled back.

"Ten seconds" Akash said.

Khushi looked at the cake in front of her and took the plastic knife in her hands. The excitement around her was getting to her too, warm and infectious.

"Five..four..three"

She noticed the grinning faces before her and couldn't help but grin back.

"Two..one" She finished the counting and blew the candles amidst cheers and wishes.

"Happy Birthday, Khushi" Her father said once both Arnav and Akash stopped clapping.

"Thank you, Babuji" She smiled and touched his feet. He placed a loving hand on her head and Khushi hugged him.

"Are you going to give us the cake or not?" Akash said, interrupting the happy moment.

"You'll get it in the last" Khushi said, pulling back and cut a piece.

Her father fed it to her and she fed it back to him.

"Now, I should go sleep. I can barely keep my eyes open" Shashi Gupta said and excused himself.

Khushi knew it was his way of letting the kids have their fun.

Once Shashi left, Khushi cut another piece and offered it to Arnav.

"What? You are not going to feed it to me?" He asked her.

"I am not feeding anything to the two of you. You planned behind my back" She said to them.

"I don't think you'll mind that much when you open the gift" Akash replied.

That was enough for Khushi to reach the large box and start unwrapping it.

"This better be good" She said and opened the box.

"Mangoes?" She exclaimed.

Akash burst out laughing while Arnav was trying to hide his smile at Khushi's indignant face.

"Baba especially requested me to handpick them for you" Akash said, still laughing.

"This is not funny! I am not eleven anymore" Khushi cried out.

"Apparently, Baba doesn't think so" Akash said and picked a mango from the box.

"Chausa! My favorite" He admired the fruit and headed to the kitchen to wash it.

"Where are you going? Where is the real gift?" Khushi demanded.

"Look who is being greedy now! I thought you didn't want to celebrate in the first place" Akash replied from the kitchen.

"But.." Khushi said, shutting the carton box and looked at Arnav.

"What did you get me?" She asked him, crossing her hands across the chest.

Arnav found himself looking sideways.

"What? After forcing me to change into this stupid dress and then making me cut this cake, you didn't get me anything?" She asked.

"Well.." Arnav began, his voice slow.

"I do have the gift but it is at home. I didn't get time to bring it. So, if you want it you will have to come and get it at the Mahal" Akash walked back to the room with a plate and a knife.

Khushi just shook her head and took the knife from Akash.

"Go eat your mango from your orchard! These are mine" She said, taking the mango as well and Akash laughed at her irritated face.

"Fine! Have your mangoes. I have a full orchard of them" He said and turned towards Arnav.

"I am thinking I should go back to the hospital, Bhai. I hope you don't mind going back alone?" Akash said.

"I am a big boy, Akash. Go" Arnav said.

"Great!" Akash said and tuned towards Khushi.

"You're gonna love the gift I got you. You'll see it tomorrow" He hugged her from the side and wished her happy birthday once again.

She hugged him back and he walked out, wishing good night to Arnav.

Once Akash was gone and it was only Arnav and Khushi in the room, he turned towards her.

"So?" He said.

"So what?" Khushi said.

"You wanted to have words" He reminded her.

"I sure do" She said.

"But, first, let me put these away" She said and Arnav watched as she moved the mango box to a corner and then put away the remaining cake in the fridge.

"Let's go upstairs" She said.

"Why?" Arnav said, although he was already following her.

"I like looking at the stars when I talk" She replied.

Once they were on the rooftop, she motioned him to sit down on the ledge.

"Really? Are you planning to push me down?" He asked her but sat down anyway.

"If I haven't pushed Akash in so many years, I am not pushing you" She said.

"Glad to hear" Arnav said and looked at her.

Under the pale moonlight, she looked ethereal, the silver light tracing the curve of her cheek, catching in the loose strands of her hair. Arnav found himself admiring her, unable to look away for a moment longer than he should. She looked at him and noticed the softness in his eyes. It made her own heart flutter. Why is his face so perfect? She wondered, and recalled, unwillingly, involuntarily, the brush of his fingers against her neck.

That reminded her she was supposed to have words with him.

"Ahem." She cleared her throat.

"This whole thing that you did..calling Babuji, bringing a cake, conspiring with Akash, this was not good, Arnav" She said, though the words came out softer than she'd intended.

"You think I will believe that?" Arnav said, still watching her face, something knowing settling into his gaze.

"I saw the happiness on your face when you noticed us around you right before you cut the cake. And it is alright, Khushi. You do not have to feel guilty for having a little fun. My father might be sick and in a hospital but you have done enough for them. And, celebrating your birthday, cutting a cake will not undo any of that. You are allowed your share of happiness" Arnav said to her and she blinked at him, caught off guard by how precisely he'd seen through her.

"How do you know that.."

"That you feel guilty? Because, I have been through it. Those two birthdays I had in the Mahal after my mother had passed away, I used to hate cutting that cake. Any celebration without her in it seemed wrong. But, that is how life is. We cannot stop our lives because someone is no longer in it" He said, and Khushi understood his each word. She huddled closer to him, drawn in without quite deciding to be, the distance between them shrinking to almost nothing.

"You're right." She said, noticing where his hand rested on the ledge, close enough now that her fingers could have found his without even trying. Should she hold it? She wanted to.

He removed his hand from the ledge and placed it inside his blazer. She watched, as he pulled out a box. It had her name written on it.

"Happy birthday." He said and extended the box towards her.

"You brought me a gift?" Her face lit up.

"I bought it a few months ago." He said, and Khushi looked at him in surprise.

"Months? But, you didn't know you'll be here" She said.

"But I knew that one day I will meet you and a friendship will be unavoidable. I wanted to be ready for that day." He said, and Khushi stilled at his words, something in her chest tightening pleasantly. She didn't know what to say. He had thought about this moment even without knowing when he would meet her? She couldn't remember the last time anyone had said or done something so thoughtful for her.

The smile on her face was the most genuine she had had in a long time. It made her heart smile too.

She took the box from him and unwrapped it, fingers unhurried, careful.

Arnav watched, something quietly attentive in his gaze, as she opened the box and marvelled at what lay inside.

It was a platinum pendant with a picture engraved in the metal.

He watched as her eyes moistened.

"How did you get this picture?" She asked him. It was the picture of her and her mother. From many years ago.

"It was in Akash's phone a few years back. I had taken it from him." He said.

"Years?" She repeated.

"Hmm." He replied, using his thumb to wipe the tear that dropped from her eye, the touch light, deliberate, lingering.

"Arnav, I..I don't know how to thank you for this! I love it. It is perfect." She said and hugged him, arms coming around him without hesitation.

A few seconds ticked by, longer than a hug of thanks usually lasted, and Arnav pulled away from her without letting go completely, his hands settling at her arms, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him even in the gap between them.

"You do not have to thank me! I have to thank you, Khushi. What you did that day, coming to find me and listening to me. I have never talked about my mother to anyone in a long time. Not even, Nani. When I left here, I told her everything that I had done and heard. She listened to me and hugged me. But, after that, we did not talk about my mother. She does not like to talk about her. Says it is too painful to hear about her and I understand that. She lost her daughter at an untimely age. Anyway, talking to you..it felt good" Arnav said to Khushi, who nodded her head, something warm and unguarded passing between them.

"Anytime, Arnav! You and I can talk about anything and anytime. In fact, there are some things that I too want to tell you" Khushi said.

"About you or.." Arnav asked.

"About me" Khushi said. She knew he didn't want to talk about Malik Uncle. Neither did she. Not before she knew more from Akash.

"I do not think there is much for you to tell me. You forget that Akash yaps about you all the time" Arnav said with a chuckle.

Khushi chuckled back and nodded her head.

"That he does!" She said.

"I think I should go now." He said, though he made no move to stand, still close, still watching her.

"Don't go just yet." Khushi said, the words leaving her before she could think better of them.

"I know I have charmed your father, Khushi, but I think he will still kick my ass if he wakes up and finds me around so late." Arnav said, and Khushi laughed, the sound easing something in the air between them.

"No, he won't! And that reminds me, when did you get so thick with Babuji? I remember he called you son! And you were cooking with him? How did that happen?" She enquired.

"Let's just say he might have gotten a huge sweets consignment because of me and he is already aware of my good values. Those are enough reasons for him to like me" Arnav said with a smirk.

Khushi shook her head at him.

"You're.."

Arnav's phone started to ring, the sound sharp, intrusive, splintering the moment.

"Excuse me, Khushi." His tone changed altogether, and Khushi watched as he walked away from her, attending the call in a corner, his shoulders drawing tight. When he came back after a few minutes, his mood had shifted entirely, the ease of a moment ago gone.

"Who was it?" She asked him.

"My Mami" He said.

"Oh" Khushi said. She had heard about his Mama and Mami from Akash but details had been thin. Both of them lived in Delhi at Raizada Mansion but often spent a lot of time away in Sydney at their son's place.

"Is everything alright?" She asked Arnav.

"Yeah. Mama and Mami came back from Sydney yesterday. They want me to come back to Delhi" Arnav said.

Khushi's face fell instantly. She hadn't even considered that he might go back to Delhi. She was just beginning to...she didn't finish that thought.

"Why do they want you to come back?" She asked him.

"Nani must have asked her to call me. I do not see why else Mami will bother to call me" Arnav said, pacing on the roof, restless energy in every step.

"What does that mean?"

"That means she does not like me too much. She thinks I plan on stealing away the Raizada property. But, because of Nani she is forced to bear my presence in the house" Arnav said and Khushi realized there was so much she didn't know about his life in Delhi.

"So, will you go?" Khushi found herself asking, the question tight in her throat. Why was she feeling restless just by the thought that he might go? Is it just because he brought her a gift that meant more to her than any gift she had ever received? Or was it because it was so easy to talk to him? Or was it because he genuinely seemed to care about her?

"I am not going anywhere." Arnav said, putting the phone back in his pocket, the decision falling into place with quiet certainty.

"I am glad to hear that! I don't want to lose my newest friend." She said to him, relief loosening something in her chest.

"I am glad to hear that! I don't want to lose my newest friend" She said to him.

"You will never lose me." Arnav replied, and Khushi saw the conviction behind his words, steady, unblinking. It made her oddly relieved.

"Give it to me." He said to her, and she realized he was talking about the pendant.

She handed him the box.

"Turn around." He said, and Khushi did, presenting her back to him, the night air cool against her exposed neck.

Once again, his fingers grazed the skin behind her neck as he adjusted her hair out of the way, slow, deliberate, no different than the last time, a touch that lingered longer than the task required. Then he lifted the chain and settled it against her collarbone, his fingers working the clasp with a patience that made every second stretch.

Khushi could sense that he was standing close, closer than before. Her back nearly brushed his front, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating off him, the faint unevenness of his breath. Was he not aware that he was too close? Or did he know exactly how close he was?

"Looks perfect." He peeked over her shoulder to look at the pendant resting just above her collarbone, and in the process, he moved even closer, until there was no space left between them at all. Khushi closed her eyes, feeling his chest press lightly against her back, feeling the warmth of him settle into her skin like something she hadn't known she'd been missing.

Arnav realized she had gone silent, her breathing shallow, her whole body still. So he placed his hands on her arms and turned her towards him, slowly, giving her every chance to step away. She didn't. He saw her closed eyes, the way her breath had gone uneven, and was surprised for a second. He didn't know he affected her so much. It was a heady realization, something warm and unfamiliar unfurling in his chest.

"Open your eyes, Khushi." He said, his voice low, quiet in the space between them. She opened them and found him staring at her, close enough now that she could count the flecks in his eyes.

There was depth in them, something patient and searching. A long-buried memory hit her suddenly. The day of Akash's birthday party, his eyes had practically chased her all night. Everywhere she had gone, he had been watching. She realized she had always had his attention. Even all those years back! He had cared to call her on her every birthday. Cared to wish her personally! Suddenly, she found all of it heartwarming. Knowing him in person now, she could put all his actions in context. He had always cared.

Neither of them moved. The silence stretched, thick with everything neither of them was saying, his gaze dropping briefly to the pendent, involuntarily, before returning to hold hers.

She watched as he leaned in, slow enough that she could have stepped back, slow enough that she didn't want to. A mere second later, his lips were on her cheek, warm, unhurried. He let them linger long enough that Khushi felt her skin heat, her heart beating rapidly.

"Happy twenty-fifth birthday." He said, his voice rough at the edges, and walked away before she could see whatever else was written on his face.

Khushi didn't stop him. She stood on the roof for a long time, her fingers finding the pendant at her throat.

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