ArHi: Senorita- Chapter 11- May 23 - Page 10

loved the update and loved even more the fact that payal ran away from home! =)

Sorry about the brief interruption, please read again!

"Pause, what happened on Diwali night?" asked Arjun curiously.

She looked at the three expectant faces in front of her.

"I suppose I should tell you everything from the beginning, shouldn't I?" she said. "It started on the night of Jiji's wedding…"

Bit by bit, she retold the whole story of what happened in her life for the past few months to her best friends, watching a myriad of emotions flitting across their faces. She made it to the point of what happened on the night of Diwali, stuttering through the explanation of their almost kiss, and his announcement of his engagement to Lavanya. She followed up to her Buaji forcing her to get engaged to the creepy paying guest of whom she knew nothing about- Shyam- by using her father's coma as a tool for blackmail, especially after Shyam's dramatic antics like holding his hand above the flame in hopes that 'God' would better the condition of his dear Mausa ji, which was practically useless and childish, in her point of view.

The trio listened, interrupting with questions rarely. When they needed to be serious, be strong, be there for a friend, they were, just like when Imraan had briefly met his father, Salman, in Spain.

When she finished her narration, they were quiet, each deep in their own thoughts.

After a long silence, Khushi couldn't take it anymore. "Say something, guys," she muttered softly, sounding like a chid guilty of stealing from the cookie jar, waiting for his punishment.

Arjun sighed. "Before I say anything about this, I'd like to know one thing, and I'm sure Imraan and Kabir would too. Why didn't you come to us? You know we would do anything, everything in our power, to help you out of this sticky mess. One word, that's all we would've needed. One word and we'd take you away from here. You could come and live with one of us. Your life would've been so much better. Why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you even try to contact us?"

Khushi sighed. "This is exactly why, Arjun. If I'd so much as let slip that all wasn't well in my world, you would've swooped me in and whisked me away. And I would've been sorely tempted to go with you, too. But I can't. Don't you see, I can't stay away from my family for too long, I can't stay away from Babuji for too long. They all need me. Whatever Buaji may say, I'm all they have."

Shaking his head, Imraan muttered, "You are still typically Khushi, mature, responsible and grateful, aren't you?"

"I have to be," Khushi replied, smiling sadly.

"What I can't understand is how you can be in love with that… that absolute bas***d, after all that he did to you. I mean, there's a limit to abuse. The things he did to you are practically inhuman!" Imraan protested.

"I don't know, Imraan, it's just… when he's angry, you do not want to be in the same room as him. And that's the side of him that everyone sees. But there's a nicer, loveable side of him that he rarely shows, and that too, only to Anjali ji and… me. I don't know if he lives me or not, but I definitely know he feels something for me." Khushi replied, trying to convince Imraan. He sighed.

"I guess I'll take your word for it, Senorita," he said, giving in.

"Alright. Let's figure out a solution to this mess," said Kabir briskly, getting up to grab the notepad and pen on the coffee table. Flipping it open, he said, "Okay, key points at present-

One, Senorita is unhappily engaged to Shyam (creepy PG);

Two, Arnav is unhappily engaged to Lavanya (Senorita's best friend);

Three, Senorita loves Arnav;

Four, Arnav has feelings for Senorita;

Five, Arnav and Senorita made out in the car; (Khushi blushed and smacked the back of Kabir's head)

Six, Arnav and Senorita have not talked it out after making out in the car; (Another smack)

Seven, Senorita does not want to hurt Lavanya's feelings, hence deciding to stay away from Arnav;

Eight, Shyam is left loveless, but no one but Buaji cares;

Nine, Akash and Payal are getting married along with Arnav and Lavanya;

Ten, Anjali is happily married to Shyam-2;

Eleven, there is a possibility that Buaji might be in love with Shyam."

He read out the complete list, and added a PS- 'To snoop: Shyam's background, Buaji's romantic history, Nani's goat's parenthood.'

Khushi shook her head at her friends' crazy methods.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Next morning, Arnav didn't call, but texted her asking her to be ready at 8, like the previous day, but Khushi, chicken through and through, replied that Arjun was taking her to breakfast, and then dropping her at AR, as he had a meeting with Arnav as well. He replied laconically- OK.

Imraan and Kabir, who were on their vacation, were free to stalk Shyam, and that was their schedule for the day. Laila meanwhile was busy for half the day with a client, and the rest of the day, she had insisted on shopping for clothes for Khushi, as she was currently using Laila's clothes.

Today, she was dressed in cargoes and a black tank top, her hair held off her face with a bandana. She had to admit, she desperately needed new clothes. Laila was a good few inches taller, and her clothes had to be rolled back most of the time on Khushi.

Once at AR, they both entered the lift together, him going up to the top floor where ASR's office was, and her getting off at the floor below that, the studio.

"And I'm back to work," she muttered to herself, seeing the pile of fabric on her table.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

A few hours later, Khushi was immersed in rectifying the errors of a design on the easel, when her phone rang. Picking it up, she realised it was Arjun.

"Hey," she said, her voice muffled by the pencil stuck in her mouth.

"Hey, I'm done, I'm about to leave. ASR has told me to tell you that you are to leave with him for lunch to Shantivan, where your sister and Nani want to talk to you," he said.

Gulp. Awesome, more alone time with Arnav. Just what she'd been praying for. Note the sarcasm.

"Alright, I'll be free in five, tell him to wait," she said, and cut the call, before she realised she'd just asked her boss, CEO of the company she worked for, to wait for her. She smirked.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

The drive to Shantivan was filled with an awkward silence. She couldn't help but think what they were doing the last time they were in the car together, alone, in the exact same seats.

Once they were inside the gates of Shantivan, she ran inside, avoiding 'alone time' with him as much as possible.

Nani, Mami, Anjali, Lavanya and Payal were at the dining table, deep in thought, when she barged in.

"Sorry we're late, Nani ji, I was caught up in work," she muttered.

"It's fine Bitiya. Take a seat, have lunch," said Nani, gesturing to the seat in front of her as HP brought in the food from the kitchen.

Arnav came straight in, shouted out to OP to bring the food to his room, and started climbing the stairs, but Nani stopped him.

"No, Chotte. We need you here. There are some important matters to discuss."

Muttering something that sounded to Khushi an awful lot like 'Unbelievable,' he came back down and sat down next to her, in the only seat empty.

She instantly turned uncomfortable. Her body was tempted to lean in towards him, towards his proximity, his enticing smell, but her mind restrained her. The result was a nervous wreck of a Khushi who wasn't paying attention to anything that was going on.

"Did you hear me, Khushi Bitiya?" said Nani a bit stiffly.

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry, I was thinking about… work," she lied quickly. She cast a quick glance at Arnav to see that he was fidgeting too, picking at his food, unsettled. His eyes turned sideways to look at her, and she quickly looked down into her plate, hoping no one saw their little exchange.

"I was saying that Payal Bitiya and Akash's engagement shall not be prolonged. Manorama's relatives are visiting from abroad, and she wishes to have the engagement before they leave," said Nani.

"Lavanya and my engagement will not be preponed. I am too busy at work, and-" Arnav's excuses were cut off by Anjali.

"We know your excuses off by heart, Chotte. We were just suggesting that Payal and Akash's engagement should be held earlier, and then both the weddings can be held together," said Anjali, smiling.

"Sasu ma, I think Payal Bitiya and Akash Bitwa should get engaged on the fifth," chipped in Mami.

"Fifth? That's a week away, Mami ji!" exclaimed Khushi.

"Yes, but they are leaving on the seventh, and the most auspicious time that Pundit ji has charted is on the fifth," said Anjali.

"So, if the preparations and arrangements can be handled efficiently, it can be held on the fifth," finalised Nani.

"Well, let's get busy then!" exclaimed Anjali.

"Count me in, Di! I'll do whatever you want," said Lavanya, offering her services.

"Me too, Anjali ji, that is, on my free time only," said Khushi. "But Laila, Imraan and Kabir are free most of the time, they'll help!"

"That's perfect!" said an excited Anjali, as she picked up her phone and dialled the caterer, leaving her food half eaten.

"I'm so happy for Akash and Payal, aren't you, ASR?" chirped Lavanya from Arnav's other side, and she hugged Arnav. Khushi suddenly lost her appetite, and she pushed the plate away.

"Uh, Nani, I'll be back in the evening. I just remembered, I left something unfinished in the studio," she said lamely, and walked towards the door, tears blurring her vision.

"I'll drop you," Arnav said, but she did not reply. She just walked out, leaving a confused family and a stunned Arnav behind.

Man I feel sorry for khushi! :-( asr needs to do something asap loved the update

i loved the key points.."lakshmi's parenthood".. that cracked me up.. it is so messy.. how are they gonna fix.. now when they dig in.. will get to know that shyam is anji's husband.. more mess.. fab update..

loved how khushis friends made note of points to be dealt:
) lol

Read the last few updates together coz of previous commitments. I just love this khushi. Absolutely love her. A blend of traditional n modern. So close to her real character with just the touch of
Modernity. I like her.
Awww... Love the friendship these guys share. Such close bonding. Have not watched ZMND but I already know am gonna love it. The way they just know n understand khushi.
Ughhh buaji... Yahooo Payal actually had the guts to run away. :)
Would like to c how lav would react to k n a romance. And of course how the friends r gonna get Shyam fiasco out..
Looking forward to next updates!

Hahaha the list was hilarious! Great part!!!

i love it so much thank you for the update

loved it feel sorry for khushi hope her mates sort out shyam and get rid of him and arnav mans up and gets rid of lavanya as nicely as possible cant wait for the next update