part 5...
khushi returned home and asked her parents how their trip was. how did the final rituals go and regular stuff. garima was proud of how you hushi handled herslf and her sister at the riazadas.
garima: khushi you have made us proud by the way you handled things. you have always fulfilled the responsibilities of the daughter, but the way you handled us when we were leaving, when we were not here. you have always fullfiled the responsibilities of the son as well. tum hamari beti hi nahin, blakay beta bhi ho.
khushi felt a sense of stronger bonding between her and her mother.
Khushi was not able to sleep all night. She kept on thinking of what her
mother had just told her. That she was also the son of the family. Son.
The one that shouldered all of the responsibilities of the family. What
the support for their parents. Daughter was the heart, but the son was the
strength. She was both.
She stared at the stars from outside of her room window. How they shined
brightly. A small smile crept up on her lips. She slowly blinked her
eyeslids. She remembered the first night that she was at the riazadas.
How she felt pain, and the only one who understood her was arnav. He
pointed to those stars, and gave her the moral boost that she needed. He
gave her strength. He was the silent knight that was always there for
her. She remembered the last night where they spoke to each other. Sweet
memories kept on playing in her eyes. She knew deep down inside, that
without her even needing to say a word, he understood her problem, and
maturely handled it. Akash was a boy, but he was elder and much more
mature. He could be depended upon. With his image in her eyes, she closed
them and fell asleep.
The next morning, she woke up and helped her mother get settled in and back
on the daily routine. Her parents were still in jet lag, but her father
managed to drop them off to school. She missed the bus rides that she was
taking with the raizadas. Her father insisted that he wanted to drop them
off, he missed them too much. She and payal smiled and went with him. She
sat at the back and smiled. Her father asked her why she has been smiling
ever since they returned. She just told them that she was too happy to see
them and couldn't stop. She couldn't tell him that it was the memory of
arnav asking her with jestures is she was feeling better after their first
night at the raizadas. How he was asking her if she was ok, after her
grandmothers death. She smiled. Just smiled. They reached school. And
khushi kept on looking here and there. She wanted to just see him. Him.
she thought to herself. "what are you doing khushi. I mean, why am I
looking for him. Hes just a regular guy who happens to be a childhood
friend, understand you, mature, and has helped you every time." She hit
her hand on her head, and tried to get his thought out of his head. She
shook her head and walked to class. She heard anjali yelling out her name
from the back. She quickely turned around hoping to see someone stand
beside anjali. To her disappointment, it was just anjali. Her smile
vanished. But she qcuikely brought a smile back to her face.
Khushi: hey anjali, how are you. I wanted to thank you guys for letting us
stay over for the past couple of days at your house. Thanks. With that she
gave a hug to anjali.
Anjali: its was fun. We should do it again and again. Have girl time.
For just us. Right. Can you help me out with my homework. You were over
for the past few days, and helped me understand this. I have a test coming
up soon, and need your help. Please please you cant say now.
Khushi smiled and agreed. They both started to walk towards the school.
"anjali" someone yelled from the back.
Before anjali, khushi turned around. She recognized the voice. It was
him. He was running towards them. With a book in his hands.
Arnav: you forgot your book in the bus. He tried to catch his breath.
And bent down putting his hands on his knees. Khushi just smiled and
looked down. She was feeling shy. She never looked up due to her
traditions, but this time was different. She wasn't looking up because she
felt.. shy… she could feel her cheeks get a bit pink. She took a gulp.
Arnav heard her gulp. He smiled. Looked up and tried to look at khushi
but anjali was right there. He ignored her. And gave anjali her book.
Anajli thanked him and gave him a hug
Anajli: thanks bhai, you are the best bhai in the world. Anjali did not
notice that while she was hugging arnav, he wasn't listening to her, he was
looking at khushi. Blush… he knew his prescence now affected her. Farak
tho par raha hai. He thought. But he didn't want to get too carried away.
So he hugged her, and looked at khushi. Khushi looked up and met his eyes.
Aranv brought his hands around anjali so anjali wouldn't stop hugging him.
He wanted to see khushi without anjali disturbing them. He smirked. His
signature ASR smirk.
While looking into khushi's eyes
Arnav: your welcome.
Khushi's cheeks started to turn red. She looked down. And smiled. Trying
to bit her bottom lip, not letting her small smiled turn into a huge one.
She looked down and right and left. Not raising her eyes. He loved his
'ada' of hers. Her shyness.
Anajli: bhai, kab thak hug karo gay. Class main bhi jana hia.
Khushi couldn't hold her laughter in. she laughed. Arnav got back into
reality. And let her go.
Arnav: umm… ahem. Cleared his throat. We are getting late. Lets hurry.
You have to ask the teacher for help right. You have a test soon.
Anajli: oh that is ok. Khushi said she will help me. We might just go
over to khushis place after school.
Arnav: you are going to her place. Oh.. ok.. he started to think, why
cant she just come to our house. No.. it wouldn't be right for her. She
just stayed over so many days. And for a girl to always be over. She has
this Indian culture embedded into her bones. He felt a bit disappointed
but that is what he liked most about her. While living in America, she was
the perfect blend of that should be. She was shy, smart, well mannered,
responsible, she was just perfect he thought.
Aranv: I am leaving, I have class. Bye anjali. He turned his head
towards khushi who finalled stopped laughing. Feeling the dissapointement
in his voice. Bye khushi. See you around.
Khushi nodded her head. Not looking up.
Anajli: khushi, why do you always look down. I mean its ok, hes my brother
you can look up at him. He wont eat you. She laughed.
They both went to their classes and the day was not passing by as quickly
as she wanted. Maybe he will drop anjali off when anjali comes later
today. Maybe I will get to see him again. Maybe he will say something to
me. No .. no. he wont. I mean, why would he want to talk to me. But he
did that day. She was just confused. Not knowing what she wanted or what
was about to happen. She wanted him to be a part of her future. But
little did she know that he was going to be a part of her future. But for
how long. Only destiny knew. Their lives would soon be changed when she
reached home.
Khushi and payal reached home. Khushi told her mother that anjali needed
help with a test that was coming up so she will be over tonight. Garima
smiled and said ok, I will make something that you all like to eat then.
Later that evening, the door bell rang. Khushi ran towards the door.
Garima noticed and asked her to be careful.. she opened the door. It was
her dad. She took his briefcase and moved to the side to let him in.
something was wrong. But she didn't know what. Maybe her father just had
a long day at work. Shashi went to his room, and garima followed him. The
door was shut. Khushi knew her parents were facing some problem, and
needed to solve it themselves. After a little while, her mother came out
and her father as well. They seemed to have a peaceful look on their
faces.
Garima asked khushi to make tea for her father.
Garima: khushi, you father has just been re posted. We have to move to
another city by the end of this week. He has to join by Monday.
Khushis heart sank. She was moving away. Befor her love story had begun,
it was finished. She smiled and reassured her mother that whatever happens
is always for the best. And it would be good for them. Her father would
get a promotion, and at least his job was secure. Garima knew that khushi
would see the bright side of things. She always did. And brought a smile
to everyones face. But garima was her mother, she noticed a type of pain
and sadness behind khushis fake smile. Her daughter always smiled for
everyone else. She made sure that no one ever had a tear in their eyes.
Khushi, was truly what her name meant. Happiness. She brought happiness
to everyones lives.
Khushi excused her self. Looking lost, not crying, not smiling. The door
bell rang, and she opened it. She looked up. It was arnav. Smiling and
looking at her. She met his eyes, absolutely blank. Aranv was not able to
read what her eyes were telling him. Anajli walked in. both of them
snapped back into reality.
Aranv: anajli, will pick you up after an hour. Ok. Make sure that you
study. I will be back soon. With that he turned around and left. Didn't
met her eyes once. He knew something was wrong. She was the same girl he
saw in the day at school. He didn't know what. His heart was breaking.
Slowly, breaking.
Anjali noticed khushis changed behaviour. Khushi tried to ignore it and
helped her. Giving fake smiles again and again. Anjali finished studying
and khushi went down stairs to help her mother with dinner preps. Payal
and anjali played in payals room.
Manorama called garima telling her that arnav will pick her up in a bit.
Garima told her that shashi and khushi will drop her off later on. They
were just about to eat. Mm agreed. Garima took the phone and went to the
other room to tell mm about their move. Mm was a bit shocked, but knew
that it was for their betterment. And didn't say anything. They would move
a bit farther, enough for a long drive. Maybe an hour away. But still
wouldn't be able to always come over to each others place.
Everyone started to eat at the gupta residence. Payal and anajli were
laughing. And shashi was enjoying what the girls were doing. He also
noticed that khushi had become a bit silent. But he knew that she needed
her space and left her alone.
Mm was talking to prakash and told him about shashi new relocation. Arnav
overheard. His heart shattered right there. He went to his room, sat on
his recliner and closed his eyes. That is why she looked hurt. Lost. She
is moving away. And she doesn't know how I feel. I don't know how she
feels. Will I lose her if she moves away. I cant lose her.
Shashi, khushi and anajli got into the car and went over to drop anjali
off. All three went in, becuae shashi knew that prakash wanted to speak to
him about their new job location.
They rang the door bell and prakash opened it.
Anjali went to her room to freshen up and khushi sat quietly in the living
room with the elders.
Mm noticed that arnav was tensed about something. And he most likely found
out. She knew that the two kids had something going on between them.
Maybe if they just spoke to each other. They did speak the other day when
she asked arnav to talk to khushi.
mm: khushi beti can you do me a favour please. I made tea for everyone,
but arnav is not coming downstairs. Can you please go and give him his
cup. He has a very bad headache. I will give it to you father and your
uncle.
Khushi nodded and took his cup and placed it on the tray. As khushi got
up, and was about to walk away. Mm stopped her.
Mm: beti. Voh. I don't know how to ask you this. But arnav seems
tensed. He wont talk to me. I don't know if you can, but can you please
talk to him. You seem to understand him. Maybe he will talk to you. I am
his mother, so it is not, what do you guys say. Cool, to talk to me. Akash
is out, can you please talk to him.
Khushi didn't know what to say. She gulped.
Before she could say no.
Mm: thank you beti. I knew I could always count on you. Here, take your
cup of tea as well. Don't worry about helping out here, I will ask anjali.
Khushi looked down and walked up the stair case. She didn't know what to
say. She knocked on the door. Anajli came out from her room and saw
khushi there.
anajli: what happened khushi. why are you knocking of bhais door?
khushi: voh aunty sent chai for him.
anjali: and the second cup.
before khushi could answer mm called anjali for help. anjali looked at khushi and told her that bhai was at the poolside. khushi nodded and made her way there. anajli went to help her mother.
precap: does khushi talk to arnav. ya phir, ankhon hi ankhon main mulaqat hogae, ankhon hi aknhon main baat hoage. zuban say aahh thak na nikli, par uskay dil thak bat pohonch gai.
wah wah wah. i have become a poet. :D
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