IPKKND FF | Broken Strings (ON HOLD) - Page 7

Originally posted by: shay1990

Chapter Four - Back Again

'Lavanya! How many times do I have to tell you... Just tell him you're not interested! It's NK for gods' sake; he's not going to bite your head off!'

Khushi rolled her eyes at her friend as they walked past the park near her house. Khushi had met Lavanya in her first year of University, and they had been inseparable ever since; although she was regretting ever even saying hello to her at all as she begrudgingly listened to her obsessing over the fact that NK wanted to ask her out on a date.

'Yes exactly! It's NK, which means he'll probably start crying, or make that sad, cute puppy dog expression... And then I'll have no choice but to say yes!'

Lavanya was beyond confused. To her, NK was just a friend - But how could she turn him down without hurting his feelings?

'Look, I've known NK pretty much all my life and he's never liked a girl as much as you. So whatever you do - do it nicely. Otherwise I'll break your face'

'Jee... Thanks Khushi, I feel so much better'

Khushi laughed at her friend as she continued to wave her arms about dramatically - insistent that she give her at least some sort helpful advice.

'So anyway, you all set for your interview?!' This is so exciting, your first interview!'

Khushi was extremely grateful for the change in topic, and dived straight in to it willingly. Her nerves had been crawling through her purposefully ever since she had read the letter. And a week later, they were now emancipating from her like a bad odour.

'I know right! I'm absolutely shitting it La. How do I act? What do I say? What if my mind goes blank?'

Lavanya burst out laughing and snorted at her friend, 'Please Khushi... You? And nothing to say? That would be the day' she said light-heartedly as Khushi gawped at her wordlessly.

'You'll be fine, just don't fall over like you usually do, and everything will be perfect!'

As Khushi looked at her with hopeful eyes, Lavanya mentally wished her all the luck in world. No one deserved it as much as her. Her thoughts drifted on to how much she actually loved this girl in front of her. There was no doubt about it, she lived up to her name perfectly, and she couldn't have been happier that she had gotten to share her University experience with such a wonderful person. She had sometimes wondered about the void in her life that NK had so often mentioned. But Lavanya knew that Khushi would come to her when she was ready. Of that she was certain.

As they neared the Mandir, Lavanya hugged her tight; wishing her all the best for the interview before walking off in the other direction.

As Khushi waved her friend goodbye, she went up the steps impatiently; eager to get inside and unload her thoughts. She had so much to tell him today.

She sat down tentatively, waving to some of the regular masi's in the corner as she made sure to say hi to Devi Maiyya first before proceeding with her weekly rant.

'Arnav,' she thought. I got my first interview since finishing University. You'd be so proud of me. It's with AR Designs. There's been a rave about it since the notice was put up for construction. And well, as you know, I applied for it straight away. I got the letter through yesterday that I got an interview! It's today by the way... I know I should have told you sooner, but I've been a little busy helping NK find the balls to ask Lavanya out. I'm so scared Arnav... You remember what I was like when I had my first ever interview for Ralph Lauren. Well I'm 10 times worse today!! I feel like throwing up!'

She opened her eyes and unclasped her hands as she glanced down at her watch with an audible intake of breath

'Crap! I have to go get ready. Wish me luck Arnav, I really want this job!'

She jumped up and ran towards the steps of the Mandir before rushing back to grumble her apologies

'Sorry sorry sorry, wish me luck Devi Maiyya!' she added sheepishly before bounding down the steps for the second time and rushing home to get ready.

~

Arnav walked down the stairs of their house, taking in every little detail. He could hear his footsteps echoing through the empty hallways as his fingertips grazed over the forgotten walls, reaching out for the memories that resided within them. Everything look so sullen, these walls had been witness to nothing but a barren home for the past 6 years. No family, no laughter, no memories. He slowly moved through the rooms, watching as he felt himself drown in to his past; as memories of a happier time engulfed him in to darkness.

He watched in the backdrop as a boy of 4 ran around the house screaming with laughter as his father chased him through the kitchen with hands full of batter.

He gazed longingly as he silently watched his Di try to master the art of cooking

He yearned for her touch as he heard his mother sing him to sleep.

He observed intently as a girl of 8 ran towards his mother as she complained about her son being mean to her.

'Khushi'

With that final memory, Arnav stepped back in to the living room. He felt himself come back up for air as he laid eyes on his Di; bitter memories washing away as he saw the happiness shining through her as she sat there, deep in conversation with Akash and Nani. Walking towards them, he gained control over his treacherous mind, leaving behind a storm of raging emotions as he sat down in a new dawn.

'Arre Chote! I was just wondering where you were! Kitna accha lagta hai na? To be back home?'

Arnav smiled at her lightly. He had missed this - life hadn't been the same without her.

'Yea Di... It feels good'

Arnav watched as Anjali's face almost instantaneously become apprehensive. She looked at him with pleading eyes - he knew what was coming.

He willed his Di not to voice the question he so badly didn't want to answer; a question to which he himself did not have an answer for.

'Chote... What about Khushi?'

He sighed, looking down at his sister's hand in his

'What about her Di?'

Anjali was now starting to get annoyed. 'How could he act like he didn't care?!' she thought angrily to herself.

'You do realise we are going to bump in to her sooner or later. How do you plan on explaining yourself?!'

Arnav clenched his fist, his jaw set in a tight line as he contemplated just walking off. In truth, he didn't know what he was going to do. Or how he would act. It had been 6 years... Surely it would be easy to go on without acknowledging her? This was the whole reason why he cut off all contact in the first place. To make it easier for him. All he knew was that he couldn't go back to giving her the importance she used to have in his life.

'Di... You can say whatever you want to her, but don't be under the impression that I actually care anymore.'

He eyed his sister carefully; watching her every expression as they transformed in distaste.

'Bullshit! You are selfish Chote, you know that! And you brought me down along with you. So you'd better make damn sure you do something about it!'

She stood up and walked off towards the stairs, unwilling to be in her brothers company as he watched her go with sheer aggravation. 'Damn you Khushi' he thought to himself as he turned to look at Nani and Akash who were watching him cautiously, eyes filled with concern.

'Bhai... Who's Khushi?'

Arnav shook his head and disregarded his question - the annoyance clearly evident on his face.

'It's not important. Come on, we need to get to the office'

~

'Ok, right Bhai. Remember, you're interviewing my short listed candidates and I'm interviewing yours. Fair?'

They were both sat in Arnavs brand new lavish office - Akash perched on top of the desk as he went through the candidate lists one last time and handed his over to Arnav. This had to go well; this was everything they had been working towards for the past 4 years.

'Yep! Let's get this over and done with! And don't go for the idiots Akash - this is a business, not a circus.'

Arnav eyed his cousin knowingly. He knew Akash would either go for the shit talkers, or the ones he deemed as 'smoking hot'

'Ey! Atleast mine will have some personality. Not everyone can be a khadoos like you'

Akash narrowly dodged the pen that hurtled towards him before picking it up and throwing it right back at his cousin.

'Pen fiiiggghttt'

'...'

Akash rubbed the back of his neck, shrugging his shoulders apologetically as Arnav looked at him in frustration. 'This is my cousin, my managing partner' he thought to himself in disbelief as he shook his head at him.

'Shutup Akash!'

As they made a move to make their way out the office, it was at that moment that Arnav suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck spring to life; he felt the Goosebumps pricking through his skin as a gust of wind drifted past him, making his stomach churn in anticipation.

He looked at Akash and gave him a hearty shove.

'You left the window open didn't you, you dumbass'

He walked out of the office, leaving behind a bewildered looking Akash who was scanning the office bemusedly.

'What the f**k Bhai!?... There aren't any windows in here'

~

Standing outside the ARD building, Khushi took a deep breath and let it out again excruciatingly slowly - which was the exact opposite to the way her heart was beating right now; she felt like it was going to leap out through her mouth. 'I feel sick,' she thought, gulping back the lump in her throat.

She looked down at her attire and gave herself a little nod of assurance. 'You look good. You feel good. You can do this Khushi Kumari Gupta!'

Khushi was dressed to impress. She wanted this job - and she was determined to the high heavens to do well. A pale, sleeveless sheer blouse was tucked comfortably in to her green bodycon skirt. She had her hair up in an elegant messy bun, her feet adorned with peeptoe heels.

She straightened her herself out one last time as she hoisted her over-sized bag over her shoulder and took one final deep breath.

'Let's do this!'

She pushed open the majestic glass door and stepped inside, her heels echoing on the marble floors - gasping faintly as her eyes lingered over the imposing reception area. 'This place looks more like a palace then an office,' she thought in awe as she approached the main desk.

'Hi, I have an interview for the assistant designer post today. The names Khushi Gupta!'

The woman gave her a warm smile and fiddled around with her computer for a while before nodding to herself.

'Ahh yes! You're a little bit early, so if you'd like to take a seat and someone will come and get you shortly'

Khushi thanked the lady and manoeuvred her way through to the seating area and sat down. She almost lost her footing as she fell right back in to the seats.

'Oh my god these sofas! They're like clouds!' she exclaimed happily to herself as she sank down in to them, enjoying the feel of the soft material enveloping her like a warm hug. 'Ahhh... Heaven!' she thought with a satisfied smile.

As Khushi bounced around on her new discovery, she chanced upon an elderly lady who was unsuccessfully trying to reach for a misplaced poster. Before she could even contemplate climbing up on to the table, Khushi was over then in an instant.

'Aunty! Wait, let me get that for you!'

She awkwardly hoisted herself on top of the table and pulled off the offending poster, grinning brightly to the gracious woman as she handed it over to her

'Here you go!'

She made a move to get back down when she felt herself wobble slightly.'Uh oh' she thought, glancing down at her wrongly placed footing.

The last thing she saw was the elderly lady standing there with wide eyes as she attempted to push her back upright. Khushi braced herself, clenching her eyes shut - knowing that she wasn't going to be able to style this one out... Again.

'Hey Devi Maiyya, please let there be no one else watching!' she thought frantically to herself as she cursed herself for wearing such a tight fitted skirt; one that was restricting any sort of sensible movement as she fell to her doom. She could now do nothing but wait for her inevitable crash landing.

But it didn't come

Instead of the hardwood floor, she was grabbed by a pair of strong, muscular arms as she felt her self drop heavily in to them - even sensing that she nearly made him buckle under the pressure in the process.

Her hands over her clenched eyes, she wondered whether it was safe to peep out. But she was rather enjoying the feel of being in this persons' arms. They felt so warm and comfy and... familiar?

'Shut up Khushi!! Bakwaas band kar, this could not get any worse. So much for no one noticing' she thought in exasperation, as she slowly removed a hand from one eye to look upon her 'saviour'

Khushi opened the one eye

She opened the other

Khushi blinked once

She blinked again

A shrill tone echoed through her ears; piercing through her every fibre as she felt her heart thudding in the pit of her stomach and clench viciously at the vision in front of her eyes.

For Khushi Kumari Gupta had just landed straight in to the arms of Arnav Singh Raizada.

_______________________________

Fireworks in the next chapter... Maybe 😛

Hope you like it guys

Shay X

Originally posted by: arshiforever143

shay!!!! loved the update yaar...awesome. update soon and sorry for such a late reply😔

Chapter Five - Beautiful Nightmare

A seething Khushi marched in to the Raizada house, walking determinedly towards an elder woman - taking extra care to ignore the incessant remarks from the smug yet slightly worried looking Arnav hot on her trail

"Lata Aunty! Your son... Your stupid son has crossed all limits today! Do you know what he did?!"

"Arre Khushi bitiya, calm down! Come here, come and sit next to me"

She motioned to the chair next to her as Khushi reluctantly took a seat, crossing her arms in aggravation.

"Ok, now tell me, what did my shaitaan son do this time?" She enquired, whilst she eyed her son knowingly

"What did he do?! He stole my homework!! He took my essay, which was due in today by the way, and took it so he could copy it!!! HE'S NOT EVEN IN MY YEAR! And he didn't even tell me Lata Aunty - so I got shouted at by my teacher in front of the whole class. It was so embarrassing!"

Khushi by this point was fuming; her arms flailing about her as she complained; her eyes brimming with ferocity - glaring at Arnav every so often to give him the finger when his mother wasn't looking.

"Mamma she's over-reacting!"

Arnav wasn't doing anything to conceal the increasing grin on his face - thoroughly enjoying seeing his best friend so riled up. Khushi growled at him as she jumped off the chair and launched herself at him.

"You inconsiderate little brat!"

His mother had leapt in between the two by this point, seeing that this wasn't going to end well - as usual.

"Chup ho jao tum dono!"

She glared at her son

"Chote how many times do I have to tell you?! You can't go round doing things like this. Now apologise and then go do your homework!"

She stood there awaiting her sons response as Khushi stood behind her with a self-satisfied expression etched on her face.

"I know mamma I'm sorry, but I didn't do it on purpose!"

Arnav smirked at Khushi as his mother turned her back towards them, shaking her head as she walked towards the kitchen; knowing that it would annoy his friend even further.

"You can just shut up OK! You're one hell of a useless friend you know that. Just get lost; I don't even want to see your face"

The flash of anger that sparked across his face was so prominently evident, even then at 15 years. He hated when she said stuff like that. The anger was soon enough replaced by an evil glint as Arnav grabbed her in a headlock, messing up her hair as she clawed at him in an attempt to free herself.

"Yea right... You're not getting rid of me that easily Khush"

ooo

The remnants of those empty words shattered around her as she heard them echo through her soul. She could feel a bitter eruption of air wash over her - her eyes clouding over with an agonizing sting as she willed the tears not to fall.

Her first thoughts swam around in her head as she felt herself become light headed.

'He's alive'

She could barely comprehend a single iota of reality as she stayed bundled in his arms - looking straight in to those beautiful eyes; the very eyes she had been aching to see for so long. She tried to voice something. What that something was, she didn't know. She wanted to say something; anything. But it was caught somewhere at the back of her throat as she felt it close up.

So she just looked at him.

She took him in. She took the whole of him in as she felt him slowly place her back on the ground, letting his hands graze over her every curve.

She just looked at him.

It was at that very moment that the realisation hit her.

He did this

Her gaze gradually became attentive; it became distant as her eyes flitted around the building.

'AR Designs,' she thought

'Arnav Raizada,' she thought

Her thoughts travelled back in time; memories of his fathers company flickering before her. They bypassed the severed ties with Anjali. And they grew to a realising halt at the man in front of her - his eyes full of recognition and sickening guilt.

'He did this'

Arnav Singh Raizada swiftly turned around and stood on the spot. His hands clenched; nails carving incorrigible groves in to his skin as he struggled with himself.

'Why is this so hard,' he deliberated

'It wasn't supposed to be like this,' he thought as he mentally pictured himself giving in; falling to his knees in remorse as he begged for her forgiveness.

His gritted fist started to shake as he goaded himself for being so weak - the doubt seeping through him as his resolve began to fracture.

'NO!' you've come way too far to cave in,' he thought to himself, as fragments of his scattered life resumed their continual mockery. He needed to walk away.

But he had to say something right?

He turned around; bracing himself for the uproar he knew was coming. In his mind, he geared himself up... geared himself up to push her away; to shout at her till she went away crying; to wreck her so badly that she'd never want to come back to him.

But what he saw, was not what he was expecting.

Khushi Kumari Gupta had gone.

~

Khushi stared at her reflection in the mirror as she splashed water on her face - the ice cold flecks somewhat soothing her heated extremities.

Her mind was blank. Completely blank.

'If only Lavanya could see me now' she thought with a humourless laugh.

It was him... It was all him.

The continuous chant was resonating persistently through her head. The way he had looked at her; the way his eyes bore in to her - willing her to say something; to give him the ammunition he needed to gun her down.

It was all him.

She now understood. Khushi knew Arnav Singh Raizada well enough to know that this was all his doing.

She understood perfectly... She just didn't know why.

But she didn't want to know. That look in his eyes; the recognition they held, had replaced her hope with hatred. It was him. It was all him.

If he was waiting for her to confront him; to shout at him - to implore, to beg and cry to him... Then he was going to be waiting a hell of a long time.

She had no business doing such things. She didn't owe him anything.

'He's the one that left. He's the one who left himself dead in everyone's eyes. He's the one with the explaining to do. Not me'

Khushi felt her anger rise up above her and come crashing down. She felt it course through her - cutting in to her veins as it pulsated within her. Memories from her past flashed rapidly before her eyes as her anguish tore through the remaining shards of her hope. There was none left.

She felt her self shake violently - her whole heart, her whole body; her whole being ripped into pieces of confusion. She just wanted to run in to his arms at the mere thought of just knowing that he was ok; that he was safe. At the same time she wanted to scream. She wanted to tear down his god forsaken walls and demand he explain himself. She wanted to cry herself hoarse and rip out his heartless charade. In her mind... she was drowning in his selfishness.

But he didn't deserve her emotions. He didn't deserve anything.

Khushi Kumari Gupta looked at herself for a final time and smirked. There was no way he was going to get his way this time round.

'You lose Arnav Singh Raizada'

~

'Akash, will you interview this one for me, I'm running behind schedule'

Arnav refused to look at his cousin as he handed him Khushi's application. 'No wonder I didn't know she was coming, she was one of Akashs' choices,' he thought as he pretended to keep himself busy with paperwork.

'Err yea, sure thing Bhai'

Akash looked at his cousin confused. Something was definitely bothering him. He was about to ask, when he though the better of it. 'He'll probably end up murdering me with those gusseh wala stares' he thought, shuddering at the very thought of it.

As Akash left the office, Arnav stopped what he was doing - his pen falling from his hand as scenes from their dramatic meeting played over and over again in his head.

He couldn't deny it. She looked good

He mentally corrected himself as he envisioned her one more time.

'She looks beautiful'

He had seen her. He had seen her even before she had fallen. He had watched in shock as he saw his best friend lose her footing and attempt to regain her posture. He had known she wasn't going to make it.

He didn't know what he was thinking. Perhaps he shouldn't have thought at all. Perhaps he should have just let her fall.

But he didn't. He had always been there to catch her when she fell - And he was ashamed of himself for reverting back to the person he was before.

'It was just an instinct' he told himself reassuringly.

But even as he heard himself say those words, he knew this was going to be harder then he thought. Her agonized features were already carved in to his head to the point of no return.

The way the loose strands of hair had cradled her slender neck - her full, pouting lips that had been slightly ajar as she stared at him. He could still feel her in his arms; he could feel her presence - as if she'd left her mark; as if she had etched her figure in to him. Her soft curves, accentuated by that figure hugging outfit of hers. She looked so classy... She looked so different.

Of course.

Khushi wasn't a girl anymore... She was a woman.

It was her eyes that had thrown him the most. Her eyes had always shown him her every emotion. And it was no different this time. Even after so many years, he could still read her raging thoughts as if they were displayed to him on an extremely open bookshelf.

But what he saw, wasn't what he wanted to read.

His hands were once again clenched; gritting his teeth as he tried to gain some sort clarity within all this confusion. He could sense himself feeling all the more ridiculous by the second as he willed himself to remember just why he was doing this in the first place. He willed himself to tear out the image from his brain; to tear out those accusing stares

She knew

And now... he didn't know what was going to happen.

It was at that very moment, he saw her again.

She was walking up the stairs determinedly towards Akashs' adjoining office, her heels clicking purposefully on each step. She looked so graceful.

At the back of his mind, he couldn't stop himself from being proud of her as he watched her close her eyes and take a deep breath before entering Akashs' cabin.

'My brave Khushi'

~

'Ok so, it's Khushi Right?'

Khushi smiled at him gently, nodding her head slightly as she fought with herself to keep her emotions at bay. 'Come on Khushi... You can do this. You need this job. Don't let him ruin this chance.'

Akash pondered to himself - intently watching the girl in front of him as she took out her portfolio and laid it on the desk between them. 'Is this the Khushi that Bhai and Di were talking about?'

He proceeded to ask her questions, stopping every now and then to glance at her portfolio. He looked at her again and again, taking in her every move - her every expression. She looked so downcast, yet the confidence was spilling out of her profusely. She was so odd.

'Is that why Bhai looked so tormented just now?'

When the interview was over, she shook his hand, thanked him, gave him another light smile and walked swiftly out the door without so much as another glance in his, or any other direction.

Something definitely wasn't right

~

If you asked her, she'd never be able to tell you how she had managed to get herself home that day. Everything around her just seemed to melt under her blazing thoughts. Everything was eerily silent. Everything was still.

She walked aimlessly in to her house - her eyes distant and sore as they quickly scanned her surroundings; thankful that no one was at home.

Khushi walked in to her bedroom, shut the door and fell to the floor.

This was the one place she didn't have to kid herself; where she didn't have to put on a front.

So she cried her eyes out.

The tears that she had been building up gushed down her face as she hugged her knees - choking as the air flow became restricted in the midst of her wracking sobs. She berated herself for the constant thanks she had been sending to Devi Maiyya since the moment she lad laid eyes on him. She hated herself for feeling so relieved when all that was pounding through her head was his disgusting attitude.

It was at least half an hour before her tears gradually subsided. Her head was throbbing so much she almost wished it to burst. Her thoughts were so blurred that there was now no line between her heart and her mind - She was quite simply, confused.

As she made a move to lift herself off the ground, her bedroom door opened suddenly, presenting her with the horrified faces of her family.

Payal was the first one on the floor as she held her little sisters puffed up face in her hands

'Khushi?! Kya Hua?! What's happened Khushi? Bolo na, tum kyun roh rahi ho?!'

Khushi's eyes bored in to hers as her expression slowly became blank. She hated herself for caring this much. She hated this full stop.

She turned to look at her Amma, her Babuji and her Buaji as she addressed them all.

'He's alive'

~

Khushi just sat and listened to her Buaji as she cursed every bone in Arnavs' body. She observed her sister as she berated Anjali for keeping everyone in the dark. She silently took in the disapproving head shakes from her Amma and Babuji. She just stayed still.

Not a single word could have explained just how bad she felt right now. As much as she wanted to shout at everyone... it all came down to one fact only.

That Arnav Singh Raizada was safe.

This is what she had prayed to Devi Maiyya for right? And that is exactly what she got. Did she really have a right to complain?

Before she could deliberate over this thought any further, there was a knock at the door. They all looked around; thrown by the sudden interruption within the tense atmosphere surrounding them.

Khushi forced a smile; looking at her family as she made a move to get up.

'I'll get it'

She sauntered to the door with heavy feet and tired eyes - she wasn't at all up to entertaining people today. As she opened the door, she prepared herself to make herself somewhat hospitable - as pathetic as she felt. But what she saw on the other side threw those thoughts out the window as she felt a fresh wave of anguish hit her like a ton of dirty, jagged bricks.

'Khushi?'

ooo