ArShi:Destiny With TRAILER Thread I - Page 70

Hi everyone, sorry about delay.. i am down with stupid flu again... i tell you i could write a whole another ff on me and my immune system. Anyhow, here is the next update. Thank you for commenting and pming me... it feels awesome. I cant believe that the comments went over 6 pages... thank you all❤️

Enjoy,

Take Care.

Chapter 16

Saturday, November 16, 2012

9.45AM, West Village Apartments, NYC

An incessant pounding somewhere broke her deep sleep; it was slow at first and faint, then it grew to stomping and pounding and loud. Khushi wasn't sure whether she was dreaming. She felt like she was in a limbo state of sleepiness where she could hear and feel everything around her yet she was asleep. Finally, giving up on the hope that she would get to sleep in on this particular Saturday, she woke up with a huff. Still groggy and bitter, she growled angrily and threw the warm comforter away from herself. She stood up, and realized that the pounding was sounding from the front door. Cursing under her breath, she hurriedly walked out of her bedroom, through the living room and opened the door. "NK!" she screamed at him as he shoved past her and entered inside.

"What in the bloody hell are you doing here?!" she mumbled and walked back to the living room to deposited herself on the couch. "Wow, you are no princess in the morning!" he reflected as he saw how atrocious she looked with her bed hair and wrinkled clothes. "Yes, no princess, so does that mean I am allowed one murder… just one and guess who that lucky person is!" she growled at him. "Calm down… I got some breakfast and coffee, so go and wash-up," he said as he walked towards her kitchen.

"What the heck are you doing here so early in the morning," she yelled as she made her way back to her room to freshen up. She opened the faucet and splashed her face with cold water, brushed, and tamed her clutter of a hair.

After ten minutes, she came back into the living room where NK was already sitting on the floor and eating since the wooden floor was manually heated. She sat down next to him and fished out a blueberry scone along with taking a sip of her cappuccino. "I am so hungry," she complained as she bit into the scone and momentarily forgetting what NK's real intentions could be for this early visit. Although, she was quite used to them by now since he was an even worse cook than her and his kitchen was always spotless due to no cooking. Ever since moving in his apartment a few months back, Khushi knew that NK could be the best support or the biggest nuisance, depending on the need of the situation.

"So, Khushi… tell me who this Arnav Singh Raizada is?" NK questioned her suddenly and Khushi choked on her coffee, well mostly because it was extremely hot.

"I knew it! I knew that there was something fishy!" NK clapped his hands and gave Khushi a stern look. "What is your problem, NK!" Khushi exclaimed as she uprooted herself off the ground however NK pulled her down. "I know something is going on, why don't you save yourself a farce story and cough up the truth since you already coughed out the coffee."

"Very funny, I brunt my tongue, you idiot!" Khushi moved to rest against the coffee table so that she could face NK who was leaning with his back against the couch.

"Well…" he trailed his voice, "tell me!" He impatiently huffed at Khushi and rolled his eyes.

"Fine! You big headed, pompous man!" Khushi cursed him, kicked his shin and sighed in defeat. She wasn't sure why but she needed to vent the story out, at least hear it out herself. It was like it was some sort of an absurd cheesy Hollywood movie. To begin with, she wasn't even sure what had happened between them. It had started such a long time for her; her entire life had consisted of bursts from him, about him, with him, for him… it was ridiculous.

"Well, I was a teenager who had a major crush on Arnav Singh and like all silly teenager girls I tried to meet him. Suffice to say that the meeting didn't end well, or begin at all however you want to look at it. Anyhow, years later, when I was in college, my roommate ended up being his sister. She invited me her cousin's wedding and well at the wedding Arnav and I almost murdered each other. I was really shocked to discover that my roommate was a Raizada and even more shocked to see Arnav there. Well, then on the last day I had a huge fight with him in the library."

"Last day?" NK questioned.

"Well, I wasn't sure that it would be last day. I had planned on spending more time there; however, my grandmother… mom's mother, she got extremely sick, so I had to fly back home. She didn't make a recovery from that and so afterwards, I came for an interview in NYC, and I suppose, it was a perfect place to begin my career."

~~oOo~~

An hour later, Khushi and NK were sitting on the bench outside her apartment's balcony. The sun had risen through the bleak clouds and last nights rain had cleared the entire city from the snow and the after slush. Now it looked fresh and calm; Khushi gazed up to NK's face; he was leaning on the ledge and staring into space. "Now, he wants to take you out to lunch?" he asked her a rhetorical question.

She mutely nodded her head that was perched on her drawn knees. "And, you don't know what to do," and she nodded her head again. "Damn it woman," he came towards her and shook her shoulders, "do you have any idea who this man is! Arnav Singh… you know most women and men would kill to be in your spot!"

She yanked his arms away and responded in the same fake enthusiastic tone, "most women don't have a twisted history with him and he does not swing the other way!" after that response, NK calmed down a bit and said, "well, in my opinion, I think you should go meet him and just see what he has to say… and it's your choice if you want to act on anything later or not!"

"That's not helping me," Khushi said in a dejected voice as they both came back into the apartment. "I don't care, just say yes to lunch…" NK shut her balcony door and turned around to face her.

"I don't know what to say, I mean he had or I think he has a girlfriend, he is my best friend's brother, and I hated him," Khushi complained to him and sat on the couch.

NK sighed and spoke up again, "You aren't thinking of dating him so the girlfriend issue isn't even valid, he is your best friend's brother therefore he is trustworthy, and you had 'loved' him at a point too!" Khushi rolled her eyes at his air quotes and contemplated her options. NK continued, "What is the worst that could happen… and besides since you are close to his sister, you might as well try to erase off some past baggage… it's not like you are going to see him ever again."

Khushi sighed. She knew it felt weird if she said yes however she felt these fluttery feelings erupting in the pit of stomach in the anticipation of seeing him. She knew that somewhere along the way, she wanted to know what he wanted to say. He was different; he looked different too but how could one person change so much, she reflected. Of course, she had read those articles about him but seeing him in person, she couldn't help but rubbish those rumours because after a certain point, they had completely stopped. She remembered thinking that Arnav must have put a stop to those since they were taking it a bit too far and including all kinds of rubbish.

When she turned her head around she realized that she was completely alone in the living room. Thinking that her companion was in the washroom, she cleaned the table, getting rid of all the trash. As she retreated back into the living room she saw NK emerging from her room and she said, "I think I should say yes to his lunch."

"Already done!" NK said smugly, ran past Khushi and bolted out the door. "WHAT!!!" she screamed as she pursued him but he had already sprinted down the stairs.

"NK!" she seethed in anger as she jogged back into her apartment and hurried into her room. Yes, just as she had predicted, NK had used her computer to send an email on her behalf to Arnav. It read:

Lunch? Can't wait.

Xo- Khushi

"URGHHH!!!!!" she screamed yet again.

~~oOo~~

1.25PM, Friday, November 23, 2012

The Leopard at des Artistes, West Street, NYC

Khushi took a few steady steps towards the door of the restaurant and took deep breaths to calm down. It is just a lunch, she told herself. Of course, a lunch she was technically forced to attend. Stupid, stupid, NK! She had tortured him enough for this past week by refusing to acknowledge him however she knew that when Thursday came around, she was shaking as a leaf so she had begrudgingly asked him to help her. She couldn't even think coherently let alone choose an outfit for herself. So, he had helped her pick the now navy mango dress she was wearing along with her nude suede pumps. For some reason, it felt like she was almost erasing that wedge that had been created between Arnav and her. Like she was erasing and starting again. But part of her didn't want to; that part wanted to forget him, forget her past and move on. But it had defined her, to some extent at least. She hugged her trench closer to her body as she stood in front of the restaurant contemplating her choices and her steps were faltering her.

"Damn it, Khushi… just go in!" she chastised herself and hurriedly opened the door. As she peered around, a well-dressed host smiled at her. She noticed that the restaurant wasn't as big as she had perceived it to be and that relaxed her; it was a very casual dining space and that instantly calmed her flailing nerves to an extent. "Hi, how can I help you?" asked the host.

"Hi, I am meeting a someone… uh Mr. Raizada?"

After checking the list the host promptly smiled at her and requested her to follow him. As Khushi took slow steps behind him, she felt her throat dry up. She took a deep breath as the host said, "Here you are Miss… please enjoy your meal." As Khushi smiled at the host, she could see Arnav rise up from the corner of her eye. He gestured the host with a nod and the host took this as his cue to leave. Arnav, in the mean time, took out Khushi's chair and waited for her take a seat. After seating down, Khushi finally managed the courage to gazed towards him. Arnav was already looking at her with his face situated on the heel of his palm. "Hi, how are you?" he asked her as he slightly twitched his lips.

After a few seconds, Khushi forced herself to stop floating in the space of aloofness and focus in the moment. "I am good, how are you?" Sensing her hesitation, Arnav relaxed his posture and replied, "So, how is everything else?"

"Everything is great, everything is fine," she replied as if she had already rehearsed her lines. Arnav wasn't sure when he sent her the email that he would ever get a reply back. It would be an understatement that he was surprised when he had checked his email. Right now, he knew why exactly he shouldn't have sent that email. Khushi's tense body language told him that she was nervous. Hell, he was nervous himself. He wasn't expecting it to be a smooth meeting but he knew he had to try. "So, you are here in new york, working as an intern… sounds like exciting stuff…"

"Yeah, I guess I had to start somewhere… it is pretty great and of course I needed to after graduation."

Their server arrived, filled their water glasses and took down their order. "It's great that you are taking a charge with your life… I mean you and then Anjali, she has also started as the sales assistant."

"Yeah, I haven't spoken to her for a few weeks… I am sure she will do great stuff," Khushi said as she sipped her water.

As their lunch was brought to them, Arnav cleared his throat but as Khushi looked up, his courage faltered. "So, how are your parents?"

"Great, enjoying their lives," she said.

Another uncomfortable pause.

"How are Akash and Payal? And Mamiji and Uncle and Nani?" she asked.

"Great… they are doing pretty well, and Mamiji as well as Uncle and Nani."

"That's really nice to hear… I really miss them, I mean the last time I visited with the wedding being there, and it was pretty hectic… I…." she stopped mid way because she knew which tangent this conversation led to. She quieted down and noisily used her cutlery to avoid this topic. Seeing this, Arnav's face broke into a grin because the last time she had played war with the cutlery, he was sitting right beside her and she had mentally tortured him. An awkward silence seemed impregnate their surroundings as Khushi looked everywhere but Arnav.

"Listen, about that," he said breaking the stretched silence and he knew it was now or never, "I never really meant for you to leave with a fight on your mind. I really didn't think things would escalate… it was a childish fight that got out of hand," he peered over to her, wishing she would look up. When she did, she saw something in his eyes. Like he held remorse for that fight, like it had haunted him, like he was trying to cleanse his soul off. She was locked in his gaze and she couldn't look away so he continued, "I guess what I am trying to say is that I am sorry about that."

"Huh," uttered Khushi in a baffled expression. She, caught off guard, moved her arm limply from the table and spilled the water on the floor along with shattering the glass. She looked over to Arnav in an embarrassed and horrified manner. Arnav fought his hardest not to laugh so he bit the inside of his cheek although his lips were drawn in an amused line. "Oh god, I am so sorry," Khushi said to waiter who had hurriedly tried to clean the mess. "I guess I am forgiven," he uttered in a comical tenor. "That's alright, Miss," assured the waitress.

"That's our tradition, we meet each other and break things in the happiness of it," he said to the waitress as she cleared the remaining glass off the floor and smiled at the pair. Khushi glanced over towards Arnav in an amusing yet baffled look. She then broke into a scoffing smile herself. Did he just forgive himself? It should anger her, hell, it should bother her but for reason, she found his apology genuine and reassuring.

"I was joking about the whole thing… I mean I am very sorry but you know what I meant," he spoke as he eyed the now clean floor because he didn't want Khushi to get annoyed with him. He was also trudging on uneven ground with her and he wasn't sure how to comprehend this situation. "It's fine, I forgive you," she said and surprised her own self. For a while she had thought about their last encounter and she had always found that she would most likely wring his neck. However, the words just slipped out of her mouth as they finished the meal and paid the bill. Arnav beamed at her as they both rose from their seats and he helped her slip into her coat. "Thanks," she turned around and they both walked out of the restaurant.

"Thanks for this nice meal, great seeing you," Khushi concluded as she flagged a cab down, clearly in the need of some time away from this kryptonite. "Okay, you too… nice seeing you too," Arnav said feeling light but more dissatisfied however he knew that this meal wouldn't be a walk in the park. As the cab stopped in front of Khushi, she slipped into the back as Arnav held the door for her. He bent down and offered her a last smile before shutting the door; he watched as the cab drove down the street and merged into the Manhattan traffic.

As the rain hit the windshield, Khushi leaned back onto the cab seat and closed her eyes. She wasn't sure what she expected from Arnav but she was nevertheless happy that he had apologized to her. It was an awkward lunch to say the least; she remembered that he appeared cool yet controlled. Those rumours that she had heard about him losing his mind, they were wrong. She realized that since Anjali never mentioned anything in her emails that Arnav must be doing just fine. Her email exchange between Anjali had become quite infrequent as well. She knew that Anjali was now busy in her life on another continent akin to herself. She rarely ever gave two cents about Arnav and neither did she ponder about him; she had way too much to deal with in her own life.

As the cab continued down the street she realized that this wasn't the last she saw of him. She still possessed that one item he had lent her. Frustrated and annoyed at her stupidity, she muttered a few colourful curses and sighed and opened her eyes, rolled the car window down, stuck her hand out into the rain.

Meanwhile, Arnav leisurely strolled down the street and waited for his own driver to bring the car around. He was glad that Khushi had so enthusiastically replied to his email however studying her features proved that she was there more out of courtesy than anything else. He felt saddened at that thought and realized this was most likely their last exchange of communication. He felt better and light; it felt like he had just taken off a huge burden off his shoulders. Apologizing seemed to be somewhat easier than he had thought and he knew that now he could perhaps focus on something else. For the past week, he had been constantly thinking about Khushi and their last encounter. He never realized how much their last meeting had affected him. He wasn't sure whether Khushi was the catalyst to his spiral to doom or the last straw to his tightly bind soul that required some cleansing. With these thoughts swirling in his head, Arnav picked up a New York Time's newspaper from a nearby stand and slipped into the car as the rain came cracking down.

~~oOo~~

West Village Apartments, NYC

Khushi paid the driver and headed straight into her building in an attempt to find shelter from the whiplashing, cold rain. Her cell phone rang and she quickly rummaged through her bag. "Yes, NK… I am coming up. Just checking my mail," she informed him while cradling the phone in between her shoulder and ear. After picking up her mail, she continued, "what! You aren't home… well, so much for telling someone about my afternoon excursion," she complained as she climbed the stairs.

"I know… well, see you tomorrow then… have fun in Long Island… although it is pretty boring… have a good meeting, ciao." She hung up the phone, fished out her keys and stepped into her apartment. Knowing that she had a completely boring night lined up for her, Khushi ordered some take out sushi and prepared to watch movies until she couldn't afford to keep her eyes open. She plopped on the couch and turned on her Netflix to waste her time watching movies all night long.

Around midnight, Khushi woke up and found herself asleep on the couch with the flickering TV lights washing over her. She got up and turned the box off. After making herself some coffee, Khushi decided to sit on the bench on her balcony. The wind was cold and it brushed against her delicate skin making patterns in the form of goose bumps. As she sat watching over the Manhattan lights, she reflected on how much her life had changed. She couldn't even recall the Khushi who had visited London and pulled such childish pranks on Arnav. She almost felt embarrassed to recall the incidents that had occurred between them and she was glad that she couldn't. However, she knew that at that time, it had mattered to her. Just like it had mattered to her to see Arnav back when she was a mere teenager, or back when she had just stepped into her adulthood. Almost a year and a half ago, Khushi was different. She now understood the pressures of a job, the worry about being punctual, the happiness when made her own money, the independence the came along with living in an another city, knowing virtually no one and yet still maintaining to live the way she was. She loved it all, and now she understood that Arnav was around the same age. She could no longer blame him; she in fact in some astounding way understood how he behaved. He was rich, popular, and handsome and the world was underneath his feet. Why would he ever care which silly girl harboured a crush on him in some big city in this world?

She chastised herself for being immensely foolish, behaving like such a foolish person!

Had she not hooked up with a bunch of men as well when had started to live in New York… it came as a perk with the whole freedom cookie. It truly did. Glad that she had forgiven him today, she smiled and finished her coffee. All she now had to do was return his coat, and part ways.

Khushi walked in her apartment after securing the lock, slipped off her socks, and jumped into her warm bed. Sleep overtook her senses however the last thought that was roaming in her brain was about Arnav. He was still the same kryptonite that had her falling all over the place. He was still handsome; he was now a man, not a boy. And somewhere, she still felt a strong pull towards him. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

~~oOo~~

5 PM Saturday, November 24, 2012

West Village Apartments, NYC

The music was going on with full throttle. The floor shook, the odour of booze lingered in the air as Khushi passed through the crowd. She greeted a few people but felt lost in the sea of faces since she knew practically no one. She found herself a corner, a bottle of beer, and observed everyone around her. She finished off her and grabbed another one from the cooler and sipped it. She thought about work, she had none. She had finished off all of the manuscripts, sent off all the emails. As she eyed the large, wooden door of this empty apartment, Khushi could see NK making his way through the crowd. He waved at her and reached her. "Hi," Khushi said and hugged him that he enthusiastically returned as well. "How was the ferry ride?"

NK made a disgusted face and said, "I wish that witch would send someone else, I mean I know she influenced Darcy to send me for the PR campaign of the store."

"Aww, well, don't worry… I am sure this is the last one this year," Khushi patted his shoulder and sympathized with him. "I hope so, the store was completely rubbish, they need to maintain it better if they want to ever think about partnership," NK rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. "Well, I haven't been having such an eventful weekend anyway if that makes you feel any better," Khushi said as she moved away to let someone pass through.

NK grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him, "Wait a second, you had that dinner yesterday, I want to know all about it… let me just grab a drink, wait up," he gestured her with his index fingered raised as he disappeared into the crowd. Khushi nodded at him and continued to finish her second drink while NK returned back.

He perched himself on top of the counter in the kitchen while Khushi stood facing him. "What happened?" he asked

"Nothing much, I went, it was awkward, I sort of mumbled stuff…" this earned her a groan from NK and she proceeded to slap him. "And he apologized, I broke a glass and then we said goodbye." After hearing the fact that Arnav had apologized, NK quickly hopped off the counter and hugged Khushi. "Khushi, you realize that this guy had probably been brash his entire life and now he comes and apologizes to you…"

"Great, that makes me feel so much better…" Khushi mumbled into his shoulder and pushed him away.

"Okay, geez, relax." NK raised his arms up in defence and sat back on the counter top. "I guess he did apologize and then we ended it off there," Khushi said in a hushed tone as she traced the rim of her empty beer bottle. "That's it then… you aren't going to see him again," NK probed because even he felt that something else was bothering his friend. He shook his head and peered into the crowd.

"OH SHIT!" NK said as he jumped off the counter and said, "Khushi… that's not the last of him you are seeing, are you?"

Khushi flicked her eyes towards NK as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down at her. She bit her lip and turned around. There he stood, at the door, looking like extremely sexy and manly. Instantly, Khushi felt the muscles in her belly clench up in the most sweetest twist. "I suppose you already know the answer," replied Khushi. "Here, at this stupid tenants union party!!" NK passed over a stern look at Khushi to which she just shrugged and spoke, "I have to return his coat… might as well come and fetch it himself."

"Well, he is looking rather hot and happening in that polo shirt and the leather jacket. God he makes casual look sexy," said NK and Khushi passed him a rather strict look and then laughed with him. After realizing that every woman in the room was staring at Arnav, Khushi quickly kissed NK's cheek and bid her good bye. Arnav was still standing crowding the doorway in an attempt to scan the room for her. As he gazed straight ahead, he spotted Khushi walking towards him. She manoeuvred her way through the crowd and reached his side.

"Hi, I hope you have any trouble finding your way," Khushi spoke in a cheery tone. "Uh, no, I was able to find your apartment," Arnav spoke.

"Great, okay… let's go to my apartment… it is two floors up," she gestured with her hands, "oh but do you want a drink? It's free," she said and raised her eyebrows at him. Arnav just laughed at her; it surprised her to some extent to see him laugh in such a carefree manner. Truthfully, he was more nervous surrounded with so much alcohol. "No, Khushi… I am good, but some party… huh?" They both walked towards the stairs and climbed up two floors. "Yeah, the party is sort of a six month thing for the tenants union. Lot of young people live here hence the booze and music."

"Right here," Khushi spoke and pointed towards the door as she eyed Arnav. She noticed that his hands were shaking slightly and that he looked shaken and pale. Confused at the slight change in his demeanour, Khushi flicked on the apartment lights.

Arnav noticed that her apartment was the last one down the hallway. Although the building looks slightly aged from outside, the inside was pretty well done and furbished. He was even surprised to see her apartment when she opened the door. It was extremely modern, something that Khushi's salary wouldn't be able to afford. Did she live with someone, perhaps her boyfriend or girlfriends? He didn't like that idea.

"Nice place… so you live all alone?" he asked her. Khushi spun around to face Arnav as he seated himself on the couch. "Yeah, all by myself… but don't rob me now!" she joked with him. "Well, now that you have given me an idea… I mean…"

"Hey!" Khushi playfully reprimanded him. Arnav chuckled in response and Khushi continued on, "I used to live down near the east side until a few months ago. Then some guy got shot in a gang fight in the same building I lived in. my parents had wanted to buy me an apartment ever since I decided to move here. It was a tough fight… you the whole independent fight… needless to say, my mom got so freaked out after that incident, they gave me two options… a ticket home or the papers to this apartment."

"And you Miss Gupta so shrewdly picked this apartment."

"Exactly! Glad that someone understands my shrewdness," she chuckled at him and excused herself. Arnav took the liberty to look around the apartment. It wasn't very big but it was lavishly furnished. It also came with a balcony since the third floor was the top floor. Her living room had a TV against the wall, a nice leather sofa, and lots of pictures. He rose from his seat and walked towards the wall that held all the pictures. All of them were in black frames, different sizes, which made the wall look odd yet lovely. He noticed that she had pictures with what looked like her parents, and a couple with perhaps her relatives, her college pictures with her friends, and Anjali was in most of them; there were pictures with that companion of hers and from her visit to London. He saw the one particular picture where his entire family was present except him. Many pictures consisted of Khushi as a toddler, as a child, as a teenager, as a college freshman. There was one particular where Khushi was shielding her face from the camera and only her hand was visible.

"Here is it."

Khushi's voice broke his chain of thoughts and he smiled in her direction. "Nice wall," he commented.

"Thanks," she blushed, "I hope you don't mind but I didn't get it dry cleaned… I mean I was going to since I fell asleep in it until I realized that it was a bloody Burberry trench, almost irreplaceable… I wasn't sure whether I could trust my dry cleaner."

Chuckling at her babbling spree Arnav shook his head, "Don't worry about it, it isn't a big deal."

Khushi stopped talking and sighed internally. She could feel his eyes on her face; she peered into his eyes. Those eyes, she could just stop and drown happily, perhaps play in them and then sleep peacefully in them. Arnav stood still as well. Her wanted to know what she was hiding in her eyes. Maybe it was the fact that her eyes were the darkest shade of brown he had ever encountered, he wanted to gaze into her eyes. Khushi was the first one to break the eye contant with him when she heard her cell phone ring.

"Hello," she mumbled into the mouthpiece and walked towards the kitchen to speak properly.

After a few minutes, she came back and apologized. "Just my friend… anyhow, I didn't ask before, sorry, would like something… juice or water?"

"Uh, how about some coffee?" he asked her.

He could see Khushi contemplate inside her head. When she had messaged him, politely asking whether he would be willing to fetch his coat, he was surprised. She still took the time out to message him when he had completely forgotten about his coat. He of course didn't need it however he liked that she remembered.

"Bad news for you," said Khushi, pulling Arnav out of his thoughts. "Bad news?" he knew she was going to refuse so he played it off with ignorance.

"Yup," she said as she slipped her coat on, "No coffee left in my house, and you are buying," she gave him a smug look and then broke into a smile. "It would be my pleasure," he bowed as they exited her apartment.

~~oOo~~

6.30PM Starbucks

Near West Village Apartments, NYC

"I'll have…" Arnav broke off her sentence and spoke, "I know a venti cappuccino."

"Hey! Not bad…" she smirked at him as they stood in line. "Wow, Khushi Kumari Gupta can smirk as well, I am shocked!" Arnav said as looked at Khushi. Khushi's heart fluttered with the intensity of his gaze and her internal self reminded her to tread carefully. "Yes, there is a lot you don't know about me," she challenged him and tried to stand on her tiptoes. "Hey," she stood back down in a realization, "How in the world do you know my full name? I mean even back then you knew…" she passed a confused look that Arnav found incredibly adorable and innocent.

"Anjali… she would go on and on about you and then I watched your graduation video… and they announced your full name." Khushi looked at him sheepishly and finally they ordered their drinks.

After grabbing their drinks, Khushi and Arnav headed towards the very starting of Central Park, found a bench and sat down. "So, you watched my graduation video… huh, well I didn't expect you to remember my name," she spoke as they looked at the Manhattan traffic sluggishly pass them by.

"There are a lot of things I remember about you, Khushi." Arnav gazed towards her and hearing this, Khushi looked right into his eyes as well. Something struck inside her, whether what he said or the way he said it, Khushi felt even more fluttery than before. She knew it was bad.

Arnav thought that he had scared her so her tried to divert her mind. "It is a really nice evening," he spoke as he looked up towards the charcoal sky. Nothing was visible yet he continued to peer upwards. Khushi took a sip of coffee, "How is your girlfriend?" she asked.

"Oh, we aren't together anymore." Arnav spoke as her finished his coffee and threw it in the nearby trashcan.

"I am sorry," Khushi said as she wondered what could have happened with them. He wasn't very attentive towards her, which she knew, but she still wanted to know. Was it something serious or were they just had a fall out?

With these questions, Khushi and Arnav walked back towards her apartment. It was a few blocks, but Khushi was stuck in a battle so surreal to herself. Why was she contemplating why Arnav was single? She had no answer this question.

"Are you okay, Khushi? You haven't spoken a word for some time now," Arnav asked her as they stood in front of her house building.

"Yeah, I am fine… slightly disgusted because of mixing alcohol and coffee." She cringed her nose and licked her lips.

"I uh had fun…" he spoke as his car pulled up from around the curb. "Me too, and thanks for lending me your coat," Khushi said. She balled her hands into tight fists at the sudden desire to touch him. Like it was the last time she would ever see him. Similarly, Arnav wanted to touch her, to know that she was standing there with her. She had no idea but when she had messaged him earlier, he was on his way to board his flight back home. He had delayed it for the past few days, but he couldn't anymore. While he was at the security gate, his phone had sounded off and he had done the blissful mistake of checking it. Needless to say, he did not board that flight.

On sheer instinct, he reached forward with his hand and pushed her hair behind her ear. He then leaned forward and pecked her soft cheek. "Good bye, Khushi… see you soon," he spoke into her ear as soft as he could in the silent evening.

After slipping into his car seat, he looked at her one last time and drove off. Khushi, who had been running on fluttery clouds, now could no longer feel her feet, could no longer feel gravity, could no longer feel the ground. She blushed and smiled to herself. She no longer knew what to call it, what was happening between them, but she liked it. It felt silly and fragile and good.

Thanks for an amazing update...waiting to see arnav and khushi together...