ArHi SS:The Life-Changing Pact [Note on Page 147] - Page 92

There was no denial whatsoever that Arnav was having a great time in Lucknow, living in a cosy house where the whole family was the epitome of warmth and generosity. But soon it would all be over…five more days and back to the Delhi routine. Arnav had slowly grown fond of the place, and more precisely of the people, but he certainly did not know what and whom he would miss above all: was it the lively atmosphere, the adorable family, his little angel Pari or…the new Khushi, the different Khushi! Why was he thinking so much about a person who had always been cold and cynical? What was that in her that aroused a different, never experienced before feeling?

As he was getting ready to go downstairs, he knocked against an item in the cupboard which fell on the ground. He knelt down to discover that it was a family album which had opened on its own and next to the album, he found a picture that fell out from it. His eyes were brimming with sparkles at the sight of Khushi whose picture had been clicked in a laughter pose. He had seen her smile before but never had he witnessed her openly laughing her heart out. Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, he frantically placed the album back in the cupboard and the photograph in his wallet. It seemed like his heart had prompted him to safely treasure the photograph in his custody.

"Arnie…I am going for a walk with Khushi Maasi! Will you please accompany us? We all will have fun together, please!" Pari asked in one of the sweetest tones ever.

"Sure angel! Did you ask your Maasi if I can come with you?" Arnav asked, wary about Khushi's reaction.

"What is there to ask about? Maasi is your girlfriend na!" Pari said in a big smile.

Arnav just stayed mum and followed Pari who was walking towards Khushi. Just when they were about to leave, Khushi informed Arnav that they needed to talk and that it was a good opportunity to be outside the house. Once they dropped Pari in the kids' corner at the park after a little walk, Khushi initiated the conversation:

"Listen Arnav… I know that we were not supposed to stay for so long and it did not form part of our pact! You know that Pari has been so much insisting that we stay for one more week! You'll only have to tolerate few more days and everything will be over!"

"Since when are you bothered about what I should tolerate or not?" Arnav asked raising an eyebrow before adding "Do you think I am tolerating staying with your family? Actually, Khushi…maybe it's hard to believe but I am more than happy to be here…they are all such lovely people with whom I am already being attached to!"

It was the first time that Arnav Singh Raizada had said something that did not trigger any words from Khushi, who preferred to stay silent. Suddenly, Khushi closed an eye and brought her hand to her eye trying to remove the dust what was bugging her. She kept fidgeting with it until Arnav approached her and ordered her to stop rubbing her eye. An adamant Khushi ignored his command but Arnav immediately got hold of her hand and blew air into her eye as gently as possible.

"Is it better now?" Arnav asked with a worried expression, to which Khushi only nodded.

Noticing that Khushi seemed awkward, Arnav decided to divert the conversation.

"Actually you know! I must be thankful that you don't have any boyfriend, else I would have never met your family!" Arnav said with a smirk.

"It's okay!" Khushi said still lost in her thoughts, when she suddenly realised what she was saying "What! What do you mean?"

"It's simple, Khushi! You are not of those girls who will be having a boyfriend, because you are drowned in work! In fact, your love is your work!"

"What do you know about me? I can have a boyfriend! You don't believe me? Just wait and watch! You see that guy standing over there! He will be my boyfriend in less than one minute. Let us bet! If I succeed, you will do what I ask you to!"

"Ok, if you insist!!! And if you don't, then you will do what I ask you to! Agreed?"

"Done!"

Khushi moved toward his supposedly future boyfriend, whom she had noticed wearing smart clothes and looked pretty stylish from the back, and glanced back at Arnav before starting to talk to his prey who was facing his back. She tapped his shoulder gently and introduced herself by extending her hand:

"Hi! I am Khushi!"

Her jaw dropped when she noticed that his face was familiar and that it was none other than Aman.

"Khushi?" Aman let out, surprised to see her. "How are you? And were you calling me?"

"A…Amm…Aman! You? I mean Hi! I was…calling you? Hmm" Khushi stammered, earning weird looks from Aman.

From afar, Arnav had witnessed what had happened and could not prevent himself from smilingly saying "Pagal ladki" He rushed to Khushi's rescue and said:

"Hey Aman! I told Khushi to meet you while I was busy on the phone! How are you bro?"

Khushi heaved a sigh of relief now that Arnav handled the situation.

"I am good Arnav! How are you both? Hmm a romantic walk huh?" Aman said with a mischievous glint in his voice.

Both Arnav and Khushi looked at each other, greatly embarrassed.

"Arnav, it's great I found you here itself! Actually I am organising a party tonight and all our college friends will be coming! So I expect you to come without fault"

"Everyone is coming? I would love too but…!" Arnav said.

"I understand why you are not willing to come! Sneaky boy…come on, even Khushi is invited! Happy now? Both of you are coming and it's final!"

"Okay if you are insisting so much, we'll come!" Arnav finally replied.

Hello, what are you saying, Khushi thought.

"And yeah, since the theme is fusion, the dress code is saree for girls and suit for boys!"

When Aman went, Khushi gave Arnav a deadly look and said:

"You said yes for both of us? You go, I won't be going to a stupid party with you! And that too in a saree? No way"

"Khushi, you don't have any choice! I won the bet and you have to do what I ask you, remember? Or if you want, I can consider you coward enough to refuse a bet!"

"Dammit!" Khushi murmured.

"Did you say anything?" Arnav asked hiding his smile.

"No!" Khushi let out angrily! Saree… Party…Where are you stuck Khushi?

With Khushi still sulking over the news that she was expected to go to a party in a saree at night with Arnav, they made their way to pick Pari up at the children's corner. Pari asked for an ice cream, to which Arnav replied:

"I think everyone needs an ice-cream! Ice-cream is perfect to cool the mind, isn't it Khushi?" Arnav expressed looking at Khushi's boiling anger that she was trying to suppress in front of Pari.

"I want strawberry flavour!" Pari squealed.

"One strawberry and two mango kulfis!" Arnav asked the ice cream vendor.

"How do you know I like mango kulfi?" Khushi asked completely surprised.

Arnav himself didn't know it was Khushi's favourite…he had just asked for his and maybe deep down, he had felt that his like would coincide with hers. "I guess that there are things that happen just like that!" With these words, it seemed a big bulb lit in his mind, or rather his heart.

Both Arnav and Khushi were eating their kulfi drowned in their own web of thoughts. Khushi dreaded the night's approach, but yet she was ready to take up the challenge while Arnav felt an excitement at the idea of Khushi accompanying him to the party…but it wasn't the joy of winning the bet. He was falling in love…

PRECAP

"All couples on the dance floor" Aman voiced in the mike.

With the effervescent atmosphere prevailing, Arnav suddenly felt someone pushing him against Khushi, and he spontaneously extended his hand towards her, asking her for a dance. Khushi had no time to react when Aman sped up the process and led her to place her hand in Arnav's.

Next update is on Saturday afternoon/night!! 😃 Likes and comments please 😳

loved it.