ArHi SS|The Search for the Perfect Bride Thread 2 - Page 65

Chapter 18:

Anjali speaks up softly, a little smile on her face, "You know Arnav, about Anand and Khushi?" she starts saying, but Nani chooses that moment to step in, interrupt Anjali's words, as she asks Arnav about Anand. "Khushi is almost engaged, Arnav. To Anand. Did you already forget that detail? You might want to marry her but does she want to marry you?"

Akash's jaw dropped upon hearing his grandmother's words, as he thought back to the phone call that they had received earlier.

The phone call that Payal had received from Khushi just a little while ago.

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"Khushi? How are you, my dear saaliji?" Akash smiled into the phone after seeing the caller ID.

"Jiju, Jiji isn't picking up her phone. Is she there?"

Immediately sensing the change in her tone of voice, with his usually cheerful, and bubbly sister-in-law sounding extremely quiet, forlorn, Akash handed over the phone to Payal without another single word.

"Khushi? Kya hua? Is everything ok? Amma, Buaji, Bauji?" Payal said anxiously, but immediately she was reassured by Khushi that everyone in their family was fine.

Akash watched the changing expressions on Payal's face as she was on the phone, how her relieved smile had changed into one of anxiousness once more, then anger, and finally resignation as she took in all that her sister had to say.

"But Khushi, I thought you were willing to let go of the past, ready to face the future, give the relationship a chance?"

Khushi massaged her temples for a quick second, feeling a headache coming on. "I thought so too Jiji. I thought that I would be able to forget him and marry Anand but..."

Khushi had rushed out of Arnav's office earlier that day, still reeling from the effects of that crazy kiss and the heated exchange of words. She had managed to go to her favorite coffee shop, ordering herself a large cappuccino before seating herself at one of the corner tables.

"How the hell did I kiss him like that? What's even going on in my life? Everytime he touches me, I can't help but respond and today, he was even going to say he loved me. What bullshit," she started mumbling under her breath, trying to sort out the mess by herself.

'But what if he isn't lying Khushi? What if he really does love you?' a voice taunted her in the back of her head. "Well, then, he should have figured it out earlier, not after I'm practically engaged to Anand--!" she gasped, her mind processing the one person she had forgotten about already, "Anand!"

Groaning, she dropped her head in her hands, "How could I possibly forget Anand? I was kissing another man. I was essentially cheating on him, and he's so nice. I'm being really unfair to him. Kripa'where are you?" she muttered to herself. Knowing that she was tangled in a web, without a clue as to how to escape, Khushi had called one of her closest friends over, knowing that talking to Kripa would be the only way she might find the light at the end of the tunnel.

And quickly enough, her friend did pop in through the door, her bright smile turning into a frown as she spotted Khushi, and her disheveled appearance, her generally immaculate hair pulled back in a messy bun, the tired dark circles under her eyes, and was that a hint of a red nose? Had Khushi been crying?

Immediately becoming worried, Kripa hurried over to her friend's table, "Khushi?" she called out her name quietly.

"Kripa, I screwed up. I screwed up big time" Khushi moaned, and as soon as her best friend had managed to seat herself across from her, she launched into the story, explaining the series of events that had followed after the acceptance of Anand's and Khushi's rishta earlier that week, culminating with the passionate encounter the two had shared in his office earlier that day.

"And now'and now I don't even know what to do about Anand! Am I doing the right thing, marrying him Kripa?" Khushi asked her friend, biting away at her fingernails anxiously. Kripa, who had listened her friend's worries calmly, noting the anguished expression that had crossed Khushi's face as she spoke about Anand, how she believed she had betrayed him, knew that there was no right or wrong answer to this.

"That's up to you to decide Khushi. You need to decide if time and space away from Arnav will solve your problems, or if there's more to it than that. It has to be the right decision for you, one not I, nor anyone else will be able to decide" Kripa advised, giving her a little smile as she reached over a gave Khushi a light pat on her hand.

Khushi looked at her helplessly in response, "That's just it! I don't know the answer to that Why can't you just tell me what to do, please?" she pleaded with her, tears welling up in her eyes.

Kripa's heart was breaking seeing her Khushi in this confused, bewildered state. The girl who was always ready with a smile, ready to brighten up anyone's day was now sitting in front of her in tears, but'.

Khushi became frustrated, not hearing Kripa saying a word in response, "On the one hand, I want to think that I'll be able to move on but I've loved Arnav for so long now! Jiji told me I should move on, and I know I should. How long was I supposed to wait for him to realize he loves me? After the kiss today, well after that, I don't even know if I can move on, and that wouldn't be fair right'that wouldn't be fair to Anand. I shouldn't be marrying him if I have someone else in my heart. I'll always feel like I cheated him" Khushi cried out, the tears now freely streaming down her cheeks.

Her voice quivered as she continued, "My parents, Buaji, Jiji they were all so happy when I agreed to marry Anand. I know how much they want to see me married. And if I break it off, what is everyone else going to say? I don't ever want to cause my parents to feel ashamed, feel like they can't lift their head up in society because of something I did. And breaking it off with Anand would break their hearts. They have their hopes pinned on this relationship already!"

She smiled sadly, her eyes glazing over as she recollected the excited preparations that were already underway for the engagement ceremony, how her mother was already bursting into tears thinking of her younger daughter leaving the house, how Buaji was thinking about the sweets that should be made, how Khushi's father was anxious about getting the invitations out to everyone they knew, how Jiji was already thinking about how pregnant she would look in the wedding pictures.

Kripa's low coughing startled Khushi back into the present, forcing her to face her problems once more.

"Khushi, I know that this is tough for you, and I wish we could all tell you that one thing would be right over the other but this is a decision that you have to make, love. But I don't think I would be wrong if I were to tell you that your family wants your happiness more than anything. If you're not happy, they won't be happy either, regardless of who you get married to! I know Shashi Uncle and Garima Aunti, and I know that they wouldn't want you to feel like you compromised your happiness for them. They love you and will support you unconditionally, whatever the decision that you'll take. Yes, it might be difficult at first if you decide to not follow through with this engagement, but then again they might also be happy to find out that it's not too late, right? It's not like you're already engaged or married, right? Maybe you should try talking to Arnav?" she suggested, but Khushi shook her head furiously in response.

"I don't think I would trust him to tell me the truth Kripa. I told you how he almost said he loved me today! And I know that he was only saying that because he wants to marry me to fulfill his grandma's conditions. He knows I love him, even though it took him long enough, but now he's just trying to take advantage of that and he'll only continue to do it!"

"And what if that isn't the case Khushi? What if he actually loves you but you're the one that isn't giving him the chance? What if he took this long to realize his feelings, but you're the one that isn't letting him actually express himself. I completely sympathize with you Khushi, and I realize how long you've been loving Arnav quietly from the sidelines, but maybe giving him a chance to tell you what's on his mind might not be a bad idea. I'm not saying that he does love you because I wouldn't know but'." She trailed off, as she realized that Khushi had calmed down a bit and did seem to be intently considering her words.

"But on the other hand, if you do decide that you want to get married to Anand, then why not speak with him? Take some time to get to know each other, before you both decide to get married? Then you'll have taken the time to get to know him, you'll know if you can move on or not from Arnav. You've been saying that Anand is a really nice guy, and he does seem to be great, he gets along with everyone so maybe it is just a matter of time before you can grow to be happy with Anand?"

Khushi nodded slowly, taking in all that was being said calmly.

"Follow your heart Khushi, and do what you think will be right for you and what will make you the happiest. Just remember that we'll all be with you regardless of the decision you take, we'll be here for you no matter what. But you need to decide soon."

Khushi blinked rapidly, wiping away at the tears that had already escaped, her heart overcome with emotion, "Oh Kripa. I needed that" she whispered softly. She rubbed her forehead wearily, her hands literally trembling.

"I just'until today, I thought I just needed space from Arnav. And maybe I do, and I won't be happy until I get that space, but it would be unfair to enter into a marriage unhappily. It wouldn't be right to do that to Anand, marrying him with my heart belonging to someone else. I think me not having feelings for anyone would have been different, if I was just starting off with a blank slate with Anand, but I feel like this extra baggage, these feelings that aren't disappearing is whole different issue," she sighed. "No one would want to get married to someone who loves someone else'"

Flashback to be continued...