IPKKND FF:The Final Decision (Ch.8, p.37) UPD:8/21 - Page 21

wonderful update...thanks for the PM

y did u updated after so long ???

read all chapters at one go

Wow, this is indeed a brilliant story. I like the way you are developing the plot, with Khushi's memory loss making it possible for Arnav to get a second chance.

Sorry it's been so long since I updated! But I hope this was worth the wait. For PM's, please send me a buddy request. Chapter 8

As the bright sunlight filtered through the partially opened curtains, Khushi squinted against the sudden intrusion, rubbing her sleep-numbed eyes awake. Her face lit up with a smile brighter than the beams that had disturbed her as she caught sight of her favorite movie star's picture, which she had long ago pasted onto a poster next to her own face.

"Good morning Salmanji!"

The smile on her face slowly faded as a memory came unbidden to the forefront of her mind, her hazel-green eyes no longer focused on the poster.

A handsome face, pools of molten chocolate that seemed to sear her very soul, warm hands around her waist, her own arms flung around his neck. The scene from the mandir. There had been something decidedly strange about the encounter, something he had said. But she couldn't remember what it was now, try as she might. And then there had been her own reaction, how she had wanted to touch his face, how his grip on her had felt almost familiar. It was almost as if they had shared some sort of bond. But how is that possible? No Khushi, you really are a Sanka Devi, like Buaji says. You only met the man yesterday. You are just imagining things, she told herself firmly. Nevertheless, she could not shake off the feeling that they had met before, that the meeting in the mandir was merely one of many. Still pondering the mystery, Khushi slowly walked into the bathroom. When she glanced in the mirror, she noticed the mangalsutra still around her neck. Muttering to herself, she reached up to take it off but she paused, unable to go through with the action. Instead, she tucked the necklace underneath her clothes, where it would be hidden from the rest of the world, but she could still feel its comforting weight, nestled close to her heart.

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"This is your second chance Arnavji. Use it well." The words echoed over and over in his head. He could not afford to mess up another time, but he desperately wanted to meet her. He had made up his mind to just go see her, consequences be damned, when other, more important, words came back to him.

"I don't even know your name!" she had shouted. He would cause more damage than was worth the fleeting satisfaction he would get by visiting her. He did not want a few moments, he wanted all of eternity. And for that, he would have to work harder. The others would not make it easy for him, especially Payal. She had told him to use this opportunity well, but that was merely a courtesy. She would much rather he stayed away from her beloved sister. But that was an impossibility. Khushi was like oxygen to his deprived lungs. Now that he had seen her, he had realized exactly how much he needed her. She was essential for him to live.

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"Hello Jiji?"

Payal smiled as she held the phone. It had been so long since she had heard her sister's lovely voice.

"Hi Khushi, how are you?"

"I'm perfectly fine Jiji, although Amma and Buaji seem to think I'm made of glass. I just had a fall, that's all."

A fall. If only you knew. As Khushi continued talking, Payal shook her head, silently reprimanding herself for the bitter thought. Khushi is here now and she is happy. That's all that matters.

"Anyways, Jiji, how about I come with you and see Akash Jeejaji at work? I want to see his office!"

Work? But Arnavji would be there. No! I have to come up with an excuse.

"Hello? Jiji? Are you there?"

"What? Yes, Khushi, I'm still here."

"So? What do you say? Can we go?"

"Actually Khushi, I don't think that's a very good idea. We shouldn't disturb Akash at work. He can come visit you later, how about that?"

"But Jiji, I want to see Jeejaji's office. And I'm sure he won't mind, he's very nice!"

"Oh, but Khushi-"

"No more arguments, Jiji! We are going and that"s final!"

Payal sighed as she hung up the phone. There was no winning over Khushi once she had made up her mind. She would just have to be extra careful to keep Khushi out of Arnav's sight.

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Crouched behind Payal's bedroom door, Arnav grinned, the wide smile enhancing the features of his handsome face. He had been planning to stay home from work and go to the mandir in the hope that Khushi would show up once again. But now he didn't have to. He could go to work, the same as every day and she would come to him. It's just like Khushi to make things easy for me, he thought with relish.

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"Here we are Khushi. Akash's office. Shall we go home now? You've seen the place."

"Oh Jiji, stop it! I want to go inside too."

As she entered the building, she glanced up at the company name, engraved in huge letters at the top of the structure.

"AR Designs," she read aloud. "Jiji, what does the AR stand for?" But before Payal could respond, somehow she already knew the answer to her own question.

"Arnav Raizada," she whispered.

Payal abruptly turned around and glanced sharply at Khushi. "What did you say Khushi?" When her sister didn't answer, Payal grasped Khushi's shoulders and asked once again, this time with more urgency. "What did you say?"

"Arnav Raizada. That's what AR stands for."

"How do you know that?"

"I don't know. Maybe because it's a famous company? I probably saw the name in the news." Khushi was satisfied with that answer, but Payal was not, for she knew Khushi did not keep informed with current events.

Her memory is coming back, she realized as she stood there in the middle of AR's lobby, still as a statue. I must get her out of here, before she sees Arnavji, she decided.

"Khushi, we have to go. I'm sorry I forgot, but Amma wanted to do a pooja since you recovered from your accident. We have to go home." The excuse was not entirely a falsehood; Garima did want to conduct a prayer, though she had not mentioned a specific day. But it was the first excuse that came to Payal's mind and so she had used it. However, Khushi was nowhere to be found to listen to Payal's pretext. Heart thudding wildly in fear, Payal sprinted farther into AR Designs, desperately searching for her sister.

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The building really was beautiful, Khushi decided. But the office enclosed entirely in glass that rested on a floor of its own, lording over the rest of the office, filled her with unease, as though she associated bad memories with it. But that was entirely impossible, for she had never been here before. Despite her uneasiness, Khushi was still drawn to the stairs leading to the lone office, as though some mysterious force was pulling her towards it. Maybe Akash Jeejaji will be there, she reasoned. But even as she thought it, she knew with a firm conviction that she was wrong. This was not Akashs office. How she knew that, she could not say. She just knew.

When she entered the glass-encased dome, it was empty. There were no photos, no personal mementos to indicate ownership. Just a plaque, which read ASR in bronze lettering. Arnav Singh Raizada. She picked up the plaque, fingering the words lightly, trying to remember where she had seen it before, trying to place its significance. Dhak-dhak. Dhak-dhak. It was the same sound, she realized. The same sound she had heard the previous day.

"Khushi?"

At the sound of her name, she whipped around, dropping the plaque onto the red-carpeted floor. It was the man from the mandir.

"What are you doing here? Are you following me?" she demanded.

"What the? I am not following you!"

"Then what are you doing here? This is ASR's office!"

His mouth lifted up at one corner, the crooked smile nostalgic, as though he had heard those words before.

"Khushi, I am-"

"ASR," she completed. He was ASR. She had walked right into his office and accused him of following her. Fool, she scolded herself.

She reached down and picked up the plaque, making a show of dusting it off before she placed it back on his desk, all of which he watched with increasing amusement.

"I'm sorry for... all of that," she waved her hand around the office, encompassing all of her previous actions into one.

"No, it's fine Khushi. You don't have to apologize."

"Ok, well I'll just leave now."

"What? No! Don't go yet." He blocked her way as she made towards the door. As he began walking towards her, she backed up. The scene was reminiscent of many others, from another lifetime.

She continued to step backwards, until suddenly there was only empty air. Somehow, she had circled around to the door and stepped out. She clenched her eyes shut, waiting for the fall, the crack of her body as it hit the marble floor, and then the pain she felt was not unfamiliar to her. But the fall never came. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that a large, tan hand had grasped her own small, pale one. He had saved her, she realized with a giddy sense of relief. But the relief was short-lived, as she suddenly knew what would happen next.

"Please don't let me go," she pleaded. "I don't want to fall and get paint all over my face and clothes. I don't want to be laughed at. Please, don't let me fall. Don't hurt me," she begged again.

Yippee!!! i am first.. where were you dear. such a long time and no update for a wonderful story. now that you are back, start updating regularly..

Great update!! Payal and Arnav seem to be having their own little fight for Khushi. But Arnav is so lucky for his chance. I really liked the ending where Arnav finally gets to realize the impact of his harshness to her. Update soon!

Waited for a long time for the update!

nice update 😊

Welcome back. So the history is repeating itself and with that Khushi's memory is coming back. Wonderful update. Pls update the next part soon :)