Part 3 - Loved and lost
2 1/2 years ago
Vienna, Virginia, USA
'Khushi! Are you coming out or not? We've been waiting for you forever!' Arnav was losing his patience. It was Khushi's 22nd birthday and he and some of their friends were taking her out to celebrate. Arnav's patience was running thin as it is because he hated parties of any kind. He was only doing this for her. He'd have liked to be just the two of them or maybe just a couple of friends for a quiet dinner and drinks at a classy place. This loud, boisterous clubbing with mindless dancing and loud music was not his thing. But Khushi loved dancing. So there he was trying to hurry her up and she was taking an age to get dressed! Arnav scrunched his eyebrows...she wasn't like other girls he knew. She always dressed simply and quickly. Never wore much makeup or fussed over her dress and accessories. She was elegant and simple and looked pretty in anything she wore. So what was taking her so long?? 'KHUSHIII!' he screamed again. Payal stuck her head out of Khushi's room and apologized. 'Sorry A! She'll be out in 5!' She gave him a sunny smile in hopes of calming him down. 'Tell your sister she has only 3 Payal! Or else I'm going home. We already cut her cake, sang her happy birthday and gave our gifts at midnight. I don't have to do this! I have better things to do!' he fumed. Payal narrowed her eyes and said 'Don't you dare let her go alone! May be I should just call Anjali and let her know what a jackass her brother's being!' That softened Arnav and he said 'Fine! Whatever!'
Khushi was nervous to say the least. She was never this confused over what to wear or how she looked. She liked to be comfortable in whatever she wore, but today she was feeling anything but comfortable. She was all dolled up for the guy standing outside her door and he had no idea what was going on in her mind (or her heart...she corrected herself!) Heck! She didn't even know it herself until about a month ago. Arnav and she were best friends. They grew up together as neighbors. Their dads were best friends. She didn't know how or when, but she realized that her life is meaningless without Arnav. The great Arnav Singh Raizada!! How did she fall in love with him? He had umpteen girlfriends, didn't believe in love or commitment or marriage! She sighed! She had had a long chat with La. They had a sleep over the day Khushi realized her feelings for Arnav and La had tried all night to dissuade her from taking it any further. But Khushi had been adamant! 'I'm sure every guy's like this La. Who would want to think about marriage and lifelong commitments when they're 20? What's the rush? When the right girl comes along, he'll change his beliefs. And I know Arnav! He can't stand tears in my eyes; he's very caring towards me. I'm sure he loves me too. Just hasn't realized it yet. I don't want to waste another moment. I'm going to tell him!' La had put her hands up in surrender 'Think about it Koo. A heart break is not what you need right now.' But Khushi had made up her mind. She would tell him on her birthday which was a month away. And here she was! On her birthday and about to gamble on whether to make it memorable forever or to ruin all her birthdays for the rest of her life!
She was brought out of her reverie when Payal shook her shoulders. 'A is waiting Khushi and he's not very happy. Hurry up! Where are you lost?' Khushi rubbed her clammy hands together and just nodded at her sister. 'I'm ready Jiji. How do I look?' Payal smiled at that. 'You look stunning baby! I've never seen you like this before. You've sure grown up.' Khushi gave her a nervous smile and stepped out of her room with a deep breath.
Arnav was on his phone when he heard the door open. Finally! He thought and turned around. To say he was stunned was an understatement. He almost dropped his phone. He stood staring at Khushi with his mouth open. She was wearing a red, strapless silk cocktail dress with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice had sequins all over it. There were frills cascading down from the waist. Her neck was bare. She had on simple diamond earrings and bracelet. She was wearing a gold and silver stiletto. Her long, lustrous hair was open and was falling in waves. She had minimum makeup with a bronze eye shadow and pink glossy lips. She looked absolutely beautiful!
Khushi's dress
Khushi found herself melting under his gaze. He had never looked at her like this before. She recovered quickly and said 'Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go?' Arnav snapped out of his trance and just nodded. Once they got into his SUV, Arnav said 'You look beautiful Khush! I've never seen you dressed like this before'. Khushi blushed. She was very happy.
Once they reached the club, they immediately got swept up in the crowd. They met up with their friends. La came to them and whispered in Khushi's ear 'Knock him dead Koo!' and winked. Khushi slapped her arm and giggled nervously. She looked towards Arnav who was busy talking to Abhi and Jay. They were laughing. Jay was pointing out some skimpily clad girl at the bar to Arnav. Arnav looked at that girl and smirked. He casually started walking towards her. Khushi's eyes instantly filled with tears and she ran past him to the restroom. Arnav looked at her running surprised! He went behind her and saw her going into the ladies room. He walked back to the girl at the bar and started talking to her. Lavanya was very upset seeing Arnav doing shots with the girl. He was whispering something into her ear and the blonde was giggling like a teenager! Then they both went to the dance floor and started dancing. 'So much for not liking the club scene!' thought La disgustedly. She went to the restroom to find Khushi. She had locked herself into a stall and La could hear soft cries. She knocked on the door 'Koo! Please! Let's just get out of here. Today is not a good day...it's your birthday! Let's enjoy some quiet time and we'll think about this tomorrow, ok? Please come out!' Khushi came out with red, puffy eyes and gave La a weak smile. 'I guess I shouldn't have expected any less of him right? What am I to do La? We've been friends forever'why did my heart start feeling differently towards him all of a sudden? I can't not be friends with him and I can't just go on pretending like everything's still the same!' La said 'I know! But love doesn't happen logically Koo. It just does! That person need not always be right for us. Look, maybe this wasn't meant to be. 5-6 yrs down the lane when you're a doctor and maybe find another doctor who loves you and whom you love, all this will seem very trivial. And we'll even be able to laugh at it. Right now, you need to get a grip. We're going back to school on Monday and we have a year and a half more of medical school to get through. We'll be so busy that you won't have any time to dwell on all these things. Let's go!'
Khushi fixed herself and came out with La only to find Arnav grinding and gyrating with that blonde on the dance floor, his hands all over her. Khushi felt her head spin. La went to Abhi and told him that they were going home. Abhi was surprised. 'What? But we just got here! What's wrong?' Before La could reply, Arnav looked at them from the dance floor and sensed some tension. He said something to the blonde, who just ignored him and continued dancing, and came over to them. He looked at Khushi and saw that her eyes were red. He knew in an instant that she was crying. He raised an eyebrow at Abhi and he just shrugged his shoulders. La said 'We're leaving Abhi. Will see you later.' Arnav said 'Leaving?? Why? And how're you going to go? Neither of you drove. Khushi? What's wrong?' 'Nothing, Arnav. We just want to go home, that's all' Arnav said 'ok then. Come, let's go. I'll take you. Abhi will drop La'. Khushi shook her head vigorously and said 'No it's ok. We'll manage. You can stay. And you've had a li'l too much to drink and I don't think you should be driving'. Arnav got angry! 'I'm not that drunk! And even if I am, you can drive my car. Don't be stupid. Let's go' he said bye to the others and dragged Khushi outside. Khushi looked helplessly at La and she gestured that she should go. Maybe they'll get some time to talk, thought La and went with Abhi.
When they got to the parking lot, Arnav turned to Khushi and glared at her! 'What's with you girls? You said you wanted to go out, took an age to get dressed up and when we finally got here, you want to leave after 15 minutes?' Khushi snapped. 'Well who asked you to come then if it was so much trouble? I don't feel like staying. It's my birthday Arnav and instead of spending time with me, you had to wag your tail behind a blonde as usual. Don't you ever get tired of all this? I'm sick of this. I can't wait to get out of here, away from you!' she screamed! Arnav was flabbergasted. He didn't know where this outburst came from. Khushi never had a problem before, so he didn't understand why she was acting like this. His head was hurting from having too many shots and here she was showing him attitude. He said 'It's how I am! Why should it bother you who I go behind Khush? Don't act like a typical girl! And I was just dancing with her for a few minutes. What's your problem?' 'My problem is that you're always like this. You don't care about me or what I want! You have a set mindset and nothing anyone else feels or thinks matters to you. Except your Di you don't care about anyone else! So why should I care, Arnav? Tell me! Why should I care two hoots which girl is your arm candy for this week? Or maybe the next? You can go on like this for the rest of your life and I will not care from now on! You get that?' Arnav's anger was through the roof by now. ' Goddammit Khush! Where is all this coming from? We're best friends and I thought you were the only one who understood me! What's wrong with you today?' 'I don't want to understand anymore! I thought as we grow older you'll see that these meaningless relationships aren't going to get happiness. I was such a fool! You'll never change. Not even when I tell you that I.Love.You!' Arnav gaped at Khushi. His foggy brain took a moment longer to process what he just heard. Khushi was breathing heavily and her eyes were wide with anger and her nose was red. 'What?!' he exclaimed! 'Yes, I'm in love with you! But what's the point right? You're not the commitment type! You've said so millions of times. So what we have right now, this so called friendship, is over Arnav! Because I can't be your friend any more. You got that?' Khushi was hyperventilating by now. She bent down and tried to catch her breath. Arnav put a hand on her shoulder and made her look up. He started rubbing her back to calm her down. Khushi looked up and their eyes met. She's so beautiful Arnav thought. And the next thing he knew, he was pulling her into his arms and kissing her. Khushi was momentarily shocked. Then she responded with equal passion. When they pulled apart for air, Arnav scooped her up and put her in the backseat of his SUV and continued to kiss her again. Khushi moaned with pleasure. He was running his hands on her back and slowly unzipped her dress. He pulled her dress down and started kissing her neck and shoulders.
Somewhere Khushi's brain was sending her signals to stop. She knew he was drunk. But she was so caught up with her emotions that her mind stopped working and she gave in to the sweet torture he was subjecting her senses to. As Arnav bent down to push her bra down and captured one of her breasts in his mouth, she moaned loudly and tugged him closer. She said 'Arnav! I love you so much!' and the next instant Arnav snapped out of it and pushed her away. Khushi was stunned. She looked him and he was looking away. Arnav clenched his fists and banged it onto the window so loudly that Khushi jumped up in fear. 'Damn! I'm sorry Khushi! I shouldn't have done this! I'I'can't do this! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!' saying this, he got down from the car and went to the driver's side and kicked the car again. He ran a hand through his hair frustratedly. Khushi had tears rolling down her cheeks. She had never felt more humiliated in her life! She looked down at herself and felt so cheap. She quickly straightened her dress and fixed her messed up hair as best as she could. She wiped her hands and face with the frills of her dress and got down from the backseat and went and sat in the front. She had her hands folded and her head bent down. After a few minutes, Arnav turned to go see Khushi when he saw her in the front seat, sitting calmly. He got into the driver's seat and turned towards her. 'Khu'Khushi!' he started. Khushi put her hand up to stop him and said 'It's ok Arnav. You don't have to say anything. It's completely my fault. You were always clear in what you wanted. I was the one that wanted things to change. Please don't apologize. Can we please go home?' She started looking out the window. Arnav said 'But Khushi, don't you think we should talk about this?' Khushi said 'I don't want to talk about it. Will you please drive?'
The ride home was silent and awkward. When Arnav pulled into her driveway, she got down quickly, murmured a thank you and just rushed inside. Arnav slammed his fist on the steering wheel and cursed loudly. It was her birthday! And he had not only just ruined that but probably ruined their friendship forever! He had to talk to her! Yes, he will talk to her tomorrow. What Arnav didn't know at that time was'he'll never get to talk to Khushi for a long while!
Khushi ran inside her house and locked herself up in her room. She threw herself on the bed and cried and cried and cried. After a long time, she got up and changed and washed her face. She saw the time and it was 3 am. She checked her phone and there were a dozen missed calls from La. There were about 20 missed calls from Arnav. She was just about to put it back when it beeped. She had a text from him! She opened it. 'I'm sorry Khush. Please don't let this affect our friendship. You know I can't take this to the next level. Forgive me. I'm really sorry this ruined your birthday. I hope we can talk tomorrow. Bye!' it said. Fresh tears rolled down her face. After a while, Khushi stopped crying and made up her mind. There was no way she can go back to being just friends with him and there was just no way she would be able to see him parading around with a different girl every month. She just cannot! She made up her mind to head back to Johns Hopkins the next day. Her life as she knew it, was over! There was nothing left to do...nothing left to say...
Edited by limoncello - 12 years ago
Shiv Shakti
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Hindi TV Shows
272