Arnav accompanied Khushi to her bedroom. Two heavy suitcases were waiting in the corner, all packed & ready to go. He lugged them to the front door.
"Khushi, what do you have in these?" Arnav asked, smiling. "Rocks?"
Khushi pouted. "Ji. Pathar. To throw at you when you get angry with me."
Arnav chuckled silently.
She looked around, her hands on her hips. "Have I left anything behind...?" she wondered.
Arnav hid his smile with great difficulty. "Khushi, what does it matter if you have left something behind?"
Khushi looked at him.
"You can always return & get it. I mean, it is just a matter of a few kilometers..." he reminded her, smiling.
"Haan..." Khushi said, uncertainty colouring her voice.
"Did you pack your stars?" he asked, looking at the stars hanging over her bed.
"Ji. I packed them first." Khushi replied, still looking around.
Arnav walked to her, and cupped her cheek in his palm.
"Kya hua, Khushi? Feeling scared about tomorrow?" he asked softly.
Khushi looked into his empathetic eyes for a moment, and then murmured, "Life is so strange, isn't it?"
Arnav waited for her to explain.
"First, I was with my parents in our house. Then, one day, when I was eight, I moved into my aunt's house in Lucknow with all my clothes and toys. Then I met you. You aired the video clip and I had to leave Lucknow and move into Buaji's house in Delhi. Now I am leaving her house and going to yours." She swallowed hard as she looked around the familiar room.
Arnav pulled her into his arms. He said, his cheek against hers, "You will never have to leave my house to go anywhere else."
Khushi nodded slowly, and then slowly put her arms around him, hugging him close to her.
Arnav shut his eyes and rubbed his cheek against hers to comfort her.
"Bhai..." Akash stood open-mouthed at the sight of his khadoos brother standing in the circle of Khushiji's arms.
Payal giggled behind the cover of her hand.
Arnav & Khushi lowered their arms, putting a few inches between their bodies with difficulty.
"Bhai... All are ready to leave..." Akash said.
"We are coming." Arnav said in his usual brusque manner, only the flush on his face revealing his discomfiture.
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