(_*An ArHilicious Tale*_) Link To TH#2 PG1 - Page 13

Awesome brilliant update keep it up

That has to be the cutest birthday surprise that Arnav can create for Khushi I would love to have friends like these guys! I can't believe you stopped at a cliffhanger!!! I'm going to die of anticipation !!!!

arnav proposing khushi or just gifting her??

Superb update dear. Loved it.
Totally enjoyed the birthday party. Feeling bad for khushi that she lost her father.
But she has really a good friends with her.
The ring part just confuse me.
Arnav was proposing her or just simply gifting her ring.
Thanx for the pm.

updated pooji's comment on page 15

This story is entirelly differnt to the ones which I've read before and i'm loving it.
Awesome update.
Loved it.

Thank you so much for your encouraging words.

C h a p t e r - 3

<3 A Special End To A Special Day <3

"Shut up, you are too loud!" he whispered as he came closer. He uncomfortably put the ring back. "This isn't for you Fool!" he said poking my head. My face became normal again. But then it suddenly struck me that if not me then... Claire? "You are going to propose Claire? Are you sure? Arnav. There are a few things I'"Oh God Khushi, you have a very bad habit of not letting a person finish! Don't get to conclusions yet. I am not proposing Claire. I want to break up with her! Just without hurting her too much and also gaining the sympathy of other girls, out of whom one will be my future girlfriend." My eyes widened and my mouth twitched, "You are giving her a break up ring?" I asked confused as ever. What was he saying? It all went over my head. "No, see, Claire doesn't want to get married so if I propose'"Then she will break up with you and this way the other girls will sympathize with you and Claire will have this feeling that she broke up with you and not the other way round? And this won't even hurt her!" I finished the sentence for him understanding everything he meant to do. Smart. Clean. Fabulous. Arnav had always been good at this. My. My, he had some talent. "See, that's more like my Khushi. You are not that dumb also!" he flashed one of those charming smiles at me and then left. Some how I was having a bad feeling about this. I felt he would mess it up. What if Claire said yes? What if she had changed her mind? Poor Arnav would have to bear with her for a lifetime! That thought made me laugh. But again he was a champ at this. I am sure he would have something up his sleeve even then! He went up to Claire and in front of the whole college, went on his knees and took out the ring. "Claire..." he said with a deep and romantic voice, "You have always been there for me and I promise to be there for you, will you be mine forever? Will you marry me Claire?" he said. It made me feel as if he actually meant it. Maybe he did that to make her believe that he wasn't joking. He was a master at this. Suddenly I felt a pang of curiosity, as Claire didn't reply for a few seconds. She looked around at everyone staring and I really thought she would say yes when she spoke, "Arnav, why? Why did you have to ruin it? You know I don't want to get married now. I really love you, but marriage is too big of a deal. Sorry Arnav. You have reached too far in this relationship and I am not there yet." Arnav looked down as though he was disappointed but I knew he must be happy about his little triumph. "Claire, you'll get there. I can wait." He said getting back on his feet. I controlled my laughter and she continued to say, "I don't believe in Marriage.. And I don't think I will ever get to the point where you are. I am sorry Arnav. I-- I-- don't think-- we should be together anymore." Arnav stepped closer and said in a teary voice, "But Claire, I--I-- Love you!" I was totally enjoying that scene. That guy was such a good actor! Payal and Armaan were all looking confused staring at me since they were feeling so bad seeing Arnav get rejected while I was enjoying it. I winked at them and that just puzzled them further. "I know Arnav, and so do I, but we want different things from life and I really don't know if we were meant to be... I am sorry." she left from there in tears. More than anything I am sure she felt sad rejecting Arnav, but Bravo Man that guy was a genius. If he would actually utilize his talent in academics I swear he would do better than Aakash. He walked straight up to me to receive my comment on his small act, "Smart. Superb. For sometime I thought she would say yes!" I commented. "Oh please. That would have made matters so much worse." He said placing his hand around Armaan's shoulder and explaining everything to Payal and Armaan. Aakash was very annoyed at this, "How can you do such cheap things? Honestly, don't you ever feel bad?" he asked Arnav. Arnav thought for a while and then replied, "Um-- No-- Never." "Disgusting!" Aakash said leaving the canteen. Payal too left behind him. "You had actually got me going for a while. I was so shocked when you proposed Claire out of the blue!" Armaan said. Arnav replied by laughing. He was never that type; I could never imagine Arnav having a wife, a settled family, two kids and a job. He always seemed like the playboy sort. But well, he was my best friend."Aah! Freedom..." he said. "Calls for a party? My place!" he said. "No. Lets go to a pub!" Armaan said. I could make out from Arnav's expressions that he liked Armaan's idea. "Cool. Khushi your coming?" he asked. "No, you guys carry on!" "What? But its your birthday!" he said. "I think I have had enough surprises for a day!" Obviously, I mean first of all the whole rose thing, then the France trip in summers and then Arnav and all sang. Arnav and Claire broke up. God. Too much for a day! "But we haven't! Its your turn to treat us!" Arnav said. "But I am tired." "Please Khushi." Armaan said making a puppy face. "Ice-cream would do?" I didn't feel like going anywhere else. I was exhausted for some reason. "YES" Armaan and Arnav said in unison. I laughed at their childish-ness. "Let me call Payal and Aakash also!" But before I could text Payal Arnav took the phone from my hand. "Let us go. Aakash will just make a fuss and ruin the day. Payal is with him now, give them some privacy!" he said winking. I frowned at him. Why didn't he like Aakash? I know Aakash is a little too serious and Arnav is not serious at all, but still... Well, I couldn't help it I guess. "Okay fine, lets go!"

GELATO. My favourite Ice-cream parlour. Since I was a kid I have been coming to this branch of Gelato. I just love the ice-cream here. I know, people usually think that all chocolate ice-creams are the same but they aren't. It tastes different. We enter the small parlour. The waiter smiles at us, recognizing the three of us from 'the college nearby'. He comes to the table immediately to take our order. "Good evening sir." he says obediently to Armaan and Arnav and then politely turns around and wishes me the same. "The usual sir?" he asks. I am about to say 'yes'. When Arnav says, "No. Not today. Its Khushi's birthday. Get us something BIG." He says. I can imagine Arnav and Armaan digging into a huge pot full of ice-cream. I laugh at my imagination. "A super-banana split sir?" he asks. "It has six scoops of different flavoured ice-cream with toppings like Chocolate sauce, Cookie Crumble and Caramel Crunches." He finishes. Arnav says yes to that and we wait for the "special" ice-cream to come. "You know, we should try something new more often here!" Armaan states. "But I like my usual." I say. I always have butterscotch ice-cream with caramel crunches. And I love it that way. I am not a person who likes too much variety in food. I am happy with what I eat usually. Arnav thinks of changing the subject, "Guys, our last semester in college!" It was a little random. But it hadn't struck me yet. The last few weeks together, not counting the summers ofcourse. After summers we just come back for our results and graduation! Just a few weeks. Where will I be after that? What will I do? I suddenly start thinking of my prince. When will I meet him? How will I meet him? Arnav clicks his fingers in front of my eyes. "What's up, buttercup?" he says in a singing tone. I shake me head. "It's all passed so fast. I can't believe college is going to end!" I say. "We have to party before our exams!" Armaan exclaims. "This weekend!" Arnav says as excited as Armaan now. "at our usual, Sheesha!" I add. "Done!" Armaan and Arnav say in unison. Suddenly me phone rings and its Dia. "Where are you?" she asks. "Payal, we came to Gelato!" I said feeling guilty for not telling her. "Oh, you guys enjoy. Aakash is in a pretty bad mood after what Arnav did. Why can't they just sort it out? God!" she says frustrated. "I am going for dinner with him. Okay?" she says. "Fine, see you!" I said. I slap Arnav on his arm. "Aakash is in a bad mood because of you!" "So?" he said. So? That's all he has to say? "So nothing. Since when do you care about others, right?" I was kind of angry. Payal had to convince with Aakash because of Arnav. Aakash had always been a man with values. And he was brought up in a very orthodox family. He felt bad when Arnav behaved like a jerk, which he did most of the time. Well, I can't blame him. But again, he does everything for the people he cares about, so I can't complain. "Khushi, just chill. It's not the first time! And I can do whatever I want, he isn't my father to object! I just didn't want to create a scene by hurting Claire." He said. The topic was completely changed as the ice-cream appeared. It looked so good that even my mouth watered. I smiled looking at my friends hog. I still ate the butterscotch part of it with the caramel crunches but I have to have a little chocolate sauce too. Well, it didn't taste bad for all I cared. We discussed further about the party. Divided our work and then finalised the plan. Payal would make the guest list and invite everyone. I would book Sheesha for a private party and finalize the menu and Armaan would arrange the decorations. And as usual, Arnav would supervise, that is, do nothing at all. As we finished the ice cream and leave the parlour Armaan suddenly remembers he had a date with a girl. It seems very odd and random. He borrows Arnav's bike and leaves. I stare unbelievably at Arnav and ask, "When did he get a date? And who?" Its not usual for Armaan to date. His last date was in his First Year, with me. I was new in college and he had tried to woo me. But I just agreed for the date because he had a good sense of humour. The date was fun but quite embarrassing also. Armaan still has no idea that I had thought that he was pathetic after the first date. Even the memories make me laugh. Arnav shakes his head, "God knows!" Anyway, since Armaan takes his bike, I have to drop Arnav home. On the way he is extra quiet and I instantly know he is trying to hide something from me. "You want to say something?" "Umm... Did you have fun today?" he asks looking at my face for an answer. I smile and nod. I knew he meant to ask whether I still missed dad or what happened at home in the morning. But he didn't. He didn't want to remind me I guess. But since he wanted to know I say it anyway, "I didn't miss dad too much!" He looks surprised for a while. "I didn't ask," he said. And after a short pause he said, "Okay. I wanted to ask but, yeah you answered the question before I could say anything!"

I stop the car below his building. He gets down and comes and opens my side of the door. "Come out!" he says. Ok, why? Why should I go out? I was tired and wanted to go home. "Why?" I asked. "Just come out!" he repeats. I just listen to him and get down from the car. He sits in my place and drives away. Then I realise he had gone to park the car. I waited for him to return. He came back with a grin on his face. "What are you doing Arnav?" I asked totally taken aback. "A special day requires a special end," he whispers. I smile as he takes my hand and pulls me along. My heart begins to thud as he opens the door to his house. I expected something big. But there was nothing. I walked inside. When I reached the dining table I saw it. He had made dinner for me! Then suddenly I take back my thought. He didn't have time to cook. And Arnav doesn't know how to cook! The food wasn't made by him. "I didn't make this!" he said as if reading my thoughts. "You wanted your birthday gift right?" he said while I opened the dishes to see Chinese food inside. It smells good. But it was just 6! I wasn't even hungry. But the food was hot. "Khushi! FOCUS." He said. I looked at him. "You already gave me my gift, the song, the roses, the cake." I paused and then added, "And breaking up with Claire." I mutter under my breathe, not wanting him to hear it but well. He does. He looks shocked. I explain to him how I had seen her lie and cheat on him. "What? Really? Why didn't you tell me this before? I would have just broken up!" he said surprised. "I thought you really liked her and besides you did break up with her anyway, so no harm done." I cover up. He laughs and then says seriously, "But now time for my gift!" he reminds me. I wonder what he would give me? A dress? No, not Arnav style. A ring? I really loved the ring he brought for Claire. I wanted to tell him to give it to me! hmm... What else? What else. I rack my brains a little more when he keeps the present in my hand. As I tear the wrapping paper, I almost shriek. Its an album. It is hand made! "Took me a month!" he said. I had no words. It was so beautiful. I just kept staring at it for a while. It had Arnav and Me on the cover. The picture we took at the beach while Arnav was trying to drown me into the sea. I opened to see a small not written near my picture, I read it out loud.

Dearest Khushi,

It takes time to make a friend but it takes years to make a true one. I have finished my job. Without you, my life life is incomplete, without you, I really don't know what I'd do. With you, life seems bearable, I can stay away from my parents and still be happy and close to home. I can tell you whatever I actually feel. You are the only girl I don't get bored off.. Lol.

The bond we share is special, its not easy to find a person you can be yourself with. You may be the apple of your parents' eye, but for me, you're as sweet as the most exotic blueberry in the world...

I laugh as I read that line, "Blueberry?" I ask. Where does he get such cheesy lines from! He joins in the laughter. I read further. My eyes are almost blurred with tears. How senti can he be?

I suck at writing birthday messages, but at the end, I just want to say thank you for being so special, thank you for making my life the way it is today. And I truly wish you find your Prince sometime soon in life :) Have a great great Birthday!

With lots Of Love,

Arnav.

"Thank youu so much!" I told him as I hugged him tight. His arms always felt so warm. It was so familiar that I didn't feel awkward or even uncomfortable being embraced by him. I did cry a little, but then he started laughing and I was compelled to stop. I was really blessed to have him in my life. We looked at all the other pictures and remembered all those moments we spent together. "In this way you won't forget the time we spent together!" he said. "I wouldn't, even if you hadn't gifted me this.. But Arnav, it means a lot. Genuinely. This is the best gift I got today!" I said with a wide smile. "Even better than going to France this summer?" he asks cheekily. I nod and replied, "Even better than that!" We ate dinner, laughed and chatted a little longer and then finally I returned home. Mom was waiting for me. She wanted to know all about my day and I repeated the events to her. I even showed her the album Arnav had made. I couldn't believe he had done so much for me. I snuggled into my bed thinking about the amazing day and then wrote every bit of what I felt in my diary. I wrote so much that I didn't even realise when it was 12 and was no longer my birthday. I sent a quick thank you to god before I lay down in bed allowing the dreams to engulf me while I slept.

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Hey Friends,

I haven't even been able to reply to all your comments separately :( But I have read all of them! Thank you so much for all your lovely comments and for encouraging me constantly.

Waiting for some review.

k...

Very interesting breaking up technique

Such a nice best friend