Semanti, each of your updates answers a few questions and throws up many more, leaving us scratching our heads... all we can do is speculate! Arnav unable to sleep because thoughts of Khushi and their romantic interlude the previous night keep obtruding is a lovely sight. Really liked the way you laid out the gradual change in his attitude toward Khushi and how now he finds her fascinating. He is intrigued by her intelligence and the innocence and mystery she exudes: The more he got to know about her, the more he wanted to know. The thirty minutes he spent with Khushi had more of an impact on him than the rest of the party put together. Cute of him to admit that her mind scared him and that he found it difficult to keep up with her lightning changes of subject. His heart is wrung by the memory of a little Khushi trapped in the dark and fearing she had been forgotten... though he feels for Khushi on realising that she's estranged from her father, he has the sense not to pass judgement as he knows everything isn't black and white. What a pleasing change from the immaturity of their early encounters! Arnav wanted that kiss to have progressed a bit further. His doubts about how to go on now, about Khushi's reaction to their kiss and what the future hold for the two of them makes him sound like a typical teenager, so vastly different from the confident persona he usually displays. Hey Gupta, just calling to check that you didn't kiss me in a drunken haze last night... hilarious! For the first time we get an inkling of how invested he is in relationships: He knew exactly how damaging a relationship could be. Not all were, of course. But he knew how much he cared about the people in his life. He knew for certain that he'd extend that feeling to any girl he chose to share his life with... beautifully put! And it worried him. He'd never had any desire to push his luck. Make his family go through hell all over again. The italicised words give rise to a lot of questions... makes me wonder if he is recollecting his own prior experience or it has something to do with Lavanya... something tells me she is also emotionally broken, though she displays a smiling face to the world.
Always playing the goofball has its drawbacks, as NK is realising to his own detriment. Everyone expects him to sail through life with a smile on his face... he feels that Lavanya has been dictating terms to him... methinks that he should have made things clear to Lavanya sooner. Khushi is only trying to be the supportive friend, but NK is right that a couple should keep things between them to themselves and deal with it on their own before involving others. Can understand Khushi feeling hurt at NK's supposed implication that she is being nosy. Loved the gender reversal: the boys seem to want a commitment whereas the girls dither due to the personal baggage they are carrying. I hoped we'd be able to spend every New Year together like this [a touching sentiment], she broke away and laughed awkwardly. Lavanya's always done that. She never wants to talk about the future of this relationship. She always changes the subject or cracks a joke if it ever comes up... clearly there's something that scares her about taking things further and she'd rather not face it. Though I understand NK's hurt and frustration, am with Khushi here... the kids are just starting out on the road to building their careers, so they need to focus on that... however, Lavanya needs to make a decision as to whether her relationship with NK has a future or not; she shouldn't leave him hanging... communication and a cool head, not argument, are the key.
The awkwardness between Khushi and Arnav is to be expected at their first meeting after the kiss. Like Lavanya, Khushi too is trying to run away from the situation... your depiction of the situation is very realistic and relatable: Arnav not liking Khushi avoiding him and being silent around him and desperately wanting to kiss her silly. She was as skittish and nervous as a deer around him... lovely simile. They'd reached the crossroads where Khushi took a right to go to the art studio... a symbol for where they are in their relationship, perhaps? Despite his anger and hurt at Khushi's refusal to talk about what transpired between them, pleased that Arnav didn't vent it all out on her... that would have only made things worse between the two... maybe, she needs time to understand what she wants.
Can understand Khushi's dilemma: should she focus on her dreams which she has striven hard to achieve or give their potential relationship a chance... glad that she acknowledges that she doesn't want to lose Arnav. Her fear of losing her best friend, NK, came through loud and clear! And I want to kiss him again... I believe the two should just let go and kiss [after all it is their heart's desire] and then have a heart-to-heart where they are completely honest about their dreams, hopes and fears for the future! Eager to see what happens next.
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