Chp 2: Khushi's POV
As I make my way to the restaurant, I can't help but to think of him, the stranger at the bookstore. I didn't even get his name. I gave him mine but it never even occurred to me to ask for his. No wonder he didn't ask me for my number, he probably thought I wasn't interested. I seriously need to work on my flirting skills. What am I even thinking? Flirting skills? Me? I wouldn't even know how to flirt if I tried. It's been so long since I've even had a crush. My life has been filled with nothing more than my studies, the occasional outing with my best friend, Madhu, and spending time with my family. Men aren't even on my radar and I'm not sure that I'd ever allow them to be again. Maybe it's a good thing Hot Stranger didn't ask for my number. I don't need anything or anyone messing with my life right now. The life that I've worked so hard to get control of again. No, I cannot let anyone destroy my peaceful existence, not even someone who made my knees weak with a simple smile. I enter the restaurant and the hostess escorts me to the small, private room in the back where my family is surely waiting for me.
"Khushi aunty!"
"Hey, Priya. Happy Birthday, honey!" I say as I hug my niece. "How's it feel to be 13? You're officially a teenager now." Priya is tall for her age, almost as tall as I am. She has the signature dark black hair and brown eyes and already knows more about fashion than I do.
"It feels absolutely no different," she says with a smile. She looks down at the bag in my hand "Whatcha got there?" she asks expectantly.
"What, this?" I ask teasingly. "You want this?"
"Please tell me that's what I think it is!" she begs.
I can't help but giggle. "Oh alright, I'll put you out of your misery. Here you go."
"Ahhh, thank you so much, Khushi aunty!" she shrieks as she throws her arms around me.
"You're welcome, honey."
I go on to meet some of my other niece, aunty and all in the party. I am surprised to find my dad here.
"Dad, u here??", almost scream seeing him here and run into his arms.
My dad stays in India. I have been staying with my brother here in New Jersey since the last 3 months for my studies far away from my dad. So seeing my dad here after so many days I just could not control myself.
"you are almost crushing him kiddo!", I heard my brother cry.
I look at my brother with a sheepish smile and then the next moment I know our small family me, my dad,bro and priya are in a group hug...
Seeing all of us together I can only feel very proud of my brother for bringing priya in our lives.
RK is older than me by four years. He was 18 when Priya came into his life. He was returning from his late night party when he saw a car that had met with an accident. He soon took all the occupants of the car into the nearby hospital but alas! He was too late till then all the couple had passed away leaving their seven year old daughter besides. All had suggested of sending her to a good child care centre, but Priya had already won my bro's heart and he just could not part ways with her. And so at mere 18 years of age he became a legal Guardian of Priya.
Soon the party gets over and we head back to our own lives and the darkness around me again engulfs me.. and I move towards the window in search of some light.
As I stare out the window, my mind goes back to the bookstore, back to those dark chocolate eyes that did something unexplainable to me. It was an unfamiliar feeling. I'm still not sure what to make of it. I can't, however, deny that it was a good feeling. It had the power to scare me and excite me all at once. I've had my share of lovers and crushes but the concept of love is foreign to me. I had thought I'd been in love once but it turned out to be a bad imitation. A relationship which left me so torn and tattered that it took me years to come back from the emotional damage that it caused. Hell, if I'm being honest with myself, I'm still kind of an emotional misfit. Some scars never really heal and because of my newfound need for self-preservation, I've constructed a coat of armor so strong that it will never be penetrated. It's a price I am willing to pay to make sure that I never get hurt again.
so here this is khushi's pov next update on Sunday with Arnav's pov..!
stay tuned and please let me know how was it?? and also if any suggestions regarding the story then you are welcomed.😊
Udne Ki Aasha
CID
Hindi TV Shows
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
10