Arhi FF - Pocket Change - Chapter 13- 26 January - Page 2

"Bhai, are you sure you're going to be okay? I know Khushi returns today -"

"It's been three years Akash. We're both grownups. I think we can be civil to each other. Anyway, I know she's been keeping away because of me, and I don't want to deny Payal the chance of having her sister by her side at her wedding." Arnav cut off him irritably, ignoring the nervousness that was choking him. The last time he'd seen her was three months after she left him - to negotiate the divorce proceedings. She had sent him the papers a month after she left and Arnav had refused to sign it until Khushi spoke to him directly. But Khushi refused, only communicating through her attorney until Arnav had no choice.

Her face was impassive as she sat next to her lawyer, barely saying a few words during the proceedings, her eyes hidden behind large sunglasses. The hardest Arnav had ever done was sit calmly as a piece of paper separated the woman he loved with all his heart forever. It could all he had to stay where he was and not grab her, shake her until she told him why she was doing this. The minute he signed the papers, she walked out without a backward glance. The question of alimony didn't arise as Khushi didn't want it and she didn't want any of his assets, and they didn't have joint valuables being married for only 15 months. This puzzled Arnav more than ever, because it showed she hadn't married him for his money, although Arnav would have given it all to her in a heartbeat if she asked. Not that Khushi needed it then - being the daughter of affluent businessman Shashi Gupta, and now, with two bestsellers in her kitty, she was easily one of India's best authors.

He hated her for leaving him so lost inside, wondering if the 12 years they had been together, as friends, lovers and spouses meant anything to her at all, if she had ever loved him the way he had. He thought he knew every piece of her, mind, body and soul. They had made love a million times - he had intimate knowledge of every inch of her body, knowing where to touch, caress and kiss just right to make her moan and scream. They'd fought, cried and laughed and seen each other tired, sick and sad.

Her family, his family refused to divulge anything besides apologizing and blaming it on Khushi being young and flighty. Garima Aunty had simply looked at him with pitying eyes as he begged them to talk, to ask her why she would do this to him. While Shyam and Akash were there for him when he just wanted to drink the pain away, hoping if he drank enough, he'd be able to sleep right through the day, it was Lavanya, his divorce lawyer, Anjali and Payal who helped him collect himself enough so that he could go to work everyday.

His sister hated Khushi now, and for a while it even strained her friendship with Payal, when the latter refused to condemn or justify her sister. Payal's stubborn silence made Arnav realize that she knew the real reason Khushi left and thought it was a valid one. Once Arnav was out of his drunken bouts and struggles with sobriety, he'd straight out asked Payal whether Khushi had ever loved him. All six of them - Arnav, Khushi, Akash, Payal, Anjali and Shyam had grown up together - surely Payal would know how Khushi really felt. Payal had simply taken his hand, squeezed it and said that Khushi had never loved anyone but him.

It didn't help squelch his bewilderment one bit.

The squeal of tires outside the driveway snapped Arnav out of his thoughts. This was it. She was here. A few metres away. His eyes swept across the mirror in the room in one quick glance. Shadows of sleepless nights paraded on his face, his skin lacking pallor, marching bands with forgotten music, mismatched notes bleeding together. He couldn't change his disheveled appearance now, but suddenly, Arnav wished he had taken the trouble to shave.

Arnav could hear quiet greetings and shuffling as bodies connected and hugged. He tensed, composing his features.

The door clicked, and the doorknob turned...and she was here, blindingly beautiful, too beautiful - and the ache in his chest intensified.

She had on a simple white sleeveless kurta slipped on denim jeans and she still managed to take his breath away.

Her eyes don't leave his as she walked and stopped right behind the chair across from him, close enough to touch, to comfort, to break him once more; yet far enough to bolt yet again.

She opened her mouth to say something before a tall man steps in the room, winding his arm around Khushi's waist, while extending his hand to Arnav.

"Hi, I'm Nikhil Kapoor. Khushi's boyfriend."