ArShi SS-The Blue Lie *Chp 9* upd 20/02 - Page 2

Khushi had finally moved out of her room later around lunch time and was glad that Neal wasn't there anymore. Her mother chided her for leaving the room so abruptly which looked so rude when Neal had just arrived. Khushi said she had some important work, so she left and was sorry for that, which she actually wasn't. Her mother calmed down and sat beside her and told her that Neal had come with a wedding proposal for her. Khushi was shocked; she had expected Neal to do this but not so soon. Her mother continued to say that, he wants to marry her as he likes her right from childhood and he also now had completed his education and joined his family business. It seemed a fair proposal to Garima for Khushi. Only if you knew his real face Mom, you wouldn't be saying this.' Khushi so wanted to say this to her but she didn't want to trouble her parents anymore. Her father had suffered a heart attack, two years before. Doctor had advised that much stress was not good for him as it would lead to another attack which could prove fatal for him. Her mother used to be constantly worried about his health. Khushi was also equally worried about him as she found herself guilty for his health problems. If she had not taken the decision of not joining her family business, things would have been different, she felt. Her parents had always been supportive and had also supported her decision. And now, Khushi Gupta was a lawyer. She thought if she would have joined their business, her father would not have gone through the stress which led to his cardiac arrest.

So Khushi had just asked her mom for some time to think over her decision. Garima had happily agreed and then Khushi had left her home after lunch. She went to the court as she had the first hearing of her 3^rd case. The first two cases which she had fought, she had won. She was quite sure about this case too. She had enough proofs to prove her client innocent. Due to her wins, in her first two cases, Khushi's name was quite a talk of town in law world. There was a purpose behind her choosing law as her profession. She had to knock down Neal and his family's illegal doings legally. She had to teach them a lesson for what they had done with Arnav's and Lavanya's families back in the past and stop them from causing any harm to her family. But she still didn't have enough proofs to prove them guilty.

While returning home from court, she was thinking of ways to search Lavanya. Her court hearing had gone well as expected. She hadn't forgotten about Arnav in this Neal mess. She had to find Lavanya before Arnav would arrive. She again felt her heart wrenching at the thought of Arnav and Lavanya together. Arnav had never inquired about her when she chatted with him as Lavanya. She felt as if Khushi never existed for Arnav, it was only for the sake of Lavanya, he was friends with her. She felt like crying at the thought but controlled herself and continued driving. She soon reached home, had dinner and retired to her room. When she logged on to her laptop, she saw 5 unread messages from Arnav and clicked them open.

Arnav: I know Lav. I can't wait to see you too. I want to see how much more beautiful have you grown up to be. ;)

Arnav: Hey you there? *knock knock*

Arnav: Hey Lav, btw, how is that nerd Khushi? Have you been in contact with her?

Arnav: Lost again? When are you going to reply? *Waiting*

Arnav: It seems you're not going to reply now. Must be caught up in some work I know. Or you would have replied. Bye. Do reply when you get time. *Sleeping now*

Khushi was shocked to know that he remembered her and was actually asking about her. Her heart did a brief happy dance. But then her heart saddened at the thought that he had called her nerd Khushi' and not his friend. She sighed and decided to reply to his mails.

Khushi (as Lavanya):Sorry for the late reply Arnav. I was very much tired yesterday and didn't know when I fell asleep. Today was also a quite busy day. Finally, I got time to open my laptop. We'll see each other when we meet, dude. Don't be such a despo about that. And about Khushi, I have also not been in contact with her in all these years after you left. I don't know where and how is she. Good Night Arnav.

And with that she logged off. She looked at the wall clock in her room, it was 10.30pm. She then thought that it would only be tomorrow that she would get his reply. And slept.

Next morning, she was having her tea and simultaneously reading her newspaper. As she opened the Page 3, she found a picture of a girl strikingly similar to Lavanya, the line below her picture read: New model in tinsel town, Lavanya Kashyap. Khushi was elated. She had finally found Lavanya.

Happiness always...

Frozen_Ana...❤️