SS: Do Pal Ki

Hola Dearies!

After spending hours and hours to jabber over IPKKND, Mya and I have finally decided to start a joint SS, just for using our time a bit better. So, this SS is a joint effort from Mya and me, and I won't blabber much since I've already blabbered quite a lot! And yes, the story starts right from the portion when NK, after dropping Khushi home, gets blasted off by Arnav.

Read on!

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Do Pal Ki

"NK! Keep your phone on next time damnit!" Arnav fumed and started his walk up to his room. He knew that NK was giving him puzzling look but right now he didn't care. He could rip NK apart limb to limb...

Arnav stood there seething on the staircase, trying hard to control his anger. He mentally counted one to ten and tried to wipe the disturbing image of that chit of a girl out of his mind. "Relax, Khushi Kumari Gupta doesn't exist, that stupid NK doesn't exist..just relax.."

"Arnav Bhaia," the annoying voice of OP got him back to realty. He suddenly felt very pleased, Yes, I can blast him off now!

"What the hell is it OP? Why the hell are you bothering me?" he growled in a fierce voice. OP gulped and feebly said, "Woh, Arnav Bhaia, Anjali Di has called you to her room!"

"Chotey?" Anjali called him softly as he entered. He sighed and stood in front of the window, not facing her. She won't be able to see that I'm upset if I don't show her my face.

"How was the party Chotey? You are late? Aakash returned home quite a while back."

"Well, Aakash doesn't have to deal with a certain Khushi Kumari Gupta, does he?" Arnav muttered to himself. He closed his eyes in frustration as his thoughts were yet again infiltrated by Khushi.

"Did you say anything?" Anjali asked, looking almost worried now.

"No Di, why have you called me?" Arnav asked, trying hard not to show his irritation at the situation.

"Arnav... Are you okay?" Anjali asked softly as if she was afraid to hear the answer.

Arnav turned around to face the room in shock. She never calls me Arnav! Is something wrong? Why is she calling me Arnav??! What happened to Chotey?! I spent almost my whole life trying to convince her to call my Arnav but she never did. Now...? Something must be wrong. She must either be really worried or tense. That is not okay. My Di can not be unhappy! Not as long as I am here.

"Di?" he inquired softly, "You are calling me Arnav? Is everything alright? Is your feet paining you? Did anyone say anything? Was it Mami? Did Jijaji do anything wrong with you?" he continued, only stopping when she put up a hand to indicate that he should stop his questionnaire.

"Everything is perfect in my life Chotey, except for you. It's you I'm worried about. Have you seen yourself lately? The way you are behaving? You are always on the edge. Sometimes you are so compassionate that it scares me and sometimes you get mad without any reason. Is it Lavanyaji? Are you missing her? Tell me, please?"

"What?" Arnav asked, relief filling him as he realized it was him she was worried about, not anyone else, "Di I am fine. Really I promise you."

"No you are not Chotey! I can see it! Don't lie to me! Can't you see? Your act is not going to work with me Chotey. You can fool the whole world but not me. I am your Di! How can you try to keep me out of your life when you keep telling me that I AM your life?" Anjali ranted, exasperated with her brother's denial.'

"Di I am being serious! I am fine. It's getting late, you should rest now."

"Chotey! You are not going anywhere without answering my question," Anjali ordered, making Arnav flinch.

Arnav knelt down beside her and took her hands in his. "Di, why are you being so stubborn? I'm telling you nah, that I'm fine?"

"Chotey.." Anjali sighed as she cupped his cheek with one hand. "You are not fine. Please don't do this. We don't need to play this game, do we? I thought we were stronger than this..."

"Di..." Arnav started to protest again, stopping only when he saw the look on her face. She look so fragile, so hurt, so much in pain. She wanted to help... help me. But there is nothing to tell! I don't have any problems... And so, just to stop her from nagging he placed his head on the bed and murmured, "Di, would you run your hand through my hair, like Ma used to do?"

"You are talking about Ma?" Anjali asked concern full in her voice. I knew something was wrong! She started to stroke his hair softly as she's seen their mother do and she could feel Arnav sigh. "It's nothing Di, just that I'm remembering so many things from childhood today."

"Yes Di. They were kids. But she isn't... Then why?" Arnav asked quietly, thinking that Anjali had not heard.

"Who isn't Chotey?" Anjali asked, finally getting a hint of what was going on through her brother's mind, "Do you mean to tell that someone actually made fun of your diabetes? Now? Who?!"

"It was her... Khushi..." Arnav responded softly, more to himself.

"Did you say Khushi?! Khushiji?! Arnav are you serious? I bet there is some kind of misunderstanding." Anjali asked in horror.

"Yes, of course your precious Khushi Kumari Gupta can do nothing wrong. It's me who's the monster all the time, right?" he said bitterly, more to himself than to her. He saw her expression change and in an attempt to cover up what he had said previously, he shook his head to make himself think clearly.

"Did you just say Khushiji taunted you over your illness?" Anjali asked, her voice was thunderous. Arnav observed her face and knew that he had to calm her down before it got out of hand.. I can't let her get hurt, whatever she does..damn!

"What? No Di, she didn't do anything. Forget that I said anything. It's really late now and I have work to do tomorrow. Good night," Arnav said hastily and walked out of the room as fast as possible.