Arshi FF: Zindagi Ke Mausam: Part 25b UPDATED! - p.86 - Page 8

As Khushi finished her performance, everyone cheered and clapped. Unknown to Khushi, just as her performance finished there were a specific pair of eyes watching her closely.

Lavanya: KHUSHI! That was so so so awesome! THANK YOU! It totally made up for having to skip the sangeet !

Lavanya engulfed Khushi in a hug, wrapping her arms around her --- careful not to get mehndhi on her.

Anjali: Khushi ji that really was so such a pretty performance!

"I agree"

The girls turned to watch Shyam walking in towards Anjali.

Khushi: Dhanyevaad.

Shyam: That was very nice Khushi ji.

Khushi: Thank you Shyam ji.

Anjali: Aap yahan?

Shyam's eyes watched Khushi as she interacted with the girls around her - smiling - laughing, her beautiful beautiful self.

Anjali: Shyam ji? Shyamji?

Shyam: Ji Rani Sahiba?

Anjali: Aap - yahan?

Shyam: I came to pick you up, you have an early trip tomorrow with Naniji, yaad hai?

Anjali: OH HAAN! Hum tho bhool hi gaye, aap nahin hote tho hum kya karte?

Anjali looked at her husband with a devotion smiling at him as his eyes wandered back to Khushi.

Khushi: Aap ko pata hai Shyamji no men are allowed here but we all know who you came for.

Khushi winked and nudged Anjali. All the girls started laughing as Anjali shook her head.

Shyam: Sahi hai Khushi ji, aaye tho hum Rani Sahiba ke liye thay lekin ---aap

Anjali: Lekin ?

Shyam laughed it off and completed his train of thought: Lekin bonus mein humein Khushi ji ka performance dekhne ke liye mil gaya.

Anjali: Ji yeh tho hai ! Acha, aab humein chalna chahiya hai -

Anjali bid adieu to the family and started walking off with Shyam as he turned to watch Khushi who was tinkling laughter.

Later That Night

Lavanya: Khushi, Payal, hurry up! Can you get your stuff and head out before the guys made it back? I can bet you everything they want to know about tomorrow! We decided to leave and be at my place before they come back !

Khushi: I packed everything- I just have to run to the guest house and get our things - I was just thinking..

Payal: You packed everything???

Khushi looked at her sister sheepishly and then towards Lavanya.

Khushi: OH JIJI - Aap pack karein yahan hum karein, baat tho ek hi hai na?

Payal: Okay drama queen, jao go get the stuff. Lavanya and I will wait outside for you - by the car.

----

Khushi: AMA! AMA!

Garima: SHH Khushi ! Kya ho gaya hai?

Khushi runs in to the house and stops in front of her mother kissing her loudly on the cheek.

Garima: Tu kya kar rahi hai Khushi?!

Khushi: AMA - I need our bags! We'll be back the morning of the wedding! Bataya tha na.

Garima: Khushi - yeh bach"bachel"

Khushi: Bachelorette party Ama !

Garima: Haan, wahi - bas tu apna aur Payal ka dhyan rakhna. Kuch oonch"neech"

Khushi: AMA! Kuch nahin hona, we'll be careful, don't worry!

Garima: Tujhe tho pata hai tumhara naam ---

Khushi: Ama. Please.

Garima: Khushi -

Khushi: Ama - I have to go! HAW dekho, I said I'd be out in 5 minutes and dekho 15 minute ho gaye hain ! Jiji and Lavanya are going to kill me !

Garima shook her head and grabbed the two bags and carefully placed them on Khushi's shoulders - not wanting to ruin her mehndhi.

Khushi: OKAY bye AMA

Khushi turned to leave, when she remembered something.

Khushi: Ama !

Garima: Haan Khushi?

Khushi: Usse goodnight kiss kehte hain - Babuji aapko dete honge na.

Khushi erupted in laughter and ran out before her Ama registered what she said.

Garima(to herself and up to the skies): Yeh larki bhi na. Anu - humari Khushi pehle ke jaise ho rahi hai - bas aab sab kuch teek hi rahe.

---

Khushi was dressed in a thin cotton shalwar kameez, with her dupatta across her neck. She tried to walk carefully to the driveway trying to make sure she didn't slip but to no avail - her dupatta slid off her neck and got caught in between her feet. As she tripped forward with the bags slipping off her shoulders and on to the floor she felt strong hands grasp her waist and pull her back.

She landed back with a thud against the hard planes of a lean body. Khushi felt the warm breath against her neck and the hands still firmly holding her waist. Khushi tried to turn but the hands wouldn't let her move. She closed her eyes and hoped to Devi Maiyaa it wasn't who she thought it was - but her body's response had already told her - she was right.

"You'll fall again, stand still." The warm breath tickled the nape of her neck and automatically sent a shiver down her spine.

Khushi (thoughts): It's cold. Yes. That's why I shivered.

Khushi felt the hands move away from her waist.

Khushi(thoughts): Why did he move -KHUSHI! Why are you thinking WHY? You've lost your damn senses.

Arnav walked around to in front of Khushi who was stuck in some internal debate muttering to herself. Arnav reached for the dupatta that was tangled in her feet and lifted it to place it against her neck again.

As Arnav's fingers brushed Khushi's collarbone, she came out of her reverie and looked up at him. His fingers lingered five seconds too long against Khushi's skin.

Khushi (thoughts): Devi Maiyaa"aaj tho mein gayi, like I'm gone such a goner. Why do I lose all my damn courage in front of him???

"KHUSHI!" "KHUSHI!"

Khushi: Fffu-- SHIT!

Arnav looked at her with an eyebrow cocked up. Khushi covered her mouth and looked at Arnav with astonished eyes.

Khushi: YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT - I DIDN'T SAY THAT!!

"KHUSHI!"

Khushi: Uh"uh AYI JIJI!

Khushi looked at Arnav and tried to give what was a small smile.

Khushi: Tha"thank you.

Khushi ran towards the voices of Lavanya and Payal - leaving her bags next to Arnav.

Lavanya: KHUSHI?! Where were you?? Wait - where are the bags?!

Khushi: WOH - I - MAIN -

Payal: Khushi? Tu theek hai? Why do you look so flustered?

Khushi stilled - she felt eyes boring in to the back of her head. She thanked Devi Maiyaa for the darkness of the night because the blood was rushing to her cheeks and she was sure she probably looked as pink as a strawberry.

NK: Sweetheart, why are you outside?

NK, Arnav, Aarav and Akash made their way towards the girls. NK hugged Lavanya and kissed her cheek.

Lavanya: You're drunk NK.

NK: Nah sweetheart, I just had a few drinks, I'm fine.

NK was definitely tipsy - if not drunk. Akash's eyes also looked a little glazed over.

Akash: Payal

Payal: Ji Akash ji?

Akash: You're so beautiful.

Payal: Akash ji - aap ne - you drank too?

Akash: Thori si but you're still beautiful.

Khushi: Haye Devi Maiyaa ! Jiju, NK --- we have to go, so please don't start declaring your undying love.

Aarav: Khushi - I can declare mine for you if you're feeling left out.

Khushi: No - I'm - we have to go.

Lavanya: Where are the bags Khushi?

Khushi: I - I almost fell and I

Khushi swore she heard the rakshasa mutter "What's new?" - She eyed him suspiciously but he seemed preoccupied by his phone.

Khushi: I - let me go get them.

Aarav: I'll help!

Khushi smiled tentatively at Aarav and walked towards where she left the bags.

Aarav: So Khushi...

Khushi: Mhmmm?

Aarav: Well - I mean I wanted to ask -

Khushi: OH! Here are the bags! But my mehndhi--- kaise"

Khushi looked around trying to figure out how to grab the bags without ruining her mehndhi.

Aarav: I'll get them for you, don't worry.

Aarav grabbed the bags and started walking with Khushi back to the driveway.

Khushi: Aap ne kuch poochna tha Aarav ji?

Aarav: I thought you'd forget - yes, actually Khushi I -

"KHUSH!!!"

NK was walking toward them.

Khushi: Kya hua bandar?

NK grabbed Khushi and enveloped her in a hug.

Khushi: NK! I can't - breatheee. Lavanyaaa - can you grab your fianc?!

Lavanya started laughing as Khushi began to sway side to side. Khushi's petite frame compared to NK's was weighing her down. NK leaned to whisper in to Khushi's ear.

NK: You know Khush--- I'm"I'm happy you're here.

Khushi heard NK's voice break and she felt her emotions bubble up and fill her eyes with tears.

Khushi: I know - and I'm happy you're happy.

Khushi very quickly blinked back the tears and moved away from NK.

Khushi: We have to go, it's already 1 AM -

Aarav: Where are you guys going?

Lavanya: My place. Aarav can you put the bags in my car, please.

Aarav: Who's driving you guys there?

Khushi: Mm"

Before Khushi finished her sentence offering to drive she felt NK's death stare on her.

Lavanya: Oh God! The driver left already and - my mehndhi"how? ASR!

Arnav: You can't be serious Lavanya.

Lavanya: COME ON ASR! I'm your best friend! I'm getting married! This will be my wedding present from you"okay no it won't be but come on! NK is obviously in no state to drive and you don't live too far from me! We can leave my car here it's no big deal. ASR!

Arnav: You know I don't do emotional blackmail Lavanya. You've been hanging out with Di too much lately.

Lavanya: ASR! Fine I'll just --- take a taxi

Arnav: Shut up. Get in the car.

Lavanya: You're the best! Let's go girls! Aarav can you make sure NK and Akash Bhai get to their beds safely - thanks a ton!

Lavanya got in to the front seat of Arnav's car as Payal sat in the backseat.

Khushi: Wwwoh"

Arnav: What?

Khushi: Bags"woh La"Lavanya's car.

Arnav: What the f-! Get the damn keys from Lavanya! What are you staring at me for?! Get the damn keys.

Khushi stumbled to get the keys from Lavanya and handed them to Arnav who snatched them from her hand. Khushi walked to the car and sat next to Payal and jumped as Arnav slammed his drunk door close.

Lavanya: Oh Khushi - chill. ASR hai hi aisa.

Arnav got in to the car and started driving. Before they knew it - they were in front of Lavanya's home.

Lavanya: Thanks ASR!

Lavanya blew a kiss at Arnav who looked at Lavanya with an annoyed expression.

Lavanya: GUARD! Can you get the bags from the car! Payal"Khushi let's go!

Lavanya and Payal hopped out of the car but Khushi was struggling with her door.

Arnav: You can't open a damn door? You've got to be f"ing kidding me. Probably never sat in a car like this, probably never saw one either.

Khushi looked up at him and then at the door.

Khushi: I didn't want to get mehndhi on your car handle - but apparently aap ko sochne se pehle bolne ki aadat hai.

Khushi opened the door and slammed it walking towards Lavanya's front door.

Arnav: WHAT THE -- !

Khushi (thoughts): Why did he evoke such anger? Why couldn't he be a civilized person? What did she ever do to him? He could just ignore her but no"he had a stupid problem with everything.

Arnav (thoughts): How dare she? What an insolent --- God he just - he couldn't stand her! How dare she speak to me like that? ME? Arnav Singh Raizada"not thinking before speaking? She was out of her bloody mind that small town girl