ArHi SS: Love Countdown|| COMPLETED || - Page 22

Really nice story.. Came across it and read all the 3 parts..

Originally posted by: Sadh123

When are you planning to update? Aaj to liko baby please aru behen😭

Originally posted by: barsha_dash

Writing baby. Don't cry behen :D

Banner credits: arnavini 🤗

Chapter 4

"Uh. Hi, Khushi. Good morning", said Arnav with a smile.

"What are you doing here and what is in the packet that you gave Saket?" asked Khushi without even bothering to greet him with a Good Morning'.

"You ask too many questions Khushi. First of all, this is a park and as far as I know India is a democratic country and being a citizen of India, I can go anywhere. It is my fundamental right," said Arnav. Khushi opened her mouth to retort back but Arnav continued, "The packet contains something personal."

"Personal?" Khushi asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, it contains Arnav's book on Business Administrations which I had asked him to give," Saket replied to Khushi's question innocently.

Not believing what he said, she decided to check it herself. She snatched the packet from Saket's hand and tore it open. It was indeed a book on Business Administrations. She knew Arnav had done MBA from Harvard University and Saket was pursuing the same. She flipped the cover of the book and found the name Arnav Singh Raizada' written on the top right corner of the first page. She stared at the name for a few seconds when Saket's voice brought her out of her reverie.

"What are you seeing so much, Khushi? It is a book and definitely not a bomb," he said.

Khushi glared at him and thrust the book in his hand. "I still don't believe that you woke up before six and you were over-excited for this book, Saket. What was the need to be so secretive about this book?" She asked rolling her eyes.

"I thought you won't like me giving my book to Saket."Arnav replied meekly.

"And why won't I?" She asked again.

"Oh God! Khushi, it is just a book. Will you stop your interrogation?" Saket exasperated.

"Yeah exactly! It is just a book! What was the need to get a book so early in the morning? You think I am going to believe that? I am not convinced at all. So, Arnav, why don't you tell me what are you planning with Saket? Is it some new prank of yours to irritate me?" Khushi asked looking straight into Arnav's eyes.

"Umm... actually..." Arnav stuttered. To save Arnav, Saket said, "Khushi, he is not planning anything. Okay. Relax."

"I did not ask you Saket. So, you better keep quiet," Khushi said in a strict no non-sense tone.

"I think we should tell her Saket," Arnav said looking apologetically at Saket and continued, "Khushi, we are actually planning for a surprise party for Ankl...I mean Bhabhi's birthday."

"What! You are planning for Jiji's birthday and you wanted to keep me out of the plan! Whose idea was it?" Khushi yelled with fury.

"The surprise party plan was mine but keeping you out of it was Saket's idea," said Arnav.

"Oh, is it? But I clearly remember hearing you say that I should not come to know about this."

"You heard only the last part Khushi. I was actually asking Saket if he was sure that you should be kept out of the plan," he said trying to sound as convincing as possible.

Khushi looked at Saket who shrugged his shoulders and said, "You see, Khu baby, I cannot trust you with keeping surprises. You have the habit of spoiling surprises by spilling the beans. Remember how you had blurted out the whole plan to Jiji when Papa had strictly asked us not to."

"I was a kid then," she said trying to hide her embarrassment.

"Khu baby, admit it. You just cannot keep secrets."

"Are you challenging me? Now that I know that you guys are up to something, I am in, whether you like it or not. And this time, I will show you how to keep secrets," she said determinedly.

"Sure, baby. I will see."

Arnav was smiling amusedly seeing the siblings' fight and couldn't help but admit how adorable Khushi looked all this while. His trance broke when he heard Khushi's enthusiastic voice asking him about the plan.

After an hour long discussion about the plan and after Khushi finally agreed to what Saket and Arnav had suggested, they left the park.

**********

As soon as Saket and Khushi reached Gupta Villa, Khushi started telling Garima and Shashi about the birthday plan. Just then, Saket got a text from Arnav and their conversation went something like this.

Arnav: Thanks, champ.

Saket: Anytime, bro. It wasn't that difficult you know. You just need to push the right buttons. :D

Arnav: Just like the way you did. You first made Khushi suspect that we were planning something and then letting her know the plan and finally challenging her.

Saket: You know that she wouldn't have agreed if we had plainly said our plan. The complicated person that she is, she understands things the complicated way only. :D

Arnav: You are a genius, champ.

**********

"Khushi, don't you dare call Jiji now." Saket warned Khushi as he found her fiddling with her phone. It was 12A.M. and Payal's birthday had rolled in.

"I was not going to. Okay. It is just that it feels really awkward that I am not the first one to wish her." Khushi sighed. Saket knew her sister very well. She was the first one to wish Payal every year on her birthday. He knew she wanted to call her badly but couldn't because she had herself accepted the challenge.

"Don't feel bad Khushi. Things change, right? I am sure Jijaji has definitely planned something special for her tonight. It is after all her first birthday after marriage. So let her enjoy and you sleep. Good night, Khu baby." Saket said and left her room.

Saket was right, she thought. Things had changed.

**********

Akash Singh Raizada was having a hard time trying to hide the surprise his dear brother had planned since both the Gupta sisters had one trait in common. They asked too many questions. Well, Akash was not complaining though since he got to spend all day with his wife though he had to answer all the questions of Payal about why no one had wished her yet. He hated to see her sulken face last night when she had not received any call from Khushi though he managed to divert her attention offering her favourite black-forest cake and the passionate love-making that followed later. He had taken her out for a long drive followed by lunch at her favourite restaurant and now shopping trying his best to keep her busy but she had only asked one question time and again. "Did everyone forget her birthday or were they planning a surprise?" And he very efficiently changed the topic of discussion. He dialled Arnav's number and waited impatiently for him to pick it up.

"All arrangements done?" He asked as soon as Arnav received his call.

"Almost." He heard Arnav say.

"You know it hurts to see her sulk. So do it fast okay."

"Relax, bhai. Just another hour and be ready to witness the most gorgeous smile of Anklet." Arnav said with a chuckle and hung up.

**********

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

Payal gasped as she heard a loud cheer as soon as she entered the Raizada Mansion. She saw the living room decorated beautifully and the Guptas and Raizadas waiting with cheerful smiles.

"SURPRISE." They shouted again.

She ran towards her parents and hugged them followed by Khushi and Saket and then taking blessings from her in-laws.

Arnav went towards Akash and whispered in his ears, "I told you. You will see the most gorgeous smile on her face." Akash grinned and nodded in agreement.

**********

Arnav lay on the bed and recalled all that had happened that day. It was no doubt hectic with all the preparations for the surprise. An involuntary smile appeared on his face as he remembered a certain event. The Guptas had already arrived for the party and Khushi and Saket were helping in decorations. He got Akash's call and was answering it when he saw Khushi balancing herself on a stool and trying to put on the fairy lights. She was so engrossed in placing the string of lights properly that she did not realize when she had lost her footing on the stool and fell down along with the mesh of wires. He rushed towards her finishing the call and found that she had already stood up but was still entangled in the mesh. The stubborn girl that she was, she denied the help he offered and struggled to free herself. He had held her wrist and said, "Relax Khushi. It is not going to help this way. Let me help you," and he had slowly disentangled her not breaking the eye-lock once. He had found her lost in his eyes exactly the same way he was lost in hers and he smiled inwardly. So, he had an effect on her.

However, her last words before leaving the Raizada Mansion still reverberated in his ears. "Thanks, Arnav. Thank you for planning this surprise. I have never seen Jiji so happy on her birthday. Oh, and you are forgiven." The half-smile that lingered on her face had already taken away his sleep.

**********

Hello Diary,

I completed the challenge. I finally could control myself from wishing Jiji before the party. Well, Jiji took some time to believe though because of my bad reputation about keeping secrets.

But I am very happy that she loved our surprise and the black-forest cake that I had prepared for her.

And I finally thanked Arnav for the awesome plan and also forgave him. Well, he did not use his smart mouth to tease me at all. But now, I wish he continued with his teasing. It is easier to handle the Jerk than this sweet innocent-looking Arnav. At least I can get angry on him and not have these weird sensations like the one I had while he helped me to get out of the wire mesh. What do they call them in stories, butterflies in stomach? Yeah, Whatever.

P.S. Blue is definitely his colour and he should STOP wearing blue shirts to keep BUTTERFLIES AWAY FROM MY STOMACH.

**********

Chapter 5