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This is my favorite line.
"Honey, you got to know by now that this man can never be closet-anything".
Ooo baby, Scorpions, not shy by any means, right Jen. 😉


Khushi, yes, she did it!!
She led Arnav to both her aunts and properly introduced him to her Sumita Maasi.
"Meet my friend Arnav", wavered for a millisecond, but the strength she needed was right there in the fleeting glint of the man she loves, her Arnav, by her side and she finishes with "..we also happen to love each other".
My heart soared for them.

Madhu Aunty such a sweetheart and after "...her eyes locked with those of her niece, a glimpse of a certain something in them made her sigh deeply. It was happiness laced with a quiet dignity that precluded all questions" she has the perfect response for Sumita, who in return welcomes Arnav affectionately and tells him to have a good time.
Important to note here is even if there is a later concern in Sumita's mind Madhu will have already filled her in on her friend Astha her responsible son Arnav. Sumita no doubt will also listen to her sister's thoughts, but she will arrive at her own conclusion about the situation because she is at privy to observe Khushi and Arnav in her home and happy with each other.
Love Arnav's resolve for things to remain pleasant, "In fact...I will try my best...no, I will make sure, absolutely sure, that they did. Khushi deserves no less".

So, so it appears Arnie had not mentioned the break up to Astha. She must have had a neighbor or met someone from Uganda and it is stuck in her mind. 😆
Actually, Astha probably remembers the Bollywood connection, actress Mumtaz married a businessman from Uganda. 😃
How about that, I actually remember a BW trivia. It's from the businessman side not BW. 😃
Anyway, once again love Arnav's resolve re his "sanki", "She'll come back with me".
Well that triggered eagerness, impatience, worry etc., all understandable. She too wants her Arnie happy.

Madhu's friendship with Sumita and Astha is so endearing and looks like a "posse" is being formed with Madhu as a mediator.

Easy camaraderie/bromance and interjection by Madhu re a childhood playtime is going to produce some future teasing & fun, perhaps a photo or two..ykwim. 😛
He is inked, how about that, naughty fun begins. Several full physicals required by Dr. G to find Dr. R's elusive tattoo.

The much awaited meeting of Arnav and Aman, socially acceptable tepid at best. Not surprising under the circumstance; a lot of undercurrents, events on that fateful Lounge night, Aman's unrequited emotions, an extended family connection, winner of Khushi's heart, Anita's aloofness and Aman's gaze on Anita.
Both Khushi and Arnav have picked up on unnatural vibes from Anita, Khushi more so, but both are respecting her space for now.

Khushi's concern for Arnav's comfort as the evening progressed was amusing and so relatable.
Private moments on the patio, first dance, Arnav's concern and understanding and Khushi's plan for a day of exploration was oh so endearing.

Morning brings a little shopping, hope he didn't forget the important stuff, Astha and Uganda. I think he should take her there. A visit to Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya and a stop at Jinja, Uganda to visit the source of River Nile.
Arnav gives her the green light to book a ticket to Cleveland?? Hope not without him and Khushi.

Finally a date, out of town, day trip, hmmm... I am guessing Mirzapur.
Quiet reflection of Khushi's first sight of Arnav at the traffic stop a year ago in Cleveland and Arnav feeling her observing him grasping her hand into his. Together in heart and mind. ❤️

A peaceful coming together of family and friends.
Nicely done Jen. Each character's emotions perfectly etched. 👏

Yeh Joh Halka Halka Suroor Hai
Yeh Teri Nazar Ka Qasoor Hai
K Sharab Peena Sikha Diya
This mild intoxication
It is the fault of your gaze
That have taught me to drink

Tere Pyar Nai, Teri Chaah Nai
Teri Behki Behki Nigaah Nai
Mujhe Ek Sharabi Bana Diya...
Your love and your longing
Your intoxicating glances
Have made me a drunkard...

The one thing that struck me most about this chapter was everybody's desire & efforts to unite Arnav & Khushi & make them happy once again. Be it Arnav & Khushi themselves, or Madhu bua, or Sumita maasi or Anita or Aakash, or Aastha, everyone was going out of their way to make this recently united couple stay united & be happy.

This may sound a bit filmy, nay a lot filmy, 😆 but I was reminded of this famous dialog from Om Shanti Om in this chapter...

Itni shidaat se main tumhe paane ki koshish ki hai,
hi har zaare ne mujhe tumse milane ki saazish ki hai.

Kehte hain ki ... Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho to puri kayanat usey tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.

Loved the little things that showed the degree of commitment Arnav & Khushi now have towards each other. In the way they were making sure, that now that they have found each other, they want to protect & treasure their relationship above everything else. It was revealed in the little prayers that Khushi sent up to her Devi Maiyya or making Arnav her priority & checking on his comfort every few minutes or planning an outing with Arnav to compensate for not being there for him enough during the wedding festivities was both very endearing as well as touching as it revealed her fear of ruining her relationship with Arnav again...

Even Arnav promising to not let anything mar the pleasantness of his relationship with Khushi. His willingness to do anything to ensure her happiness spoke volumes of his commitment towards Khushi. When he took Khushi outside to reassure her & asked her not to fret over him was really sweet of him. He is willing to compromise this time round & not demand his time with Khushi like he had done in the past... His referring to Anu as "Our Anu" was just another example of him wanting to include Anita & other family members of Khushi as his own & building a strong relationship with them as well.

All these small gestures indicated their intrinsic fears & feelings. They both are terrified of losing the other again, hence were going out of their way to be there for the other and ensuring the other felt loved & needed. It was both sad & sweet to see them behave towards each other like this. This proved beyond anything how much they had gotten hurt in the past & now value each other in their lives that much more. They now count it as a blessing to have won the other's love again and were ensuring that they don't lose it again by taking it for granted or not being there for the other like in the past... A sure sign of growth in a relationship. 😊

Having being burnt once & endured loss, I guess it will take time for them to both develop the kind of reassurance & trust one has from a loved one to be there for them in a relationship. And nothing but time is the best healer in any process. Loved these little steps, these little grains of trust towards building bridges towards a happy & content future...

About Aman... Would have to know more about the situation that led to the kiss to comment anything further on it...

But there were few things that gave me a few clues though...

He was touched by her bravado, her amusing attempts to convince him and maybe herself that their kiss hadn't mattered.

-- Huh?? In other words, it had mattered?? To Aman?? Now we're talking... 😉

How could he have allowed...that thing between them...to progress to that?

-- Wow! even he acknowledges that there is a "thing" between them?? And he let it "progress" to that?? Aha! Interesting. 😉 Hasn't anyone told him yet that certain "things" are beyond anybody's "control". They just run their own course. So he stubbornly won't acknowledge it openly cuz he is fixated on Khushi?? C'mon Aman, I expected you to be smarter than that... LOL Khushi is history buddy, no matter how much it hurt back then, & no no matter how much it hurts your ego now, Khushi is taken for good buddy. 😊 Hanging on to her while ignoring your feelings for a certain someone ain't gonna help anyone in the process... Let go!

Him not being friendly towards Arnav is quite understandable. I would have been surprised if he had. Although, I must say, I would have liked to see an actual dialog from Aman to Arnav to draw that conclusion myself as a reader rather than a narrative. Anywho. Arnav's surprise and bewilderment at Khushi choosing him over Aman was really cute. But hey, who has ever understood the workings of that unpredictable organ, which has a mind all its own. LOL And Arnav for sure with all his intelligence & acumen, ain't going to unravel that mystery now for sure. 😉

But am glad that Khushi now has a fair understanding of what ails Anita, & why is she really sulking as she put it?? Hope to see them have that chat soon about Aman. Not sure how Khushi can console Anita unless Aman wants to change things himself... Sigh! poor Anita, I wish the poor girl hadn't gone & fallen for her older sister's-ex. She is too cute & full of life to be burdened with the pain of unrequited love so early in life... Oh why couldn't she have fallen for a guy in her own circle of friends. Life sure is complicated.

Some other things that I loved in this chapter are...

...as her eyes locked with those of her niece, a glimpse of a certain something in them made her sigh deeply.

-- That spoke volumes... Hoping to see Madhu come to the aid of the lovers soon.

Aakash is a riot. Loved his ribbing of Khushi worried about Arnav's wellbeing... And not to talk about, him spilling embarrassing details of Arnav's childhood escapades... 😉 😆 He sure his having fun at the expense of his cousin & BFF... 😆

Poor Aastha feel for her so much. I wish Arnav would better communicate with his mom. Being a mom I can totally feel her pain & bewilderment at his reticence as well... And completely understand her frustration...

"I'm getting sick and tired of both of you. I keep asking you to let me go speak to her parents and get things to move forward in a proper way...and you've stubbornly persisted in evading the topic for over four months now.

That tells me, Aastha had been pestering Arnav during their breakup & Arnav being Arnav had not told her why he hadn't wanted Aastha to speak to Khushi's parents...

"Did you two fight?. In an instant all the rancor in her voice was replaced with worry whose intensity highlighted just how much she wanted them to happy together. It showed just how much she valued this second chance in her son's life.

-- Aww, she is such a sweetheart, my heart goes out to her. Poor thing, has always tried to do the right thing... Khushi is really lucky to have a such a swell MIL... I wish to see both Aastha & Khushi gang up against Arnav & give him a really hard time in the future, just like had has given them both. LOL Will serve him right, methinks. 😉

This just had me in splits... Again! 😆

"Central African Republic, Ma, not Uganda. Where did you get Uganda from?"

-- Aastha sure is fixated on Uganda... 😆 I think she really loves the name & all countries in Africa are called Uganda for her. LOL

Just like she is fixated on Arnie... 😆 Mothers... I tell you. 😆

"Is that a green light to book a ticket to Cleveland?"

-- Awww, Aastha sure is in a hurry to get these two hitched LOL She will do anything in her power now to soothe ruffled feathers of Sujata & Navin & convince them of Arnav's goodness & get them married now. Waiting to see how that convo goes whenever it happens... And even more than that, I want to see Aastha welcome Khushi into her & Arnav's lives for good. Hallelujah! about time for some grand celebration!! But what tickled me most was seeing Arnav's forced casualness about the whole thing, common man, it is ok to smile & blush a little. You have earned it. Heeheehee 😆

Loved the way Khushi reminisced about their first meeting just by observing Arnav's sharply etched profile in the car. Wonder when will she reveal to him finally where she had first seen him & had fallen for his looks. 😉

Also, the instinctive way Arnav caught her hand in the car was so telling. He instinctively & subconsciously searches for & needs Khushi... Aww, how utterly romantic. I just hope what Arnav remembered about seeing a little Khushi with her fingers in her mouth is an actual memory & not his imagination at work here... Maybe when he gets to see pictures of little Khushi in her home will confirm that doubt for him 😊

Lovely chapter Jen, but yeh dil maange more... 😃 YKWIM?? (Wink!, Wink!)

WAH KYA UPDATE HAI JEN...simply superb..loved it yaar..

Tatto ka raaz abhi tak nahin khula...am sure its at his lower back ;-) Kushi did not "explore" him properly... ;-) pls cut short the sighseeing trip and let Kushi explore Arnav leisurely..

I feel sad for Aman..bechara..want to know their story..

Arnav is so fond of our Anu...hope he and Kushi bring Anu - Aman together..

I am sure her sister will convince Sujata about Arnav..or in one of skype conversations during wedding reception she might spot Arhi together..hee heee I want her to see them together ;-)

beautiful update and Thxxx a ton Jen

Not fair at all Jen, you tease us mercilessly with the tattoo and make us wait impatiently with bated breath for the update and you skip out on revealing the tattoo ? Not fair at all! Anyway jokes apart it was a wonderful update as usual but by the end of it I felt -where is the rest :) there should be more :) that's what you do to us every week.

I really like how you brought about the culmination of their months long separation and it makes perfect sense to see the story go forward. You know what I love most about your writing? Despite going through all these major upheaval and turmoils the characters of Arnav and Khushi are exactly the same. The basic essence of their characters is unchanged. Their outlook has changed for the better and both of them were able to get over their insecurities and their fears and their bitterness guilt and are able to restart on a clean slate. That makes their interactions such a pleasure to read now. Thank you for the lovely update and I can't wait for the next one :)