Love - Its Complicated! 26th Mar: Chapter 10 (E) is up on Page 71! - Page 6

Originally posted by: radhika007

waiting

CHAPTER 1. PAST MEETS PRESENT

"Look at her. Look at her Nannav! And tell me! Tell me that she is fine!", NK spoke in a hushed tone as he stared at Arnav. They were standing near the window in NK's apartment in Sydney, Australia. They had arrived four days back from India and it was now seven days since Arnav, Khushi and Naaniji left Shantivan.

Both Arnav and NK turned and looked at Khushi. She was seated on the sofa near a praying Naaniji staring at a distance while stitching embroidery on some dress piece. Even though she had come out of her shock the day after they left Shantivan, the smiling happy Khushi was gone. In her place now was a girl who did not smile, with eyes that were dull and lifeless. The once chatterbox only opened her mouth to reply to their questions and then also she used only one or two words to reply.

Arnav would never admit out loud but he was missing the old Khushi badly. He wished to hear her constant chatter, he wanted to see his smile and he wanted to see her jump around excitedly in her usual manner. But he was at loss on how to bring the old Khushi back.

Arnav sighed and replied at NK agitatedly "I know she is not fine! I know! But what can I do? I don't know how to bring the old Khushi back. You tell me what to do! Do you have any ideas? Tell me! Do you have any ideas?"

NK smiled mischievously, "Actually I do have an idea!"

Arnav raised an eyebrow and NK continued, "Why don't you two come with me? One of my clients called me up saying that the photographer they hired has fallen ill so they asked for me to take over. They would have hired me but they did not know that I am coming back from India so early. I am going to photo shoot and I think you guys should come too! It might give Khushi change of scenery!"

"Main aur photo shoot?", Arnav asked, "Don't you think I have seen enough photo shoots in my life? I am or rather I was the owner of AR!"

NK huffed, "That is different! In those photoshoots your clothes were in spotlight. So models posed differently. Here it will be different. The photo shoot is for sea facing bungalows. The construction company has built one bungalow already and the company who owns this project wants to use that bungalow as model to sell the remaining under construction bungalows."

"Oh! So the photo shoot is for bungalows?", Arnav enquired.

Nk nodded eagerly, "Yes! But there will be female and male models too! They want the inside photos to look homely so some models will pose as a couple living there."

"Interesting!", Arnav muttered. He was intrigued. He had seen many photo shoots in his life but most were of clothes. This will be different. Plus he might get to meet new people and with his current situation networking would be very helpful for him.

"Fine!", Arnav spoke, "Lets all of us go! Naani will get some fresh air too and meeting new people might cheer Khushi too!"

Nk nodded and went to ask Naaniji who refused to come as she wanted to rest in the house. Arnav asked Khushi who mutely nodded. Arnav sighed. He wished she would show some reaction. Here is me hoping that this trip to photo shoot cheers you up! After the days you had, you deserve some happiness Khushi!

An Hour Later...

Khushi took in the buzz around her with dull eyes. At one time, so many people surrounding her would have brought out the chatterbox in her and she would have gone and met each and every person around her. But right now all this crowd seemed to do was make her uncomfortable. She gripped the arm she was holding tighter.

Arnav, whose arm Khushi was holding, looked at her in surprise and took in the expression on her face. He patted her hand in comfort and when she looked at him he passed her a soft smile. But Khushi did not react and looked away. Arnav sighed. What should I do to make you laugh Khushi? What should I do? All I want to see is you smiling. Is it too much to ask?

"And this is the place where photo shoot will take place!", NK announced with a grin. Surrounding him, people were setting up the lighting, the camera and also prepping the bungalow for outdoor shooting. Rose bushes were being planted artistically around the lawn; walls were being retouched in some places. Arnav took all of this in one glance. Fresh breeze blew around bringing the fragrance of sea water and Arnav was reminded again that the bungalows were supposed to be sea facing and right behind was the vast sea.

"So what do you think?", NK prompted bringing Arnav out of his thoughts.

Arnav shrugged, "Fascinating!" NK just shook his head at the one word answer. That's when NK's eyes lit up as he noticed someone. "See that guy?", NK asked while pointing towards a man standing with some people talking. The man was facing NK and he signaled him to come and join them. NK smiled and waving back he explained, "That is my usual client who hired me for this photoshoot! A great fellow! I better go and meet him! You two will be alright being here, right?"

Arnav nodded and NK asked, "Are you sure?"

Arnav glared at him, "Just go!" NK gulped and scrambled away. Arnav chuckled but his laughter died in his throat when he heard a whisper, "Paani!" Arnav took in a sharp breath as he looked at Khushi who looked at him with pleading eyes. She opened her mouth and whispered again, "Paani!" Arnav felt elated. After almost seven days he heard Khushi talk. He nodded rapidly. "Haan Haan! Abhi laaya! Will get it right away for you! Why don't you... why don't you take a seat?" Arnav knew that he was stuttering but he did not care. His Khushi had asked something from him and he would move mountains to get what she wanted. You want water right? I will get it right away for you. He pushed her back making her sit in one of the chairs nearby and walked off swiftly to get some water.

Khushi waited for Arnav to come back when she heard a child's laughter. She frowned. In this crowd? A child? She got up and looked around but did not see anything. Maybe it was her imagination. She was about to sit down when she heard the giggling again. That was definitely a child. She got up to look around. She walked a few steps and saw a table on the opposite side of the lawn. Her eyes widened when she saw a small leg poking from under the table. Why was the kid hiding? His parents might be worried for it and might even be searching for it! She huffed and walked to the table forgetting that Arnav would come back pretty soon.

Arnav arrived at the place he had left Khushi with a proud smile on his face, "Yeh lo Khushi! Water!" He pulled his eyes away from water and blinked when he saw no one sitting in the chair. "Khushi!", he looked around in worry. Where did she go? "Khushi!" When no response came, he ran around searching for her only to crash into a female model. "I am sorry! I ...", he stopped talking as he realised who was standing in front of him. He was speechless!

NK smiled as he met the man who hired him, "Mr. Kingsley! How are you?" He smiled brightly as he shook the man's hand. He made some small talk with the man and then the man introduced him to the people surrounding them. There were five people surrounding them and as Mr. Kingsley introduced them NK shook each of their hands. After shaking hands with first four persons he turned to the fifth man and raised his hand.

Khushi tugged the child's leg under the table and the leg vanished. In its place came a face. It was a boy! Khushi blinked at the innocent look on the boy's face. When Khushi's narrowed her eyes the boy grinned widely showing his teeth where one tooth was missing making the kid look adorable. Khushi could not resist from smiling back softly. The kid crawled from under the table and stood up. He dusted his hands on his yellow pants and adjusting the collar of his white shirt which was stained with mud, he spoke, "Hi! I am Vicky! Vikram Khurana! And you are?"

"Mr. Khurana! Its my pleasure to meet you!", NK exclaimed as he happily shook the hands of the man in front of him. The said man smiled back, "The pleasure is mine, Mr. NK!" "I cannot believe it!", NK babbled, "I am meeting the Construction King of Sydney, one of the top businessmen in the whole of Australia, the Great Maan Singh Khurana! I cannot believe this!" NK was grinning widely as he shook hands with one of his idols!

"Lavanya!", Arnav stuttered in shock as he took in the tall girl in front of him. The girl in turn squealed, "ASR! How have you been?" She hugged him and Arnav, coming out of shock, hugged her back. "What are you doing here?", Arnav asked with a smile on his face. La's eyes widened, "I should be asking that question to you! What are you doing here?" Arnav shrugged, "It's a long story! But you here?"

Lavanya shrugged, "I live in Sydney nowadays! And I am a model at this photo shoot! By the way, where were going in such a hurry?" Arnav's mouth opened and shut and opened again, "Woh Khushi... paani..."

"Khushi!", Lavanya interrupted with a squeal, "She is here too! OMG! I have to meet her! Where is she?"

"Ji! Hum Khushi hain! Khushi Kumaari Gupta! Hum Hindustan se aaye hain. Hum...", Khushi would have continued to talk about herself if it hadn't been for the boy interrupting her. "One minute! One minute!", Vicky spoke with confusion on his face, "I don't understand a single word of what you are saying!" Khushi frowned. His name seemed Indian then why can't he speak Hindi? She shrugged and tried to speak in English, "I from India! My name is Khushi!"

Vicky blinked, "Interesting name! What does your name mean? My name means strength! What does yours mean?" Khushi was confused. She understood what Vicky was speaking but how to explain her name in English? "My name... my name... yes... my name means Happy!"

"Happy!", the boy squealed, "Hello Happy! I am Vicky!", he raised his hand and Khushi shook it happily. The boy grinned fully bringing dimples in his cheek. Khushi could not resist herself. She leaned down and pinched the boy's cheeks making the boy groan which in turn make Khushi laugh.

Geet looked around. Kahaan gaya yeh khote da puttar? Where is my brat? Again he ran away! So mischievous! I am sure he has got it from his dad's side! I never ran around like this! Hmmmph! She stomped around looking for her son around the bungalow only to stop in shock at the scene in front of him. A young girl was leaning down pulling her son's cheeks. She blinked again. For a second it felt like she was looking at the picture she found few days back. A girl leaning down pulling the cheeks of her son! The girl in front of her looked just like the girl in the picture. The same face, the same eyes, the same smile! Only difference was that in that pic the boy who looked like her son was actually her husband and the girl in the pic who looked just like the girl in front of her was...

"Nandini!", Geet whispered in shock.

Hello you all! Now you must be wondering who is Nandini?

Don't worry!

Next update we will go into the past and meet Nandini and Maan's Dad.

We will even meet Maan's Daadima aka Savitri Devi and last but not the least we will meet a 10 year old Maan!

What do you think? Interested in knowing where Khushi's past began?

Then check the thread on 16th November!

Thank you, take care and have fun,

Kalpana

Originally posted by: kshubhangi

Awesome. Is it that maan and khushi are siblings? Can't wait for the mystery to unfold.

Originally posted by: Arshika_arshi

Nice...but u know aisa laga ki before I start reading, it ended!!! :(
But loved it..

Originally posted by: jasminerahul

arnav n nk trying 2 make khushi cheerful like b4.they met lavanya in sydney.nice 2 c la back.Khushi's encounter with vikram/vicky was cute n funny.she was struggling 2 speak in eng.Geet is shocked to see Nandini?Who is Nandini n was nandini also there in the same place?i;m confused