'Khushi? Kya hua?' he whispered in her hair, concerned.
(Khushi? What happened?)
As she just stood circled in his arms without saying anything, Arnav slowly pushed her away a little as he looked intently at her face. As she looked up at him, he raised an eyebrow asking her to speak up.
'Woh...woh hum darr gaye the' she said in a small voice.
(I...I...was scared)
'Why?'
'I didn't know if what happened last night was for real or just me hallucinating in my feverish state. I didn't know if you would still be feeling the same today'
Arnav threw his head back and laughed a throaty laugh. 'Tum bilkul pagal ho! Buaji sahi kehti hai...sanka devi!' he said as he pulled her into his arms again. 'I love you!' he whispered as he cupped her face and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. Khushi closed her eyes in contentment and smiled.
(You're really crazy! Buaji is right...sanka devi!)
She sprang apart from him as she heard a knock on his door. It was her breakfast.
'Kuch ka lo, Khushi. Then you have to take your medicine. Payal will be here soon to take you home' Arnav said.
(Eat something, Khushi)
Khushi's smile dimmed and Arnav felt a pang in his heart. She was feeling what he was feeling! For now, that was enough.
They made the most of the few minutes they had to spend with each other as they both fed each other. Khushi felt much better as she sipped the hot tea, while Arnav drank his black coffee. As Hari Prakash came back to take the tray away, Arnav asked him if Payal was here. 'Ji, she just came. She's downstairs' he said.
Arnav and Khushi looked at each other as they walked towards each other in unison. As Arnav wrapped her again in his arms, he felt Khushi trying to get as close to him as possible. 'Khushi? It's okay! I will see you again in the evening. I will come to Laxminagar' he said as Khushi gasped. 'What?' he was confused.
'You'll come to my house? To see me? And what reason will I give my family?'
'I don't care! I will figure out something' there was finality in his voice.
Khushi shook her head as she muttered something about him being a Laad Governor. Arnav laughed as he bent down and kissed her gently. Khushi sighed as she melted into his kiss.
As they came down, Nani and Anjali came rushing towards her to make sure she was feeling better. Khushi was overwhelmed with their love and concern for her. She missed the glint in their eyes as they exchanged a look between them and then looked from her to Arnav. They were sure there was something going on between the two. But they had decided to wait and watch.
As Khushi looked around the living room, she didn't see Payal anywhere. Arnav was looking around too. 'Where is Payal, Di?' he asked Anjali.
'Payal Ji? She came already? I didn't see her Chotey'
'Don't worry Di. I will look for her' Arnav said as he headed towards the kitchen.
He looked around for Payal everywhere but didn't find her. Just as he was about to give up, he saw a flash of blue near the downstairs garden. As he walked towards the big glass doors that lead to the garden, he stopped still as he saw that she was crying and just as he took a step forward, he was even more shocked to find Akash with her. They seemed to be deep in conversation as Arnav went closer. He heard her then.
'Please let this go, Akash Ji. This is not meant to be. Our families are a world apart and your Mother does not like me. She has big plans of getting you married to a rich girl who wills suit your status and I have no intention of getting into something without her blessings. It's better if we drop this right now, right here. Please forget me and move on. It's better for all of us' she sobbed.
Akash went closer to her and held her by the shoulders. 'Payal, will you be able to forget me and move on?'
Payal looked pained at that thought. She bent her head as she just could not bring herself to answer that question.
'See? I knew it! What we have is not something ordinary. We have a connection that people spend years looking for. I don't want a high society girl who cares about money and status and her image and parties. I want a simple girl who understands me, takes care of me, loves me...I want you, Payal! Only you! I've fallen in love with you!'
'Akash Ji, please!' Payal begged.
Arnav could not bear to overhear anymore. So he walked away swiftly. When he reached the living room, he looked around to make sure his Mami was not around. 'She's gone to the spa' Anjali grinned.
Arnav asked them all to sit down and told them what he'd just overheard in the garden outside. Nani, Anjali and Khushi gasped in surprise.
'Jiji? And Akashji? Kab? Kaise?' she blabbered.
(Jiji? And Khushi? When? How?)
'This is great news. I am very happy!' exclaimed Nani. 'I couldn't have asked for a better daughter in law for our family'
Khushi smiled at Nani. There was no end to her generosity. She had embraced Khushi and loved her so wholeheartedly and now she was doing the same for her sister. She glanced at Anjali who looked a bit worried.
'Di?' she called her.
'I'm worried about Mami. I am sure she will create a big scene'
'I'll take care of her. You ladies don't worry about that. I'll convince her' Arnav said in his usual high handed voice.
'But Arnav Ji? What will you say? You will say what the! and make it a business deal! That won't work in situations like these' Khushi said haughtily with her nose in the air.
'Tum chup raho! I said I'll take care of it' Arnav snapped at her. Khushi looked at him indignantly as she turned away from him, angry.
(You be quiet!)
Arnav bit his tongue. Now he had made her angry! He smirked! Pacifying her would be fun!
Soon Payal came in and everyone changed the topic immediately. A few minutes later Akash walked in as if nothing had happened.
Arnav took Payal and Khushi home. As he bid them goodbye, he had an insane urge to take Khushi in his arms and kiss her senseless. It didn't help that she was angry and her nose had turned red. He loved it when she was angry! It brought a glow to her face and a flush to her cheeks.
A couple of hours later, Arnav smiled as he glanced at his phone when it rang.
'Khushi!' he said longingly as he picked up the call. he was missing her terribly.
'Arnav Ji! Aap ko jaldi kuch karna padega' she exclaimed, her previous anger at him completely forgotten.
(Arnav Ji! You have to do something quick)
Arnav smirked as his mind went to the innuendo in her sentence.
'Acha? Main tho kab se thaiyar hoon.'
(Really? I have been ready for a while)
Khushi's mouth opened in a O as she muttered to herself.
'Arnav Ji! You're so shameless. Mera matlab woh nahin tha. I meant about my Jiji and Akash Ji' she said as she felt her cheeks warm up.
(I didn't mean it that way)
'Oh! How unromantic Khushi' he teased her again.
'I can't see my Jiji so sad. Ever since we've come back home, she has been so aloof' Khushi said as she looked out the window and saw Payal lost in her own thoughts as she got the clothes down from the clothesline.
'I will talk to Akash and then Mami today, Khushi. Please tum upset mat ho, ok? Get some rest. Go take a nap and make sure you drink something warm before going to bed' he ordered her.
(Khushi, please don't be upset, ok?)
Khushi didn't mind it this time as she smiled at his concern. This was so new to her...this being in love, being in a relationship, this talking on the phone and most of all, seeing this new side of Arnav. He sounded and acted so different. The way he looked at her, the tenderness in his touch and his toe curling kisses were soon becoming a drug that Khushi was getting addicted to. She sighed as an intense longing to see him sent a sear through her chest.
'Khushi?' Arnav's voice brought her out of her reverie.
'I miss you!' she whispered as her throat clogged up with unshed tears.
Arnav closed his eyes as he felt her pain through the phone.
'I miss you too, sweetheart! More than you'll ever know. This is all so new to me Khushi. I've never been in love before and now that I am, I am finding it difficult to stay away from you. I...I...don't know how to handle this' he sounded agitated.
'It's new to me too Arnav Ji. I've never been in love either. But we'll figure it out, together' she smiled thinking about him.
'I'll call you in a couple of hours' he promised.
He had a mission to complete. He realized that not only was it important that his younger brother get his happiness, but it was also beneficial to him. He can see Khushi often now if Akash and Payal came together. He smiled as he went towards his Mami's room with a purposeful stride.
As Arnav called her back as promised in a couple of hours, Khushi jumped up in joy and clapped her hands. Her Arnav Ji was a genius. He had done the impossible in a matter of minutes. He had convinced his Mami and everyone in the Raizada family were eager to take the next step and bring the shagun to the Gupta house.
But what about Payal? Khushi smiled to herself as an idea struck her.
'What? Khushi! This is not one of your stupid Salman Khan movies. This is real life! Let Akash take Payal out and break the news' Arnav said firmly.
'But where's the fun in that? You're such a party pooper Arnav Ji!' Khushi exclaimed.
'What did you just call me?' Arnav said disbelievingly. This girl would be the death of him.
'Uff! You just ask Akash Ji to come to scandal point and I'll take care of the rest' Khushi declared.
As Payal ran to the edge of scandal point, Khushi looked at Arnav with dancing eyes. Arnav couldn't help but admire her sparkling eyes and her beautiful smile. She really was crazy!
'What did you do?' he asked her seriously.
'Nothing! I just told her that you had called and said that Akash Ji had a huge fight with his Mother about her and he got very upset and left the house. And that you had seen him race his car towards scandal point. See? It worked, right?'
'What was the need to do so much drama?'
'What is life without some filmy drama, Arnav Ji? This would be something they'll remember forever and probably tell their kids and grand kids. What a wonderful story it will be!' Khushi said dreamily as she clapped her hands.
Arnav shook his head as he smiled at her craziness.
'Come here!' Arnav said huskily as Khushi's smile vanished and she gulped.
When her feet wouldn't move, Arnav walked to her and put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. 'Tum bilkul pagal ho. But cute ho' he kissed her cheek.
(You really are crazy)
Khushi jumped back scandalized as she glanced at her sister and Akash. But they were both lost in their own world, hugging each other in joy.
Khushi wiped her tears away as she saw her sister finally get the happiness she deserved. She looked at Arnav. 'Thank you!' she whispered gratefully. Arnav took her hand in his and squeezed it in assurance.
As they both looked at the couple on the horizon, they hoped that they get all the happiness in the world.
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