Arshi FF: Jeene Laga Hoon (NOTE pg. 68) - Page 32

It was late into the night when guests finally began leaving. After her parent's approval, Payal was allowed to stay until after the guests left to help clean up. She was going to be dropped home by Khushi, who also volunteered to stay late as well. While Payal, Khushi, NK, Arnav, Aman, and Akash cleaned up Nani and Anjali went upstairs to put Aditi to bed. The infant had gone into a spiral of endless wailing, and could only be soothed with sleep and her mother's calming voice.

Khushi was picking up trash while Akash trailed behind her carrying a trash bag. Aman was following Payal and carrying a bag. NK and Arnav were helping Om Prakash and Hari Prakash clean up the mess in the kitchen. Even though there were workers to help clean, the others decided it would be easier and quicker to help clean up, so they wouldn't wake up to a messy home. With everyone pitching in, the work would be done twice as fast. It was while Khushi was picking up empty plates and cups that she spoke to Akash.

"So are you excited about tomorrow?" she asked Akash softly.

"Yeah, and a little nervous," Akash replied. "I just don't want to mess anything up and look like an idiot."

"You'll do fine. Don't worry. And believe me, Payal is just as nervous as you are."

"She is?" Akash glanced at Payal.

Khushi nodded, "It may not seem like it, but she is. Don't tell her I told you, but she's called me every night this week to help her calm her nerves."

Akash chuckled, "Well that makes me feel a little better. She always seems so calm and collected. It's kind of nice to know that she is just as nervous as I am."

"But she's just as excited as you are. She loves you. Don't forget that." Khushi giggled seeing Akash blush. "Is the famous lawyer Akash Singh Raizada blushing?!"

"Chasmish, not you too! Stop teasing me!"

"Okay, okay baba. I won't."

Akash sighed, "Man, these festivities have been so tiring. I mean, I get the meaning and importance of it, but it's such a process."

"It looks like we all need a breather from all of this," Khushi looked around at everyone else. Everyone seemed to have partied themselves out today, to a point where they all looked exhausted. Everyone was working at a slower pace, trying to get the cleaning done so they could relax. Even though they had only completed one ritual, this one week timespan for wedding preparation sent all the friends and family into a frenzy, where they were running around to get everything done. No one had a moment's rest until now. Seeing everyone's actions, Khushi knew Akash was right. They all needed a breather, and she came up with the perfect idea.

She leaned in and whispered in Akash's ear, "Hey Akash, I have a way for all of us to relax. Will you help me?"

Akash nodded and listened to Khushi's plan. As she explained it to him, a grin played on his face. It was a brilliant idea and he was definitely going to help her. The two of them looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention to them, they slowly disappeared into the backyard to put the surprise together.

~

After all the cleaning had been completed, Arnav had gone into his room to go change. Aman had gone upstairs to see how Aditi and Anjali were, while Payal was called by Akash. The two of them and Khushi had disappeared into the backyard, but he didn't think too much of it. NK had gone to do some work in the study, and that gave Arnav a chance to do so too. He was in his room, talking on the phone. He had some important calls from his assistant, Rehaan, and needed to deal with some matters as soon as possible.

It was while he was in the middle of the call that Nani knocked on his door. She opened it and found him standing by the sliding door with his back towards her. He hadn't had a chance to change out of his black sherwani. She quietly entered the room, shutting the door behind her. Nani needed to talk to Arnav about something that had been on her mind since his return, and she knew she wouldn't rest until she got answers. She slowly walked towards him.

"No Rehaan I want those designs completed on time," Arnav spoke on phone. "If Patel can't get it done, then tell him he doesn't need to come in to work anymore...Hmm...Okay...Has all the stuff been submitted for Fashion Week?...Okay...Make sure everything is set...I'll-."

Arnav was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and was surprised to find his Nani there.

He gave her a small smile before speaking on his phone again, "Rehaan, I'll call you back later. Something important just came up."

He hung up the phone and took his bluetooth out of his ear before turning his attention to Nani. She watched him do so and couldn't help but smile to herself. When he first came home, he was always busy on his phone, but after Khushi spoke with him he had stopped putting his work before his family. She couldn't help but think how much of Arnav's behavior was affected by Khushi. She could see it, but didn't know if there was more than he let on. After what she had seen earlier at the mehendi, Nani knew there had to be something, and she wanted to know what it was.

"Nani, did you need something?" Arnav asked curiously.

"I didn't need anything," she said. "I actually wanted to talk to you about Khushi."

"Khushi? What about her?" He stepped closer, suddenly worrying that something may be wrong. "What's wrong? Is she okay? What happened?"

"Arnav, she is okay," Nani looked at him. "Why are you so worried about her?"

"Why wouldn't I worry about her? She is my friend."

"Just a friend? Or-."

Arnav took a step back, "It's nothing like that, Nani."

"Really?" She stared at him, not buying that line for a second. "Because I saw you two during the mehendi. I saw how your eyes were constantly searching for her. I saw how you were feeding her because she couldn't eat while her mehendi was still wet. I saw how she would make funny faces at you from the dance floor just to get you to smile during these functions you clearly don't want to be a part of. However you accepted to be a part of them because she asked you to, right?"

Arnav silently stared at Nani, unable to respond. He felt like a deer caught in headlights. Not only did he not realize how much he paid attention to Khushi, but also that Nani had seen their antics. Nani, on the other hand, knew that she had hit the nail on the head. There was something going on between Arnav and Khushi, but Arnav either didn't want to admit it or couldn't understand how he was feeling. Nani decided to probe him further to find out.

"Forget all that for a minute," she said. "Do you trust Khushi?"

"Yes," Arnav answered without hesitation.

She looks at him surprised, "You usually have a hard time trusting people, and yet when I asked you, you replied without any hesitation. How were you able to trust her so effortlessly?"

"After everything she has done, how can I not trust her?"

Nani paused, "Whenever Khushi is around, you seem happier. When she laughs, you laugh. When she smiles, you smile. You don't seem to be happy when she is upset with you. She brings out a side of you that none of us have ever seen. A good side of you."

Arnav remained silent, but looked away.

"Forget all of that. Have you ever noticed that Anjali and I could tell you to do something thousands of times and you never listen, but Khushi says it once and you listen? Like when you almost hit Aman in the hospital? Or when you and Nandkishore were fighting? I tried to convince you multiple times to talk to him, but you didn't listen. She asked you once, and you were practically running to go and apologize to your cousin."

He looked back up at Nani, but didn't answer. His silence was enough for her to understand that she was right.

Nani gave him a soft smile, "To me, this doesn't seem like an ordinary friendship. There are times in your life when you are content, but then, when that certain someone enters your life, they make everything seem so much better. Arnav, if not to me, at least admit it to yourself. You like having Khushi's presence near you."

There was a moment of silence between them. Arnav just stared at his Nani, his mouth open, but no words coming out. His eyes searched hers for some sort of answer, but was unable to. Her soft, gentle expression carried the conviction of her confident observation of him and Khushi that left him speechless. Seeing that he was unable to respond, Nani exited the room. She had said what she needed to say in order to get the gears in Arnav's head working. She could see what was going on between him and Khushi, and needed him to see it too. She left the room to give him time to think about what she said, and he was.

After Nani left the room, Arnav's mind had gone into overdrive. He was confused as Nani's words played over and over again in his mind. He had known that Khushi was important to him, but he hadn't realized how much she had affected his life until someone else had pointed it out. She really was an important figure in his life. Honestly, he would have been scared before, but now he wasn't. In fact, he was glad that Khushi was there so much. Lately he had been trying to figure out what his feelings were about her, and as Nani explained her perspective, it all began making sense. The reason he always thought about her...why he always spent time with only her..why he was jealous today...why her presence made him feel better...then in Manali and here now...it all made sense. As the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place, Arnav realized he needed to talk to Khushi and tell her how he felt, but more importantly, he needed to find out how she felt. Surely, she felt something between them too, and it wasn't just him.

Knowing that he wouldn't get any peace until he figured it out, Arnav headed out to find Khushi. However, as soon as he opened the door, he halted in his tracks. There, still dressed in her mehendi outfit, was Khushi. Her freshly hennaed hand was in mid-air, implying that she was about to knock on the door before he had opened it. Her eyes widened before she dropped her hand and smiled. Arnav's heart pounded in his chest as he smiled back. How could I have not realized it before? Why did it take me so long?

"Khushi," he said.

"Arnav," she spoke. "I have been looking all over for you."

"You have?"

"Of course. You're the only one missing."

"Missing? What do you mean?"

"Come on! Akash and I have set up a surprise in the backyard!"

"What kind of surprise?"

"You have to come with me to find out! Come on."

Arnav followed Khushi down the stairs and to the backyard. He wanted to talk to her, but right now he was curious to know what this surprise was. As she led him out to the backyard, Arnav's jaw dropped as he took in the sight before him.

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Ohhh! What could the surprise be?! Let me know what you thought of this chapter by leaving your comments and feedback below!

Next update: Mahaupdate! Confrontations and confessions!

Thanks for reading!