ArHi: Starlight and Moonshine: #16, Pg 54, 29 July - Page 32

Hi friend

hello dear
where are you ???
are u ok ???

Just got the link to the thread and finished reading all the chapters in one go
What a different story RB - great going
RB, do u remember me?

Originally posted by: Arjuhisis

Just got the link to the thread and finished reading all the chapters in one go
What a different story RB - great going
RB, do u remember me?

Sure I do.

16. Vishakha: The fork shaped

There aren't any visible changes in Khushi's behavior. To her family and Arnav however, the changes are glaring. He sees her bending over table, cleaning surgical instruments and talking to the dictating machine. Arnav stalls for a moment, his hands gripping the file in his hands and wondering how to break the news to Khushi. He remembers Satya's words when the report was fully put together - Don't bullshit around her. Don't hold back. Don't sugar coat. Rip it out like a Band-Aid and get over with it.' It was good advice.

"Dr. Gupta?" He simply calls her.

She turns around and smiles softly. The chilling anger in her eyes has reduced but isn't fully gone. It has been a month since Khushi last spoke to her family without intention. Everything is changed. Khushi's relationship with her parents dangles precariously off the balance. Payal bridges the gap but it isn't enough. The warmth that he once shared with Khushi is almost non-existent now.

He is battling "what could have been" in the dark of the night when his legs tangle in the sheets and his arm flaps out on the other side of the bed and find the side cold and empty. It's easy to see Khushi's face lying next to his pillow. He stops the thoughts before they can evolve any further.

"What can I do for you?" She asks. Yes, he notes wryly. Things have shifted again between them. There are no witty quips, gentle teasing or banter.

"Can we sit somewhere?" He asks her, waving around the morbid room. She schools her face to remain impassive and points to her small office.

"What's going on?"

Arnav pushes a file towards her. "We found a connection between Chaya and Mr. Chandra." Arnav follows Satya's suggestion and waits for the news to register.

Khushi stills. "Of course you did." She whispers and lets out indignant snort. "Did they have an affair or something?" She thumbs the pages in the relatively thin file.

Arnav shakes his head. "Mr. Chandra and Chaya left India together." He winces at Khushi's blank look. "Eloped, actually."

Khushi laughs mirthlessly. "Let me guess. He was married."

Arnav nods.

"You want my DNA profile, don't you?" Khushi narrows her eyes.

Arnav shrugs. "You aren't part of the investigation. But I can order one if you want to, you know, know."

Khushi looks away and watches crazy traffic seen outside the window. There is nothing interesting out there but it's lot less scary than the bunch of sheets that are in front of her. "This is crazy." She says after silence stretches for several minutes.

"It's weird." Arnav replies instead. "I mean, what are the odds? You could be a doctor in a different city or an actress. But this - this is just...messed up." He sighs.

"You know what Arnav?" She straightens her back and puts on a steely determined expression. "Let's get a DNA test. Instead of wailing around what if' scenarios, let's get an answer."

"Are you sure Khushi?" Arnav questions. Khushi simply nods. Arnav takes out a sealed envelope from his bag and hands it to her.

Khushi giggles nervously after reading through the contents of the envelope that is addressed to her department. "You already have a DNA test ordered. Did you guess my answer?"

Arnav shrugs. "I didn't expect you to agree. But if you did, I wanted this to be done as quickly and as quietly as possible."

"Good idea." Khushi says non-committed. The silence this time is awkward and something in Arnav, aches.

"Want to get some lunch?" He asks, crossing his fingers under the table.

Khushi shakes her head apologetically. "I have to finish reports in few hours. Rain check?"

Arnav doesn't let disappointment show on his face. He forces a smile and scolds himself for hoping too much. Maybe this was all in his head. Maybe he misread Khushi's general friendliness to something more. Or maybe it was just the timing.

Or maybe he should just stop inviting her for a meal or drive. And while he was at it, give her space. Enough space.

If the DNA test came positive, everything will change again.

Star light Star bright,

lol, I'm extremely bad at comments and so this is for you- ⭐️ and this (I don't even know how to put up pictures :v )

Loved part 16👏

Awesome .. .. Khushi must be so mad

its becoming so complicated...waiting with bated breath for the DNA test.

and the easy rapport between Arnav and Khushi