Arshi FF: The Broken Hearts ( NEW LINK ADDED) pg 151 - Page 63

She realizes his priorities as well...

Nice teaser hope to read update soon...

Chapter 10

Standing outside the huge playground where the fair was organized, Arnav once again checked the time in his watch. He had suggested to pick her up from her house but she had declined the offer, she'd reach the venue on her own.
Now where was she? Arnav scanned through the crowd. There she was...as always flashing her wonderful smile. However as the crowd dispersed and he got a better view of her, his jaw dropped. With her hair open..wearing minimal make up, she looked breathtaking in that red sari. He knew bright colors suited her but red was definitely her color. He didn't realize when she came and stood before him as he was totally mesmerized by her beauty.
" Arnav ji." Her sweet voice dragged him out of his thoughts.
" hmm." Khushi frowned, what did hmm imply? She had taken so much pain in dressing up and his reaction was just ..hmm!
She dropped her gaze in disappointment..it was her mistake, what was she thinking, that by wearing this plain sari, she would stun him?
" Khushi..you're looking lovely..I can't take my eyes off you." Khushi's heart jumped in joy, she pressed her lips as her cheeks turned crimson. She wanted to dress up for him..She wanted to look pretty for him...and now she was on cloud nine.
" Arnav ji, you've bought the tickets?" It was important to remind him that they were here for the mela because he seemed to have forgotten it completely.
" yeah..let's go." He offered her his arm and she gaped at him. They were going to a fair not some ballroom dance and above all they were in public, how could she cling to his arm? Khushi suppressed her grin and peered at him, hoping he would understand but he didn't. Khushi looked around then shyly held his arm. Arnav smiled inwardly as they went in however after a few minutes, Khushi quietly slid her arm out, Arnav didn't mind. He was just teasing her. He liked seeing her getting coy and knowing that he was the reason behind it, made it all the more special.
It was a school for the blind students, which was used to organize the Diwali fair. Temporary stalls were erected where different Diwali items were put up for sale. In one corner there were huge swings for the children and then there were food stalls.
" you know Khushi, the last time when went for a mela I was ten." It was a sweet memory as Arnav's parents were also part of it. Khushi too was very young when she last accompanied her parents to a children's fair.
" Arnav ji, we both have had a difficult childhood..today let's relive it in a happy way." Arnav smiled as she pulled him to a play stall.
The game was simple, to throw a ring on the various objects that were displayed on the table. One could win any object by throwing a ring on it. Khushi was beaming with excitement. She offered the ring to Arnav who shook his head.
" you try."
Okay, she didn't mind. She threw the ring. Oh it was about to fall on a hair clip but missed.
" concentrate Khushi. You'll get it this time."
Khushi threw the ring again and this time she didn't miss. She cheerfully clapped her hands as she won a toy car. Arnav frowned at her. " I thought you were going for that hair clip."

She shook her head and gave him that toy car. " this is for you. Your dream. I hope you realize it one day." Arnav smiled at her, she never ceased to surprise him...his dreams were no longer just his.. they were hers as well.
" you know one day I'll have a car bigger than this with you sitting next to me."

Khushi smiled back, car or no car...She only desired to have him by her side ...always .

" what?" she frowned at him when she caught him looking at her way too closely.

" as I told you , you're looking fabulous but something is missing ?" before she could figure out what was missing , he took her to a bangles stall.
" red bangles ." the guy nodded and showed them the bangles."

" I think these will fit you." The guy suggested and reached out for khushi's hand to try them on when arnav stopped him and glared hard at him.

" I'll help her to put them on." How dare he even think of holding her hand? Khushi, looked away to hide her grin..the poor guy was just doing his job. She glanced at arnav who was still staring at the seller, khushi shook her head and recalled the day when shyam was trying to speak to her in the library ( though she herself had no idea why he had all of a sudden approached her) and it had infuriated arnav to no extent .

She cleared her throat to gain his attention and prodded him to get on with the bangles. After slipping the bangles arnav admired her by taking a step back.
" perfect !"

Khushi peered down at her hands and smiled . Arnav held both her hands and pressed them softly . " the tinkling of these bangles will remind you that you have me around ."

Later Khushi pointed towards a puppet show. Arnav mentally rolled his eyes, watching a puppet show was quite childish, he wanted to protest but he didn't...if such a small thing could make her happy then he would do it for her.
Khushi found herself totally lost in the story that the puppets were depicting. A boy and a girl are childhood friends who love each other...One day the boy leaves to another city for studies...the girl cries and wishes to stop him but can't..He promises to return soon...for years the girl keeps waiting for him sitting under a tree, hoping for him to come back...her wait doesn't go waste..ten years later the boy returns but not alone..he's now married and has a family...their love, long lost and forgotten...the girl is left alone with just some sweet painful memories.
As the curtains came down and the crowd clapped, Arnav saw Khushi silently crying. Oh no..He wrapped his arms around her. " hey, Khushi...don't cry...it's just a story...it's not real." He gently rubbed her back to quiten her. Khushi lifted her face to peer up at him. " but Arnav ji..stories do turn real."
God, why was she so naive and.. adorable. He didn't know whether to wipe her tears or pull her cheeks, so he once again held her hands. " Khushi, today I promise you that our love story will have a happy ending." Khushi smiled through her tears, she couldn't imagine her life without him.
Arnav made a cute face. " now ma'am if you don't mind, then can we eat something? I'm really hungry."

Khushi nodded her head and looked around. She spotted a golgappe wala, at first she was tempted to head in his direction but then she thought of Arnav, he didn't like such stuff, in fact he had come to the fair just for her sake and she knew if she insisted he would have that street food too but then that would be really selfish on her part. So she suggested to eat at a Chinese stall.
As they waited for the dishes, Arnav casually asked her, " so how's everything in college.. especially math classes?" Khushi sighed deeply. " hmm math is...fine."
Arnav smiled. " Khushi keep trying...it will get easy." She hoped so.
" I want to see my girlfriend coming first in the class...so you better work hard."
* girlfriend* she liked the sound of it. The transition from a friend to a girlfriend wasn't easy but she was glad that they had moved forward and that too willingly. And from here on the going would be tougher. She knew he was career oriented, he had certain goals to achieve before he could think of settling down in life and she respected all that. She was ready to wait. She was ready to support him. All she wanted was to be a part of his journey.
" hellooo..." Arnav snapped his fingers to gain her attention. The food was getting cold and she was lost in her own world.
Arnav raised an eyebrow." thinking about me?"
Khushi purposely took a long pause. " what if I say I'm thinking about someone else?"
Arnav dropped his fork. " Khushi.."
She giggled." jealous?"

Arnav started eating again, she wasn't serious. " NOT at all. As I know you can't love anyone else but me." That was true. Nobody else could take his place in her life...in fact he was her life.
" now you tell me Khushi, what if one day some other girl steps into my life?"
Khushi knitted her brows together and pursed her lips in annoyance. " you think of bringing someone else...I swear I'll add chilli sauce in your food." Arnav laughed out loud. He could imagine her doing that. He couldn't forget how jealous she had looked on seeing sheetal sitting next to him...if possible she would have eaten her up alive. But still it felt nice to see her getting jealous and possessive about him.
" Arnav ji it's not funny."
He nodded and tried not to laugh anymore. " Khushi after eating we'll go to that stall." Khushi gazed in that direction. It was a stall where one had to shoot the balloons with a gun.
" now that will be something of my style."

Khushi watched how Arnav picked up the gun, aimed at the balloons and * boom* the balloon burst. She startled at the loud sound of it. Arnav pulled the trigger one more time* boom* another balloon raptured. Arnav proud of himself, turned to look at Khushi. She appeared scared.
" want to try?" She shook her head.
" Khushi you're such a baby." Khushi pouted and glared at him. " I mean a cute frightened baby."
" I'm not a baby and what's there to be scared about..I can also shoot." Gathering her confidence she took a deep breath then tucked the end of her sari around her waist. She grabbed the gun from Arnav but stumbled, she didn't know the gun would be so heavy. She looked at the gun and wondered how was she supposed to hold and use it?
Arnav stepped forward. " let me help you." He lifted the gun and balanced it on her shoulder.
" hold it firmly."
Khushi shivered due to his closeness and when he tugged the sari from her waist she almost jumped in surprise. Arnav leaned over and brought his mouth close to her ear.

" Nobody gets to see what's mine." He covered her exposed waist then slowly placed his hands over hers.
" relax."

With her heart almost coming to her mouth, how could he ask her to relax? She doubted she could even stand without her knees giving in. Arnav kept his one hand on her waist to steady her and with his other he straightened the gun.
" Close one eye and aim." With his hand on her waist and his cheek brushing against hers, she had shut both her eyes.
" shoot." He whispered . Without opening her eyes she pulled the trigger. She wanted this to get over before her pounding heart jumped out of her chest.
" Khushi..you did it." It wasn't until Arnav removed his hands and moved back, that Khushi started to breathe and decided to open her eyes. She slowly moved to gaze at Arnav who was grinning down at her.
" so wasn't it fun?"

She saw mischief floating in his eyes. " of course Arnav ji...it was great." He knew he was almost on the verge of giving her a heart attack yet he was finding it amusing.
Khushi crossed her arms before her chest. " now that you've had your share of fun then can we buy some diyas...after all its Diwali fair."

Khushi admired the hand made greeting cards, unfortunately she didn't have anyone to post them to.
" Arnav ji why don't you buy these for your family?" Arnav frowned at her. " in times of emails, sms, cellphones who sends greeting cards?"

He was right but something handwritten is always more personal and special than emails and sms. Moving away Arnav picked up floating and scented candles, they were so beautiful. He bought a few to send them to Anjali and Dadi. While getting them packed he spotted another candle that had written * I love you* on it. He glanced at Khushi who was examining the diyas.
" Khushi..this is for you." She smiled and lowered her lashes.
" I don't think I will ever light it."
" why, you don't like it?"
" no. It's very pretty but I can't see you burning in love."
He lifted her hand, brought it close to his lips and kissed it. How could she love him so much?

Khushi selected a box of diyas, as per her the fancy candles couldn't replace the real beauty of diyas.
" Arnav ji what time is it?"
" it's not too late and don't worry, I'm gonna drop you home."
Arnav and Khushi strolled around gazing at various other stalls till Khushi saw something.
She tugged Arnav's arm. " let's sit on that giant wheel."
" no, Khushi it's not fun."
" it is..please please..let's go na."
Arnav deposited his hands in his pockets. " fine. You go I'll wait here."
Khushi tilted her head. " what's this Arnav jj...I want you to come with me for that ride." Arnav peered up at the huge wheel and then at Khushi's sulking face. He took a moment before opening his mouth. " actually Khushi I'm scared of heights."
Khushi let out a faint smile. " How strange, Arnav Singh Raizada who dreams to reach the top, is scared of heights."

Arnav simply shrugged his shoulders...that's the way it was.
Khushi took a step ahead and took his hand in hers. " you needn't be scared of heights because when you're high up there...you won't be alone...I'll be there holding your hand..I promise."

Today they both made a few promises to each other but would they be able to keep them?

A promise is an empty sea shell, fulfillment is pearl.

Thanks for reading

Rose

Arshi so much in love, what happened to cause the separation and how did Khushi end up with Shyam, so many questions, eager to know, eager for the next part.

Thank you for the pm😃

Khushi is a very simple girl with simple dreams where as arnav wants to conquer the world

Continue soon

I just love every piece of your writings... ❤️

This chapter was truly a heart warming one... 🤗

Thanks for PM

Update soon

I actually thought Arnav would not have change himself for Khushi so Khushi would only be adjusting with Arnav sacrificing her wishes and desires but turned out to be Arnav also totally in love with her by adjusting himself for her:)

Though the puppet show gave the glimpse of their future!

But with so much love and their support, how did they go separate ways? I know Arnav is ambitious and Khushi is helping him to reach high, so what went wrong?