Arshi SS The Eternal Love *Epilogue 2 on Page 58*- Page 15

Chapter 16

The whole mansion was decorated. NK and his team have done their work well. Everyone was happy and was wandering around welcoming the guests except some people - Arnav, Akash, Ritik and Anjali.

"We should've informed Khushi ji!" Anjali said to Ritik as both of them were standing together welcoming the guests. "She would be upset and will not enjoy the engagement!" Ritik said.

She hummed and he whispered, "By the way, you look hot!"

"Ritik!" Anjali whispered furiously. "What? Just the truth!" Ritik said laughing, "I always knew that purple suits you!"

Anjali smiled and suddenly saw someone coming. "Arrey Radha maasi, aayiye!" Anjali smiled at Radha, gossip queen of the locality. Radha came in and looked at Ritik and asked, "Where is your husband Anjali bitiya?"

"He has some work. He won't be coming!" Anjali said smiling. "Always busy in work!" Radha muttered audible to everyone standing around. Anjali smiled fake and heard Radha asking, "Who is this?"

"This is Ritik, Arnav's fiance's brother!" Anjali said.

Radha faked a smile at Ritik who smiled at her and said to her minions who were accompanying her, "Her husband is away and here she is standing with some other man!"

Anjali and Ritik looked at each other and looked around to see everyone looking at her. Ritik was about to shout at the old woman when Manorama intervened.

"Hello hi bye bye, Radha, how old is your brother-in-law's son with your housemaid? What is his name? You didn't even invite us for the naming ceremony!"

Radha stood red in anger and embarrassment when Manorama continued, "Arrey where is your daughter now? I heard that she is staying with her boss? But her boss is already married na?"

Radha boiled in anger and stormed out of the house and so did her minions. Manorama turned to Anjali and Ritik and said, "No need for any politeness to these people who does not deserve this! Snakes like her should be treated this way. The best way to cure a snake bite is snake venom itself!"

Anjali and Ritik smiled and Manorama walked away.

"She is right!" Ritik said and Anjali looked at him, "The best way to cure a snake bite is snake venom itself! The best way to trap bad people is being bad!"

Anjali smiled and nodded.

"Bhai, just some more minutes! Bhabhi will be here!" Akash teased his brother who was standing in the middle of hall and constantly looking to the stairs.

"Shut up! You'll learn this eagerness only when you'll get engaged!" Arnav said. Akash laughed.

"Hey there she is!" Akash said and Arnav looked at the stairs but saw no one. "Akash!" Arnav hissed in anger and Akash laughed.

"What happened?" Anjali came there and asked. "Nothing di, your Chotte is eager to get engaged!" Akash said laughing and Arnav smacked his head, "Shut up Akash!"

Anjali chuckled and then said, "Your wait is over Chotte. There, your bride is coming!"

Arnav looked to the stairs and so did everyone in the hall.

The hall fell silent seeing the angel descending the stairs in a light pink and violet lehenga. She was beauty personified! She had curled the ends of her long hair and had left it open. Wearing a diamond necklace, bangles and long diamond earrings Khushi looked at Arnav and looked down not able to take his intense look.

She walked down the stairs and to the stage where Arnav was standing. She slowly looked up and saw him wearing a cream kurta. His hair was perfectly gelled and he was looking extremely handsome! She smiled at him and he returned her smile.

She walked near him and stood beside him and the couple looked at each other. Everyone smiled seeing the sweet duo except two people - Akash and Payal.

Akash was teasing his brother to hell when he saw her coming down. She was assisting his bhabhi. He didn't even notice what the bride of the day, his bhabhi, was wearing. His eyes were on the angel walking behind his bhabhi. Dressed in a dark green anarkali, she was looking extremely beautiful. She had left her hair open and it was only then he realized that she had such a long hair which she always hid by tying it up in a ponytail or bun.

Payal was consoling a tensed Khushi when they reached the top of the stairs. They walked down. It was then she saw him standing beside Arnav. Dressed in a maroon kurta with the sleeves rolled up to elbow, he was looking damn handsome. It was only then she realized how handsome this man. She had always fought with him for one another reason and thus never noticed him properly. She smiled at him, may be for the first time, and he returned the smile. Oh he looks more handsome when he smiles. She thought to herself.

"You look sexy" he whispered and Khushi looked down with her cheeks red. "How do I look?" he whispered and she whispered back, "Greek god"

He laughed and then said, "Yesterday someone told me that she won't appreciate my look! Who was that Khushi?"

Khushi had her mouth in O. She had told him so! Oh shit! How could she forget that? She looked at him with puppy face and he whispered laughing, "I know I'm irresistible"

She looked away faking anger and he whispered, "Don't make your nose red or else I'll kiss you right here!"

Khushi gasped and looked at him who winked at her.

"Kya husur-pusur chal raha hai?" Anjali asked loudly for everyone to hear and Akash said loudly, "Di, they must be planning their honeymoon!" everyone laughed and Khushi looked down in embarrassment and Arnav glared at his siblings who were holding each other and laughing.

Akash was busy teasing his brother when he saw her standing away looking something in her camera. He smiled and walked to her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Payal looked up and said, "Oh, I'm setting my camera. I want to record the engagement!" Akash nodded and she resumed in her work.

Suddenly she looked up seeing him standing next to her and leaning to her ear. "What are you..." she began when she heard him whisper, "Did I tell you that you look hot?"

She looked at him with her big round eyes and he chuckled, pinched her nose and said smiling, "You're beautiful" and he walked away.

She stood watching him going and unknowingly her fingers lifted to her nose where her pinched.

What the two "soon to be lovers" didn't see was Manorama's big eyes witnessing everything.

The ceremony started and Anjali handed over a beautiful ruby studded diamond ring to Arnav. He smiled at his sister and took the ring from her hand. He looked at Khushi who was smiling with tears in her eyes. He extended his hand and she slowly kept his palm in his large hand. He slowly slid the ring into her finger and whispered inaudible to others but only to Khushi, "Why so much blushing? We had our ring exchange ceremony at Los Angeles, remember?" She smiled recalling how he proposed her and slid a ring into her finger that day.

Ritik handed over a plain diamond ring to Khushi who took it and looked at Arnav. He extended his hand and she shyly lifted her hand to slid it to his finger when he withdrew his hand. She looked at him and others when Anjali said, "Kya Chotte, till now you were eager to get engaged. What happened?"

Arnav laughed and extended his hand again and Khushi moved her hand to slid the ring when he withdrew again. "Arnav" Khushi whined and others laughed. "Khushi, looks like he has a change of mind!" Ritik said, "Sach bata Arnav! Kya chal raha hai man main?" (Tell me the truth Arnav. What's going on in your head?)

Khushi glared at Arnav. The next moment, she held his hand and slid the ring forcefully into his finger. Everyone around laughed and Arnav smiled at her. "Aww my kitten!" Ritik pulled her cheek and said, "He was just playing. You certainly didn't think he had a change in mind did you?"

"Bhaiyya you too!" Khushi whined and smacked her brother on his stomach. Everyone laughed and Arnav moved close to her and held her palm. "I love you Khushi" he whispered and kissed her palm.

Everyone ooohhh'ed and aaah'ed while Payal recorded everything in her camera.

Ritik smiled watching the happy family. He looked at Anjali who looked at him. She walked to him and whispered, "Everyone are happy"

"Unknown to the upcoming storm" he whispered.

Chapter 17

"Is everything okay?" Khushi asked Arnav who was constantly looking at the entrance. They were standing on the stage greeting the people who came to them.

"Yeah, all good!" Arnav said smiling.

"Let me ask you something. Why did Ritik bhaiyya change the time of engagement? I mean pandit ji set the time as 7 pm but Ritik bhaiyya changed it to 6 pm!"

"Err...I don't know. Ritik might have...I don't know." Arnav stammered.

"Arnav, what's wrong?" Khushi asked holding his arm. Some employees of AR came to the stage and Arnav thanked them mentally for distracting Khushi. He looked at Ritik and to his shock he saw Ritik standing with Anjali holding her hand and flirting with her.

"What the! Here I'm dying thinking about the storm and there he is flirting with MY SISTER! WITH MY MARRIED SISTER!" Arnav screamed mentally. He looked at Khushi who was happily talking to one of her friends from AR and he said to her, "Khushi, I'll be back now" "Okay" Khushi said and continued her talk with her friends.

"Anjali, I was thinking...after some days Arnav and Khushi will be married, mom and dad will go back to LA and I'll fly to London...So, why don't you come to London?" he asked.

"Are you kidding?" Anjali asked, "How will I come to London and wait, why should I come to London?"

"Then? Don't you want to see me?" Ritik asked and held her hand. "Ritik, leave my hand. People might see!" she said pleading.

"First answer me" he said smiling.

"NO. I don't want to see you. Just go back after the wedding!" she said.

"Tell me the truth!" he said.

"I said the truth!" she said.

"The real truth!" he said.

"What truth?" she asked.

"The truth that you love me. Just admit it!" he said and she looked here and there.

"Anjali, admit it or else..."

"Or else?" she asked.

"Or else I'll kiss you right now, in front of all these people!" Ritik said.

Anjali looked at him wide eyed and said, "You won't!"

"I'll do it!" Ritik said and stepped one step forward when they heard a voice, "Do what?"

They looked to their left to find a confused Arnav standing. "Do what Ritik?" he asked and Anjali pulled her hand from Ritik's hold. Ritik moved backward and said, "Err...kuch nahi Arnav, we're just having a..."

"Having a..." Arnav asked.

"Friendly talk" Anjali said.

Arnav smiled and said, "Di, Nani was calling you"

"Oh is it?" Anjali asked and went away.

"What's going on Ritik?" Arnav asked dangerously.

"What? We're just talking!" he said.

"You were FLIRTING with my sister!" Arnav said sternly, "What's going on in your damn head?"

Ritik laughed and Arnav said pointing his finger, "See Ritik, she is my sister. And she is married to the man she loves! Just stay away from her! You can be her friend but nothing more!"

"Wow! Arnav, just do a rewind and recall the day when I came to know that you love my sister! What did I do?" Ritik asked, "I didn't warn you or shout at you. I just did a background check on you and then accepted you. Now, I love your sister. So you can do a background check on me and then marry off to me! Relax!"

"Your sister was not married you clot!" Arnav said angrily, "For god sake Ritik, she is a married woman!"

"Don't worry, I'll ask her to divorce her husband!" Ritik said laughing.

Arnav looked at him shocked. "What did you just say?" he asked angrily.

"I said I'll ask Anjali to divorce her husband!" Ritik said smiling.

Arnav held Ritik's arm and dragged him to the poolside. "Arnav..." Ritik whined, "What are you doing. People might misinterpret!"

"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP" Arnav roared, "WHAT HAS GONE INTO YOU RITIK? YOU WERE NEVER INTERESTED IN ANY GIRL. WHY DI? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SHE IS HAPPILY MARRIED AND YOU WANT TO BREAK HER MARRIED LIFE? ARE YOU SO CRUEL? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO MY SISTER? WHAT IF I DO THE SAME TO KHUSHI? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?"

"STOP IT ARNAV!" Ritik shouted angrily, "I'M NOT TRYING TO BREAK HER HAPPY WORLD OR SOMETHING. I LOVE HER AND SHE TOO LOVES ME! SHE MAY BE MARRIED OR DIVORCED BUT THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE FOR US! THERE IS NO SHYAM MANOHAR JHA BETWEEN US!"

"What did you say? Di loves you!" Arnav asked shocked.

"Go and ask her!" Ritik said and walked away.

The guests were enjoying the function and Khushi was sitting with Payal and Anjali cracking jokes when Arnav came there.

"Di, can you come aside please?" he asked in a stern voice. "All okay ASR?" Payal asked and Anjali stood up, "Kya huva Chotte?" she asked.

"Di, come to the poolside!" he said and was about to turn to walk away when Aman came to him running. "Sir, switch on the TV!"

"TV? TV main kya hai?" Khushi asked and Payal took the remote and Arnav looked at Akash and Ritik who nodded at him.