LITTLE MOMENTS (OS Series) 10| So Far, Yet So Close.. (Pg 103)[24-Mar] - Page 43

Khushi was getting ready. Today was a special day. Khushi and her family were invited to Arnav's home for dinner. Yes! Khushi remembered very well the first time she had met Arnav when he had come with his parents to see her... and to reject her. But everything changed later and here they were waiting eagerly to get married!

Khushi wanted to look perfect. She was a little nervous but then she remembered what Arnav had said... Your simplicity is what I liked the most in you. And I have chosen you... Don't you dare doubt my choice! She smiled looking at herself in the mirror for one last time before they left for Arnav's home.

*****

Arnav was waiting for his Khushi desperately. His? Not yet, officially. His dad looked at Arnav sitting in the drawing room and shaking his leg impatiently. Arnav's mom stopped by to look at Arnav's eagerness to meet Khushi. Both parents were amused to see their son's condition. "He has fallen in love..." his mom said to his dad. "He got up early today only to get ready. And he took his time to choose which clothes to wear; in fact he tried out 3-4 shirts before finalising this one..." she told him. Both giggled and continued to prepare for welcoming their guests.

*****

Everyone enjoyed having dinner together. Arnav and Khushi just stole glances. They couldn't spend time with each other in private. They were always surrounded by their parents. All they could do is just look at each other, smile and blush. Arnav and Khushi's marriage was being discussed. Now that the wedding date was being postponed, Arnav's parents suggested they could have an engagement function where Arnav and Khushi would exchange rings. The couple was delighted. This was a total surprise for them. They looked at each other at once. Arnav's naughty smile made Khushi blush even more. She just wished like hugging him, hiding her face in his warm embrace. But that wasn't possible right now. Both were very happy with the thought of their engagement and their excitement could not be kept hidden from their parents.

A while later, it was time for Khushi and her parents to leave. As everyone walked to where Khushi's car was parked, Arnav secretly pulled Khushi aside holding her wrist. Khushi was surprised.

"What are you doing, Arnav?" she said, "What if someone sees?"

Arnav left her hand at once. "Can we not spend some more time together?" he asked, "I mean... just you and me?"

Khushi was silent. She didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry... I will drop you home after that..." Arnav tried to convince Khushi.

"Arnav..." Khushi wasn't sure how to say it.

"You can trust me, Khushi..." he assured.

"I trust you Arnav... It's not about that..." she said softly, "It's already late... and at this time, my being with you... I don't think it would be the right thing to do..."

Arnav didn't say anything. He really wanted to be with Khushi and celebrate the decision of their engagement. He wanted to express his feelings freely, without having the eyes of their parents set upon them. And Khushi knew what Arnav wanted.

"I am sorry, Arnav. Please don't get me wrong. I don't want to hu..."

"No, it's fine..." said Arnav, "I understand, Khushi. You don't need to be sorry. We can meet some other time" he said with an assuring smile.

"That we will!" said Khushi naughtily.

Arnav was surprised seeing this side of Khushi. "I like that!" he said with a naughty smile.

Khushi blushed and gently pushed him away saying "Got to go!"

Arnav watched her little figure gracefully walking away from him. Perfect!

*****

As Khushi was returning home, the moments spent at Arnav's home flashed in her mind. She stared out of the window as a smile lightened up her face.

*Flashback*

Arnav's mom saw him and Khushi trying to communicate through their eyes. To their help, she told Arnav to show Khushi through their home and Arnav willingly agreed at once.

"Come Khushi..." he said and escorted her to the terrace first.

This was the first time they were meeting after Khushi had played the April Fool's prank on Arnav saying that she was marrying someone else. "Arnav, sorry again for the prank..." she said feeling guilty.

"That's alright..." he said, "I was really scared actually... I am sorry, I got angry on you"

"My mistake... Shouldn't have done that..." replied Khushi. "May be I don't have the right yet..."

"You do..."

"I felt so bad when you said you didn't want to talk to me... And you didn't reply to my calls and messages... I felt as if you had gone so far away... I was so restless, you have no idea!"

"Do you even know what I had gone through when you said goodbye?"

Khushi just looked at Arnav with guilt. Arnav couldn't speak about it anymore. He couldn't see Khushi sad. "By the way, why were you so restless?" he asked raising his brows.

Khushi understood that Arnav wanted her to confess. But she was smart enough to understand his intentions. "For the same reason you were scared to lose me..." she said with a wink.

"Oh... Say it clearly... Will you?" said Arnav stepping closer.

Khushi's eyes widened. "No!" she said quickly, "I won't say anything unless you say it first!"

"You are so stubborn!"

"Not more than you!"

"I will make sure you say it first!" Arnav challenged Khushi.

"We will see!" was her reply.

Arnav showed Khushi his home. And when they came to his room, he said, "This is my room... which will be our room after a few months" He smiled naughtily. Khushi walked to the living room blushing.

___________

Khushi couldn't stop blushing remembering those little moments that they got to spend together. Somewhere she felt bad for not fulfilling Arnav's wish of spending some more time together.

As she made up her bed to sleep, she thought of calling Arnav. She knew he would be awake.

"Hey..." she said.

"Missing me already?"

"Don't tell me you are not!" she said.

Arnav laughed. "I know you are regretting for rejecting my offer of spending time together!" he teased her.

"Ofcourse!" replied Khushi, "But can't do anything about it!"

"Aha! And here comes the bold Khushi!"

Khushi giggled. "That's why I called you... to spend some moments over the phone"