ArHi FF:Then you look at me... Pt.19on Pg.140 - Page 75

fruitful ! hay !! 😆

update soon !

Hullo friends. . . .

I got inspired by seeing so much of our Mamiji in the past few episodes, that I couldn't help but feel inspired. Another source of inspiration was our Arnav's smiles, which got me all drunk and silly!! 🤪😍

So here goes. . . . .

Part 16:

The wedding preparations were on full swing. Even after so much of persuasion from the Guptas, the Raizadas were taking equal part in the wedding arrangements, rubbishing the fact that the grooms' family mustn't bother with all this.

Whilst the grooms' family had taken the responsibility of venue, decoration, and the dresses for couples, the food and all the pooja arrangements were to be taken care of, by the brides' family.

Khushi and Payal felt guilty, seeing so many expenses, and not actually being able to help their parents in any way. When they both mentioned this to their respective fiancs, both guys had offered to help, eliciting a horrified expression from their girls.

Aakash had replied with a calm, "Payal... He is like my father to me. It is my duty to help him, don't you think?" and Payal had to remind him, that it would be difficult for her father to take a financial help from his son-in-law-to-be.

Arnav had answered in his usual straight-forward way, "Look child, I can't see you being bugged by such issues. After all, to help your Bauji, it doesn't matter if it's your money or my money, right? Or does it??" He had almost challenged her to refuse his money. Khushi finally managed to stop him by pleading him.

Arnav realized that she hadn't actually accepted the fact that she was going to be Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada. As far as he knew, there wouldn't be a thing on earth that she wouldn't be able to afford. And here she was, rejecting his help. When he voiced his doubts, Khushi vehemently rejected it, and had to accept a very expensive necklace from him to prove that she had no problem in accepting his money.

[Imagine something like this: http://www.pentimentofinejewelry.com/DiamondNec.gif]

One day, when everyone were busy doing something or the other, Payal and Aakash lounged near the poolside, whereas Khushi had taken the duty of preparing dinner for her future family, taking the excuse of doing at least this much for them.

"Tell me Arnav, if I had refused to marry you, what would you have done??" Khushi asked, as she prepared tea for Arnav.

"What?!" Arnav asked, as he stiffened. *Imagine the sexy 'what' that comes out of Barun's mouth* "Don't you understand English or what??" Khushi asked, not realizing that Arnav's patience was about to end.

"Tell nah??" she cried, and when he still didn't answer, she looked up from the vegetables and saw Arnav clenching his jaws in anger, while his eyes were closed. She went to him, putting a hand on his jaw, as if to ease his anger a little bit. "Don't. Say. Stuff. Like that!" he said, his voice almost a growl.

"Arnav, look at me..." Khushi said, her voice coaxing him to open his eyes. "I was just kidding, Arnav... Please don't be angry..." Khushi pleaded. Arnav opened his eyes to give her a cold look. Khushi flinched when she saw that, almost stepping back in fear. "I'm really sorry Arnav..." she said, her voice barely audible. And when he still didn't relax, Khushi's eyes filled up, never having seen Arnav behaving so coldly.

Arnav couldn't believe she had actually said that. The worst thing was that, what his Di had once said was true. "When you see the one you love go away, your breathing will seem to stop." she had said, and it seemed exactly like that to him, when Khushi had "joked"! It was then that he realized that Khushi was as necessary for him to survive, as air. 'Well... Then I'll just have to make sure she doesn't leave me!!' he thought, determined to do just that, when he saw her eyes filling up. He looked horrified. "Khushi!!" he breathed, as he took her into his arms. "Don't cry, child... I wasn't angry on you... I was remembering something Di had told me once... And coming to your joke, never dare to make such jokes again. Okay??" he asked, pulling her away, and looking into her eyes. Khushi could see the ultimatum in his eyes.

"I know how you were feeling... After all Bauji made the same joke on me, remember??" she asked. "Really annoying… That's how it feels!!" Arnav shook his head angrily.

"I annoyed you when I said that??" Khushi asked, remembering how lifeless she had felt when she thought she couldn't have Arnav.

"No! I was annoyed when you said you were joking! You knew how you had felt when you were on the receiving end. How could you do that to me?!" Arnav asked, his frown adamantly taking its place on his forehead.

"I wasn't thinking Arnav... Sorry???" Khushi asked, holding her ears. "Don't!!" Arnav pulled her hands and held them to his chest, bending his head and resting his lips on them. Khushi could make out Arnav's low mood. She cupped his face and stared into his eyes, expressing her remorse.

Arnav sighed as he smiled, and hugged her. "Promise me..." she said, making Arnav ask, "Promise you what?"

"Yahi ki aap aisan kabhi bhi angryaaoge naahi..." Khushi said, in a poor imitation of Mamiji. Arnav was about to add a 'Hello hai. Bye bye' when he saw Mamiji enter the kitchen herself, stealing his dialog. "Hello. Hai. Bye bye!" she said and rushed out of the kitchen, calling, "Saasuma!!"

Khushi looked as if she was thunderstruck. She looked at Arnav with wide eyes, her face blanched.

Arnav shook his head telling her not to fear, as he hugged her, kissing her hair. Personally, he found the whole scene very amusing.

"Khushi… Arnav…" Naniji's stern voice called from the living room. Khushi gasped, and hid behind him, as Arnav changed to his ASR mode, tugging a scared Khushi behind him.

Arnav's stance was tensed, as he stood by the stairs, with Khushi, almost half hidden behind him.

Khushi looked at Nani's face with her doe-like eyes, wide with fear. When she finally looked at Arnav, she forgot all her fear, her focus only on easing Arnav. She held his arm in both her hands, and when he looked at her, she shook her head, telling him not to do anything rash. He smiled at her reassuringly, and nodded once, before he turned to the spectators with a stiff face.

When Mamiji started to insult her, Arnav yelled, "Mamiji!!"

Manorama's mouth fell open. Though she had never actually held any sort of a conversation with Arnav before, she had never seen him this angry. At least not when his livid face was looking at her.

"Arnav. . . . ." Khushi said in a low tone, making him face her, so that his back was facing towards their audience.

"Don't..." she warned.

"But Khushi..." he started, when Khushi stopped him, "Go to your room... I'll handle this..."

When Arnav looked at her uncertainly, she nodded at him, suddenly full of confidence.

When Arnav left, Khushi turned to Mamiji and said, "Mamiji. . . I'm really very sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. And you can tell me anything you want. But please don't tell anything in front of Arnav. He seems to really mind it. Can't you see? And when he gets affected, it affects me. I mean, I'd probably forget my mistake if I saw that anybody affected Arnav like that. So please, let's just keep this between us, shall we??"

Manorama looked at Khushi, dazed, not able to digest the tone of Khushi. She nodded, and practically ran away. Khushi apologized to Naniji too, making Naniji laugh. Naniji even requested to mimic Manorama once again. Khushi was astounded to hear that, but obliged by telling a "Hello. Hai. Bye bye!", after taking care that they were alone.

Finally when Naniji left, Khushi sighed and left for Arnav's room, knowing that he'd be very angry! Like, VERY angry!!!!

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I know it was kinda short. But it'll be ArHilicious in the next update. (I at least hope I'll write something like that!! 😉)

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Love you all 🤗