FF: Be There For Me... Forever Chap5 Pg34(12/6) - Page 15

WOw she actually brought him back ...Thank God that u've made Anjali as the elder sister she shud be instead of the Biggest baby in Indian television...Loved it and would certainly love to read more into this Arhi journey...

A/n: And here goes the third chapter! Sorry for the lateness in updating; I suddenly struck a writer's block but as it happened, once I wrote the Arnav Khushi scene, I was fine! My newest med to curing writer's block!

No more Bakwaas; onto the chapter!

Chapter 3: Is This What Is Called Suicidal?

"Oh, its alright, Doctor. Yes, yes, you're welcome to come anytime when its convenient. Yes, thank you, Doctor," Anjali cut the phone call, giving an apologetic look to Khushi.

"Dr.Mehra has had a heart failure; he's admitted in the hospital. So it will be a few days before the Doctor can come'" she explained, confusing Khushi.

"Won't Dr.Mehra need a few more days' rest if he has to undergo surgery?" she asked doubtfully; it had taken her father a long while to recover from a heart attack afterall.

"Oh no no, Khushi. The elder Dr.Mehra had a heart attack. The Dr. who treats Chote is his son; who has to look after his father. So he won't be able to come for a few days," Anjali explained and Khushi nodded, her own troubles entering her mind now that her confusion was cleared. A few days until the Doctor came; will she be able to manage? What if Arnav saw her? What would happen then? Will he let her go? Will she be able to go? Khushi's head spun with questions and she flopped down on the bed, stranded. It had been so easy the last time; she had been reeling from the heady feeling that proving her innocence had given her. She'd thought she could win the world, much less leave her distrusting husband behind. But now; she didn't want to be confused, she didn't want to conflict her first decision but she's never been one to have such a tight leash on her heart. She'd let it take the reins and it had run back to him; once again.

Seeing the helpless look on Khushi's face, Anjali sat beside her on the bed and placed a hand on her shoulder, making Khushi look up. "Don't worry, Khushi. Its alright; you don't have to stay here until'"

"Its not that, Di. I'm fine staying here, so long as'"

"So long as Chote doesn't see you, right? I'll arrange for that. Either way, he'll surely want to go to the office so I'll let him; I'm not going to ask you to remain stuck in the room because you don't want to face him, okay? Chote can go back to Harvard if he wants; my Bhabhi is who I'm worried about," Khushi was chuckling by the time Anjali finished her monologue, making Anjali smile herself.

"You don't have to be worried, Di; not about me," Khushi reassured her one last time before Anjali stood to leave. At the door, she turned and slapped her head. "Hey Bhagwan, I forgot! I'll get you a new suit from the closet; I completely forgot about it in the hurry to talk to the Doctor."

Before Khushi could retort, Anjali was out of the room; she was back in a flash, her favorite dress hanging off her arm; the plain emerald green suit; her favorite color. "Thanks Di," Khushi replied with a faltering smile, remembering all the memories, all the emotions linked to the color.

"This color' it doesn't look that bad on you,"

His voice echoed in her mind as she held the dress close to her, turning away from Anjali in the pretext of keeping the dress on the bed. "I'll be down in a few minutes, Di."

"Take your time," Anjali assured her before leaving. Khushi waited until the door was closed before she collapsed on the bed.

The color isn't look that bad on you' the color doesn't look that bad on you'

His words echoed over and over again in her mind as the tears rolled onto the pillow that was muffling her sobs; his eyes, twinkling as he teased her, amused at the way she fluttered and tensed at his proximity, Khushi was sure she'd go back in time, if only she'd close her eyes. Those memories; they were too fresh in her mind; they refused to be overwritten, no matter how many other hurtful reminders she had of him.

"Why Arnavji, why? Why do you torment me so? Why do you inhabit each of my memories? Won't you just disappear?" she asked her sole audience, the pillow as she hid her face in it again, looking for comfort that only one person could give. But she couldn't, wouldn't let herself seek it. Like a cat that got its fingers burnt, the mere thought of trusting Arnav again, of placing herself at his mercy, terrified her.

"No, never. It just can't happen again. We were never meant to be, Arnavji and I. It was wrong and now' Devi Maiyya, give me the strength to go through this'" with the last prayer, she went about getting ready, thanking Anjali for bringing her things to this room. Another visit to the room avoided.

XXX

Seeing Anjali piling the plate with food, Nani asked, "What happened Anjali bitiya? Did Khushi say she wanted to have breakfast in her room?"

"No, no, Nani; this is for Chote! He hasn't eaten anything for so long so he must be hungry," Anjali explained, unable to hold in her excitement any longer. But instead of the smile and relief she had been expecting, all she got were sympathetic looks.

"Anjali," Nani's patronizing tone surprised her; what was happening? Why wasn't anyone happy? "Chote is still unconscious'"

Chuckling as she realised what had happened, Anjali shook her head, "And that's where I know better! Chote woke up, Nani!" Anjali's voice was barely a whisper but it carried through the length of the table, earning gasps.

"What? Bhai is awake?" Akash was the one who jumped up from his seat at the table and almost rushed to the stairs before Anjali stopped him.

"Oh no, Akash; no way am I letting you see him for atleast a week!" Anjali replied strictly, making Akash confused; what had he done now?

Seeing the baffled look on her brother's face, Anjali elaborated, "You see Akash, if I let you go see Chote, he'll obviously talk to you all about whatever stupid meeting he has missed and you, being the reincarnate of Lakshman, will indulge him until he puts himself in a work induced coma again. No way!" Anjali pushed lightly at Akash, making him sit back in the chair with a clear pout on his face that Anjali and the rest of the family chuckled at.

"I was just joking, Akash; you can see him this evening. I think AR Group won't crash by then without its ever terrifying boss to threaten everyone?" she winked, making Akash smile.

"Anjali, how did'" Nani asked, the glint in Anjali's eyes giving her the answer even before she asked them. Anjali nodded; what they had hoped had happened.

"So that girl finally fulfills a purpose!" Mami's sneering voice interrupted the relief that was palpable in the air. Khushi was just coming down the stairs when she heard the words and her head bent immediately. Mama shushed her quickly but Khushi couldn't care; she had crossed that stage long ago where others' harsh words affected her. What could be worse than her own husband throwing dirt on her morality? Doubting her integrity?

"Arnavji, please, try to understand. I would never think such things for Di. I'"

"Don't you ever, ever, call her Di again. She isn't related to you, and never will be," Arnav spit out through clenched teeth as he stood to walk past where she was kneeled before him, near the recliner.

"Arnavji, please listen to me; just once. I can't let you think so low of me; I'm not' its not' Shyam tricked me as much as he tricked you all. Trust me; if' if you don't believe me ask Jiji, Amma, Buaji. The entirety of Lakshmi Nagar knows what happened!"

Arnav's back that was turned to her eased up for a moment before it stiffened; Khushi knew she had lost the battle and was prepared for the bitter words that would be spewed on her, "Of course; the onus of proof. You think I'm actually going to go behind every stupid person in your cheap locality asking after that scum? You know pretty well that I would never confront Payal or your family; good strategy, Khushi. Trying to bring those innocents in. Someone tries to uncover my ugly true side, what do I do? Drag my nave family into it? Wah! I should amend my assessment of you; you are cunning. But never could you fool me; just remember that Arnav Singh Raizada is no fool to believe anything but what he sees and hears so stop trying your pathetic tricks on me. It might work on the rest of my family; doesn't mean I'll ever fall for it. I know your filthy mind and the downtrodden bunch of traits you call a character too well to ever be hoodwinked," he walked out of the room in a flash, taking with him the only hope she had cherished. Of explaining the truth to him and making him comprehend.

Khushi was still too shocked, she could hear nothing above the furious beating of her heart but even that had changed. It wasn't the way it used to flutter gently when Arnav used to be near her. This time her heart was angry, rumbling fury rolled in her heart as it hit itself against the ribs too quickly, as if willing itself to break apart. No physical pain could be greater than having to endure such words; she would gladly die a hundred thousand deaths than hear these words from him, the person who she loved; more than anyone else.

The one person she loved above all else; also the one person who mistrusted her, misunderstood her, mistreated her, hurt her, broke her, killed her alive, burned her at the stake with his words, wounded her beyond recognition, more than anybody in the world ever had.

The clenching of her heart becoming too hard to bear, Khushi blacked out, the pain of his accusations being too much for her gentle senses.

"Khushi, Khushi what happened?" only when Payal repeatedly called her did Khushi return to reality. She realized she was clutching onto the plate like she was going to break it and hurried to right her posture; but where could she hide the tears that trailed down her cheeks?

"Khushi?" Khushi looked up at the person who had placed her hand on her shoulder. Anjali shook her head in a No and Khushi held onto her waist tightly as she let the tears dry; as she let the sorrow subside, if only for the moment.

She blinked aside the moisture in her eyes, smiling waterily as she rubbed away the drops on her cheek quickly. "I'm fine, Di. Must be all the chilli floating in the air," she explained quite uselessly; Anjali knew without words.

"Of course; too much chilli. I'll ask HP to look at it, shall I? I've to go to Chote's room; will you be okay?" she asked and Khushi nodded. Before Khushi could say anything more, Payal spoke.

"Why not, Di? I'll take care of her; she'll be fine with her Jiji, won't you Khushi?" Khushi looked between Anjali and Payal; there seemed to be an undercurrent running that she hadn't noticed before. Intrigued, Khushi looked at Anjali's face but found no sign that she had been hurt.

"J'ji," she stammered when she saw the two women looking to her for an answer and Anjali left with the plate. After Khushi was sure Anjali was out of ear shot, she walked to where Payal was seated, peeling potatoes.

Knowing that if she asked straight out all she would get was a denial, Khuhsi tried another approach. Holding Payal's chin, she turned her to face her and gave her an assessing look, "Hmm' not bad, actually. Everything is okay with my dear sister' except for the anger that's climbing up her nose."

Payal moved away and took the plate with her as she retreated to the kitchen, trying not to let the irk show on her face. It was difficult; she had never hid anything from Khushi before.

"What is it, Jiji? Tell me, na? Or are you going to hide this too, like you did with Akashji?" That striking a chord, Payal couldn't keep quiet anymore, "Nothing, Khushi. I'm just a little angry with Anjaliji and Arnavji. You can't expect me to forgive them this easily, can you?" Khushi knew this wasn't the real reason but only a part of it but decided not to push it. With Payal, things always came out, sooner rather than later.

"Why shouldn't you, Jiji? When I can forgive them, why can't you?" Khushi walked to the refrigerator as she spoke; it wasn't completely a lie. She had never even been angry with Anjali in the first place; it was the other convict she could never forgive, or forget for that matter. Sighing, she pushed aside her thought for a moment as she faced Payal again.

"Maybe you could; you're stupid like that. You can't stay angry with anyone for too long, Khushi but I'm not like that. I can't forgive what they did to you and neither can I forgive you, for hiding all this from me. Didn't you think you could confide in me? You could tell Anjaliji about all this but not me?" Payal's words trailed off; Khushi wondered what was happening. The last line had come out of nowhere.

Intent on bringing peace rather than digging deeper into frustrations, Khuhsi said, "Jiji, its not their fault. You know this but then why are you'"

Payal pushed Khushi's hand aside gently as she said, "I can't, Khushi. Its because of them that your life has become this way'"

"You seem to be forgetting' its because of those very two people that my dear Jiji is now happily married. If for nothing else, I could forgive them a thousand such crimes just for helping me to get you together with Jijaji, Jiji; and so should you," When Payal seemed reluctant, Khushi said, "For me? Please?"

Payal nodded, making Khushi smile as she went about aiding Payal despite her protests. "You're right, Khushi. Its because of them that Akashji is still in my life; but at the cost of losing my sister to them? I don't know if it is worth it." Payal whispered to herself as she watched Khushi chat with Anjali who had by then returned.

Anjali looked away from Khushi's silly tales to Payal who was stood by the stove, observing them. Anjali smiled uncertainly; she didn't know how to deal with Payal anymore. The girl who she had thought could possess no trace of bad in her was becoming off Standish to her day after day. Even the most spineless of things would fight back if its home is threatened words she had read long ago circled around her suddenly, giving her the answer she had been seeking all along.

When she looked again, Payal's eyes were fixated on Khushi's animated ones, the longing clear in her eyes. Anjali knew what to do; now.

XXX

"Di, this is stupid. You're making me stay in bed when I'm perfectly fine! I'm not hurt, I'm not running a fever, my sugar levels are fine and I even ate the mountain of food you brought for me. What more bribe do you want to let me go?" Anjali rolled her eyes; trust her brother to ever be the businessman.

"None of your attempts to strike a deal with your sister are going to work, Chote. I know all your tricks. You'll rest in bed until the Doctor declares you to be fine," she deadpanned as she tucked him in bed. Arnav reluctantly let her pamper him; he knew it soothed Anjali to do these things for him. "And when would that be?" he couldn't help but ask.

"The day after tomorrow. Dr.Mehra had a heart failure so he'll be late," Anjali explained as she sat beside him on the bed, running a hand over his hair plainly to irritate him. Seeing the annoyed expression make its appearance, Anjali chuckled.

"Aren't you going to sleep in your room, Di?" Arnav asked when he saw Anjali make herself comfortable on a chair nearby.

"Why Chote? Got bored of me so soon?" Anjali asked with a pout though she had an inkling as to why her brother wanted her gone. She had no intention of staying here but an opportunity to see him embarrassed was so rare that Anjali didn't want to let it go. It gave her the sense of normalcy that she strived for; for everything to be alright and go back to how it had been. She'd just imagine Shyam had gone on a life long business trip, she'd live her life happily.

"Its not that, Di. I just' I don't want you straining to stay beside me; I'm fine anyway," Arnav answered, though even in the dim light in the room, Anjali thought she saw him flush slightly.

"You're blushing, Chote?" Anjali asked as she gave him a closer look and Arnav quickly denied it, "Of course not, Di. Its just' the temperature. Its'"

"You know Chote, this is the first step to developing a fever. I don't want to risk you getting ill and me being not there. I'll stay here, just in case," Anjali was seated in the shadows enough to hide the smile that was lighting up her face.

Arnav was too intent on trying to think up reasons to make her go away to notice the mirth in his sister's eyes. There was no way he was going to say the real reason to her. Arnav was sure she would laugh at him if he told Anjali that he wanted her gone because he believed Khushi visited him when he slept and he was afraid she wouldn't if Anjali stayed. "Di, you'll strain your leg if you keep it hung down. You should rest in your room; I swear if I feel my temperature rising even one degree, I'll yell the house down. Please, take rest, Di."

Anjali made a show of giving in, enjoying teasing Arnav immensely, "Alright, Chote. If you're sure," she shrugged as she stood up and slowly left, shaking her head in resignation once she was out of his room. "Akdoo; thinks I won't know if he doesn't tell me. Am I that bad a sister that I can't even understand what my Chote is feeling?" she whispered to herself as she entered her room.

But atleast this was better than the absolutely lost look she had seen in his eyes in the morning, she decided. Anjali knew she'd never be able to forget the blank face of her brother when she had awoke him in the morning; the hopelessness in his eyes would haunt her until she lived.

Anjali didn't have to think much to understand what had brought about the change now. "Khushi," her lips spoke unconsciously. The very person who had put him into this state was the only one who could cure him. His hope that he'd see Khushi when he closed his eyes; Anjali knew that was what was keeping him afloat. Come evening Arnav's mood had considerably brightened and he had even spoken so much to her; almost like he always used to.

It gave Anjali hope; so long as Khushi was with them, Arnav would be fine. But how long would that be?

XXX

She was an idiot, Khushi decided. "I'm suicidal," she spoke to no-one in particular. The corridor she was standing in was empty except for her; the pillar she was hiding behind did little to hide her presence, casting long shadows of her form which, Khushi doubted would frighten even her if she stood there for long. She'd always been afraid of the dark; add loneliness with it and you'd have the perfect concoction to terrify her.

"Its just the dark, Khushi. Nothing more; you don't need to'" even as she spoke, Khushi knew she was only doing that to stifle the terror rising in her throat. She couldn't sleep in her room alone in the dark; she had gotten used to having someone beside her, in the same room atleast.

Last night had been torturous enough for her, but, Khushi reasoned, she had had the relief of Arnav waking up to soothe her into a slumber, disturbed as it was. Tonight, she just couldn't push herself to lie down on the bed in her room, alone. It scared the wits out of her and that was the sole reason why she was loitering around the corridors like a ghost; a frightened ghost, to be precise.

"Wonderful, now I've started lying to myself even," Khushi chided as she took another measured step towards the closed doors. It had taken her a full ten minutes to walk around the pillar and towards the room. At this rate, Khushi thought, it would be dawn before she even dared to go to the doors.

"That should be good, I won't have to go back to that dark room then; but what if Arnavji wakes up and sees me? No, no, Khushi; that will not do. Just do what you came to do and go away. Its just that simple; you don't want to trouble Anjaliji, na? He's going to be asleep anyway. Just lift whatever dress comes in your hand first and run away; he won't even notice. And the shoes; don't forget the shoes," her bout of self instruction halted only when she barely stopped herself from hitting the closed doors.

Opening it slowly, she peeked in; the drapes that had been open last night were closed around the bed. Khushi sighed; he was asleep. On a whim, she walked to the silken curtain, taking the soft substance in her hands. She daren't look into the curtain for she knew she'd lose it. Tears prickled her eyes as the memory washed over her; Arnav hated these things yet, he had had them installed; for her.

"What is this for, Arnavji?" Khushi asked as she entered the room and saw Arnav evaluating a piece of maroon red cloth intently. It seemed rather soft and yet translucent; Khushi suddenly had the urge to grab it from him and feel it for herself.

"None of your business," he retorted sharply. Khushi didn't argue further because she knew she had brought this answer on herself.

"Probably for one of his designs or something; but why would anyone wear this type of cloth? It looks like curtain cloth; whatever," Khushi muttered to herself as she went to check if Anjali had had her medicines.

When she returned later in the night to sleep, she found out what the cloth was for. "Curtains for the bed? But why Arnavji?" she had asked, her eagerness overcoming her fear for his sharp tongue.

"So that I won't have to look at your face every night," he rejoined just as quickly, walking out to the poolside with his file and laptop in hand.

Khushi was left to admire the arrangement in leisure; she fell in love with the material at first touch, it was so soft. When she looked up, she saw that he had also added a rod; it supported the curtain but Khushi was sure it could have been done without.

"I wanted to hang the stars above the bed but there seems to be no facility there," she recalled her own lament; not that long ago. A shocked smile lit up her face as she realized; he did it for her, to make her comfortable.

She was standing just where she had stood that day; the emotions coursing through her were the same. Befuddlement, confusion; about her own feelings and about that man who seemed to bring them about in her without even trying.

"I knew you'd come, Khushi," his voice startled her and Khushi pushed aside the curtain to see that the bed was empty. Where was the voice coming from then?

She spotted him on the recliner by the poolside, lying sprawled on it as he stared at the stars. He was looking at her now, the moonlight reflecting in his eyes to make it seem like his eyes were fairy lights. Or was it the tears in her own eyes that made everything shine so?

He lifted a hand towards her, calling for her to come near. She didn't know what to do but her feet seemed to have decided already. Two steps forward, halt, hesitate, one step back, halt, hesitate. Arnav watched with patience as the turmoil raged in her. But she was slowly moving towards him and Arnav would wait; even if it took her eternity to reach him.

His hand remained extended until she placed her own in it; he closed his fingers around her tender fingers, drawing her close until she had no option but to sit beside him on the recliner. She sat gingerly, unsurely; such a contrast to the woman a few months ago who had had no qualms pushing him out of the recliner when they had had to share it. Both of them were reminded of that night; their supposed honeymoon. Both of them knew the other was remembering it too, but were too wise to call them out on it. If the other asked the same question, there was no answer they could give.

Arnav turned away from her and faced the star studded sky. A full moon shone on them, doing away with the need for any other light. Khushi realized with a start that even if it had been a new moon day and she had had to sit this way in complete darkness, she would have had not one tense moment.

He'd be with her and Khushi knew; somewhere along the line in the past year, she had come to draw all of her strength from him. She annoyed, teased, tricked, fought, cried, laughed; but when faced with a crisis, his was the first face that she looked for. He'd become important to her; not just important but indispensable; irreversible.

Just when she'd thought she could only be imagining such calm and joy, Arnav spoke to confirm her doubts; not to her, but the little pieces of lights that winked at them like subtle matchmakers.

"Amma, you were so eager to meet your Bahu and now she has come and you won't say anything? Oh, so you want to act all high and mighty? Its no use Amma, Khushi will melt you in a second; am I right, Khushi?" he turned to her then, his face wide open for her to see and absorb the serenity and vulnerability reflecting on it.

She barely nodded and he turned to the stars once again, speaking in a stage whisper, "By the way Amma, I actually wanted to complain about Khushi to you. You have no idea how much torture your son is going through; don't ever be misled by her innocent face," Khushi started at his last words; he had said them already to her; so many times. Never had he meant it in a soft, teasing sense but he did now, as he spoke to his mother.

"She's a real slave driver. You'll pity me if you knew how your Bahu makes my life hell. She won't let me do anything on my own these days; she has to have a say, a part in everything that happens in my life. In who I speak to, how I speak even in what I eat. You know Amma, ever since Khushi came to know about my Diabetes, she hasn't let even a tiny little crystal of sugar go in my mouth. If someone lights an Agarbathi in the next street, she closes down the windows claiming my throat would lock down. And you know what she says when I ask her why she does this? She tells me that I'm a Laad Governor who doesn't know what's good and what isn't. She says I need to be looked after because left to myself, I'd marry the laptop and give my life up to staring at it. I know I asked for someone who would care for me like you and Di do but don't you think you overdid it, Amma? She worries a hundred times more than Di does about me and she is twice as strict as you were in making me follow your words. I know I played a lot of pranks on you when I was little Amma, but is this how you punish me for them? By making me get stuck with this Hitler Halwai? Not fair at all, I tell you."

Her hand rose of its own accord to slap him lightly on the shoulder, slipping into a comfort level that had never existed between them. Like an old married couple; it surprised her that it was so easy for her to belong here, beside him. She was dreaming, for sure.

"See Amma? She won't even let me complain in peace. And she is the most attention seeking brat, I tell you. I leave her alone for a day and by the time I return from home, she would have invented some new way to trouble me. Be it her stupid notion that I'm thinking of murdering her to get back with Lavanya, my one true love or completely disappearing from my life because I said something hasty in a fit of temper; she speaks non-stop and when she does, your Daughter-in-law is the best at spouting out the oddest, most ridiculous of things; most of which I don't even try to make sense of," he chuckled, his had tightening around hers when she tried to move away from him, affronted. He pulled her closer when she tried to protest until she was lying completely beside him, almost like they had once before.

"But you know what, Amma? That is what endears her the most to me. You always used to say one day some girl will come in my life because of who I'll change; whose love would melt down the wall of ice and fire I build up to avoid feeling anything. It did happen; not in the way I had thought. I mean, I didn't think she'd literally fall in my arms but see what I did. I misunderstood what had obviously hit me on the face. It took me a lot of time; and too many mistakes but now I know why there hasn't been a day since I met Khushi when something or the other hasn't reminded me of her. Because she is my life; odd as it feels for me to say this inspite of knowing her mental tendencies, she is the way she is; completely out of my orbit and yet, in complete harmony with my heart. Thank you, Amma, for giving me Khushi in my life," he looked at her then and she could barely contain the wonder in her face as she looked into his eyes.

She didn't doubt his words; there had never been a time when she had doubted his sincerity. When Arnav Singh Raizada hated you, he hated you with all the honesty in the world; when he cared for you, it was the same. He could never hide any emotion for long. Didn't she have a cartload of moments in their life to prove that? How many times had he hurt her with his words right before chasing after her because she got hurt?

She held his face in her hands, unable to speak anything. It had barely set in, whatever he had said. "Arnavji, is this really you? I just can't believe you' these are really your own words, right?"

He chuckled and nodded, "I know it should be shocking; but its just a dream so its easier for me to speak my heart out."

He smiled guilelessly at her as her heart clenched painfully; he thought he was dreaming. What would he do if he knew she was real and no illusion?

What he'd been doing al the past months; he'd close up like the touch me not and would decline ever saying or feeling anything. For the second time since she had entered the room, Khushi felt like sobbing. The first time had been when she had relived the memories, longing for a past that never was but now, as she looked into his genuine eyes, it was for the future, the blissful future that she dreamt of every night; a tomorrow that had died even before it dawned.

This was her life; this was the way it would always be. Only in his dreams would he ever dare to show his real self to her; only in hers would she ever dare to believe it would last forever. There would never be a happily ever after in her life; the fact hit her hard and strong at that moment. Shaken out of the delirious hallucinations she had braved to entertain for a few minutes, she stood up abruptly.

"I just came to take a few things from here; I need to go," she was back in the room before he could even process her words and Khushi was relieved to see that he made no move to follow her. Another piece of her heart slipped from the thread and shattered, knowing that he probably thought her actions were those of her dream self running away from him.

In her hurry, she took whatever came to her hand and lifted the first piece of cloth that came to her hand. All she could feel was that it was a Saree; the dark gave her no chance to see which one, not that she was concerned.

Snap

The second string of silver made a racket as it broke; but Khushi was unaware of it, intent as she was about running away from the room.

Arnav chuckled wryly as he leaned back, knowing he'd wake up in his bed in the morning.

Chapter4

A/n: Okay, seriously, I know what most of you are thinking. Arnav is too odd, too unlike himself, right? I know he is too different, for now. He should get back to himself soon enough and you'll see why and how!

If not for the rest of the chapter, atleast for the Arhi scene that took me almost two hours to write; do like and comment!

P.S.: Guys I know this won't be very welcome news but I have to do this; I've decided to filter out my Buddy list. It's a really painstaking process and takes a lot more time than I can sensibly spend but I really have to do it. I agree that not many can afford to comment on every chapter but once in three updates shouldn't be too much to ask, right?

So, you have the next three chapters to pick a favorite and comment on, starting with this one, if you still would like updates for this FF. The same goes for my other FFs, which I'll be adding in the next chapters there.

I'm sorry if I've hurt anyone but it is essential because I really don't want to keep PMing people only to know they don't even read the stories.

Sad things aside, here's the Precap and yes, I do know the previous Precap hasn't happened yet but I'll be generous and give you all a new one in the joy of the CVs finally doing something about the MU!

Precap:

"Khushi your Payal," Anjali handed it over, "You must have lost it'"

"Where was it?" Khushi asked, holding the Payal close to her. It meant much to her; almost too much.

"In Chote's room; it was a good thing I found it before he did."

Confusing? We'll see in the next chapters!

I dnt hv nethn to write..cnt come up wid any word to say..cnt stop my tears frm falling..its hurting so much..its so painful..😔

Brilliantly written. Arnav saying all his innermost feelings just because he thinks its a dream was so emotional. Waiting for him to find the missing saree!

I thought he found the payal though so how come Anjali has it?

😉aww..he thought he wuz seeing her in his dreamz wereas she wuz actually present there..😳

arnav-Khushi scene was beautifully written..the entire update was mindblowing..thanks for the PM

oh can't wait to see what happens next

Beautiful update the arhimscen was best. Update soonet