The next morning, Christmas day, Arnav gets up with a smile on his face and greets everyone with an extremely cheerful "Merry Christmas", which has them wondering for the first time, whether they are the ones who woke up the wrong side of bed, and even whether they are still in bed, dreaming.
After breakfast, everyone decides to go to the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa's most famous church, where the body and remains of St. Francis Xavier are kept in a silver casket. After a short Christmas mass and prayer session, the ladies set off for shopping, and the guys find an open beach-side restaurant with a pool table and settle there for a game.
As usual, Arnav gets a phone call and excuses himself from the noisy restaurant to attend to the phone call. While outside, the ladies pass by one of the shops on the roadside. Khushi is as usual talking, but her excitement and happiness seems to capture Arnav's attention.
He doesn't respond to the person on the other end of the line. "Mr Arnav... Mr Arnav... Are you there??"
"Hmmm" Arnav replies at first, then completely shuts up and starts staring at Khushi.
"Hellooo...!! Mr Arnav... Where are you lost?? Did you even hear me?? I was talking about this new product that our company..." The other person says, but Arnav still seems to be lost.
The person gets irritated and cuts the call, thinking that maybe the network was weak. The tone after the disconnection jolts Arnav out of his daydream, and brings him back to reality. "What the...!!!!" He says and goes back inside the restaurant, irritated at himself for getting distracted by Khushi.
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In another corner of the country, Lavanya tries to mount a camel for her journey across the desert. In her first attempt, she doesn't place her legs properly and slips while trying to mount the camel. The kids in Harsawa laugh and continue to watch on with amusement. The second time, before Lavanya can sit properly, the camel gets up off the ground and makes her fall. The kids laugh again.
On her third try, she is finally successful in mounting the camel, but as the camel is lead by its owner (who is on foot) out of the village and into the desert, it moves a little too fast compared to the usual speed of camels. Poor Lavanya suffers bumps along with a highly uncomfortable ride as the kids laugh at her.
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Back in Goa, after the Christmas lunch, everyone decides to go back to Peter's beach bungalow. Everyone is so busy in talking to each other that they don't notice that Arnav, who had gone off to a nearby internet cafe after lunch, to download, sign, scan, and send some important documents, is not with them. Khushi is the first one to notice Arnav is missing ' though, only when they reach home.
"Uh oh...!!" Akash starts chewing on his fingers, knowing that Arnav will probably kill him first when he comes to know that they forgot him behind.
"Don't worry, Akash ji. I'll get Arnav sir back. And he won't even think of killing you" Khushi says, as if reading Akash's mind.
Practically everyone breathes a sigh of relief as Khushi sets off to get Arnav back, by now knowing that Arnav won't dare harm or say anything to Khushi. The same Khushi who seems to have an upper-hand over him in nearly all office matters.
*************************
Back outside the internet cafe, Arnav is trying to call Akash, wondering where he and the rest have gone. Arnav squints his eyes as a figure on a motorcycle comes by. To his surprise it's Khushi, who motions for him to sit behind her as the passenger.
"What the...!! You want me to sit behind you?? As the passenger?? On a motorcycle..." Arnav nearly screeches out.
"Well, you have to. I don't have a car license. Public transport is on holiday-strike. This was the only other vehicle available, which I borrowed from Peter's neighbour. And, stop screeching like Lavanya...!!!" Khushi talks back, literally.
"What the...!!! I am not screeching. Sorry, I am not screeching, and don't you even dare compare me to Lavanya."
"Well, I dare and in fact, I just did compare you two... If you didn't hear me clearly, should I repeat myself? " Khushi is exasperated at Arnav's talking, and sets off to go, with or without Arnav.
"No..!" Arnav says, firmly this time.
"Then, stop questioning me and just sit..!!" Khushi says in a firm tone.
And to her surprise, Arnav does sit without questioning her any more. Throughout the bike ride back to Peter's beach bungalow, Khushi is chattering away, as usual, but this time Arnav doesn't seem to say anything against her or get annoyed with her.
In fact, Arnav seems to be enjoying riding as passenger behind Khushi, smiling at her cute talks and antics, as well as trying his very best not to sniff her beautiful recently-shampooed hair blowing in his face.
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In the Thar Desert...
The camel owner seems to have run off, highly annoyed with Lavanya, who is now left behind somewhere with the camel. Unable to ride on the camel's back due to the humps, she is now leading him along the sand and dunes.
Lavanya seems to be sweating profusely, and her hair seems to be standing up from all sides, as if she has just been electrocuted. A very slight breeze blows a lock of Lavanya's hair into her face, but she quickly has to brush it away.
"Eeewww..!! I'm sweaty, sticky, and stinky... My hair also smells... Oh my dear Head-and-Shoulders, oh my dear Pantene ' I miss you both..!! Why did I have to follow you Arnav?"
Too bad for Lavanya. She just doesn't know that Arnav is not even in the same state. And moreover, while she is facing so many troubles and suffering so much, Arnav is enjoying a ride on a bike behind his future wife.
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The next few days pass by in a breeze for the people in Goa. They enjoy swimming in the sea, jet-skiing, playing volleyball on the beach-sand, para-sailing, and even just walking in the cool evening while watching the setting sun. As New Years' Eve draws nearer and nearer, the couples come closer. Even Arnav starts to like Khushi a bit more than usual, though he has not exactly realized it yet.
On 30th December, in the evening, everyone sits down to discuss their plans for the next day. They decide on going to the church and attending the mass session from mid-morning to early afternoon, then just relaxing, talking, maybe playing some indoor games like carom and poker, before dinner and the countdown at the nearby restaurant.
Everyone goes to sleep that night with a smile on their face, thinking of the exciting next few days, before going back to work on 3rd January. Arnav once again dreams of Khushi, and this time even smiles wider in his sleep. Even Khushi thinks of Arnav as she drift into her sleepy subconscious. Everyone is happy, and all is well.
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All is well, for the people in Goa, at least. Lavanya remembers her journey in the Thar Desert... Tired, hungry, and confused, Lavanya gives the wrong food to the camel, who then vomits on her hair. She finishes up the water meant for drinking to get the vomit out of her hair, but the smell continues to stay.
Halfway through, and still seeing no sight of Arnav, Lavanya decides to give up, and returns to the Harsawa village, where the kids run away from her due to the horrible stink. The ever-kind villagers give her some Ayurvedic herbs to treat her dry skin, and help her get rid of that stink in her hair, which thankfully work better than expected.
Finally, on the 30th of December, Lavanya returns to her home in Delhi, completely exhausted, and also annoyed at not being able to see Arnav. She continues to wonder how and why everything that happened actually happened to her, and hopes for a better future with Arnav by her side... Little does she know that Arnav is meant to be by Khushi's side...
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"OH MY GOD...!!!" Exclaims Khushi, suddenly, as she reads the newspaper on New Year's Eve morning.
"What the...!!!" Arnav says his usual dialogue, as Khushi's scream startles him, causing him to spill coffee on the newspaper he is reading. "See...!! You made me spill coffee on this business and economics section. How am I supposed to check the stock prices now??"
"Chillax, Arnav sir... It's not the end of the world. It's just the end of another year. Tomorrow is a new year, a new beginning."
Arnav once again is stunned at Khushi's philosophies. He begins thinking over, and comes to the conclusion that he is indeed over-reacting. He apologizes to Khushi for the same.
"Sorry, Khushi. I guess I over-reacted. And you're right... I should try to loosen up. So... Tomorrow is a new day, a new year, a new beginning for me... Okay?"
"Sure." Khushi gives Arnav a big smile, happy that he is listening to her without shouting at her, and is actually planning to follow her advice.
Seeing Khushi smile at him lights up Arnav's face big time. He grins stupidly to himself, not realising he is doing so. Virat observes this exchange, and goes to report it to Maanvi.
Arnav finally remembers what started the exchange between him and Khushi just a few minutes ago. "By the way Khushi, what were you so surprised about? Did the press report that Salman Khan is seeking you out to go on a date with you?"
Khushi is momentarily stunned at Arnav's ability to actually crack a joke, but quickly recovers. "You know Salman Khan is my favourite actor? Of course, how wouldn't you... I must have mentioned him at least once everyday in office. You know why he's my favourite actor? Oh well, how would you know? I'll answer that question myself... I love Salman because he is such a kind soul. His Being Human Foundation helps a lot of kids, and I love kids too. Plus, he is such a great actor you know. One of the very best. And his 'O O Jaane Jaana' song is one of my absolute favourites. I seriously don't know how many times I have listened to it. I remember all the steps to that song too..."
Khushi realizes she has been ranting on and on, and stops before Arnav can get any annoyed. She quickly peeks a glance at Arnav, and to her surprise, he is just looking at her with a smile on his face.
Unknown to Khushi though, Arnav is thinking to himself, "Oh God...!!! There she goes again...!!!", knowing that it is her usual habit to talk so much. But he doesn't say anything to her because he is quite enjoying it ' her face seems to have a different kind of glow when she is talking excitedly, and seeing that glow makes him happy.
Arnav's grin just widens, and seeing that, Khushi also starts to feel a little something. Her heart starts beating a little faster. She is surprised at that, but consoles herself. "Oh, Khushi... Don't worry... You haven't eaten anything since last night. Your stomach must be empty. It's just acidity on that empty stomach. You read it in a health magazine once, remember..."
Khushi decides to change the subject to distract herself. "So what question did you ask again? Sorry, I got a little distracted with talking about Salman Khan." Khushi asks Arnav.
Arnav just smiles and replies, "What did you read in the newspaper that made you shout so loud?"
"Oh well... I was reading my horoscope prediction for the New Year... It said that the person I'm with when the clock strikes 12 on New Years' morning, will have an unbreakable bond with me. Possibly a soulmate, a friend, or a family member... But the relationship will be a lifelong one. And the next year will bring for me lots of love, luck, and happiness."
Arnav feels a tug at his heartstrings, but just ignores it. Khushi also feels some 'acidity' again, so she decides to get away from Arnav, and gives the excuse that she is going to make breakfast for all.
As Khushi goes into the kitchen, Arnav watches her with an intense look which he does not seem to even realize. When she glances back, he averts his gaze from her and looks back down on the newspaper he is holding.
Khushi hurries into the kitchen, and Arnav finally gets back to reading the economics section and checking for the stock prices. Both are glad at not having the other in front of their faces to get distracted with.
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"... Oh...!!! I see...!!! Now I get why Arnav has been acting so weird lately." Maanvi says, after Virat tells her all that he has seen happen between Arnav and Khushi just moments earlier.
"What???!!! What do you see and get? I don't understand anything." Virat says. He seems puzzled at what Maanvi is saying.
"That is because you are stupid. All men are in fact. Only girls seem to be able to observe this well..."
"What thing??! Tell me na, Maanvi..."
"Duffer..."
"Duffer??? Maanvi, you are calling your boyfriend a duffer?" Virat questions Maanvi.
"Achcha baba. Sorry. But seriously Virat... Can't you see...?"
"See what?"
"The magic... The miracle that has happened..."
"Magic? Miracle? Stop talking in riddles, Maanvi... Just get straight to the point..."
"Okay fine...!!! Virat, the point is that... Arnav is in love. With Khushi. He just doesn't realize it yet..."
"Oh...!!!" That's all that Virat says, and everything becomes clear to him.
"And we have to help Arnav realize his true feelings..."
"Maanvi, what are you going to do? Don't tell me you are thinking of cooking up one of those ridiculous plans of yours are you?"
"My plans are not ridiculous...!!!" Maanvi says in defiance. "My plans always work. And this plan will also be 100% successful... Listen, I read in the horoscope section of today's newspaper that..."
Maanvi tells Virat her plan to make sure that Arnav and Khushi are together at the strike of the clock at midnight...
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Love, Neha 😛
Arjun
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