**Index at bottom of page.
Prologue
Khushi frowned as she parked the car in the driveway. All the lights were on, indicating one thing: her parents were awake. Her frown deepened as she remembered that she had been responsible as usual. It was Friday, so she had told them after work, she'll be going to see the new Batman movie with friends and then head to a late dinner. As by habit, her fingertips followed a path to her mouth where her teeth furiously worked on her nails.
"They're probably having their own date night, Khushi!" She talked to herself. Why was she getting so worried about this? Sighing, she wiped the frown off her face and released her nails from the captives of her teeth. She walked to the front door, locking her car with it's remote, and opened the front door.
The frown on her face returned as she saw her parents look up at her from the living room. No, they definitely were not having date night. They looked as if... as if they'd been expecting her.
Her mother smiled. "Khushi, come darling." She motioned Khushi to the living room and Khushi hugged her father before sitting down on the couch.
"Khushi, we were actually waiting for you." Her father spoke.
"Oh. Wait... Why?" Khushi quickly retraced everything she'd done over the past week that might have landed her in trouble. Her fingers itched to be in her mouth but she resisted the temptation knowing her mother disapproved of this habit, and Khushi did not need to be in anymore trouble. What had she done though? The whole week she woke up, went to work, did some shopping, and today she had finally went to see the Batman movie. She didn't even attend any parties!
Garima noticed her daughter's fidgeting fingers and smiled. "Khushi, you're not in any trouble. We just need to talk to you."
Hearing this, Khushi relaxed.
"Yes, Khushi. You're a woman now and there are some things we need to discuss." Her father added.
Instantly, Khushi tensed up again. No freaking way. Were they going to give her the talk? Now? She was 23 for crying out loud! And Khushi had very clear memories of her Amma telling her all about the birds and the bees at 13. So why now?
"Huh?" Was all Khushi could manage.
"Khushi, today we got a call from Anjali Raizada." Garima said smiling.
Well that was definitely not what she had expected. Khushi relaxed once again. Not understanding quite what Garima was getting at, Khushi raised her eyebrows in question.
"So...?" She asked looking at her father then her mother.
"Raizada, Khushi... Please tell me you remember. Anjali Singh Raizada?" Her dad said as Garima looked on expectantly.
It then rang a bell. Raizada. Oh no. Khushi flashed back to 12 years ago before her father had gotten the promotion and her entire family shifted to America. She remembered the promise two best friends had made. The promise that a Gupta had made to a Raizada. It was the promise that would bind the two families together and take their friendship to another level. It was something that proclaimed Khushi was engaged to be wed to a certain Raizada. A promise- now that she was 23, out of school, successful, and as her father had put it, a woman- that could be fulfilled.
The promise, made 12 years ago, which promised the Gupta family and the Raizada family would be united through the marriage of Arnav Singh Raizada and Khushi Kumari Gupta.
Khushi's eyes widened, her mouth dropped. "You have got to be kidding me."
There it is folks! Comment, like it, love it, criticize it, and make me happy:) I'll be coming back with the first chapter sooon!
-Ann
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
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