Arshi SS: New York to Delhi - Page 19

"What? Mom, how can you even ask me this? You know I don't want to get married."

Garima Gupta stepped forward and touched Khushi's arm. "Yes, bitiya. I know. But your Jiji is getting married into that family and won't it be better if you got married there too. That way you and Payal can always be together and your father and I will be happy too, knowing that you will always be there for each other".

"Jiji, how can you support this, when you know about.. Jiji, this is not fair."

"Khushi, Akash's brother is studying in the US too. So it will be perfect".

"But didn't you say he didn't want to get married. Oh, did your future mother-in-law again insist that his brother had to marry first. So you decided that you will force me to get married to his brother. Jiji, how can you do such..?"

Payal walked to Khushi and grabbed her arms. "Look, Khushi. Don't even think that for a second. I won't force you to do anything. Akash's family suggested it. That doesn't mean we have to agree. If you don't want to get married to him it's fine. I thought it's a good idea, because he is also in the US. He is also studying, in fact, he is a doctor."

Khushi's face softened. She remembered Arnav.

"What crap! What is this? Buy one, get one free?"

Akash started to say something, but Arnav interrupted him. "Just because Payal has a sister doesn't mean I have to marry her. This is ridiculous."

Sumitra smiled, as she tried out a golden bangle. "How is this, beta? Do you think Payal will like that?" Akash nodded. Arnav, Akash and their mother were at a jewelry store, picking up gifts for Payal's family, before visiting them that night. Arnav had refused to go out with them; he had wanted to stay back to find Khushi on Facebook. But Akash and Sumitra had insisted that he should go with them. Finally he gave in. On the way to the store, Sumitra had told him that Payal had a sister and since Arnav had expressed interest in getting married, they could ask for Payal's sister's hand in marriage for Arnav.

"Mom, how can you even suggest this?" Arnav took the bangle from her, and Sumitra looked at him, her eyebrows raised.

Sumitra took the bangle back from Arnav and said, "Bitwa, I told you already. Payal's sister is also studying in the US. That's why I thought she would be perfect for you. I think she is doing some PhD."

Arnav's face softened. He remembered Khushi.

"Fine, if you don't want to get married to her, that's fine. End of discussion." Sumitra smiled and touched Arnav's face. She then turned around to ask the shopkeeper to pack all that she had selected.

Arnav was restless on the drive to Payal's house. Avinash Raizada, his father, was driving and Sumitra, Avinash and Akash were talking about the wedding. Arnav was worried about his promise to Khushi. Dammit! She must be upset now. I hope she doesn't think that I was just fooling around with her, that I wasn't serious about us. I will go back home and look for her again.

"Here we are. Laxmi Nagar." Akash said, smiling. "Laxmi Nagar?" Arnav jumped up straight on his seat. Why did that sound familiar? Was that where Khushi's house was?

"Bro?" Arnav's thoughts were interrupted as Akash touched his shoulder. "Are you alright?" Arnav nodded. Maybe Payal knows Khushi, that is, if Khushi lives on this street.

Shashi and Garima Gupta received them at the gate and escorted them inside. As Arnav sat down, he looked around the living room. He raised his eyebrows, as he saw a photograph on the shelf; two girls hugging each other with wide smiles on their faces. Khushi? Arnav thought. Why does that girl look like Khushi? Arnav shook his head. Arnav, you are going crazy. Everyone you see reminds you of her now.

"So where is Payal?" Sumitra interrupted his thoughts. Garima smiled, "I will call her. Payal" Garima called out loud. Arnav looked at his watch. 6pm. I still have time. I hope we will leave here by 8 or so, then I can still try and find her and maybe go to her house by midnight. "Here she is, and that is our younger daughter." Garima continued. Arnav looked away. Perfect, the free one! he snorted.

"Khushi, he is quite the hunk! Look at him, no?" Payal teased Khushi. Khushi made an annoyed face and stared at the tray in her hand. "I don't want to see anyone, Jiji." she whispered back, angrily. "Here, you serve the tea. I am going to the kitchen." Khushi moved the tray towards Payal. She took the tray from her and took one tea cup and handed it to Khushi. "Ok fine, but give this to him for my sake. Trust me, I think you might like him." Payal smiled. "He is the one sitting on the chair close to the shelves." Khushi made an annoyed face, "Jiji, I never thought you would.. fine, forget it". She grabbed the tea cup and turned around. She hit the side of the coffee table and tripped; the tea cup went flying from her hand and landed at Arnav's feet, spilling hot tea on his pants.

"What the.." Arnav screamed as he jumped up from his sofa. Khushi and Arnav both looked up and their eyes opened wide. "Khushi?" "Arnav?" They were lost in each other, that they missed the smiles on Payal and Akash's faces.

"Arnav, are you alright?" Sumitra's voice interrupted their thoughts.

"Khushi, how can you be so careless?" was Garima's reaction.

Finally Arnav found his voice. "Bathroom. Aunty, where is the bathroom? I will go wipe the tea off."

Shashi said, "Of course beta. Khushi, why don't you show him where the bathroom is?" Khushi looked at Shashi, her eyebrows raised. Then she smiled and nodded.

"The kids of today, I tell you Sumitra Didi", Garima said, smiling. "I told Khushi; Akash bitwa has a brother, who is also studying in the US. But she is like, no Mom, I am studying. I don't want to get married now". Sumitra smiled, "I know. Arnav also said the same thing". Arnav and Khushi looked at their mothers and then at each other, their eyebrows raised, still in shock.

"What are you two still doing here? Khushi, show Arnav the bathroom, beta." Shashi said, smiling. Khushi nodded and walked out of the living room. Arnav followed her.

"There that is the bath.." Before Khushi could complete, Arnav had pulled her into the bathroom. He grabbed her wrists and pinned her to the wall, her hands on either side of her. He moved closer to her and brushed his lips against hers. As their tongues met, Arnav released her hands and grabbed her waist and pulled her close. She put her arms around his neck and grabbed a fistful of hair. As they pulled away, they looked into each other's eyes and smiled.

"I missed you." Khushi said as she placed a quick kiss on his lips.

Arnav kissed her forehead. "I couldn't stop thinking about you, Khushi. I am so glad we could meet, else I swear I would have gone crazy!"

Khushi smiled and pulled away. "Now you wash the stain. I should get back to the living room, else someone might come looking for us".

Khushi started to leave, but Arnav grabbed her hand. She turned to look at him, confused. "Khushi, if I had known you were Payal's sister, I would have never said no."

Khushi's eyes opened wide. "But Arnav, you and I have known each other only for a few hours."

Arnav walked close to her, touched her face and bent down to kiss her forehead. "Yes, I know, but those few hours made me realize that no one has ever made me feel so alive and so happy as you do! Ever since you left me at the airport, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I love you, Khushi!"

Khushi burst into tears of happiness, with a wide smile on her face. Tears rolled down her cheeks; Arnav bent down and kissed her tears. "But Arnav, we don't know anything about each other."

Arnav took her face in his hands. "We will have the rest of our lives. We can learn something new everyday."

Khushi smiled. Arnav took her hands in his and got down on one knee. "Khushi .." He paused and Khushi raised her eyebrows. He chuckled and asked, "Hmm.. what's your last name again?"

Khushi laughed, "Gupta".

Arnav smiled and continued, "Khushi Gupta, I want to see you, be with you and spend every moment with you, for the rest of my life. I promise I will do everything I can to keep that beautiful smile on your face and the naughty twinkle in your eyes as long as I live. Will you marry me?"

Khushi's smile disappeared and Arnav asked, looking confused. "What?"

She made an annoyed face. "You have no idea how many times I have gone over this scene in my head. How someone would propose to me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would be in my guest bathroom!"

Arnav got up from his knees and put his arms around her waist and pulled her close. "Well, we could take it to the bedroom."

Khushi looked at him, her mouth wide open. She punched his chest and said, "Let me go."

Arnav smiled and said, "Not until you answer my question."

"And what was that again?"

"Will" Arnav kissed her forehead. "you" he kissed her cheek. "marry" he kissed her other cheek. "me?" he kissed her nose.

"Yes", she put her arms around his neck and kissed his lips, smiling.

"Mom, Dad", Sumitra and Avinash Raizada looked up as Arnav walked in to the living room, Khushi beside him, hand-in-hand. Garima, Shashi, Payal and Akash looked up as well. "We want to get married." Arnav said, looking at his mom.

All of them stood up from their seats, their eyes wide open, in shock.

"Khushi, what is he saying?" Garima finally found her voice.

"Mom, yes, Arnav and I want to get married."

Everyone looked at each other and then at Arnav and Khushi and burst into laughter. Arnav and Khushi raised their eyebrows and looked at their laughing family and then at each other, perplexed. Garima and Sumitra hugged each other and even Avinash and Shashi embraced each other, saying "Congratulations".

"Mom, Dad, you aren't even curious to know why we changed our minds?" Arnav asked, confused.

Akash had a wide grin on his face as he walked towards Arnav. Arnav looked at him, confused. Payal grabbed Khushi's arm; Khushi looked at her confused. Payal said, excitedly, with a naughty twinkle in her eye. "Khushi, when you said the name Arnav, I called up Akash to ask him about his brother".

Akash continued. "And I found this in your jeans pocket". He held up the crumpled photograph. Arnav and Khushi raised their eyebrows in shock. Arnav grabbed the photograph from Akash's hand and Akash giggled. Before Arnav could say anything, Khushi grabbed it from his hand. Arnav looked at her, confused.

"You kept this photograph?" Her eyes teared up. Arnav smiled. Akash grabbed Payal's hand and they walked back to hteir parents, leaving Arnav and Khushi, looking into each other's eyes, squeezing their hands tightly, with wide smiles on their faces.

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Want an epilogue?? 😆

Ok, I agree.. this was a bit over the top.. no guy would propose so soon.. but that was the idea.. What If.. is like a series of fairy tales.. a girl can dream, can't she 😆