ArHi SS|The Search for the Perfect Bride Thread 2 - Page 8

Chapter 14:

"Arnav? What are you doing in the kitchen this late…or early?" Arnav heard a sleepy voice coming from the doorway that brought him back to the present, and turned only to find his brother-in-law standing there, watching him intently.

"Woh…Nothing. I just..I just wanted a glass of water" Arnav responded, shaking himself out of his thoughts as he face Shyam with a smile.

But Shyam refused to accept his words, shaking his head with a bemused expression on his face as he settled himself into a chair across from him. "Arnav mere bhai, I've known you for over 6 years now. There's no fooling me, my friend. Talk to me."

Arnav sighed, knowing that there was no point in lying. After all, family was family. They knew you better than anyone else. Arnav stared at his brother-in-law thoughtfully, trying to conjure up a coherent sentence, make sense of his own confused emotions and thoughts so he could express himself properly.

"Thinking about Khushi, Arnav?" Shyam looked at him with a bemused smile on his face, and Arnav nodded slightly, hesitantly, watching him with a confused expression on his face.

"I…I don't know what's going on in my mind anymore. I just, I don't know what to think anymore" Arnav started, after getting that initial push. "Nothing seems right. Khushi's getting married? Already? And that too so hurriedly? I even tried to talk to her about it today, and she didn't want to listen to me. She just yelled at me, like I was doing something wrong. Why doesn't she understand that as her best friend…I'm…I'm worried about her?!" Arnav exclaimed, throwing up his hands in frustration, his voice a mixture of concern and confusion. There was so much going on in his brain, yet at the same time, so little.

"Does she not understand what's going on Arnav, or is it you that's turning a blind eye to things?" Shyam asked him seriously, watching the changing expressions on his face intently. And Arnav's head snapped up instantly.

"Arnav," Shyam continued calmly, "have you ever thought that you might be missing something in this picture? Have you ever thought about why you were so worried about Khushi? None of us are, all of us are actually happy for her, but you're the only one that seems to not be. You're her best friend, yes. You both work together, you both see each other every single day, but is that all she means to you Arnav? Have you thought about what it will mean when Khushi gets married and goes away? When she's not at your beck and call at all times? When you can't call her at all god awful hours of night to get her advice on something? When she's not there to take care of any stupid mistakes you make?" Shyam took a breath, throwing Arnav a disgusted look, "Arnav, have you actually not thought about this or are you just ignoring what's right in front of your face. What's obvious to everyone except – you."

"I don't know what you're talking about…"

"And that's the problem" Shyam sighed, seemingly ready to give up on the stubborn man in front of him. But he knew he would have to try and knock some sense into Arnav's mind, if not for his sake, then for the sake of Khushi, the girl who had come to be another sister in his life. "Arnav. One last question – think about what I'm saying and make a decision. Have you thought about why you didn't like any of the women that Khushi had you meet? Why none of them seemed to be good matches for the Raizada parivaar?"

Shyam hid a knowing smile as he saw Arnav's head shoot up in surprise, "The family is not as oblivious to what goes on in your life as your might think, Arnav. We knew that the first person you would turn to with your problems would be Khushi. And better yet, we knew that she would be the only one willing to bend over backwards to help you out. Have you ever thought about why?" he continued calmly. "Why does Khushi do all this for you? Why are you so worried about her Arnav?"

"What…what are you trying to say?" came the quiet response, Arnav's voice low yet fierce.

"I'm not trying to say anything Arnav. All I'm asking is that you think for yourself. You think about the answers to the questions I've asked and figure out how important Khushi is to you in your life."

"I'm going to leave you know Arnav" Shyam began saying as he got up from his seat and headed out the door. He turned back around at the last minute though, to see his brother-in-law already lost in thoughts, seemingly pondering over his words, "Think about what I said Arnav, think about it calmly. Make a decision, but just pray that you're not too late. That your happiness won't slip away from your hands, that Khushi doesn't slip away from your hands" he ended softly, raising his glass of water in a mock toast before he turned around and headed up the stairs.

And Arnav was left with the company of his own thoughts, his own musings in response to all of Shyam's hard-hitting words, as he moved to his own room, mixing a glass of whisky for himself before settling down by the poolside. Did he have an answer to Shyam's questions? Did Khushi really mean something more to him than a best friend? Could she possibly think of him as something more?

"Khushi. Khushi.Khushi" he muttered to himself repeatedly, "Why are you creating all these problems in my life? Why couldn't everything have gone on as before?"

He had been distracted the entire day at work, unable to concentrate on anything as his thoughts kept reverting to Anand and Khushi, picking out an engagement ring…and possibly doing other things? His blood boiled at the mere thought. Had he kissed her? Like that kiss that him and Khushi had shared in his office not so long ago? Memories of his and Khushi's kiss passed through his mind, her sweet mouth, her delicate touch, the trembling of her lips against his own. He sucked in a ragged breath at the very thought, clenching his fists tightly as the image of Anand and Khushi flashed across his mind. Did she enjoy the kiss? Damnit! She was his Khushi! No one else…

Arnav shook his head fiercely, as if doing so would rid him of the thoughts of Khushi and Anand that seemed to have taken over his mind. He spontaneously picked up his phone and punched in a few numbers, his hand literally trembling as he held the phone to his ear and waited for the person on the other line to pick up.

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