It's Destiny | Arhi FF Part 17Pg 69 - Page 20

Getting a peaceful slumber after so many days Khushi woke up in the afternoon. As she turned side she whined in pain. She opened her eyes and the sight she saw was her husband cleaning the room.

Husband She repeated in her mind. It was her impossible dream which she had thought can never be true, but she got Arnav as her husband at the cost of her family. Her eyes again welled up

"Good afternoon" Arnav came to her putting books on the sofa and helped her to sit. She pushed back her tears

"Feeling better?" He asked pouring water in the glass

Unable to speak she just nodded. Arnav gave glass to her and she drank it in one gulp

"More?" He asked as she returned back the glass to him

He sat beside her on the bed, "Lavanya has come to see you but you were sleeping, she is waiting for you outside" As he told her she become afraid, maybe her friend will hate her also after knowing what her brother did

"She knows you Khushi and she will not break this friendship just because what our elders did" Astounded Khushi stared him, it's like he has read her fear

"Come with me" He said but Khushi was hesitant to go out

"Like This" She pointed towards her clothes, he smiled at it and nodded

"Yes like this, I will ask Lavanya to bring you some dresses"

"But …." Arnav could see her still reluctant

"But what?"

"They .. they will come to know that … y …you change … changed my clothes" Khushi said stammering with embarrassment while Arnav couldn't help his smile

"So what Khushi, I am your husband, now stop thinking these stupid things and come" Taking his support Khushi managed to walk and came out of the room. The living room was dark unlike the bedroom, maybe the electricity just tripped she thought then as her fear from dark took over she clutched Arnav's sleeves tightly

"Don't worry Khushi I am here" Placing his hand on hers he assured her

Suddenly something banged and she just hugged him closing her eyes tightly. Arnav placed his arms around her

"WELCOME" She opened her eyes as soon she heard the screaming. The livin room lit up and she could see it well decorated with flowers and candles, with a banner of "Welcome Mr and Mrs Raizada" Embarrassed Khushi broke the hug and nervously looked away finding Lavanya, Mayank and Rohit standing there

Lavanya immediately came and hugged her, Khushi started crying while Arnav caressed her head asking her to stop crying

"Khushi don't cry" Lavanya broke the hug and cupped her face

"Stop crying Khushi, you should be smiling, you've started a new life" but it didn't help

"But …. My …. My family …." Khushi sobbed

Lavanya helplessly stared at her friends

"Khushi" Mayank came to them, "what's done is done, we can't change it but from today we are your family" Khushi stopped crying and looked at him

"See Rohit and I are your brother, Lavanya is your sister and the best part is Arnav your husband" Mayank said in a teasing tone at the end and for a moment Khushi looked at Arnav, he was also looking at her, her cheeks turned red as she lowered her gaze

"Now stop blushing and come cut the cake"

"Cake .. for what?" Khushi asked sitting with the support of Lavanya a bit confused

"It's my birthday" As Lavanya said Khushi looked even more confused

"But your birthday is in ….."

"Stupid it is for your marriage" Lavanya replied pulling Arnav and making him sit with Khushi

"Stop it there is no need to …." Before Arnav could proceed Rohit stopped him

"Now you are married so stay quiet and just do what we are saying"

"Here take this knife" Rohit handed Khushi a knife, holding which she looked at him questioningly

"Don't worry you don't have to cut Arnav's throat with it, maybe you wish to do it after some years but right now cut this cake" Instead smiling at his silly joke Khushi was feeling embarrassed

"Shut Up Rohit" Arnav gestured him to stop it

"Now please cut me, cake is begging to both of you" Rohit being Rohit unheard what Arnav told and this time a smile automatically crept on Khushi's lips and seeing it everyone joined in

Arnav and Khushi cut cake together. Arnav took a piece to feed Mayank when he stopped him asking him to first feed Khushi

"It's your day guys, I know we can't ask you to kiss each other so at least feed this cake to each other" Mayank said mischievously while Arnav grinned and held the piece near her mouth, Parting her lips Khushi took a bite. He was about to place the piece back in plate when Lavanya taking it gave it to Khushi

"Now it's your turn Khushi"

With trembling hands Khushi take the piece to his mouth and fed it to him. Placing the piece back in the plate Khushi turned her face lowering her gaze

"Khushi you are looking very cute in this dress" She suddenly felt uneasy as Lavanya said. Pulling sleeves up to her bare shoulder she uncomfortably stared at her hands

Arnav knew that their friends were trying to make her come out of the grief at the loss of her family but he can also see they are making her uncomfortable in the process. Thinking they should leave the girls alone he asked Mayank and Rohit to come along with him

"Mayank , Rohit I have to discuss something with you guys" He pulled both of them with him to the bedroom

Khushi breath a sigh of relief as the boys left. She could now talk to Lavanya freely

"Anjali jee also said that" Arnav heard her saying and his hands closing the door stilled

"When did she saw you like this?" Lavanya asked

"Yesterday, when I washed my Sari and wear his clothes" She told and Arnav just stared her in awe

"But then his guards ……….." Her expressions changed to fright and Arnav clenched his fists closing the door. Will she ever be able to forget about all this?

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Lavanya consoled Khushi and she shared her pain which she had gone through these four days.

"Khushi, don't look behind now, Focus on your present and future which is now Arnav and I know you always liked him" Khushi looked at her shocked, she always keep her love a secret then how did Lavanya know about it?

"I am your friend Khushi and I spent three years with you day night in the same room" Lavanya said reading the question in her eyes

"Enough of this hiding Khushi, Tell him that you love him"

"No Lavanya …. I can't …… He's been forced in to this marriage and now …. I don't want to force him for anything …… He and I are people from two different worlds …… He can be my friend but ….. He can never love me …." Khushi cried clinging to her shoulder while Lavanya who was about to tell her that He also loves her stopped as she saw Arnav gesturing her not to tell anything. Her heart pricked seeing two of her best friends like this.

They both are hiding their feelings from each other thinking that the other will feel bad. One was hiding because of her self-respect and ego and the other was sacrificing his love to respect the feelings of his lover

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You might've found the jokes silly but this is how we used to do in Uni. I miss my Uni and my class mates 😔

Enjoy reading 😊

-Sumeela