SS-Love in Delhi University#3: EPILOGUE-Pg77 - Page 25

Everything was back to a whole new level of 'Normal' in Gupta House. As everyone scurried around the house, doing their morning chores, Khushi put on the blue bindi on her forehead to match her Blue and White anarkali she was wearing. She had done up her hair in a puff and had taken the dupatta on one shoulder, making her look sophisticated. "Arre, Titaliya! Jaldi Karo! Arnav Babua aane wale hain!" (Arre, Titaliya! Hurry! Arnav Babua's about to come!) screamed Buaji as she crossed Khushi's room with laundry in her hand.

Khushi smiled at herself in the mirror. The day had come. Arnav was going to take over today. All the business channels had gone crazy, reporting about this massive takeover by a young twenty eight year old. The entertainment channels tried to wriggle out their story but none of them had found success till now. Arnav made sure they were at bay from their lives. Their world was finally in place. The road wasn't easy but they had emerged out it together, proudly. It was a big day and Arnav had insisted on Khushi coming along with him to which she had readily complied. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard the white SUV drive into the narrow lane in front of her house.

She quickly ran her fingers through her hair as a last minute thing and rushes out of the room, picking up her bag in the way. As she stepped out of the room, her heart melted at the scene before her. Her entire family was at the main door and Arnav was touching their feet, taking their blessing. He moved from Buaji to Amma and finally to Babuji, which ended in a warm embrace; the two men she loved the most in her life. She watched silently but happily from behind the doorframe as her family adored him. Finally, Arnav asked for her. "Buaji, Khushi kahan hain? Der ho rahi hain?" he asked casually, looking around inside, looking for her. (Buaji, where's Khushi? We're running late)

"Ek minute, Babuwa. Abhi tak saj rahi hogi. Thodi sanki haina!" (Hold on! She must be getting ready! She's crazy you know!) said Buaji. Turning in, she screamed "Aye, Khoosi! Arnav Babuwa ayi gaye hain! Tanik jaldi ao!" (Khushi! Arnav's here! Come out!) Khushi quickly came out of her room and smiled at Arnav as she walked towards him. Arnav's smile made Khushi's heart skip a beat and together, they went out for the day.

Their ride was nothing unusual. When they reached the topic of schedule for the day, Arnav spoke up. "Umm' The press conference will be on for thirty minutes. The following meeting will be for an hour or two, I suppose. Then we'll go to the Campus to collect your certificates" he said without looking away from his driver's view, making Khushi frown a little on the inside. Little did she know that Arnav had planned a surprise for him like she had done for him. A little smile crept up her lips when the thought of her plan popped in her mind but she quickly erased it. Arnav was too good a reader and a little clumsiness from her side could reveal the secret. Lavanya and Khushi had worked too hard to set it up before the opening day.

They entered their new office from the back parking lot door in an effort to dodge the frenzy crowd which had started to form at the gate. They walked in hand in hand towards the door exiting from the parking lot into the building but before they stepped in, Arnav pulled Khushi and drowned themselves in one heady kiss. Khushi, initially flabbergasted, was a little taken aback but then gradually started responding. This was the kiss before he conquered his dreams. Khushi's heart sighed. Arnav's hand rounded around Khushi's waist and Khushi's fingers locked around her man's neck. It wasn't until they were breathless that Arnav stepped back. "Good to go" he said with a small smile and looking into Khushi's hazel eyes. As the automated glass door slid open, Arnav turned into ASR and walked in, high on confidence and Khushi by his side. The brown suit and cropped hair made him look covetable.

He was to make it to the press conference at 10am, followed by the company meeting at 10.30. He checked his watch, it was still 9.30. "Let's go upto my cabin" he suggested carelessly, flustering Khushi a little. Seeing her tense, he asked. "Is everything ok?" to which Khushi only nodded with a poker face. They took the elevator and Khushi clandestinely took out the phone from her batuwa purse and left Lavanya a missed call. Arnav's sharp eyes didn't miss it but he let it be. Khushi was probably planning something.

As they reached their floor and walked past their office, Khushi tightly held Arnav's palm and reached out to the door knob of Arnav's cabin before Arnav could. Arnav looked at her with one raised eyebrow but Khushi let it pass by gesturing him in. Nodding, he did as he was bid. As she opened the door, he was swooped in by huge warm bear hugs. "I can't breathe, guys!" he stuttered as he was passed from one hug to another and each being harder than the last one. Finally, when he was let off, he looked at the six people, including Khushi, around him. He had expected NK, Lavanya and Akash to be there but the two other new entrants took him by surprise. "Alex! Michelle!" he spurted out of excitement. "How? When?" he started on his questions when his eyes fell on the wall behind them. Wait a second, there was no wall. It was sheer glass!

And as that hit him, he looked around the room. It was completely re-done and nothing in the way he had asked. It was brilliant, not that he complained. The wall behind his chair and desk was replaced by glass, providing a wonderful view of the west side city from the thirty sixth floor of the building. The plush leather chair faced its back to the wall and the table was sheer mahogany. Black couch was adjacent to the glass wall and the air of the room was sophisticated and solemn. Last time they had been here, it was completely opulent, like Malik always was but now everything of it was gone; the curtains, the decorative pieces and instead was replaced by chic new furniture of Arnav's taste.

"Did you do this?" he asked, tucking Khushi in by his side but not taking his eyes off the view. "Ummhmmm.. Lavanya Ji aur humne milke design kiya hain!" (Ummhmm.. Lavanya Ji and I together designed it) she informed, cuddling in closer. "Like it, ASR?" asked Lavanya, stepping up in her black off shoulder dress and Arnav just nodded in return as he checked out every detail. 'Like it' would've been an understatement. He loved it but he was snapped back from his trance when Akash spoke up.

"Ok, Bhai! We need to go over the details one last time" said Akash, coming up with a file. As the two talked over every detail which was to be presented, NK-Lavanya (now married),  Alex-Michelle and Khushi retreated on the couch, talking their way through until an employee knocked on the door and informed that it was almost time.

All of them trudged out to the conference hall, in sync with Arnav leading the way and Khushi beside him. As they neared the door, everyone hugged him one last time.

"Best of luck, Bhai!" Akash wished him.

"Be good! No temper losing!" NK added mischievously and earning an elbow from Lavnanya. Arnav chuckled at the sight. These people would never change.

"Good luck, mate! We'll wait in your cabin" Alex informed.

Finally Arnav turned towards Khushi gave a silent small nod and Khushi just smiled back.

Akash opened the big wooden door, allowing ASR in. Taking a deep breath, he walked in. As Akash closed the door behind him, they could hear the thunderous applaud welcoming the tycoon. They hurriedly went back to Arnav's office and switched on the TV, watching the live telecast of what was being held downstairs.

Tears welled up in Khushi's eyes on seeing Arnav at the podium with a huge logo of AR Designs in the background. Every word he said was clear as crystal. The focus, his drive: everything was planned, like the way shareholders liked. His determination and confidence shone brightly in his eyes. He answered to every query with utmost patience and it seemed like his new board of directors were pleased with him too. Lavanya hugged Khushi in.

But somewhere in the back of her mind, Khushi was dreading someone would ask him about his relationship with Malik and the same happened. She feared Arnav would fly off the handle and gripped Lavanya's hand tight. She saw Arnav shoot daggers at the person and the room had gone unusually quiet. Everyone waited with bated breaths. He was about to say something when someone from the board put a hand on his shoulder and stopped him from whatever he was about to do. Instead, the man himself leant forward and said "This is business. Let's keep our private lives away from it" and that shut everyone up for the evening. The usual clatter started and the reporters got back to their customary queries. On asking about Analk, Arnav informed that it would remain his baby and it would remain under Akash and Khushi but they would collaborate when necessary.

Over all, it was a success. As Arnav and his new team walked out after the acknowledgements, they were followed by a standing ovation but that didn't make Arnav sway from his motive. He had to attend the meeting with his new team and employees which was to follow thereafter. As everyone congratulated him outside the hall, he curtly excused himself and ran back to his cabin where he could sort himself before the meeting.

Khushi and Akash attended their meeting as reps from Analk with whom they were to launch their new venture. Initially, the onlookers where sceptical about him being a little inclined towards Analk but when they went through the blueprints and schemes, all their doubts went up in their air. ASR's work was flawless, all of them agreed. All in all, everything went on smoothly as planned and Khushi quickly slipped a thank you to her Devi Maiyya for making everything sail through without a glitch.

When the seven of them met again in Arnav's cabin, declaration of a massive party was done to celebrate the eventful day. "Party toh banta hain, Boss!" NK declared cheerfully. "Meet you at 8! Sheritons!" boomed Arnav's voice over the other snd they all dispersed to meet again at night. Little did they know that it was time for Arnav to celebrate with Khushi now.

They walked out into the parking lot and Khushi was walking towards their car. "Ajka din achcha raha, na?" (It was a good day, wasn't it?) asked Khushi mushy-gushily, with her eyes down and a cute smile on her lips. Now that they were alone, she go into the mood. "Hai na?" she asked again but when she got no reply, she looked up and found he was gone. She looked around and saw him walking in a completely opposite direction. "Arre! Arnav Ji! Ap galat disha mein jaa rahein hain! Gadi yahaan hain! ARNAV JI!" (Arre! Arnav Ji! You're going the wrong way! Our car's here!) she screamed from her place, making Arnav sigh and shake his head in exasperation. He kept walking as he knew Khushi would come after him anyway. He walked all the way and stopped before his one love, hidden under the covers of black. He could hear Khushi's footsteps approaching.

There was a rush of mixed feeling inside him. He was seeing it after four years. He has asked Akash to pick it up for him and he had done so. He looked at the hidden beauty and wondered if it will still be the same. Anticipation flared inside him as he stepped up tentatively and took off the black silk that hid beauty and there it shone: His night beauty, His black Harley Davidson bike.

Khushi's steps stopped short and Anav heard her take in a sharp breath. His bike, their memories: all them came gushing back to her. No words were exchanged. Khushi held on to Arnav's hand, reliving their college days. "Let's go" he muttered as he moved up and kicked started his bike. The engine roared to life. Khushi walked up and took up her usual pillion seat behind Arnav.

They zoomed out of the parking lot nonchalantly and crossed the paparazzi, not paying a hoot the world outside. They were drowned in themselves. The cut across the city. They were on the banks of Yamuna river, the sun was setting on the other side. They crossed the old bridge, the Red Fort' Arnav almost drowned in nostalgia as he felt Khushi's clutch tighten around his shoulder. Khushi quickly collected her certificates and returned to Arnav, who was waiting for her patiently with his black helmet on. "Ab kahan jaana hain?" (Where do we go now?) asked Khushi, putting the papers away in her bag.

"Uncle Tom's Maggi Point?" suggested Anav casually.

Khushi looked up at him with questioning eyes but then slowly it dawned on her. It was the first place they had gone to eat together. They were back to where they had started. Arnav had returned to re live that memory again. It was his celebration. This was his surprise to her. It was his way to affirm that he had brought his dream to life. It was his way of convincing himself that he had fulfilled every promise he had made to himself and Khushi. Today was the day he had waited for so long.

Today, They had come to the place where it had all begun. 

Khushi just smiled and nodded

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LAST CHAPTER: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/75966642

Ignore Typos.. Too lazy to proofread

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