'STAR STRUCK'--AN ARHI FF (CHAP 10 UPDTD) - Page 15

Payal and Aakash were dancing together….they stared right into each-others eyes and waltzed to the slow romantic song….they were lost into one another and it seemed like the rest of the world had faded away…it was just the two of them….Payal smiled at him and laid her head on his chest….her life was perfect….she was married to a guy she loved ….a guy who loved her back with the same intensity….she had an amazing job of being his manager that allowed her to travel everywhere with him….there was only one thing missing in her life….her best friend….Khushi….the girl who'd been her support system since they were 18….she missed her a lot….what had happened to her….she'd just vanished into thin air ten months ago and Payal knew nothing about her whereabouts….

Aakash stared at his wife….she was the most beautiful woman in the world….she was witty and yet sweet….confident and yet shy….she was perfect for him…..he saw the flicker of emotions pass through her face, finally settling into a frown….

"What is it Payal….?"

Payal shook her head…."Nothing…..just aaj Khushi ki yaad aa rahi hai…."

Aakash nodded….he knew what Khushi had meant to Payal….he felt the same way about Arnav and he knew how lost he'd be if Arnav were to go away….he's consoled Payal for months after Khushi's dissapearance but it wasn't easy to forget someone who meant the world to you!! He looked over Payal's shoulder, at his own Bestie…..he was drinking heavily tonight…When Arnav had come back from the meeting, he'd looked lost and depressed…even more so than usual….something definitely had happened…but he didn't ask…if Arnav wanted to share, he'd come to him…instead he'd just cooked up a ruse to get his friend out and maybe improve on his mood….but looking at him now, it didn't look like he was any better….!!

His attention was brought back to Payal when he heard her gasp….he looked at her to see her staring over his shoulder….

"What is it Payal??"

Payal struggled to find her voice…."K…Khushi…."

Aakash rubbed her arm…."I know you're missing her Payal…."

"No Aakash….look she's here…..Khushi…" Payal screamed out the last part and since the song had just ended, the voice was heard by everyone…..

Khushi stopped in her tracks and froze to the spot….This was a voice she could recognize anywhere on earth….suddenly her decision to get drunk didn't seem all that great….She turned and looked at her best friend across the bar….the sight of her face made Khushi realize how much she'd missed Payal….unwarranted a smile crept on her face….this was the efeect Payal had on her….she'd been the only rock solid support in Khushi's shaky life, and now that she was here again, she fueled a hope in Khushi that things would be alright again….

Payal looked at her friend….she was a sight for sore eyes….she left her husband 's side and rushed to her bestie…the two friends hugged each other and dissolved into tears….never had any reunion been sweeter……

Arnav stared at the two friends….the smile that had appeared on Khushi's face when she'd seen Payal…it was like seeing the old Khushi again….His Khushi again….how he wished he'd got even a millionth part of that smile….he stared at her as she hugged Payal…..

Aakash looked at Khushi and immediately his eyes went to Arnav….he saw his own best frind looking at Khushi with longing….so this had been the reason behind Arnav's depression for today….he'd known Arnav had commited a mistake and was the reason behind Khushi's sudden departure….and he also knew his friend regretted it…he would have been blind not to see the guilt that Arnav had worn on his face for the last ten months….but now that two of them had met, what was gonna happen…..he really needed to talk to Arnav…..

Kate stood beside Khushi, surprised by the greeting between Payal and Khushi….she'd come to think of Khushi as her younger sister and she was amazed to see her genuinely smile ….there was something about this that was weird….who was this girl….her eyes wandered to the man the girl had been earlier standing with and she realized who he was….she followed his eyes and saw Arnav Singh Raizada staring intently at Khushi….there was something fishy here….If this girl knew Khushi….that meant the guy knew her too….and that meant Arnav too knew her before this….but then why had they acted like they were meeting for the first time…..there was something that she didn't know…and because it concerned Khushi, she was surely gonna dig deep and reach to the bottom of the matter……

Payal cupped Khushi's face…."Why did you just go away like that….you could have informed me….do you know how worried I was….no call, no message….what if something had happened to you….you idiot…."

Khushi couldn't help smiling through her tears….her friend was back to usual….as usual her smile riled Payal up….

"Wow….so now you're smiling….quit showing your teeth you monkey….why did you leave so suddenly from England….what happened….??"

The sudden questioning was enough to erase the smile off Khushi's face….what was she to tell Payal….as if reading her mind Payal spoke….

"It's ok Khuhsi….if you're not ready to tell me, I won't force you…..I'm just too happy to find you back to bother about anything else….there's so much we have to talk about…."

"Thanks for understanding Payal…and You're right…..you've to tell me all about your marriage to…why don't you come to my place tonight….we can talk there…."

Payal nodded knowing what was in her friends mind…."I'll just inform Aakash okay…"

Khushi nodded and turned to kate as Payal walked away…."Kate….that's my friend Payal from India….I'm meeting her after ages and she wants to hang out….can I take a rain check on this girls night out and do it some other time??"

Kate nodded…"Of course Khushi….looks like she's your best friend huh??"

"Ya….we've known each other for 7 years and we've been thick as thieves….."

Kate smiled…."Have fun Khushi…"

Payal returned after informing Aaksh and the two best friends left the pub, making their way for Khushi's place.

After they left, Aakash made his way to Arnav….."I've never asked you what happened between you two Arnav….but I wish you'd tell me….I can't take this anguish on your face anymore brother….tell me what's wrong….maybe I couuld help you…."

Arnav kept his drink down and looked at his friend….he couldn't help the memories of that horrible day as they rushed in thick and fast….

FLASHBACK

Arnav walked back to his suite dejected and drunk….they'd come to England for a test series and things were going horribly wrong….they'd lost the first test by a huge margin and two days down, the second one too seemed to be slipping out of their hands….to top it all, he was in a pathetic form and wasn't among runs….plus he was facing criticism from all corners for his captaincy….Khushi had not come with him for the match that day as she was unwell and had wanted to stay in bed….

He reached the suite and let himself in….the first thing he saw was Khushi sleeping in bed instead of waiting for him….he sat on the couch and removed his shoes and threw them into a corner angrily….Shyam's words from earlier that day kept coming back to him…."She didn't come to watch you….aww…what will Arnav do without his lucky charm….looks like she's not interested in you now that you're facing criticism….poor baby….i doubt she's ill….maybe she's not satisfied with your performance in bed either and she's ****ing another guy while you're here…."….try as he might, he wasn't able to forget the words….he looked at the sleeping Khushi and walked to her angrily…..

He removed the quill that covered her and stared at her body…..his eyes searched the room for signs of her being with anyone else but he didn't see any….he sat beside Khushi and slid his hand into her jeans and stroked her…..Khushi immediately woke up with a start and slapped him as reflex…..she pulled up the quilt to her shoulders and looked up to see who it was…..her face was horror struck when she saw Arnav clutching his face…..

"Arnav….I'm…I'm really sorry….I didn't mean to slap you….I just thought…."

"What did you think…that I was your english boyfriend…."

"English boyfriend…?? I don't have any English boyfriends Arnav…you're my boyfrind, and as far as I know you've no english blood…." She said lightly trying to diffuse the tension….

On normal days Arnav wouldn't even think of all these things but as they say bad days and too much alcohol get the worst out of you and here there was the combined force….so he went on angrily….saying things he hadn't even dreamt of saying….

"Very funny Khushi….who are whoring yourself to behind my back huh??"

Khushi looked at him taken aback and disgusted….."Arnav….how could you even think I would….

Arnav broke in…"Cut the Sati Savitri routine Khushi….I never knew you were such a sl*t…."

Khushi was repulsed by Arnavs behaviour…."You're not in your senses Arnav…..do you even know what you're saying…."

Arnav laughed…"You're such a brilliant actress Khushi….you should be given an award…."

Khushi had tears in her eyes….."What's wrong with you Arnav….?? Why are you doing all this…??"

Arnav was irritated by her tears…."Save your crocodile tears for someone else you Bi**h….they aren't working on me…."

Khushi sobbed harder and walked to him…"Arnav please….what's happened to you…."

Arnav just pushed her away and made his way out of the door….he slammed th door shut behind him and left a sobbing Khushi behind….He then made his way to the bar again and ordered a drink…..to his irritation, he was joined by Shyam….Arnav tried ignoring him but Shyam kept following him and goading him….all the time Arnav drank more and more in frustation…..and after that all went blank…..

Tears fell from Arnav's cheeks as he recounted his experience to Aakash….Aakash stood dumbstruck, not knowing what to say….he'd expected bad but he didn't know things had gone so badly…..

"That's bad Arnav…."

"If it was only this, Khushi wouldn't have left…..you don't know the worst part…."

"Worse than this??"

Arnav went on……

"I dunno what happened after that….the next thing I know is I woke up in an unknown room ….my head ached really badly ...seeing that Khuhsi wasn't there, I opened my cell to call her…I was surprised to see a message from me and one from her in the logs….i opened the one I'd sent first…."

Flashback

He looked as the MMS began loading….he wondered what MMS he could've sent Khushi…he hoped he hadn't said anything worse….soon the vedio cleared and he watched as it played…..he was horror struck…how could he have done something like this…..how had he gotten so drunk….he exited and checked the message from Khushi expecting anger….but the helplessness in the message tormented his plight further…she'd sent him an MMS of a song…..he heard as every word of the lyrics made another tear at his heart….

"Its nice to know that you were there,

Thanks for acting like you cared,

And making me feel like I was the only one….

Nice to know we had it all,

Thanks for watching as I fall,

And letting me know that we were done….

You were everything, everything that I wanted,

We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it,

All of the memories so close to me just fade away,

All this time you were pretending, So much for my happy ending….!!

Good bye Arnav….."

Arnav couldn't go on….he was crying bitterly…Aakash felt bad for his friend…he hugged him…the Arnav who'd once been the epitome of anger had been crushed behind the burden of his guilt and had become this helpless cowering creature that stood in front of him…..

"What was in the video…..?" an angry voice came from behind them…..Aakash and Arnav were shocked and turned in unison to see who it was that had heard them.