FF-Imagination becomes authenticity-COMPLETED! - Page 4

"No Payal you must have been mistaken. I mean...no. Just no" Khushi said, panicking.

"I am not mistaken, Khushi. He has been like this since the past 6 years." Payal said.

"Wha..what happened?" Khushi asked.

'Oh no' Payal thought. 'I'm sorry Khushi, I just can't tell you.' Payal said to her herself.

"See Khushi, his father was with another woman and then his father committed suicide." Payal said.

Khushi was about to say something but was stopped by Payal.

"Now don't ask me why because nobody knows except Arnav. The easygoing Arnav that you used to know has changed. Now he is full of anger. He doesn't believe in God. He shouts. Needs everything to be done perfectly. He gets what he wants. He doesn't smile. Even when he's with us he never pays attention to what we say. He hates people who talk back to him. Oh and he's diabetic." Payal told Khushi.

"Holy shit! A diabetic?" Khushi said. "He used to love the cookies I made, Remember?" Khushi said.

"Yes, of-course I do. He was only reason you brought cookies to school" Payal said laughing softly.

"Oh tomorrow is the dinner. Its here, our house. He'll come. So look pretty." Payal said with a wink.

"What's the point? He used to hate me then and now I bet he hates me more!" Khushi said, sadly.

"Why would he hate you?" Payal asked.

"Because when I bumped into him, I insulted him. Only if I knew it was him" Khushi said.

"No, Khushi. He lov... I mean he loves his family and friends but he doesn't show it. If he gets to know that you are Khushi, he'll be really happy." Payal said. 'Shit what was I about to say' Payal said to herself.

"Should I go meet him when he comes tomorrow?" Khushi said.

"No no... When all of us friends will be together I'll introduce him to you, okay?" Payal said.

"Okay." Khushi said, distractedly.

"Now let's go to sleep. Its 2.00 am." Payal said.

They both lied down under their quilts. When all of a sudden, Khushi jumped.

"What am I going to wear tomorrow?" Khushi said, scaring Payal.

"You scared me!" Payal said, placing her hand on her heart.

"I'm sorry. But tell me what to wear? Western or Indian?" Khushi asked.

"Umm...Indian. All the girls are wearing saris." Payal answered.

"I don't have a sari." Khushi said worriedly.

"I have lots, you can have them" Payal said.

"Oh! Okay." Khushi said cheerfully.

"Now go to sleep. And scare me once more I swear I'll tell you something that you'll NEVER come into this room alone ever" Payal said adjusting her quilt.

Khushi's eyes widened and she hid under the quilt.

*

Arnav and Anjali both lived with their Grandmother. Arnav's Uncle and Aunt (Mama and Mami) also lived there. Their son Akash was best-friends with Arnav. They went to school together, came back together. Ate food together. They did almost everything together since the time Arnav's mother had died. Arnav didn't get to see his father a lot as he was never home.

Everybody thought that Arnav liked Lavanya but he didn't. She was the one who used follow Arnav everywhere but Nk liked her so he added her to the group. Since school all of them including Payal and Khushi had been good-friends. Later on when Khushi secret slipped her mouth she used to try to stay away from the group as everybody used to tease Arnav and Khushi, both.

*

"Come on Arnav, can't you come at the dinner for me? Is that meeting more important than my wedding?" Akash said insistently.

"Its not you're wedding yet! Your wedding date is not even set yet Akash. It's just a dinner." Arnav said fixing his tie.

"Come on Chote. For your best-friend and me?" Anjali said entering the room.

"Di, please convince him." Akash said holding Anjali's shoulders.

"Agghh...Fine." Arnav said rolling his eyes.

"Yes!" Both Akash and Anjali whispered.

"By the way, Akash. I was wondering if you have any sister-in-law." Anjali said.

"Not really but Payal has a best-friend. They've been best-friend since grade 6 and she is here also. She is my sister-in-law. Well yeah kind-of." Akash said.

"Oh I think I met her yesterday" Anjali said.

"Really? Her name is Khushi." Akash said.

"Yes Khushi. Yesterday her dress got stained so I helped her wash it. She is a lovely girl with the cutest British accent." Anjali said.

Arnav was listening to the whole conversation.

'Khushi? Payal's best-friend? British accent?' Arnav thought.

"Khushi?" Arnav said. Akash and Anjali turned towards Arnav.

"Yes, Arnav. Khushi." Akash said. "You remember her from school?" Akash continued.

"Umm...yeah. I do." Arnav said.

"You know her Chote? She is a very beautiful girl." Anjali said with a grin.

"But wasn't she in England?" Arnav asked Akash, ignoring Anjali's comment.

"Yeah she was, but she is here to attend the wedding" Akash said.

"Oh, I see" Arnav said. "Aren't we getting late? Its 7.00pm? Arnav said.

"Eager to go, Chote?" Anjali said, teasingly.

"Unbelievable" Arnav said while leaving the room.

*

"Oh my God" Khushi said.

"It looks perfect" Payal said.

"No it doesn't. I look weird in a sari. I'm taking it off. I'll wear one of your shalwar kameez." Khushi said.

"No Khushi! Don't you dare?" Payal said.

"But..." Khushi said.

"Please for me?" Payal said.

"I'm wearing it because it's your wedding." Khushi said.

"I love you" Payal said.

Khushi fixed her tongue out at Payal.

Payal and Khushi both were wearing saris. Khushi was wearing a dark purple sari with really light sliver work on the border and the blouse only. She let her hair down and wasn't wearing any extra jewellery except her chain and two bangles. And Payal was wearing a black sari. Both looked beautiful.

"They'll be here any moment now" Payal said.

"Do I look good? I don't." Khushi said.

"You look perfect. I swear believe me. Arnav's going to drool" Payal said. "Plus you can get way better guys than him." Payal said.

"No. He is perfect, just perfect." Khushi said.

"Possessive much?" Payal said winking at her.

*Ding Dong*

"They're here" Payal and Khushi both said.

*

Chapter#7