Do read the Note at the bottom.
Chapter#11
*Nobody's POV*
Khushi had been quite upset after her meeting with Lavanya. She thought she would sort it all out and there shall be a stop to this mess but faith... or lets just say God had other plans made. She was present physically but her mind was away from everything else.
Even before her parents death she wished that her life should have some entertainment and some drama. It had always been her wish. A few months later her parents died. And now she had wished in front of Payal that she had wanted some drama in her life and there it is- Drama! Every body was getting ready to go for the dinner. Khushi had decided that she'll tell Arnav what she had been told by Lavanya even if he doesn't believe her. He will have to listen because she was Khushi Gupta.
'And maybe he'll fall in love with you' Lavanya's words were still ringing in her mind. Love? He despised her. Love, would be the last feeling he'd feel for her. In this short span of time she had always seen hatred from his side and she was just there... falling for him.
It was time to leave for the Raizada mansion. Khushi wore a beautiful mauve sari, it was silk, and the cloth seemed like it was made for her. The silk mauve sari set perfectly on her smooth, soft, fair body. She wore silver round ear rings and her long, silky hair was on one of the sides of her shoulder.
With in a few minutes they were in their car and off to the Raizada mansion.
*
Raizada Mansion
Since Arnav had got to know that The Guptas were coming he had decided that he'll not stay in the house because another encounter with Khushi means another fight with Khushi. Some where deep down he didn't want that but his ASR version taking over he let the thought be and he decided to go to office even if he didn't have work left to do.
Anjali being his sister already knew that he was not in favor of this relationship and also he'll try to avoid her so she had already planned something in the great head of hers. Nani never liked Lavanya. I few years ago she had seen Arnav coming up late at nights and then the great head line on the newspaper followed her curiosity. He was with someone. Knowing his nature very well she didn't try to talk to him but kept giving him hints about what he is doing is not right.
Nani wanted a religious and a down to earth girl for her Chote, Arnav. As she saw Khushi and also the way she looked at him knew straight away that they'd be perfect for each-other. But then again Lavanya could be a wall. Nani and Anjali had clever minds. If Arnav thought like a lion, knowing what move to make and when so that the predator wouldn't catch a hint, Anjali and Nani were no less. Their minds worked like those of a computer. Nani and Anjali, in the first look, knew that Khushi felt something for Arnav and so did Arnav but he was like rock wouldn't let his emotions get out so easily.
*
Nk and Khushi knew each other from their schools. They were good friends but soon Nk's dad had gotten his promotion and had to be shifted to America for good so he had to leave India. It had been 10 years since she had seen him and hadn't even known his 'new' nick name, Nk.
Soon after Nk reached he met Arnav. Since Arnav lived with his parents in America, they got to be neighbors and had spent most of the time together. Anjali was with Nani in India. She had been very attached to Nani and wouldn't agree to leave with her.
Arnav was only 17 years old and one night his parents had a clash. His mother, finding out about the affair of her husband shot herself. For a marriage of almost 21 years she hadn't ever expected such a thing from him as she had been a affectionate wife, played well with her duties and had her good times with her husband but all this affair and coming late at nights, couldn't go in to her once and frightfully she shot her herself. Arnav seeing the whole tragedy gained hatred towards his father and his father going into deep depression got into drugs and soon enough died in a car crash.
Arnav having no where to go stayed with Nk and his family. They got even closer and shortly Nk's family visited India and the Raizada family which was left with Nani, a 20 year old Anjali, Mami and Mama jee and a little Akash as well. The families got close and few years after they went back to America for further studies.
Arnav and Nk were best-friends.
They had an unbreakable bond. Maybe Arnav had turned out to be ruthless, hardnosed, rude and arrogant but Nk was the one with explaining powers. Something's could not be told to Anjali, maybe she was his Di and no matter how close they were or how much he loved her but Arnav trusted Nk more in different matters.
*
As said Khushi and Nk were good friends in school. He was the only guy Khushi used to talk to and the rest of her friends were girls. He had always treated her like a younger sister. Once Khushi was being bullied by a senior Nk had saved her. Nk and Khushi had been friends since then despite the age gap. When Nk broke the news that he was leaving forever for America, Khushi became very poignant. She was cheerless. Before leaving Khushi's parents, Jiya and Shayker, invited his family for dinner. But that was a long time ago...
Khushi had forgotten Nk. One years after Nk had left, Khushi's parents died and she shifted to Delhi, but fate... it plans it all. Khushi knew a 'Nandekisore' not an 'Nk'.
*
As Arnav was now an orphan Nk, Arnav and his family came to India for a while to Delhi. But Nk's dad bought a house there, incase if they'd need to stay longer. Nk was 16 and he still remembered Khushi. He was back in India and now wanted to call Khushi. He had her old number and so he did as he had planned.
"Hello?" Nk called the Landline.
"Hello? Who is this?" An elderly woman spoke from the other end.
"Um... this is Nk... no I am Nandekisore." He said changing his name to his original as he remembered how Khushi never knew of his new nickname.
"Nandekisore? Who do wish to speak to?" The elderly woman spoke, confusion obvious in her voice.
"Yes, um... is Khushi there? Is this Jiya aunty?" Nk said hesitantly.
"Khushi betiya? Oh no my child she left from here a year ago and Jiya betiya is... not in this world anymore." She told in gloomy voice.
"What? She... Jiya aunty died? And Khushi? Where is she?" Nk almost yelled out of shock.
"Yes beta, Jiya and Shayker both died in a car crash, last year. Khushi, her Dadi and her Uncle and Aunt, all of them left for Delhi." She answered.
"Shit." Nk said in a whisper. Incredulity in his voice, his hand went up his hair.
"But who are you my child?" The lady on the other end asked.
"Huh? Um... I am Khushi's fri... um...cousin." Nk said. Nk knew if he had said 'a friend' maybe she took in another way and she'd think that Khushi had male friends. Khushi was from a respectable family, that he knew very well and he didn't want others to think badly about her or her family. Yes, a sensible teenager he was.
"Oh but I've never heard of you..." she said questioningly but Nk cut her off.
"Do you know where they live in Delhi? I'd be very grateful if you'd tell me." Nk said pleadingly.
"Well... I don't know where they live but I do have their landline number." The lady said distractedly.
"Oh um... I think that'll do too. Please tell me I'll write it down." Nk said taking out his I-pod and opening up the notes to type it in.
"******* Okay? Do you want me to repeat?" The lady said.
"No thanks a lot. Bye!" Nk said quickly and shut the phone.
*
As Nk was about to dial the number from the cordless, he heard Arnav calling him. He took him to his room and they started looking at the pictures of his parents. Anjali and Arnav had suffered a lot but they knew how to cope now. It had been 3 weeks since Arnav's parents died and Nk had not gotten any time to get to call Khushi. Nani and Nk's parents had thought that both, Nk and Arnav would be sent back in January with Nk's dad. They had 4 months before they'd go back.
Nk had agreed as he would get to meet Khushi. As another week continued to be hectically busy. On one Sunday Nk sat on the terrace and there he called up for Khushi.
"Hello, can I speak to Khushi?" Nk said with a deep breath held inside him.
"Yeah, sure you can but may I know who are you?" Garima said from the other end.
"I am Nandekisore. I've been with Khushi in school." Nk said hopefully.
"Nandekisore? The one who shifted to America?" Garima said happily.
"Yes, yes I am the one who shifted to America. I'm sorry but who is this? You sound a lot like Jiya aunty." Nk said confusedly.
"No beta I am Garima, Jiya's sister. I was there at the dinner Khushi held for you when you had to leave. I still remember." Garima said.
"Oh yes. Of-course, I remember." Nk said smilingly.
"Here you are Khushi, come here. It's a call for you." Nk heard from the other end.
"A call for me?" Khushi's eyebrow's twisted.
"Hello?" Khushi said frowningly.
"Hello Khushi?" Nk said.
"Yes, who is this?" Khushi said.
"Khushi, Oh god! Khushi it's me Nandekisore. Remember me?" Nk said excitedly.
"Nandekisore? Nanhe? Oh my god. I don't believe me ears. How... why...oh my god. How are you?" Khushi almost screamed into the phone.
"Khushi...I missed you so much. I thought you would've forgotten me. And I am good, really, really good." Nk said.
Both the friends chatted for a few minutes. Nk explained how he has a new best-friend making Khushi jealous and explained how he got to Delhi; also that he got her number from her old house. Nk was hesitant on asking about Jiya and Shayker. She seemed so happy after talking to him, he didn't want her to go all sad but yet he did.
"Khushi... When I called to your old house an old lady picked up she...um...said that Jiya aunty..." Nk said uncertainly.
"Ah...yes. Mom and dad died in a car crash." Khushi said holding back her breath and the tears which had already formed on the corner of her eyes.
"Khushi... I'm so sorry. I just... didn't..." Nk said but was cut off.
"Do be... Nanhe. Well since you're in Delhi why don't you come over? It's been so long, actually a year but still come over." Khushi said with a chuckle.
"Well, okay. I'll be there tomorrow." Nk said with a bright smile on his face.
Talking for another fifteen minutes, Nk saw Arnav coming towards him with swollen eyes. He had cried again.
"Um... Khushi do you mind if I bring my best-friend over with me?" Nk asked.
"No not at all but didn't his parents just pass away? Do you think he'll come? I... myself took a lot of time to recover from the shock but Dadi's advices always worked so the recovery was quick and I had stopped shedding tears." Khushi said quietly.
"I know... That'll be on me. I'll bring him over. It'll be a change for him and maybe you can make another male friend." Nk said teasingly, just to change the topic and not make her sad.
"You know I'll just ignore what you said. I'll reply to that after you get here." Khushi said in a serious tone.
"Haha, we'll see." Nk said challengingly.
"Byeee." Khushi said with a giggle.
"Byee." Nk said.
*
NOTE - Okay, first all all, DONOT get confused my the ages of Nk, Arnav and Khushi. Because I am confused myself. Lol. :P But if they do confuse you just imagine Arnav and Nk to be the same age and Khushi should be WAY younger than Arnav. Because I don't like it when Arnav and Khushi are of the same age. :/ So yeah. And also I had to explain the past because itz Nk timez. ^_^ He'll be of good help. I love him. So if you get confused and have any queries tou ask please. If you don't like the update tou maaf kerdena. :P
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