ARHI FF: Do you feel loved? Note|Sep11|Pg75*NEW - Page 25

Hope to see the next update soon!

Wonderful story...read it in one go 😃

amazing story just read all the chapters...continue soon

New Reader Alert !!

Hey:)
Just loved your story. Would like to read more😊

Just read all the parts of your story and i totally love it
I can't want for future updates
This is one of those stories which i will be waiting impatiently for the next update :)
I never realised until you mentioned at the end of your update that I've never read a Shyaam and Anjali wedding happening as well
I like how you show how different characters are important for ArHi to grow in there relationship

Lovely really enjoyed reading it :)

A/N:

I would like to dedicate this update to:

Nidhi (nidsubh007) - Thank you for choosing me as your writer of the week. You don't know just how much your gesture means to me. Thanks for sticking with this story and encouraging me to write. You are my first IF friend and I hope to maintain it for a long time to come.

Anaviabhi - She has been sending me her long comments via PM after every update right from Part-1! Thank you! I can't believe you like my story enough to take so much time out to comment on each and every update. It is readers like you who motivate me to write. I know I don't always reply to your comments, but I read and cherish every one of them.

A big thank you all those people who've liked and commented on the previous chapter. Please keep the love coming. [J]

* * * * *

Part 16 - Insecure

'I don't know what to do La! How can I even broach the subject? He'll kill me!'

'Don't worry Koo, I'm sure he'll be ok with it. After all, you haven't taken off in almost 2 years! You really deserve this break'

'What about you?'

'I'll cover for you in case we're short staffed when you're off. And then I'll take a week off before the wedding. I can attend all the major events then. I'm sure he can manage that'

Khushi took a deep breath and knocked, silently sending up a prayer to her Devi Maiyya. La sent up a prayer for her friend too. God knows she needed this time to be with Arnav and have some fun after all that they'd been through these past couple of years.

* * * * *

'Hello Arnavji? It's done!'

'What the?'

'Ji aap apne what the kabhi complete kyon nahi karte? Khair chodiye na Arnavji! Hum aa rahe hain aapke saath...poorey char hafthon ka chutti mila hain hamein. Ab tho aap khush hain na?'

'Khush! What are you saying? And why the hell are you calling me ArnavJI?'

'Uff Arnavji! Aap itna jaldi ghussa kyon hote hain? Hum lucknow jaa rahe hain, isliye thodi bahut tehzeeb tho seekhna padega na?'

Khushi giggled over the phone and Arnav sighed hearing her tinkling laughter. He realized that he lived to hear her laugh these days. His days and nights, his every thought was filled with Khushi these days. His heart ached to see her and hold her in his arms.

'So you got it? Is that what you're trying to say?' Arnav tried to reign in his excitement!

'Yes!'

'Khushi! That's wonderful!!'

'Arnav! A whole month off! I can't wait to spend it with you'

'I know sweetheart...me neither! I'll see you soon ok?'

'Ok!'

'Khush! Can you hang on for a minute? There's someone at the door, but I need to talk to you about something'

Before Khushi could reply, she heard a squeal on the other end of the phone.

'Arrnavv! I missed you! I'm sooo glad you're still here! We can finally spend some alone time. Well? Aren't you going to give me a hug?'

'Mia! What a surprise!'

Arnav came back on the line...

'Uh! Khush! Can I call you back? Mia is here. Ok? Bye!'

And before Khushi could say goodbye, she heard a click...Arnav had already hung up!

Khushi's eyes instantly filled with tears! She wiped them off roughly and chided herself for being so silly. She completely trusted Arnav and she had trusted him when he had said that he hadn't been with anyone ever since Khushi confessed her love for him all those years ago. She had no reason to worry. Mia was just a friend. But certain things that Anjali Di had told her about Mia started nagging Khushi at the back of her mind. She started wondering why Arnav had brought Mia to his house? Except Abhi and a couple of his other guy friends, he had never brought anyone home. And certainly not any of his girlfriends...so how was Mia different? Special? Khushi shook her head and tried to concentrate on the charts she was updating. But her eyes kept darting back to her phone, waiting for Arnav to call back. She looked at her watch...9:00 pm! What was she doing at Arnav's apartment so late at night? And if they were just friends, why not meet outside for dinner or drinks? Why come to his house unannounced? How come Arnav had given her that liberty to drop in any time? Khushi closed the file with a bang, frustrated. She had to get these thoughts out of her head...and fast! She got up from her desk and headed towards the Doctor's lounge to get some coffee. She would let this go! Her resolve got weaker and weaker as she waited for Arnav to call her back, but the night passed slowly without her phone ringing...

* * * * *

As Khushi entered her driveway at 7 in the morning and went to park her car in the garage at the back of the house, she saw her Bauji and Arnav's Dad talking in the backyard and drinking tea. As she got out and locked her car, she saw her Bauji waving her over to them. She smiled brightly to them and walked over and joined them.

'Khushi, Kishore and I were just discussing the plans for Anju's wedding. How was your shift? I hope you're not too tired to spend a few minutes with us?'

'No Bauji! I'm never too tired to have a cup of tea with you' Khushi smiled fondly at her Dad.

Kishore Singh Raizada looked at the tired but still beautiful girl in front of him and smiled fondly at her. He liked Khushi a lot. Without her friendship, their Arnav would have gone totally out of hand long time back. He realized that his youngest resented him and his wife for not spending enough time with them. His tantrums as a kid would drive them crazy and just as they were considering sending him off to a boarding school, Arnav had settled down suddenly. The reason, as he had soon found out, was this very same girl. She kept Arnav grounded and Arnav had slowly started to focus on his studies and had made several new friends to keep him occupied. For that he would be eternally grateful to Khushi.

'Khushi, your Bauji has agreed to cater the wedding. What do you think? Will you be able to help Anju out with the menus?' Kishore asked her.

'Of course Uncle! You don't have to ask. I'll talk to Di today'

'Ram, are you sure you'll be able to spare all your head chefs for a week? How will you manage here?' Kishore asked Ram Gupta.

'Don't worry about it Kishore. Our sous chefs are more than capable of running things smoothly for that much time' Ram assured him.

Ram Gupta was a very famous restaurateur in Virginia and Washington DC. He owned several fine dining Indian restaurants and he had also branched out into various other cuisines. He owned Italian, Mexican, French and Far Eastern restaurants in various prime locations.

'I was thinking of putting Arnav in charge of coordinating the whole wedding Ram. He has just graduated and there is no need for him to start work with this wedding in less than 2 months'

Khushi's head snapped up at the mention of Arnav's name. Whereas her heart would soar at his thought until a few hours ago, this time her stomach churned with an unknown dread. Khushi had to bite her lips hard to stop herself from bursting into tears. It would be very hard to explain herself to her Dad and Kishore Uncle. She just could not fathom her vulnerability. But then she realized that she had put her heart on the line for a second time and there was just too much at stake this time around. Her heart had been trampled once and she knew that she was not strong enough to bear one more heart break.

She broke out of her chain of thoughts when she heard her Dad call out her name a li'l loudly.

'Beta? Where are you lost? I was asking you when Arnav will be back. Do you have any idea?'

'He should be back sometime tomorrow evening Bauji' she replied.

'I think Khushi will be too busy to help Arnav out Kishore. She works long shifts and more often than not at nights. What do you think Beta?' Ram looked expectantly at Khushi.

But before Khushi could answer, Kishore Singh Raizada said, 'Don't worry Ram. I heard Arnav talk to Anju today in the morning. His friend Mia will be coming here to look for an apartment in DC. She will probably be able to help Arnav out. I heard she has some time before she starts work. She is a good kid and I'm sure they'll take care of the major part of the arrangements from here in the next couple of weeks'

Khushi almost choked on her tea as she heard Mia's name. She was coming here? Will she be staying here in Vienna? At Arnav's place? She has a job in DC? Arnav called Di in the morning? So then why hasnt he called me? Khushi's head was spinning with all these thoughts as she struggled to pay attention to what her Dad was saying.

And just as Khushi excused herself from them saying that she needs to freshen uo and rest, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw that it was a text from Arnav. She opened it and read it.

'Good morning sweetheart. Are you home?'

Khushi did not feeling like replying nor did she feel up to talking to him right then. Why were relationships so complicated? She sighed! May be she was over reacting? 'Definitely!' said her inner voice. She picked up her phone and sent him a reply.

'Yeah, I am!'

In the next instant her phone started ringing.

'Khushi! I miss you! How was your shift? Did you manage to sleep for a bit?'

Khushi was touched by his concern. 'It was fine Arnav. Nothing major happened. I did manage to sleep for a couple of hours. Where were you last night? Why didn't you call back?' Try as she may, Khushi could not help the accusatory tone.

'Oh! I was out with Mia and a couple of other friends and we got back really late. I thought of not disturbing you in case you were sleeping. I know how little of that you get these days Khush!'

'Oh I see! So is Mia coming with you tomorrow? How come you didn't tell me she's coming to DC?' Khushi again sounded accusing.

'Khush? What's wrong? Why are you sounding so angry? I was about to tell you now. Yes, Mia is coming to DC. She has minored in public policy and she's been offered a job at the White House by the Domestic Policy Council. She will be starting in a month or so after her security clearance. And NO! She's not coming with me in my car tomorrow. She's going to fly in on Saturday directly to DC. Is that all? Or do you want to know anything else?' Arnav raged at Khushi.

'Don't you dare Arnav! Don't you dare patronize me! You are the one roaming around with your ex-girlfriend and you are the one trying to hide stuff from me. And you expect me to not say anything? Well, if you think so then you have another thing coming. Now if we're done, then I'd like to go and sleep. Bye!'

Arnav couldn't believe that Khushi was so insecure! And ex-girlfriend? Whoever had given her that idea? For the life of him, Arnav couldn't understand this side of Khushi. He dialed her number again. Khushi picked up on the fourth ring.

'What is it Arnav?'

'Don't you dare hang up on me ever again, samjhi tum?' Arnav bellowed!

'And who ever told you that Mia was my girlfriend? She was not! We're just friends Khush! Why are you acting like this? What's wrong?'

'Why should anything be wrong with me? Anyway, I gotta go' Khushi hung up again driving Arnav up the wall. Arnav called her again but she didn't pick up.

* * * * *

Khushi was sitting in the balcony off of her bedroom and it was 11 in the night. She was gazing at the night sky full of stars when she heard a screech on her driveway. She looked down to see who it was and her jaw dropped at the sight. She ran down the stairs as fast as she could and flung open the front door.

'Arnav!!'

Feisty update 😉

Res