Chapter#3
Khushi eyes were tightly closed but they flew open once she heard His voice.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to." -He apologized huskily.
Khushi was speechless; she thought she was hallucinating his voice. She looked into the strangers eyes, all confused. Maybe she was thinking about Arnav too much that's why she must be hearing his voice from someone else's lips, Khushi thought. But all her doubts were confirmed when the stranger spoke again.
"Are you okay?" - The stranger asked in concern.
"Say it again..." -Khushi whispered.
"Excuse me?" -His brows twisted.
"Oh my God, Khushi... How did you guys fall?" -Mrs. Smith, the shop owner came running bringing Khushi out of her daze.
The guy helped Khushi get up but all Khushi did was stare at him, he did resemble Arnav a little bit but his voice was just like Arnav's. Khushi felt goose bumps spread up her arms.
"Are you both okay?" -Mrs. Smith asked them and gained a nod from both. She smiled at both of them and left off as another customer came up to the counter.
Khushi quit staring at him and looked down at the books that had fallen. She bent down and started gathering them up. Just then another pair of hands started picking up the books too. She looked up and it was the stranger. He smiled at her and she awkwardly smiled back.
"I'm really sorry for this." -He said in his husky voice.
"Um... no, why are you apologizing? It was me who wasn't looking. I am sorry." -Khushi and the guy both got up and he gave her the books.
"I'm Aryaan. You?" -He took his hand forward.
"Khushi..." -They both shook their hands and smiled at each other.
For a few seconds they stood there awkwardly and then Khushi finally spoke.
"Umm... I have to go. It was nice meeting you Aryaan." -Khushi smiled.
"Yeah... same. It was nice meeting you too." -He smiled back and both went their own ways.
*
Khushi hadn't stopped think about the resemblance. He reminded her of Arnav so much. He was as tall as Arnav, He had his hair gelled the same way, He smiled the same way, his eyes and specially his voice. If she closed her eyes and listened to him she would have been fooled for Arnav.
Khushi brought herself out of her thoughts, thinking that she wasn't going to meet that Arnav-like-guy ever again anyway.
*
Khushi had decided to go for a break-fast in a street restaurant that was right around the corner as her parents were out for work and Siddharth was out to his college.
Khushi sat at the most corner table of the foot path as a waiter appeared by her side and started taking her order. As he went Khushi knew she had to wait for some time so she took out her book that she had bought yesterday and started reading it.
A few minutes later, she saw a couple; a young couple came and sat on the opposite table. As the couple also had their orders placed, she saw how the guy took the girl's hands in his and his smile replaced a guilty look.
"I...um... this can't go on any more..." - Khushi heard the guy say sadly and just then Khushi's mind flashed those bad memories. The memories she didn't want to remember, the ones she was trying so hard to forget but she couldn't.
Flashback
14th February, 6:00pm
"I am going to be so late! He asked me to get there by 6. Payal! Help me wear something." -Khushi ran around the room crazily looking for something to wear.
"You don't have anything in red. Oh look, found one!" - Payal took out the dress out of the pile of messy clothes. "You can wear this with these skinny jeans." -Payal took the black jeans out of the other messy pile of clothes.
Khushi quickly wore her clothes and did her hair in loose curls just at the bottom of her silky long hair and twisted her bangs to one side.
*
With Khushi being ready Payal quickly dropped her off to the sea side where Arnav had called her.
"Payal, I don't know why I feel so wrong. I'm just scared that something bad might happen. He just asked me to be there very seriously which scared me the most and..." -Khushi shook her head negatively, restlessly.
"Khushi, stop being insane... there is nothing bad that is going to happen. He must want to give you a big surprise." -Payal assured her.
"Plus I don't know if I should tell him about my father's job in London. My dad said we have leave as soon as possible when he comes back from London. I don't want to leave... now." -Khushi sadly said.
"Khushi if you really love him, you should tell him and if he really loves you back he'll definitely understand." -Payal suggested.
*
By the time Khushi got to the sea-side, it was dark. She could see someone standing by the pier; a tall, manly structure. Khushi smiled slightly, and hid the gift she had bought for him behind her back and slowly approached him.
"Hi!" -Khushi jumped in front of him smilingly.
"Hey..." -He whispered, sounding serious.
Suddenly Khushi's smile was gone and she became worried.
"Arnav, is something wrong? You've been like this for 2 days and it's scaring me now. If it's some kind of act then please stop." -Khushi held his arm and slightly shook him.
"Khushi we need to talk." -Arnav said looking straight into her eyes.
The feeling Khushi had been getting since morning was back. Something bad was about to happen. Khushi's heart beat increased and all of a sudden she felt odd and cold.
"What is it?" -Khushi barely whispered.
"Khushi... you need to listen to me first, okay? We... can't be together any more." -Arnav declared in a breath.
Khushi just stared at him as she turned pale and felt her heart crumble up and break down in to a thousand pieces of glass. She stared at him wide eyed, trying to comprehend what he was saying.
"Khushi, I just can't do this anymore. You're a very nice girl, I've had an amazing time with you but I just couldn't find the right feelings for you. I couldn't see you more than a very, very good friend. I didn't want to hurt you Khushi and please don't cry..." -Arnav stopped to get a response from her but continued as she stayed quite. "I need you to know that I kind of like someone else... I'm sorry." -Arnav stopped as he couldn't find words.
"Oh." -Khushi said and lowered her gaze. She blinked back her tears, not wanting to show him that she would cry.
"Khushi, I'm really sorry." -Arnav came closer to her but stopped as she took a step back.
"That's okay..." -Khushi whispered. "I was going to go away anyway." -Khushi looked back into his eyes.
"Going to go away anyway?" -His brows twisted and confusion took over him.
"I'm going to London Arnav... forever. I was going to tell you but then you..." - hushi gulped and tried hard to control her tears.
"Oh, have a safe flight then." -Arnav simply said. "Good-bye" -He whispered.
Khushi turned and whispered a good bye as well. As she turned the tears she was controlling strolled down. She wanted to look back at him and she wanted him to hug her one last time but she couldn't turn back. She felt her throat burn and more tears spilled down from her eyes.
As she walked slowly, she came next to Arnav's car. Khushi kept the small box wrapped up in a shiny red wrapper with a black bow on top, by the side of his car. It was enough for him to see. The gift would always remind him of Khushi.
Now that she was in safe distance, she looked back and saw his figure, up far and sitting down throwing pebbles into the water.
That was the last time Khushi had seen him. That was the last time Khushi had seen the world properly because she had totally cut her self off from the world. Even from her best-friends. She had left without saying good-bye.
Flashback ends
Khushi looked at the couple disturbingly and then shifted her gaze to the girl. She had the same confused, cheerless and miserable look on her face. Khushi couldn't bare it anymore. She took her bag and quickly put her book inside.
You had to move on! Khushi thought to herself.
"Ma'am your order..." -The waiter said but Khushi left without saying anything.
*
Chapter # 4- https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/87450077
Sorry for the late update! I promise the next one will be quick. Loads of love dolls! Looking forward to your comments and likes. ^_^
Next Up - Aryaan and Khushi become really close. They go to India to attend a wedding. Khushi meets her friends. Meets Arnav. And gets to know something about Aryaan!
Cricket
