"Arnav ."
"hmm.."
"Arnav."
"hmmm'."
"Listen to me baba!"
"Kya hai Khushi, im trying to fix my tie. I wonder what goes wrong everytime."
"uff! Meri baat zadi important hai. Give this to me." She snatched the tie he was so helplessly trying to get the knot tied of.
"Zadi nahi, zyada.. meaning "more". When will you fix your speech?"
"When you learn to fix your tie. Plus you know I have hardly lived with my Indian mother to know her language."
"hmmm.."
"Phir se hmm.. thumhari masla kya hai."
"Khushiii, THUMHARA not thumhari, thumhari is for girls. Why don't you just speak in English with me."
"ok fiinee'" she pouted adorably and tried to get the knot straightened for Arnav.
It was still a week to their graduation, college was finally over and unfortunately today was the day it had hit Khushi that they had all grown up.
"ok now stop pouting and tell me whats wrong." Arnav knew his best friend, he knew she was upset over the entire college ending experience and he also knew that Khushi was yet to come to terms with the fact that they were all separating. 13 years was a looonngg time to stay together and that is how long Arnav, Khushi, Payal, Akash, NK and lavanya had stayed. Together since pre nursery, their parents knew each other and the friendship had passed on to them.
"You know whats wrong and I can see you are avoiding it."
"Growing old is inevitable Khushi but growing up is optional." This was his favorite quote, after all he was the one who came up with it. When Khushi was done fixing his tie, which he never gets right in the first try Arnav put his arms around her lower back bringing her closer to him. Though this is counted as an intimate gesture but for Arnav and Khushi it was normal. They knew they had feelings for each other but none wanted to get into a relationship so they kept it to being best friends.
"You always say that however u miss the point that we will still grow up. Look at you trying to tie the knot of a tie, preparing yourself for office, Payal has already started an internship, whenever I call Lavanya shes into some market checking out samples for her clothing line, Akash hasn't left his kick boxing practices and even wants to participate in the competition for which he is leaving for NewYork and NK is leaving for Australia. Isn't this all bad enough, hum sub alag ho jayenge. Phir mean kya karegi?"
"Karegi nahi, Karungi."
"ARNAV!"
"ok, ok, I get your point baba'"
"no you don't baba!"
"Khushi I '"
"chotey mean-" the view infront of Anjali was a Khushi in Arnavs arms and he was trying to pacify her for something. Well she knew better not to interfere in their lives, she had full trust on Khushi and knew it wasn't what it looked like.
"What is wrong with you two, Akash has been waiting in his car for the past 5 mins, hurry up and leave."
It was their pre graduation party and soon after it was the graduation and then everyone would leave.
The party was in full swing and the group sat on a table discussing future plans, it was the new hot topic around them and Khushi hated it.
"I finally got done with my sample shopping today, man it was hectic' it scared the bejezus out of me. Making clothes is not as easy as choosing them on a rack."
"Lav relax, if you are passionate about it then it won't be so scary at all. Look at Khushi she can go to any extent to perfect her film, I remember one time she even sat in a mud puddle just because the "shot" was amazing." Payal was always the practical one mused Khushi, they all knew making clothes was one of Lavanyas new hobby which would die soon and in her defense the shot was amazing from that angle.
"NK when are you leaving for Australia?"
"Im leaving on the graduation night, Akash."
"ok I was thinking ill leave with you, I have to meet my relatives and then head to newyork."
"why are you leaving so soon.?"
"Khushiii'. I know.. I .. we will stay in touch! I promise." And the promise was sealed with him patting on her hand across the table. They all exchanged a look of worry since all of them were well aware of Khushis sensitive situation. She was going to stay in India, since she wanted to become a film maker then what better place than Mumbai and though she had to live with her mother in the city she wasn't even born in she had to make this sacrifice for her passion for film making. And the worst part was all of them were leaving. Payal was moving to Delhi, still comparatively close by, Arnav was moving to London, NK to Australia and Akash to Newyork. Lavanya had decided to take a gap year and explore her opportunities, typical her, trying to run away from studies.
The party had finished late after midnight and they had decided to go in one car, it was like being kids all over again. Lavanya, Payal, Akash and NK were in the back seat while Arnav was driving and next to him was Khushi. The four troublesome beings sitting at the back were plotting on how to leave Khushi and Arnav alone, they knew there was something between the two which they weren't confessing which irked the crazy foursome. That's when Payal had an idea, if she insisted on being dropped first then Lavanyas house would come second and Akash was pushed into staying with NK whose house was after Lavanyas. After all Akash would never go against Payal, the love of his life, though Payal was very against the whole idea of solely shifting to NY for kickboxing and then joining a university their she had given in out of her love and they had promised to maintain a long distance relationship. So since the plan worked Arnav and Khushi were left alone but damn the duo, they had not spoken until they reached to Khushis house and realized it was locked. Apparently after calling her mother Khushi realized it was time she should start carrying her own key, her mother was out on a date and didn't have plans of coming home soon, she had suggested khushi to stay at a friends but Khushi refused and asked her to drop the key before she proceeded with her plans. Khushi had nothing against her mother, she knew her mom felt lonely after her divorce and it was ok for her to date since this man looked very much interested and had acted decent everytime she met him. Arnav had requested to stay with her till her mother came and they sat in KhushiS backyard garden on two swings.
"Khushi."
"hmm.."
"*he chuckled* you are not giving me the taste of my own medicine, talk to me please."
She sighed in response and turned towards him to see his face closer to hers. He was leaning towards her along with his swing, though he hadn't meant to be this close but when khushi had turned her swing came closer to his bringing them direct face to face.
The few seconds that passed through them seemed like hell, anticipation and fear were all mixed up. Arnav alternated between looking in her eyes and at her trembling lips, he had given her all the signals regarding his next move, enough for her to back down but she hadn't and that's what gave him the courage to kiss her. The first contact was soft, it was a closed mouth kiss, a light peck which came as quickly as it ended. Afraid he looked back in her eyes, they were shut and when she opened her eyes she saw Arnav staring at her. Mutually they leaned in at the same time, this time Arnav kissed her lower lip since she had parted for him, on impulse Khushis hand went to clutch Arnavs white T-shirt. The sucking and nipping continued while Khushi twisted her finger on his shirt to bring him closer with one had and trying to balance herself on the swing with another. In a second she felt swept into Arnavs lap which gave her other hand access to hold his hair. The kiss had started as a good bye kiss, turned into something of reassurance, what none of them could fathom was when had it gone out of control. Just when Khushi felt Arnavs tongue on her lips she heard the horns. It was her mother, she chaotically got up from Arnavs lap and rushed to get the keys. She was sure her mother wont notice her deshelved form in the dark and that's exactly what happened. She tried to open the house with her trembling hands but freezed when she felt Arnavs hand on hers. The next moment she was pushed into the door, keys forgotten, it was like her hands had their own journey. He was kissing her again, she was aware, what she wasn't aware was when had her hand gotten into his hair and the other clutching his back. This time he did manage to get his tongue in her mouth and felt his whole body shudder at the sensation. His one hand was clutching Khushis curled lose bun while the other held her tightly in an embrace. The kisses slowed down to light pecks and latter they just held each other close, trying to regain their breath and calm down their heavily beating heart. No words were spoken, no promises made, no apologies given, Arnav had driven home soon after. The graduation had gotten done with in no time and it was all over.
It had been eight years now, eight years to the pre graduation party. Khushi was standing in her pent house house in LA where her office was, the pre grad party picture in her hand. Everytime she missed these people she would come to this wall and stare at her most cherished memories.
"The pre grad party"
"hmm.."
"oyiii-"
"sorry baba!."
She had felt him around but was not sure if he had returned home until she found herself encircled in his arms. She kept the frame back, along with this was the picture when she had received her first IIFA award for her short film, next to it was Arnavs picture receiving entrepreneur of the year award, above it was Payal and Akash's wedding picture, along with it was the picture Lavanya had sent after completing her culinary course and next to it was NK's in which he was on a trip to Bahama's looking like a tanned freak show. Amongst these were many more pictures surrounding the wall making it the memory wall of Khushi. She had set this for their kids, when the kids would grow up they would follow their legacy. She turned in his arms to face him.
"When is the crazy group arriving?"
"Lavanya is already here, ive sent NK to pick her up, Akash and Payal would arrive later in the night."
"I cant believe Payals pregnant with her second child. Im hopping it would be a girl." She was enthusiastic about the whole idea since Payal had a cute 4 year old boy and now she wanted to be the aunt of a baby girl.
"Me neither, I never thought they could pull it off with long distance, but oh well.. everything happened for good. However I do think you should start thinking about our kids."
This had earned mister Raizada the three O's.
"ARNAV! We are about to get married in a week, think about honey moon, future settlements right now. ill make it clear Mr. Raizada I will not have kids till the first 2 years, we will plan in the third year and have a kid in the fourth, by then ill be 30 and you 31."
She smiled contently at her calculations and kissed a stunned Arnav soundly after stepping out of his arms to set the dining table.
"KHUSHI"
"kya hui baba!"
"hui nahi- forget it! WE'RE OLD!"
"I told you way back but you were living in your own delusional wolrd."
"I know khushi BUT!"
"Growing old is inevitable Khushi but growing up is optional" She mimicked him and ran to the kitchen laughing her heart out. This is what he had said to her eight years ago. Who knew their lives would change so much.
After the graduation everyone had left, first 2 years the only contact they had was through facebook, whatsapp or viber. But that too was a lot less, university was tough and required a lot of their spare time. None of them left the hope of meeting again such was their friendship and they had met again in Mumbai after university ended excluding Arnav and Lavanya. It was Payal and Akashs engagement and the wedding was supposed to take place after a year. After payals engagement Khushi had gone to Goldsmith university to complete her media course and also to attend the IIFA awards. She had released her short film a years ago which didn't gain much awareness but did very well with the critics. That is when she had met Arnav, he was the same, the feeling between them was the same. He had taken her to the young entrepreneurs of the year awards and had been on his side along with Anjali when he was awarded. The night had turned out to be a passionate one for them, this time the kiss was not enough to satiate the longing they felt. However as they say rest was history, in the fourth year all of them met at Payals wedding. Arnav and Khushi were already the talk of the town "a blooming film maker and a flourishing entrepreneur". NK had gotten into a well known IT company and was planning to stay in Australia, during his stay in NY Akash had found his passion for architecture and had continued it along with kickboxing. The kickboxing however ended after their first son Mural came to the world. Lavanya had still been in her exploring phase but promised to have found her one true love that was cooking. Paris had left her starstruck, not just the clothes and fashion but also the food.
Khushi couldn't help thank God for all that had happened in her life. She saw Lavanya arguing with NK over some wine, since she was a chef now she considered herself master of food knowledge and wouldn't budge even if she was wrong. Payal was all cozied up with her husband living in the after effects of having another bundle of joy in their life. Mural slept on Khushis lap since she was his favorite aunt and he claimed she loved him the most while Khushi had chosen to remain in Arnavs arms even after he kept teasing her with his inappropriate touches.
"I love you." And so he did, she could see it in his eyes, it was always there, it just took her 10 years to realize it.
"I love you 2,3,4''' raised to infinity!"
"hehe see we are not grownups."
"aahh I see, so we should not do what grownups do then". He looked at her suspiciously and got the meaning only when she had winked at him.
"Khushi tum nahi bachogi, just wait-"
"Arnav shhh, Mural jag jaye gi."
"jaye gi nahi-" and that's when he saw it, the mischief, all these years she had been troubling him.
Oh the irony and then they call themselves grownups!
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how was it!!!
really would appreciate some nice comments and thoughts to it..
this topic is surely a very touchy one for me!
still living in the after effects of growing up 😆
-Tabby J.
Cricket
Anupamaa
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