ARHI FF:From first crush to eternal love pt 12 pg 72 updated 23/03 - Page 8

Chapter 3

They pulled into the driveway of Mehta house. Home at last Khushi thought. Nothing had changed since she had left. The stone path driveway leading up to the house, the white colour paint of the house which is always re-done every year, the fountain you have to circle round to get to the front door, the garages just a little way towards the side of the house and the beautiful flower garden just outside the window. She wondered if the inside was just the same.

She walked into the house to find it hadn't changed one bit since she was a child. The white's, reds and gold's perfectly in their places. Leather seating in the middle of the hall circling a large glass table with a vase placed in the middle, a red rug underneath, a staircase towards the end of the large hall with a red carpet going along the steps, two other flights of stairs leading from the main staircase towards the upstairs bedrooms, one corridor next to the stairs leading towards the kitchen and outside garden while the other side leading towards the study and library.

 Before even making it into the hall "KHUSHI" Garima yelled. "What do you think you are wearing?" Khushi knew this was coming. She had known this for a long time. "Clothes amma" came the sarcastic remark. "Don't use that tone with me young lady" Garima yelled while Khushi just rolled her eyes at her mum. "What's wrong with what I am wearing amma? It's todays fashionable clothes." "I don't care if it is today's fashionable clothes you are not wearing them. Now go upstairs and get changed." "Leave it Garima" Shashi intervened. "She has to wear these kinds of clothes now. Your forgetting one day she has to take over the business and she has to be accustomed to these kinds of clothing to survive in today's world." "But Payal doesn't wear these kind of clothes" Garima pointed out. "Payal doesn't because you don't allow her to. I don't mind if she did wear them kind of clothes. You do remember before I had to take over the business I wore dhoti's but ever since we moved here years ago I had to adjust." Garima was still not happy. Khushi looked at her father with a huge smile on her face while Shashi gave her quick gesture with his head to get out of here before your mum starts up again. Khushi got the point and left to go to her room before Garima got started up again.

She was heading to her room when she saw a door at the end of the corridor. She moved forward towards the door very slowly. Once in front of the door her hand went around the door handle but she couldn't bring herself to open the door. Be brave she told herself, turned the handle and opened the door.

She walked into a vast white coloured bedroom. The king size bed still in the middle of the room covered in brown with a large photo framed picture of her parents sitting above the bed. She walked over to the picture and just stood there and stared. She sat down on the bed her hand going over the pillows and duvet caressing them remembering her parents. A tear escaped her eye and she started crying as memories started flowing.

"Papa, Ma" a six year old Khushi came running in first thing on a Sunday morning waking her parents up while jumping up and down on the bed with a huge grin on her face. "It's Sunday. Can we go to the park pleaassseee?" screamed Khushi while she was still jumping up and down on the bed. Janaki got up to restrain her daughter but Khushi got of the bed and ran towards the open arms of her father who hid her in his chest away from his wife. "Why do you always spoil her? She needs some kind of discipline Chandar. You know that" Janaki looked at her husband exasperated. "We have time. She is only six yet. Let her have some kind of fun while she is little. We can do the whole discipline thing when she is a bit older. Anyhow we have to get up and go. Khushi wants to go to the park and we will go to the park" looking at his daughter who gave him a huge smile her eyes twinkling.

The memory now clear in her head bringing more tears to her eyes as she picked up the pillow pulled it towards her chest and sobbed into it.

Payal had come up a little while after Khushi. She was heading to her room when she saw the last door along the corridor open and knew she wasn't in her room. She walked up to the room, walked in and saw Khushi crying. She quickly moved towards her sister and before long Khushi was crying on Payal's shoulder. Payal hugged her sister while trying to calm her down. "I miss them jiji" Khushi croaked through the sobs. "I know Khushi. I know" Payal replied while soothing a crying Khushi.

After a while Payal held Khushi's shoulders and moved back to look at Khushi. Using her hand she wiped away her tears and ushered her back to her room.

Once Payal had Khushi out of her parent's room she closed the door and led Khushi to her own room. Payal opened the door to Khushi's room and allowed Khushi to go in first to find a big banner saying 'Welcome back Khushi love big sis Payal' and a small cake on the table in front with presents. Khushi's eyes suddenly lit up as she saw everything and a smile appeared on her face. She turned to look Payal and gave her a hug. "Thank you jiji" Khushi said. "Your welcome Khushi, your always welcome" Payal replied.

Khushi came out of the hug and went over to the table while Payal followed. Khushi cut the cake and Payal fed her a piece while Khushi fed Payal a piece of the cake. She started opening up the presents to find a blue chiffon designer sari, a matching handbag, matching shoes and a gorgeous necklace and earring set to go with the sari. Khushi liked the presents but looked up at Payal. "Jiji I haven't worn sari's in a long time." "That's ok Khushi but you have to wear it on my engagement" Payal said slightly blushing. "Jiji" Khushi shouted in excitement "Who is it? When did you meet him? When do I get to meet him? Do you love him? Or did bauji and amma introduced you?" she asked in one breathe. "Calm down Khushi" Payal said watching her sister being over excited "You can meet him tonight at the party and grill him with all your questions." "At least tell me his name." "Akash" Payal replied unable to hold her cheeks from blushing red. "Wait jiji. What party?" Khushi asked looking shocked. "Oops. I wasn't supposed to tell you" a very guilty looking Payal exclaimed. "Bauji is throwing you a welcome home party. Plus it gives you a chance to meet all his business associates. You do remember you have to take over the business now that your back." Khushi sighed "I know jiji but I am looking forward to this party now. I'm going to NK to invite him" she said sounding excited. Payal looked at her curiously. "Who's NK?" she asked. "Oh jiji I met him on the plane" and with that she went on to tell Payal all about him.

Downstairs Shashi had left to go back to the office but he had to make a detour. He headed off to AR group of fashion houses.

Arnav had been in a meeting when aman had come in and told him Shashi Gupta was there to see him. Arnav postponed the meeting to go see him. He walked into his office to find Shashi looking out of the window. "Uncle aap? Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Instead you could have summoned me to your office. You know I can't say no to you." Shashi turned around to look at Arnav with a smile "I know beta you would have come if I asked you to come but saying no to me you have already once." Arnav felt the awful that the one time this man had asked him to do something he had to say no. "Uncle I couldn't you should know that" walking away to his chair avoiding Shashi's gaze. "Yes I know and I also know why you said no. Arnav beta please don't feel guilty. You said what was on your mind and I am glad you trust me enough to tell me what was in your heart" Shashi elaborated trying hard to pacifying Arnav. Arnav looked at Shashi not knowing what to say.

Shashi changed the subject. "You still coming to the party tonight?" Shashi enquired. "Yeah uncle I am. I don't want to miss it. Anyhow it has been a long time since I have seen Khushi" Arnav answered remembering the twelve year old he had seen, talked to and befriended all those years ago but neither of them had kept in touch. Actually thinking about it he wanted to keep in touch but she had become elusive. After a while he gave up on her but now it would be good to see if she has still as he remembered. Pigtails, braces and either she wore anarkali's or chudidar's looking very much like a little girl that she was. The image made him smile a little. Shashi was looking at Arnav trying to gage what he was thinking about. "When was the last time you saw Khushi?" "Ten years ago" Arnav said with a smirk. Shashi couldn't think why Arnav was smirking. He left it at that and left to go back to his office.

Arnav sat back on his chair once he had escorted Shashi out of the building saying if he needed anything all he had to do was summon him. Arnav started going over his conversation he had with Shashi and felt guilty for the one time he had to say no.

"Arnav bitwa. Shashi beta had just come with a proposal for you. He would like you and Payal to get married" a grinning Devyani said. Arnav had just come back from the office late that evening and after hearing what his nani had to say he froze. Not uttering another word he stormed out of the house with his nani shouting out to him but he didn't stop. He got back into his car and headed off to the Mehta house.

He got to the main gate where the security guard seeing who it was let him in through the gates. He parked the car in front of the house with a screech. He sat in the car for a little while trying to calm down. He got out as the door was opened by one the servants. "Where's Shashi uncle?" he asked a trembling servant. "In the study sir" came the answer. Arnav walked straight passed Garima and Madhumati who were discussing Payal getting married when Arnav had walked in. They saw he was upset and wondered what was going on.

Arnav ignored them and headed straight for the study. He knocked on the door and hearing a "come in" he walked in.

"Oh Arnav beta..." Before Shashi could carry on Arnav interrupted. "Uncle I can't marry Payal. It's not that she is not a great girl but I am not right for her. I have...I have a certain lifestyle and can't change it for anyone. I'm sorry uncle you have asked me for a lot of things before and I have been able to fulfil them but this I just can't" Arnav said not meeting Shashi's gaze because he couldn't believe he was saying no to the man who had helped him become who he was today. Shashi looked at Arnav carefully before answering. He got up off his chair and walked up to him. placing a hand on his shoulder he spoke "Arnav I am glad you told me what you feel. It doesn't matter I would have been glad to see you as my son-in-law but if it is not meant to be then no need to worry. Don't feel guilty. Payal will get someone else." Arnav felt the pang of guilt but he couldn't help how he felt and marriage was something he didn't want in his life and it wouldn't have been fair on Payal. "May I make a suggestion uncle" Arnav said after a few minutes of silence. "Of course Arnav beta. By all  means." "I don't want to get married to no one ever but if you still want someone decent for Payal I would suggest my cousin Akash. Believe me he would a much better bet than me." Shashi mulled over suggestion for a while. "I would need to speak to the family but I have no problem with it." Arnav felt a bit lighter when Shashi had said this.

He took his leave and went but abruptly stopped when he saw Payal standing outside the study. He was about to say something when Payal put her hand up to stop him. "You don't need to feel guilty Arnav. Actually if bauji had asked me if I wanted to marry you I would have said no." Arnav was taken aback by this. "Mr Raizada I have heard of your reputation and I have to say it doesn't put you in the best of lights. A girl would have to be mad to marry you. No offence" Payal said. Arnav didn't know what to say. He just ended up leaving from there and headed home.

Arnav was brought out of his thoughts when Aman knocked on his cabin door just to be told about his next appointments.

Once everything had been done at the office he went back home to get ready for the party he was so looking forward to wondering how a little girl he had met over a decade was any different to what he remembered.