Khushi's breath hitched in her throat and her heart hammered away at the touch of his lips on hers. How many times had she imagined this moment? How many times had she hoped for it...dreamt it, even.
She didn't know what to do with herself now that the moment was actually happening. All too soon, she felt him break the short kiss and her first instinct was to pull him back. Instead, she opened her eyes to look at him. She didn't know what exactly he saw there but the next moment, he leaned in again. This time, Khushi's lips parted slightly on their own accord, welcoming his. Shock had paralyzed her body and for the next two seconds he had his lips on hers, she stood stock still.
Mistaking her shock for defiance, Arnav was about to pull away when he finally felt her respond. The feather-light brush of her bottom lip against his was enough to hold him in place.
His lips pressed against hers gently once more before the tone of the kiss changed. It turned more possessive, more demanding as she joined in, imitating his movements, trying her best to keep-up without fainting in his arms.
Her knees were turned to Jell-O and her head was filled with an intoxicated haze. Her hand fisted in his hair at his nape while his circled around her waist, pulling her closer. Years of leashed passion struggled against the binds, to set itself free.
Had it not been for the unwelcome clatter somewhere around the corner, their passion may have found the escape. Feeling the need to protect Khushi's dignity and save her from the embarrassment of being caught in a compromising position, Arnav broke the kiss and embraced her, hiding her face in his chest.
His keen eyes scanned the end of the hallway to see any signs of someone lingering around but he didn't register a single shadow. A frown marred his handsome features and he turned to look down at her when he felt the warm moisture seep through his shirt.
"Khushi?" He tried to pull away but she held on tighter as the sobs escaped her silently, the tears soaking through his shirt. "No...No...Khushi please look at me...Dammit Khushi...stop crying!"
He pulled away from her with force and she immediately tried to wipe away the remnant proof of her vulnerability. Damn these treacherous tears!
She didn't even know why she was crying! Because he loved her? Because she'd given away her first kiss to the man she loves? Because there was finally hope? Of because some distant part of her was screaming at her for betraying her fianc?
As she tried to control her shuddering breaths, she looked up at him to see his pained expression.
"Why are you crying?!" Arnav demanded in an agonized whisper, worry gripping him in an icy grip. Was she upset about the kiss..?
"Oho Sankadevi! Where are you?" Buaji's loud voice broke through the silent pause.
Khushi's startled eyes fleeted to the end of the hall and then back to Arnav. He saw the plea in her eyes and, very reluctantly, let her go. She took two torturously slow steps backwards, away from him, while her searching eyes remained fixated on his face.
"I love you." He mouthed one more time, praying to a God he didn't believe in that she believed it.
Then she turned around and ran from there, leaving Arnav standing there uncertain of the consequences of his most recent encounter with Khushi.
_____
Khushi stood in the kitchen, staring down at her hands where the henna had left a deep red colour, her eyes particularly focused on the elegant script reading Arnav'. The events of last night were fresh in her mind...so fresh that she still felt his touch against her lips.
So much information had been exchanged in that short conversation and combined with the diary fiasco of the night before...Khushi was exhausted. After speaking to Buaji about the haldi preparations last night, Khushi had retired to her room and fallen asleep within seconds"Arnav's name engraved in her henna design forgotten for all she could think about the entire night was a mind-numbing kiss.
Now, in broad daylight, she found herself isolated even when there was a crowded ceremony going on a couple of walls away. She had come back to the point where she felt alone in a room full of people. Might as well stay away from them; let them enjoy the celebrations without her off-mood hindering their joy.
"Khushi! We've been waiting for you to get back...what are you doing here?" Payal's voice broke through Khushi's reverie.
Khushi jumped and turned to look at Payal. "Sorry Payal...I just got lost in my thoughts."
Payal narrowed her eyes at her cousin. "Is everything okay, Khushi?"
Khushi averted her eyes and smartly busied herself in mixing the turmeric powder, gram flour, and milk together. "Yeah...just a bit tired...why do you ask?"
"Because you're not yourself...I've obviously noticed that you're different ever since you got back...but the past two-three days...you've been exceptionally out of it..." Payal observed Khushi keenly but Khushi's well composed expression gave away nothing.
"You're running away with your thoughts here, Payal...everything is fine...I just can't believe how quickly time passes...I mean...Anjali is getting married tomorrow...You and Akash are getting engaged in a few days...I'm engaged...we're all old!"
"Did something happen with Arnav?" Payal questioned, ignoring Khushi's explanation about growing up. Apart from her mother, only Arnav could have such a considerable impact on her behavior. Since Garima aunty was perfectly fine...it must have something to do with Arnav.
Khushi froze and turned to look at Payal. "What?"
"Did something happen with Arnav?" Payal repeated calmly.
"NO." Khushi snapped. "Why do you think that if I'm upset, it is because of Arnav?!"
"So you're upset." Payal crossed her arms.
"Goddamn it, Payal...No I am not!" Khushi snapped, rather harshly. "I just have a lot on my mind and I'll figure it out...And Arnav doesn't mean anything to me. He is nothing." Her heart wailed in protest as the words escaped her lips.
"I know you know how I felt about him in the past, but that's it...it's in the past! I am engaged to NK and I'm happy. NK is a really nice guy...Arnav and I are fine...there is nothing wrong there either. And in any case, it's not really any of your business." Khushi clamped her mouth shut, closed her eyes, and pressed the bridge of her nose to rein in her anger seeing Payal's wounded expression.
"I was just trying to make sure you're okay..." Payal's hurt voice increased Khushi's guilt.
"I know...I know...I'm sorry...I just...Look, there's a lot on my mind right now...just give me some time to sort everything out, okay? When the time comes, I'll tell you everything but right now is not the time..." Khushi kept a hand on Payal's shoulder, pleading her to understand.
Reluctantly, Payal nodded, letting the matter go...for now. Together, the two women made their way to the great hall with the bowls of turmeric paste. It came to her as no surprise when Khushi found Arnav's eyes following her movements through the living room. What did come as a surprise, though, was the look of hurt and agony she saw on his face when she slyly threw him a glance.
He heard the conversation! Khushi's heart stuttered a beat painfully as a particular sentence of hers came back to her, a harsh reminder of her decision... Arnav doesn't mean anything to me. He is nothing.
She winced inwardly while her heart scowled at her in disapproval...both her heart and mind knew, too well, that that was the biggest lie she had ever told anyone.
____
Khushi walked towards Arnav's room, each step feeling like a mission in itself. She didn't know whether she was doing the right thing. If she were frank with herself, she didn't know what the right thing to do was.
If she chose NK over Arnav, she'd be hurting Arnav...if she chose Arnav over NK, she'd be hurting NK. And hurting either of them would ultimately hurt her. In the moment of making the decision, one particular fact had helped in leaning her towards the decision...
She wouldn't be risking another heartbreak if she chose NK.
She knocked on his door and took deep breaths to keep her head clear, and her determination strong. She had to give herself a small pep-talk just to bring herself to look up a few seconds after the door had opened. When his face came into view, she could see the frown etched on his face...confusion or apprehension, she couldn't tell.
"Can I come in?"
Without a word, he stepped aside to let her in. A floral scent engulfed him as she walked past and he made it a point to leave the door ajar as he followed her in. Just in case...
"What brings you here?" His voice was clipped, yet tinged with amusement.
"We need to talk..." Khushi glanced around the dimly lit room, taking note of the picture of them over the headboard of his king sized bed.
Arnav watched her with interest for a couple of seconds, scrutinizing her expressions, before he nodded in agreement.
"Look...what happened last night...I...I should have stopped it...it wasn't right..." Khushi stammered and twisted her fingers together. She had this speech all ready and rehearsed to deliver but the mere sight of him had thrown the entire speech out of her mind.
"What wasn't right? Two people confessing how they felt about one another? Two people trying to clear the air between them to restore the relationship they shared? Or the kiss?" His voice was cold, displeased.
"All of it!" Khushi snapped, embarrassed at the mention of the kiss. "Especially the...the kiss."
Arnav tilted his head to the side, challengingly, ignoring the sting of her words. "Why?"
"Because I shouldn't lead you on. I know that you know how I felt about you in the past but that's exactly it, Arnav...it's in the past. I...I don't feel that way for you anymore." She kept her gaze averted from him, well aware that he would call her out on the lie.
Arnav clenched his jaw and counted to ten in his head, trying to keep his temper in check. He couldn't believe that after everything that they talked about last night, after that kiss they shared, she was just going to make a decision overnight...a decision on which three lives depended. Her stubbornness had never annoyed him more.
Khushi turned her back on him because she knew that she couldn't make herself not look at him otherwise. She walked to the French doors that looked out into the poolside area. She watched the sky above being reflected in the still water of the pool.
"I'm sorry that I kissed you last night...Blame it on hormones or sheer stupidity or whatever...I just wanted to let you know that we can't continue this." She took a deep breath, restoring some of her determination from the pause. "I'm happy that my love wasn't one sided...that you reciprocated the feelings but that doesn't matter now. I'm over you...I'm engaged to NK...and I think it'd be best if you and I just keep safe distance between us until we can move on as friends." Her voice was quiet, subdued, almost as if she were giving herself this speech to reassure herself that her decision was right.
The few seconds of silence following her dialogue stretched into minutes. Neither knew what to say. Khushi felt that she had said everything that needed to be said. She didn't even know why she was still standing there. Perhaps, his lack of reaction wasn't what Khushi expected and she felt saddened about his silence. She had expected an outburst, a fight to keep her in his life but here he was, standing still as a statue, and utterly silent.
Arnav, on the other hand, tried to figure out why she was doing this. She loved him, he loved her, and it was clearly evident in that one kiss they'd shared. Then why this? Why now, when everything was finally headed towards getting better?
"If you're over me, then why is my name printed on your hand?" He shot the question, shoving aside the guilt that emerged. It was an unfair blow, he knew. She had nothing to do with how his name ended up in the henna design but if it would get anything out of her, then he would use it to his advantage.
After all...everything is fair in love and war...this was both...this was his war to win back his love and there was no way in hell he was going to lose. Not this time.
"If you're over me, then why did you kiss me back yesterday?" He closed the distance between them until his chest touched her back.
He snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer. Instantly, her breathing quickened and her heartbeat raced. "If you're over me...then why do you react to me this way?"
With a lightning fast move, he whirled her around to face him. Her hands landed on his chest and instantly clutched at the shirt for support. He took two slow steps forward and she compensated by taking synchronized steps back until her back leaned against the glass of the French doors.
Her eyes fluttered closed when he dipped his head and touched his lips to the side of her neck. He began a slow trail up the side of her neck, along her jaw. "Tell me to stop, Khushi."
Khushi barely registered his words, suddenly dazed with his touch. Every kiss he left on her face, it was as if he were apologizing to her and loving her at the same time.
He kissed the corner of her mouth, letting his lips linger. "Ask me to stop."
She didn't. Her lips parted in anticipation and her heart somersaulted in glee. A moan nearly escaped her when he kissed the other corner of her mouth. "Stop me."
His voice, even though a husky whisper, was challenging. For the life of her, she couldn't utter that one single word. She may say what she wanted because her brain was in her control. Her heart and, apparently, even her body was out of her command at this point. They were both too attuned to him and his touch. The brain's hold on her heart and body melted away at his mere touch.
He pressed his lips to hers urgently, possessively, pleading her to rethink her decision. She reacted without a second's pause. Just like the night before, as a novice in the physical intimacy department, she followed his lead, imitated his actions for all of three glorious seconds because then, he suddenly pulled away.
"You still want me to believe that you're over me?" He let go of her at the same moment her eyes flew open. He walked away from her to the other end of the room, putting some much needed distance between them. God knows that if he'd stayed there, he would have lost all of his control...and this wasn't the right time for that.
"Don't do this, Khushi." He turned around to face her, pain etched into his features. "Don't repeat the mistake that I made in the past...Both of us hid our feelings and look where it's brought us...don't repeat that...don't deny what you feel...don't do this to us."
Silence prevailed once again as his words registered in her mind with exaggerated slowness. His earlier stunt with the kisses had filled her mind with a cloudy haze and it didn't dissipate as fast as she would have liked.
"So her Henna came out, like, really dark!!" Lavanya burst into the room and walked towards Arnav. "And you owe me for getting the lady to write your name on her palm! Not that it was hard to distract Khushi but when you're doing something you're not supposed to...what?" Lavanya questioned when Arnav's horrified eyes flickered to a spot above and behind Lavanya's shoulder.
Lavanya turned around to see what he was looking at and cursed in her mind when she saw Khushi's expression. She looked betrayed and downright angry.
"Lavanya?" Khushi felt the shock of the news in her system, the spot where his name was engraved onto her hand burned white-hot.
Lavanya muttered a couple more profanities under her breath. This wasn't supposed to happen! But now the cat was already out of the bag...
"Khushi." Lavanya greeted curtly, her tone way less friendly than it usually was.
"Why?" Khushi questioned, cutting to the chase.
Lavanya shrugged. Khushi's accusing glare turned to Arnav who watched her warily.
"You told her?!" Khushi accused.
"No, I didn't!" Arnav defended himself at once. Please...not another misunderstanding! "I don't know how she knows...but she knows. She's been helping me..."
Arnav saw the realization dawn upon her slowly. Khushi recalled the scenarios when Lavanya had left Khushi alone with Arnav, multiple times.
"Why?!" Khushi repeated her question, her glare focused on Lavanya again.
Lavanya took a deep breath and decided to be honest. She looked at Arnav for a couple of seconds and then turned to face Khushi.
"I'm not doing this for you...or for him." Lavanya shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm doing this for me."
"For you?" Khushi spat. "What's in it for you?"
"Don't you see?" Lavanya chuckled mirthlessly and turned to look at Arnav again. "The sooner he realizes that you don't love him...the sooner he'll see that I do...that I've fallen in love with him."
Now it was Arnav's turn to be shocked. He didn't know why Lavanya was helping him all this while, but whatever reason he had anticipated...it wasn't this! He turned to look at Khushi who looked composed again. Too composed. Arnav knew what she was going to say even before she uttered the words.
"I won't get in your way Lavanya." A sad smile appeared on Khushi's angelic face. "I was never in your way to begin with."
Without a single glance in Arnav's direction, Khushi rushed out of the room. Arnav rounded on Lavanya right away.
"What the fuck, Lavanya?!"
"I'm sorry!" Lavanya ran a hand through her hair. "I had to say something!"
"And that was your fucking genius response?!" Arnav roared.
"I said the first thing that came to my mind..." Lavanya muttered, truly scared under his wrath filled gaze, although she knew that whatever she had said wasn't a lie. She loved him and her path was supposed to be simple until Khushi stepped into the picture.
A string of profanities escaped his lips and he paced back and forth like an irritated lion. Lavanya twisted her hands together, unsure whether she should say more. When the silence stretched for too long, she sighed and decided to leave him alone.
"I'm sorry Arnav..."
Arnav resolutely kept his back turned to her, fearing that he might end up hurting her in his flash of anger. When he heard the click of the door, indicating that Lavanya had left the room, he resumed his pacing, trying to gather his scattered emotions and reactions.
Anger wouldn't solve anything with Khushi, of that he was sure. She was angry enough, rightly so, but he needed to keep his calm when he spoke to her. He wouldn't let her mask his feelings from him again. He had bought her act last time but he refused to be fooled by her composed demeanor. He knew better than that. He wouldn't let her walk out of his life without a fight...if that's what it took for her to forgive him and give them another chance.
Half an hour later, with that thought in mind, he set out to look for her. He walked straight to her bedroom and threw the door open. She wasn't there. He searched every place and room on the second floor where she could have been before making his way down to the living room.
Her calm voice reached his ears the moment he stepped into the shadows of the living room but his steps faltered and froze when he heard the voice accompanying hers.
"Are you sure you're okay? You look like you've just walked out of an unsuccessful surgery..."
"I'm fine NK...just a little stressed with the wedding preparations...you've been such a great help...thank you for being here." She smiled at him.
NK shrugged. "We both know that you'd do the same, if not more, if one of my friends was getting married...but you're sure you don't mind me leaving so suddenly?"
"Of course not NK! If you have to go back to Australia...I completely understand...in fact, I'm sorry that I can't come back...Akash and Payal's engagement is around the corner and I'll need to be here for that too..."
"I'll be here for that as well...if Steve hadn't broken his leg, I could have stayed here...I promise to be back in time for their engagement." NK placed his hand on Khushi's shoulder and in a far corner of the room, Arnav's blood boiled.
On the bright side...he's leaving...so it will be just Khushi and me...perfect!
As he walked away from the scene, Arnav's mind quickly made more plans and strategies; little did he know that none of them will be needed?
_____
Khushi watched with tearful eyes as Anjali hugged her father and cried her heart out. Marriages were such bittersweet events for the brides. The joy of welcoming another family, coupled with the grief of bidding goodbye to the one you grew up with.
Putting on a brave face for the sake of his daughter, Arvind pulled away and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"No matter where you go, Anjali...you will always be my daughter...My daughter before anyone's sister, friend, or wife..."
"Awww" Payal, Lavanya, and Khushi cooed together.
Anjali hiccupped as she turned to face her brother who, shockingly, was tearful himself. That was a sight to see...the great Arnav Singh Raizada...tearful at a wedding! Who would have thought?
As Anjali began crying against his chest, He rocked her gently, pacifyingly. "Shh Di...You'll be living fifteen minutes drive away from our house...and you're coming back this evening!"
Anjali punched his chest lightly. "You're probably happy to get rid of me...but it's not that easy...I won't stop bugging you for the rest of my life."
Arnav rolled his eyes and pulled away from her, wanting to put a stop to her waterworks. No sooner had he let her go than Payal, Khushi, and Lavanya engulfed her in a big hug.
Arnav glanced at Khushi once, not bothering to hide his disappointment that she didn't wear the outfit he had designed for her for this wedding. Before he could dwell on it much, the entire procession headed towards the gate to complete Anjali's bidaai ceremony.
As Anjali took a seat in the decorated car, Khushi caught her mother wiping her cheeks dry, no doubt imagining Khushi's wedding day. Rolling her eyes at her mother's antics, Khushi walked up to give her a hug. No words were exchanged between the two women as Khushi side hugged her mother and rested her head on top of hers.
Feeling his intent gaze on her, her eyes moved to find him. It wasn't difficult. Standing right across from them, he watched her intently, a tinge of sadness in his eyes. The entire day, thanks to the wedding and the hectic environment that came with it, Khushi had effectively evaded him. He had tried to catch her alone but as the brother of the bride, he had responsibilities in this wedding too, and hadn't been able to pursue her as much as he would have liked.
He would have liked nothing more than to catch her in solitude...there were some things that needed to be discussed.
Once the newlyweds' car pulled out of the elegant driveway of Sheesh mahal, another responsibility made Arnav turn away from the love of his life: Arvind. His father's slumped shoulders and fallen face clearly told Arnav that the man needed someone to be by his side...and who better than his own son?
_____
After NK went around bidding a goodbye, Khushi left with him to drop him off to the airport in time for his flight. Closely following their car was Akash, Payal and Lavanya's. Khushi had almost forgotten about Lavanya's venture in London that she had spoken about.
Ever since Lavanya's declaration of her intentions for helping Arnav the day before, Khushi had kept her at a comfortable distance, maintained a basic rapport with her. She would keep her word...she would not get in Lavanya's way to Arnav. She didn't want Lavanya to dislike her because frankly...Khushi liked Lavanya. It was hard not to. Lavanya reminded Khushi of her younger self, prior to the heartbreak.
In order to avoid being around Lavanya too much, Khushi had taken leave as soon as NK had boarded his flight, leaving Akash and Payal with her at the airport.
When Khushi returned to Sheesh Mahal, the place was eerily quiet after the hustle and bustle of the past week. In the couple hours that she was gone, a lot of the decorations had been taken down. From a couple of the regular housekeepers, Khushi had learnt that Arnav was out and about helping guests reach the airport to make the chartered flight.
Madhumati, Garima, Arvind, along with Rohan's parents were to take the private jet back to Delhi, leaving behind the group of six friends. The Oberoi's were going to take care of the bride welcoming rituals at a relative's house before leaving tonight. Akash and Payal would pick them up and bring them back here tonight.
It would be just the six of them...just like the old times. Except...nothing will be like the old times this time around.
Khushi felt uneasy with just the thought of being around Arnav in company of two hopelessly in love couples. To distract herself, Khushi walked into Buaji and her mother's room and helped them pack but when that didn't do the trick, Khushi grabbed her iPod and headed up to the terrace.
She would dance away her stress on the terrace just as the sun sets in the backdrop. Her plans however fell away when she saw the man standing by the railing, looking over the front lawn. A smile appeared on her face as she walked up to him.
"I hate this stupid tradition the society has come up with...why must the daughter leave her home?" He spoke as soon as she stood next to him.
Khushi looked up at him and smiled gently, knowing that she had no answer for him. She hated that stupid tradition too and so did her Bauji.
"My Bauji used to say that he would never let me go...that he would make my groom move into our house...Amma wasn't too fond of the idea." Khushi chuckled.
"well, you see...I was hopeful about something working out...I was hopeful that Arnav would get married and I would have a daughter-in-law who would fulfill that spot of my daughter in my life once Anjali left...but..."
Arvind smiled knowingly at Khushi, noticing the way her posture and expressions changed at the mention of him.
"I'm sure there is someone out there who'd be ecstatic to become your daughter-in-law..." Khushi averted her eyes as she thought of Lavanya.
"Someone won't do...Arnav has his heart set on you..."
Khushi's eyes rounded and her tongue knotted in shock as her head whipped around to look at Arvind. Arvind shook his head and went on when Khushi made no attempt to move or speak.
"Oh come on...don't look at me like that...I know...He told me years ago...I know everything." Arvind's eyes looked at her kindly, warmly. "I know my son was childish and made stupid mistakes...I know what he did is inexcusable...I was furious with him when I found out and to some extent...I still am angry with him for it. His foolishness has taken away true love from him...and I...I apologize on my son's behalf, Khushi."
Khushi looked ahead, avoiding making eye contact with the man. Her mind whirled with the new knowledge. There was so much that she didn't know...so many things that were kept from her.
"With that said...the selfish father in me can't help but ask...will you ever be able to consider giving him another chance?" Arvind's voice dropped a few notches.
Khushi turned to face him and to his horror, her beautiful eyes became tearful. She looked down at her twisted hands and bit her lip in an attempt to stop the sobs.
"It really hurt..." She confessed. "I hated seeing him with all those other girls...I used to pacify myself by thinking that those girls came and went...but I was always there...and then Shanaya showed up...claiming to be pregnant and that...that was it."
She opened up her heart to Arvind, just as she would have to her Bauji. Arvind was the sole father-figure in her life after her Bauji's demise and knowing that he knew what had happened made it easier for her to talk to him...with him, she wouldn't have to pretend.
"He never indicated that he felt the same way..." Khushi hiccupped.
"And you didn't show an ounce of the jealousy you truly felt..." Arvind spoke calmly. He smiled apologetically the next second. "I'm not saying that what he did was right. I admit that he was exceptionally stupid with that situation but you're the wise one, Khushi...why didn't you ever think to talk to him about it?" Arvind's voice was desperate.
"I didn't want to lose my best friend! He himself said that once...that if one of us ended up having one-sided feelings, we couldn't be friends!"
Arvind shook his head vehemently. "But now both of you know better, don't you? He is in love with you and you were in love with him...the question is...do you still feel that way for him? I can give you my personal guarantee that he is madly in love with you. I can tell you that because I saw my Arnav get lost behind the faade of ASR."
Khushi's brows knit together in confusion and Arvind turned to face her.
"Arnav didn't become ASR just like that Khushi...Arnav got lost somewhere once Shanaya's ugly truth spilled out...he saw the cruel world for what it was again...after he found out that you'd left, there was so much self-loathing and being angry...All of that needed to be channeled so he started being strict with people...he became rude, arrogant, and absolutely ruthless in the business world."
Khushi listened intently as Arvind gave her an overview of Arnav's last few years.
"But through all of that...he hasn't spent a day without thinking about you...I tried to convince him to find you so many times but he wouldn't have any of it. He always told me that he hurt you; he told me that you needed time away from him to heal, to find yourself and excel in your career. He was ecstatic when Anjali's wedding rolled around simply because he knew that you'd come here...after you came back...I stared seeing glimpses of Arnav more and more rather than ASR...and then you announced your engagement."
Arvind's smile turned sad. Silence prevailed and Khushi made no attempt to offer any words. Her mind and heart were too busy registering and organizing the new information to fill in the blanks of the last few years.
"NK is a very good guy, Khushi...and if I didn't have a personal bias in the situation...I would have been truly happy for you...but I know better. I don't know if your feelings for Arnav still remain...and I don't think I would be too surprised if you say no...after all that you've had to endure because of him...I wouldn't be surprised at all." Arvind shook his head in exasperation and ran his hand through his hair much like Arnav did sometimes.
"But Khushi...if any of those feelings for him remain...you need to think this through. Three lives depend on your decision...the ball is in your court...but you have to think about everyone...especially NK." Arvind paused when Khushi's head turned to face him, surprise written all over her face.
Arvind shrugged as if it was obvious. "It's unfair for him to get caught in this web. If you love Arnav, but marry NK...you'll never be able to give him the love, care, and affection a husband should get from his wife...not to mention that you'll be unhappy in life too...don't you think NK deserves to find true love...don't you think he deserves someone who loves him unconditionally? If you marry him when your heart belongs to Arnav...you're setting him and yourself up for heartbreak."
"You're Arnav's father..." Khushi tried not to sound like she was accusing him and she wasn't sure if she was successful.
"I didn't say what would become of my son if you marry NK...I said NK and you would be unhappy. After the display of idiocy from Arnav, he'd be extremely lucky to have you back in his life...but I'm asking this for the girl that I love as much as my daughter...I'm asking this of you for you."
Arvind caressed Khushi's hair with fatherly affection. "If your Bauji was here...he would have asked you to give Arnav another chance...not for him, or for NK, or for anyone else...but for yourself. I don't want you to get caught in what-if's and if only's later in life...I want to see you happy...if you can promise me that you'll always be happy, truly happy, as NK's wife then I will personally ask Arnav to step out of the way..."
Khushi looked at Arvind's face, gauging the honesty in words. He held her gaze confidently because he knew that he had meant every word he had said.
"You may not want to believe me but if Anjali was in this situation, I would have said the exact same thing to her."
Arvind kissed Khushi's forehead even as a few tears escaped her eyes. "You told me that you'll make it up to me for not keeping in touch...this is what I want from you. I want you to be selfish this once. I don't want you to think about Arnav...but I do want you to think about NK a little bit...its very unfair that the man should get married to a woman who loves another man...I want you to think through all the scenarios...and make a decision that will ensure your happiness in the future...because there's one thing that I'll guarantee...Arnav will be happy as long as you're happy...even if you find that happiness with another man."
Arvind smiled kindly at her, the truth of his words resonating in his warm eyes.
So that's why he wanted to know how I felt about NK? Would he have stepped away if I loved NK? He would trample his own heart for my sake if I found happiness with another man?
Khushi jumped slightly when one of the housekeepers knocked on the door before stepping out onto the terrace.
"Sir...everyone is ready to leave. The cars are waiting." Hari Praksh inclined his head towards the door leading to the stairway.
"I'll be down in a minute. Can you please make sure all my luggage is loaded into the cars?"
"Sure, sir."
Hari prakash turned on his heels and left. All the seriousness of their recent conversation was wiped from Arvind's face when he turned to face her again.
"Shall we? I'm sure you want to say goodbye to your mother and Buaji."
All Khushi could do was nod in agreement and follow him as they left the terrace and walked down the winding staircase.
Once they reached the living room, Garima and Madhumati were already waiting. Khushi gave both women a quick hug and exchanged a quick goodbye with the typical exchange of parting words. Khushi also gave Arvind a hug, like she always did.
"Think about what I said...please." Arvind whispered quietly so that only she could hear.
She nodded in response when she pulled apart. Khushi walked with them to the driveway where the cars awaited. Arvind gracefully glided into his car while Garima and Madhumati slid into the one parked behind his. Standing at the top of the staircase at the main entrance of Sheesh Mahal, Khushi waved at them as the cars pulled away.
Once again, she had been handed a whole bunch of information that she needed to process. Not to mention that she now also needed to deal with the stress that came with it all. She plugged her earplugs in, flipped through the iPod to select a song as she made her way back to the terrace.
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