Chapter 10: When Truths Are Revealed

Khushi smiled to herself as she felt the arms around her waist squeeze her gently.  She loved this feeling.  A part of her wanted to laugh because she was wearing a saree.  Khushi Kumari Gupta in a saree?  She could hear his heart thudding inside his chest, right under her ear.  She held onto him a little tighter and smiled when she heard his heartbeat falter.  With a teasing glint in her eyes, she lifted her head off of his chest to look up at him.

And the very next second, her beautiful dream came crashing down as some rude external voices screamed around her.  She woke up with a yelp, and brought herself into a sitting position in a swift motion, her breaths coming out in gasps, her hand over her thundering heart.

She registered the confetti that was being showered on her and then she registered the very off key chorus of Happy Birthday'.  Laughing in glee, she stood up on her knees and threw her arms out.

"Group hug!!"  She announced.

Within seconds, she was the center of a group hug consisting most of her favourite people.  Still giggling and thanking everyone for scaring the living daylights out of her and for the off key birthday song, she pulled away from the crowd and scanned the party.  Upon realization of a particular fact, her smile became significantly smaller.

"Where's Arnav?"

Everyone exchanged looks with each other but no one gave her an answer.  A minute later, Anjali opened her mouth to give Khushi an explanation when Khushi shook her head.

"It's okay.  He's probably with his friend again."  She smiled sadly and put the theoretical mask back on.  "Where're my gifts??"  She chirped.

Excited chatter broke around her but she was barely paying attention.  She shouldn't be surprised that he wasn't here but she was.  It shouldn't hurt after three weeks of this kind of treatment from him.  Three weeks, three missed Thursday nights, three missed weekends, countless lies, and barely a proper conversation.  She should be used to it by not but she wasn't.

If he would just tell her why he was suddenly so keen on pushing everyone away, it would be easier to deal with.  It wasn't just her...he'd been treating everyone like that.  He was barely home.  He looked unhappy and seemed to be angry all the time.  The only time he said anything was to inform someone that he was leaving and would be late.

The only couple of times he spoke to Khushi was when he'd told her that he was going to have to cancel their Thursday night plans.  He promised he would make it up to her later.  He often apologized to her too, although, Khushi still wasn't sure why.

She wanted to help him.  She couldn't see her best friend, the man she loved, go through whatever he was going through alone.  If only he would confide in her.  She didn't want to lose him and so she had kept her anger in check around him, making sure to argue as little as possible.  He always told her what was on his mind...why couldn't he say anything now?  Why did he look guilty around her?

Anjali often talked to him and even she couldn't get any proper information out of him.  He would just reassure them all that he was fine and that everything will return to normal soon.  Rohan had convinced Anjali that Arnav probably just needed time to himself to sort through some issues.  Akash and Payal had also been reassured by Rohan.  They had all tried to reassure Khushi too, of course.  But Khushi knew him better than that.  She was sure there was something bothering him and he was trying to keep everyone out of the loop.

However, she would be lying to herself if she denied that she was hopeful about him being home at least tonight.  For her birthday.  But he wasn't.  She checked her phone to see if he had called or texted.  Nothing.

"I think he forgot my birthday..."  Khushi absent mindedly spoke out loud.

An awkward silence took over the room for a few minutes.  Khushi sighed and put away her phone.  When she looked up, she found four pairs of concerned eyes looking at her.

"What?  I just think he's losing his mind!!"  Khushi tried to joke.

"Hold on...I'll call and remind him..."  Anjali suggested.

"NO!"  Khushi protested at once.  "No one will remind him anything.  Let's see how long it takes before he realizes."

*

Khushi had years of practice that made her a pretty good actress and so for the day, she was able to fool the others with her excitement regarding her birthday.  She had requested them to keep it a simple lunch or dinner and they had made sure that the birthday girl got what she wanted.  Arnav, as expected, was absent for both events thereby solidifying Khushi's doubts that he had forgotten her birthday.

First time in all these years.  But then again, the last three weeks had been all about first time in all these years'. 

Khushi hung up the phone after speaking with her Amma for over an hour.  Khushi had stopped counting on Arnav being the first one to find out about her acceptance into medical school and so she had told her mother.  Garima, Khushi's mother, was ecstatic to say the least.  Her titaliyaa was going to be a doctor just like her husband, Khushi's Bauji, wanted.  Who needed sons when you could have daughters who could make you just as proud if not more?

Now, Khushi sat with her laptop in front of her, looking over the details of her program and paying attention to the dates.  She had confirmed her air tickets the day before and her flight was due to leave in a week's time.  Sighing, Khushi looked around her room.  There was so much packing to do.

The others needed to find out.

She sighed and prayed to her Devi Maiyya for some miracle to happen.  She still wanted Arnav to know before the others.

*

Miracle or not, but Khushi found Arnav sitting on the dining table at the end of the week, merely two days before her departure.

"Arnav...I need to talk to you."  Khushi said loud and clear in a no-nonsense tone.

Arnav looked at her briefly and registered the urgency in her posture.

"What's the matter??  Tum theek ho?"  For the first time in weeks, he sounded like himself.

Khushi frowned at him and willed the tears to stay put.  "I'm fine...there's something I wanted to tell you."

Khushi didn't miss the bob of his Adam's apple as he swallowed.  To her, it seemed like he was dreading this conversation.  Too bad.  He was going to hear her out.  But before she could utter another word, his phone rang.  He looked at the screen for a quick second and answered the call.

"Hey...I'm just leaving.  I'll be there soon."  And he hung up.

"Let's talk later, Khush..."

"There is never a later' Arnav!!"  Khushi threw her hands in the air, exasperated.  His behaviour had taken its toll on her and even though she tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, enough was enough.

Arnav looked away and ran his hand through his hair.  With authority, Khushi walked up to him and held him by the shoulders.

"Tell me what's bothering you, Arnav.  What is it??"  She let go of his shoulders to cup his face and make him look at her.  "Look at me when I'm talking to you.  I've had enough of your behaviour.  Just tell me what's going on!!  I hate seeing you like this."

"There's nothing, Khush."  His voice held no emotion.  "I told you...a friend of mine is going through a bad break up."

Khushi scoffed and let go of him.  "Please.  Enough with the lying.  It's been three weeks and a half!  I've been trying to tell you something important all these days and you're busy avoiding everyone, especially me.  You've missed three Thursdays, Arnav...four if you include today!  You missed my birthday for the first time in all these years...don't tell me that it's just some friend who needs you because of a bad break up..."

"Your birthday?"  Arnav blinked.

"It was four days ago, Arnav."  Khushi crossed her arms across her chest.  Arnav opened his mouth to talk but she shook her head.  "No.  Save it.  I don't want another lie for an explanation."

Arnav looked like he was torn apart.  He looked at Khushi painfully.  "I'm so so Sorry Khush..."

"It's not a big deal.  I don't care that you missed my birthday...not all that much, anyway but the fact that you've been lying is a big deal for me.  We're supposed to be best friends...we're supposed to tell each other what's bugging us..."  Khushi's voice was hoarse from the efforts of defying those tears burning behind her eyes.

"Khushi!"  Arnav said frustratedly.  "I told you...I'm helping a friend with a bad break up."

Arnav's phone rang again.  Cursing loudly, he answered it.

"I'll be there!  I'm leaving."  He slammed the phone down on the table and turned to face Khushi.

Khushi looked at the guilt clouding his face as he gingerly held her shoulders.  "We'll talk later, Khush..."

"I need to talk to you now, Arnav...it's really important!"

Arnav clenched and unclenched his jaw.  "I'm sorry...I really have to be somewhere..."

And with that, he turned on his heels and walked out of the penthouse.  Khushi stood frozen in her spot for a few seconds until a shrill ringing brought her senses back.  Absent-mindedly, she picked up Arnav's phone from the table and answered it.

"Chotte, you better be home when I get there!"  Anjali's voice boomed through the instrument.

"He just left."  Khushi's voice was flat.

"Khushi?"

"Yeah...he forgot his phone..."  She started walking towards the main door to see if he was still in the hallway.  "I can probably catch him and give it back to him.  Can you call in a bit?"

"Yeah sure."  Anjali hung up and Khushi rushed towards the elevator after locking the penthouse.

The elevator pinged open in front of her and she slammed the button for the main floor.  The doors pinged open again and she stepped out into the lush lobby of their building when her eyes caught a sight.  She halted in her tracks, Arnav's phone nearly slipped out of her hands.

There he was.  Arnav Singh Raizada.  "Helping out a friend who was going through a bad break up."  Apparently, that meant hugging Shanaya Singh.

Khushi hadn't realized when she had started walking towards them.  Her anger doubled with each step she took.  She felt side-lined, lied to, and utterly betrayed by her best friend.

When she reached them, she poked his shoulder once, making him break out of his embrace with Shanaya.  Khushi didn't know what her face portrayed but whatever it was had startled him.  Or was it just the fact that he'd been caught in the lie?

Without a word, Khushi held up his phone for him.  His hand reached up, robotically, to fetch it.  As soon as the instrument was out of her hand, Khushi turned on her heels to walk away.  The tears were coming and she refused to seem weak in front of him, especially in the presence of Shanaya.

"Khushi, wait."  Arnav requested.  Khushi kept walking towards the elevator.  "Khushi!  Wait!  I can explain."

She could hear his footsteps as he tried to catch up.  She saw a waiting elevator and ran into it.  She nearly broke the 'Close door' button with the force of her push as she willed the doors to close faster.  Broken button or not, but the door had closed before he could reach her.

Shanaya Singh.  He had cut their conversation short for Shanaya Singh?  The same girl he had dumped because she had poked jabs at Khushi's sense of style?  Now suddenly, that girl was more important to him than what his best friend had to say?  What was she to make of that?  Was he in love with her?  Was Shanaya the one for him?

Even though she didn't have answers to her own questions, there was one thing she was sure of.  It was how she felt, that she was utterly sure about.  She felt betrayed.

Khushi robotically walked out of the elevator and walked towards the penthouse.  She felt as if a string that attached her to Arnav had been snipped away.  By his lies.  By his betrayal.  Why couldn't he just tell her if he was back with Shanaya?  Khushi had seen him with numerous girls, then why hide this from her?  She would've understood him if he wanted to get back together with Shanaya because he felt something for her.  Hell, she would let her own heart break if it meant that the man she loved found someone that he loved.  But lies and betrayal was something she couldn't and wouldn't deal with.

"Khushi!"  His voice boomed in the hallway.  So he had managed to get an elevator almost right away.

Without responding to him, Khushi opened the door and walked into the penthouse.  She could hear him running to catch up with her.  All she wanted to do was make her way to her bedroom before he caught up.

"Khushi, I can explain."  He said walking into the penthouse, making Khushi stop in her tracks.

"YOU LIED!"  She rounded on him, angrier than he had ever seen her.  "YOU LIED TO ME!  OVER AND OVER AGAIN!"

"I know...and I'm sorry..."  Arnav started but Khushi cut him off.

"No you're not.  You wouldn't have lied to me repeatedly if you were sorry.  You know very well that I hate being lied to.  And you've been lying to me about this for almost a month.  It all started the day of my last exam, didn't it?"

"Khush..."

"No.  Save your lies for someone else.  How am I supposed to believe anything you say any more??  It hurts the most when the person you're closest to lies to you, Arnav.  I asked you to tell me what was going on...I've seen you date a lot of women Arnav...I'm sure I would have survived the news of you getting back together with Shanaya."  Khushi could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks, she know he could see them.  She didn't care.

Arnav blinked as if he'd been slapped awake.  Khushi really wanted to know what her face was expressing to have caused that reaction but for the life of her, she couldn't tell.  She felt oddly numb.

"Shanaya and I haven't gotten back together."  He said calmly, his tone suddenly very different.  He sounded like he understood her anger, her hurt and pain.

Khushi raised an eyebrow and titled her head to the side, challenging.  "Even more of a reason to not lie to me...why would you have to lie to me if she was a friend?  Maybe you lied to me because it's the first time you've gotten back with an ex-girlfriend."

"Me and her are not together..."  Arnav began.

"Actually..."  Shanaya's voice made them realize that she was an audience to their argument.  "Arnav...I wanted to talk to you about that..."

"Not now Shanaya."  He cut her off abruptly.

"It has to be now Arnav...I don't want you to say something that might become false later..."  She looked between Khushi and Arnav.

"Get to the damn point, Shanaya.  My friend and I are trying to settle something here and your nonsense isn't helping."  Khushi bit out.  She ignored Arnav's wince at the term 'friend'.

"Arnav...this is why I wanted to see you today...I think we should consider getting back together."

"Shanaya!"  Arnav rubbed his face with his hands, frustrated.  "I thought I'd made myself clear..."

"You did...and I understood...but...I...I'm pregnant."  She announced.

The silence in the room was so palpable that you could have cut it with a knife.  This was it.  This moment would decide whether it's this side of the fence or the other for Khushi.  Arnav was looking at Shanaya steadily.  Shocked was the word of the moment.

"A-Arnav?"  Khushi stuttered over the painful lump in her throat.  He turned to look at her robotically.  Khushi took one step closer.

"Is there any possibility that what she's saying is true?"  Khushi sent a desperate prayer up to Devi Maiyya, asking for his response to be in the negative.

He took a few seconds to register what she was asking and then he looked away.  Guilt written all over his face.

Khushi staggered a step back.  She had thought she'd prepared herself for heartbreak-she was wrong.  She thought she was prepared to let him go when and if the time came.  It was here now and she hated how painful it was.

"It seems that there are more important things you have to deal with at the moment.  This argument is useless."  She was surprised at how steady her voice sounded, despite the painful storm within her.

Arnav looked at her and what he saw on her face made his eyes fill up with tears.  Khushi turned on her heels and rushed into her room.  She leaned back against the closed door and slid down to the floor as the tears took over.

*

The next morning when Khushi finally stepped out of her room, the atmosphere was tangibly sad.  She walked to the dining table and one look at its occupants told her that they knew what had happened.  As soon as Anjali saw her, she started getting up but Khushi stopped her.

"I don't want to talk about it."  Khushi said in a quiet voice.

Anjali sat back down quietly and grasped Rohan's hand tightly.  They continued breakfast in silence.  Khushi didn't ask about Arnav's absence and no one provided an explanation.

"I have an announcement to make."  Khushi said at last.

Everyone stopped eating and looked at her.  Anjali and Payal looked extremely concerned.  Anjali looked like she had cried all night.  Undoubtedly, her and Arnav must've had a fight.  Now that Khushi took time to notice, everyone looked like they hadn't slept well.  She wasn't the only one disappointed in Arnav, then.

"I've been accepted into Medical School."  Khushi paused and watched the small smiles that lit up everyone's otherwise tired faces.  "I'm moving the day after tomorrow."

And the smiles disappeared.  All at once, they fired questions and accused her of hiding this from them.  Everyone made sure to let her know that they were not pleased about the short-notice of her announcement of departure.  Arnav had shocked them enough last night by coming clean about Shanaya's pregnancy and this bomb-drop by Khushi wasn't any more pleasant.

"I'm really sorry!  I know I should have told you guys earlier but I wanted Arnav to know first.  I tried telling him...but...anyway...I'm really sorry guys!  But I really want to do this.  It was Bauji's dream for me and I am going to try my best to fulfill it."  She explained.

"You're not leaving because...because of what happened..."  Anjali trailed off while Rohan and Akash looked at her curiously.

Khushi shook her head.  "No...Of course not.  I'd applied med school during first semester...that's why I've been so fussy about my marks..."

"I'm sorry about the outburst...I guess I was just slightly offended that you hid this from us...but I am truly happy for you!"  Anjali walked around the table to give Khushi a hug.

When a silent sob escaped Anjali, Khushi controlled the urge to roll her eyes.  "Anjali!  I'm not leaving right now...I still have two more days here!  Stop crying..."

"I'mGonnaMissYouSoMuch!"  Anjali said very quickly, making the sentence sound as if it was one big word.

"I'm going to miss you all, too!  But hey!  We'll keep in touch right?  I'll bug you with my e-mails and calls...and I'll be there to bug you and Ro on your wedding!"

Anjali chuckled and sniffed.  "Yeah...that'll be years from now!"

"Whenever it is...I'll be there."  Khushi tried to joke.  She saw Payal wiping away a tear too.  Khushi groaned out loud.

"I'll be there for your and Akash's wedding too!  Would you two please stop crying!  Look at the guys...they seem happy that I'm leaving!"

Akash sniffled, making everyone chuckle.  Khushi looked at him exasperatedly.  "Akash...come on...man up.  Stop being a woman!  Alright, enough tears...I announce a group hug!!"

And once again, Khushi was surrounded by all her friends sans one, in a warm group hug.

*

"You guys can sell the unnecessary furniture once I leave..."  Khushi put down a bunch of folded t-shirts that she would be taking with her.

Anjali smiled and put forth a wrapped gift in front of Khushi.  Khushi looked at the gift and then back at Anjali.

"Open it."  Anjali suggested.

Khushi opened the wrappings impatiently, nearly tearing it in the process.  She let out an audible gasp as she saw a box containing four diaries.  Each diary had a white background with a floral print of a different colour.

"You've had that one diary for the past couple of years...but we figured you'll need one for each year, considering that Arnav, Payal and I won't be there for you to tell your secrets to."  Anjali explained with misty eyes.

Khushi wasn't the kind of person who needed materialistic items or expensive gifts.  Anything small, simple, yet meaningful was enough to overwhelm her heart with joy.  She gathered both Anjali and Payal in a hug.  Once they parted, the girls went back to packing Khushi's bag.

"Speaking of diaries, Payal...can you please put mine in the bag before I forget?"

Payal took Khushi's diary from the writing table and walked over to the bag.  She looked at the diary as if it were an offending item.  This book held all of Khushi's confessions regarding Arnav, all her feelings regarding him, all the pain and jealousy she experienced.  Was it really wise to carry this reminder of the heartbreak she suffered into her new future?  Deciding that in order for Khushi to move on, she would have to leave it behind, Payal pushed the diary under the side table, out of sight.

Anjali looked at her with raised eyebrows for a second but then understanding dawned upon her.  The two of them had decided, together, that they would protect Khushi from further heartbreak at Arnav's hands.  Anjali had let the sister in her take a back seat for now and she was out there to protect Khushi.  Anjali and Payal shared a knowing nod.

Tomorrow, Khushi would leave from here with nothing but memories and she will step into a new future.

*

"Will you two promise us something if we ask you?"  Payal stared at Ro and Akash while a quiet Anjali sat next to her.

"What's the matter?  You two look worried..." Rohan took Anjali's hand in his.

"Khushi's leaving tomorrow...and Arnav still doesn't know."  Anjali was sad and angry at her brother's ignorance.

"We can tell him and br-" Akash started but got cut off by Payal.

"NO!"  Payal said fiercely.  Akash blinked at her.  Payal rarely got mad.  "No.  Khushi said she will text him tomorrow and ask to meet before her flight...that way he can't change her mind."

"I don't think he'll show up."  Anjali continued.  "If he shows up, he'll know everything...but if he doesn't show up...Payal and I have decided that we're not going to tell him where she's going."

"Why would you want that?  They're best friends!  He should know..."  Akash countered.

"She needs to move on.  He's my brother but she's my best friend.  When it's wrong, it's wrong.  I refuse to let him hurt her anymore."  Anjali said with conviction.

Akash and Rohan exchanged looks.  "Do you two know something that we don't?"  Rohan raised an eyebrow.

"We promised her we won't say anything...but she's my sister and I don't want Arnav to know where she's going."  Payal pressed.

Although Payal hadn't said anything and hadn't technically broken any promises, the truth was the obvious elephant in the room at the moment.  Akash and Rohan just shared a guilty look.  Anjali and Payal had suggested the idea but they had turned a blind eye.  If they hadn't...things may have been different today.  If only they'd helped the girls in bringing Arnav and Khushi together.

*

Arnav, my flight leaves in an hour.  This is the last time I'm texting you.

Khushi stared at the message that she had sent twenty minutes ago.  She hadn't seen him since the day Shanaya had announced her pregnancy.  He hadn't come home.  Perhaps, him and Shanaya were trying to work things out.  Khushi sighed and leaned her head against Anjali's shoulder.

The least she expected was to see him before she left.  And it turned out, she couldn't even have that.  She had constantly texted him every half an hour since she had woken up and he hadn't replied once.  Was he too angry with her for leaving?  Was he angry that she hadn't stood by him the other day?  Khushi's mind tried to come up with every scenario that she could to understand why he wasn't here.

When the boarding call for Khushi's flight was announced, she turned to the others who had come to see her off.  Bracing herself for the goodbyes, Khushi approached them one at a time for a last hug.

"I'm sorry on Arnav's behalf...I'll really really miss you."  Anjali sniffled.

Khushi smiled in response as she pulled apart.  Almost immediately, Payal had gathered her cousin in a hug.

"Tell Aunty and Amma that I miss them.  We'll keep in touch."  Payal choked on her sentence.

"Shall I also tell Buaji about your boyfriend?"  Khushi teased tearfully.

"Please don't..."  Akash yelped.  Shaking her head at him, Khushi gave him a hug as well.

"Take care of Payal...and yourself too.  Don't let Arnav and Ro bully you around too much" Khushi chuckled and pulled away.

"Oh please.  You're equally guilty of bullying him!"  Rohan embraced Khushi and lifted her off the ground, making her laugh.  "And before you tell me...I will take care of Anjali...and Arnav too."

Rohan made sure he whispered the last bit of the sentence so the others didn't hear.  Khushi gave him a grateful smile and scanned over their glum faces once more.  With a heavy heart, she turned her back on them and walked towards the gate quickly, before she broke down herself.  Despite her earlier decision of not doing so, she turned to look at them one last time before she went out of sight and saw them waving at her.  She gave them a quick wave and turned away.

It was futile, but she checked her phone again, hoping for a reply from Arnav.

Maybe he's mad at me for leaving.  Khushi told herself, trying her best to convince her heart of the fact.

In reality, Arnav's phone was in one of his jacket pockets, drained of all battery life while Arnav, himself, was sprawled and fast asleep on his bed in their very own penthouse, unfortunately, still unaware of her departure.