They were pictures of him and Khushi--specifically of the dance performance from Anjali's engagement party.
"You should have heard what everyone had to say about the amazing chemistry between you two..."
Arnav recalled Akash's words from earlier in the day. As he looked through the pictures yet again, he couldn't help the small smile that made its way to his lips. Even though he concluded so himself, they did look great together. Then again, he had always known that, hadn't he? There had been many instances when friends of friends would question whether they were a couple. There must be some chemistry there if people were led to believe that...right?
Just as the driver pulled into the parking lot of the university, Arnav found himself wondering whether or not NK saw the sparks that everyone else seemed to. Did NK ever doubt the equation between Khushi and Arnav? Did it occur to him, even for a moment, that Khushi could have fallen in love with her best friend or that Arnav could have fallen in love with her?
More importantly, did it ever occur to Khushi? Did she ever, for a second, think that he may have feelings for her?
Arnav's restless eyes scanned the crowd for glimpses of the woman in question as he made his way into the building flanked by Akash. Arvind had already reached the venue since he had left Akash and Arnav behind so that Arnav could freshen up and look presentable. It was during that quick shower at the gym if their building that Arnav realized how Akash knew exactly when to say something and when to keep quiet.
Like right now, he was walking wordlessly next to Arnav whereas if Arvind was here, Arnav would be getting lectured.
"Where is she?" Arnav whispered to Akash.
Akash rolled his eyes. And then they wonder how I figured it out!
"She's probably already seated with the others..." Akash shrugged.
Arnav and Akash detached from the crowd and made their way up the narrow staircase which led to the entrance of the auditorium's balcony where the VIP guests were seated today. Mainly that included the major donors and relatives of the individuals performing tonight. It wasn't difficult to spot the group. They were seated along the first row of the balcony"the best seats in the entire auditorium for they got unhindered view of the stage.
Arnav ignored the curious, questioning, and wary glances cast his way by Anjali, Rohan, Payal, and even Aman. Arnav simply gave them a nonchalant greeting and took a seat in between Arvind and Akash.
"Where's Khushi?" Akash questioned before Arnav could manage to even think the question.
He hadn't failed to notice that Khushi and NK weren't seated here. Like that was even possible considering the fact that he didn't care about seeing anyone other than her at the moment.
"They went to get refreshments I think...Khushi was getting irritated without her bottle of coke." Payal rolled her eyes.
Arnav's jaw clenched at the mere thought of NK and Khushi being together...alone. He didn't have much time to dwell on the disturbing thought for too long because a couple minutes later, the lights dimmed and the curtains opened to reveal Lavanya.
Silence befell the auditorium as Lavanya and the man accompanying her gave a preliminary speech, thanking all the donors and all the guests for being present. For the next half hour, Arnav watched the performances with less attention than he would have liked for his eyes kept sweeping the auditorium for a glimpse of Khushi.
Where the hell is she?!
"And now ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for a very special performance. These two dancers have not only donated financially but also a glimpse of their talent. Please welcome on stage, all the way for Australia...Mr. Nakul Kohli and Ms. Khushi Gupta!" Lavanya spoke enthusiastically and the crowd erupted in cheers even as simultaneous gasps escaped Anjali and Payal.
Arnav looked questioningly at Akash only to get a confused shrug in return. "I have no idea..."
Arnav turned back to face the stage just as the curtains opened. For a moment, Arnav's eyes completely ignored NK and focused on the woman dressed in black. Even from this distance, she looked breathtakingly beautiful. The black dress was in complete contrast to her pale skin, giving her a radiant glow. The joy of being on stage was clearly displayed on her face.
Arnav didn't like surprises...most of them anyway...and he had a feeling that he wasn't going to like this one either.
"Don't worry...their chemistry...if any...can't be better than what you and her had at Di's engagement" Akash whispered encouragingly.
Arnav's eyes could no longer ignore NK once the music started. How could he when Khushi was so close to him?? It wouldn't be wrong to say that Khushi and NK were practically glued together during the entire performance.
Akash was eating his own words mere seconds into the performance. If he hadn't known better, he would have bet any money that the couple dancing on the stage was head over heels in love. Their chemistry was electrifying and the hoots and cheers of the crowd were ample proof of the fact.
He dared not look at Arnav because he was sure that the mighty ASR must've noticed this, too, and must be shooting daggers at him at the moment.
If Akash had only looked at Arnav, he would have found him shooting daggers at the couple on the stage, instead.
Can't they let go of each other for one damn second?! And what's this stupid obsession of hers with open back dresses? Sure she has a tattoo on her shoulder but is this necessary? Why is she letting him hold her that way, dammit! Let. Go. Of. My. Woman. You. Stupid. Nakul. Kohli.
Arnav watched keenly and noticed the ease that existed between the two of them. There wasn't a single hint of discomfort on either one's face. NK's hands had held her intimately multiple times and she seemed perfectly comfortable with it. Along with the comfort, Arnav noticed the sense of trust that must exist between two dancers to execute difficult lifts.
The frown on his face only etched deeper as NK and Khushi ended their performance with a romantic looking pose. The auditorium roared with applause and cheers while Arnav's veins were ablaze in rage. Anjali, Rohan, Payal, Akash, and Aman were on their feet along with a few others, giving a standing ovation.
"Sorry Arnav...we had no idea..." Arvind spoke quietly.
Arnav's eyes didn't stray from the couple of stage as he shrugged in a nonchalant manner to his father's comment. Khushi and NK had finally parted and taken a bow. NK playfully blew a couple of kisses to the crowd.
Arnav felt a bubble of warm hope burst in his heart as he watched Khushi first blow a kiss to the crowd and then place a quick kiss on the tattoo on her hand. His fingers automatically reached to caress the identical tattoo on the side of his hand.
It couldn't have been an accident. She'd done it deliberately. He didn't know what made him so sure but he was absolutely sure. And in that one gesture of hers, he'd found more hope than any of Akash and Arvind's words. He'd found more motivation from that innocent act than from the numerous threats of Akash and Arvind.
She wouldn't make things easy, he knew. He couldn't just go up to her and tell her how he felt because she'd immediately be on the defense, he knew that too. But he won't give up. He will fight for her. As if his life depends on it...because in more aspects than one, it sort of does.
_____
Khushi stood against the closed door of her change room, with a hand to her heart, and her eyes closed. She'd known he was there before she had seen him. She was taken by surprise because she honestly hadn't been expecting him to show up. She knew she would see him in a few minutes and she knew that she had to keep her temper and other emotions in check.
No! I will not keep my temper in check. Who the hell does he think he is? How dare he disappear on me without a warning AGAIN? Didn't he realize what mess things became the last time he'd done that?
She moved away from the door and started pulling the dress's zipper with more force than necessary.
She knew that Arnav would be difficult to deal with when he found out about the engagement but what is the meaning of just leaving like that...for days?!
She picked up her sun-dress with vengeance and pulled it on as if she were punishing the flimsy fabric. Twisting her hands awkwardly, she struggled with the simple task of pulling the zip closed.
Her mind was too preoccupied by Arnav to focus on much else. She'd expected an outburst...primarily because she was engaged and he didn't know until now. That was a feasible reaction...everyone else had reacted that way.
But no...he has to leave and not tell anyone where the hell he's going! Why won't he realize how much I still worry about him? Why doesn't he understand that I care about him? Why can't he see that I love--
A knock on the door interrupted her train of thoughts. She walked to the door; half dazed, half enraged and swung it open. The next second, multiple emotions ran through her: anger, relief, sadness, happiness, surprise, confusion, and some more anger.
"Hi Khush..."
In Khushi's mind, confusion made itself profound at his casual tone. He was standing there in front of her as if he hadn't all but disappeared from the face of the earth for the last four days! As if nothing had happened...
Without waiting for her invitation, he coolly strolled into the change room, making her take compensating steps backwards. Hiding a smirk at the fact that he had managed to fluster her, he gently closed the door behind him.
"You were great...I honestly didn't know you could dance like that." He smiled in a friendly manner and Khushi was immediately on guard.
Something is off about him...what is it? Think Khushi...think...
"I'm sorry I left abruptly the other day. The news was...shocking, to say the least. I could have dealt with it better, I suppose, but I can't change that now." Arnav shrugged. "Anyway...congratulations on being engaged."
Khushi frowned suspiciously. Something wasn't right about this. He was actually being calm about this? He was congratulating her? Where's the tantrum he's supposed to throw?!
If only she knew the shrewd ways of ASR...
ASR didn't throw tantrums. He attacked in a way that left the opponent wondering what the hell had hit them. She had no idea what she was surrounded by...absolutely no idea what she had involuntarily gotten into.
"Th-thank you...?" Khushi managed at last.
"I still think you could have done better...much better..." Arnav challenged with a smirk, his eyes focusing on something over her shoulder.
Khushi's anger resurfaced slowly but before she could say anything else, Arnav's arm had snaked around her waist and he had hauled her flushed against himself.
"Arnav! What're you""
"Shh..." Arnav placed the index finger of his free hand on her lips to shut her up.
Khushi closed her eyes as his finger traced along her jaw, down the side of her neck, and across the shoulder before it dipped down the slope of her back until his hand came to rest in the middle of her back, his touch leaving a trail of fire on her skin. Her eyes flew open as she registered his scorching touch against her bare back.
The zipper!!
The smug smirk returned on his face as he pulled the zip up, torturously slowly. Khushi's mind delved into a nostalgic sea of memories where she recalled the numerous times he had thrown tantrums about her clothes being too revealing-even if they weren't- and forced her to cover up.
Once the zip was secured, he returned his hand to her face and caressed her cheeks gently. The fairness of her skin was replaced by a deep crimson hue under his touch. The knowledge brought him pure joy. He leaned closer and kissed her cheek gently.
"You're beautiful..." Arnav's words made her head feel feather light. "I've always thought that, you know...even when I called you a tomboy and made fun of you..."
Khushi swallowed a lump in her throat.
Why is he telling me all this? What the hell is going on in his mind? Why am I not saying anything?!
Even as the thought crossed her mind, she learned that she still couldn't speak. Her voice had taken leave along with her good sense. She shouldn't be letting him touch her the way he was. It wasn't healthy for her...especially with the recent stubborn"and incorrect"conclusion that she'd gotten over him. And him acting like...like...this and the way she was reacting to him wasn't helping her case. At all.
But even then, she stood there like a statue when he leaned in a second time and kissed her forehead. He let go of her gently, almost reluctantly, and turned on his heels. He took three quick steps and reached the door while Khushi stood frozen in her spot. He opened the door and turned to face her, his hand still closed around the doorknob.
"By the way...don't let your fiance see you reacting to me that way..." with another smug smirk, he was out of the door and out of her sight.
Khushi stood there for a long minute, staring at the place where he was standing before he left.
Just what the hell happened?
Khushi leaned her back against the wall and closed her hand over her thundering heart. She had used the four days of his absence to convince herself that she was over him. That the rush of feelings was just a shadow of the past. She had promised herself that she wouldn't make anything of these stupid emotions and she would definitely not let him hurt her again...even if he wasn't doing it intentionally.
If he didn't have it in him to try and talk to her just once through these three years, then she wasn't going to waste her time or put herself in that spot again. She'd been there once and she wasn't going to return there.
She is NK's fiance now. Sure, it's an arranged marriage but so what? That doesn't mean that she won't feel guilty if NK gets hurt. She knew what that pain was like and she wasn't going to put her only friend of the past three years through that.
I'll tell him the truth...I'll tell him that I used to have feelings for Arnav. He deserves to know. He'll feel betrayed if he finds out from somewhere else. I'll tell him that there is nothing but friendship between me and Arnav...if you could even call it that. Yeah. I'll do just that. Once Anjali's wedding is done, I'll talk to NK...There's no need to add more drama to this mess.
She was unpleasantly reminded by her memory that she has a pending conversation with Arnav too. Even though she was busy denying her current feelings for Arnav, she still wanted some answers and explanations from him. Especially now after the way he had just behaved.
What the hell is all this supposed to mean? Does he think that I'm another one of his stupid girlfriends who'll go crazy over him if he flirts?! If he thinks I'm going to be throwing myself at him then he's in for a surprise! Who the hell does he think he is? He can come up to me and talk whenever he wants and disappear whenever he wants? Keep yourself in check Khushi. You don't want to end up being heartbroken again, do you?
She raised her chin stubbornly, grabbed her cross-body bag and stormed out of the dressing room.
_____
Arnav had taken a detour after he'd thought of something impromptu and by the time he'd gotten home, he'd found everyone seated in the living room, chatting. He gave Khushi a dazzling smile and greeted everyone else.
"Where the hell were you for four days?!" Anjali spat angrily.
"I think it has to do with the announcement of my engagement with Khushi, right?"
Every head turned to look at NK. Everyone except Khushi. Her eyes remained fixated on Arnav who didn't seem bothered by NK's question at all. Khushi's gut clenched nervously when Arnav gave a sugar-laced smile to NK.
Arnav held NK's questioning gaze with confidence. "You're right, NK. It has everything to do with the announcement of Khushi's engagement."
Khushi felt the blood in her veins chill at his words. NK glanced warily at Khushi, scanned the equally stunned crowd, and turned back to look at the smug looking man that was Arnav Singh Raizada.
"I...Excuse me?" NK raised his eyebrows.
"Arnav? What's going on?" Anjali asked cautiously, well aware of the glint in her brother's eyes. He looked like he was about to demolish a rival company and do a hostile takeover.
"What?" Arnav frowned at her. "Oh come on! You know me!"
Arnav casually walked to the couch and plopped down next to Khushi. Khushi stiffened slightly at his proximity, recalling the earlier events in the change room.
"Remember when you two tricked her to go on a date with Joel?? Do you remember how angry I was?" Arnav chuckled and turned to NK. "I'm possessive and very protective of Khushi...actually...all three ladies...it's just that I know Ro and Akash so I don't worry about Anjali and Payal as much but Khushi here always manages to find a stranger."
"NK is not a stranger." Khushi fired at once. "He's my friend."
Anjali and Payal exchanged a glance. It was just a tad bit odd that she referred to the man as her friend' when she was engaged to marry him!
Rohan caught Akash hiding a smirk and instantly, his brows etched into a frown before his eyes moved to an amused looking Arnav. Something was going on that Rohan wasn't aware of.
The first retort that came to Arnav's mind was: So he's just your friend? I was under the impression that you're engaged to him...
But he knew he couldn't say that to her...not yet anyway. Khushi was already showing every sign of subtle defiance and he knew she was on guard. Arnav could almost hear the wheels in her head turning as they tried to decipher Arnav's behavior.
"Of course he is, Khushi...I just meant that there is always some guy that I don't know in the picture...first it was Joel...now NK...but I'm sure once I get to know him, I'll be able to treat him just like Ro and Akash." Arnav casually picked up a glass of juice presented by one of the house butlers and took a sip.
NK shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was just starting to get used to this man's hostility and curt behavior and now he had to go and change everything. This was the friendliest he had been...the most relaxed NK has ever seen him. What the hell brought this on?
The topic was brushed off quite quickly as everyone dived into telling stories of Arnav's possessive antics. Arnav participated with complete attention during the long conversation that followed. An hour past midnight, people left to sleep, one by one. By the time the clock showed a perfect 2:00 am, only Arnav, Khushi, and Lavanya remained. Of course, if Arnav's anger was a person, he'd be the most unnoticed, yet present, individual.
Lavanya was yapping away about the intricate details of NK and Khushi's performance which refused to leave Arnav's mind.
"I can't imagine how much work you two must put in..." Lavanya shook her head. "I couldn't do that..."
"With that attitude, you won't last two days in that Gala..." Khushi laughed.
"Why aren't you going to it?" Lavanya frowned, clearly disappointed.
Arnav looked back and forth between the two as if following the ball in a tennis match. Did they even realize that he was still sitting here?
"I told you...I have to be with Amma...besides, NK and I went to that Gala last year..." Khushi shrugged.
Lavanya sighed. "Oh well...okay...now I'm sleepy...Good night guys! Tomorrow is going to be a busy day!"
Khushi groaned. "She's turning out to be quite the Bridezilla..."
"What's tomorrow?" Arnav blurted, the curiosity getting the better of him.
"Anjali and Rohan...well...mainly just Anjali wants to do a photo shoot with the group...Aman volunteered to use his photography skills...you can bet anything that she'll be on your tail about it..." Lavanya smirked. "Make sure you dress nice...preferably...ditch your button up shirts for a day...or ditch a shirt altogether..." Lavanya winked flirtatiously.
A ghost of a smile appeared on Arnav's face even as he shook his head at her. This woman was never going to stop, was she? "Good night Lavanya."
Without warning, the woman flung her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tightly. Arnav's eyes instantly flickered to Khushi, who seemed suddenly toointerested in the carpet. The hope that had flickered in his heart upon seeing her kiss the tattoo on her hand reared its head once again, turning into a fully fledged fire.
Lavanya let him go only to gather Khushi in a hug. Both Arnav and Khushi waited, as still and silent as statues, until Lavanya's bedroom's door closed behind her.
"Are you unhappy that I'm back?"
Khushi jumped in her seat and turned to look at Arnav, pondering over his question. What was he on about now?
"What?"
"What??" Arnav shrugged. "You don't seem particularly pleased that I've come back..."
Khushi looked at him for a long minute, while he held her gaze unwaveringly. Khushi searched for a hint...anything that would tell her or give her the gist of what is going on in his head. There was zilch indication.
She sighed dejectedly and stood up. For a second, Arnav feared that she may leave. She paced back and forth in front of him as she answered, "I don't know anything about you anymore, Arnav. I don't know...I can't gauge your reactions...I can't seem to tell what you're thinking...hell, I don't even know if me being back has upset you! Are you upset that I'm back?"
Arnav's hand shot out as fast as lightening and grabbed a hold of hers. He stood up and waited only a second until she turned around before pulling her into a familiar embrace. "Don't be ridiculous, Khush...I can't tell you how happy I am that you're back."
She pulled away while her hands pushed him off. "Then why did you leave like that for four days?! You're purposefully avoiding me!"
Arnav eyes fell down to her left hand and then slowly rose back up to meet her angry ones. "I already explained that."
Khushi scoffed. "Please...you may have others believing that story but you can't sell that to me..."
The lid on Arnav's temper rattled dangerously but he willed himself to stay in control, reminding himself that he was dealing with Khushi here. "I'm not trying tosell anything. Every word of that sentence was true. I think my exit from the table and the house that day was ample display of just how upset I am about your engagement."
"Yes, I figured that out. I'm not an idiot, you know! But your reason isn't good enough, Arnav. I haven't been blind to the way you treat NK since the day he has set foot here and now suddenly you're being...or at least acting cordial with him...what brought on the change? What changed, Arnav?"
"Everything has changed, in case you haven't realized it, Khushi!" Arnav held her by the shoulders and pulled her against himself. "Everything has changed. When you showed up at that party...I made instant plans to bring my Khush back...to have my best friend back...I wanted to solve all our unresolved issues! You wanted to wait until after Anjali's engagement to talk over those things and I agreed despite my better judgment. And then I find out that the woman I'm trying to bring back into my life is already set to be a part of someone else's."
Khushi's mind ran off with his statement and instantly started scanning vigorously to find some underlying message.
"Why didn't you tell me Khushi?" There was so much pain in his voice as he spoke the sentence that Khushi had the fleeting idea that he was talking about something else entirely.
"Because I knew you'd react this way!" Khushi snapped.
"I'm sure you remember just how angry I was when you were tricked into a simpledate with Joel...did you expect any better reaction from me about your engagement?" He let her go roughly and ran his hand through his hair.
This wasn't supposed to go this way. He didn't want to blame her for any of this but he couldn't help himself. He had messed up in the past and he was paying the price now but Khushi wasn't completely spot free either, was she? She had hidden things. She had stopped talking to him. She had moved on and gotten engaged. She was entitled to some blame for this situation, wasn't she? Doesn't it always take two people to tango?
"Do you love him?" There. He'd asked the question. He knew the answer to that of course. But it was always better to make sure by hearing from the horse's mouth.
As much as he hated to admit it, if she did love that stupid Kohli man...Arnav would step aside. He had been separated from Khushi, the girl he loved, by some outsider and he wouldn't put Khushi through that pain even if it meant crushing his own heart with his own hands.
Arnav watched her keenly, making a note of every expression that skittered across her face. His question had surprised her, angered her, made her sad, and then thoughtful. In that moment, Arnav knew she would lie next.
"I don't believe in love." She crossed her arms as if that gesture would add any weight to her false statement.
Arnav couldn't help but throw back his head a laugh a little. She looked ten years younger and reminded him of a stubborn Khushi in high school. The funnier part, of course, was her proclamation that she didn't believe in love.
"That is as true as the fact that I'm going to let NK marry you..." He noted sarcastically.
Khushi looked startled for a second before she gathered herself. "What are you trying to say, Arnav? Get to the damn point."
Much like he had earlier, Arnav circled his arms around her waist and pulled her against himself. "The damn point, Khushi...is that I'm not going to let NK take you away from me."
Khushi felt a wave of anger rising in opposition to a wave of love for the man in front of her. How these two emotions can come forth simultaneously for the same person was beyond her. She hated how he still managed to make her feel special by saying these things. His possessiveness was what had given her hope all those years in the past when he was sowing wild oats and she felt the Khush in her clutching onto that ray of hope tightly now, as that same possessive rippled off of him.
"My stupidity and childish ways have already taken you away from me and I'll be damned if I let you go away again. I didn't let that Joel have a second date with you...and if you think that I'll let some Nakul Kohli marry and take you away from me, you need to think again." Arnav's voice was a husky whisper, as if the words were meant for her ears only.
Khushi closed her eyes when he leaned in closer. She willed herself to stop the gasp that threatened to escape her as he placed his lips on her right cheek, dangerously close to the corner of her mouth.
"Good Night Khush..." and with that, the devil turned on his heels and started walking towards the staircase.
He had just set foot onto the first step when her voice stopped him. "Why does NK bother you so much?"
All he wanted to do at this point was to scream and tell her what feelings he harbored for her and how long he has kept them but he didn't. He knew it wasn't the right time yet. He had figured out that she didn't love NK but he still had to figure out where NK stands in all of this. Until then, he wouldn't disclose anything to her.
But that didn't mean he couldn't give a small hint. Or a big hint...
After the unnaturally long pause, Arnav turned to look at her. She blinked once as she registered the carefully schooled expression and shuttered eyes.
He's hiding something from me...again!
"Why NK bother me so much? It's simple, isn't it?" Arnav shrugged once. "He bothers me for the same reasons my ex-girlfriends used to bother you."
_____
"Stop. Yawning." Anjali poked Khushi's arm with force to get her attention.
"Sorry." Khushi mumbled even as she stifled another yawn.
Khushi tried to look energetic and posed for another picture, the unnatural smile in place for the camera. She felt guilty about being less than enthusiastic for this photo shoot. Since the moment she'd gotten into the car with them, till this very moment, Khushi had been yawning and lost in her world of thoughts.
Why?
Because she hadn't slept for a second last night.
And because Arnav had dropped an unexpected bomb on her last night.
He bothers me for the same reasons my ex-girlfriends used to bother you. Really?? What reasons is he talking about? It doesn't seem like Anjali and Payal have let out my secret...he can't possibly know why his ex-girlfriends really bothered me...can he? No! He wouldn't shut up and not bring it up in all this time...would he?
Khushi casted a glance at Arnav who was taking a break from Anjali's nagging. He was sitting on one of the train tracks close to the tunnel's mouth, uncaring of the fact that the rust dust on the old metal will probably ruin his jeans. He looked like the Arnav she had known years ago. A simple white polo shirt paired with a pair of navy blue jeans.
He hadn't spoken to her much this morning...or rather, she hadn't given him the chance. After their conversation last night, she felt an odd sense of constant fear in her heart. As if something was going to go wrong...as if something that wasn't supposed to happen has. She had tried every possible thing, grabbed every presented opportunity to put physical distance between him and herself.
She looked at NK, who was also sitting on a train track, a few steps away from Arnav, hence, a few steps closer to the group. He was in a simple black t-shirt and cargo shorts. He was a contrasting sight to the brooding man who sat alone in the company of music which no doubt must be blaring from those headphones in his ears.
She turned away and took in the beautiful surroundings. They were currently situated behind a hill. The ground expanded into clear ground for a few yards before the crops of the farms grew wild. The pair of railway tracks curved around the base of the hill before disappearing abruptly around a bend and into a tunnel.
"Okay...now I want one with Arnav and Akash..." Anjali's excited voice brought Khushi back to her immediate surroundings. Khushi frantically tried to think of a reason to escape as she watched Anjali wave Arnav over frantically.
They moved closer to the crops to get the corn fields more clearly in the pictures. Khushi busied herself in helping Aman set-up the tripod in this new spot when she heard it.
Anjali's scream was so loud that Aman dropped his camera and everyone who heard her nearly got a heart attack. Khushi heart lurched painfully at the sight that greeted her when she turned to see what Anjali was screaming about.
The next second, they were all running.
"Arnav, get out of the way!!" Rohan screamed.
Arnav, who was strolling casually in the center of the track, slowed down and looked at them, trying to understand why everyone was running.
No! Don't slow down!! Move! Khushi wasn't sure whether she had screamed it out loud or just in her mind.
She couldn't think anything past the fact that there was a train speeding up towards Arnav and that man was standing there, with his back turned to the danger, without a clue in the world.
She watched on even as she ran, as he looked at the ground, then up at NK who was also running towards him, and then finally, he looked over his shoulder. Khushi felt as if the life was sucked out of her when he didn't move after that. Instead, he stood there, almost as if committing suicide.
She herself wasn't aware that she couldn't see him anymore. The train was zooming across in front of her, but she still ran towards it as if some magical gap will appear and let her cross the track and go to Arnav. She felt a painful yank on her arm before another arm circled her waist, pulling her away from the speeding vehicle.
She was vaguely aware that right next to her, Anjali was sobbing while Rohan tried to hold her back as well.
_____
Arnav watched her with a fixed gaze, his eyes refusing to leave her even when she saw him looking at her. She had been cleverly avoiding him all morning and he wondered whether or not he'd hinted away too much last night. If he were being honest with himself at the moment, he didn't care. He didn't care if he'd said too much. He'd spent long hours the previous night questioning the efficiency of the plan he had made with Akash and Arvind.
The plan's execution was going to be too slow for his liking and he wasn't going to stick to it. Not that he had, anyway. He had veered from the plan yesterday the second he had decided to stay in the room until Khushi was there. The conversation that had followed, the hints he had given weren't supposed to be a part of the picture until he was certain of NK's feelings, or the lack of them, for Khushi.
Step one was supposed to be to figure out NK's role in all of this and then approach Khushi accordingly. He didn't care about NK...not in the slightest. Whether or not her so called fianc loved her, Arnav wasn't going to become a sacrificing saint if he got the slightest indication that Khushi still harbored feelings for him.
But even if she does...she's not going to tell me anytime soon.
He sighed and tore his eyes away from Khushi to change the song on his iPod. He turned up the already deafening volume, hoping that the crudeness of the rock track will serve as a distraction. But he found his eyes searching for her almost immediately. Anjali's frantic waving got his attention first and he rolled his eyes as he realized that she was waving him to them.
Sighing, he stood up and started walking towards them, the gravel on the railway track crunching under his feet. He watched Khushi, dressed in an A-line white and black floral print dress, as she helped Aman mount the camera on the tripod. A frowned appeared on his face when she turned abruptly to face him. The next second, everyone was running...towards...him?!
What The...!
Arnav focused on them with squinted eyes. Were they making gestures or just running crazily? He couldn't ponder on the thought much as the shudder of the ground under his feet stole his attention. Instinctively, Arnav looked up to check but he found NK running towards him at full speed. When NK made a sweeping gesture with his hand, Arnav turned to look over his shoulder and shock paralyzed him instantly.
His mind was screaming at him to jump out of the way, that he only had seconds to save himself and yet, he couldn't move. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the impact. His mind suddenly filled with memories of Khushi.
When the impact did come, it knocked him over sideways. For a fleeting second, he was sure he was going to die. As the adrenaline shot through his veins, the numbness dissipated and awareness came to him.
There was a train moving at incredible speed on the track where he was standing mere seconds ago. He felt the weight of an arm around his ribs, pinning him to the floor. There was a stark pain at the back of his head where it had hit the metal track. He even heard distressed cries, over the screeching of metal wheels on metal tracks, from the other side of the train.
"f**k!"
That wasn't his voice but it was close by. He realized that he was lying haphazardly on the second, vacant, track with someone else. He turned to see who had just saved him and he felt a feeling akin to guilt pierce him icily.
There lay the man who Arnav had never imagined to play the hero in his life. He was supposed to be the bad guy, the guy who was trying to take away Arnav's happiness.
NK.
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