Its New York time! I have been so excited for this chapter as you finally get a glimpse at the Arnav without Khushi and the Khushi without Arnav!

Arnav knocked on the door, his suitcase stood by his side.

Nani opened the door, she looked him up and down "Oh come here Arnav bitwa" she wrapped her arms around him, patting his hair

She looked behind him "Khushi, is she coming later"

Arnav shook his head "She isnt coming"

"Why not" Nani frowned, holding her hand out "Give me your phone, I want to talk to her"

"Nani please, not now"

She sighed "Fine, not now, but soon" she stood back, allowing him to come in

"But if you ever come to my house without Khushi again, I wont let you in" she threatened

Arnav nodded numbly and walked toward his room

XXX

Lavanya placed the cup of coffee down before Khushi "Please, its been a few days since youve even spoken, just drink this, it may give you some energy"

Khushi sipped on the coffee, black, two sugars, just how he liked it

God she missed him, she had never felt as empty as she did right now

Her eyes pooled with tears, she swallowed, closing her eyes as they made their way down her cheeks

"This isnt over Khushi, you never give up, do not give up now"

"What am I meant to do Lavanya, what do I do, he walked away, I cant force him to stay with me" her voice cracked, hoarse from the days of crying

"You go to New York, you show that man what he's missing, you tell him you love him and you stand by his side, he loves you Khushi, I can see it in the way he looks at you"

"The way he looks at me" she muttered, dumbfounded

"He looks at you like you are something magical, a masterpiece" she laughed

Khushi looked away "Dont be silly"

"No, really, he said to me once, that you were a masterpiece, a stunning piece of art, but as fragile as glass, he said he didnt care if he got cut by broken pieces trying to get close to you, as long as you never got hurt by his broken pieces, he said you were magnificent and truly the most special thing to exist"

"When, when did he say that"

"Your birthday last year"

"Im tired of always fighting for him, he never fights for me" she bit into her lip, gripping the mug tightly

Lavanya shook her head "Allow him the opportunity to fight for you" she suggested

"What do you mean" Khushi queried

"I have a plan, one I think might work"

XXX

Arnav looked down at his coffee, he sighed heavily, drumming his fingers against the table

He wondered what she was doing

If she was okay

If she hurt as bad as he did

Or if maybe she felt free

He needed to hear her voice, just once

He picked up his phone and called her

Nani watched from behind, tapping her chin

"Hello" Khushi spoke

His eyes fluttered shut at hearing her voice, he gripped the phone tightly

"Why did you call me Arnav, if youre just going to stay silent"

"I just wanted to know if you were okay"

"You do not get to just walk out on me, then call me acting like you still care, if you cared for me, you never would have done this, you wanna hear the truth, I have to sleep on the sofa because our room smells of you and I cant handle being in there without remembering you, I got sent home from work because I am to emotional, all I do is sit on the sofa, listening to sad songs, wearing your jumpers that still smell like you, so yes Arnav, I am great, more than great actually, you had no right to walk into my life with the intention to walk out of it"

She was breathless after shouting at him, so angry that he had deserted her when she needed him the most

"How are you doing" she needed to know if he hurt to

"I feel like a shell of who I was" he looked down at the ring she had bought him, glimmering in the light

"Then why did you leave Arnav"

"Because I cant be the man you want"

Lavanya put her thumb up, Khushi nodded

"I have to go Arnav, Varun is here"

Arnav stood up "What do you mean Varun is there, in our house, are you with him alone" he gritted his teeth

"What does it matter Arnav, you said it right, you cant be the man I want, so maybe he can"

Arnav slammed his fist onto the table "Khushi, that is not what I meant, look I"

Lavanya grabbed the phone and cut it off "You wanted him to fight for you right, now he will, now wipe those tears and stop feeling bad, you have tried explaining to him with love, but now you must show him that he cannot make decisions for you"

Khushi looked down at her phone "He's calling again"

"Pick up" Lavanya leant against the wall, waiting

"Hello, Khushi, its Nani"

Khushi jumped "Hi nani, how are you, are you feeling better"

"I am good, but you aren't, I want you to come to New York, Arnav bitwa makes stupid decisions sometimes, he doesnt always think them through"

Lavanya nodded

Khushi swallowed "Okay, ill come, but I dont know if he wants me there"

She laughed "Oh he wants you here, dont doubt that for a second"

"Okay, ill be there then, just dont tell him please"

"Of course" Nani promised

XXX

Lavanya sat on the bed facing Khushi, her legs crossed "You need to dress to impress, get his attention, drive him wild and make him tell you why he really left, if he knows he cant have you, he will want you even more, your issue is you're to open for him"

"Huh"

"Look, he leaves, you wait till he comes home, he runs, you chase, he says jump and you say, how high, you're always so open for him to come back when it suits him, all girls do it, god knows I do"

Khushi turned, taking in her words when she knocked a shoebox down

The shoebox tipped to the side, the contents spilling over

She bent down, picking the stuff up when she came across an envelope addressed to her

She opened it quickly her eyes widening in alarm

Dear Arnav,

It was obvious that if I sent a letter to Khushi, you would open it, since you know my handwriting

Excuse my methods, I just needed to get your attention

Now, I dont want to have to hurt her, but she's getting involved in something that has nothing to do with her, and you know how I feel about people putting their nose in our business

Ita simple, you remember how when you were young, I would write you notes, our secret messages, well heres a riddle for you to crack

Good luck and be quick, leave it to late and I may just have to do good on my promise and ruin the woman you love the most

If you want to save your wife, you will find the answer to this simple question and then do as you are told

Never say this word because it stops all opportunity of meeting again
It is the most painful seven letter word to utter, what is it?

Khushi's jaw dropped, she looked up at Lavanya "I need to get to New York, now, I know why Arnav left me"

She held out the letter to Lavanya who gasped loudly

Anyone guess the riddle?
Seeee, I told you guys it was all for a reason!