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Not proof read.. Ignore the mistakes..

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Chapter 22 : Upside Down

3 Years Later...

Delhi...

Roychowdhury Mansion...

Poolside..

On the day of Nikhil and Jayeeta's engagement...

[ Arnav : 21 years, Khushi: 19 years ]

Reshmi almost dragged a confused Arun downstairs while Khushi holds a frozen Arnav's hand tightly, who was looking at the retreating figure of his mother with a shattered looks on his face... tears rolled down from Khushi's eyes watching Arnav's state.. He is standing like a statue without any emotions, its like life had been sucked from him, as if he is nothing like a dead corpse.. His face is pale, eyes lifeless.. but which make Khushi worried most is Arnav's eyes.. He did not shed a single drop of tears.. His eyes turn red with pain and unshed tears, but not a single tear roll down from his eyes.. as if, as if, Reshmi's words had killed Arnav's inner soul..

" Allav" Khushi whispered to get some reaction from Arnav but none..

" Allav... Allav..." this time Khushi shook Arnav a little not getting any response. Slowly Arnav turns towards her and when his bloodshot eyes met with Khushi, she felt her heart sank... The raw pain in those chocolate eyes burn her whole being.

" Allav... Allav.. You...please, don't take those words by your heart.. Aunty.. Aunty was upset that you were not giving her time after you came back today.. may be.. its just her frustration .. don't get her words by your heart.. Allav she loves you.." Khushi said those words but before she continue, Arnav laughed dryly..

" Really Khushi? Are you kidding me? I am not a mere 6 year's old kid, whom you console by your soothing words, I know what maa told me... I can feel.. so don't you dare try to cover up anything.." Arnav asked Khushi while having a sarcastic smile on his face..

"Allav... you... please.." Khushi could not complete her words as Arnav harshly snatched his hands from Khushi's grip which make her stumble down in her place. With a gasp Khushi closed her eyes and was ready to fall but a familiar strong pair of hands protects her from falling.

" lagi tumhe? Tum Thik ho? ( did you get hurt? Are you Okay?)" Arnav asked with the known concern while slowly making Khushi stand in her feet.

" No..." Khushi nodded her head in negative.. " I am not okay... I can never be okay..if you are this much broken Allav.." with that Khushi sobbed hard making Arnav feeling guilty...

" Sorry, I am really sorry Khush.. I..I... I.. don't know what I am doing, or saying or feeling anymore... I am sorry to hurt you.." Arnav felt while his voice chocked a little.

" suuuhh...." Khushi placed her palm on Arnav mouth.. " Don't say a single word.. I am sorry that you have to face all this.." Khushi hiccupped a little while sobbing continuously.

" It was inevitable.. I should have known before.. I am nothing but a pawn to my mother , to show her husband.. as di always is vocal about her choices, maa targeted me.. But no more.. I will show her that Arnav can leave without the tag of Roychowdhury.." Arnav said determined.

" But, Allav... How? You are still a student.. you have your dream to complete Masters degree... then How? Please Allav, think wisely.. Aunty is angry because you were talking with me, and aunty felt neglected.. so,.." Khushi could not complete as Arnav looked at her with red angry eyes.

" Enough....as much as you try to convince me to bend down before maa, I will not.. and as for you, are you feeling hesitated to be my friend, as I am now just Arnav.. A NOBODY.. if yes, then you are too welcome, to leave me just like my maa.. I DON'T CARE ANYMORE.. I will make my own destiny with or without anybody and I mean it..." Arnav spat making Khushi stunt in her position.. Arnav looked at Khushi with some unexplained emotions in his eyes.. " I mean it Khush..."

Khushi's trance was broken and she gasped aloud.. wiping the lone tears she spoke, " how can you think about me like this way Allav? You will always be ALLAV FOR ME, WITH OR WITHOUT YOUR FAMILY NAME... may be its my fault that I failed to make you believe me.. I.. Just...."

" Just what?"

" I just feel guilty.. I can not erase the thought that because of me..." Khushi stops without uttering anymore words while Arnav too kept quiet..

Within few moment how his life turn upside down, it still felt unbelievable.

" I don't know Khushi what I will do, I still don't know.. I am sure about one thing that I have to prove myself, and for that I can go to any length... Tonight I am going back, I got the internship based on my results... I will do that... and I will search for a Job parallaly, to fend myself.." Arnav said looking at distant..

" Leave about me... Tell me what is your plan? You have done so amazing in your board exam, still you admitted in Lacknow college.. and besides you are doing dance tutorial, why?" Arnav asked looking at Khushi..

" I want to be independent.. with my little dance tutorial, I make for my pocket money , it feel surreal..." Khushi smiled a little while Arnav sigh

" I want to feel the same way... earning by own capabilities, how it will feel, I think it's time to try that..."Arnav said still looking at distant..

" will you let anyone know about your decision?" Khushi asked Arnav..

" No.. and you have to promise me that, no one apart from the three of us will be aware about this..."

" But you are not used to this life, how you will survive there? Who will help you if you face any problem there? Who will stand by you? " Khushi asked while her eyes fill with unshed tears.

" I don't need anyone's help but Your... Just be my strength Khushi.. don't make my determination waver... I promise, when ever I will fall, I will call for you, because...." Arnav finally looked at Khushi..

" Because..." Khushi felt a rush of emotion almost chocking her..

" Because you never left my side, irrespective of my ill treatment towards you.. I know, you will never leave me.. look, even now I am talking selfish, just thinking about me..." Arnav chuckle while few tears roll down... " you know Khush, I had few plans regarding today's meet, I had thought to tell you something , but...."

" But.. what Allav... nothing changed between US... you can tell me anything you want..." Khushi said already feeling the erratic heartbeat of her..

Stupid heart, does not know when to shut..

"Today is not the day... I will definitely tell you Khushi, but not today... you deserve much more..." Arnav said looking at her, " will you give me some time to gather myself? To face you with my new identity? Will you wait for me?"

" I will..." Khushi said already tears were running down her eyes.

" It may take days, months or years... My future is uncertain Khush... If any moment you feel, that it's becoming a burden for you, then... you are free to..." Arnav could not complete his sentence, he felt suffocated.. After all today he was suppose to confess his feelings to her, His KHUSH..

After gathering so much courage finally Arnav had decided to open up infront of his Khush, about his overwhelming feelings.. He was not a fool to not understand what he is feeling for Khushi, but he was scared, to be rejected.. because of his parents complicated relationship he always used to get scared about getting an intimate relationship, he was scared of commitment... that's why to fight with his own feeling, to making Khushi stay away from him, he did few thing, like roaming or flirting with his classmates, specially Sneha, pretending to get involve with them... But hurting Khushi never gave him any peace, instead he was becoming restless with every passing day.. finally when Arnav went to Harvard, with time he realized that he had fall for Khushi deeply, there is no way out...The distance made him realize and he decided to confess to Khushi finally..

Arnav had chosen today to start something new between him and his money girl..

Indeed his life changed, but not the way he was expecting, infact his world had shaken, became upside down, but still he felt a solace that Khushi was beside him, after all the storm and turbulent...

And Arnav vowed that this time he will not Khushi let down...He will stand for himself and her...

" don't assume Things Arnav..." Khushi tern voice made Arnav surprise, not only the voice but also she called him as Arnav, instead of Allav.

" Khush..I just..." Arnav stammer a little..

" You know Arnav, My world is very little, where you are an integral part.. not from today, but since the time I met you.. so..." Khushi paused, then looking at Arnav she told, " I will wait... But what if, you forget your promise after becoming successful? What if you feel I became burden in your life?"

" That day will never come.." Arnav said confidently looking at Khushi's eyes.. None of them broke the eye lock.. Today not only Arnav's but Khushi's life too became upside down... None of them were ever prepared for this conversation, specially to express their deep rooted feelings for each other in such a manner..

But It's life...

Before Khushi could say anymore a loud voice starlet them..

Jayita almost run towards Khushi and said, "You are enjoying your time with your hulk? Did you forget that today is my engagement.. Being my best friend, it's your moral duty to support me, you should be besides me, your hulk can wait.." Jayita huffed and almost drag Khushi with her, Khushi looked back at Arnav feeling that today Arnav needs her the most, but to her surprise Arnav smile and followed their footstep..

The rest of the event went very well. Everyone was enjoying the ceremony. Apparently everything looked perfect. Reshmi, introduced Arnav with some of her guests, Khushi danced along with Jayita and her other friends.. Nikhil was grinning all the time and when Arnav congratulated him, his comical expression made everyone laugh, Avantika demanded loads of food and Shyamal was always there to take care of her needs.. Aditya and Piya were in their own world.. Arun was feeling something amiss, looking at Arnav specially when he hugged him suddenly, he asked few times but Arnav said he just missed them all and he is tired...

Slowly the ceremony ended while every guest departed to their own destination.. The family members finally all set in living room just relaxing before call it a day..

" Finally the ceremony is over..Nikhil and Jayita were looking so happy and contented.. may God bless them.." Madhuri, Nikhil and Aditya's mother said with a small smile..

" I hope now our younger son will be a little more responsible.. What say Nikhil?" Mihir, the jovial father asked his newly engaged son...

Nikhil looked everywhere but at his parents.. Though his parents are always the coolest one, but today he felt a little bit awkward.

Everyone laugh looking at Nikhil face..

" Now only my Arnav is left... He is soon being graduate, let's see what surprise he had chose for us.." Devi smiled looking at her grandson who is as usual standing with an emotionless face..

" well, Arnav, are you dating someone? You know someone from your classmate, in Harvard? You can tell us.. here your younger brother too got engaged.." Shyamal said teasingly while Avantika giggle a little.. but Arnav just shrug.

" why are you so serious son? You know, you can tell your father, any time... are you seriously carrying some secrets?" Arun said in a light mood making Reshmi tensed..

Before Reshmi could say anything, Arnav finally utter, " Yes, a life turning secret.." and that draw everyone's attention..

" What? What do you mean?" Susmita asked her grandson looking at his face.. There was something which Arnav is hiding.. Arun and Susmita who knew him a little better, the other side of him, both of them can guess that Arnav is highly disturb, thinking very deeply yet not expressing himself.. Though others were pulling his leg assuming that may be Arnav had a secret girlfriend, but Arnav's father and grandmother, had their eyes on him throughout the party, specially when he came out from his room...there is something seriously wrong....

" I will definitely share the secret, but not today... when the perfect time will come, I will share it not only with you, but with the whole world.." Arnav said looking at Reshmi, who averted her eyes from her beloved son. Though this exchange was only observed by Arun, other were hooding for Arnav assuming something different..

Khushi was standing just besides Arnav, looking at only Arnav's face.. slowly she holds Arnav's hand without any words, while Arnav closed his eyes not looking at Khushi but his tensed muscle got relaxed a little bit..

The upcoming days will not only be challenging for Arnav , but Khushi too is in turmoil.. Biggest question is, will they survive this challenge which life just thrown their way, or something unexpected will happen, will they conquer the world standing besides each other or will they fall apart?

Let's wait for the time ....

To Be Continued....

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Author Note:

Hi....

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Thank you very much to my those readers who waited patiently for this update.. Your motivation, kind words and support keep me going...

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Will try to update soon...

Till then,

Take care....Stay safe....

Your storyteller...

Mamree

07 /07/2022