Part 18 One and Only friend

Arnav and Nani were shocked. Nani looked at Khushi getting disappointed. How beautifully she tried to make Khushi understand...! Her idiot Jeeja made everything upside down. Nani was distraught. She looked at Arnav who could not hide the shocking expression on his face. He was blankly gazing at Khushi.

Khushi disconnected the call wearily.

"You have done a very big blunder, bitiya," Nani said without hesitating.

Khushi closed her face with her palms and cried. Arnav tightened his jaws.

"Could you tell me what's happening?" He asked.

"Nothing Chotte... It's something you don't know" Nani said.

"Without telling me anything, how could you expect me to know the issue?"

Khushi stood up wiping her face.

"Nothing, Arnavji... Nothing..." Khushi gestured for Nani not to tell Arnav anything.

"Having no reason, I don't think anyone would cry" he said gritting his teeth.

"The reason can be unexposed... that may make the person cry"

Arnav was about to say something, and Nani gestured for him to be calm.

That was when they saw Akash and Payal coming. Arnav composed himself.

"Hello, Arnav..." Payal greeted him.

Arnav slightly nodded his head in the manner of accepting her greeting. He didn't know why they were in RM.

"How are you, Nani?" Akash asked.

"I'm doing good, Akash bituwa... How are you guys?"

"We are good Nani"

"Take your seats," Nani asked them to sit.

They sat opposite Arnav whereas Nani sat next to Arnav. Khushi stood without taking a seat.

Akash looked at Khushi.

"Payal, she is Khushi... Didn't you listen to the song sent by Aman? She is the one who sang the song"

"Oh... Is that you? Wah... What a mesmerizing voice you have... I'm impressed, Khushi" Payal said.

"Thank you, madam" Khushi said.

"Oh, come on, Khushi... don't call me madam or modem... Just call me Payal"

Khushi nodded ok. Akash looked at Arnav who was rigid.

"I think before Arnav lost his patience completely, I should tell him the reason for our RM visit" Akash laughed.

Arnav was not in the mood to enjoy it.

"We have successfully completed our three years of wedding life... And stepping into the fourth year. So, we decided to celebrate it. We are here to invite you guys. (Akash said looking at Nani and Arnav) Khushi, you are also invited" Akash said.

"Me? I just..."

"I'm inviting you not because you are a singer... It's because you are Arnav's friend" Akash said.

"Yes, Khushi... I didn't believe when Akash said that Arnav got a friend and that friend is a girl" Payal said.

"At first, I too didn't believe when Aman said..." Akash laughed.

Khushi was suffocating whereas Arnav looked at her firmly.

"You know what Khushi, Arnav never had a friend... how did you achieve it?" Akash asked.

"Yes, Khushi, see, now also we are talking but Arnav is not even smiling," Payal said smiling.

"How do you make him talk to you, Khushi?"

"When is the function?" Khushi asked diverting them.

"Tomorrow evening," Payal said.

"Actually, we invited everyone through phone calls but it won't work with Arnav. he will consider coming to the function only if we invite him in person" Akash said.

"It's good we come to RM... that's why I could meet you, Khushi. let's see what attracted Arnav that he accepted you as a part of his life" Payal said to Khushi.

"PART OF LIFE?" Nani asked getting amazed.

"Of course, Naniji... having a friend is not a big deal for us... but, for Arnav, it's a lifetime deal. Khushi should have some special qualities I guess, that's why she became Arnav's ONE AND ONLY friend"

"Naniji, you should come to the function and should bless us," Akash said.

"Me...? Sorry, Akash bituwa... I should have my dinner before 7 and should go to bed at 8. This kind of function won't suit me"

"Oh... no..."

"My blessings are always with you... always keep one thing in your mind... just communicate with each other open-heartedly... it will not only help to sort the problem but also avoid many problems. Don't hesitate to say what you feel for each other because no one is an EXPERT IN READING MINDS. Without telling what you feel, you can't expect the opposite person to understand you" Nani said glancing at Arnav and Khushi.

"So sweet of you, Naniji... we will miss you," Payal said.

"Arnav will attend the party with Khushi," Nani said.

Khushi spared a glance at Arnav to know whether he was ready to take her with him or not. She found his face calm without any changes.

"Will you go to the party?" Nani asked Khushi.

Khushi looked at Arnav.

"I will bring her," Arnav said.

Payal raised her brows amazingly.

"Thank God, finally, Arnav uttered something..." Akash laughed.

"We will be waiting for you," Payal said.

"Wait... I will prepare tea for you" Khushi said.

"No thanks, Khushi..." Akash said.

"She prepares good tea," Arnav said, that made them look at him and then Khushi.

"Is it, Khushi?" Payal asked.

Khushi smiled at them and went to the kitchen.

"I wish Arnav gets a life partner like Khushi..." Payal said.

Arnav gulped hard.

"Be careful, Payal... Arnav gets angry if anyone talks about his wedding" Akash said smiling.

"But, it doesn't seem so..." Payal said teasingly, looking at Arnav.

"Arnav... are you alright?" Akash asked.

"What happened to me?"

"That's what I'm asking... what happened to you? You are not looking normal. you didn't roll your eyes when we talked about your wedding... you didn't stop us when we talked about your friendship with Khushi... what happened, man?"

Arnav saw Khushi coming with tea. She served it to them.

"Don't you give tea to Arnav?" Payal asked.

"We just had lunch," Khushi said.

"Oh... did you prepare it?"

"No... Arnavji ordered it"

"Oh... anything special?"

Khushi hesitated to tell them that it was her birthday.

"Today is Khushi's birthday. That's why Arnav ordered food from his favorite restaurant" Nani said.

"Oh... is it?"

Payal stood up, keeping the teacup on the tea table.

"Happy Birthday, Khushi" She hugged her formally.

"Thank you, Payal"

"Many more happy returns of the special day" Akash shook hands with Khushi.

Khushi smiled painfully. HAPPY RETURNS OF THE SPECIAL DAY? like really? Arnav observed her facial expression and gulped down.

"So, you are enjoying your birthday with your lovable friend?" Payal asked.

Khushi smiled.

"Of course... only Khushi knew how lovable Arnav is..." Nani said hinting something to Arnav.

Arnav looked at Khushi who smiled at him like, YES, I DO. Was he LOVABLE? Only to Khushi? Yes, Nani was not wrong. No one found him lovable so far... that was why he didn't have anyone for himself. Arnav got stuck in his own thought. Did he ever have anyone for HIMSELF? Not at all... could he get another person who could understand him as Khushi did? How cleverly she handled him in every situation...! That too with a funny gesture...! Why didn't this girl open up her problem with him? But, how could she open up after knowing about his rigid nature? He wanted to help her but he didn't know how to do it.

"Very good tea, Khushi," Payal said.

"Yeah... it tastes good," Akash said.

Akash and Payal took their leave and left.

"Naniji, I'm also leaving..." Khushi said.

"Don't stress yourself, bitiya... everything will happen as per fate"

She smiled painfully.

"Bye, Naniji... Bye, Arnavji... thank you for your treat" she smiled.

Arnav nodded his head.

"Are we going to their party?" she asked.

"Yup... come to RM at 6'oclock," Arnav said.

Khushi nodded ok and left.

Shali Vilas

Anjali attended Shyam's call excitedly.

"Shyamji... Khushi agreed to marry, Sunil" She shouted happily.

There was silence on the other side. She looked at the phone to know whether he was on the line or not. She saw the time running.

"Shamji, are you there?" She asked.

"Jee, Rani Sahiba..."

"Khushi agreed to the wedding... come to India soon. We have a lot of work to do"

"Sure... but, don't you want me to meet the family?"

"Of course... you can meet them when you come to India"

"Ok... text me their numbers... I will talk to them formally"

"Oh, yes... I will text you the Groom's and his father's numbers.

"Ok, Rani Sahiba... (he paused for a while) I called Khushi to wish her but she didn't attend my call"

"She must have been with her friends, celebrating her birthday... she would not have noticed your call"

"Mmm... ok, bye"

"Bye"

Anjali felt proud of Shyam and the responsibility he showed for Khushi's wedding issue... unaware of the truth that there was an evil plan in his mind.

To be continued...