PRECAP: Arnav and Khushi are acquaintances for sixteen months, who smile at each other every morning, unaware of the fact that they both harbor mutual feelings for each other. They live in the same building, merely three doors apart and have adhered to their ritual of smiling at each other for more than 1½ year when suddenly, Khushi stops showing up at the door, unaware of how her smile mate, Arnav would be affected by her unannounced disappearance. After waiting for one whole week and not getting an explanation of her absence, Arnav decided to pay her a visit which turned out to be the starting point of a relationship that none of them had thought plausible. In an intriguing twist, Arnav is not the middle class IT Guy that he had initially introduced himself as, to Khushi but the son of Khushi's boss, Dr. Arvind Raizada. Fearing her withdrawal, Arnav has not yet mustered up the courage to come clean to Khushi about his identity. All this while, their relationship has grown leaps and bounds, with Arnav and Khushi growing closer and closer to each-other with every meeting. Over the next few weeks, Arnav and Khushi met and talked daily, with Arnav dropping her to (their) office and them texting constantly with one another. In the last chapter, Arnav brings Khushi home after an impromptu dinner date, the next morning Khushi ends up cooking and having her breakfast at Arnav's place. They talk a little about Khushi's parents and she becomes understandably upset, only to be soothed by her smile mate. Another week later, Arnav is at Khushi's place watching a movie when Khushi requests him to stay over for the night. As the night comes to a close, Khushi ends up confessing her feelings for Arnav and Arnav reciprocates equally. After their confession, Arnav realises that he couldn't keep lying to her about who he really is and decides that it was finally time to tell her, no matter the consequences.

NOW:

Arnav took a deep breath before knocking on the door of his father's study. He had visited after literal months and he was about to give him the shock of a lifetime. He couldn't decide if he wanted to go through with it or not but Arnav knew that he couldn't delay this anymore. He was in love with a girl that he knew meant a lot to his father and there was no person better than him to open up to. Arvind Raizada smiled as he opened the door and perceived the form of his son before pulling him into a hug. 

"What calamity of nature brought you to our end of the woods, Arnav?" He asked cheekily and Arnav rolled his eyes, as a fond smile tugged at his lips. 

"Well, it is not a calamity per se. It's more of a miracle." Arnav answered, fidgeting with his fingers. 

Arvind chuckled softly. "Come on in. This looks serious." He said, ushering his son inside his study. 

Arnav looked around the room, smiling. "You remember when Di and I were kids, the study used to be off limits to us. It was the grown-up room and I really just wanted you to invite me in one day, telling me you're allowed now. It was, for me, the only thing that I wanted to have at that time, to be allowed into this room." 

Arvind chuckled, "You and Anjali used to linger around this corridor half the day, trying to sneak in."

"We hoped to, but we were terrified of getting caught, so we never even tried. Good times." Arnav was clearly in a reminiscent mood.

Arvind nodded. 

"So, what is this miracle you were talking about earlier?" He asked.

Arnav sighed. "Okay.. It's--" He exhaled, nervously. 

"Are you coming out to me?" Arvind asked, now genuinely curious of what was on his son's mind.

"Wha--No! Dad.. you-- No!!" Arnav responded, rightfully bewildered at his father's wild assumption. 

"Thank God. What is it then?" Arvind asked. 

Arnav closed his eyes, trying to gather his thoughts. "I'm in love."

"Huh?"

Arnav slowly opened his eyes to find his father staring at him, confused. "Dad?"

Arvind looked at him, slightly disappointed, "It's.. It's a good thing, right? Why were you so nervous about telling me?" He asked.

Arnav scratched his nose, breathing deeply. "You.. know the girl. It's Khushi." 

The words did something, the air felt sweeter somehow in that room. Maybe, it was because Arnav had finally allowed himself to confess to someone other than him that he loved Khushi or maybe, just maybe-- it was the way his father's eyes practically lit up at the mention of her name. 

"What did you..?"

"I know you treat her like your own daughter and I know that you're worried-- I will not let you down dad, I promise. I love her more than I can possibly find words to express. I will never hurt her, I can never even think of hurting that girl." Arnav's nervousness was spiking again, his chocolate colored eyes frantically searching his father's for approval. 

Arvind walked over to him and placed his hand gently on his son's shoulder. "Arnav, Woah.. woah.. relax-- calm down. I am not Hitler. Slow down, relax." He spoke to him soothingly. "Does she know?"

Arnav nodded. "Yes. Yes she does." 

"Does she love you back?" Arvind asked, very softly. Arnav nodded again. 

Arvind closed his eyes momentarily in prayer and then smiled. "What's the problem then?" He asked curiously. "You should know that I would never be a roadblock to either one of your happiness." 

"I know both of you and I have practically been dreaming of a day like this. I am not worried that you will hurt her, because I trust you and I trust her. You're my son and I know how much this relationship must mean to you, if you came to me, seeking approval. I know my son can never hurt the woman he loves, at least not intentionally." He added, holding the younger man firmly by his shoulders. 

Arnav let out a breath and hugged his father. "Thank you dad." Arvind smiled and patted his back. "I'm so very happy for you, both of you."

A few minutes passed, Arnav resumed his seat on the study chair, his father sat beside him. They were both sitting in silence only to be broken by Arvind who took his son's hand gently in his own.

"Do you want to tell me what's been bothering you?" He asked softly. Arnav looked up at him, surprised at his question. 

"You're my son, I know this is not the only thing that dragged you here." Arvind said confidently.

"She doesn't know I'm your son." Arnav told him, in a small voice, leaving his father in a stunned silence. 

"What? Why?" Arvind asked, bewildered. "Are you ashamed of being my son?"

"Dad, don't say that! Of course I'm not. Khushi.. I am scared that if she knows who I am, truly. If she misunderstands-- what if she thinks that our worlds are different. What if she's too scared to take a leap of faith? What if I lose her because of--" 

"Your financial superiority over her." Arvind completed his son's thought, running his tongue on his lips to wet them. 

"I don't think of it, but she just might. I don't want to lose her just because I'm wealthier than her, materialistically. I don't want to lose her to a notion of our worlds being different. I can't lose her Dad and I don't want to keep lying to her. I don't know what to do." Arnav looked scared, heck terrified of even the thought of losing her and Arvind really understood his son's fear. 

Arnav was not a very social kid even in his childhood, his relationships, his attachments were rare and unique and priceless. Whenever he made a bond, he did it with the intention of keeping up with it for his whole life. 

Arnav had tried to maintain romantic relationships before, but they had never quite worked out. Sometimes, it was him other times the woman and if none, then it was money.

Gold-diggers are in abundance around the world.

Arvind sighed. "She loves you." He said softly. 

Arnav looked at his father, who smiled. "You just told me she loves you back, didn't you?"

"I did."

"Did she tell you about her parents?" He asked. 

"Yes. She told me about their deaths."

Arvind nodded. "Talk to her, Arnav. If she loves you, which I'm sure she does. She will accept you as you are. Your financial and social position might surprise her at first but I'm pretty certain that once she's warmed up to the idea, once she has thought about it enough, it won't matter to her if you're Arnav Singh Raizada or just Arnav. She'll see the man she's in love with. Just him!" He explained.

Arnav nodded, this time more resolute than ever. 

If she has to take a leap of faith and trust him, then so did he.

I'm very sorry for going MIA for so long. I don't know how frequently I'll be updating, this might be the one update in an eternity or maybe the updates will come pouring in after this.

Hope for the latter, I'm hoping too.

I hope that the story is not boring!

Please let me know what you think of this chapter

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Vinny.

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