A Week Later ..

                  
Arnav was driving towards Gauri parents house to pick them up . It had became a routine between them until today. When his mother told him. He should ask Gauri and Rahul to stay with them for the rest of their holidays.          

When he first told them about their visit. They had taken it into their hands to convert the room next to his into Rahul's and had been disappointed when he told them that Rahul wasn't going to stay with them .             

" He is my only grandson, and your sister will never marry since she is married to her work. You will never marry anyone except Gauri ,that makes Rahul, my only grandson " his mother told him last night when he refused to ask Gauri to move in with them .      

Arnav had been glad that his family loved Rahul. But he wasn't comfortable with asking Gauri to move out of her comfort zone for his family.  Yet he didn't want to hurt his family as well and decided to just ask her first before worrying about it . His parents assured him that they will drop the subject if Gauri said No .              

The moment he parked his car , Rahul came running outside to greet him . These days the little one has so much to share. About Gauri's brother Ishaan who happens to be his playmate during the night and the different foods he ate which were cooked by his grandmother and even about the stories that his grandfather tells him every night .     

Though Rahul spends  most of the daytime  in his house. He knew his parents miss moments like this to see Rahul at complete ease with them just like Gauri's family . They are struggling to learn the sign language but they are persistent to the point that last night they have decided to only communicate using sign language for the entire night, so they can practice.          

Arnav was losing his heart to the little one as well, except the initial rejection when he learnt of their marriage. Rahul had grown closer to him and while it relieved him. He began to wonder if getting to close with him would hurt him in the long run if Gauri wanted Arnav to stay away from her son's life after the six months .                  

" Mom said we are going to meet her best friend today " Rahul signed to him  which confused him, because Gauri didn't tell him about meeting anyone today. Then he remembered Kavya telling him about his cousin return last night .                  

Arnav had been taken back by Yuv anger when he met Gauri , and he didn't think Gauri would be excited about meeting Lavanya. But he understood her reasons that she would want to get it over with as soon as possible .                   

One look at her, he knew she was nervous . Arnav didn't know how Lavanya would react to seeing Gauri but he agreed to drop the two of them in his cousin house for the day. Surely his parents would he disappointed when he called them. But he knew Gauri won't be able to relax until she talked with his cousin .                  

As the house came unto view. He saw Gauri face grew paler that concerned him.  Arnav's  hands reached out to hold her as he got down from the car. He expected her to shake it off but instead she held on as if she needs him by her side .           

There used to be a time, when Gauri had trusted him to be by her side no matter what.  But he had come to believe those moments have been lost with the years between them.  Yet today he began to think if there was a chance that he could earn her trust back. 

                          ****************

           
Gauri remembered a time when she held the same hand as she climbed up the stairs to meet her father, back when he started dating her mom. Gauri had been insecure having witnessed the lack of affection from her step mother, she hadn't been interested in having a step father as well .       
So she told him not to date her mother in fear and she never expected him to take her words in heart and break up with her mother .Only her mother sadness and tears made Gauri realize her mistake. Even then she went in search of Arnav to ask for advise. He had been 14 to her 11 and it made him someone, she looked up to for help .                  

And he took her to meet her father, so she can take back her words . Back then Gauri didn't want a father for her, just someone who could make her mother happy. She didn't know that her actions that day will pave way for her to have a father who loved her. They may not be related by blood but Adharsh Singhania was her father . And she owed it to Arnav for making her understand it even back then .                  
Today as she gripped his hand, she hoped somehow she would be able to bridge the gap that she created when it comes to her best friend. Last night Lavanya's mom called her to tell about Lavanya return.  And Gauri knew her time was up .            

" We told her about you beta , and my husband is worried by her lack of reaction . We know how much our daughter missed you over the years and yet she barely said anything , as a mother I am worried about her reaction as well . I just thought to let you know " Lavanya's mother told her in the call. She never blamed Gauri or asked her to visit. But Gauri knew she had to do it for both of their sake .                    

Her heart fell a little when Yuv opened the door instead. She had been hoping for a friendly face as she walked inside the house after four year . Rahul who had been in the confine of Arnav's arms greeted Yuv much more enthusiastically than her. She also noticed Arnav grim reaction to his cousin . Gauri hoped she didn't cause a rift between the cousins by her presence .               

" Aunty asked me to check who is it ? " another voice piped in as the said person came to stand beside Yuv. Gauri noticed she had grown up in the few years but she recognized her as Yuv's friend and Vihaan's Sister , Vihaan being Lavanya fiancee .              

" Oh , Yuv why are you making them stand outside?  "  Lavanya , Yuv friend who also happened to be name after her best friend spoke up as she opened the door bit wider to let them inside . As if realizing his error. Yuv looked stricken as he took few steps away from the door .             

Gauri was worried Arnav was going to say something in anger .She understood Yuv's anger and she knew if the situation was reversed and it had been Kavya or Ishaan who got hurt by someone. Their reactions would have been similar . So Gauri breathed a sigh of relief when Lavanya's mom came to greet them .               

Gauri was nervous that any moment the door to Lavanya's room will open and she will come face to face with her best friend, that she remained focused on the direction of her best friend room. Awhile Lavanya's mom greeted her son and Arnav then only she turned towards her ,Gauri didn't know if she made a mistake by coming unannounced until she saw the smile on her face              

" She is in her room , Go ahead . I think Rahul would love to play with Yuv and Lavanya.  Arnav in the mean time can keep me company  " Lavanya's mother spoke up with a smile. Gauri had hoped the confrontation would happen in the living room with Arnav by her side and she already noticed Lavanya father wasn't around , that spelled trouble .                   

Gauri had always been fond of  Lavanya's dad who was gifted with the ability  to smooth any awkward situation and she had been hoping he would be at home as well. With no other reasons to delay she walked towards her best friends room .                    

Friends drift apart ,it is very common but Gauri and Lavanya never assumed it would happen to them. They met when she was six and they remained closer than sisters that Gauri spend most of her night in her best friend room. Gauri never bothered to knock at the door before yet today she knocked gently at the door and had been taken back when she heard her friend voice speaking up from the other side of the door .      

" Come inside " ,the two words held so much warmth but Gauri knew Lavanya had no clue about the recipient of the said words .     

Gauri hands shook a little as she turned the door knob and walked inside. The smile in her best friend's face was gone the moment she noticed her and Gauri felt like a bucket of ice water was thrown at her.  She knew a warm welcome was impossible it wasn't what surprised her, the part of her that was taken back had been the fact looking at her best friend it felt like it was just yesterday, when she had been in the room the last time trying to dress up and party to celebrate the fact she graduated from her college with a bachelor's degree in literature.                

And with those memory came the memory of the night that changed her world. It was the reason she avoided seeing her best friend and Arnav's sister for four years  because they made her remember the night. The night that changed everything for her .                 

Gauri wanted to turn back and run away from the room and the memories , she almost turned back until she heard her best friend voice speak up .                 

" Wanna help me pick a  dress to wear for my date ? " Lavanya spoke up in a rush , as her hands directed Gauri gaze towards the bed where several dresses have been placed. Except the nervousness that remained in her friend voice . Lavanya appeared as if nothing changed between them in the last few years .                   

" Sure , how about the blue one ?" Gauri answered back trying to keep the conversation going and gently picked up the said dress and handed it over to her .                   

" Vihaan is refusing to tell me the location of the date , and how can I dress appropriately without knowing where he is taking me tonight ?" Lavanya spoke up next as she looked at the mirror to see if the dress looked nice on her.       

Gauri wondered how her best friend could keep up the conversation, talking about simple things but Gauri had reached her limit as few drops of tears began to fall at the sight of  her best friend.  As if, realizing the pretend time was over her best friend turned to look at her and sure enough her eyes were misted with tears as well .            

"  I missed you Lavanya " Gauri spoke up trying to convey the truth behind her words.  She couldn't bring herself to apologize yet. Because it may bring back the questions she has no intention of answering back.
             
" You won't disappear again right? " Lavanya spoke up as she embraced her in an friendly  hug and Gauri could only manage to nod her head in answer. Only when they drifted apart from the hug , Gauri knew the questions were going to be asked       

"  What happened Gauri ,why did you shut me out for four years ? " Lavanya asked her as Gauri feared , looking at her best friend she longed to tell her the truth but she won't do it not if she can help it .         

" It doesn't matter ,I am here now . Let not talk about the past " Gauri answered back trying to downplay the question. Her best friend must have hoped Gauri would confide in her. But once she realized it wasn't going to happen she moved the topic back to safer aspects as she talked about her wedding, her fiancée  and her job  

                  
Talking with her best friend made Gauri happy. By the time they both decided to venture out of the room . She had relaxed considerably and when her son rushed to meet her. She had introduced Lavanya to him . Gauri always knew Lavanya was good around kids, so it didn't come as a surprise when she took on role of being an aunt seriously , she briefly greeted Arnav as well but her concentration remained on their son for the rest of the time they spent in her house.
            
Since Lavanya had a date , Gauri decided to leave soon with the promise to visit whenever possible . They went to Arnav's house next and only returned back after Rahul fell asleep .  She felt a smile lit up her face as she remembered the happiness at seeing her best friend  .             

Arnav said he had something to ask her and she agreed to listen to him once Rahul was tucked into  his bed , she was too engrossed in her happiness that she didn't notice the unknown car outside her parents house nor did she realize that her happiness would be short lived because of the stranger .            

P.S :" That it for now ..Let me know your thoughts and feedbacks. hit the votes if you liked it "

Love

Juanita Reid .

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