Part 22 The Coat

Khushi stopped an auto to leave Anirudh's place. Before she left, Garima got into the auto with Khushi. She was not ready to let Khushi leave alone. She avoided speaking to Khushi in the auto but was watching her. Khushi looked disturbed. So, Garima didn't want to disturb her more by talking with her.

They reached home. Khushi looked at Garima and said,

"Amma, I'm sorry if I hurt you but please try to understand me. I can't marry Anirudh. Please make Bhai understand that. Why doesn't he understand me? I agreed to marry Anirudh because you and Babuji wanted it but I can't accept him now. I can't accept anyone other than Arjun as my husband. Being a woman, at least you understand me. Having Arjun's memories in my heart, I can't think of anyone. Please..." She pleaded, joining her hands.

Garima was about to say something, but she stopped, seeing Akash coming.

"What have you done, Khushi? Is this how you run from their house? What would they think about us? You should have waited there for a courtesy. That's what is called manners. I didn't expect this kind of uncultured action from you..."

"Shut up, Akash... if I let you talk, will you talk anything?" Garima chided him.

"Mom, she didn't even bid bye to them... what would they think?"

"You bothered a lot about your friend and their family... what about your sister? She was not ready to come to their house... it was you who forcefully took her by giving words that no one would embarrass her. But, from the time, she stepped into their house, they kept on nagging her and you were silently letting them do that. Try to understand one thing, Akash, she is your sister. Her comfort and her feelings should be more important to you than your friend's happiness. Instead of making her comfortable, you embarrassed her. Then, how would she be there?"

"Mom, Anirudh loves her..."

"But she doesn't... respect her feelings. Without interest, how could she live with him? Forcing her into this marriage will lead your friend into grief. If you want to be a good friend, you should be a good brother. As a brother, stop forcing her. As a friend, stop encouraging him"

"Mom, I'm her brother... that's why I want her to be happy"

"She will not be happy with Anirudh because she is not that old Khushi"

"Will you let her ruin her life?"

"You are doing the same going against her wish... I don't want to do that because she has all the right to decide what she wants"

"What do you mean? Are you talking with your senses? She is talking idiotically and you are supporting her..."

"Why should not I support her? I almost lost her. By God's grace, she is with me now. Don't make her feel like THIS life ALSO is hell,"

"Do you trust what Khushi says?"

"It doesn't matter if I trust her or not... I respect her feelings. I don't want to force her for anything she doesn't like,"

Garima clutched Khushi's hand and took her to her room. Khushi followed her, wondering. She didn't expect Garima would stand for her. That was the greatest support she got for her side. Could not she achieve anything if she had her mother with her? Was not MOTHER a superpower in anyone's life?

Garima left her hand.

"You don't stress yourself, beta... take rest,"

She was about to leave, but Khushi clutched her hand. Garima looked at her.

"Were all of them true?"

"What?"

"What you talked about a few seconds ago..."

Garima blinked her eyes.

"Are you sure?"

Garima made her sit and, she took place next to her.

"Being a mother, I will be with you no matter what you decide,"

"Will you support me if I would like to marry Arjun?"

"I will support you if HE would also like to marry you but, I won't force you to marry Anirudh even if you don't marry Arjun,"

"Will you help me to FIND Arjun?"

"If finding him is up to my capacity,"

"What will you do if I find Arjun?"

"I will be happy,"

"Promise?"

"Beta, I can understand your fear. It's obvious if you think I'm pretending to be your supporter only to get your trust. I won't be shocked. It's my promise that I will not be a hindrance to your happiness. I will get you married to Arjun if HE is ready to marry you. It's my responsibility to get father's acceptance to the marriage,"

Khushi smiled delightedly.

"I found him, Amma," She said, observing Garima.

As Garima didn't expect her to confess the truth soon, she looked at Khushi surprisingly and curiously.

"Yes, Amma, he is working in my office only. I joined Info Center only for him,"

Garima composed herself and asked,

"Is it?"

"Didn't I say I met him the other day? He is Arjun... and in this birth, he is Arnav,"

"Does he talk to you nicely?"

She nodded yes.

"But, didn't you tell him about your previous birth when you met him?"

She nodded yes.

"Yet, he talks to you nicely?"

"Nicely means friendly..."

"Oh... but please don't grow your feelings for him until he feels the same for you,"

"He is a nice guy just like Arjun,"

"This is not about only him but also his family, Khushi..."

"Amma, didn't we see a woman who served coffee to the cleaning workers?"

"Haan we saw... but what does she do with his family?"

"She is his mother..."

"Whaaat?"

"Yes, Amma, I got to know that this evening only,"

"That means the guy who went with a girl is Arnav?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"The girl is his sister,"

"Is it?" Garima smiled because the guy looked not only handsome but also family-attached.

Khushi nodded smilingly.

"Their family looks so good... I like them..."

Khushi hugged Garima happily.

"Thank you, Amma... thank you so much,"

"You no need to thank me. I want you to be happy with him. That's all..."

"I will be happy if I marry Arnav, Amma,"

"You will be..." Garima smiled.

The next day

Khushi got ready for the office in a RED saree. Lavanya wanted her to drape a red saree because Arnav chose a RED dress for Khushi. Garima kept kohl behind her ear smilingly.

"No bad vibes should be attracted..." She said.

"Bye, Amma"

"Bye..."

Khushi left GH.

Khushi came to the office. She went to the second floor to meet Lavanya. Lavanya saw her and literally shouted,

"Woowww..."

Khushi smiled.

"You look gorgeous, Khushi"

"You too..."

"Not up to your level..."

"NK will faint..." Khushi winked.

"Let's see, who is going to faint seeing whom,"

Clutching her hand, Lavanya dragged her to the first floor. Arnav was facing his back to them. He was talking to Aman and NK. NK saw Lavanya and became motionless. Arnav looked at him but he didn't get a reply. He saw him standing like a statue. So, he looked in the direction to know what made him speechless and he became speechless, seeing Khushi in RED. He stood literally getting mesmerized. Khushi gulped down, seeing his fixed gaze on her. She looked down, smiling awkwardly while talking to Lavanya. Lavanya smiled teasingly as she suffocated.

"Khushi, it seems a girl who wanted to be loved is nervous?"

"Shh... let's go,"

"Where?"

"The party is going to start" Khushi pulled Lavanya with her.

"She is gone" Aman chuckled at Arnav's ear.

Arnav looked at Aman, feeling uncomfortable.

"There is nothing to feel awkward, ASR... it happens..." Aman smiled.

Arnav was silent.

"Let's go..."

Aman brought Arnav and NK to the hall.

Bhashyam started the party with a short note and asked them to enjoy the party. The party started. Arnav could not hold his eyes from following Khushi even though he felt strange about it. Khushi felt his strong gaze that churned her stomach.

Khushi saw a cute little boy rushing here and there. The boy stumbled with Khushi and was about to fall, but Khushi pulled him. She lifted him in her arms and asked.

"Why are you running here and there? Who are you?"

"Khushi, he is Bhashyam sir's grandson," Lavanya said.

"Oh...what's your name?" Khushi asked.

"Arnav..." the little boy said.

"Wow... Arnav?" Khushi became excited and kissed his cheek.

She was dumbfounded when she saw Arnav looking at her. Arnav shrank his eyes and caressed HIS cheek. Khushi put the little Arnav down embarrassingly. She was perplexed as Arnav moved towards her. She could not believe he was coming to her. She looked here and there nervously as he was gaping at her like ever before. Arnav came to her. Khushi looked at him, lifting her eyelashes slowly. Would he ask her about the KISS?

"Where is my coat?" Arnav asked her.

Khushi looked at him and said stammering,

"It's there in my bag,"

Arnav was disappointed. He thought Khushi would not return it to him. He thought NK's words might be true that she would sleep hugging it.

"Did you bring it?" he asked unbelievably.

She nodded yes.

"Give it to me," he said.

Khushi nodded ok and walked to her desk, pouting. Arnav followed her. Khushi removed a box from the bag and extended it to Arnav. He frowned. Why did she pack it in a box? He opened it and saw a NEW coat in it. He looked at her, raising his brows.

"What is this?"

"Coat for coat"

"Where is mine?"

"I... I lost it,"

Arnav folded his hands.

"I'm telling the truth," She mumbled.

"When did I say you are lying?" he smiled.

Khushi closed her eyes and sighed.

"I... lied... I didn't lose it..."

"I know," Arnav smiled.

Khushi was stuck for a few seconds. She smiled with a cute blush and ran from there. Arnav smiled at the coat.

To be continued...