Part 37 Decision

Tea Break

Khushi waited in the section not going to the canteen.

"ASR shall we go to the canteen?" Amana asked Arnav.

"You go, Aman. I will come later"

Aman look at Khushi and then Arnav. He nodded okay smilingly and left.

Arnav came to Khushi and sat next to her. Khushi looked at him. Arnav made a video call and Khushi was dumbfounded when Farida appeared on screen. Both the friends became emotional seeing one another after many long years. Both were searching for words to start their conversation.

"Faridaaaa" Khushi murmured. Her eyes tear up when Farida said,

"INDHU..."

"How are you Indhu?" Farida asked composing herself.

"I am fine. How are you, Ammi and Aadil Bhai?"

"We all are fine. We couldn't believe it when Arjun Bhai came in front of us. (she chuckled) We still don't come out of the sweet surprise" Farida smiled.

"I too was surprised when he showed our old photograph to me," Khushi said looking at Arnav.

"Arjun Bhai met us yesterday to invite us to your wedding," Farida said, which made Khushi look at Arnav surprisingly.

"We are so happy as you guys are going to get married"

Khushi smiled.

"Where is, Ammi?"

"One minute..."

She turned the phone on her left side and Khushi saw Parveen on screen.

"Ammi..."

Parveen melted seeing Khushi.

"How are you, Ammi?"

"By Allah's Grace, I am fine. I know you would also be fine as you are with Arjun"

Khushi nodded yes.

"You are right Ammi. I am fine and happy because I found Arjun again"

"Allah will keep you happy always. This time I will come to your marriage"

"We will also come to Hyderabad once after our marriage," Khushi said, which surprised Khushi and shocked Parveen.

"No Indhu, you don't have to come to Hyderabad. This place is not safe for you. You guys should live long in this birth. Don't come here. Don't even remember us. Forget everything and concentrate on your life. Please don't come here" she disconnected the call nervously.

Khushi looked at Arnav painfully.

"They are still in the fear of Pradeep," Arnav said.

"I told you about him..."

Arnav nodded yes.

"He is the most dangerous man of our life"

"He might be... once... but not anymore... it's better if he stays away from us. Or else, he will get punished for his previous deeds together"

Arnav looked at Khushi who was restless.

"I will be careful okay?"

She shook her head okay smilingly.

"Shall we go to the canteen?" Arnav asked.

Khushi again shook her head and stood up.

"By the way Khushi, why I am thinking you are maintaining a distance from me?" he asked smirking.

Khushi was embarrassed. Yes, she was maintaining a distance from Arnav. She didn't know why she could move with him freely.

"Just feel free like how Indhu was with Arjun"

She smiled softly.

"Let's go"

They came to the canteen. Khushi saw Lavanya sitting next to Aman and NK's table. Arnav drugged a chair for Khushi. She gestured for Lavanya to come to her. She nodded her head from left to right. Khushi went to her and dragged her to their table.

"Why didn't you come to my section?" Khushi asked.

"I came but, at that time, you were interestingly talking on a video call with your man" Lavanya smiled.

"We spoke to our old friends who were in Hyderabad," Khushi said which surprised the trio.

"Is it? How did you get their phone number?"

"Arnav went to Hyderabad and met them"

Aman and NK looked at Arnav stunningly.

"When did it happen?"

"Just yesterday..."

"Oh, that's why you took off?"

Arnav blinked his eyes and shared his Hyderabad experience with his friends. They were thunder-stuck hearing that.

"That means what Khushi said about her previous birth are true..."

"Yes, everything is true..." said Arnav.

"I guess you should be curious to visit Hyderabad. Am I right?" asked Lavanya.

Arnav looked at Khushi who nodded no.

Lavanya frowned and asked,

"Pradeep?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Who is Pradeep?" asked NK.

"Villain of our previous birth story" Arnav said.

"Is he still alive?" Aman asked.

"Yes and more powerful than before" Arnav said what he was told.

"Did you meet him?"

"No I didn't... but our friend's family warned me about him"

"Now, what are you going to do??" asked Aman.

"I am going to marry Khushi"

All the four look that at him surprisingly. Khushi bowed down with a smile.

"Wow... are we going to attend your wedding soon?" Lavanya asked excitedly.

"Yup..." came from Arnav.

"Congratulations, Khushi" Lavanya wished her.

Khushi smiled.

Evening

Khushi was waiting to know where Arnav was going to take her. After winding up her work, she looked at Arnav who stood up from his seat.

"Shall we?"

Khushi nodded yes and walked with him.

Arnav started his bike and gestured to Khushi. She sat behind him and kept her hands on his shoulder.Arnav geared his bike up.

Khushi surprised to see Arnav riding the bike towards his house. Yes, Arnav took her to his house to introduce her to his mother.

"Arnav, are we going to your house?"

"Of course, yes"

"Oh my God..."

"Why?"

"I am nervous"

"Oh really? You already visit our house remember?" he chuckled.

"That day I was not in my sense"

"Today, I am with you... so, relax"

Arnav rang the calling bell. Ratna opened the door and looked here and there.

"What are you looking for, Mom?"

"Where is Khushi? Didn't you say, you will bring her this evening...? Didn't she come?"

Taking a step, he moved to his left side, giving the visibility to Ratna to see Khushi who was standing behind him. Ratna smiled brightly.

"Why are you hiding behind him?"

"She is nervous" Arnav smiled.

"But why?"

Khushi smiled awkwardly not answering.

"Come in beta" Clutching Khushi's hand, Ratna took her inside.

"Where is Appu?" Arnav asked.

"She is in her room" Replied Ratna.

"Take your seat..." Ratna made Khushi sit. She took place next to her.

"Are you alright now?" Ratna asked.

Khushi looked at Arnav bewildered.

"You looked stressed that day..."

"I told you know Mom... we sorted out our problem"

"Is it?"

"Jee..." Khushi said.

They saw Aparna coming.

"Oh, woowww...." She shouted in excitement, seeing Khushi.

"When did you come?" She rushed to her.

"Just now"

"Why didn't you guys call me?" She hit Arnav.

"Didn't you hear what she said? She just come" Aranv said.

"Yet, you didn't call me"

"She is still here. She didn't leave..."

"I would have killed you if she had left"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"By the way, Bhabi. I'm Aparna, your only sister-in-law"

Khushi was stuck hearing her calling BHABI.

"There is nothing to get shock. Bhai declared his decision of marrying you to us and we are fine with his decision"

Khushi looked at him bewildered. This was why he told his friends about their wedding so confidently?

"Only your family's consent is what all remaining"

Khushi looked at Ratna who nodded yes.

"I don't know what to say..." Khushi gulped down.

"You can say anything after your marriage. Am I right?" Aparna said and Arnav nodded yes.

"Wait... I will bring you something to eat" Ratna stood up.

"Bhabi, she prepared something, especially for you"

Khushi looked at Ratna who nodded her head from left to right and went to the kitchen.

"Bhabi, do you like me?" Aparna asked.

"She doesn't need to like you... it's enough if she likes me" Arnav said sitting next to Khushi.

"Hello, you don't interfere in our matter. This is a matter between us two" Aparna said.

"Oh..." Arnav raised his brows.

"Tell me, Bhabi"

"Tell her, you don't like her," Arnav said to Khushi.

"I like you so much," Said Khushi.

"Ahhh..." Arnav leaned on the couch clutching his chest as if he got heart attack.

Aparna raised her thumbs, raising her suit collar.

"God, save me from her flatters," Arnav said.

Ratna came there with a tray. She kept the tray and also a few small plates on the tea table.

"These two trouble one another a lot. They won't get sleep without pulling one another's leg" Ratna said.

Khushi smiled and saw the tray of small-sized samosas with two types of chutneys. It looked different.

"Bhabi, this is your mother-in-law's special. We don't have to bite it but can put it in our mouth simply" Taking one from the tray, Aparna put it in her mouth and munched.

Ratna filled a small plate with a few samosas and chutneys. She extended the plate to Khushi.

"Take it beta"

Khushi took it and tasted it. it was indeed delicious.

"So tasty, aunty" she said.

Ratna smiled while filling another plate for Arnav. He took it from her and ate.

"Good, Mom"

Ratna nodded her head.

"We liked you very much beta" Ratna said.

Khushi stopped eating and looked at her.

"We are ready to come to your house to ask your hand from your parents. I want to let you know our decision. That's why I want Chotte to bring you here"

"Thank you, aunty... actually, I came here that day when..."

Cutting her,

"It's all over. We don't have to think about it. let's concentrate on what have to do"

Khushi nodded ok with satisfactory smile.

"Ok, guys, we are leaving. I have to drop Khushi home" Arnav said.

"Ride the bike carefully" Said Ratna.

"Yeah, don't show heroism..." Aparna said.

"Ok, Dhadi ma" Arnav said and Aparna dropped her jaw.

Khushi touched Ratna's feet to take her blessings.

"Be happy..." Ratna kissed her forehead.

Arnav adored them with a smile.

"I will come dropping her"

Ratna nodded ok. Khushi walked with Arnav smilingly. Arnav left RM with Khushi.

Placing her chin on his shoulder and hand on his thigh, Khushi enjoy the ride like ever before.

When they crossed a signal, a man in a car looked at them shockingly. The man was Anirudh. He became disappointed as same as furious. He could not believe Khushi was sitting on bike with someone so closely. His stomach burned. He wanted to follow them, but he could not... not because he was in the signal... it was because there was no space for him to move his car.

To be continued...