Part 32 With Khushi...

Khushi entered her room, pulling Arnav with her. Arnav stood, running his eyes around her room. His eyes got rooted in Khushi's photo in which she was smiling cutely. Her smile is a masterpiece... he thought.

*Nannavji, sit here...* she said, pointing to her bed.

Arnav turned towards her, shockingly.

*Are you seriously calling me Nannavji?*

*Hann...* she shrugged her shoulders.

*No need...you can call me Arnav... you don't have to take my sister's words seriously... just forget her...* he said gently.

*Even though I forgot her she won't forget me...* Khushi chuckled.

*She always finds flaws in everything... It's not a big deal* He tried to console her.

*It is... absolutely it's a big deal. She is already finding flaws in my actions. she may hate me completely if you guys are supporting me over here...*

*We will undoubtedly support you because we know who is wrong here...*

*Maybe... but she will get upset only with me...*

*But...*

*Please, understand Nannavji...*

*She doesn't stay in RM but rarely comes... you can call me when WE ARE ALONE...*

Note the point. He didn't say WHEN HER SISTER IS AROUND.

*If I used to call your name then I can't change it suddenly, seeing her...*

Arnav rolled his eyes...

That's when Shashi called Khushi from downstairs.

*Khushi, come and get the coffee...*

*I will just come...* she rushed out.

Arnav stood from the bed and went to Khushi's photo as if he was waiting for the chance. He touched the photo and caressed her shiny cheek softly.

He got back to the bed and sat on it folding his hands silently. Khushi entered with a coffee cup.

*Take it...* Khushi gave him a cup.

Taking it from her, he sipped.

Khushi removed an album from the cupboard.

*Come here...* she called him sitting on the bed.

Arnav went to her and sat beside her, giving enough space between them.

*This is me...*

Arnav smiled seeing a chubby Khushi with two ponytails who was talking on the phone with a smile cutely.

*This photo had taken when I studied in the second standard...*

She was in a white gown in the pic.

*This is when I was in Eleventh standard. I was in NCC at my school...*

Arnav raised his brows.

*See, this is taken when I won a speech competition. Who else other than me could win in the SPEECH competition...?* she chuckled.

Arnav controlled his smile. Yeah... who could other than a girl who speaks non-stop...?

She explained one by one till her college days with acute expressions and comments. She looked so young and beautiful in her college days. He admired her along with the photos. After finishing the coffee, he kept the cup on the table.

She rushed to her cupboard and brought the certificate file. She showed him the certificates she won. Arnav looked at them without uttering any comments.

That's when they heard a knock on the door. Arnav stood, seeing Khushi's brother NK. Khushi smiled at him.

Arnav couldn't hold himself from not remembering how he fought with Khushi not to marry him the other day when he came to GH to stop the marriage. He shrugged the thought off, seeing Khushi's smiling face.

*Come in Nanne...*

*Babuji told me you are here...* he said looking at them.

*Where were you?*

*Babuji sent me to pay the advance for the Sugar merchant*

*Oh... He is my so sweet brother...* she introduced him to Arnav.

Arnav extended his hand towards NK for a shake. NK clutched his hand formally and shook it.

*Nice to meet you...* Arnav said.

*We didn't get introduced ever before...* NK said.

*Even though we had many chances...* Arnav said.

Khushi became nervous. She was frightened that NK might talk about something which hurt Arnav.

*Nanne... you too sit with us if you are free...* she tried to divert the topic.

*No, I have to go to the shop because Babuji is here...*

*Ok...* Khushi nodded ok.

*I'm leaving...* He said looking at Arnav.

Arnav nodded yes.

*Take care of my sister... she got married to you without hearing anyone's words... I don't know why... please don't disappoint her... ever...* he said looking at Arnav gulping down.

Arnav swallowed hard as he didn't know what to say or how to assure him of his sister's betterment.

*Bye...* he said looking at Khushi who was embarrassed like hell. She didn't expect that her brother would speak to Arnav in that way.

NK hugged Khushi and pecked her hair lovingly and left the room.

*He loves you so much...doesn't he?*

Khushi nodded yes.

*Please don't take him wrong...* she said pleadingly.

*When did I say I took him wrong...?*

Khushi smiled at him.

*There is nothing if he frightens about me... after all, I'm a mur...*

Before Arnav said the word, MURDERER, she closed his mouth making him shocked.

Arnav was looking at her with bewilderment. Khushi lowered her palm from his mouth.

*I don't want to hear the word from your mouth...* she said seriously and this is the first time he saw her with a serious expression.

*It's true... no matter if I say it or not...*

*Let it be anything... don't say that... how you could come out of something if you are standing at the same place adamantly?*

Arnav gulped down.

*Don't you want to forget your past?* she asked painfully.

Arnav nodded yes.

*Then stop talking about anything which happened in the past. And don't even dare remember it...* she said strictly.

If it was someone other than Khushi, Arnav would have reacted to it differently. But... she was Khushi... Instead of reacting to it differently, he smiled at her nodding ok.

Khushi smiled brightly.

*Good boy...*

Arnav wondered how she changed her mood immediately...?

*Ok, tell me what do you like the most... except Almond Halwa?* she laughed.

Arnav was looking at her without answering. He so wanted to say I like YOU. Khushi waved her hand in front of his face.

*Tell me...*

*I like loyalty...*

*Same pinch...* she pinched his coat.

At the same time, Garima called her.

*Khushi...*

*Haan... Amma...*

*Come here...*

*Coming...*

*I will just come...* she said and rushed out. In the hurry, she got slipped by the doormat.

*Watch it...* Arnav shouted.

She turned towards him and blinked her eyes cheerfully. Then she went downstairs. Arnav nodded no huffing in relief.

That was when his phone rang. The call was from Aman.

*Hi, Aman...*

*Hope you are fine...*

*Yup...*

*ASR, Khushi was right. Sheetal is in India... in Delhi only*

*How do you know?*

*My source found a suspicious person in your marriage.*

*Whaaaat? In my marriage...?*

*Yes... They caught him and brought him to my place. He said Sheetal sent him to stop the marriage by doing something...*

*Did you catch her?*

*No... she is not in the place the man mentioned. She escaped from there...*

*But how?*

*she might get alerted not getting a reply from the man*

*What are you going to do with him?*

*Shall we hand him to the police?*

*Ok... before that, take his mobile from him*

*Ok...*

*Take Sheetal seriously and find her...*

*Done...*

*Anything else?* Arnav asked.

*Take care of Khushi... don't let her go anywhere alone...*

*Mmm... I will take care of her*

They disconnected the call.

Arnav became tense. What the hell Sheetal wanted? Why the hell she was behind Khushi? She knew very well how he hate her... then why? Didn't know what she was going to do next...

To be continued...