Part 13 Lie

Two days later

Khushi was suffocating like hell. Arnav was going abroad that day. She called Arnav, but he didn't answer. She came out and called Akash.

"Bhai..."

"Tell me, Khushi"

"Take me to the airport. I want to send Arnav off."

"Khushi, he has time... we don't know if he went to the airport."

"We will wait for him. However, he will go to the airport."

That was when they heard Arnav calling,

"Khushiiii...."

Khushi rushed to him, and Arnav held her hand.

"You came..."

"How do I leave India without seeing you?"

"I will come to the airport to send you off."

"It's not necessary, Khushi. Tomorrow your exams are starting... study well, being at home."

"I have studied already. I heard your recording many times. I'm through now..."

"It's ok, Arnav... I will bring her to the airport," Akash said.

"Ok..." Arnav said.

"I will go with Arnav in the cab."

"Ok... I will come on my bike," Akash said.

Arnav took Khushi to the car. The cab driver started the car. Khushi leaned on his shoulder, circling his bicep. Arnav touched her hand lovingly.

"I wish three months should fly in the blink of an eye," she said.

"It will..."

She entwined her fingers with his and kissed his knuckle. She smiled, sensing him tying her father's watch. She caressed it smilingly.

"Do you tie it?"

"How won't I when you gave it to me?"

"Why are you so much in love with me?"

"Some questions are unanswerable..." he smiled.

"I never thought my life would take such a beautiful turn."

"It will take another turn After your exams when you start to see the world."

"It will not be the big turn... The biggest turning point of my life is when I see YOU."

"Don't be so emotional, Khushi. Be like a warrior... not a worrier."

"I will fight against the world if you are with me."

"Means, won't you fight for me?"

"What do you think? I will even kill the whole world for you."

Arnav smiled.

"I said don't be emotional."

"If it is about you, I will be... can't help."

"Ok, tell me, what do you want me to buy from abroad?"

"I don't want anything. You just come back and marry me," she pouted.

They reached the Airport. Arnav got out of the cab and helped Khushi to get down. He was supposed to take the luggage from the dicky, the cab driver said,

"I will get them, sir. you be with her"

He kept his luggage down, and Arnav paid him.

"Congratulations on your marriage, sir."

Arnav spilt a crooked smile, and Khushi said smilingly,

"Thank you, bhaiya"

Taking his luggage, Arnav walked with Khushi, clutching her hand. Akash was already waiting for them. Khushi was with him until the final announcement of his flight. Arnav looked at her after the final announcement.

"Khushi, I will call you every day. Ok?"

"Mmm"

"Take care. Do your exams well. Bye,"

"Bye..." she choked.

"Khushi, send me off with a smiling face. How could I go if you cry?"

Khushi gulped down her tears and smiled.

"I will be waiting for you..."

"I will be counting the days to come back to you."

Arnav gave her hand to Akash. He held her hand.

"Take care..."

Akash nodded. Arnav walked to the immigration.

"Let's go, Khushi" Akash said.

"Bhai, please wait until his flight takes off."

"But why?"

"What if his flight is delayed? He will be alone here."

"Khushi, he already went to the immigration. His flight will take off in a few minutes..."

"We will wait for a few minutes..."

Akash sighed.

"Ok," he made her sit on a chair.

Khushi waited until the announcement confirmed that Arnav's flight had taken off.

"shall we go now?"

"Mmm..." Khushi stood up sadly.

"Khushi, relax, he will come in three months..."

"He went to abroad for me. He is not interested in going abroad but does that for me."

"Khushi, going abroad is his sole decision. We didn't ask him to go. He does that because he wants to marry you."

"Bhai, you can't understand. Let's go"

Akash brought her home.

"Did Arnav bituwa leave?"

"Mmm..." Khushi went to her room, all sad.

Garima looked at Akash.

"I didn't expect Khushi would become so fond of Arnav," Akash said.

"Yes, I, too, didn't expect it. I don't know what made her fall for him," Garima said.

Akash left the place, sighing.

Khushi completed her exams one by one. Only one exam was remaining. Arnav used to call her every night from Kuwait. As Khushi didn't have an Android phone, Arnav used to call her through an ISD card. As its timing was limited, Khushi decided what to talk to talk to him before receiving his call.

"Only one exam is remaining."

"All the best. Complete the exam. Then, I will arrange for your operation."

"no urgent. My operation can be done after two months."

"but why?"

"After you come to India"

"Khushi, until I come to India, will you be waiting for me?"

"I'm used to being in the darkness. It's not new to me. It's just two months."

"Listen to me... don't waste time... that's final."

"But..."

"If you respect me, don't deny me."

"Ok," she pouted.

"Don't pout" he smiled.

Khushi widened her eyes and asked,

"how do you know?"

"I know"

"It's because you are Arnav" She chuckled.

"Ok, prepare for the last exam..."

"Mmm, bye"

"Bye"

They disconnected the call.

The next day

Akash took Khushi to the exam centre, dropped her off, and came outside. That was when a man approached him. Akash became excited to see him.

"Sir, you?"

"Do you know me?"

"Of course I do, sir. You are Vinesh Chopra. I came to your company for an interview."

"Is it?"

"Yes, sir"

"What about the interview result?"

"I'm still waiting, sir."

"I came to Goa with my friends."

"I see..."

"Who is the girl you dropped in the university?"

"She is my sister, sir."

"I saw her two days ago when you picked her up from the university. I like her. I want to marry her."

Akash was stuck.

"I'm sorry, sir. She is committed."

"Committed means?"

"My friend wants to marry her. He went abroad to earn money for her eye surgery."

"Eye surgery?"

"Yes, sir, she is visually impaired."

"Whaaat?"

"Yes, sir... but my friend has made all the needed arrangements for her operation. We registered in the eye bank, too. Soon, she will be operated on. Then she will get her vision back."

"So, what? I will do her surgery... not only that, I will make you a manager of my company with five per cent shares. I like your sister very much. I mean it. What say?"

"She won't agree to marry you, sir. She loves my friend Arnav very much."

"If you are ready, I have an idea. You implement it."

"What idea, sir?"

"According to her, I'm Arnav"

"Whaaaat?"

"You will have to make her trust me."

"It's not an easy task, sir."

"not easy... but not impossible though... if you cooperate with me, we can do it. Just think, you will get a life you can't even imagine. Your sister will live like a queen... you can get such a life if you are ready to LIE that I'm Arnav..."

Akash was stuck.

"Who is in your family?"

"I, my sister and my mother"

"Let me talk to your mother."

Akash nodded. He didn't know what to do, so he wanted to leave it to Garima. If she was ready to go with Vinesh Chopra's idea, he decided to accept it.

To be continued...