Part 28 Encounter

Khushi was tossing on the bed, thinking about Arnav. She didn't get anything. She knew he wanted to talk to her; he wanted her to recognize him. Then, why didn't he do that, being a hand distance from her? She remembered him in his DP. Her lips curved into a smile. His features matched the imaginary figure that was in her heart. Khushi decided to wait for Payal's statement. She chose to settle knowing that.

The next morning

Arnav's phone rang. Aman peeped in and took it in his hand. Arnav forwarded his hand, asking for the phone, but Aman himself attended it, wondering Arnav.

"Hi, Payal...this is Aman"

Arnav sighed.

"How are you, Aman?"

"Doing good..."

"Where is Arnav?"

"Won't you talk to me?"

"Not like that... I want to talk to him about Akash."

"If you want to talk to him about Akash, I will not give the phone to ASR."

"Why are you saying so, Aman?"

"As a friend, I don't want you to even think of him."

"Aman..."

"Payal, listen. He doesn't deserve a good girl like you. He is a greedy bugger. Forget him and start a new life, Payal."

"What happened, Aman? Why are you furious?"

"You have no idea what that idiot is doing"

"Did you meet him?"

"We are regularly meeting him."

"What did he do?"

"You will not even like to see his face if I say what he did"

"What did he do, Aman?" Payal asked restlessly.

"He sold his sister for money."

"What do you mean?"

"Look, Payal, Arnav doesn't tell you anything because he doesn't want to make you feel like a failure. He knows the pain, but I don't want to do the same, Payal." Aman narrated everything to Payal.

Payal cried.

"Don't waste your precious tears for the one who never cared about you. Be smart, Payal."

"You know how deeply I love him?"

"It's because you are a good girl. If Akash realized it, he would not have dared to do all of these..."

"I never expected he would be so selfish."

"Feel happy to have a chance to know about him before the wedding. Just forget him."

"Bye..."

"Payal"

"Mmm?"

"You can call me anytime for anything..."

"Thanks"

"Bye"

Payal disconnected the call. Aman looked at Arnav, who was smiling at him, lying on the sofa and keeping his palms under his head. Aman gave his phone to him. Arnav didn't take it from him.

"What happened, dude, you sounded furious about Akash?" Arnav asked.

"Then what? Do you want me to be smooth?"

"Why are you so concerned about her feelings?"

"What are you asking? She is our friend after all..."

"You are angry with Akash just because Payal is our friend?"

"Then what?"

"But, I never saw you talk with anger..."

"What's your point?"

"Nothing..." Arnav said, suppressing his laughter.

"Shut up, ok...?" Aman said.

"I had a doubt when we studied in college..." Arnav said.

"What doubt?"

"You have feelings for Payal."

Aman was stuck for a while. Arnav saw him composing himself.

"If you still have the same feelings, I will talk to Payal"

"Shut up..." This time, the SHUT UP sounded weak which made Arnav smile.

Aman didn't react to it.

..........

Payal was distraught. She didn't expect Akash would be so selfish even though she knew him. She didn't think he would give up on her so easily. She got ready for the office and left the house. She stopped seeing Lavanya and Preeto waiting for her at her office entrance. She guessed why they were there. She smiled at them.

"Hi, Payal..." Lavanya smiled.

"Hi..."

"How are you, Payal?"

Before she answered,

"She must be super fine. After all, she is Akash Bhai's girlfriend..." Preeto said.

"Yeah, you are right. Khushi always flatters her brother's selflessness. He was the one who lifted their family. If he was not there, Khushi would have suffered a lot. Akash Bhai is a gem of a person."

Lavanya and Preeto spoke, noticing Payal's changing facial expression. It was visible that Payal was losing her patience.

"And, Akash Bhai..."

"Enough... this is the limits...Akash and selfless? Because of him, your friend is going to lose her life, peace, happiness everything..."

"What do you mean, Payal?"

"He ruined my life in the name of love, and now, he is running Khushi's life, snatching her love from her."

"Whaaat? Snatching her love? What are you saying, Payal?" Lavanya asked with a fake shock.

"He sold her out to live a lavishing life..."

"What do you mean SOLD OUT?"

"Yes, he and his mother made Khushi believe someone like Arnav and tried to get him married to Khushi."

"I didn't get you Payal. How it is possible?"

"Everything is possible for those who have money. A multimillionaire called Vinesh loves Khushi. Akash and Vinesh planned to cheat Khushi. When she got her vision back, Akash and Garima (she didn't say AUNTY) made her believe Vinesh is Arnav..."

"Payal, I think you misunderstand... there is no chance of it...Akash Bhai would not have done that."

"Moron... why would I lie? I loved that idiot. To get money from Vinesh, he left me behind and ran to Mumbai..." Payal's eyes poured.

"Does Arnav know about it?"

Payal nodded yes.

"Then, why didn't he do anything to save Khushi? Why didn't he tell her about it?"

"He is facing a challenge..."

"What challenge?"

"Akash challenged Arnav to prove his love without talking to Khushi and if their love is true, Khushi would identify him without hearing his voice. Arnav only has a week to prove his love. He has to do it before Monday."

"That the heck?"

"Yes, Akash intentionally would have touched Arnav's ego to keep him away from Khushi. He even changed his phone number. I don't know how to contact Khushi. I'm blank."

"Don't worry, Payal. We will try to reach Khushi in any way."

"You can't... she doesn't have any social media account. Then, how will you contact her?"

Lavanya and Payal looked at each other and nodded yes.

"Whatever, don't lose your hope, Payal. Be strong..." Lavanya said.

"I have to go..." Payal walked wiping her cheek.

Lavanya and Preeto felt bad for her. They waited for Khushi to call them because Khushi asked them not to call her.

On the other side, Khushi was suffocating. She saw Garima preparing breakfast and Akash going to the washroom. Taking Akash's mobile, she rushed to her room. She dialled Lavanya. She answered the call immediately, even though it was a new number.

"Hello..."

"Lavanya, this is Khushi... this is Akash's number. Save it."

"Ok... we met Payal"

"Did she say why Arnav is not talking to me?"

"Yes, it's because your brother challenged him to prove his love without talking to you."

"Ohhhhh..."

"Yeah, if your love is true, you will identify Arnav without hearing his voice..."

"Did Akash say so?"

"Yes... Payal is broken down, Khushi. Poor, she cries a lot.

"Payal is a nice girl. Akash doesn't deserve her. It's better if she finds her match in someone."

"You are right."

"Ok, I will call you tonight."

"Ok"

Khushi disconnected the call and returned the phone after deleting Lavanya's number.

She came to Garima and smiled at her.

"Amma, I thought about what you said."

"What?"

"People will be jealous of me if they get to know I'm marrying a multimillionaire."

Garima nodded yes smiling.

"Amma, ask Arnav to fix our wedding soon before anyone messes it up."

Garima nodded ok delightedly.

"Amma, I would like to meet Arnav. shall I?"

Before Garima said anything,

"Sure... why not?" Said Akash, who came there.

Khushi nodded, shying.

"I will ask Vinesh to pick you up."

"Thank you, Akki" Khushi went to her room to get ready.

She was going to SEE Arnav today, and she was excited. She knew he would come wherever she went.

Vinesh came and picked her up. Khushi smiled at him.

"Hi..." she said gladly.

"Hi, Akash said you want to meet me."

"Mmm... take me to the coffee shop."

"Sure..."

Vinesh headed to a coffee shop. Khushi's eyes were not stable. She watched to see if anyone followed her. As she expected, a man on a bike followed their car. Khushi kept an eye on him. He was talking to someone through Bluetooth. Khushi became curious. She must be talking to Arnav. Maybe he would have guided him to the place.

As she expected, Arnav reached the coffee shop within a few minutes. Khushi was hopping within. She could not hold her smile, and she didn't hide it. She smiled at Vinesh as if she was so happy to be with him. She noticed Arnav frowning. She smiled inwardly. This time, she didn't even look at him... DIRECTLY, but he was looking at only Khushi, which was obvious.

That was when Vinesh had a call from his dealer. He excused himself and left the place to attend the call. He didn't want Khushi to hear his talk because if she heard it, she would get to know he was EXPERIENCED in his business. Then Khushi would doubt him.

Khushi waited for him to go aloof. She looked at her surroundings casually, and her eyes rooted at Arnav, who was staring at her. She gritted her teeth and went to him. Arnav was alert.

"Hey, who are you? Why are you staring at me? Do you think I didn't notice you? I'm watching you, looking at me like you will swallow me anytime. What do you think of me? Do you know who the man with me is? If I call MY ARNAV, you will regret staring at me. MY ARANV will show you the right place. Do you know how deep his love for me is? He will tear your flesh. Mind it..." She panted hard.

To be continued...