ARNAV

Her words kept on repeating themselves in my mind, it was like listening to a music which I hated so much but no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't just stop playing.

I put my hands over my ears trying o block the sound, but it was in my mind, how could I block it from there?

How could Khushi do this to me?

She out of all people should have known how important my family is to me, although they aren't perfect, they still are my family, how could I just leave them like that?

Why did she put me on a crossroad like this? I couldn't let her go neither could I leave my family, how was I supposed to get out of this situation?

I punched the wall angrily with my fist so the pain would distract my mind but I swear, nothing could take my mind off it.

"Arnav! Stop!" Aman rushed towards me, grabbed my hand and pulled me backwards, I was so mad I wanted to punch him but I had done a lot of wrong with him already, I no more had it in me to hurt my best friend more than that.

I fell down on my knees feeling defeated, never in my life had I felt this way. I know life hadn't been perfect before Khushi but at least it was normal.

I did have problems with my family, but at least I dint feel this way, trapped.

Why did even fall in love? Why?

"She's doing this because I love her so much isn't she?" I asked Aman.

Maybe I had shown her my weak side too soon, I had shown her how crazily and madly I was in love with her and that gave her the confidence that I would always do anything it takes to keep her in my life. Why did I love her so much?

"No Arnav, she is doing this because she loves you." Aman said.

"If she loves me, she would have understood that I love my family and I can't live without them either."

"I also remember telling you to leave your family Arnav. Don't you think if the two people that care the most about you are telling you something then maybe it's for your own good?"

"I don't care Aman. I am not leaving them!"

"Fine the get ready to lose Khushi." He said as he stood up angrily. I was the one supposed to be angry! And he was my best friend, he was supposed to support me, not Khushi!

"I can't... you know I can't lose her. I'll... I'll die without her."

"No one really dies without another Arnav, it's just a saying, you'll do just fine."

"No, I know I won't. She means a lot to me, maybe I can live without her, but if she's not in my life, I don't want it. I don't want to live without her."

"Then why don't you leave you family Arnav? You know what she said was for you, and she dint come up with it, it was the doctor's suggestion. If you want to get better and have Khushi in your life, you have to leave your family Arnav."

I stood up as I looked at him in disappointment, he was supposed to find a way out of this, not convince me like Khushi.

I headed out of my office, got into the elevator and headed straight to the parking lot, Aman kept on calling out my name trying to stop me but I just ignored him.

I got into my car and drove straight to Khushi's house, she had created this crossroad for me and she was going to end it, there was no way I could make a choice.

As soon as I got there, I rushed to the door and rang the doorbell waiting impatiently. One of the servants opened the door, I dint even bother asking anything, I rushed straight to Khushi's room, I knew she would be there and like I expected, she was there in her room, seated all alone on the bed, staring at the screen of her phone which had my picture on it.

Why did we have to be in this situation?

"Khushi." She looked up and then rushed towards me in surprise.

"Arnav, what are you doing here?"

"Please help me. Don't do this to me, don't punish me like this, I can't make the choice, you know it Khushi. Please, I'm begging you." I fell down on my knees and broke down into tears.

I know it was difficult for everyone out there to understand this, my family had always been horrible to be so it seemed like an easy option to leave them, but that wasn't the case for me. No matter how horrible they were, they still loved me, and I still loved them and not all of them were like that.

How could I abandon my mother, the woman that held me in her womb for nine months, the one that brought me up, the one that did everything she could for me? How could I leave my father? The one that made a lot of sacrifices for all of us? I wasn't that selfish.

She bent down on her knees, cupped my face and looked me into the eyes, she was crying just like I was, but I hated to see her in tears.

I wiped them off and moved closer to her holding her into my arms tightly.

"Arnav... I love you. You know that. Despite all our ups and down, despite everything, I love you baby, and I always will. You know I would never make this decision for you neither would I have told you to leave them if the doctor dint suggest that.

All I care is about you Arnav, and if this is how you get better I'm okay looking like a villain to you, all I want is for you to heal, mentally and that is only possible if you get away from their negativity.

Look at me Arnav, look me into the eyes and tell me if you don't think I'm right? You know it too, this is the right thing to do.

If it makes you feel any better and makes it easy for you to decide, you don't have to stay away from them forever. Maybe a couple years, we get your therapy and treatment done, and you feel better. We take a bit of time and when we'll see everything is okay, you can go back. You don't have to cut ties with them completely, for a couple of years maybe yes, but not will all of them, only the ones that have a negative influence on you.

You can always meet Diya and Ishani and everyone else that doesn't have any kind of influence on you, you just have to understand us Arnav, neither of us had any selfish reason for this, we just want you to be okay.

You always said you never wanted to treat me how your family treated Ishani, you know if you don't get this treatment, you might end up treating me like that. Do you want that Arnav?

Look it's not just about me, it's about you also, I promise you'll feel much better once the treatment begins and you're away from all the negativity." She explained.

She was right... it just wasn't that easy for me. I had lived with them, grown up with them it wasn't going to be easy to leave them like that.

"You know a lot of people leave their families and go live on their own at very young age, if they can do it so can you. A lot of girls get married and have to live their families behind too, they all do it, just take this as something like that. You don't have to cut all ties with them, it's just for a while. Please baby, do this, for you, for me and for us." She pleaded. How could I say no to her? She was always so convincing.

"What if I miss them? What if I feel lonely and need someone with me?"

"Then I'm always a phone call away, or you could live with Aman like I suggested, he's your best friend, he is going to be the best company for you."

"What if I say I want you to come live with me?"

She looked at me in surprise, I mean if I was going to lose the people I loved then I needed at least one person I loved with me right? I deserved that much dint I?

"How about you start with Aman first? I just feel you have made your world surround only around me and you family, I want you to stay with Aman for a while, go out with him, do things without me or your family, just enjoy life on your own.

After a while we can live together, I promise I will live with you, we can get engaged or something but for now, let's start with you living with Aman. I talked to him, he was more than happy to live with you."

"Okay, if you say so. But you'll still have to meet me."

"Of course, I'm not going away Arnav, I'm just taking you to a better place, I'm always going to be there for you baby."

"Okay, I am ready for it." I tried to smile. It was going to be hard, and a part of me still dint want to do it but Khushi was very convincing and somehow she managed to convince me.

I guess I could do anything as long as she was there with me, holding my hand through it all.

"Come here, this will make you feel better." She said as she pulled me closer and kissed me on the lips and she was right it did make me feel a bit better.