Khushi entered the Purple Orchid Hotel's pub, her heart pounding with anxiety and curiosity. She wasn't used to such places, and the dimly lit, loud environment was already overwhelming. The atmosphere was lively, a stark contrast to the quiet, studious environment she usually frequented.

As she scanned the room, her eyes landed on a sight that made her heart sink: Arnav, her Arnie, was at bar counter with Sonia, a glass of what was unmistakably alcohol in his hand. He was making a weird expression, his face flushed and animated in a way she had never seen before.

Sonia had been right. She didn't know the whole of Arnie... oops, Arnav. The realization hit her like a cold wave. Her thoughts raced as she stood there, feeling more like an outsider than ever before.

As Khushi stood there, she observed Arnav more closely. He seemed completely oblivious to his surroundings, engrossed in his conversation with Sonia and laughing without a care in the world. Each sip he took felt like a blow to Khushi's heart, deepening her sense of disillusionment.

A wave of disgust washed over her as she thought about his family. What would Abhi Bhai think if he saw Arnav like this? Abhi Bhai, who was always so responsible and dependable, would be heartbroken. He looked up to Arnav and expected him to set a good example. And Arnav's mother? She would be devastated. Khushi could almost see the pain in her eyes if she ever discovered this side of her beloved son. The thought made Khushi's stomach churn.

Khushi silently thanked God that Arnav's mother was not at home. She had gone to visit his Nani, and for that, Khushi was immensely relieved. But does he even care?
Her mind raced with worry. How could Arnav be so reckless? Didn't he realize how much his actions could hurt his family? The man she saw before her, casually drinking and laughing, was not the Arnav she knew. It was as if she were looking at a stranger.

Khushi felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew she had to do something, but what? Confronting him here, in this state, would likely lead to more embarrassment and drama. She needed to talk to him when he was sober, when she could understand why he was behaving this way.

For now, all she could do was watch and wait, hoping that this moment was an exception and not a reflection of who Arnav had become.

"So...?" Sonia's voice broke through her thoughts. She appeared beside Khushi, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and a hint of amusement.

"You were right," Khushi admitted, forcing a huge smile that felt painfully fake. It was like a mask, hiding the embarrassment and confusion roiling inside her.

In truth, Khushi felt more embarrassed than she ever had in her life. How could she have been so clueless about her best friend, the person she loved deeply? She had always seen him as this perfect, disciplined figure. Seeing him now, so different from the image she had held onto, was a harsh slap of reality

"Umm... Actually... I'll catch you later, Khushi. I see one of my old friends here," Sonia said, spotting someone across the room and moving away quickly.

Khushi just smiled back in return, but inside, her mind was a storm of emotions. She felt betrayed, not by Arnav, but by her own idealized image of him. She had put him on such a high pedestal, imagining him as flawless. Seeing him now, enjoying a drink with Sonia, shattered that illusion.

She felt a strange mix of emotions-disappointment, confusion, and a deep sense of loss. Yet, despite the shock, her love for him didn't diminish. It just felt... different. More real, perhaps. She realized that she had been in love with an idealized version of Arnav, not the real being, he was. And that realization was painful.

Khushi's mind was in turmoil, her heart heavy with disappointment and confusion. She couldn't bear to stay in the pub any longer. She turned on her heel, trying to make a quick exit. But as she moved through the crowd, a group of boys, clearly drunk and rowdy, noticed her.

"Hey there, where are you going in such a hurry?" one of them called out, stepping into her path.

Khushi tried to sidestep him, but another boy blocked her way. "Stay and dance with us, pretty lady!" he slurred, grabbing her arm.

"No, please let me go," Khushi pleaded, her voice trembling with fear.

The boys laughed, their grip on her tightening as they started dancing around her, forcing her to stay within their circle. The music pounded loudly, and the flashing lights made her feel disoriented. Panic rose in her chest as she struggled to break free.

"Come on, don't be shy! Have some fun!" one of them jeered, his breath reeking of alcohol as he leaned in too close.

Khushi's eyes filled with tears. She was terrified, feeling utterly helpless. The boys' laughter and mocking remarks only increased her fear. She tried to push them away, but they were relentless, pulling her back every time she managed to take a step.

"Leave me alone!" she cried out, her voice barely audible over the thumping music.

In her desperation, Khushi's eyes darted around the room, searching for Arnav. He was her only hope. But he was far away, engrossed in his conversation with someone, oblivious to the scene unfolding just a few meters away.

"Arnie!" she screamed, her voice breaking. But the noise of the pub swallowed her cry, and he didn't turn around.

One of the boys laughed cruelly. "Your boyfriend isn't going to help you, sweetheart. Looks like you're all ours tonight."

Khushi's tears flowed freely now, her body shaking with fear. She felt trapped and alone, surrounded by strangers who saw her distress as a source of amusement. She looked at Arnav again, hoping against hope that he would look her way, that he would come and save her from this nightmare.

But Arnav remained unaware, his attention still focused somewhere else. Khushi felt her hope slipping away, replaced by a cold, sinking feeling of despair. She closed her eyes, praying silently for someone, anyone, to help her.

Just as Khushi was feeling utterly defeated, thinking there was no one to save her from these goons, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Sonia standing behind her, a determined look on her face.

"Hey boys, what's going on here?" Sonia asked coolly, stepping between Khushi and the group of rowdy boys.

The boys smirked, clearly thinking they could handle two girls easily. "Just having some fun, sweetheart. Why don't you join us?" one of them suggested, eyeing Sonia with a lecherous grin.

Sonia raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat. "Oh, I see. You think scaring a girl is fun?" She laughed, but there was an edge to it. "I bet you don't even know who you're messing with."

The boys exchanged confused looks. "What are you talking about?" another boy asked, sounding less confident now.

Sonia leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Do you know who she is?" She pointed at Khushi, who was still trembling. "She's the niece of the club owner. If you lay a hand on her, you're going to be in a lot of trouble."

The boys hesitated, their bravado faltering. "You're bluffing," one of them muttered, but his uncertainty was evident.

"Bluffing?" Sonia scoffed. "Go ahead, ask the bouncers. They know her. And trust me, they're not going to be happy to hear you've been harassing her."

Khushi watched in amazement as Sonia's confidence seemed to deflate the boys' arrogance. They started to back off, unsure of what to do.

"You think we're scared of some bouncers?" one boy tried to regain his composure, but it was clear he was wavering.

Sonia didn't miss a beat. "You should be. Because when they come, they won't just throw you out. They'll make sure you never step foot in this club again. Now, unless you want to spend the rest of the night explaining to the police why you thought it was okay to harass two girls, I suggest you leave. Now."

The boys looked at each other, realizing they were outmatched. One by one, they muttered curses and dispersed, melting back into the crowd.

Sonia turned to Khushi, who was still shaken but visibly relieved. "Come on, let's get out of here," she said, taking Khushi's hand and leading her towards the exit.

Outside, in the cool night air, Khushi finally felt she could breathe again. "Sonia, I don't know how to thank you," she said, her voice trembling with gratitude.

Sonia smiled reassuringly. "Don't mention it. It was me who called you here and I'm just glad you're okay."

Khushi nodded, feeling a surge of appreciation for Sonia. Despite everything, she had come through when it mattered most. As they walked away from the club, Khushi silently vowed to be more careful in the future and to always appreciate the friends who stood by her side.

As Sonia and Khushi exited the pub, they were approached by a familiar face.

"Hey, Sonia!" Rohan called out, waving casually.

Sonia turned and smiled. "Rohan! What a surprise!" She gave him a quick hug. "Rohan, this is my friend Khushi. Khushi, meet Rohan, our principal's son and my classmate."

"Hi, Khushi," Rohan said, giving her a polite nod before turning his attention back to Sonia. "So, Sonia, how's your preparation for the intercollege competition going? I hope you've picked a good partner."

Sonia beamed. "I'm going to participate with my boyfriend, Arnav. In fact, we came here together to finalize the music and all."

"Arnav Singh Raizada, right? Of course, I know him," Rohan said, nodding appreciatively. "Through his elder brother Abhinav, who was once my dad's favorite student. Abhinav is quite well-known in the city, and we meet at various gatherings."

Khushi felt a sharp pang of hurt at Sonia's casual mention of Arnav as her boyfriend. She forced herself to stay silent, her thoughts in turmoil.

"Well, you don't have much time left before the performance, so make sure to prepare well," Rohan reminded them.

"Absolutely," Sonia replied confidently. "We'll give it our best."

All the while, Khushi was lost in her own thoughts. Sonia calling herself Arnav's girlfriend echoed painfully in her mind. She had always loved Arnav but had never confessed, believing he knew how she felt.

Khushi has loved Arnav for as long as she can remember. Ever since they were kids, he was always her hero, her best friend, her Arnie. She thought he knew how she felt. Maybe she was too naive, thinking that love didn't need words, that it was understood. But today, seeing Sonia with him, hearing her call him her boyfriend, made her realize something painfully clear. She don't really know her Arnie, not the way Sonia does.

Maybe it was for the better that she never confessed. Arnie needs someone like Sonia-confident, outgoing, someone who can match his world. Not a nerdy girl like her, who trips over her own feet and can't even dress properly for an event. Sonia is the better choice for him, and she have to accept that.

"Thanks for the reminder, Rohan. We'll see you around," Sonia said, bringing khushi out of her thoughts

Khushi managed a small smile and a nod, but inside, her heart was breaking. As they walked away, she tried to gather her thoughts, trying to come to terms with the reality that Arnav was not hers to love. The realization was bittersweet, but it was a necessary step towards moving on.

Sonia told khushi to go back home and that she will come with Arnav after they finalize everything for the performance. They both bid bye and went either sides.

Khushi started walking when her phone rang. Seeing Abhi's name on screen, she picked up the call.

"Hi, Abhi Bhaiya!" Khushi greeted, trying to sound cheerful despite her mixed emotions.

"Hey, Khushi! How are you?" Abhi's voice was warm and filled with affection. "By the way, do you know where Arnav is? I've been trying to reach him."

Khushi hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to reveal that Arnav is in a pub. "Uh, yes,I'm fine Bhaiya and Arnav is out with me."

"Oh, good! Listen, both of you need to come home right away. Maa's back from Delhi," Abhi said, sounding excited.

"Wait, what? Maa came back already? I thought she was going to spend the whole month at Nani's place," Khushi replied, shocked.

Abhi chuckled. "Yeah, I was surprised too. Maybe she missed us too much, especially her Khushi bitiya. And don't forget, it's Diwali, day after tomorrow. She wanted to celebrate it with all of us."

Khushi felt a pang of guilt. "Diwali... I completely forgot," she murmured thinking how she have been lost ever since Sonia came into Arnie's life and no one at home also talked anything about the festival saddened about Aru's health

"Are you okay, Khushi?" Abhi asked, his tone turning concerned.

"Yeah, Bhaiya, it's just...i was busy with my studies, so much that I didn't even think about any celebrations," Khushi told, her voice softening.

Abhi's tone became even more gentle. "Khushi and forgetting about diwali? Hmm.. May be you really are troubled by your studies!!.. But now that Maa's back, let's try to make the most of it. She'll be so happy to see all of us together."

Khushi nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "You're right, Bhaiya. We'll head back soon."

"Great! Oh, and Khushi, I've invited Uncle, Aunty and Aru for dinner too. So, get ready for a full house," Abhi said with a chuckle.

"Thanks for the heads-up, Bhaiya," Khushi replied, trying to keep her voice steady. This way her parents can have a changed environment and may be they can inform Maa, Abhi bhai and Arnie about them moving to Mumbai.

"And Khushi... please keep an eye on Arnav. Make sure he doesn't do anything silly," Abhi added, his voice laced with concern.

"I will, Bhaiya. Don't worry." She said as a matter of fact

"Good. See you soon, Khushi. Take care," Abhi said warmly.

"Bye, Bhaiya," Khushi replied before ending the call.

She unwillingly went inside the pub again, her mind racing with worry, anxious to find Arnav. As she scanned the crowded room, she couldn't see him anywhere. Khushi's worry intensified.

"Where is he?" Khushi muttered, to herself.

As she made her way through the throng of people, she found Sonia and called her who was, equally perplexed to see khushi back here. Khushi tugged on Sonia's arm. "Sonia, Arnie's mom is back. we need to get him to home. His mom can't see him like this."

Sonia frowned in confusion. "Khushi, why are you acting like, as if Arnav is a small kid? he hasn't drunk much. He's pretty sober. I think he can handle meeting his mom. In fact, he's with the DJ right now, selecting the background score for our performance."

Khushi looked relieved but still anxious. "Are you sure he's okay? I just don't want Maa to see him in any bad condition."

Sonia nodded firmly. "Trust me, he's fine. Let's go find him."

As they approached the DJ booth, they finally spotted Arnav, engrossed in a discussion with the DJ. He looked up, and his eyes widened in shock when he saw Khushi.

"Khush? What are you doing here?" Arnav asked, his tone a mix of surprise and concern. "This isn't a place for you."

Sonia quickly interjected before Khushi could respond, not wanting to reveal that she had called Khushi. "Khushi came to fetch you, Arnav. Your mom is back."

Arnav's expression shifted to one of alarm. "Maa's back? Already? We need to go, then."

He turned to the DJ, hastily wrapping up their conversation. "Thanks for your help. I'll leave this with you," Arnav said, handing a music CD to Sonia. "I've selected a retro theme. Let me know if it works, and we can rehearse on it once you confirm."

Sonia took the CD and gave him a reassuring nod. "Don't worry, Arnav. I'll handle everything here. You go take care of things at home."

Arnav nodded, his eyes flicking back to Khushi with a hint of concern. "Come on, Khush. Let's get going."

As they made their way out of the pub, Khushi couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. She was relieved that Arnav was sober, but the sight of him in such an environment still unsettled her. She also couldn't shake off the pang of hurt from hearing Sonia refer to Arnav as her boyfriend.

Khushi glanced at Arnav, while asking "Arnie, You really didn't drink much, did you?"

Arnav shook his head. "No, Khush. I don't drink, you know me right? I only tasted a few shots tonight, and that too on Sonia's insistence. I didn't really drink much. I wanted to focus on our performance, not get drunk" his voice was sincere

The tension from the night's events began to dissipate. Arnav turned to Khushi with a sheepish smile as they reached his bike.
Khushi felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had been so worried about him, but now she realized that he was still the Arnie she had always known. Her confidence in her feelings for him began to solidify again. Maybe, just maybe, there was still hope for her one-sided love.

"Thanks for telling me, Arnie," Khushi said softly "I was really worried."

Arnav smiled warmly at her, his eyes filled with gratitude. "I know, Khush. And I appreciate that. Now, let's get home. We don't want to keep Maa waiting."

They hopped onto his bike, with Khushi holding onto him tightly as they rode back home. The cool night air and the steady hum of the bike's engine calmed her racing thoughts. She felt a renewed sense of determination to not give up on her feelings for Arnav. He can choose what he wants, but she won't ever give up on her feelings which is very strong as ever.

When they arrived home, they could hear voices from inside the house. As they walked through the door, the first thing they heard was Arnav's mother, Aarti speaking animatedly.

"And what do you think about it, Garima? Should we go ahead with the arrangements?" she was saying.

Arnav and Khushi stood at the door, stunned and curious about what was going on.

Arnav's mother, noticing them at the entrance, smiled warmly. "Oh, you're back! Come in, both of you."

Aarti, immediately stood up and walked towards Arnav and Khushi with a warm, welcoming smile. She enveloped them both in a big, loving hug.

"Arnav, Khushi, it's so good to see you both," Aarti said, her voice filled with genuine affection. She pulled back slightly and looked at Khushi with extra warmth in her eyes. "Khushi, my dear, I missed you so much! It's not the same without you around."

Khushi blushed, feeling the warmth and love from Aarti. "I missed you too, Maa" she replied softly.

Arnav, pretending to be offended, crossed his arms and pouted. "Maa, you always miss Khush more than me. I'm starting to think she's your real child and I'm just the neighbor's kid."

Everyone laughed at Arnav's playful complaint. Aarti playfully swatted his arm. "Oh, stop it, Arnav. You know I love you both equally. But Khushi is my favorite because she's so sweet and always takes care of me."

Khushi giggled while Arnav continued to pout. "See? Even now, you're siding with her," he teased.

Garima, joined in the light-hearted banter. "Well, Aarti, it's no secret that Khushi has always had a special place in your heart."

Sashi nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's a blessing to see our families so close and affectionate with each other."

Aarti nodded, her eyes sparkling with affection. "Indeed, Sashi-ji. Having Khushi around is like having the daughter, which I never had. She's always been a part of our family."

Khushi felt her heart swell with gratitude and love. "Maa, You've always treated me like your own, and it means the world to me."

Arnav, finally giving up his pretense of being upset, wrapped an arm around Khushi's shoulders. "Well, I guess I'll just have to share my Maa with you, Khush."

Aarti smiled warmly at the sight of the two of them. "And that's how it should be, Arnav. We're all family here."

Garima added, "It's this love and unity that makes everything worthwhile. No matter what happens, we'll always stand by each other."

Garima realized the irony of her own words after spelling it, she very well know that Aarti, Abhi or Arnav won't be pleased when they know that they are hiding about Aryan's medical condition. Sashi saw his wife and very well knew what she was thinking so he tried to distract her

"Absolutely. And with Diwali coming up, it's the perfect time to celebrate our togetherness and the bonds we share." He blinked at his wife

Aarti's face lit up at the mention of Diwali. "Yes, we have so much to prepare for! Khushi, you'll help me with the decorations, won't you?"

Khushi nodded eagerly. "Of course, Maa. I'd love to help."

Arnav grinned. "And I'll handle the lights, as always."

The room was filled with warmth, love, and laughter as the family shared their plans for the upcoming festival. Despite some hesitations, the bond between them all was clear and strong. Khushi felt a renewed sense of hope and love, knowing that no matter what, she would always have this wonderful family by her side.

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Uzma