Part 36 Feelings...

"I didn't come to India because I didn't have the guts to see you getting married to my brother... Because I loved you" Arnav heard broken the EGG of his life.

Khushi was gazing at him bewildered with an unbelievable stare. What did he say? What he just said is true? Did he love her? From the beginning? She swallowed the gland that was choking her throat.

"You loved meeee?" she asked with disbelief.

Arnav was silent.

"I ask you something, Arnav"

Arnav looked at her gulping down.

"Tell me, Arnav"

"I just did"

"Not completely"

Arnav sighed.

"Don't you think I should know the truth?" She asked.

"What do you want to know?"

"Did you love me... from the beginning?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"But..."

"I liked you when I saw you at my parent's wedding anniversary function. That was the first time I spoke to someone with INTEREST. Honestly, I don't know why I liked you. I thought it's a timing attraction. But... I was always thinking about you. I suspected my feelings. Before going to London, my heart so wanted to see you. That's when I understood this is something I never wanted to get in. But I couldn't help. I got in."

"Then why didn't you meet me?"

"I didn't meet you but I saw you..."

"Did you see me? When?"

"Outside your college campus. That day, you were in a red netted saree with a sleeveless boat neck blouse. You looked so beautiful"

Khushi was dumbfounded. Yes, she was wearing the saree at her college founder's day function. It was her favorite saree. Did he see her this much deeply?

"The next day, I went to London. I thought to talk about you to mom after coming from London because you were studying in college at that time. I thought Shashi uncle won't hurry your marriage as you are his only daughter." He stopped and looked that Khushi who was gazing at him like ever before.

"Neerav's proposal was least expected to me. I didn't know what to do. I felt so helpless because I thought you too are interested in Neerav. Neerav is also talkative like you. I thought that's why you liked him."

Khushi wanted to say what happened between Neerav and her. But she didn't interfere in Arnav's talk. She stayed quiet letting him talk.

Arnav sighed.

"I never wanted to come back to India. My parents started, insisting to get me married because they wanted Neerav to get married to you soon. They like you very much. That irked me. I love my family... I love my brother... But I was unable to compromise when it comes to you. I refuse to come to India because I didn't have the strength to see you going to another hand. It may sound selfish but I thought, someday my parents will perform Neerav's marriage without my presence. I even asked them to do that but they denied"

"Thank God you didn't come to India," Khushi said emotionally.

Arnav looked at her with a sharp gaze. Though he knew what does she mean he felt something in him.

"Why?" he asked intentionally.

"His changed behavior didn't affect me as I didn't get attached to him. But if I had married him, my condition would have been so miserable. I would not have beard his change if he had changed after the marriage. He would have surly divorced me"

"I would have married to you if he had divorced you," Arnav said without thinking.

Khushi got stuck. She didn't know how to react to it.

"I just can't believe this" she murmured.

Talking a few long steps, Arnav closed the distance between him and Khushi. He leaned towards her whereas Khushi leaned back didn't expect him to come close to her. Clutching her hand, he pulled her from the bed. She stood on her feet looking at his eyes.

As she didn't expect, Arnav hugged her, making Khushi's eyes widen.

"I love you Khushi... I love you so much" he stood hugging her, closing his eyes.

Khushi's eyes were softened. Her eyes got closed automatically. She circled his shoulders, staying in his hug. Arnav's lips bloomed with a beautiful smile.

"I know you like me Khushi. I hope you will start loving me soon."

Breaking the hug, Arnav read her face. He saw confusion and unbelievable expression. He pressed his lips on her forehead gulping down.

"Good night," he said and Khushi felt vulnerability in his voice.

Taking the other side of the bed, Arnav closed his eyes. Khushi was looking at him recalling his every stance. She never expected that he would have loved her from their first meet. Though she felt something different in him she was unable to recognize it. Now, she got cleared.

Though Arnav was closing his eyes he felt her constant gaze on him. He looked at her and smiled. Khushi also smiled at him mildly. He took her hand, meeting her eyes. Keeping her palm under his cheek, he closed his eyes, making Khushi emotional. She didn't sleep for long but Arnav slept peacefully after pouring his heart out to the person who is the owner of his feelings.

The next morning

Arnav woke up from his sleep. He saw Khushi looking at him, sitting on the recliner. That's when he recollected the previous night's happenings. He sat on the bed and smiled at her. Khushi reciprocated his smile. Arnav went to the washroom and came getting fresh. Still, Khushi was sitting on the recliner, thinking something deep. He felt she wants to tell him something.

"Do you want to say something, Khushi?" He asked.

She nodded yes.

"Listening" He folded his hands.

"Actually, Neerav met me in my college one day and proposed to me," She said.

"Oh..."

"He said he loves me..."

"Mmm"

"I asked him to talk to my Babuji"

"Did you ask him to get your Babuji's permission to love you?" Arnav chuckled.

"I didn't have an idea to love him. That's why I asked him to go to my babuji." She said not smiling.

"Oh... So, you would have told me the same if I had proposed to you"

"Maybe or may not be..." She said sighing.

"Means?"

"Neither I talked to Neerav before nor did I have a good opinion about him. But we spoke and I liked your way of talking. Especially, I felt proud when you talked to me..."

Cutting her,

"Proud? Why?"

"It's because I know you won't talk to anyone but me..."

Arnav smiled.

"You would have proposed to me before Neerav proposed to me," she said in a feeble tone.

Arnav frowned as her voice changed.

"Maybe everything would have changed... if you would have been proposed to me, our marriage might have happened a year ago. Babuji might not have committed suicide, seeing me settled down with you... hai na?" she asked with teary eyes.

Arnav felt bad. She is right. Shashi might not have thought of killing himself as his duty of settling her down had been got over.

"Actually, I don't know..."

Cutting him,

"No no... I just thought... how it would have been" she wiped her cheek.

"My Babuji is not lucky enough to see his daughter living happily"

"Are you happy?" Came from Arnav.

"So much... with a lot of satisfaction," She said making Arnav smile with satisfaction.

To be continued...