Chapter 2

“Will you ever grow up?” Arnav asked Khushi smiling at her. She grinned at him, “Maybe... maybe not.” She grabbed the balloons from him and let them go watching them float up into the sky. Arnav couldn’t help but stare. She looked so beautiful when she smiled like that. He was standing behind her and he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder. “Don’t. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you in the first place. If you hadn’t walked into the office and thrown a tantrum like a six year old four months ago I wouldn’t have been so interested in finding out about this girl who walked in like she owned the place,” he said smiling at the memory. Khushi giggled. “What’s so funny?” he asked turning serious. She turned around, his arms still holding her close, “The way you described it. You make me sound like a nuisance.” Her smile turned into a pout, “Then why are you still with me, leave me.” Arnav pulled her even closer, “Don’t ever say that,” Arnav said turning serious, “you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I don’t know what I would do without you.” Khushi couldn’t hold back the runaway tear and threw her arms around his neck hugging him tight, afraid she would lose him if she ever let him go.

 

“Khushi! Khushi!” Adi almost yelled trying to pull her out of dreamland. Khushi came back to reality. Aditya sat next to her on the bed and Khushi leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thinking about Arnav?” Aditya asked looking at the picture hanging on the wall opposite the bed. He knew the answer but asked anyway. “That’s why you won’t let anyone come in here besides me? Isn’t it?” he questioned Khushi indicating towards the frame hanging from the wall. He felt her tears stain his shirt, “No one else knows. No one else ever knew. That’s why he’s gone Adi.” Aditya couldn’t stand to see his best friend in tears. It hurt him too know how much pain she was in. He wiped away her tears and turned to face her. “Garima Aunty sent me here to call you downstairs. Rohan’s here with his family. They’ve called a designer in for the wedding outfits. They want it to happen within this month before Rohan leaves for America,” Aditya said standing up. Khushi looked at him in desperation, “I can’t Khushi. You’ve held it off for two years. They won’t listen anymore. Even your parents say that you’re pushing it. It has to happen now and if you don’t agree they’ll drag you to a temple and marry you off there if they have to. I can’t stall them anymore.” With that Aditya left Khushi alone to get ready. Khushi got up from her bed took a deep breath, glanced at the photo and left the room making sure to close the door behind her.

 

“Arnav, hurry up please. We can’t be late. It’s not good for AR,” Kajal stood in his office whining, trying to make him hurry up. “They want the designer, moi, and you there within half an hour. The wedding is this month and it’ll take a while for us to design and make the clothes before the wedding,” Kajal was getting impatient and started pacing the room. Arnav looked up at his friend and closed his laptop. He sighed. “You know where to go?” he asked raising his eyebrows. She nodded and started dancing when she saw him get up and grab his coat from the back of his chair. She literally pounced on him, “Thank you,” she said with a huge grin on her face. It came as a relief to Kajal that Arnav had agreed. He usually stays in his office the whole day buried in work, at least that’s how it’s been for the past two years. They took the elevator downstairs and got into Arnav’s SUV with Kajal giving him the address and directions to the house. The address seemed familiar to him but he just couldn’t figure out why.

 

“Why the hell is she taking so long Aditya? You did tell her to come now didn’t you?” rohan asked Aditya impatiently. Aditya sighed and rolled his eyes, “Yes I told her. She’ll be down in a couple of minutes. Before the designers arrive. I promise.” At that exact moment Khushi entered the living room relieving Aditya of Rohan. She smiled at everyone and greeted Rohan’s parents. “Khushi,” Rohan turned towards her, “I’ve called Delhi’s best designers to make our clothes for the wedding. The wedding has to happen within this month before I have to leave to America because I’ve got to stay there for at least a year and I want you to come with me. You’ve put off the wedding for way too long. It’s been two years since we got engaged and I think you’re also a little tired of just being my fiancée considering you don’t even wear your ring,” he said sternly. Khushi was deep in thought, letting everything Rohan was saying sink in. She understood his plight, everyone knew where he stood and his situation but no one knew anything about her plight and her situation. Everyone always questioned what she did and said but never bothered to know why. “Khushi!” Rohan yelled, “Are you even listening to me?” Khushi turned her attention from the ground to Rohan. She could see he was going to say something else when the doorbell rang. “The designers are here, sir,” she heard one of the house helps say. “Thank god. It took them long enough,” Rohan said sighing. Khushi heard two people chatting as they walked into the room. She guessed they must’ve been the designers so didn’t pay much attention but shot up from her seat the moment she saw them.

 

Arnav had a terrible feeling in his gut as they approached the house. The house help answered the door and led them into the living room. Arnav froze the moment he saw her and noticed she was also shocked because she shot up like a rocket from her seat.

 

It was a surprise for both of them. They had both lost hope after two years and never thought they’d see each again. Arnav thought Khushi would have been married by now and Khushi thought Arnav might have found a girlfriend and at least be engaged if not married but they both were wrong. Rohan walked over to Arnav and introduced himself. He shook hands with both Arnav and Kajal and introduced them to everyone else leaving Khushi for last. “And this is my fiancée Khushi,” he said with a smug smile, he turned to Khushi, “Khushi this is Arnav. Arnav Singh Raizada, owner of AR Design and this,” he indicated to Kajal, “is Kajal, one of their best designers.” Khushi was taken aback by the introduction that Rohan gave. It’s not that she didn’t know who he was. She didn’t know what he was. Despite that she still couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting to throw her arms around him and tell him how much she missed him. She wanted to tell him he’s the reason she still hasn’t gotten married. She wanted to tell him that she still loved him, but did he feel the same? Arnav stretched his hand out to shake hers, “Congratulations Miss Gupta. We wish you all the best.” Khushi felt as if someone had just stabbed her in the stomach. How could he act as if nothing had ever happened? Had he really moved on? She didn’t know why, but it hurt.