[MEMBERSONLY]

Thank you so much for the wishes everyone! It's all because of you. Hope you keep enjoying the story!

to all who have said they will never be able to look at cement piles and fire extinguishers the same way again, believe me, i have stopped seeing numerous things the way i should be long back...

NOTE- If any of you have missed the post on their dresses, here it is-

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/3125633?pn=136

Khushi was conscious.

Very conscious.

Arnav was lost.

Very lost.

She looked breathtakingly beautiful, drop dead gorgeous, out of the world pretty and the dictionary could very well get exhausted..

she looked up at him and blushed..

for Arnav Singh Raizada looked very well handsome himself..

the sherwani complimented him, his height, his looks and that smirk on his face..

then quickly tried to 'un-blush' while he struggled to 'un-drool'

The Guptas met the Raizadas as two families soon to be related meet..warmly and gracefully.

Anjali greeted Nihal who himself looked exceptionally handsome..and exchanged smiles..

Arnav bore holes with his eyes into them

"stop it" Khushi whispered into his ears..

"what?"

"stop boring holes with your eyes into my brother just because he smiled at your sister"

"i am not bo-"

"yes you are"

"i am not"

Payal tapped their shoulders from behind..

"excuse me..but it's your engagement today. Can you behave please?"

"but jiji-"

"Khushi shut up. And take blessings"

Arnav and Khushi exchanged looks as they bent down individually to take blessings..then Arnav escorted her to the rest of the guests..

LATER-

Anjali did some hushed whispered discussions with Payal and Mrs Gupta and then walked up to the stage holding the mike..

"A very good evening to all of you present who have been so kind to grace this very special occasion for us with your lovely presence. I guess all sisters present here would very well understand when I say how overwhelming it is when after years of shouting day in and out in your brother's ears to get someone other than his laptop to spend his life along with him by his side, he finally makes a step towards the same. But then, I guess, love comes knocking when it has to-"

at this Arnav and Khushi literally flew their eyes in each other's direction...and then with the same speed, flew it away..

she gulped

he wondered what was wrong with the AC systems in the hall..

Anjali continued- " and we have ample proof of it in the form of the beautiful couple in front of us...who we wait for , to exchange rings and prove yet again, that love indeed, makes the world go round"

Payal held Khushi's arm (which was a good thing since she was having a hard time figuring out whether she was levitating or not), her mother and Nihaal by her side, as they led her up the stage..

Arnav accompanied by Aakash walked up from the other end joining nani and Mrs Raizada already there...

They finally stood before one another...

and looked into each other's eyes..

he could see before him a Khushi Kumari Gupta...

panting for breath stopping him from entering AR..

"i for one am not done"

"and why should I bother whether you are done or not?"

"because I have an appointment"

if only he had known the duration of this 'appointment' back then...

she looked him in the eye..

"OUT!" the image of the same man clenching his fists at her floated in her mind..

"huh..only a lunatic would dream of having your company..out? My pleasure!" her own voice resonated in her ears..

and we all know just how 'Out' they went out of each other's lives after that..

she raised her hand slowly and he held it in his, the eye contact never breaking-

as the sleek golden band slipped into her finger and the light from the studded diamond danced with pleasure on her face..

Khushi Kumari Gupta, fianc of, Arnav Singh Raizada

the sound of applauses filled the air as he extended his hand in her direction while she nervously passed it through his finger...

camera flashes blinded them as the professional photographer present for the occasion captured every moment..

Anjali threw her arms around Arnav in joy, then turned and gave Khushi a big bear hug. Nihaal had a light sideway embrace with Arnav and then literally squeezed the life out of Khushi-

"My lattu is engaged! My God! Someone tell me I am dreaming! Lattu!!"

Khushi blushed as she was soon surrounded by the rest of the family..

which was followed by taking blessings from nani, Mrs Gupta, Mrs Raizada (who gave the most sophisticated blessing possible)...

They were stopped by the camera person just as they were about to part.

"A photo of the couple sir"

Arnav and Khushi exchanged glances as they stood beside each other-

"um..closer sir if you don't mind"

Arnav stepped closer and snaked his arm around Khushi's shoulder who audibly gasped..

before nervously smiling at the camera again..

picture perfect.

Peace o heart! Breathe in..breathe out..

She slipped her arm into Arnav's and together they slowly moved around the hall, meeting guests, accepting congratulatory wishes..

Arnav felt a strange pride as he escorted her to each guest, a strange glow..which he tried mighty hard not to acknowledge..

LATER-

The party was fully on, but nobody had noticed ,when ,a certain someone had quietly withdrawn from the gathering and was now standing by the poolside as she stood staring emptily at the clear water of the swimming pool.

It was her brother's engagement and she was elated about it..but the settings, the surroundings made memories come rushing over, of her own..the man who she...no. You will NOT think about him. Anjali drew in a deep breath as she tried to fight back the choke in her throat..

*snap * a pair of fingers snapped in front of her and she swirled around..

someone had been noticing after all..and knew...

"oh Nihaal! Hey!"

"hey!you here?"

"ya..just..i-"

"forget it. I guess your reason is the same as mine"

"wh..what reason?"

"emotions. Bad memories. All stirred up by these settings...I will share mine with you. You know, I was in university back in the states, and I had this HUGE thing for this girl, so I wrote a letter in blood-"

"BLOOD??!!!" Anjali shouted..

"um..no, actually it was ketchup. Diluted tomato ketchup. I thought she wouldn't figure out it wasn't blood, for come on! Who would shed blood for such a thing, but it seemed 'romeo-ish' so I did it anyway-"

"you thought writing a letter to a girl with ketchup was 'romeo-ish'?? poor romeo"

"hold on. I thought she would think it was blood and THAT would be romeo-ish"

"and then?"

"then? She smelled it. I wonder how I was fool enough to overlook that vital loophole-"

Anjali had already begun grinning..

"and of course she knew it was ketchup, and that day, I realized why you women wear sandals with such long heels"

Anjali placed her palm over her mouth as she burst into laughter-

"You are the limit!" she gasped..

"you find it funny?? I was heartbroken!!" he said, smiling himself..

"oh yes I am sure!"

"you know, but I still wonder why she smelled it in the first place if it looked like blood..that is a habit I have heard being attributed to vampires, in which case, I have been lucky,,"

she shook her head in exasperation and giggled away as the two turned around walking back into the hall, laughing, joking and rolling eyes at each other..

The function on the stage had commenced with professional singers and artists gracing the occasion-

Arnav and Khushi sat next to one another..

the biggest problem currently on their problem list.

For they had been moments ago declared as fiances who had reportedly 'proved' that 'love comes knocking when it has to' and could 'make the world go round'..

(seriously, matchmakers aka the media not being called for engagement, break up plans aka all the more bigger matchmakers not being given even a mention in the entire speech, and all the credit goes to this comes-out-of-nowhere love!! sigh..the world has never been fair..)

Khushi was fidgeting with and inspecting her lehenga as if she would soon be asked to duplicate it herself..it's ok Khushi. Evolution has recommenced but you will deal with it..he is right next to you, perfectly alright..the trick lies in watching the singer. Yes. Lovely voice. He just looked at you, but you will not hyperventilate. You will certainly NOT remember the picture clicking.Breathe in..breathe out..

Arnav was silently praying that some miracle would stop her from fidgeting.

He was trying to distract himself. Why did she have to make it SO DAMN DIFFICULT!!!

fidgeting with her lehenga, fidgeting with her hair..control.control.control. It's simple Arnav just look away...better, wow what a song! Super talented singer. Beautiful. No way he was getting distracted. She was right beside him. No problem. Cool, so she is again fidgeting with her hair...singer Arnav, look at the damn singer!

He placed his hands on the sofa on which they sat at the same time she put hers there resulting in his hand covering hers completely..

Khushi made golf balls out of her eyes as she shot a look at him while he withdrew his hand as if he had just touched fire..

she looked left he looked right...

she turned back to look right and said-

"um..Arnav"

"yes?"

"i need to talk to..jiji..i am just..coming"

To hell with 'talking to Payal'. She needed water. Very very cold water. And some privacy.Desperately.can't go upstairs. Kitchen.

he nodded his head. "yeah fine.i am here"

to hell with 'I am here'. He needed water. Very cold water. And some privacy.Desperately.and this was just the opportunity to slip away. Can't go upstairs. Kitchen.

Khushi leaned to the fridge as she gulped cold water down her throat..

WHAT was wrong with her. WHAT WHAT WHAT THE HELL was wrong with her..

relax Khushi..relax..breathe in...breathe out..breathe in..breathe out..fake..everything is fake..

Arnav stormed inside the kitchen and widened his eyes at the sight before him..

Khushi coughed on the water..

"YOU!what are you doing here?"

"i..i had to use the restroom"

Khushi roamed her eyes around the kitchen then spoke..

"um..i think you are slightly mistaken..this does not look like-"

"shut up! I don't need to explain why I am here. This is MY house. I can be anywhere I like. What are you doing here?i can't see Payal anywhere"

"i..i..wanted water"

"i see. Perhaps the dozen staff members in the entire hall couldn't help you with it"

"i..i wanted c..cold water"

"every drink being served is happens to be suffeciently chilled. I guess boiling water is not on the menu"

"what is your problem if I stay here for a while?'

"nothing"

silence...

"Arnav?"

"what?"

"you came all the way here to tell me you wished to use the restroom?"

Arnav quickly grabbed the jug from the table as if water was what had drawn him to the kitchen..

awkward silence..

Khushi who had begun fiddling with the knife in the spoon stand in her clumsiness cut her finger

"OUCH! Oh shit!"

needless to say Arnav singh Raizada was by her side before you could even say 'what the!'

"WHAT?"

"nothing..i just..cut.." she moved her finger to put it in her mouth when Arnav pushed it away from it

"Are you a vampire?"

"what?"

"then don't drink blood"

"i was not drinking blood"

"yes you were"

"i wa-"

"Khushi shut up"

he took out his handkerchief as he wiped the blood off her finger...

she looked at him and he looked back into her eyes..

and then it happened..

the weird,the strange, the God knows what of a silence..

as he slowly stopped wiping her finger and yet she didn't pull it back..

he stepped forward..

she blinked and open her mouth to say something..then shut it up..

he placed a hand on her shoulder

she gulped..

and-

"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!" Payal and Anjali exclaimed together "WHAT are you two doing here?? here?? there is an entire function dedicated to you going on in the hall and- by the way, what were you doing?"

Khushi-"cooking"

Arnav-"wiping"

(accompanied by flying away from each other). reaction-raised eyebrows.

Khushi- "i mean moving, moving utensils"

Arnav- "i mean wiping..blood"

very raised eyebrows with additional popped out eyes

Anjali spoke at length-

"i see. Khushi was moving utensils while you chotte were wiping blood. And here we were thinking we had an engagement in the house! How silly of us right Payal?"

"you bet. Now if you two are done with this very important 'moving utensils' and 'wiping blood' can we have you in the hall. The guests are wondering"

Hard to say, who flew out first..

The party in all its grandeur, continued till late in the Raizada mansion. With two very very lost souls.

Night at RM-

Arnav Singh Raizada could not stop it.

'It' being thinking

'thinking' being something to do with blankly staring at any random inanimate object in the room and focusing thoughts on a particular 'Khushi Kumari Gupta'

and Arnav Singh Raizada was fast approaching madness. He had tried everything-

Singhania files- check

Mehta deal files- check

AR annual report- check

calling Aman- check

end result- thinking about Khushi Kumari Gupta.

This was insane. Arnav Singh Raizada CANNOT lose control over himself. Should he google for help? He'd be damned if he did! Arnav Singh Raizada did not need any google to help him. If he didn't want to think of something, BANG ON! He didn't..

half an hour later-

Google search

how to stop thinking (yes, Arnav singh Raizada searches 'how to stop thinking', attention everyone.History is being written here)

1^st result- (this is an actual google search result)

Osho - How to stop Thinking

www.messagefrommasters.com/.../Watch_don't_try_to_stop.html

Osho on how to Stop Thinking - THINKING cannot be stopped. Not that it does not stop, but it cannot be stopped.

ok. so this clearly doesn't work...something else..

just as he was about to type something else his eyes rested on one of the searches-

thinking continuously about someone? Can't seem to stop? Are you falling in-

curiosity got the better of Arnav Singh Raizada as he clicked open the option. Falling in what dammit?

While he waited with bated breath for something like mental retardation, psychological disorder this is what flashed on his screen-

Are you falling in love?

And then an entire article on- What is love

Arnav read the entire article and as very expected his next search was-

how to stop falling in love

because this was what Arnav Singh Raizada had made out of the entire thing- it was more dangerous than morphine, it made you mad, stupid, and a complete idiot. A bunging fool.

NOBODY could make Arnav Singh Raizada a bunging fool..not even this..this..whatever..

1^st result ( again an actual google search result. Check if you like)-

How to Stop Falling in Love: 8 steps - wikiHow

www.wikihow.com ' Home ' Categories ' RelationshipsCached -

1 Aug 2012 ' How to Stop Falling in Love. Whether it is with multiple or repeatedly loving the same person, it can be hard to put a stop to falling in love.

DAMN IT!!!

Arnav Singh Raizada did not need a STUPID GOOD FOR NOTHING google (yeah google, go have a party)to know how to prevent a disease (yes, a disease). As it is he had not caught it (oh yes, we agree Mr Raizada, of course you have not!) and hell if he did! He would just talk to her. A little more. Perhaps that was being the problem. He always shut her up so maybe if they would talk he would realize all the more how stupid she was and fall out, (wait! He never fell in!right?) Ok, and stay away from this..this..morphine!!

yes..that's it..as much as it would make him mad. He would just talk and everything would be fine. And fake. Like it was. Period.

NIGHT AT GH

Khushi threw the bedcover from herself as she moved out of bed..there was something very wrong going on here..this was beyond evolution! This was...

help . She needed some help.

Payal Gupta be you prepared..

(picture credit- google images)

NEXT PART (34)- PAGE 45

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As you must have realized,this is the beginning of a new phase. someone mentioned i had refrained from using the word 'love' till chapter 31 and it came for the first time in part 32 and it came here again. true that. It's because i wanted to be super careful about not carelessly and randomly using the word before i had built up the characters and their relationship to a certain level..i promise you shall get all you want, as the story slowly unfolds...

and yes, sincerely hope you enjoyed the read!waiting to hear from you...

saucechips2012-09-07 02:35:07