Chapter 25

Pearl_Oyster

@Pearl_Oyster

PART 25

"Khushi. I.."

And the music stopped, putting an end to the spell casted on Khushi. She became aware of the eyes which were curiously looking at them. Everyone on the dance floor was staring at both of them including Abhay and Anjali.

They hadn't realized that while dancing they had reached the centre of the dance floor pulling everyone's attention.

Less out of anger and more out of embarrassment she stepped away from Arnav. It was now Arnav's turn to come out of his trance.

He too noticed the people staring at them and the flustered look on Khushi's face.

"Excuse me" She rushed to the washroom, without looking at anyone.

Her sudden escape caused the attention to dissipate. The music began again just after a call from Arnav and everyone had gone back to dancing except Abhay who could feel his blood boiling.

**~~~**

She had no idea how she managed to walk till the washroom. The world was spinning. She was dizzy and couldn't focus on anything.

Why the hell the life was playing with her? Why was her heart so keen on being attached to Arnav Singh Raizada? Why could she not maintain her distance from him? Why does she keep falling in this circle? How many more lessons does she need? Wasn't that night enough? Weren't the consequences enough?

Questions were immense and answers were none.

The minute she entered the washroom, holding the washbasin, she dropped down to the floor and cried, cried her heart out. She knew she had cried this way when she had found that Arnav had left her and today when it was the opposite yet the same. He had played with her heart and hurt her all the same.

She was crying harder than ever, not worrying what passing people will think, all she knew was that she had been closer to him when she never wanted it.

Memories came, swarming her head, it had been the same day, this was the reason it all happened.

Dressed in a pink gown, a rose stylishly adorning her black hair, and deep red lipstick, she was a sight to behold.

She was looking the most beautiful in the prom night and every boy was looking at her with awe and every girl with jealousy but her eyes only awaited him. She looked for him in the crowd and there he was, standing there looking at her, with a mesmerized look on the face.

She smiled and there was a sound of a sigh, that girl looked even prettier when she smiled.

She came down the staircase just like a princess does in a fairy tale but just this was not one. It was reality, the man she loves was looking at her with the most phenomenal expressions ever.

She had grabbed his hand and he had pulled her towards him.

"Khushi, I don't have words" Arnav whispered in her ear and she blushed adding to her beauty.

The music had begun and they were dancing, lost in his eyes, extinct from the world. All she needed was him by her side.

"I wish I could hold you forever" HE whispered and she smiled, burying her head in his coat.

And then she was driving with him to his mansion where he lived alone, to fulfil her dream and live the night she often dreamt about.

"Khushi"

The voice and the knock on the door brought her back to reality. She cleaned her face, an involuntary action, and stood up to open the door.

"Khushi, are you okay?" Arnav asked as she stepped out of the washroom, deep care vivid in his voice.

"No" She said without trying to hide her state of mind, walking wherever her legs took her.

"Why? What happened?" Arnav followed after her.

"I remember the prom night." She said, stopping at the end of the gallery.

Her words shut him up. She remembered the prom night just now while it was on his mind ever since they began dancing.

He had recalled how fake his love was then and how real it felt now. He remembered how his every look was dominated by his lust then and by love now. How things had changed then and now but the damage was done. When he never loved her, she was his and now when he does, she is 1000 miles away.

"Khushi, I want to talk to you" He finally said.

"And I don't" She tried to walk away but he came in front of her, blocking her way and she had to stop.

"You'll have to."

"You can't order me" She said in a hard voice.

"It's a plea, Khushi" His voice softened.

"Doesn't sound like one" Khushi was still adamant.

"Will you please listen to me?" He was desperate and she could bet upon it.

"Speak" She said. She wanted to hear what he had to say.

"I.." His words were interrupted by Abhay who just reached them.

"Khushi, you alright?" He rushed to her and cupped her face in his hands, causing Arnav to burn within.

"Yes, Abhay. I am oka.." She didn't speak ahead. What was she supposed to tell him? She didn't want to lie to him. Abhay knew she wasn't alright. He let his hands fall from her face and waited for her to speak again.

"You're interrupting. I was talking to her" Arnav said seethingly, staring at Abhay.

"No wonder you were! I can tell that by the colour of her face, her tears" Abhay turned towards Arnav, staring right back.

"Abhay" Said Khushi, holding his arm.

"No, Khushi. We have had enough of his man. He has played enough with your feelings" Abhay continued, his voice cold and angry.

"And how is that your business?" Arnav was hating the way Abhay stood protectively around Khushi. As if she belonged to him, as if he had a right on her.

"My business? MY BUSINESS! YOU DARE ASK ME THAT, YOU LYING PIECE OF SHIT?" In a second, Abhay was in Arnav's face, grabbing him by the collar.

"Abhay" Khushi screamed in surprise and held his arm, shaking it so that he would leave Arnav.

"My best friend has not slept countless nights due to the nightmares given by you. THAT IS MY BUSINESS, YOU bas***d." Abhay was barely registering Khushi's panic by his side who still clung to his arm, asking him to let go.

Arnav felt the rage building and he pushed Abhay away, freeing himself from his grip. He badly wanted to hit him but he knew that would further upset Khushi. So, he simply stood at his place. But, Abhay was in no such mood. He again leaped towards him.

"Abhay, please stop" Khushi stepped before Abhay.

"No, Khushi. Now is the time for this man to pay" Abhay said, looking at Khushi.

"You are no one to make me pay" Arnav, who was barely holding onto his anger, said in the same cold, taunting voice.

"I am her best friend and I have EVERY DAMN RIGHT" Abhay shouted, making Khushi flinch in fear. She had always known how much Abhay hated the man responsible for her past but seeing it firsthand made her scared. She didn't know if she should be happy or sad that Abhay cared so much about her.

"Give yourself a rest. I don't think you know but Khushi has already forgiven me. So, you and your "every damn right" doesn't matter to me" Arnav responded with a sneer.

OH GOD, NO!

No!

She hadn't told Abhay about this. And he wasn't supposed to find out like this. Not from Arnav.

"You're a lying piece of shit, Arnav Singh Raizada. Khushi will never forgive you" Abhay said with derision, so sure of his words.

Arnav couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his face.

"Oh! So, apparently the "best friend" doesn't know" He said.

"You are lying. I know Khushi damn well. she hates you. She won't forgive you. Not in a million lifetimes. Right, Khushi?" Abhay turned to look at Khushi who stood at a distance, not looking at her friend.

"Tell him, Khushi" Arnav said, looking expectantly at her.

"Shut up, Arnav! You too, Abhay. Both of you stop it now" Khushi said, half shouting and half-pleading.

"Khushi, have you forgiven him?" Abhay ignored her words and asked, now standing right in front of her.

"Abhay..It doesn't matter..It's noth..." Khushi didn't know what to say.

"Yes or No, Khushi?"

"Abha.."

"Yes or no?" Abhay asked again, looking at his friend with a fixed gaze.

"It's not that simple, Abhay. Let me expl.."

"YES Or.."

"YES" Khushi screamed, tired of his relentless questioning.

"Yes?" Abhay repeated the word, disbelief heavy in his voice.

"Yes, I've forgiven him, Abhay. I wanted to tell you but.." Khushi said.

"But you didn't" Khushi hated how broken Abhay's voice sounded. He looked hurt.

"Now you have gotten your answer. So, leave us alone" Arnav finally decided that he had had enough of Abhay's drama.

"I guess I will.. I am not needed here" Abhay said and swiftly walked away from Khushi and Arnav.

"Abhay, wait! Abhay" Khushi tired to follow after him but Abhay didn't stop.

"Let him go, Khushi" Arnav reached up to her where she stood staring in the empty gallery.

She slowly turned towards Arnav.

"Let him go?" She spat the words at Arnav, her eyes blazing.

Arnav looked unnerved for a second. She looked so angry. Just like she was in the office when he had kissed her.

"Khushi, calm.." He tried to pacify her.

"Do you even know what you have done? You made me hurt the person who has always been there for me. Always." Khushi continued, this time an angry tear falling from her eye.

"Khushi..I..I am sorry" He quickly said, realizing that things were again going the wrong way.

"Oh please, Arnav! For how many things will you be sorry for?" Khushi said, wiping away the tear and looking at him with accusing eyes.

"Khushi, it's not my fault that you hadn't told him" Arnav said, feeling defensive.

"But you telling him is your fault" This time Khushi screamed the words.

"How was I supposed to know that he doesn't know?" Arnav said.

"Why the hell did you have to even bring it up at all?" Khushi said.

"If you hadn't noticed he was standing in my face, challenging me" Arnav argued.

"Don't tell me you didn't deserve it" Khushi said.

"Not from him" Arnav realized he was getting angry again.

"You know what, Arnav? It was a mistake. Talking to you was a mistake" Khushi said and dashed out of the place. Arnav called after her but she didn't stop.

**~~~**

"Bhai" Anjali caught hold of Arnav after he stepped back into the party.

"Yes, Anji?" Arnav tried to sound normal.

"Have you seen, Abhay? I have not seen Khushi either since the dance, Bhai" Anjali said, looking worried.

The Dance!

He had come to talk to Khushi about the dance, to complete his sentence but everything had been ruined by Abhay.

"No, Anji. I have not seen him" Arnav's voice became hard on its own.

"And Khushi?" Anjali asked again.

"I dont know about her either" He said and left.

Anjali's stared after her brother. What was wrong with everyone? Why is everyone leaving the party? Her mood soured. She tried to call Abhay again but again the call was not answered.

**~~~**

Khushi was desperately calling Abhay but Abhay wasn't picking her call. She was standing alone in the Raizada Lawn trying to reach Abhay.

Finally after calling for 10 times, Abhay finally picked up the call.

"What now?" Abhay asked harshly.

"You left me alone here. How am I supposed to come back home?" She said, pretending to be pissed off at him.

"You know how. Ask your prince charming to drop you" Abhay said.

"He offered. But I rejected" Khushi lied.

"That's your headache not mine" She could hear the fake anger in Abhay's voice now. Obviously he was concerned.

"Abhay, please. Please pick me up. I dont wan't to stand here whole night and there's no chance in hell that I will take his help" Khushi pushed him a little more.

"You're a pain in the ass, Khushi. Stand there! I am coming" Abhay replied.

"Thank you" She said with a smile but Abhay had already disconnected.

She sat on the nearby bench in the lawn. The place was glimmering with lights and there was loud music. Just then Arnav appeared. He looked at her and before he could open his mouth, she spoke

"Abhay is coming to pick me up so thank you for the offer, but no thank you."

He looked at her for five minutes and then walked past her.

Khushi wasn't surprised. Just like always, he has to escape the situation after making her life difficult. Why would he now act differently?

Few minutes passed by and she heard Abhay's car stop before the gates of the Raizada Mansion.

She took a sigh of relief as she walked towards the gates. Even though he was angry with her he was still her friend.

She reached the car and opening the door, got into the passenger's seat. Abhay didn't wait or say anything. He started the car as soon as she got in and drove in silence.

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Pearl_Oyster2018-08-20 09:44:54