Chapter 38

Pearl_Oyster

@Pearl_Oyster

Part 38

Walking aimlessly on now deserted roads of Delhi, he thought about his day which was now dissolving into night.

"No. It's not because my sister is at stake. It's because betraying Khushi would be like betraying myself. Breaking her heart would be like letting a spear drive through my heart. She is all I want. I can't imagine my life without her. I love her so much" Words of his meeting with that one man still reverberating deep within him.

This man was Abhay and the words were of Arnav, which had been imprinted on his mind. Indeed he had assured Arnav that he would help her with Khushi because at that moment he could have done nothing but that. He had seen the desperation in Arnav's eyes which spoke volumes of ignited passion within him. And seeing that besotted look on his face, on Arnav Singh Raizada's face had thawed away something in Abhay. And now when Abhay thought about it, he realised that it was the feeling of abhorrence which he had been nursing against Arnav in his heart ever since he had learnt of Khushi's painful past.

So what was he supposed do now? Go home and tell Khushi to start loving Arnav once again? That was certainly not to be done.

"Hmm" Taking a deep breath Abhay resigned to himself. He knew that he was never good at planning so there was no use of laying an outline of Arnav-Khushi matchmaking plan.

"I'll do it my way. Letting the things go in their natural order and trying to be a catalyst, if possible" He decided. But before all of it, he needed to have a glimpse in Khushi's heart, to know what her outlook to this whole situation was, without letting her know of his own intentions.

"Go on Abhay. You have to let the happiness find your friend" He mentally cheered himself.

~~***~~

Khushi Kumari Gupta had once again indulged herself with Barun Sobti and had very religiously dedicated her ears to the television, where the latest official poster of Barun's upcoming movie 'Main aur Mr. Right' was in buzz. She was busy listening the show anchor when much to her irritation the doorbell rang.

"Damn..! Firstly no Barun in the poster and now this ever ringing doorbell" She muttered and dejectedly raised herself from the couch walking towards the door.

"Hey" Came an exaggerated cheerful voice of Abhay as Khushi opened the door, making a slight frown appear on her face.

"What? Why are you scowling? If you aren't pleased with my home-coming I can go back and come anytime later, disregarding the fact that I own this place" Abhay said in a jocular manner and earned a quick smack on his arm.

"Ouch. That hurts, Miss Gupta" He said, rubbing his arm and enjoying the little amused smile on Khushi's face which broadened in no seconds.

"Come in, Nautanki" She laughed, giving him way to enter in.

"Nautanki? This is what you call a friend who has just escaped a gut wrenching encounter with his girlfriend's scary brother?" Abhay chuckled, allowing himself to fall in the softness of the couch and changing the channel to Ten Sports.

That reminded Khushi of Abhay's meeting with Arnav which she had never forgotten. Since the time Arnav had called her and informed that he had a meeting with Abhay she was impatiently waiting for this lover boy to get home so that she can get all the news out of him.

"Okay, that was rude of me, I accept. Sorry" She started cleverly, knowing well that Abhay won't spill out the beans easily once he becomes aware of her eagerness to know the matter.

"Hmm. Sorry? Really? That was unexpected of you, and proves there is something precious you want out of me. Isn't it, Miss Khushi Gupta?" Abhay said, giving a smirk.

"So what it could be? Lemme guess. Is it about my and Arnav's meeting that you want to know? Well, I think so" Abhay said, feeling highly elated with his guessing work and witnessing the irritated look on Khushi's face which said I-am-caught'.

"Now tell me, Abhay, how would you like it? A saucepan on your head or a rolling-pin on your back? To make you spill out everything?" Khushi said flashing her teeth and giving a threatening look at the same time.

"Nothing Actually. Just a hot, steaming mug of coffee with a little cream in it" Abhay said and laughed at the sudden sullen face she made.

"Okay, sit here I'll make it for both of us" Abhay said and drifted towards the kitchen.

No sooner he left; Khushi grabbed the remote from the centre table and swapped the channel back to entertainment.

~~***~~

"Thanks a lot, Bhai" Arnav was picking out his sweatshirt from the wardrobe to change into when Anjali whirled in the room and hugged him from behind.

Hearing her voice overflowing with happiness Arnav couldn't help but smile as Anjali pulled back from the hug and he turned to face her.

"No thanking me, Anjie. Just be happy and keep smiling" Arnav's eyes moistened as he rested his one palm against her cheeks.

"I love you, Bhai" She burst into tears seeing the reflection of the unadulterated love of her brother in his eyes, hugging him again.

"And I love you too" Arnav whispered back while Anjali recalled how Abhay had called her and after a lot of teasing suspense had informed her that Arnav had no problem with their relationship and that he was equally happy for them as they two.

"Bhai, can I ask you one thing?" Anjali said, still hugging him, her head resting under his chin.

"Sure you can" Arnav replied, letting his heart enjoy the bliss of having a sibling like Anjali.

Hearing his affirmation, Anjali stepped out of the hug and looking straight into his eyes asked,

"Bhai, do you love Khushi?"

~~***~~

"Nice coffee, seems like you are enhancing your culinary skills" Khushi complemented, as the hot liquid soothed down her overworking fatigued brain.

"Culinary? It's just coffee." Abhay laughed.

"Whatever it is, let's not beat around the bush. Tell me" Khushi said with a sudden eagerness.

"About?" Abhay said, playing confused.

"Your and Arnav's meeting, you duff...I mean definitely" Khushi quickly corrected as she noticed the furrowing eyebrows of Abhay.

"Hmm. That went good. And surprisingly none of us had to use our rifles"

"Rifle? You had a Rifle there?" Khushi panicked.

"Shut up, Khushi, that's called metaphor, so as to enhance and make my statements impressive" Abhay explained with a stupid grin.

"To hell with your metaphors, Abhay, tell me everything right now, in plain words and in detail" Khushi warned.

"Okay" Abhay said, raising his both hands in air.

"I went there; Arnav was already waiting for me. Right then he dropped the first bomb on me...I mean he asked me to have a seat' followed by a "How are you doing, Abhay?" I was like is he really Arnav Singh Raizada or I am hallucinating? But of course it was him. And then without any warning he drove a sword through my heart by asking "Do you love Anjali?" And I proudly replied "Yes I love her" and then waited for him to deliver a punch to rearrange my face but he didn't. Instead he asked..."

"Hey..Enough" Khushi cut in.

"I asked you to give me details not to narrate how meek you were and how dominating Arnav was, coz I know you well. I know you'd have been really blunt giving him your hard to crack to attitude and Arnav would have been polite" Khushi replied.

"Now that's prejudice, Khushi, even though a correct one" Abhay replied and grinned.

"Well I already knew. Now just summarise it all. I don't want your I-was-so-sweet-and-tolerable' explanation" Khushi said.

"Okay. As you wish. To conclude, Arnav loves me and now I love him too" Abhay said and seeing the horrified expression on Khushi's face realised the implication of his words.

"Hey.. no..I mean now Arnav is okay with me and I too don't mind him around us" Abhay instantly explained while Khushi laughed out her lungs.

"Stop okay" Abhay said, embarrassed and irritated, simultaneously.

"Don't tell me you guys kissed each other" Khushi said, still laughing, tears welling up in her eyes with all the laughing business.

"Shut Up. That's gross, Khushi. He is the brother of my now-girlfriend cum future-wife" Abhay said, giving a bitter face.

"Ohkay" Khushi said, biting her palm to stop laughing.

"And Arnav told me that he loves you" Abhay said, and that instantly wiped away all the laugh from her face.

"What?" She asked, wanting to confirm.

"End of your laughing session?" Abhay smirked.

"What did you say, Abhay? Arnav said what?" Khushi hammered on, her heart threatening to fall out with the intensity it was beating.

"Oh that? I said that just to dilute your laugh. He didn't say anything about you" Abhay said, getting no better thing to cover up.

"You were kidding? Or did he really say it?"

"Come on, Khushi, you think he'll say those words? And even if he wants to, why will he say those words to me? It's you to whom he'll say that. And in the first place what makes you think he'll even say that?" Abhay digged in, cleverly monitoring the change of emotions on her face.

For a second, Khushi stood in complete silence and Abhay could she a range of pain inflicting emotions cross her face.

"How could you say something like that, Abhay? Joke about it? When you already know that I can't stand talking about love?" She said, tears collecting in her eyes.

"Khushi..I was just.." Abhay knew this was going on the right track but it shook him to see those tears in her eyes, because of him.

"I am sorry, Khushi. I shouldn't have..." He said.

"Yes, you shouldn't have" She cut in and rushed to her room.

Abhay stood there, smiling a half-smile.

"This is to help you, Khushi. You won't ever arrive to a conclusion regarding you and Arnav until you think about it. And now you are going to do the same" Abhay said to himself, satisfied that he had done his part._________________________________

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Pearl_Oyster2013-10-28 05:37:09