Chapter 1

Pearl_Oyster

@Pearl_Oyster

Chapter 1

He was standing in the shadows. It was already sunset, but still some faint sun rays were spread across the sky. His heart was full of pain. Nobody could believe that he was the same mighty ASR who once claimed to rule his destiny. But today he was feeling that his fate had betrayed him. He couldn't get her picture out of his mind and heart. She was ruling his senses.

"Khushi Kumari Gupta!"

He screamed her name as loudly as he could. A few birds flew away from nearby trees as he kept shouting her name. He needed the comforting lap of his sister.

Few months ago, Anjali was the only important person in his life. But in the last eight months, one more girl had made her way into his heart. She was the same girl whose name he was shouting. At last, he couldn't shout anymore. He fell on his knees and remained like that for minutes.

This was a rare sight. No one had ever seen him this vulnerable except his sister. But today, he couldn't control the pain he was going through. The whole garden around him was full of dark red roses. And he felt that all the thorns of those roses had been pierced into his heart.

Now it was dark all around. He got up and went to his lavish car. He sat in and tied his seat belt.

He drove crazily and stopped the car at a flower shop.

"I want a big bunch of yellow roses. And make sure all of them should be fresh."

The shop owner was a bit taken aback with the anger in his voice. He prepared a full size bouquet of yellow roses and handed it to him. Arnav threw a thousand rupees at him and said gruffly.

"Keep the change" The shopkeeper couldn't help smiling. He wished a few more customers like him.

Arnav threw the bouquet at the back seat and directly drove to the Raizada mansion.

"Chote is back from office. Where were you, Chote? I called you a hundred times, but you didn't receive my call!" Anjali complained.

Arnav wanted to hug her hard and sleep in her comforting lap.

"Di, I was busy, and my phone was in silent mode" was all he said.

Anjali pulled his cheeks and asked in a naughty way.

"Were you busy in office work or with her?" Anjali said when she noticed the bouquet in his hands.

"I knew you were hiding something from me. So, this was it, haan? Who is she? Did she gift you this?" Anjali's tone was playful, and she tried to snatch the bouquet from Arnav, but he didn't let her.

"It's nothing like that, Di. And I am tired like hell, so please stop it! Also, will you please send some black coffee into my room?" Arnav said and then walked away.

Arnav reached the door and after staring at it for a few seconds, he knocked.

He was not in the habit of knocking at anyone's door, but today he felt that Akash too needs some privacy.

"Come in. It's open!" Came Akash's reply.

Arnav stepped inside the room, the bouquet weighing like a heavy rock in his hands.

"Bhai, it's you! Since when did you start knocking? You know that I love you the way you are" Akash's tone was jovial.

Arnav said nothing and handed him the bouquet.

Seeing the bouquet, Akash's smile broadened, and he surged forward to give Arnav a side-hug.

"Thanks a lot, Bhai, for bringing it. I am already so late. It was a nice idea to call you and ask you to bring it on your way back to home."

Arnav slowly nodded his head.

"You don't need to thank me Akash for these petty things. It's quite alright," He replied and turned to leave but Akash stopped him.

"Bhai, what do you think? Is this shirt okay? I mean, am I looking okay? Er.. I mean is this shirt looking okay on me?" Akash asked while grinning shyly.

Arnav gave an appraising look to Akash, albeit with the least bit of interest.

"Yes, it does. You are looking smart, Akash. Now stop asking these high-school questions and get going. It's already 8 p.m. You should leave now. Kh..khu..Khushi must be waiting for you" He fumbled at her name, his fingers fisted and his face hard. Why was he acting so weak? He hated it.

"Yes Bhai, today is my big day! I should be there on time. My Khushi must be waiting for me" Akash said gleefully and after bidding farewell to Arnav, he rushed out with the rose bouquet in his hand.

Arnav, on the other hand, was still stuck on the words "my Khushi". How wrong did they sound from Akash's mouth! So wrong!

He wondered how these two didn't realise that they were so wrong for each other.

But Khushi and him?

For a second, Arnav wondered how it would sound if he used the same words for Khushi!

"My Khushi" he said it, softly.

He felt at peace, saying those words, but only for a second.

The words only made him realise it was just wishful thinking! A foolish dream!

If those two fools have already decided what they want, it was not his right to object to it.

Besides, what does he care? He is Arnav Singh Raizada. These things have always been trivial for him. A simple girl cannot affect him so deeply, if only he doesn't let her. How can he forget that he is the writer of his own destiny?

'But, if that's the case, how come you couldn't write her name in your destiny?' The mocking voice came from within him.

'That's because I don't want to! I don't need to. If she loves Akash, and Akash loves her...'

'What about you?' The voice asked, still laughing.

"Shut up" Arnav shouted at the empty room, and realizing that, he ran a hand through his hair.

This girl was driving him crazy.

Arnav still remembered how exactly two weeks ago, Akash had professed his love for Khushi before him.

Arnav had been shocked to hear that. He had wanted to ask Akash if he was crazy! There was no way Akash could or should love Khushi. He had wanted to tell Akash that he had right to love Khushi. Only he has the right on Khushi...to be around her, to annoy her, to secretly admire her...and maybe..maybe love her.

Akash was no one to step in between.

But much to Arnav's shock, the very same minute, Khushi had walked into the room, and from the expressions on her face, it was clear that she had heard Akash's proclamation.

The next five minutes had been the strangest, scariest nightmare for Arnav.

Khushi had walked up to Akash, smiled brightly, and then hugged him. Right in front of him!

"I love you too, Akash ji" She had replied coyly.

Arnav had felt the sound of something breaking. Was it a glass somewhere, or his hopes?

He never would have imagined that Khushi would do or say such a thing. But she had!

Finding it difficult to be around her for another second, he had quickly left the room.

And in these past two weeks, he had seen Khushi walk hand in hand with Akash. They often went to cinemas and dates.

Arnav, on the other hand, had made himself rare in the house. He needed time to adjust to the new development in the house. What pierced him most was Khushi's smiles and laughter around Akash.

But he hid his discomfort well.

It was not something new for him. He did not believe in romantic overtures and had never expressed any kind of strong affection towards Khushi.

What he preferred was to be around her, drive her insane with his smirks, and occasionally say something that would have her blushing for minutes.

He loved watching her, arguing with her. Wasn't that enough? How could she ignore all his attempts at holding her attention and being the centre of her attention?

Maybe she had failed to see all of that because her heart was preoccupied with someone else.

And how could he not see it? Had he imagined her affections for him? Had he been mistaken in reading that she too liked being around him, being the object of his ministrations?

Had she been in love with Akash all this while?

Arnav came out of the pool of his thoughts when he heard Anjali coughing behind him. He turned towards her and found her smiling mischievously.

"So, did you finally go on a date with her? Tell me, Chote! How was it? You know you can share with me" Anjali said, having seen him come back with a bouquet.

Arnav tried to leave without answering, but Anjali stopped him.

"Chote! Where are you going? You think you can evade my questions? Come on! Tell me! Hadn't you gone on a date with Khushiji?" Anjali's mention of Khushi's name had Arnav surprised. He blinked at his sister.

"What? You thought I wouldn't know? I saw how you look at her. I have seen the love in your eyes, Chote" This time, Anjali's voice was soft, but it still cut through Arnav.

If his Di could see it in his eyes, why couldn't Khushi?

And love? Was it really love that he felt for Khushi? Was it love which was making his heart ache?

"Chote! Why don't you speak up, haan? Do you want me to call up Khushiji and ask her about the lovely date?"

"No, Di. You won't call anyone! And what is up with you today? Stop prodding me!" Arnav replied, slightly angry.

"I will stop as soon as you tell me if you really went on a date with her! Did she give you those flowers?" Anjali continued.

"Yes" Arnav said, eager to get rid of Anjali at the moment.

"And you won't call Khushi, Di" He repeated.

"Khushi and I had a good time today. It was beautiful. She...looked.." Arnav realized that he was venturing too far with his lie. So, he caught himself.

"Are you satisfied now, Di? And don't speak to anyone about this" He said.

Having said that, Arnav dashed out of the room.

What was he doing? Why was he making this complicated?

Why did he lie to Anjali?

"It doesn't have to be a lie" His treacherous heart whispered.

But it is! And that's the truth.

Khushi loves Akash. Arnav reminded himself, and the reminder brought him nothing but more pain shooting from his heart.

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