After that was done, Anita laid down the dinner for everyone, it being a silent affair, with everyone silently retreating back to their rooms. Khushi was about to go back to her room, when Anita called over to Khushi and asked her to come to her room. Perplexed Khushi followed inside, and sat on the bed next to Anita, who was studying Khushi very gravely but then continued with what she had to say.

"Khushi, I know you were the one with the most questions. I wanted to talk to you about your mother." Anita said, and Khushi nodded letting her continue.

"Dear, your mother and my husband they have been best friends from since they were toddlers and were learning to walk. Certain circumstance led to them drifting apart, but now, I see light coming back. I know Aparna and Arjun both miss eachother a lot, and they should too. Darling, you should know how much Arjun meant to Aparna, and Aparna meant to Arjun. I want to see them together, it has always been my wish to bring them back together, will you help me in doing so?" Anita asked Khushi, who was racking her brain to process the over doze of information she had been subjecting to. Keeping her hand on Anita's hand she bobbed her head up and down, receiving a smile from Anita.

"Aunty, what about you and Mr.Gupta? Weren't you two best friends too?" Khushi said, half closing her eyes, making a feeble attempt to question, getting a very hostile, shocking kind of response from Anita.

"I have no relationship with your father. Who told you we were best friends?"

"I heard you two talking at the hospital." Khushi said in an embarrassed away, looking up at Anita who was stopping herself from breaking into tears as a rush of memories made their way into her mind.

"We were best friends, and I wish we still were. But he ditched your mother, he back bited against my husband, I have no reason to be friends with him again..though..(her voice cracking) I miss him." Anita said in a sorrowful voice, and Khushi looked down on her hand squeezing it tightly.

"He never deserved you, just like he never deserved my mother." Khushi said quietly, her voice on the edge of breaking her self, a venomous effect in it talking about her father, the most despised man on Earth for her. She couldn't help but hate him, he had spoilt so many lives she did not know if there was any reason to love him, or maybe she didn't need a reason, maybe blood talked.

"You hate him don't you?" Anita asked drying away her tears and looking at the stoned expression on Khushi's face.

"I wish I didn't, but I do." Khushi said in a low dangerous voice, and got up from the bed, rubbing her eyes to let Anita know she was sleepy and walked out of the room, after kissing Anita good bye, but little did Anita know that Khushi was anything but sleepy, even if she was sleepy some while ago, right now all her sleep had flown away.

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Arnav rubbed his eyes away throwing the blanket off him and looked at the wall clock above. 2:00. He slapped his right hand on the side table for the jug of water and upon opening up his night lamp he found out that there was apparently no water in it at all. Grumbling to himself, he kept the blanket away, and jumped out of bed, walking out of the room towards the kitchen and grabbed a cool water bottle from the refrigerator, depositing it inside once he was done soothing the fire in his throat.

Mar Jayeinn

Lamhe..velle lamhe, Velle pal yeh Idhar udhar tehal rahe

(These moments, singular moments, with me strolling here and there)

Strolling out of the kitchen, instead of going back to his room his eyes stood fixed on the closed door of Khushi's room, an inner desire in him urging to check her out. Fighting the want in him, he made a step towards his own room, however having lost most of the control over his own inner needs, he walked towards her room, and fidgeting a bit slightly turned the handle of the lock, peeping in to see if she was alright, however a sight of utter horror met his eyes.

The bed was empty. In fact the room was empty. He looked at the switch of the washroom. It was closed, that meant lights out. She wasn't in the room, as he thought of it, panic struck him, where was she? Closing the door silently, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, as he double checked everyone else's room for any signs of her, but it seemed except for him and maybe her, everybody else was deep in sleep.

Sehmein, Sehmein Dil Bhi, Keh rahein hai, Bina tere

(Pain stricken, Pain stricken hearts are, Are saying, Without you)

Feeling troubled, he made an attempt to unlock the front door, however seeing it already unlocked, fear in him raised, and he opened the door, closing it behind him standing on the first step of their front door, his eyes wandering for any signs of her, that is when his sight set upon her familiar figure back towards him hair open swaying away aimlessly, as her head was positioned on an angle looking up at the stars.

Mar jayian Tere bin mar jayian

Mar jayian Tere bin mar jayian re..

( I will die, without you)

Quickly, making as little noise as possible he walked towards her lifting his sight upwards to see the stars and then back at her feeling extremely annoyed at her for sitting here without telling anyone.

"What are you doing here Gupta?" He asked in a curt voice, causing her to be out of her reverie as she looked at him portraying shock for the few starting seconds but then her expression changed to one of irritation.

"None of your business" she replied back halfheartedly, and continued to look above when he forcefully took his seat on the bench next to her his eyes boring into her.

"It is my business danmiit! You are in my house, and I feel it's my responsibility to know what everybody is doing!" Arnav stormed at her, and she inched back a bit disheveled but then continued to stare at him icily.

"Okay fine. I am sitting on a bench, looking up at the moon and stars along with all other celestial bodies that are up there. *pause* Need more explanation or is this fine?" Khushi replied in an expressionless tone, making Arnav almost furious at her.

"I meant why are you here at 2:00 in the night? You should be sleeping" Arnav told back, trying to suppress the anger inside him which was getting hold of him at rapid pace.

"Who are you tell me what am I supposed to do? Besides, what if I ask you the same question? Why here at 2:00 at night? Shouldn't you be sleeping too?" (seeing him making an attempt to answer) Okay, Okay, don't give me that house crap again. I know very well that this your house, and I'll be leaving it tomorrow, happy?" Khushi lashed back at him angrily, the color from Arnav's face draining off as he heard of the news of her departure. Days had flown.

"You are being rude for no reason at all." He said in a much calmer voice than before, but he had aggravated the tigress in her who was refusing to calm down.

"Says you? (arching her eyes brows at him) Why do you care anyway, it's not like I matter to you" she said in a monotonous tone, looking away from him and back at the stars as he busily tried to process an answer that showed less anger.

Dil mein ' koi rug yoon Dhadakti hai ' Ki jaise bijli si daude

(In my heart.. a nerve runs.. like electricity is flowing)

"I do care! The sooner you get that the better it will be." He said in a dangerously low tone, making her crane her neck towards him studying his expressions.

"Why?"

"Becausee'(his anger trailing off) Because..you are my friend." He said slowly, actually making an effort to seep in the truth in his mind openly accepting her as something to him, though he knew she was a lot more than just a friend.

She was too shocked to say anything at all for a few seconds, studying him carefully, until she subsided the awkwardness and tried to act unflinchingly calm.

"Great to know. Honestly after what happened earlier I thought'..(her voice trailing off) Never mind." She said trying to cover up the oddness in the situation, looking down at her knees, him silent too, lost in his own thoughts, his eyes drifting over and over again to see her face sparkling in the white moon light.

"So you aren't sleepy?" He said finally, getting over the silence that had prevailed between them as she looked up at him with a questioning look.

"What do you reckon?" she said in a mild tone, not knowing much about how to keep up with the situation right now. He kept silent, another session of silence taking over but something in him kept tugging him to ask him that one thing that was bugging him like anything from the moment she had said she was going home.

"You really wanna go back home?" he asked suddenly, his eyes low, that hint of disappointment very evident in his voice. She was a bit amazed at his question for a few seconds, but let go off it quickly and answered him.

"Erm..yeah..I do. I wish I could stay longer.. I love it here..but well some people don't approve of me..and I just don't want to be a thorn to anybody" she said in an off handed way, making him guilty of his recent attitude towards her as he came to his own personal defense.

Saansein..teri saansein Jagaati hai bina tere

(My beat..your beat..is awake without you)

"I don't have a problem" he said immediately, clearing his side, and her eyes widened with surprise for a minute but went back down, her lips forming a sad smile on her face.

"I wish you didn't Raizada, but in fact you do. *pause* Has anybody ever told you how easy it is to look though you?" she asked him in a conversational tone, as he narrowed his eyes at her and looked at her with a weird expression.

"No. Why would anybody say anything like that?"

"I don't know. I can see your conflicting emotions all the time. If I can anybody can" she said tapping her fingers on her lap, her sight lingering over the green grass whose dew shined brightly in the moon light that was falling on it.

"You are wrong. Nobody can. (in a low voice) You are just different" he said stoutly, straightening his back so it was now resting on the back of the bench, making him appear a lot more well built then he actually was.

"I am different? *pause* Can you read me?" she asked curiously, all her eyes and ears on him now, as he did not flinch giving the answer.

"I can." He told her truthfully, which in normal circumstances would appear like he was actually flirting, but right now he just wanted to be entirely honest with her before she went away back home tomorrow.

"Does that mean we both are different?"

"Maybe, I never pondered." He replied back in a conversational tone, the atmosphere around them falling silent again as they both got lost in their own thoughts once again. There were a number of thought rushing across Khushi's mind, the pain, the sorrow, him, his care, his company that she was very fond off, she didn't know if she had enough mind to sort out all the jumble or in fact let the puzzle fall into pieces. It was more of a big picture that had no connection what so ever to things that were happening to her right now.

Mar jayian Tere bin mar jayian

Mar jayian Tere bin mar jayian re..

( I will die, without you)

"Raizada, can I share something with you?" she said in a soft voice, breaking the silence between them, as he stared at her questioningly.

"If you feel like it, Go ahead." He said, as she stopped speaking for some time, like processing the correct way to present her thoughts to him.

"When your mom..she told me about our parents..and their equation I couldn't help butt think about you. (Arnav is looking at her closely) You were the first person apart from Maa, who I cared to share my feelings with. In fact you are the only person who I felt like sharing it with. (her voice lower now) Ever since Mr.Gupta left us, life has been hard. From Oregon to Okhlama to Houston to Stanford, me and Maa have been the only supporters to each other. Maa never told me, about your dad, but I am sure she missed him, maybe that's why she didn't tell me, because I guess I am not as mature as I feel I am. (her voice fading away, breaking a bit) Maybe at heart I still crave to be five when I could hold Maa's hand, climb into Paa's arms and go to sleep. (tears flowing down her eyes) I miss all that so much. All these years I tried hard, I tried to hate him..I tried to hate my father..butt you know.. (choking now) ..inside I still lovee him..as much as I did earlier" She said her voice soft yet full of grief, as he expressed the horror and sorrow of feeling her pain on his face. He didn't really know about what his mother talked to her about, but even though he was intrigued to now right now was not the right time. Maybe later.Knowing not much to do, he kept his arm around her supporting-ly to let her know he was there, and for a brief moment she looked up in his eyes but then inched in closer to him and kept her head on his shoulder much to his mild surprise.

"Gupta I told you, you are different. Wondered why? Because unlike most girls you can shield yourself from everything. You don't need someone to hold your hand or pick you up in their arms, Trust me you are strong, strong enough to hold yourself." He said confidently, as she kept her hand on his thigh, tears falling down her eyes.

"I wish I was as strong as you think I am. It is difficult to be strong..I don't feell like admitting it..but Maa..she is nott strong..I try hard..to not break but somehow..I always do. I howl when I shoudnt..I cry when I try by best..not too..but I cantt help it" she said in a cracked up voice, as he tightened his hold around her and kept his free hand on her hand that was lying on his thigh.

"It's okay to cry sometimes. Crying helps in releasing pain." He said slowly, as she lifted her head off his shoulder and looked directly at him, their noses only centimeters apart from each other.

"Do you cry?" she asked curiously, wiping her tears off as he looked like a soldier attacked out of no where, and turned sober realizing how he felt like being entirely honest to her.

Girhon ko suljhaao Tere bin kya jeena

Bata mujhe..bata mujhe

Girhon ko suljhaao Tere bin kya jeena

Aa bhi jaa..aa bhi jaa Aa bhi jaa..aa bhi jaa

(Solve this puzzle, what is it living without you

Tell me, tell me

Solve this puzzle, what is it living without you

Come to me, Come to me)

"Sometimes to myself, when I find life miserable. But openly I never do it. It makes me feel weak, and I hate that." He said in an admitting tone, as she kept her head back on his shoulder, this time squeezing his hand in assurance.

"Telling me that you cry, doesn't make you feel weak?" she asked him in a soft, low voice, as he looked down his eyes at her hair falling all over her back some coming on her face marring her perfection.

"It doesn't. Weird though." Arnav replied back smoothly, with a slight edge in his voice, a hint of confusion that Khushi hadn't really missed.

Mar jayian Tere bin mar jayian

Mar jayian Tere bin mar jayian re..

( I will die, without you)

"Can I ask you something Arnav?" (he looks down in her eyes that are looking at him and blinks them) Do I make you uncomfortable?" she asked a certain kind of disappointment in her voice, and somehow a fear that his answer just might be in the affirmative.

"Sometimes. (Khushi's faces falls) But I like your company" he said trying to soothe her down, and smiled at her, a very rare smile that he did not gift anyone. She met his eyes and returned it with a smile of her own, moving them away to look back at the stars above in the same position. The clock ticked until Khushi felt herself being held by something weightless, however when she looked up Arnav was still awake, thought she did feel he was sleepy.

Lamhe..velle lamhe, Velle pal yeh Idhar udhar tehal rahe

(These moments, singular moments, with me strolling here and there)

"I am so sorry. Am I keeping you awake for no reason? I am sure you are sleepy now" she said lifting her head off his shoulder, and looking at him with a mixed affection of concern and embarrassment, as he gave a lop sided smile to her, returning his face back to serious mode.

"No I am not. Keep your head back, its making me a lot calmer."

"Sure? Because if you are feeling like dozing off then it's completely fine. I don't think I'll be able to sleep all night."

"Why not?"

"I don't know, I just want to sit here all night, try to recollect all my memories and then chuck them out of my brain forever, so that tomorrow, for me is a new beginning" she said in a soft voice, removing a strand of hair form her face that was pricking her nose. Arnav looked down at her and smiled inwardly to himself.

"Well then, the best way to di that is, close your eyes tight, and go to sleep. Right now. Right here." He said in a calm manner, as she briefly met his eyes, and contentedly nodded at him keeping her head back on his shoulder, closing her eyes shut she dozed off to sleep.

Sehmein, Sehmein Dil Bhi, Keh rahein hai, Bina tere

(Pain striken, Pain stricken hearts are, Are saying, Without you)

Mar jayian Tere bin mar jayian

Mar jayian Tere bin mar jayian re..

( I will die, without you)

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Regarding the Title

Historical Branches- I don't see any reason why this should be hard to connect to the chapter, but anyways, this chapter as you might have noticed was all about the past getting linked with the future. Be it Arnav remembering his eleven year old meet with Khushi, or be it him just remembering the events that had taken place between them before. Keeping in mind the conversation of Aakash-Anji it was purely based of flashbacks then on anything present, like there flashback of Khushi's first visit to Raizada house, or the gift opening session of Khushi telling Aakash to open her gift privately. Apart from the teenagers, even Anita was lost in her past remembering her moments with Aparna, and sharing them with Khushi later. The last blissful moment between Arnav-Khushi happened solely because of Khushi's torturous past, and Arnavs worry to find her gone. So since everyone tracks it way back to things that happened before hence I named this chapter 'Historical Branches'.

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Events In The Chapter

I know not all that eventful in terms of where setting is concerned. It rotated all around the Raizada household, and I know just too well that everybody missed Vovek a lot in this update. I missed my dear too, but well I couldn't find a way to drop him in, If I did you wouldn't get the Arnav-Khushi scene, which I found a lot more reasonable to add then a phone Khushi-Vivek conversation. Full doze of Aakash and Anji should cover up thought, they were on a roll here weren't they? :P

So now Khushi's knows about their past, and Anita wants Khushi's help to bring Aparna-Arjun together. Also you can see even though poles apart, and a life completely diverse Arnav and Khushi had reached a new comfort level with eachother, which if you ask me I consider as a very big achievement.

The good news, Chapter 18, and 19 will be on a double handed focue on Arnav and Khushi's prospering relationship with Chapter 20, as I told before being a TL Special Update where Khushi realizes that she loves Arnav. The update shall be based on a song, anybody who can guess the song, that update will be dedicated to them.;) (Hint: Movie released in 2012)

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Precap

"Hey gorgeous!" Someone from behind called out to her, as Khushi took a sharp turn making a narrowed expression and looking at the guy keenly with her eyes, after which a huge smile came to her face.

"Hey dork face!" she called, and noticing the horrid expressions she turned around, grinning cheeily to herself, while Arnav looked at her in amusement, walking right by her side, her hair pulled forward open, due to the lack of time back at home.

"You are good at this." He complimented her, and she turned her head to face his appreciative smile, giving him a broad goofy smile of her own.

"That's what you become staying with the Raizadas" she commented back and he looked at her with a queasy expressions demanding an explanation from her.

"You become arrogant and rude like Arnav Singh Raizada and become an expert at calling names like Anjali and Aakash Singh Raizada" she said with a broad grin, as they reached the girls washroom and she walked away from him, leaving him stupefied by her expression, turning around a bit after she was about to open the door, and winked at him before disappearing inside the washroom.

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P.S: See I updated before time.:P That's because like this FF started in between exams you can be prepared to get updates in between exams too.:P

Do like and comment, because I try to reply to most of the comments that I can, so if anybody misses on their reply just let me know. Need someone to filter my over grown buddy list, so all those liking this update to Chapter 20 will be the only ones in my Buddy list now. Havent replied to any comments this time, will be doing it after posting this update.

Love,

Batool😳

nav_bat2012-10-07 22:57:58