Laal

4 years ago

-Grace-

@-Grace-

Laal 

This scene is a modification of the time when Khushi asks Arnav for her engagement ring. 

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Nothing remained the same after that momentous Diwali night. What was just another festival for many was a turning point in the lives of two individuals unbeknownst to their respective families. 

If it wasn't for their skillful charade it wouldn't take a sharp wit to figure out masked emotions. 

Arnav and Khushi were masters in concealing their feelings and when it came to dealing with each other it wasn’t free of competition. 

Another thing they shared in common was the love for their families and willingness to sacrifice in a heartbeat. Khushi could no longer delay her engagement, the last straw being pulled and Arnav couldnt deprive his family of the happiness his marriage brought, after being disappointed by one person that held all his hopes. 

The spirit of Diwali had worn off and everyone had moved on to the next event, understandably more exciting, the wedding of Nani’s beloved grandson. A day they had thought would never come. 

However, that night of red and gold was still fresh in the minds of Arnav and Khushi.

As Khushi walked in Arnav’s room, their eyes had silently conveyed occurrences of the night in question. It was a strange place to be in, neither would dare to speak of it again, nor it was something to forget. After all she had worn his favorite colour.

Khushi with great discomfort, asked him again, for the ring. Something she hadn't fully accepted as hers. Arnav narrowed his eyes, from soft to teasing within seconds. 

“Mafi mango” 

He said picking the ring from the table. 

“So-” 

“Nah..kaan pakad ke” 

He felt victorious knowing he was winning this game. 

She held her ear with her hand and spoke again. 

“Sorry” 

Her eyes started to pool, tears threatening to spill any second. 

“Sorry” 

She said again, this time looking down. Every bit of pride that she had earlier displayed shredded to pieces. She really  didn’t want to do this. The ring could be trashed for all she cared. 

“Sorry” she spoke again with a lump in her throat. 

The glint of victory in Arnav’s eyes was now replaced with guilt. 

He stood up before she held her other ear too. 

“Sorry” 

She spoke unmoved. 

“Sssh” 

He silenced her, not being able to take the sight of her crying. Without another word Arnav silently placed the ring on her palm. 

Not being able to take his proximity Khushi stepped back and furiously tried to slip the ring on her finger. The tears in her eyes continued to spill as Arnav watched her every movement closely. 

Arnav grabbed her hand and tried to help her with the ring when she startled him by snatching it away. 

“Aap humein yeh angoothi nahi pehna sakte”   

She looked at him with a heavy heart. 

“Yeh humari sagai ki angoothi hai” 

Arnav could feel the ground slipping beneath his feet. He no longer had the energy to carry that tiny ring that suddenly felt heavy. 

Forgotten about the ring and apologies Arnav’s intense gaze held questions that Khushi didn’t have answers to. She could not understand why it even mattered to him when he clearly conveyed she held no importance for him. 

“Kisi ko pata kyun nahi hai tumhari sagai ke baarey mein” 

Arnav’s eyes stung as the question escaped his lips. 

Khushi’s silence urged him to ask again. He grabbed her by the shoulders and asked in agitation. 

“Bolo! Kab hui tumhari sagai” 

Khushi yelped in pain as the tears rolled down her cheeks. 

“Diwali ki raat ko” 

The hurt in her tone wasn’t missed by Arnav. This decision was made after his abandonment. 

He released her shoulders as guilt rushed through his heart, seeing the marks on her arms he closed his eyes. Somehow he always managed to hurt her when his intentions were the opposite. 

“Kya kar rahi ho” 

It was more of a plea, his begging to save the remnants of what could have been. 

“Aap kya kar rahe hain”

Khushi made no attempts at hiding the hurt in her tone.  Arnav turned around and shut his eyes. His tense back facing a vulnerable Khushi was of no help. 

For a mere second Khushi had some hope, that maybe he would open his heart in an attempt to mend both of theirs. She would break her engagement and give her heart to him, again. 

But she knew too well, this was a lost cause. The tale of love with happy endings was too good to be true. Particularly the one where he gave her his heart, for there were too many differences between them. Wasn’t him the one who constantly reminded her of that. 

When Arnav had gathered enough courage to speak and calmed himself he turned around only to see she was gone. 

He had failed her again. 

With a heavy heart Arnav walked out of his room. The air around him felt thick and the eerie silence was pricking every corner of his heart. 

“Yeh aap pe ziyada achi lage gi” 

His ears perked up at her voice. He walked further down the stairs to see Khushi and Lavanya in the hallway. She had been trying to give Lavanya the same red sari, however Lavanya was adamant. 

“Chamkeeli tum isme bohat sundar lag rahi thi..mujhe kyun de rahi ho” 

Arnav could not imagine anyone else in that attire. She owned his favorite colour that night and he wouldn’t want it any other way. Maybe in an alternate universe that night would have ended happily ever after, definitely not in their engagements to separate people. 

“Haan lekin yeh aap pe ziyada achi lage gi” 

Khushi made sure to look Arnav in the eye, who was now standing behind Lavanya. 

“Aur ab humne laal pehen na chod diya hai” 

Arnav felt stabbed in the heart. He knew full well where her words were coming from. Her rejection of his favorite colour felt like a betrayal, when it had never suited anyone better. 

“Aur humain acha lage ga agar aap pehanengi to” 

Khushi flashed a smile at Lavanya, one that didn’t reach her eyes. Lavanya hugged her and tears of mixed emotions rolled down Khushi’s cheeks. Lavanya’s eyes moistened at the thought of not spending every coming day with her best friend. Khushi had not only given the sari to her but everything associated with it as well. And now there was no reason to come back. 

As the two girls bid farewell, Arnav’s fists tightened and jaws clenched. He didn’t realize when his own eyes started to well.

How could she so easily give everything away to Lavanya like that? All that belonged to her. 

Lavanya turned around, surprised to see the back of the man she was in love with. 

With the retreating back of her friend and the tensed back of the man in question, she knew she had become nothing but a wall. A tear rolled down her cheek as she held the red fabric in her hands. Without having a word with Arnav, Lavanya walked away leaving the sari on the couch. 

She did not want to be the one stealing colour from the two most important people in her life.