While Arnav was confused over what he wanted and needed, Khushi did not understand what was happening to her. There were lots of questions in her brain and unfortunately, no answers. There was one question which bothered her more. Why did Arnav's image flash in front of her when Shyam asked her if there was someone in her life?
She closed her eyes as she couldn't handle the head ache. Just thinking of Shyam made her head ache. She had no choice but to think about him. There was an odd feeling whenever she met Shyam. True, he was kind to her and at the same time pestered her by asking her to marry him. Was it enough reason to be frightened when he hugged her? No, there was more. A warning bell went off inside her head when he was near her. Even though the warning bell was faint, it was there.
Then there was Arnav. He was rude to her all the time. Well, no. Most of the times. He would be gentle and then reveal his anger. Whenever he spoke with her, a sort of warmth would spread over her and she would feel protected, as if she was in safe hands. Then why…
"Questions. Questions. Questions. Who found the word 'questions'?" she muttered.
She stopped thinking and drifted off to sleep.
"Khushi, wake up," a voice called her.
She opened her eyes a little and saw Siddharth.
"Siddhu? Your meeting is over?"
"It is half past ten," he said with a concerned look.
"What?"
"Dinner is untouched. So, I thought I should wake you up and make you eat."
She was fully awake.
"Shall we eat?"
She nodded.
They ate in silence. Siddharth noticed that she didn't say anything during dinner time. It was a first. He also saw that she was physically present in front of him but mentally, she was elsewhere. Even though he wanted to ask her the reason behind her different behaviour, he have her some space to talk about whatever it was when she wanted to.
They retired in the living room and watched Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. They sat on the big couch with their legs on the glass table in front of them. Khushi leaned on Siddharth and entwined her fingers with his. They were watching the scene where Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol dance at night when it is raining in the summer camp. Their suppressed feelings would have tired to come out and it was then that Khushi decided to open up.
"Pyaar kya hota hai, Siddhu?" [What is love, Siddhu?]
Is this what it was all about? Siddharth looked at her for a few seconds and said, "Every one has their own definitions and meanings for love. Me, I remember only one. When I told Anjali about the girl I love, she told me one thing which has stayed with me."
"What did she say?"
"Jab pyaar hotha hai na, tab unke door jaane ke khayal se saanse ruk jaati hai."
"Was it like that for you?"
"Worse than that," he replied. "Love is sharing, caring and sacrificing. If the person you love is upset, you would do anything to bring a smile on their lips. You would go to any extents to make them happy. For them, you would be prepared to even die. Without them, you are nobody."
She removed her fingers from his and hugged his arm tight.
"Khushi, kaun hai woh?" [Khushi, who is he?]
"Kaun?" [Who?]
"Jis ke baarein mein tum soch rahi ho." [The one you are thinking about right now.]
"Koi nahi."
"I know you better. Kaho. Kya hua?" [Tell me. What happened?]
"I met him in office. He is very good with me. He smiles a lot and makes me smile too. He told me that he loves me and wants to marry me. Par mein unke saath comfortable nahi hoon. [But I am not comfortable with him.] It is like I can't let my guard down when he is near me. I always have some sort of a warning signal in my brain when I am with him."
"Yeh pyaar nahi hai, Khushi. He is obsessed with you. This is not love at all."
"Patha hai. I wasn't thinking about him. The guy I was thinking about, I met him a few days back," she started slowly. "He always shouts at me. He hurts me a lot. One moment he is gentle and the next he turns angry and is very rude. Phir bhi, I think about him a lot. When I hear his voice, my heart rejoices. It starts beating faster. I can't understand the mixed signals I receive from him. He cares about me a lot and at the same time, he behaves as if he hates me. He is always there to catch me when I fall. He is concerned whether I have had my food or not. I feel safe with him. And then when the other guy I told you about asked me whether I have someone in my life, this one's face flashed in front of me."
"Do you trust him?"
"Which one?"
"You can kick the first guy out of our life. If you can't do it, tell me. I will be more than willing to do it. I am talking about the other one. Do you trust him?"
"I don't know whether I trust him or not. But I feel safe when he is around. It must mean that I subconsciously trust him."
"What a contradicting character?" Siddharth thought. "He shouts at my sweetheart and hurts her. Yet, he is there to catch her when she falls. I need to know more about him."
"Kaun hai woh?" he repeated his previous question. [Who is he?]
"Will tell you some other day."
"You won't tell me now?"
She shook her head.
"Okay. I will wait. It is almost twelve. Shall we sleep?"
Khushi did not move.
"Khushi."
She looked at him.
"Kya hua?" [What happened?]
"Agar meri zindagi mein koi aur hota to?" [What if there is someone else in my life?]
"Koi aur?" [Someone else?]
"What if there is someone waiting for me to return to my previous life? Mein yahaan kisi aur ke barein mein soch rahi hoon. Agar meri dil mein pyaar ka jagaa khali nahi to?" [I am thinking of someone. What if the place in my heart is already filled?]
"If someone loved you, he would have moved heaven and hell to find you. Tumari guzare hui kal ke liye aane wali kal ko sacrifice math karo. Uske baarein mein tum dil se soch. Dil ghalat rastha khabhi nahi dhikayegi. [Don't sacrifice your tomorrows for yesterday. Think about him with your heart. Hearts can never make mistakes.] As far as your fear is concerned, don't worry. Mein hoon tumare saath. [I am with you.] If you think you love him, don't make the same mistake I did. Tell it to him. Whatever the consequences, just open up to him before it is too late."
Before she was able to say something, her phone rang.
"No," she grumbled.
"Pehla wala ya dhoosra wala?" [First one or the second one?]
"Kaash dhoosra wala hota." [Wish it was the second person.]
"Put it on loudspeaker mode."
She did as she was told.
"Hello Khushiji."
"Aap itni raath mein?" [You are calling at this time?]
"Did I disturb you?"
"No. No. I was watching a movie."
"Due to some urgent work, I have to leave for a few days. Maine socha ki aap ko bhata doon. You will be fine, won't you?" [I thought I should tell you.]
"Mujhe kya hoga? [What will happen to me?] I will be fine. Anyway, thanks for telling me."
"I'll meet you as soon as I return."
"Okay."
"Khushiji, I lo…"
"The battery is dying. Mein rakthi hoon. We'll talk later."
"Poor guy, you didn't let him say those three words," he teased her.
"Poor guy or obsessive guy? Waise bhi I don't think I will be comfortable hearing those three words in front of my father."
"Woh toh hai." [That is right.]
She yawned and laid her head on his lap.
"Ab so jao. We'll talk tomorrow." [Now go to sleep.]
She slowly got up from the couch and dragged herself to her bed room. "Good night, Siddhu."
"Good night, sweetheart."
The next morning, Siddharth went to his office and Khushi went to hers to finish the second design. Arnav arrived an hour later. She apologized for her sudden disappearance the previous day. He just nodded.
"Shall we start?" he asked her.
"Sure."
Arnav told her what he wanted and she made the necessary changes. The changes were minor and it was over within an hour. Arnav was satisfied with it and he told her that she could take the rest of the day off.
Anjali called her and invited her for lunch. She didn't leave a choice for Khushi. She accepted.
Siddharth's work was over and he joined Khushi in her cabin. Arnav showed him the set designs and they discussed about the clothes and the models.
"Khushi, I have to go to Mumbai today."
"Aaj?" [Today?]
"Abhi." [Now.]
"Abhi?" [Now?]
"Flight is at eleven. Kuch kaam agaya." [There is some work.]
"When will you be back?"
"Tomorrow. You will be fine?"
"I'll manage. Anjaliji has invited me for lunch. Can I go?"
"Have you completed your work?"
"Almost done. I have to check whether all the things are ready for the sets and decoration."
"I have asked her to take a day off," Arnav told him. "So, she is free."
"If I know Anjali, she wouldn't have given you a chance to say no," Siddharth told her with a smile.
Arnav was surprised. "You know my sister?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you? We studied in the same college."
Arnav didn't know that.
"Khushi, I'll drop you in Arnav's house and then go to the airport."
Arnav excused himself and left the office. He was surprised with himself that he wasn't angry with the two anymore.
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