And Then She Found Me-Chapter 37 PG 58 13/11/17 - Page 28

"Hmmm may I ask what has you grinning like a fool?" He strode up to her as she picked flowers from a nearby rose bush.

"Kannan!" She beamed upon seeing her friend. He bought a feeling of comfort that she had never felt before. It felt like a warm cloud of security engulfed her when he was around. "You know anyone would think you were stalking me."

"And what if I was?" There was an allure in his voice that Anjali had not heard before. Though she was unable to understand what his eyes were trying to tell her she couldn't tear away from his gaze. He gently took the clippers from her hands and steped closer making Anjali trip back.

He grabbed her by the elbow stopping her from falling. 'Pull yourself together Anjali you are married! And he is Chote's age!' She told herself. She stood up straight composing herself before putting on her best smile and carefully stepping away, allowing Kannan to pick the flowers.

"Sad as it seems I would be glad to be getting some sort attention, even if it is in the form of stalker!" She said with an edge of sadness in her voice that contradicted the smile on her lips.

"Ah see I knew you were the attention seeking kind."He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Do you really think I seek attention?" She asked. The concern of his opinion clearly displayed on her face.

"Oh gosh Anju, no." He said shaking his head "Hmm you are little melodramatic, slightly insane with all the pooja paat I mean...seriously, calm down." He said quite frankly to which Anjali narrowed her eyes in protest. "Maybe you are a little naive, your obviously too good for your own good but an attention seeker, nah!" He saved waving his hand in dismissal of the suggestion. Anjali folded her arms.

"You've obviously noticed a lot about me." She smiled whilst raising her eyebrows in question and then instantly blushing at the thought.

"Yeh so? I've seen you checking me out too." Kannan said playfully nudging her with his elbow. The comfort between them came so naturally. Anjali couldn't figure out why Shyam didn't like him. It was impossible not to like him.

"Chup, besharam." She slapped his shoulder.

"Seriously, you're glowing though." Kannan stated getting back to the question.

"Thank you." Anjali looked away with a coy look in her eyes.

"That doesn't answer my question." Kannan pointed out, wanting desperately to know what was on her mind.

"Patience is a virtue my friend." She chimed as she bent down to stroke the yellow petals of a marigold.

"Don't bore me with that crap...Fine don't tell me. Where's your paati dev?" Kannan enquired whilst pretending to do aarti with his imaginary thaali. Anjali pushed him away with a mock pout but was not able to hide her amusement as a smile lit up her lips before fading away.

"On tour." She simply answered.

"Again?! ...Anju are you sure he isn't having an affair? I mean the man's away more than he is at home?" He watched her intently, trying to see if he could see anything that may give away the fact that the thought had already crossed her mind before. Anjali let out a sigh of frustration before pinching Kannan's arm hard.

"Ok ok I am sorry I am sorry geez woman! Ouch! Ok, now I know way why that cloud of doom is scared of you." He said hissing as he rubbed his arm to sooth the pain.

"You know that is my brother you are talking about." She warned him again.

"I am very well aware of who he is." Kannan said grudgingly before seeing the regret n Anjali's eyes. "I didn't mean it like that." He assured her. He didn't want to be the reason for herself inflicting pain.

"Thank you, for forgiving him. And for not making matters worse between the two of them." Anjali said.

"Are you kidding me? Khushi's stubbornness and Arnav's temper are big enough villains in their love story without me having to play a part. Nope they are doing just fine messing things up all by themselves." He handed back the clippers to see Anjali in a distant thought.

"I can understand why she loves having you around. You see everything so clearly."She thought out aloud.

"I see you." He said in almost whisper. He picked a small red rose to place behind her ear.

"And what do you see?" She felt goose bumps on her cheeks as his hand gently brushed against her soft skin in placing the flower.

"Not today." He smiled. She was sure she saw the motions of pain in his eyes before he bent down and picked up the basket of flowers.

"Why?"

"Patience is a virtue my lady." He said returning to his playful self. "Is Khushi still with that Ravan? She is going to be late for rehearsal and going to blame me."

"How do you do it.?" She called after him as he walked away.

"Do what?" He turned to reply.

"After everything that has happened how can you just get on with life, accept everything as it is all whilst having a smile on your face?" He was surprised at her question as he could have easily asked her the same. Life had not particularly been fair to her either, yet she managed to smile and touch other people's lives.

"I've done enough rona dona to last me a life time. One thing I've learnt is if you don't like the world you are living in then have the balls to do something about it or have enough self respect to not have to resort to self pitty."

***

She couldn't hold back the smile that played on her lips as she caressed the delicate pearls with her fingertips. She had never been soo scared of anyone as she had been of him the night they had first met. And even then behind much of her fear and his immense rage the raw pull they had on each other was undeniable.

"You like it." He confirmed casually making his way out of his room and out onto the poolside. He had watched her opening the box, the smile appear on her lips, the reminiscing in her eyes. She snapped the box shut, her annoyance returning at the sight of him.

"You ripped my duppatta." She accused. He smiled folding his arms and shaking his head slightly taking a couple of more steps towards her.

"I'll get you a new one."

"That's not that point. You should not have done it in the first place." He understood that she wasn't just referring to the duppatta. But he didn't want to argue on the heavy topic again.

"You shouldn't have been so rude." He pointed out ungrudgingly.

"It was your fault!"

"How was it my fault? I was just trying to help." He said innocently.

"You were-I-you-me-." She remembered the wanting looking in eyes and stammered at the memory.

"What about you and me?" He smirked.

"I have to go rehearse for tonight's performance." She lifted her chin once again and turned to leave.

"You are performing?" He asked not surprised but not wanting her to leave.

"You would know if you had called-." She retorted but he cut her off.

"You told me you wanted space! Daily phone calls were not a part of the deal when you broke up with me." His annoyance war clear to see with his pursed lips. Though he was more annoyed with himself than her. All he had wanted to do over the past three days was to call and all along she had wanted the same too.

"Broke up? I said I wanted a break not a break up!" She shouted, astonished that he had misunderstood her.

"What's the damn difference?"He asked frustrated taking a step towards her.

"Break just means some time to myself without you all up in my air and break up means you are single and ready to mingle you idiot!" She was so close to him that she could feel his hot breath wash across her cheek. It wasn't over, not yet. She still wanted him. It was only a matter a time before he won her over. After all, Arnav Singh Raizada never loses.

"You never told me that." His voice still stern.

"So what? I say break up and you just take it! You are suppose to fight for me, you are suppose to fight for us!"

"Well you obviously need to get me a copy of this women's dictionary you are referring from." His voice had returned to its normal low octave causing the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. He saw how the annoyance dissolve in her eyes, how they kept on flittering back and forth from his lips and then back up to his eyes. "Khushi, you don't you don't want to break up, fine. You want space it's yours but what's it going to take, for you to forgive me?"

She heard the pleading in his voice, the anguish in his eyes and it struck at her heart like a nail in a coffin.

"Mike?...Oh shit...My bad." Kannan had only taken one step out into the poolside before seeing the intimate moment between the couple and turned on his heel to leave.

"It's ok Kannan you can stay here and hang with your new best friend, I have other things to do." She aid said not moving away from as she spoke.

"Ooo K." Kannan answered a little wide eyed and unsure. She glanced back at Arnav one last time before making her way to his room. Pushing past Kannan as though he was a stranger leaving him confused.

"I am glad you're smiling." Kannan said to Arnav. How could he not? He felt life breath through him again with the ray of hope he had seen in Khushi's eyes.

"Leave." Arnav said in an unthreatening tone. He wanted to be alone with this thoughts. He had to think this through. He couldn't afford to mess this up.

"I tried talking to her, but she is still mad as hell at you. I think you should-."

"Woah woah woah woah, are you trying to have a heart to heart with me about my relationship?" Arnav asked incredulously as he undid his tie and threw on to the couch.

"It wouldn't be the first time." Kannan pointed out,

"Just go will you." He said exhausted and finally feeling the much needed sleep in his eyes.

"Ahh I see you're more of a jaapi kind of guy." Kannan walked up to Arnav wrapping his arms around him in a manly hug patting his back. "Better?"

"There is something seriously wrong with you." Arnav pushed him away without much force.

"Look who's talking." Kannan sniggered.

"You need help, like a psychiatrist not a psychologist, you need someone who can actually prescribe you some medication." Arnav said with a look of mock concern on his face.

"We need to talk."

"I am tiered." Arnav slipped out of his shoes and sat down on the bed, leaning against the head rest. He put his am over his eyes hoping Kannan would leave him alone before he had to throw him out.

"It's about Shyam." Arnav snapped awake from the sleep that had almost taken him. That one name rid him of any peace that he had felt as his panicked thoughts created havoc in his mind.

"Kannan, about Shyam...We should...you need to drop it." He said with finality as he sat up straight.

"What are you out of your mind!?" A flummoxed Kannan asked.

"No."

"Why? What's bought the change of heart? Is it cause for once your sister seems genuinely happy? How long is that going to last? A day maybe two? Look Arnav if you are going to get cold feet about this then I will just deal with this myself." Kannan said. His tone full of determination.

"I told you to drop it!" Arnav got up, taking strides towards Kannan as he felt his blood began to boil.

"And you should remember that I made you apart of this. It goes down whether you like it or not." Kannan answered back in a low and deadly tone. Arnav's fist and jaw clenched instinctively at the sight and sound of someone challenging him. But then he remembered that Kannan was not one to back down either. He paused for a moment and thought. Not his usual way of handling things but being with Khushi had taught him one thing. To think before he speaks. As much as he hated to admit it he needed Kannan on his side for two reasons. The first being dealing with Shyam and the second to keep Khushi happy.

"I am not saying that Shyam does not need to be dealt with. It's just the way we are dealing with him needs to be changed. We will talk."

"Fine. We will talk. Tewaari is keeping an eye on him for now. Arnav, don't let me down, am counting on your evil genius side."

***

Though Anjali tried her best to convince her brother to wear something other than a suit, all attempts were in vain.

"Di, what's going to turn that frown upside down?" Arnav asked whilst driving down to the farmhouse that Lavanya had hired in the south of Delhi.

"If you couldn't wear a sherwani for me why should I smile for you?" She asked with her arms folded looking out of her passenger side window.

"Di you know I will only wear what I am comfortable in." Arnav reminded her.

"And what about your wedding day?"

"What about it?"

"Are you going to insist on wearing one of these stuffy suits then as well?" She said pulling on his sleeve.

"Di, don't start."

"Don't worry I don't intend to. I am not going to spoil my mood today by arguing with you." He could swear that she was going to stick her tongue out at him but instead she flashed a big toothy grin at him. Her hands rubbing her barely there belly. Arnav felt the air being punched out of him, watching his sister glow with joy and knowing how short lived it was.

"You look much better today. Was it the much needed nap or Khushi visit earlier? Is everything ok with you two now?"

"I am working on it."

"It won't last forever. This heartbreak and when it's over I want you to make sure you guys make the most of your time being engaged. Take her out more often, spend as much time together as possible, get to know all her likes and dislikes, get on a train to somewhere and just get lost in each other's world trust me, it's the memories that you make during this period that will help you during the harder times of your marriage." Anjali said looking out into the darkening sky reminiscing about the time when she was engaged to Shyam. How he doted on her and made her feel like she was his entire world. The memories warmed her heart that was beginning to grow cold as the years passed on by. 'It will all be ok.' She told herself. 'Once he knows, he will be my Shyam again.' She thought back to the words Kannan had said to her earlier. She wasn't happy with the world that she was living in and she was most definitely not going to resort to self pity.

***

"Chamkeeli, you're up for it right?" Lavanya asked looking up at Khushi's reflection who was placing the final flower in her friends hair. But all Khushi could hear was the echoing of Arnav's pain in his voice. She sighed and slummed down next to Lavanya on the dressing table stool. She was done at being mad at him. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight him for long and she didn't want to.

"ASR?" Was all Lavanya had to say to snap Khushi out of her daze.

"Hmmm?"

"You have got it bad girl. Here I am blabbing away calling your name and I get nothing. Call you by his name and I have your undivided attention." Lavanya stated with a light smile on her lips whilst putting her bangles on.

"Tonight isn't about me and Arnav." Khushi said waving away the heavy thoughts. She turned to face Lavanya taking her hand into her own as whole hearted smile graced her lips. "It's about you and Aaman. Lavanya, I am so happy for you, you finally have your prince." Khushi eyes began to tear with joy for a friend who was getting her much deserved happy ending. Khushi wrapped her arms around Lavanya in a warm hug.

"Thank you Chamkeeli." Lavanya replied overwhelmed with her own happiness. A knock on the door told them that it was time to attend to the guest and the function for the evening. "Don't let me down tonight Chamkeeli we have to win."

"Lavanya, have you not seen the moves that I bust?" Khushi said whilst doing the wave with her arms causing Lavanya to giggle. "We are going to win tonight." She said with determination.

"And then after that it's the after party." Lavanya sang.

"Wait what? After party?"

"Uff ho, that's what I have been telling you. Today's function small as it is and tomorrow morning Aaman's family have to leave early to do some pooja at a mandhir on the other side of the city so it's going to be an early night. And well, everything has happened so fast that we haven't had time to plan a hen night for me or a stag do for Aaman, we are not even having a reception. So I thought a couple of us close friends could hit the city tonight and have a little party a few drinks. And I won't take no for an answer." Lavanya got up making her way to the door.

"But Lavanya it's your haldi tomorrow morning." Khushi said hoping to remind her that they all have an early morning tomorrow.

"It's all been planned already, I have put us all down on the guest list and everyone is up for it, even ASR. So quit being a bore."

***

The beautiful gardens of the farmhouse were glowing with warm bright lights that adorned the picturesque white marquee and wrapped around the large trees. Guest had already begun to fill their seats at the large round dining tables placed under the twinkling lights of the old oaks. Soft music was drifting in the air as the live band played a wordless melody to an empty floor, in anticipation of the beautiful couple.

"Wow, this is going to be soo much fun." Kannan said sarcastically at the silent table whilst taping his fingers on the table top. Arnav decided it was best to just ignore him. Anjali smiled knowing that Arnav was probably twiddling his thumbs under the table waiting for Khushi to make her appearance and put him out of his misery.

"Why don't you go find her?" Anjali said quietly, reading Arnav's thoughts.

"I should." He said getting up to see Anjali and Kannan both chuckle at him.

"Easy there tiger, she is one of the brides maids and she is probably busy holding back an already drunk aunty who is more than likely trying to tell bridezilla how her hair should be. And if the aunty sees you then she is just going to blast you and tell you to get out." Kannan said gesturing with his hand to tell him to sit back down.

"Like hell any one is going to tell me what I can and cannot do." He muttered before heading towards the house only to be stopped in his track.

Khushi felt his eyes on her without even having to look up at him. Knowing this she felt alive for the first time in days as the old goose bumps began to rise on her skin and her heart began to race. Blood rushed to her cheeks and she could swear she was blushing more than the bride herself. She pulled on the pallu of her dupatta trying to cover her stomach in failed attempts. She slowly raised the lids of her eyes to meet his loved filled ones and then she noticed his smile.

He felt his breath hitch at the sight of her. She looked nothing short of perfect. Her lengha was simple as he expected it to be, no frills no ruffles, just delicate small detail. Though he had always favoured the colour red on her, green and now bright pink were also becoming strong contenders.

He saw her cheeks flush with his favourite colour, causing him to suppress a small smile. He gazed on, mesmerised as she lifted her hand to place a wandering strand of a loose curl behind her ear when his gaze fell upon her wrist. She was wearing the bracelet. He watched the pearls dance on her small wrist as she bought her hand back down. It was one thing accepting the gift. It was her accepting who he was. But he hadn't expected her to wear it. Not so soon. But he was glad for it. He smiled his crooked smile watching the meaning of his life walk towards him as she slowly raised her eyes to meet his.

Guest began to greet Lavanya as her and her brides maids began to make their way to the head table where her family and Aaman's family were waiting for them. Arnav turned and joined the procession walking alongside Khushi , never taking his eyes off of her. He gently brushed his fingers against the back of hers causing her to look up at him.

"Hi." He smiled making Khushi's knee tremble. She smiled back at him not being able to fight her feelings for him any longer.

"Everyone's looking." She said, nudging him away with her elbow and quickening her pace to catch up with the others girls. She could hear him chuckle as he followed her at his own pace.

The evening began with the elder women from both sides of the family singing traditional folk songs blessing the soon to be wed couple. Soon after it wasn't long before the DJ and live band took turns to spin tunes which had every one tapping their feet. Kannan had somehow managed to drag a shy Anjali to the dance floor, who was now happily swaying to the music. Arnav eyes remained on Khushi who was more than happy to show off her bhangra steps to Aaman's Punjabi cousins, her laughter ringing along with the sound of the music.