OS : Cocktail Party Series I hate to hurt you

Links to my other works

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FF : Shattered Dreams

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2038441/ff-shattered-dreams-link-2-thread-2-updated

RECAP

"Yes you are right. I loved Shyam, still love Shyam & will always love Shyam. You mean nothing to me. I just don't care whether you live or die just as you don't care if I am alive or dead"

Chapter 26

"Make Love to me Arnav" Kushi whispered.
"Make my fear go away. Make my pain go away."

PRECAP

"I killed my mom Arnav. Kill me Arnav & set me free"

OS : It's the way you make me feel

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2164559/os-its-the-way-you-make-me-feel

OS : A shoulder to lean on

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2308861/os-a-shoulder-to-lean-on

OS : At Peace

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2324649/os-at-peace

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OS : Cocktail Party Series ' I hate to hurt you

This is the 3rd in this series of OS leading up to the cocktail party.

Link to the 1st OS -> https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2574020/os-party-series-you-are-not-invited

Link to the 2nd OS -> https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2589804/os-cocktail-party-series-love-a-little

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Oh Shit what had he done. She was just trying her best to cheer him up & rather than appreciating her effort he had actually questioned her motives.

Arnav felt like a complete jerk. Maybe he was indeed a jerk by all measures. He always ended up hurting everyone who cared for him Nani, Di, Lavanya & Kushi. Sometimes he dint understand why he did this. Di was always accusing him of building walls around himself. Maybe he should listen to her advice & break down those walls.

His eyes fell on the bowl with the modak. He had a weird sensation that they were glaring accusingly at him. As if in a trance he went near, took a sweet in his hand & tentatively bit into it. It was unbelievably & incredibly awesome. The taste, the texture, the sweetness everything was just perfect. He couldn't believe it. In all these years even Di had never managed to capture the essence of his favourite sweet. The taste coursed through his senses. As his tongue relished & tasted the soft dumplings he had a sudden mad urge to relish & taste the maker of these delicacies. Him & his wicked thoughts he scoffed inwardly.

He went down in search of her. He had to simply see her even if he couldn't have a private word with her. She always seemed to read his eyes. Even if he could manage to catch her eye he was sure she would see the apology & regret in his eyes. Later on when he got her alone all to himself he would apologize properly. However the house seemed strangely silent & empty. It was for the first time that he realized how silent & somber his big house felt when she was not there to fill it up with her voice, laughter & cheer that she seemed to bring along with her. Even Di seemed to laugh more when she was around.

NK & Di were lounging in the living room chatting about the party. He was itching to ask them about Kushi but dint want to reveal that he was searching for her.

"Arrey Chote you decided to give us a darshan. Come & sit with us na"

"No Di I have work."

"Oh come on Nanav, don't work so hard. Relax once in a while."

"And do what? Fry jalebis?" He snapped.

"Not a bad idea." NK smirked on seeing the furious expression on Arnav's face.

"BTW NK where is your cooking partner?"

"I don't know Di. I saw her pick up her bag & leave. She dint even talk to me. She looked very sad & depressed which surprised me since when I left the kitchen she was all bubbly & cheerful."

Arnav closed his eyes. Shit he was really in deep trouble now. Should he take a chance & call her.

"Chote'"

Arnav opened his eyes to find Anjali staring at him nervously.

"Chote I am sorry for talking about mom & her sweet. I know that I hurt you by reminding you of all those painful things."

"It's ok Di. Rather than crying over the loss of a loved one I think it's better to just think of the person & cherish their love & memories because though mom might be dead, her love & memories inside me are not yet dead."

Anjali gaped at him with her mouth open.

"Chote are you ok."

"Of course Di. In fact I don't mind if you actually make a cartload of modaks for me".

Anjali smiled at him ruefully.

"But chote somehow I never seem to get it right. Not sure why the taste is not the same though I always follow mom's recipe religiously"

"Arrey Di that means you don't love NANAV enough".

"NK!!!!!"

"But come on Nanav its true. The taste of a dish increases manifold when the person who has prepared it pours in all her love, affection & emotions into the dish. That's why we always feel that mom's food & cooking is the best."

Anjali smiled

"You know what chote I actually agree with NK. I guess you always felt the sweet prepared by mom was extra tasty because you knew she loved you immensely & prepared all those sweets just for you to make you happy. It's not the ingredient but her love which made the sweet special for you."

Anjali & NK gaped as Arnav let out a low growl & stormed out.

The empty bowl back in his room mocked him. He was startled when his phone rang. He snatched it & was surprised to see that it was Lavanya.

"Hey ASR sorry to bug you so late in the evening. Actually I need a small favour from you".

"Yeah shoot."

"Since I left India in a hurry I couldn't buy proper farewell gifts for anyone. So I have bought some stuff for Nani, Mami, Mama, Aakash, Di, jeeju & you. I have sent it along with one of my friend who is currently visiting her cousins in India. I will mail you his address & phone #. Can you collect it from him."

Arnav closed his eyes. Why was everyone hell bent on making him feel miserable & hate himself today.

"Lavanya what was the need to'" He couldn't continue & his voice broke.

"It's ok ASR. Stop worrying about me. I have already told you to stop feeling sorry & guilty about what happened. I repeat it was never meant to be. By the way I have bought a gift for Chamkeli as well don't forget to give it to her."

Arnav swallowed hard & became silent.

"ASR are you ok. Come on cheer up. Anyway I have bought bangles for Kushi because the day of our engagement she was trying to convince me to stay & blurted out that she had actually sold her bangles to buy plants & sent it across to you as a gift from my behalf so that things would work out between us. That was too sweet of her & made me feel very guilty. I really miss her. She was the only true friend that i really had. ASR r you there?"

Arnav had dropped the phone out of shock.

"Lavanya I will talk to you later."

He disconnected the phone & flung it away. He never thought it was possible to hate someone so much. But currently he just HATED himself. He felt lousy.

"Di where is Bhai. I need to give this important file to him".

"I don't know Akash. I upset him today so most probably he would be at his favourite haunt."

Akash was not surprised to find Arnav near the poolside as predicted by Di.

"Bhai here is the file you wanted me to work on."

Arnav nodded silently & took the file. Akash was reluctant to leave. He realized that Arnav was really upset about something & he simply adored his brother though he never showed it openly because Arnav wouldn't like such exhibitions but today he just dint have the heart to leave him alone.

"Bhai are you ok? Is something wrong?"

Arnav was silent & this made Akash worry more. He had actually expected a curt F* off response from Arnav.

"Bhai?"

Arnav turned to look at Akash & he was shocked to see his misty eyes & pain written all over his face.

"Bhai sometimes it really helps to talk to someone. The person might not be able to help but at least the heart feels lighter."

Arnav heaved a sigh which seemed to come from the bottom of his soul. He nervously ran his fingers through his already tousled hair.

"Sometimes I wonder why I do what I do Akash. I know that I hurt the people around me & it hurts me because these are the people who care for me."

Akash stared at Arnav for some time.

"Bhai we know that you care & that's why'"

"We ignore your insults & rude behaviour" Arnav completed Akash's sentence.

"Bhai'."

"It's ok Akash I know what I am. I am a jerk who doesn't know how to care & love."

Akash pursed his lips. He had never seen Arnav like this & his heart went out to him. He felt a lump in his throat.

"Please bhai just tell me what happened."

"I hurt Kushi, Akash & this time I stooped too low even by my abysmal standards. I just want to talk to her & apologize but I am not sure if she would be ready to even see me leave alone hear me."

Arnav got up & patted him gently.

"Don't worry about me Akash. After all there are only few more days left for your wedding. Enjoy with your fianc & have fun."

Akash stood there long after Arnav had left. He made up his mind & picked up his phone.

Payal hurried to answer the phone & was pleasantly surprised to hear Akash's voice.

"Akashji aap?"

"Payal can you please do me a favour."

"Of course!"

"Can you please cook up some excuse & bring Kushi to RM tomorrow."

Payal was extremely confused by this request. Akash realized that he had to provide at least some footnotes to Payal.

"Actually Payal, bhai & kushi seemed to have fought again which I know is quite normal. But this time Bhai is really heartbroken & wants to talk to Kushi. Bhai is complicated Payal & sometimes he ends up saying or doing things which he regrets later. But he is genuinely a good person and'."

"Akashji you don't have to explain your brother's character to me. I have already understood his innate kindness when he helped us with our marriage & also when he sincerely apologized to me. Don't worry I will somehow drag Kushi to your house tomorrow."

Akash went to bed with a smile on his face. Payal kept the receiver down with a thoughtful expression on her face. Arnavji & Kushi. She had long since had a nagging feeling that there was something fishy there. How Kushi use to drag Arnavji into all their conversations. She used to scold him but still there was an indefinable emotion in her voice & face every time she spoke about him. She was oddly eager every time she got ready to go to RM. Her voice would be complaining but her face would be glowing. Payal suddenly remembered the tiffin box that Arnavji had given Kushi & how she had stayed awake the whole night just gawking at it with a goofy expression. This was something she had to clear up. Contrary to her initial opinion she had genuinely started liking & respecting Arnavji. She went to bed with a determined look on her face.

"Come on Jiji I really don't understand why you are dragging me to RM. If you want to meet jiju go ahead! Why are you troubling me. Can't you do anything in your life without me hanging onto your arm like a pet poodle."

"Kushi please don't be angry. I will be frank with you. Buaji will freak out if I went out alone with Akashji but if I pretend that both of us going there to help Anjali Di with some pooja she would not object."

When Arnav heard the doorbell he was the nearest & simply opened without thinking twice only to find an extremely nervous looking Payal & a furious Kushi at his doorsteps. Seeing Arnav, Payal smiled & quickly moved away after darting a nervous look at Kushi.

Hey Devi Maiyya why are you hell bent on testing me. Is there no one else other than this LAAD GOVERNOR to open the door.

"Kushi if you are done talking to your Devi Maiyya in your mind can you come with me. I need to talk to you."

"But I don't want to talk to you & end up getting hurt. You can never say anything nice to others leave alone doing anything nice so please step aside. I know that I promised you not to come before you or disturb you but Jiji dragged me here against my wish. I promise that I will NOT show my face, NOT jabber to you and NOT come in your way"

The Lucknow express zoomed away before Arnav could even open his mouth. He just blinked, muttered UNBELIEVABLE under his breath & left.

PRECAP

Kushi opened the box & was stunned on seeing the contents. She just stared at it & then at Arnav.

Guys plz no rotten tomatoes. I know that u guys were expecting the precap in this chapter but kya karen this chapter became unusually long & hence I had to add 1 more chapter. I promise that the next chapter would definitely feature the precap! Pasta Ka promise 😆

A special message to Moon_Mine. Please dear enjoy ur holidays. Dont kill me. Remember i love all u wonderful folks 😃


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Edited

Link to the next part in this series -> https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2625078/os-cocktail-party-series-love-is-in-the-air


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I expected Jalebi's...but now i wonder if they are the bangles...that lavanya has told about!!!!!

Hmmm curious dead curious!!!!

Update soon dear...you exploration of emotions of everybody including that of Aaksh and Payal is supernb!!!!!