Chapter 12: Graduation
Arnav looked at Khushi for help. She didn't know what to say. "Doctor, is there no way that Arnav can go for graduation?" she asked.
"Ms. Singhania, I strongly recommend that Arnav should take rest. His shoulder hasn't healed properly yet and we wouldn't want it to get worse, would we?" the doctor said.
"But Doctor, it's my graduation!" Arnav pleaded. The doctor shook his head and left the room. "Arnav, the doctor is right." Khushi said.
"Yes, ofcourse he is. Graduation is just stupid, isn't it?" Arnav said sarcastically.
"I know it means a lot--"You don't Khushi. Otherwise you would have done something!" he said.
"I tried."
"You can get me discharged now. Then the doctor cannot stop me."
"Arnav you need rest." Khushi said.
"Okay. Thanks for trying. Go on now." He said.
Khushi knew he was upset but she couldn't do anything. She couldn't risk his health. She started to leave the room when he said, "All the best Khushi. Enjoy." Khushi smiled a little and then left.
Arnav was angry. Graduation was supposed to be one of the most important days in one's life and he wasn't allowed to attend his own graduation. Khushi didn't understand, no one did. Arnav laid back in his bed and shut his eyes. That is what he was expected to do, sleep. He was agitated but who would he share that with? There was no one in the room but him. He was alone. He has always been alone.
3 Hours Later
"Arnav," Khushi shook him.
When he didn't open his eyes, she tried again, "Get up! It's 1:30. Time to take your medicines." Arnav heard the time and his eyes sprang open.
"What the hell? What are you still doing here?"
"Arnav I--"Are you crazy? Go attend graduation!"
"I can't. Not without you." She said giving him the medicine.
"Khushi..." Arnav said. He didn't know what to say. She was here all along? She skipped her graduation for him? He was so rude to her earlier but she was still here. He gulped his medicines down. "I wish you would have attended graduation Khushi, I would have been happier." He said feeling slightly guilty now.
"Me too." Louis said entering the room. He had brought Ramia with him. She was fair, elegant and very beautiful. She wore a knee-length skirt and a formal shirt. She smiled at them. Khushi's jaw dropped open. Arnav looked at the queer looking man with a perplexed expression.
"Louis?" Khushi uttered. Arnav's eyes widened as he heard the name.
He was already feeling sick. Oh Lord. Do you have to do all this NOW? He thought. They walked up to Arnav and Khushi. Louis pulled Khushi into his arms and hugged her tightly. Arnav felt a punch in his gut. He rolled his eyes secretly but Ramia who was staring at Arnav from the moment she entered the room caught that and began laughing. Arnav who hadn't even noticed her looked at her and quickly changed his expressions.
"Ramia," she said extending her hand towards Arnav. Arnav took her hand in his and kissed it gently. She blushed.
"Arnav," he introduced himself.
Khushi pulled away and introduced Arnav to Louis and vice versa. "Hi, how are you now?" Louis asked shaking hands with Arnav. "I am much better," he said. Until now. He completed his sentence in his mind but smiled at Louis. Eh! How did Khushi fall for him? What a chome! Arnav thought.
"Louis, why didn't you call? I would have come to receive you at the airport!" Khushi asked. "I spoke to Payal yesterday, she said it was your graduation today so I thought I'd surprise you." He said. "But when I went to there your name was announced but you didn't show up. Later Payal told me you'd be here." "Thank you so much for coming!" she said smiling. "So Louis, where will you be staying?" Arnav asked. "Err, I don't know yet." He replied. "You could stay at my place!" Khushi offered. Arnav stared at them in awe. No way am I staying in the same house as BOTH of them! He thought. "No Khushi. I think that would be inappropriate. We will stay in some hotel near your house." Louis suggested. "Swiss Hotel is the best here in Dubai." Arnav suggested before Khushi could say anything else. Khushi glared at Arnav. Arnav looked away with a frown. "I like the sound of Swiss Hotel!" Ramia said smiling at Arnav. "Alright, we will stay in Swiss Hotel then." He announced. Arnav relaxed. "Arnav, I'll just accompany them to the hotel and get them checked in. I'll be back in sometime. Armaan and Payal will be here soon." Arnav fake smiled. Khushi left with them.
On the way to the hotel, Khushi and Ramia started talking. The clothes girls wore intrigued Ramia. She was either allowed to wear skirts or dresses. She was brought up with the mindset that pants were for men. Khushi told her that both men and women wore pants. Ramia told Khushi that she didn't get out of the house too much so she wasn't really aware of what happened in the outside world. They were just chatting when Ramia asked, "Is Arnav single?" Khushi's eyes widened. "Ramia stop it!" Louis said. Ramia didn't say a word. Khushi was startled by Louis' harsh tone. He had always seemed so kind and sweet but she didn't know he was so strict with Ramia.
Back at the hospital, Arnav was not in a very good mood when Armaan and Payal reached. "Hey man!" Armaan said crashing on the sofa. "Did you see Grimaldi?" he asked. Arnav nodded. "Isn't he so handsome?" Payal asked. "Eesh!" Armaan commented, "Arnav is so much better, God knows why--"Armaan, enough." Arnav signaled. Armaan bit his tongue and silently apologized. "What are you two hiding? And why are we comparing Arnav to Louis?" Payal asked. She was totally perplexed. "Err-- nothing." Armaan said. "Tell me!" Payal said. "Payal, relax. You know Armaan. He is a jerk. He says rubbish for no reason at all. Just let him be." "Oh no no. You two are surely hiding something. You have to tell me. I swear not to tell a soul." She said. "You promise?" Arnav asked. "Yes." "Not a soul includes Khushi." "Yes, if she already doesn't know!" Arnav looked at Armaan. He nodded. "Payal, I am in love with Khushi." Payal was silent. She didn't know if she heard it right - Arnav and love? Was it even serious? "Is it your weekly crush or--"It's serious Payal." Armaan said.
"Arnav you--"Yes, I have been in love with Khushi, for the last year or something. She drives me crazy, she annoys me, she irritates me, but I love her. I stayed back in Dubai for her. I thought maybe she would see it. Maybe she would love me." "Why didn't you say something?" Payal asked.
"Come on Payal!" Armaan said standing up. "Don't you know? Khushi always had her dream man sketched out. She knew exactly who she would love. It was never Arnav!"
"That is just her stupid little dream! You know Khushi? She's always been fascinated with fairytales. She was barely serious!" "She was very serious." Arnav said.
"But you could have atleast told her!" Payal said.
"And then what? Lose her friendship? Payal, Khushi is the love of my life but she is my best friend before everything else. I can't risk that! I can't lose her."
Payal had tears in her eyes. She had never thought of this. She had never imagined that Arnav would be in love with Khushi! Others in college had their doubts but among them, everyone knew it was just friendship. Arnav changed his girlfriends every week. Payal didn't understand.
"So when you kissed her you--"I meant it. I was drunk and I had bottled up my feelings for so long. When she was dancing with that other guy I felt jealous." He stated. "That's when he told me everything. That night after you and Khushi left, Aakash and I shook him up and made him realize what he had done. He was half drunk when he told us how much he loved Khushi!" "Aakash knew?" Payal asked in awe. Armaan nodded. "I had to beg them not to say anything to Khushi. I was the one who told Armaan to provoke you to take Khushi's side. Armaan also took Khushi's side because I told him to. I didn't want her to be alone. I told Aakash to keep her busy and he did. Khushi got sometime to think but yet she didn't feel anything. She doesn't love me." Payal just couldn't believe it. She didn't know what to say. Everything was just so messed up.
"Arnav, what will you do now?" Payal asked wiping her tears.
"Payal, I want you to keep my secret. Promise me you will NEVER tell Khushi anything?"
"But Arnav--"Please." He said. Payal looked away.
This is serious. If Arnav loves Khushi then Khushi has the right to know. Maybe she needs to wake up from her dream. Arnav and Khushi have always been perfect for each other. No one ever said it because Arnav had so many girlfriends and Khushi knew exactly the kind of man she wanted. But I have to do something. I have known Arnav for 3 years now and I have known Khushi practically all my life! How could I see all this happen in front of me eyes? I have to do something. If they are meant to be together, if his love is real, I can't just sit and watch Arnav ruin his life. Payal thought.
Armaan was skeptical about Payal. He wasn't sure that Payal would keep the secret. Arnav suddenly regretted saying anything.
Why did I have to open my big mouth? Payal will go tell Khushi everything! Crap. Crap and Crap. I have to do something about this. Why am I feeling so low these days? If I keep going at this rate, I will end up blurting out everything to everyone! Arnav realized.
"Payal, please don't tell Khushi anything. Listen, Louis is here. She can decide for herself if she wants to marry him." "But Arnav you have to fight for your love! You don't always get love on a platter! Sometimes you have to express it to win it. Maybe Khushi loves you and she hasn't realized it! She is a little slow you know." "Who will I fight? Khushi or Louis? If Khushi doesn't want me then why will I fight? And Payal, she has had 3 years to realize her love for me. She just doesn't feel the same way and I have to come to terms with it." Arnav argued. "It's not so easy to just forget your love Arnav. I think what you are doing is wrong." Payal stated. Armaan hadn't said a word between the two. Armaan always treated Arnav like his brother and listening to Payal even he was motivated to get Arnav and Khushi together. "I will help you fight." Armaan said. "No one is fighting!" Arnav declared. "Everyone, go home!" Arnav said ending the conversation.
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So I guess, all of you'll must be having an idea of where all of this is going?
It's going to get funny and romantic. Trust me guys, Louis coming to Dubai is a good thing for our 'Dhakkan' Khushi. She is a little slow but she does realise her love for Arnav.
Waiting for some feedback.
I would like to answer a question before you ask.
Why did Arnav tell Payal anything , it was random ?
Well, you see, Arnav has been keeping everything to himself. Armaan has been trying to make Arnav feel better about everything but it clearly hasn't worked. Arnav is tired and emotionally weak at this moment. Until now, Louis was just a name. Khushi was always near him. But Now Louis was here. Arnav is very jealous. He doesn't want to share *khushi-time* with anyone. So he just tells Payal.
Love,
Manjari
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Health and Fitness
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