Tina threw an angry glare at Khushi whilst Arnav quickly composed himself and looked towards his sister, questioningly. "Chotte, this is your wedding planner Tina," Anjali introduced, her eyes crinkling with the smile. He shook Tina's hand acknowledging her as she continued to stare at his face but he was used to that, he knew women were smitten by his looks and it only added to his ego. "And that's her assistant Khushi," he heard di then add but he didn't want to look at her. "Di I have some urgent work to do," he cut her off, "you guys carry on," and with that he quickly went up the stairs, leaving a fairly surprised Anjali behind.
Khushi felt tears prickle her eyes, that was the second time fate had brought them closer to each other and both times he had walked away, this time he had refused to so much as look at her and now she knew she could never have him again. He would soon be someone elses, her Arnav would only remain in her memories. "Excuse me may I use the washroom?" Her voice came out a bare whisper as she attempted to hide the tears that were threatening to fall out any moment.
She leaned over the sink for support as tears flooded her eyes and branched out. Her mind flashbacked to memories of him, of them together. His gentle touch, the way he moved her hair back out of her face, all those times when he had been there, when he had been her only support and they were soon replaced by images of his now cold, distant eyes, how he clenched his jaw at her sight, his arms around another woman, replaced by Ajalis introduction of him as the groom. Things would never be the same and she couldn't even blame him, it hadn't been his fault! She broke down now her cries coming out loud and ragged and she slid down along the sink onto the floor, her mind now numb, no sense of where she was or what she was supposed to do. She sat there on the tiled floor letting the cold surface seep through her...
When she came out her face was swollen and red, her eyes sunken.
"Khushi! Khushi!" Tina's voice came out as if in a dream, everything around her hazy as she battled to compose herself. "Urgh!" Tina exclaimed now fed up of Khushis unusual behaviour. "Just go and take the grooms measurements!" she barked thrusting a measuring tape into Khushis hand and stomped off. Khushi stood in that same spot frozen, not sure if she could do the job that she was given, not sure if she had, if she would ever have the strength to face him but then slowly started to move on. Her steps slow and timid. Her family depended on this job and she had no choice.
----
Unknown to everyone he snuck around the house watching her every move agitated at the fact that she was in his house. He would have to present a different job opening to her to get her out of the house. His face twitched as he formed a new plan.
----
Khushi stopped in front of Arnavs door, mustering up the courage to knock, to carry out the job she had been given when she saw him lying on his recliner. He looked so calm and in his cream jeans and blue cardigan a lot like the boyish Arnav she was used to. Seeing him like that she just wanted to go and hug him, take the arm he had over his head away and kiss his forehead and all his demons away.
She slowly lifted her hand to the door, her hand forming a tight fist and shaking beyond belief. She gulped once, attempting to calm herself down and knocked once, it came out a lot softer than she had expected. She was scared for a minute that he hadn't even heard her but then he began to move, first acknowledging the sound then slowly moving his arm around as his head turned towards her and gradually opened his eyes then froze on her. In a split second the calmness on his face had disappeared and been replaced by a storm of emotions, he slowly stood up and fixed his cardigan and began to walk towards her. Her mind immediately flashed back to the past when he had fixed his shirt, getting up off the bed and then fell down on it again, his soft lips touching her neck, sending little ripples of electricity down her spine, she closed her eyes reliving that moment and tears streaked out of the corners of her eyes, she could feel herself losing control again when suddenly she felt a finger lightly graze the corner of her eye. She gradually opened her eyes to look into the gentle face of the man she had never stopped loving inches away from hers, that old concern replacing and softening the contours of his face, the chocolate brown tenderness back in his eyes.
Abhi mujh mein kahin
Baaki thodi si hai zindagi
Jagi Dadhkan nayi
Jaana zinda hoon mein tho abhi
He took her face into his hand, unable to stop himself, feeling the same pain that she did, looking into those hazel eyes, letting his guard down. She rested her face against his hand, letting the sobs come out faster now, letting the tears she'd held back all these years erupt out of her as he held her closer, their bodies colliding in their need to comfort each other.
Kuch aisi lagan
Is lamhe mein hain
Yeh lamha kahaan tha mera
Her arms enveloped around his neck, breathing in his fragrance, letting it linger around her body, kissing his neck. She felt his arms tighten around her waist as his mind re-visited the cherished memories of the past, what they had had, what they had lost, allowing her to shed her tears, holding back his own heavy heart, wanting to protect that fragile girl he would've given his life up for all over again.
Ab hai saamne, ise choon loon zara
Mar jaaun yan jee loon zara
Khushiyan choom loon
Ya ro loon zara
Mar jaaun ya jee loon zara...
They stood like that for god knows how long, breaking down their facades, letting themselves go to the moment, no need for a single word, their feelings perfectly in sync. Then she felt his arms loosen around her. He needed to talk to her, he needed an explanation, he moved back letting her out of his embrace and opened his eyes to see a glaring Lavanya at the doorway...
Lyrics credit: Abhi Mujhme Kahin from Agneepath
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