Love Me Like You Do

Do you know what they feel?

Akash called Khushi's cell, hoping Payal would pick up. Luckily, she did .

"Payalji."

"Akashji."

"Mujhe aapse kuch zaruri baat karni thi." (Translation: I need to talk to you about something)

"Haan humein bhi." (Translation: Me as well)

"Kya hum aaj mil sakte hain?" (Translation: Can we meet today?)

"Haan. Btaiye kab?" (Translation: Yes. Tell me when?)

They met for lunch at a cafe that day. Akash was nervous as Payal had said yes immediately. Was she going to say yes? It would really make his day, no... it would make his life.

Payal came in and looked around for him. Finding him at a side table, she reached and sat down opposite him. "Namaste."

"Hi." Akash smiled.

"Wo humein..."

"Pahle kuch order kar lein?" Akash said. (Translation: Let's order first?)

"Right!"

Akash insisted her to order and soon the waiter left.

"Wo Akashji... Khushi aur Arnavji..."

Akash was stumped. Payal wanted to discuss about her sister. "Haan. I was in shock yesterday. Later when I saw Bhai, I teased him a lot."

"I did the same. Kaan pakad ke jo class li na maine. It's been a week and she didn't tell me."

"Nahi Payal ji. It's been longer than that."

"Khushi lied to me?"

"I don't think so. I mean, they might have confessed a week ago, but I know that Khushiji had an impact on him the day she dented his car."

"What?! Tabse? Waise haan.... since then, she was always calling him names and actually took it as a challenge to pay his money back. It's why she asked Shyam-" Payal stopped.

"It's okay Payalji. I am just glad we found out about him before he actually hurt anyone anymore. You continue."

"She asked Shyam to get her a job."

"He must have pulled strings at AR to get her a job. Little did he know, actions always have consequences."

Payal smiled at him. They were conversing so easily. Slowly, Payal started to ask more about Arnav.

"Arnavji ki Lavanya se pahle koi...?" (Translation: Did Arnavji have someone before Lavanya...?)

"Nahi. If there was, it wasn't important enough for the family to know."

"Toh Arnavji ne Lavanya ke baare mein kaise btaya tha apko?" (Translation: So, how did he tell you about Lavanya?)

"He didn't need to. I found out through the office gossip. When I asked him he didn't deny. I only told Ma and Di. But Bhai was strict about not telling Nani."

"Why?"

"What why? She forced him for marriage the minute she found out." Akash stated the simple fact.

"Oh." Payal was lost in thought by the time food arrived. They started to eat, and conversation ceased except common courtesy. Towards the end Payal asked, "Do you think Arnavji will agree to marry Khushi?"

Akash didn't want to disappoint Payal. She had clearly come to gain support. "See Payalji. Bhai has little faith in marriage. He doesn't believe in love either. But lately I have seen him change. He has a soft corner for Khushiji. He wasn't defensive when I teased him yesterday. Actually he..." Akash stopped himself.