Bikhre moti (Scattered pearls)

Chasing the Bride (final part)

Since you guys were nice to the previous chapter, here's the final one, little earlier than promised. Also, don't forget to check out the promo for next SS at the end of this 😎

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The journey back home was spent in a complete silence. But as they approached Khushi's house, she suddenly realized she was parting her way with her travel companion of few hours. In the last few most-dramatic-stressful hours of her life, he was with her, and she was already feeling a strong sense of admiration for him. But how could she ask him to stay in touch more? Wouldn't he judge her? What reason would she give?

She was still in those thoughts when she realized the car had stopped and they were in front of her house. Before she could say anything, she saw her amma-babuji running towards the car. Her side of the door was opened and her amma immediately pulled her out and in a hug

"Kaha chali gayi thi meri bacchi? Hum kitna pareshan ho gaye the(Where did you go my child, were so worried)" her amma was half crying half smiling. Khushi herself started crying but also feeling relived to see her parents.

"Humein maaf kar dijiye amma, babuji. Hum dar gaye the(I am sorry amma babuji, I was scared)" khushi said going in her father's arms.

"Shhh bass beta, we'll talk later hmm? Lets go home" Shashi was happy his daughter was safely back home and for that he was eternally grateful to Arnav. He looked over at his daughter's savior who was standing there with a content smile on his face. Khushi noticed her father looking at Arnav and before Khushi could introduce him to her parents, she saw Akash jiju approach him

"Bhai are you ok? Di, Nani and I were so worried. Getting engaged without my elder brother was so difficult for me" that caught Khushi's attention. Why was akash jiju calling Arnav ji as bhai?

Khushi looked at Arnav, who was smiling looking at her and then she suddenly realized what was there in front of her all this time. His name was 'Arnav', he knew Raizadas, he was in a sherwani-dressed-like-a-groom. Oh my God, he is my to-be-fiancé? Her eyes widened when she realized that!

But wait, did that still apply? Were they still to-be-engaged? After the stunt she pulled? She herself was confused what she wanted anymore. Just then she saw Anjali Di, whom she had met previously, approach her

"Khushi, thank God you are ok. We have realized our mistake of forcing you both for this hasty marriage Khushi and we have decided to let you continue your post-graduation and not continue with the engagement now" Anjali informed her what was decided in the meanwhile.

"nahi Di. Woh hum-" what a weird dilemma, Khushi thought. A few hours ago, everyone wanted her to marry Arnav but she didn't and now when she was getting exactly what she wished, she didn't want it anymore. But how to say that?

"are ab toh tumhare marzi ka ho raha hain Khushi. Why are you still sad?" bua ji asked sensing Khushi's sadness

Khushi didn't know what to say and how to say what she felt.

"Uncle, aunty can I talk to Khushi for a minute?" she heard Arnav ask her parents who looked at her asking if she was ok. And for the first time that night, she was ready to face her 'fiancé'

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It felt weird to face him now, someone she was so comfortable with as a stranger, now felt like someone intimidating, someone she felt pressurized to face. She had questions though, why he didnt tell her who he was when he knew her? Why he still helped her run away?

"Khushi, I know you have a lot of questions and before you ask them, let me say something. Khushi, as much as you, I was also skeptical about our marriage. And that's why I wanted to speak to you before. I am sorry for not doing that earlier and staying abroad until so late but it was unavoidable. And when you met me outside your house today, I was surprised to see that you didn't recognize me. I decided to play along and give us a chance to know each other this way. I don't know about you but for me, it proved to be a good decision" as he took a pause there, Khushi almost braced herself for him to say his decision was to reject her but when he continued, she was happily surprised