After dropping Anvi off at her school, Arnav was driving along Delhi's heavily crowded traffic roads to drop off Khushi at her workplace, City Hospital.
Glancing at the red traffic light, he thought this was the right time to initiate a conversation with her. Well, yes.. Right time! He conveniently decided to ignore the fact that Red indicates Danger. But no problem, Red also represents the color of Love. And when in Love, you ought to take risks!
"You know," he cleared his throat, glancing at her to see her reaction, "I went to Goa last week.. and I remembered you.. our-"
"Me and all the other Miss. Strangers you've met there, right?" Khushi cut him off, staring at him with a tight sarcastic smile.
"I do meet many Mr. and Miss. Strangers when I go there.. but no, I just thought of you.. because it was special," his tone changed to serious one, his forehead was adorned with a slight frown as he didn't like the way she asked him.
Khushi looked away. She started playing with the straps of her bag, trying to control herself from saying what she had in her heart.
"Did I do something wrong to you?" he asked, his tone softened.
"No!" Khushi curtly replied.
"Then I don't understand what changed drastically between us that nowadays you don't even like to see my face. I thought you would be happy to see me when we met for the first time in my house. At least I was happy to know that our story didn't end in one meeting in Goa, when I got to know you're working for my Nani. But you didn't look happy to know that your Mr. Stranger is me, Arnav Singh Raizada!"
"Because for me, you were better as a Mr. Stranger in Wonderland only. I wish I had not met you in my real life," Khushi looked at him hurt.
"Am I not a good person in real life?" he asked.
"You're.. but not for me!" Khushi replied, she shut her eyes momentarily, "And can we just end this conversation? I'm not liking it."
"Just one last question," he pleaded desperately, "Is there anything I can do to make everything alright between us?"
Stop making it difficult for me Arnav. I'm already in a battle with my own feelings. Khushi thought.
"Yes, there is.." she took a pause before saying it, looking straight into his eyes, "Let me stay with Mr. Stranger in my memories. I don't want a chapter in my life with ASR. Stay away from me Arnav."
"Khushi.." he looked at her with don't-do-this-to me look, but seeing her stand firm on her decision, he sighed in defeat, "If you choose to know ASR in real life through what others say about me, then there's nothing I can do about it.. I'll make sure I'll stay in your memories only."
"You do know the 'others' you're talking about are your own family, right? They know you more than me. Is your family lying when they say you're a Casanova, you never stay home for long time and you're always traveling, you are never available when they need you the most, you always leave Anjali to handle everything alone and you only go to AR when you feel like?" she asked irritated.
"If I'm never seen at home, how are they so sure I'm a Casanova? I am not a Casanova. I have had two relationships so far in my life. First one when I was in college and the second was three years ago. And we also parted with mutual consent," he said, "And yeah.. the rest is true. That's why I'm a called Peter Pan at home.. the boy who wouldn't grow up!" he added with a small smile that didn't reach to his chocolate brown eyes.
"So you didn't spend the night with a model yesterday?" Khushi asked, still finding it hard to trust him.
"This topic again!" he rolled his eyes, "I had a business related meeting with that model. And I spend the night at Aman's apartment. You want me to call him to confirm it to you?"
