Bikhre moti (Scattered pearls)

4.2 Tu mane ya na mane (pt2)

Quick precap for this short story – it's a twisted love triangle, between Lavanya, Arnav and Khushi. La likes Arnav who has been harboring feelings for Khushi since forever and Khushi set La and Arnav up, unaware of Arnav's feelings for her. Now next –

Also another song inspiration for this SS added above, pls do watch (original is by Wadali brothers)

--*--

"Nannav mere bhai. dont be so sad." NandKishor aka NK as he preferred being called tried to cheer up his cousin Arnav who seemed to be in a bad mood.

"Shut up NK. You better don't bug me right now." Arnav was already in a bad mood after his meeting with Khushi (which could have been date if he spoke up or she proposed for herself instead of for La) but now he had found himself in a fix.

"No. Tell me kya hua hai? Ladki ka takkar?" NK continued being supportive

"what? Takkar nahi, you mean chakkar. And yes, but you can't help in it. no one can."

"At least me what happened?" NK insisted, no matter how khadus(rude) his brother showed out he was, Nk knew Arnav was a good person underneath.

Arnav sighed and gave in. Maybe telling about his predicament to NK could help him.

Arnav started narrating and NK listened to what Arnav said, right from the beginning. How his shy and recluse cousin actually liked a bubbly chirpy Khushi (he felt sorry for her as love of an angry young man Arnav was not easy) to Arnav's inability to tell her about his feelings (here NK blamed Arnav for his shy nature, it was proving a roadblock for his own love story) to today when Khushi was trying to set him up with La. As he was mostly in Sydney and rarely visited Delhi, he had never really met Khushi or La for that matter. 

Finally when Arnav was done and rested his head against the chair's headrest in a tired way, NK spoke in all seriousness, "you should say yes to date this Lavanya girl."

"what? NK are you even listening to what I said? I love Khushi not Lavanya!" Arnav was beyond annoyed. Maybe opening up to NK was not a good idea at all.

"listen to me Nannav. I know what you meant. But tell me one thing, this Khushi, you're saying she isn't in love with you, is she dating someone else?" that got Arnav intrigued.

"not as far as I know." And she better not, Arnav hoped.

"great. Its set then. You date La and that's how we'll try to ignite those feelings in Khushi. You said they are best friends right? and Khushi's known you all her life? I am pretty sure we just need to play it right and make her realize its you and her that should be together."

"what the-?" Arnav was sure now Nk was insane.

"what the nahi, it's a classic old technique mere bhai. Many Hollywood and Bollywood heroes have tried and tested it. Make the girl insecure and jealous-"

"But I am not going to play with Lavanya's feelings." Arnav said getting up. No matter what, he won't play with someone's emotions.

"who said you'll? Look, right now, even you don't know if La is serious for you right? Give it a try. Meet casually. Who knows you might like her and get over this Khushi at the end." NK said shrugging his shoulders. What was the big deal with his brother? La ho ya Khushi, Arnav would still have a girlfriend at the end while NK wasn't even getting 1! 

"you don't understand NK. I can never get over Khushi. and I don't want to." Arnav literally stomped his foot.

"Ok my modern Romeo. But let's give this a try hmm? What's the harm?"

--*--

Next couple of weeks Arnav actually went on a few dates with Lavanya and to his surprise he did seem to enjoy hanging out with her. She was so much like him, soft spoken, interested in business talks, wore only branded clothes and shoes and didn't like Bollywood music (unlike a certain Gupta girl who always played some loud music everything there was a function at his house and Guptas were in attendance!)