The Way We Were

Chapter 21

(Try)

Chaand ne kucch kaha
raat ne kuchh suna

Khushi Kumari Gupta startled as she heard the echo of music reverberating through the farmhouse. Perched on her window seat, she had been lost in thoughts of a certain someone until the music had broken her reverie.

She got down from her lounger and came out of her room. The corridor housing four rooms, hers, Payal's, her mother's and Aunt's, was completely still. None of the occupants had come out to check the noise.

Chaand ne kucch kaha
raat ne kuchh suna
Tu bhi sun bekhabar pyaar kar

Khushi found Anjali in the foyer when she saw Payal had followed her out.

Oh ho ho pyaar kar

"Anjali, do you hear that?" Payal asked.

Khushi was thankful she wasn't hearing stuff.

"Yes, Chhote found a radio. It's so refreshing to see him like this."

Aayi hai chaandni
mujhse kehne yehi

"Radio? Arnav?" Khushi knew from years of being Shivaay's and Arnav's neighbour about the former's love and latter's hate for music. Although, hadn't it been Arnav who had written music once?

Aayi hai chaandni
mujhse kehne yehi
Meri gali mere ghar
pyaar kar
Oh ho ho pyaar kar

"That is so nice. I remember Arnav used to play." Payal mentioned.

"He used to. After Mumma Papa left, he stopped for quite a while." Anjali was looking at Khushi, as if in a different light.

"What?" Khushi grew conscious.

"Nothing."

Kya kahoon kya pata baat kya ho gayi
Dillagi ye mere saath kya ho gayi hai

Anjali was wondering if her thoughts were wrong. The timing couldn't be a coincidence, could it? The pain, if this was true, must have been unbearable for her brother. She shuddered.

Ek ishaara hai ye
Dil pukaara hai ye
Ek ishaara hai ye
Dil pukaara hai ye
Isse chura na nazar pyaar kar

"Well, he needs to switch it off. Which room did he take?" Khushi asked.

Anjali wanted to see how this would go down. Maybe she would get some answers, for better or for worse. "Second on the left."

Khushi opened his door unceremoniously. Thanking her stars that he was clothed, she took advantage of his surprise and switched off the musical machine.

"Hey, I was listening to that!"

"So was the whole house. Ever heard of headphones?"

Arnav pursed his lips. "I don't see anyone complaining." He looked at Payal and Anjali behind her.

"I am." Khushi pointed to herself.

Hai kaun kya khabar koi to hai magar
Sapnon mein hai kahin aata nahin nazar
Main yahaan vo vahaan
Aa rahi phir yahaan
Main yahaan vo vahaan
Aa rahi phir yahaan
Aawaaz ksiki magar pyaar kar

If Khushi was shocked he chose to piss her off, she didn't take it out on him.

Arnav turned and walked across the room, extracting a guitar from the cupboard.

Khushi blanched. "Where did you get that?"

"I'm ASR."

This man and his power hungry attitude. It was just as well she had never fallen for him, really and truly.