Bikhre moti (Scattered pearls)

19.3 Just a number - pt3

Note: In case it wasn't clear, Arnav and Sheetal are not paired together here. They probably won't even interact much. I am totally whitewashing her :D

For Prachibartar. You know why <3

--*--

When Khushi returned from college, it was almost evening. The semidarkness caused due to sun setting across the horizon, the soft glow of streetlights that were gradually turning on added to her gloomy mood and she just wanted to run to her home, barge in her room and hide in her pillow! What had happened in the college had totally mortified her.

But to her bad(or perhaps good) luck, when she reached home, threw her sling bag on the old sofa in the hall and made her way to her room, her both elder sisters were already at home!

She sighed in helplessness and went to wash her face to at least remove the remnant tear strains.

Sheetal and Payal had a silent conversation by exchanging looks as they caught something was wrong with their chirpy baby sister!

They saw her coming out of the washroom and check her cell phone, not looking at them. Or likely avoiding them.

"Khushi, how is your dance practice going on?" Payal asked tentatively, to gauge if it was something about the cultural fest, she was excited about.

And she hit bull's eyes. As the mention of dance reminded khushi of what happened a few hours ago and her lips curled downwards, her eyes filled with tears, and she started sobbing!

Payal and Sheetal panicked and reached near her in a heartbeat. Payal engulfed her in her embrace as she let her cry for a bit.

"Bacchu, what's wrong? Did something go wrong at the practice? Did you fight with someone?" Sheetal asked, worriedly and Khushi raised her head from payal's arms to nod it in denial.

"Then?"

"He said *sob* I -I ha *sob* have a crush. Teenage crush." Khushi replied and started crying again.

Her sisters got the shock of their life, true, but also understood their barely adult sister needed their help the most at first heartbreak.

"Ok. Who is he? NK?" Sheetal probed.

Khushi gasped at that wrong guess and vehemently denied.

Taking a deep breath, she then narrated her love story of the past 4 months to her Jiji and Di who listened attentively. Without criticizing. 

"Tell me jiji, di, am I wrong? Do you also think I made a mistake like samu thinks? I feel like a stupid idiot right now." she confessed, earnestly and Payal rushed to rebuke her.

"No. You are not stupid, khushi. And neither are you wrong. So, don't belittle yourself, ok?"

Khushi smiled a little. Her Jiji's words were like soothing balm to her hurt heart.

"Exactly. It's not wrong to harbor feelings or liking for someone." Sheetal assured her, and then donned the eldest sister look, "But bacchu, at the same time, this is not entirely right either."

Khushi frowned and opened her mouth to object. But sheetal stopped her.

"Listen to me first. Yes, it's completely normal and ok to like someone. Neither has it to do with age. But it is also true that there is a HUGE difference between like, adoration, and LOVE. The former two are often fleeting feelings while the latter is for a lifetime commitment."