After The Rain

Chapter Eleven - Collision

He is the thought behind the feeling,
the swelling in my chest;
the starlight in the evening,
the yearning when I undress.

He is the sound behind the sighing,
the song of every bird;
the tears in all my crying -
the ache in every word.

- Lang Leav (He)

~

Arnav thought that the evening was going from worse to bordering on potential disaster.

Everywhere he looked, he saw gleeful faces. His own family was clamouring with a happiness that he had not seen them enjoy for a long time, and he did not have the slightest idea of how he was going to break the news of his broken engagement to them. For the sake of maintaining the festive environment at home, Lavanya had suggested to not disclose the truth until the last moment. He approved, fearing that Mami might use that opportunity to cancel Akash's engagement as well. This way, they would have no choice but to carry on. But the problem was finding the right time to talk to them in the middle of the party.

He bit back sighs of indignation as he was constantly interrupted by the guests every time he tried to round up his family members, and maintained a frigid smile on his face until he felt his muscles ache.

Of course, breaking the news to them would not be as big of an issue as it would be when he would have to deal with their reactions. Arnav was never one to be patient with shows of overwhelming emotions but this time he knew he would not be able to escape them. He would have to deal with his family himself. He cannot let them approach Lavanya in their frenzied state. She was already in pain, and he did not want to add to that.

He remembered her tear-stricken face when he found her amidst her packed belongings just minutes ago and a pang grew in his chest. He waved away another guest, barely keeping a scowl from coming on his face and turned around with the intention of calling out to his sister.

A blur of black and silver momentarily blinded him, and he stepped back, surprised by the sudden apparition of the figure in front of him.

"Khushi," he whispered. He extended his arm, thinking that she had stumbled into him but he froze when he took a good look at her face.

"Khushi, are you okay?"

He stepped closer to her, running his eyes over her face-at her creased forehead, blazing eyes, her nose ring glinting on a nose that was going redder by the second, a red mirrored by the colour on her cheeks and the top of her ears. He was distracted momentarily by the silver earrings that dangled from them, flashing brightly with every movement, until he heard her hiss in a whisper,

"What on earth do you think you are doing?"

Confused, Arnav continued to look at her blankly, until he caught the sight of Lavanya behind her. She was half-hidden behind a pillar and was looking at the back of Khushi's head with a mixture of irritation and fear. Comprehension flooded Arnav and masking his surprise, as well as the rise of shame, he feigned a solemn expression.

"Khushi, now is not the time," he said, hoping that the firmness of his tone would inhibit her from causing a scene. He scrutinised her for a few more seconds. When he saw her nose flare with undisguised anger, he opened his mouth again, this time irked that she was choosing this place to start an argument. Irritation followed sheer shock when the next second, he felt her hand close on his arm and steer him away from the party. Nothing but complete bewilderment on his part would have enabled Khushi to drag him across his own house but the spell broke when they were halfway to his poolside. He stopped in his tracks, causing her fall back instantly when she tried but failed to pull him.