Tum Se Door

2.Unspoken Whispers

The next morning, Payal was amazed to see a very different Khushi roaming around the house, chatting freely with her Babuji, helping her mother with household chores, and teasing Buaji at every opportunity. Payal was sure Khushi was avoiding her, afraid that Payal would ask about the reason for her previous day's turmoil and her devastated state.

When no one was looking, Payal grabbed Khushi by the arm and took her inside under the pretext of helping with engagement jewelry.

"Kya hai, Jiji? Aapka engagement hai, jo achcha lage woh pehno." Payal smacked her gently on the back and spoke softly, "Tu khush hai na is rishte se? Mujhe kyun lagta hai, tum mujhse kuch chupa rahi ho. Abhi se tum ne mujhe paraya kar diya hai?"

Khushi zoned out and said feebly, "Haan Jiji, I am happy. After all, Lavanya is Arnavji's choice. They will make a perfect couple."

Payal smacked her again and said, "Mene apne aur Akash ji ke rishte ke baare me poocha tha, duffer. Tum kahan khoyi rehti ho?"

Just then, Khushi's phone vibrated with Lavanya's name. Khushi grabbed her bag and told Payal she had to go to Shantivan since Lavanya needed her help.

Payal thinned her lips and said, "Yes, she is beloved to you more than me. Even it's my engagement too." Khushi smiled and hugged her warmly, saying, "Agar me wahan kaam na karti toh, I would definitely be by your side. Bas engagement ho jaye, then I will stop going there." Her tone changed at the end, reflecting the pain she was enduring.

After Khushi left, Payal sat in thought, deeply concerned about Khushi's behavior. Something was definitely off with her. She wished happiness would crawl into Khushi's life as her name predicted.

---

As Khushi made her way to Shantivan, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Each step felt heavier, her heart pounding with every thought of seeing Arnav again. When she arrived, she found Lavanya bustling around, her excitement palpable.

"Khushi, thank goodness you're here! We have so much to do!" Lavanya exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug.

Khushi managed a smile, but her eyes constantly darted around, fearing yet longing for a glimpse of Arnav. She busied herself with the preparations, trying to keep her mind occupied. Yet, every corner of the house, every familiar sight, seemed to echo with memories of him.

And then, it happened. As she was arranging flowers in the living room, she heard his voice. Her breath hitched, and she froze, the flowers slipping from her hands. She turned slowly to see Arnav standing at the doorway, his eyes locking with hers.

"Khushi," he said, his voice sending a shiver down her spine.

She tried to maintain her composure, but her body betrayed her. Her hands trembled, and she felt a lump forming in her throat. The room seemed to close in around her, and all the noise faded into the background, leaving just the sound of her racing heartbeat.

"Arnavji," she managed to whisper, her voice barely audible.

Arnav took a step closer, his brow furrowing in concern. "Are you okay? You look pale."

Khushi nodded, unable to form words. Her mind was screaming to flee, to escape the suffocating tension, but her feet remained rooted to the spot. The sight of him, so close, was both a comfort and a torment. His presence was a painful reminder of what she could never have.

"Khushi, are you sure?" he asked, his voice softer, laced with genuine concern. He held her gaze, searching her eyes deeply, as if trying to unearth the secrets hidden within. Was there love in those eyes? Was the turmoil he saw a reflection of his own?

She forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine, Arnavji. Just... a bit tired with all the preparations."

Arnav's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, his eyes probing, hoping to find a flicker of unspoken love. Finally, he nodded, his expression unreadable. "Alright. Take care of yourself."

As he walked away, Khushi felt the weight of unshed tears pressing against her eyes. She blinked rapidly, refusing to let them fall. Once he was out of sight, she fled to a secluded corner, her composure crumbling. She leaned against the wall, her body trembling with the effort to keep herself together.

Her heart ached with an intensity that took her breath away. Being near Arnav, feeling his concern and the intensity of his gaze searching for answers, only deepened her agony. She knew she had to stay strong, for Lavanya, for Payal, and for herself. But in that moment, alone with her thoughts, she allowed herself to feel the full weight of her heartbreak.

---

Manorama couldn't digest Khushi's silence and her dull expressions. "Kya baat hai, Phati Sari? Khush kyun nahi huwat ho? Tumri behen tu ab is ghar mein aawat hai na. For her sister's sake, Khushi forced a smile, though it barely touched her eyes.

Manorama, unable to hold back her sarcasm, continued, "Mere bete ki rishtedaar ho ab, udaas ho toh jalebi kyun nahi bana leti? Hamra bhi meetha khane ka mann kar raha."

"Haan, haan, Khushi betiya, bana hi do. Ghar ki khushiyon mein aur chashni aajayegi tumre haath ki jalebi kha ke," Naniji added, passing by with Laxmi nestled in her arms, her eyes twinkling with affection.

Khushi nodded, her heart heavy with a burden she couldn't share. She set about preparing the jalebi batter, her movements mechanical. She knew, with a sinking heart, that even her beloved jalebis wouldn't be able to soothe the turmoil raging within her. Her heart felt like it was bleeding, each beat a reminder of the conflicted emotions tearing her apart.

Meanwhile, Arnav Singh Raizada, the man who believed he controlled his destiny, found himself at a loss. The devastation and emptiness he had glimpsed in Khushi's eyes haunted him. Her once vibrant cheerfulness was gone, replaced by a shadow of sorrow he couldn't accept. Determined to distract himself, he threw himself into work, intent on completing every task before his engagement. Yet, no amount of work could silence the chaos in his mind, where those almond-shaped eyes lingered, holding the power to quicken his heartbeat.

"She can't change my perspective on life. Love is a distant concept; uska hona ya na hona mujhe faraq nahi padta," he told himself repeatedly. But his heart knew better. It laughed at his futile denials, aware that Khushi had already made a home there long before Arnav's mind could comprehend it.

Arnav's mind waged a war against his heart. He resented Khushi for her unyielding spirit, for her ability to challenge him at every turn. Yet, his heart had surrendered long ago to those expressive eyes. Her voice, gently calling him "Arnavji," created a strange, uplifting sensation in his chest, making him feel as though she belonged to him. He was trapped in a web of his own making, blinded by his ego and harsh demeanor, unable to acknowledge the truth even to himself.

Each encounter with Khushi left him more unsettled. He found himself searching her eyes, desperately seeking answers. Was there love in those depths? Did her turmoil mirror his own? These questions plagued him, their answers just out of reach, leaving him torn between his mind's denial and his heart's undeniable truth.

As Khushi stood in the kitchen, frying jalebis, her thoughts drifted to Arnav. Each sizzle of the batter felt like a spark of the pain she tried so hard to hide. She knew he was searching her eyes, just as she was searching his. But in this tangled web of emotions, neither could find the words to bridge the chasm between them.

Khushi sighed deeply, her eyes moist but determined. She would endure this pain, just as she always had, finding strength in her love for her family and the small joys that life offered. Yet, in the quiet corners of her heart, the longing for Arnav remained, a silent testament to the love she could never confess.

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Authors Note:
What do you think,Arnav will get through the fact that he is irrevocably in love with Khushi?
Let me know in the comments..