Head over Heels

Chapter 5 - Arnav

🎶Tere Bin Nahin Lagda - Nushrat Fateh Ali Khan

🎶Ankhon Ke Sagar - Fuson & Shafat Amanat Ali Khan

———A few days earlier—-—

Lakshmi walked in through the open doors, bleating and sniffing her way around Arnav's bedroom for potential treats.

Arnav raised his head to watch her progress as she joined him at the couch. She pulled on the top most paper from a file splayed next to his laptop and began chewing like it's no one's business.

She gazed at him dolefully, Aranav sighed, Aman will have to work on that report again. Losing interest, she strolled closer and peered at his laptop screen. Arnav gave a small smile, he raised a finger and stroked her head while she rested her head on his knee.

A gasp made Arnav look up. Nani-ji stood by the door, her mouth hanging open. She turned her face away and yelled so that the entire household could hear.

"I think someone has possessed our Chotte! Come quick!"

Arnav rolled his eyes, Lakshmi - not liking the commotion - meandered her way out of the bedroom. Nani-ji walked in with a grin, she ran a hand on his head.

"I don't know what transpired in the past few weeks but it is nice to see this side of you. Please do take a break from work every now and then. You've had us all worried."

Arnav nodded as Di scrambled in through the open doors, her eyes wide and looking for signs of trouble.

"It's alright Di," said Arnav getting to his feet. "Nani-ji's flare for the dramatics has reached new heights."

Nani-ji pursued her lips, unperturbed. She recounted the scene with Lakshmi excitedly. Di, as expected, reacted with exaggerated happiness.

"And he didn't even bite her head off while she was destroying his precious paperwork." Nani-ji turned to him with a flourish. "Our Chotte is ready to be married!"

"What the—" Arnav blurted out, incredulous. It seemed like every action he took under this roof was somehow linked to his impending nuptials. At this rate, even a goat might qualify as a marriage endorsement.

"Ridiculous," he grumbled to Nani-ji and Di's cackles.

"Well, at least we don't have to deal with that Miss Kassyap anymore!"

"Nani-ji," warned Arnav sternly. Di stopped smiling and tensed. "I don't want to talk about it. I have a lot of work to do, I'll see you all at dinner."

Nani-ji grunted her disapproval but didn't protest further, she marched out of the bedroom. Di hung back hesitating, Arnav sat down on the couch and refused to look at her. He heard his sister leave, closing the door softly behind her.

Arnav sighed and leaned back, placing the back of his hand on his eyes. The ever present headache throbbed, goaded further by Nani-ji's comments.

Arnav had sought to meet Lavanya a few days after that disastrous trip. It only took him two days to come to terms with the undeniable truth; his relationship with Lavanya was over.

The encounter was one of the most heart-wrenching experiences he had faced in recent years. He was both surprised and deeply moved by her generosity; she wished him well without a hint of bitterness. Her tears tugged at his heart, making him reflect on how he had wronged her. Her genuine concern for his future made him question whether he had overlooked this compassionate side of her, or if he had simply never taken the time to truly understand her.

Arnav felt a change in him, for the past few weeks, he began to appreciate the little things in life, his temper no longer flared like it used to. He tried to attribute the change to his near death experience but deep down he knew the reason was something else; Khushi.