"Lectures in the Heart: A Love Unforeseen" (Khushi Arnav)

30.khushi realisation...

The evening air was thick with unspoken emotions as Khushi and Karishma returned home after a long day. Khushi rushed to her room, needing a moment to herself, while Karishma lingered to collect her thoughts. As soon as she was alone, Karishma sank onto her bed, the memories tumbling through her mind like leaves caught in a whirlwind.

Images of Khushi and Arnav flooded her memories. She remembered the way Khushi's eyes lit up at the sound of his name and the little glances they exchanged-fleeting moments that she had brushed off in her excitement to return from London. Karishma recalled the time she had come back to find every detail perfectly attuned to Khushi's tastes. The truth finally struck her like a thunderbolt: it had never been about her at all; it had always been about Khushi.

"Oh God," she gasped, sinking back against her pillows. "That means Arnav loves Khushi and Khushi loves Arnav." The realization sent a tumultuous wave of emotions crashing over her-hurt, anger, and an unexpected pang of jealousy. What had she done? Had her return from London somehow driven a wedge between them?

That thought twisted in her gut like a knife. What if Khushi had chosen to go abroad because of her? The weight of this thought was unbearable, and the tears began to flow. She felt angry not just at Arnav or Khushi, but at herself for being blind to something so obvious.

In a fit of determination-mixed with confusion and sorrow-Karishma made her way to Khushi's room. She couldn't hold back her questions any longer.
She knocked lightly on the door and waited, but there was no response. Frowning, she tried the door handle, and to her surprise, it swung open. The room was empty.

"Where could she be?" Karishma wondered aloud, glancing around the room, searching for any clues. She quickly scanned the house-perhaps Khushi had just stepped away. She looked in the kitchen, the living room, and even the garden, but Khushi was nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, in another part of town, Khushi found herself standing at the gates of Arnav's house, and with Akash's help, she discreetly made her way to Arnav's room.

As she entered, an overwhelming wave of emotion took over, and without thinking, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Arnav. The warmth of his embrace was comforting, but the moment felt too intense for Arnav. He gently pushed her back, concern etched on his forehead.

"Khushi, what are you doing?" he asked,

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sir," Khushi stammered, feeling vulnerable under his gaze.

"Khushi, leave me," Arnav urged, trying to maintain a semblance of distance.

"Nahi, main nahi!" she replied, her voice trembling. She looked up at him with tears glimmering in her eyes. "Nahi, nahi, mujhe samajh aa gaya hai. I can't live without you. If something were to happen to you today, I would..." she broke off, overwhelmed.

"Shh," Arnav said softly, putting his hand on her mouth to quiet her. "Come sit with me."

Reluctantly, she let him lead her to the edge of his bed, where they sat side by side, the weight of unspoken words lingering in the air.

"Tell me, what do you want, Khushi?" Arnav prompted, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "You once said you loved me, then you said I should marry your sister. And now, you're telling me you can't live without me. How is this possible?"