Making Her Mine- An IPKKND story.

Chapter 78 - Matchmaking

Arnav ran into Lavanya at the door one afternoon as he was heading out after a particularly mind-numbing session of selecting flowers, which he could have easily skipped, except he hadn't minded the idea of hanging out with Khushi for a bit. But then she had been so caught up with how to match the red roses with the rest of the decor, and did not want his opinion at all.

"Hi ASR!" Lavanya said brightly, looking exactly the same as he had remembered, because why wouldn't she, it was not even a year since she'd left. He saw NK struggling up the steps behind her, lugging two giant suitcases.

"Hey! How are you?" He asked, a little awkwardly. There was a squeal behind him, as Khushi came racing to the door, and an identical squeal from Lavanya.

"Hari Prakash!" Arnav called, seeing that NK was on the verge of collapse at the door. Khushi and Lavanya had clasped arms and were doing some sort of hop. "Please put Lavanya's suitcases in her room."

"Thanks Nannav!" NK gasped. "I could have done it, no problem huh. But yeah, those suitcases are heavy! Up the stairs...! Whew!"

Lavanya gave NK a sidelong look, eyebrows raised. "Oh, uh, Shurukiya, NK ji!" She said.

NK grinned widely, scratched his head, and said, "Er- it's Shukriya for Thank you, Lavanya Ji! And you're welcome, you're welcome. Aap Ka Swagat Hai!"

Lavanya giggled. "Maybe we should drop the -ji's" she said.

"Oh I totally agree!" NK replied, looking positively thrilled.

"NK went to pick up Lavanya?" Arnav asked Khushi, slightly bewildered by this exchange.

"Yes, everyone else was busy, I didn't want to send just Mohan ji. Nanhe ji very kindly volunteered."

He did, did he?

His family greeted Lavanya like she was a long-lost daughter, acting like it wasn't at all weird for his ex, who had once lived here as his girlfriend, to stay at his house again, as a guest at his wedding. Why was his entire family crazy?

Even Payal, who he thought was the only sane person in this household, seemed delighted to have Lavanya back. She had become completely friendly towards Arnav again, which he took to mean that the marriage counseling she and Akash were going to was working.

"You don't think it's weird to have Lavanya in this house?" He asked her, when he ran into her at the poolside, picking up a teacup she had just finished drinking from.

Payal looked amused. "No. She's very sweet. And she's here as Khushi's friend. Maybe it is a little weird, for an outsider especially, but not when you know Khushi. And Lavanya ji... and you."

"And me? I'm not the one who has no boundaries!"

Payal actually laughed at this. "I meant, neither of you were bitter after you ended things – I always appreciated that."

Arnav grimaced, and then nodded. "Er– I haven't asked— how are things with you and Akash?"

"We are good, Arnavji," she replied warmly.

"You know I'll always be there — for you and him, and for the baby. Your children."

Payal nodded back at him. She made to leave, and then turned around. "I never apologized for not telling your family about Shyam. I was the one marrying into this family. I should have."

"It's okay. I don't know what difference it would have made, in the long run. He did what he did. Maybe things happen the way they are meant to. Shyam is in jail now... Things seem to have turned out for the best.