Humdard | ✔

Chapter ten - Light

Arnav's mind replayed the scene of him and Khushi in his Mama's cottage again and again, refusing to stop for the warmth those memories were spreading through him. They had spent the entire evening there, probing more into the emotions they had been hiding from each other, before he finally dropped her off her house and drove to his, smiling like crazy.

He grinned blithely, contended with the conversation he had with his Khushi, prior and after their kiss.

Their first and blissful kiss, the kiss whose aftermath still hasn't left him. He was still feeling the tingling feeling that he felt when her lips first touched his and he didn't try to shrug it off, because it was one of the most wonderful feeling, which he wanted to cherish forever.

He shook his head, trying to fight back the blush that crept up his neck and resided on his cheeks, as he strode inside, to find his Di and Nani in the hall.

"Chotte.."

He didn't get any time to question them why they were still up this hour as Anjali soon engulfed him into a hug. A tight one.

"Akash called, he told us everything.." Anjali mumbled, pulling back to reveal her teary eyes.

Arnav smiled, seeing her expression mirroring those of the Gupta family and his brother, who had been there to comfort his in-laws after their increased anxiety at Khushi's abrupt decision.

"He told us, that you and Khushi bitiya.." Devyani trailed off and kissed his forehead, feeling overwhelmed by the fact that her Chotte is now settled, in every sense.

"Stay blessed Chotte, always.." The elderly lady croaked, drying her dripping eyes, causing both Arnav and Anjali to sigh in smiles at her emotional self.

Anjali wiped the corner of her eyes and curved her lips into a mischievous grin, trying to lighten the suddenly heaved atmosphere.

"By the way, Chotte, I must admit, one word from Khushiji and you ran all the way to her house and even managed to cajole her too. Wow, pretty impressive skills I must say. Or should I say, pretty irresistible actions?" She said, batting her eyelashes innocently while Arnav rolled his eyes at her futile attempt to tease him. Devyani by her side chuckled.

"I took her to Mama's cottage." He said, the words of his dragging down the smiles off his sister and Nani's faces.

They stared at each other, before glancing at him, who was smiling faintly while nodding.

Anjali exhaled, feeling her smile back on her lips, more radiant and much more relieved as she hugged her brother again. Her tears escaped, at the realization that her brother is finally free from his tormenting past, that he finally have someone to share his grief to, someone in front of whom he will not be ashamed to cry anymore.

_________

Khushi inhaled, pulling the blanket over face as she was in danger of being awoken from her sleep by the glimmering morning rays and smiled peacefully, drifting back to the blissful dreams of her Arnavji.

A familiar voice, shouting at the top her lungs in the background, however, woke her up at last and she clicked her tongue in annoyance opening her drowsy eyes to see what calamity broke on her Buaji's head this early morning. 

She shrugged the blanket away and peeked to see Madhumati shouting and packing her clothes simultaneously. 

"Arrey O Garima, are you done with the sweets? Do you- oh look, your darling daughter finally woke up from her sleep. Arrey sankadevi, ladki ho ya kumbkaran? Have you seen what time is it?" Madhumati said and went on mumbling things that didn't make sense to Khushi.