FF - Plot twist

Chapter 32 - Peace

Making as less noise as possible, Khushi opened the door and tiptoed inside Arnav's room. The whole room was dark, eerily silent, and still. The dull lamps in the poolside were the only source of the provision of light. Plants swaying in the gentle breeze of the cool air did not soothe Arnav who was gazing into the non-being. Khushi inhaled deeply as she approached him.

"I thought you wouldn't come back," he said before she could even announce her presence.

Though surprised at his ability to sense her presence, she quickly composed herself.

"And what made you think like that?" she asked.

"You know, after what all I had called you yesterday," his voice cracked.

"Well, I would have disappeared the next moment from your life had you really meant it."

Khushi heard his sharp intake of breath but there was no change in his position. She approached and sat next to him, looking intently at his face.

"What makes you think that I did not mean it?" he asked, his eyes shut tightly.

"2 reasons," said Khushi. "One - You wouldn't have snuck into my room last night and apologized to me believing that I was asleep."

She softly smiled at him as he snapped his head towards her.

The previous night, Khushi was wide awake when Arnav sneaked into her room. She pretended to be sleeping to see what he'd do. Repeating the words "I'm sorry, Khushi" in a whisper over and over again while kneeling down before her sleeping form on the bed, he departed. She swore she felt some wetness on her cheeks when he kissed her forehead before leaving.

"And two - Unfortunately, for you, I presume I know pretty well on how your brain works. It's mostly possible that I know you too aptly."

His eyebrows furrowed.

"I noticed the look you have on your face as you slammed the door on me. I remembered the same look in our past before you would hurt me, for example - Diwali night. You only have admitted to me many times that you cause me pain emotionally to guard yourself and your heart. You would hide behind ASR because you were scared."

Arnav gazed at her, amazed. He was marveled realizing the deep synchronized connection of their hearts. How could one understand anyone this well?

"I saw the same fright hidden deep in you and sensed some odd panic, which I've never noticed before. I assumed there must be something big frightening you, and left without uttering a single word to anyone. "

Arnav exhaled deeply and visibly eased up hearing her confession.

"Needless to say, I am very disappointed in you, Arnavji," she stated with a stern expression.

That melted away his moment of relaxation as he hung his face down, eyes shut tightly.

"Please, Khushi. Please say anything but that. I will die... literally, I will die of shame! No, please, no--" he pleaded getting hysterical.

Khushi gently held his hand and said,"I am disappointed because you let ASR take over you once again. You went back to your former self as you were when you hated me."

He opened his mouth to protest but she didn't let him.

"Has nothing changed? Have I not changed you, not even one bit? Are we back to how we were before, cold and distant? You decided to bury dark secrets in you when you could have confided in me. When confronted, you basically ran away from the situation by pushing me away. "