"Chote!"
Arnav was going down the main staircase when his Di called.
"Yeah Di?!"
"Quickly get ready!"
"Di, where are we going?!"
Anjali came into the main hall. "We're going to the Gupta's. It's Shashi uncle's death anniversary."
"Oh..."
Arnav turned and went back up to his room. As he changed, he couldn't help but think of Khushi.
"I wonder what Khushi is doing," Arnav wondered aloud. "How is she feeling? She must be miserable and she must be crying."
Arnav quickly got ready and went outside and got out his jeep. Him and his father drove over to the Gupta's in that and the ladies were in the car.
They arrived to Gupta Manor. It was huge, but grim. Ever since the death of Shashi Gupta, Khushi's stepmother and stepsister wasted all the money on themselves, being selfish and cruel, selling many valuables inside the house.
Arnav's dadi knocked at the door and a maid opened the door. She led them into the living room and the Gupta's waited.
"Welcome to my home."
They looked up.
"Ah, Garima," Nani said, "it's been long."
Garima came in and sat down in an armchair near the fire place.
"It really has," Garima said. "It was years ago, when you all last came."
"Yes," Dadi sighed. "It was at Shashi's funeral."
Garima sobbed up and cried. Everyone tried to comfort her but Arnav got this weird feeling. He couldn't help but feel that her crying was fake.
"Thank you for your kindness," Garima whispered. "It is a very emotional thing, loosing your husband."
"We understand," both Nani and Dadi said humbly.
"Mother," a girl's voice shouted.
"In the living room, dear," Garima called back.
They heard footsteps and then a girl came into the room.
"Mother I-"
She stopped at the sight of the Raizadas.
"Payal, these are the Raizadas," Garima said sweetly. "And this," Garima said, turning back to the Raizadas, "is my daughter Payal."
Payal put her hands together. "Namaste."
"What a lovely child," Dadi gushed. "Come here betiya."
Payal walked over to her and sat in between her and Nani. They all asked her questions, such as favorite hobbies, what she likes, hates, so much other stuff and Arnav got aggravated. He knew what the purpose of this visit was: to try to get Arnav to marry her. It wasn't the first time his family was doing this to him and he knew this wouldn't be the last.
"Chote," Nani said, snapping Arnav back to reality, "why don't you go with Payal betiya and see the house."
Of course, Arnav thought. The same old "look around the house" plan.
"Uh, sure," Arnav replied. "I'd love to see the outside of this house. Perhaps the back?"
"Um, of course Malik," Payal replied sweetly.
The two got up and Payal led him to the back of the Manor. Outside was beautiful, nothing but a sight of green. The area was hilly and there was a lake not to far.
