Khushi was in her room lost in her thoughts when Payal came in calling her, Payal "Khushi!!!!..... Khushi...."
Khushi being unfocussed "huh? Jiji"
Payal "Khushi, Do you know where Arnav is?"
Khushi "No, Why?"
Payal "It is 11 pm and there is no news of Arnav. Samar uncle is worried for him; never did once he behaved like this, leaving to somewhere without informing him. We tried calling him many times but he is not answering our call. Did he tell you anything? "
Khushi heart stopped for a second "What?" then looked at Payal who was looking at her "I don't know anything."
Payal and Khushi both went to RM. Samar was pacing up and down the hall and Akash was trying to reach Arnav for umpteenth time. Samar "Khushi beta, can you try for once from your number?"
Khushi was uncertain. She looked at Akash and Payal who urged her to call.....sighing she dialed his number, to her luck the call got attended on second ring.....Samar was relieved when call was attended by his son, he knew he can avoid anyone but not Khushi, he looked at the the duo who shared the knowing look with him. Arnav knew who the caller was without looking at it, the familiar ringtone which is only set for Khushi. He knew he was gone and he can't avoid her so he attended the call....
Arnav "Hello"
Khushi after a second silence "Arnav"
Arnav "hmmm"
Khushi "Voh it is past 11 pm and everyone here is worried for you. Where are you?"
Arnav "Oh!!! I did not see the time. I'm coming."
Khushi "okay..." she was going to disconnect the call....when Arnav "Khushi" for which he got a meek reply 'ji'....... "Are you not worried for me?"
Khushi did not say anything for few seconds "Me too, come soon...." and then after thought added "Please"......
Arnav "don't worry I'll be there in half an hour..." they both disconnected the call....
Everyone with patience wait for him, exactly 30 min to T Arnav graced himself with his presence....Akash was the first one to break the silence "where were you Arnav?"
Arnav "Bhai I was...."
Payal "Care to enlighten us Arnav? This is not a joke. You never did something like this."
Arnav looked at Khushi who was waiting for him to say something or anything, "I went out to clear my mind" he said that looking straight at Khushi who looked down....
Samar looked at the two and knows something is wrong, not wanting to stress the matter "Call it a day. Arnav came back safe that is enough"
Arnav turned to his dad "sorry dad"
Samar "Its okay Arnav never do something like this again." Arnav nodded at him, wishing them gud night everyone left.
Khushi before leaving the mansion turned a last time to see Arnav looking at her with hurt visible in his eyes.....She could not take it and went away feeling miserable inside......She came to her room......she was feeling guilty to hurt him but what can she do when truth is always screaming at her face......She remembered the days too well........
Khushi, on the first day of her college seniors ragged her which she could not take it and cried. She cried, not because they ragged her but because they were making fun of her leg. It was Arnav who stood up for her screaming at them for making fun of her and warned them not to do the mistake of hurting her again. No one dared to go against his warning and she for the first time saw ASR in Arnav.
