Chapter Eight

Khushi ran to the main door and caught her breath. She couldn't believe what she had done!

Did I... did I just kiss him? Did i really, she said in her head.

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

Why does this keep happening? Why does my heart go crazy?

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

Khushi shut her eyes and an image of Arnav flashed before her. She quickly opened them and felt her heart speed up. She shut it again and an image of him popped up again. She opened them and couldn't figure out what was going on with her.

Taking a deep breath, she was about to open the door, when a strong pair of hands trapped her in between.

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

Khushi gulped and shut her eyes. She knew whose hands they were and she didn't think that she could face him.

"Khushi?"

Khushi felt tingles run up her spine from the sound of Arnav's voice. Arnav slowly turned her around and she continued to look down.

"It's okay Khushi," Arnav soothed.

Khushi looked up at him through her lashes.

"It doesn't matter if others saw."

Khushi gulped and looked down.

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

"Though I could've done it myself too."

Khushi gaped at him. And the Laad Governor was back. She turned to leave, but Arnav quickly placed his hands on the doors again and trapped her.

"Not so fast Khushi."

Khushi clutched onto her dupatta.

"You still haven't answered me."

Oh not that again, she cried in her head.

"Tell me Khushi. Give me an answer."

Khushi wouldn't answer so Arnav turned her around to face him. Khushi looked up at him and saw the softness in his eyes.

"Please answer me Khushi?"

To hear Arnav say please was like a miracle.

"Please say yes."

Khushi's eyes dilated. He was asking her to say yes? THE Arnav Singh Raizada really wanted her to marry him?

All of a sudden, Khushi's phone vibrated. She took the call and it was her Buaji telling her to hurry home fast.

"I'll be home soon Buaji," Khushi said into the phone, looking at Arnav.

Arnav looked slightly disappointed, not successfully hiding it all. He released Khushi and opened the door for her. She looked at him as she walked out the door, thanking him. Arnav attempted a smile, but that was all.

*~*

Khushi kept thinking of Arnav's actions when she got home. She was getting ready for the hawan when her phone rang. Without looking, Khushi picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Khushi."

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

It was Arnav.

"A-Arnavji?"

"Khushi, I'm still waiting for your answer," he said softly.

Khushi shut her eyes. Again, she exclaimed in her head. Why does he keep bugging me?! I mean this is my future at stake! Hey DM! What do I do?!

And then an idea clicked in her head. She thanked DM and smiled cockily.

Khushi smiled a broad smile. "Well Arnavji..."

Arnav got hype. He was waiting for her answer for too long. It felt like ages to him!

"...  I've been thinking about this carefully, and I mean really carefully..."

Arnav felt his heart race.

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

"... and after A LOT of thinking, I've come up with a decision."

Arnav took in a deep breath, but it didn't tame his heart.

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak!

"And my answer is..."

Please say yes, Arnav mentally pleaded.

"... no."

Arnav felt his heart drop. "... what?"

"I mean come on Arnavji! You're asking me to marry you, I get that, but you asked it so wrong!"

"What the-"

"Phirse aapki what the, what the." She twitched her mouth. "Arnavji, if you expect me to marry you, then your proposal has to be like my dream proposal."

"Dream proposal?"

"Haan! Dream proposal!" She sighed. "Where everything is just romantic," she said dreamily.

Arnav scrunched his eyebrows as Khushi continued.

"There will be flowers all over and bright lights! And in the skies... the skies will be filled with stars... and my Amma and Babuji will be watching from above," she said, tears brimmed in her eyes.

Arnav understood how much it meant to her and that at this moment, she was missing her parents a lot.

"Khushi?"

Khushi snapped back to reality. "I have to go... bye Arnavji."

"Bye Khushi."

Both hung up and Arnav knew what he had to do.

Chapter Seven

What did he do? What did he do? What did he do?!

Khushi kept chanting this in her head as her family was bidding their farewell.

"Khushiji," Anjali said as she moved in front of her, "show me your mehendi. Let's see if it came out as deep as Payalji's."

Before Khushi could say anything, Anjali held her hand and looked at it.

"A," she questioned.

Everyone looked at her in confusion.

"W-woh, I said K but she probably... didn't... hear... correctly."

Anjali pursed her lips.

Khushi noticed Arnav from the corner of hers eyes. She looked up at him and her eyes widened. Anjali noticed and looked to see Arnav smirking at Khushi. She looked back and saw Khushi touching her cheek, which was all red.

"Hari Prakash will go get your ride home," Nani said.

"N-n-n-no," Khushi stuttered. "I-I-I'll get it," and she ran out the house.

While the others looked at her in confusion, Anjali looked back at Arnav and saw him smirking, walking away. Anjali at that point knew something was up... so she decided to tell Nani.

*~*

"Kah?! Are you serious," Nani asked.

"Haan Nani! I saw it with my own two eyes," Anjali said.

"Then this is perfect!"

"Yeah but... but will Chote ever admit the truth?"

"We'll get him, one way or another... and I know just the way."

*~*

The next day, the haldi was planned out. At the Gupta home, everyone had arrived to place haldi on Payal. At Raizada mansion, the same was going on with Akash. But for some reason, Khushi had to go to Raizada mansion, since her buaji asked her to.

Standing in front of the door, Khushi prayed silently, not wanting to see that Laad Governor at all. But faith had other plans and the door opened, revealing none other than Laad Governor Raizada.

Arnav shut the door someway and leaned to the side, moving close to Khushi, who had stepped away slightly.

"Hi Khushi," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Khushi looked away, feeling herself go red.

"I see that haldi has the opposite affect on you. Instead of it remaining yellow, it turned red."

Khushi looked up, her eyes wide.

"Oh wait, that's not haldi. Then... is Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta future-Mrs.-Raizada blushing?"

Khushi went crimson and stared at him wide eyed. Why does he have such an effect on me, she wondered.

"Because you and I are meant to be."

Khushi gaped. How did he read my mind?!

Arnav smirked and leaned in closer, Khushi frozen to the ground. Just as Arnav was about to say something, the door opened, revealing NK.

"Hey! Khushiji! Andar aye! Come in, come in," NK said.

Khushi smiled at him and looked at Arnav. He looked ticked off, so she decided to go with NK.

"Of course Nanheji," she smiled too wide, and she followed NK in, giving Arnav a cocky smirk before leaving.

*~*

Arnav couldn't focus the entire time at work. He could only think of Khushi - how close they were the day before, how close they were just before! ...before NK came that is.

That NK needs to back away, Arnav growled in his head. And she's with him now!

Arnav sat up in his seat.

Shit! They probably still are. And seeing NK, it's obvious he likes her! Fuck!

Arnav got up and grabbed his jacket off his chair and stormed out the office.

*~*

When Arnav came home, he saw Khushi and NK in the living room, looking at bangles. He needed to keep an eye on NK, so he sat in the living room, pretending to work on his Blackberry.

Khushi dropped some bangles on the floor and bent down to pick them up. Arnav noticed from the corner of his eyes and saw that the strings on the back of her dress were untied. He looked up and saw NK ogling at her back and he got pissed immediately. Arnav stood up and pulled her hair free from its hair-tie and Khushi looked up immediately.

Khushi stood up. "You shouldn't have done that. Just because I didn't say anything about the thing before, doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

"Maybe. But before you do anything else, check yourself," and he walked away, giving NK a glare, who was looking down.

Khushi was confused by Arnav's words. What does he mean?

*~*

Khushi wet to the poolside with Anjali to see the decorations there. Nani was there as well, and she called Khushi aside.

"Khushi betiyan, the strings in the back of your dress are untied," Nani whispered.

She helped to tie it up and only then did Khushi understand. She now understood why Arnav had done what he did. And just as she thought of him, he appeared in front of her. Him still mad at her, he walked over to where his Di was standing.

Nani moved over to her grandson and Anjali went to Khushi.

"So how is it," Anjali asked Khushi.

"It's lovely Anjaliji," Khushi exclaimed. "Jiji is going to be really happy here. She'll have her husband by her side, as well as her in-laws." She looked at Anjali.  "Really Anjaliji, you're really nice! You'll be the best sister in-law ever," and she grabbed Anjali and kissed her on the cheek.

She moved to Nani. "And you'll be the best grandmother in-law ever," she exclaimed and kissed her on the cheek.

She moved in front of Arnav. "And you'll be the best brother in-law," and without even thinking, she reached up and kissed him on his cheek.

Anjali and Nani gaped. Khushi pulled away and realized what she did, and she gaped. Arnav was in shock - she had kissed him on the cheek, not to mention in front of his sister and Nani!!!

"I-I-I'm sssorry," Khushi stuttered and she ran out.

Anjali and Nani watched her as she ran out and then looked at Arnav, who was completely still, registering everything through his head. The two ladies looked at each other and pursed their lips, trying to stop themselves from giggling.

Chapter Six

Arnav watched as Khushi and NK joked around. He felt a pang of jealousy, so he came up with an excuse and left to his room. Khushi sighed out of relief when he left and continued with her jokes with NK.

Soon it was time for the Gupta's to leave, but Payal still needed to get some kangans. Anjali said she would get it from Arnav's room, but Buaji said that Khushi would go.

Crap, Khushi thought. Into the lions den we go.

Khushi left to his room and prayed to DM before going in. She knocked but there was no response. She knocked again and then opened the door. Arnav wasn't there and she let herself in. She saw a red box and picked it up. Opening it, she saw the kangans.

Wow, they're beautiful, she said in her head. Jiji will look even better with them!

She turned on her heels, all giddy, when she lost her balance and one of the kangans went flying, going straight into the pool. Khushi quickly went running over to the pool, pulled up her sleeve, and reached in. She was really close, but she still couldn't reach. She tried again and again, but still couldn't reach it.

Khushi sighed and sat on her knees. Hai DM, please help me!

She tried again, but this time, another hand reached in as well. She looked up and saw Arnav next to her, looking at the kangan.

She looked away. "I can do it myself," she nearly whispered.

Arnav looked at her. "I can see that."

Khushi rolled her eyes and reached for it again and Arnav watched her. She couldn't reach it and he rolled his eyes.

"Khushi, tum har kaam nai karsakti."

"Yes I can."

"Khushi, are you still going to be like this after our wedding?"

Khushi looked straight up, eyes wide. She didn't even want to think about that! She ignored him and went back to the kangan. She still couldn't reach it and Arnav ]reached in and took it out, and looked at her with a cocky grin.

"What are you even doing here," Khushi asked, irritated.

"Khushi, this is my room."

She looked away. Of course it's his room, she said in her head. "I could've done it myself."

She reached out and grabbed the kangan to take it. But when she tugged on it, Arnav didn't let go.

"Tum har kaam nai karsakti," Arnav said.

"Yes I can," and Khushi tugged on it.

"No you can't."

"Yes I can," and she tugged on it hard, Arnav releasing it too, and it fell back in the pool, splashing water on Khushi's face.

"Khushi, are you okay?"

Khushi looked at him. This entire time, all he kept doing was say her name - say her name in such a way that it was making her heart thump. She was trying to ignore it, but it ringed in her ears. The way he would say it was luring her into him, intoxicating her, all by the sound of her name.

"I'm fine," she finally said. "And I can do everything."

She reached into the pool and grabbed the kangan. Getting up on her feet, she was about to walk away, when she felt a tug on her dupatta.

"Aapki himat-"

She stopped herself. Last time they had gotten into this situation, she had thrown hot tea at him, when it wasn't even his fault. Khushi turned to release her dupatta from whatever it was and gaped. She looked straight at Arnav, who was holding onto her dupatta.

Arnav looked straight into Khushi's eyes, which were really wide. He saw her chest heave from confusion and a whole bunch of desires built within him.

"Wha-what are you doing," Khushi asked.

Arnav stood up from his crouch and kept his eyes locked with hers. "You can't do everything."

"Y-yes I can," she said, looking down.

"Oh really?"

He started to twist her dupatta around his hand, winding it around his hand and forcing her forward. He kept doing it until Khushi was directly in front of him.

Arnav looked down at her. "Really?" His voice was low and breathy.

"H-h-haan..."

Arnav eyed Khushi; she was beautiful, no doubt, and he thought back to the first time they had ever met, back at Lucknow.

"Whatever I can do," he began, his voice still low, "will you be able to do it?"

Khushi looked side to side and nodded.

"Laagi shart?"

Khushi gulped and nodded once more.

Arnav looked at Khushi for a moment. He really wanted her and he would proceed as he willed. Moving his face in closer, he kissed her cheek. Khushi's eyes widened on contact and she gasped. She looked straight forward, shocked at what he just did.

What... the, Khushi thought.

She looked at Arnav and saw the light smirk on his face, Arnav feeling proud of himself for finally being able to show some of his emotions to Khushi. Khushi pushed away from him, pulling her dupatta from him and ran out, leaving a proud, smirking Arnav behind.

Chapter Five

Khushi entered the kitchen and started removing the bits of dried mehendi. "Who knows what's wrong with that mehendi wali! Kitne bar mehne kaha ki mera naam-"

"Khushi."

Khushi shut her eyes, her heart beating and breathing pacing up.

"Khushi, I'm talking to you."

Khushi looked up and saw Arnav and stopped with what she was doing, hiding her hands.

"So tumne mujhe phone kiya," he said, crossing his arms.

Hai DM, how does he know, she asked in her head. "Phone? Nai! K-kab?"

"I dunno... mere, aane se pehle."

Khushi shook her head. "Nai, mehne phone nai ki-"

"Really?" He neared in on her.

Khushi stepped back. "N-nai'?"

"Oh really?" He hit a button on his Blackberry and Khushi heard her voice. She was in shock and wondered how it had even happened. Arnav brought his phone down and Khushi looked at him wide-eyed, nervous. "What did you say? Sorry or something?"

"Th-that's n-not me," Khushi said.

"Really?" He was about to replay the voicemail but Khushi cut him off.

"Don't play it again! Humne kahan na?! That's not my voice!"

"Is that so?"

"Haan," she said, pointing her hand up at him.

Arnav saw the A on her hand and Khushi moved her hand away. A small smirk appeared upon his face, but unable to be noticed by Khushi. He played his game.

"Oh really," he asked, stepping closer to her.

Khushi stepped back and leaned up against the wall and Arnav wasn't sparing her space to escape. "H-ha-aan."

He was about to play the message again, but Khushi stopped him, pointing at the phone.

"Humne kahan na? Ye hamari awaz nehi hain," she said, showing her hand at him.

Arnav grabbed her hand and Khushi closed it into a fist. Her eyes widened and she looked at Arnav and tried to free her wrist, but Arnav wasn't letting her and he looked straight into her eyes.

He slowly opened up her hand and circled the A. "Yeh kya hain?"

Khushi drew her hand back. "K-kya hain yeh?"

Arnav crossed his arms and sighed lightly. "So tumne tumhare haat main A lekha?"

"Nai!"

Arnav raised his eyebrow.

"M-mera matlab, haan! ... Hamare naam bhi A hain."

"Really?"

"Haan. Khushi Kumaaari Guptaaa. Aaa! Suna aapne?"

"Haan, suna."

Khushi looked away and slightly pouted, and Arnav found it cute. He was about to make a move when NK came in and ruined the moment. Khushi noticed how bothered Arnav was by NK, so she used that against him and she and NK left the kitchen.