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.