Zaroorat - Arshi FF

CHAPTER 14

"It's nothing like that...tell Shyam that I would love to meet him." Arnav replied humbly. "Are you done with most of the planning?" Arnav asked Anjali, completely oblivious to Khushi's thoughts.

"Most of it... I still have some shopping left. Speaking of which, I need to steal my appi for a few hours to go shopping. Is that possible?" Anjali asked, giving Arnav her best puppy eyes.

"I can't Anjali." This came from Khushi, "I have to watch Ahaana and Arnav has shooting he has to go to now."

"Oh come on appi! I need help!" Anjali pleaded.

When Khushi was about to decline again, Arnav cut her off, "Take Ahaana with you...I don't mind."

"Yes!" Anjali cheered.

Khushi hesitated. She never really took Ahaana out. It was always home and work. And she didn't want Arnav to agree to this unless he was really comfortable letting his daughter go to a crowded mall.

"Arnav...are you sure? Hum kya sach mein Ahaana ko apne saath le jaa sakte hai?" Khushi said, asking for clarification.

"Arre tumhari beti hai yaar...jahaan lena hai le jao." Arnav said without thinking, and then halted. Arnav and Khushi's eyes then connected and both simply stared at each other. Those words rolled off his tongue so effortlessly. 'Tumhaari beti hai...' Khushi always treated Ahaana as her own, but to hear Arnav to not just say it...but mean it...did something to her. She felt something shift inside her with those words.

Arnav read Khushi's eyes...and saw those green eyes flicker with some unknown emotion. He knew those words he said without thinking meant something to Khushi. He didn't realize that saying something so simple would affect her so. Arnav cursed himself for not showing Khushi the respect she deserved sooner...and he now wanted to try harder to gain her trust. The intense need for that surprised him. What was this? What was this powerful need to earn Khushi's trust? Earn her respect? It's like he needed it. What was this need? Yeh kaisi zaroorat hai?...Arnav couldn't figure it out.

Anjali looked from Arnav to Khushi...and then back. 'This is interesting...' Anjali thought to herself. She was definitely seeing sparks between them. Maybe...just maybe... this marriage wasn't such a bad idea, she thought to herself.

Arnav cleared his throat, breaking the moment between him and Khushi since they were not alone in the room. "Why don't I drop you guys off? The mall falls on the way to film city. I can pick you up after too." He suggested.

Anjali agreed immediately, and Khushi not trusting her own voice, simply nodded in agreement.

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After a few hours of roaming the mall. Khushi, Anjali, and Ahaana came out with multiple shopping bags. They shopped for not only jewelry, but accessories for the bridesmaids, trinkets for the guests, gifts for the wedding party as a 'thank you' from the bride and groom...and multiple shoes matching Anjali's wedding outfits.

They now waited outside by the curb, waiting for Arnav to come pick them up.

"Appi...thank you so much! I would have never finished all this without your help." Anjali exclaimed.

"You're welcome...waise Shyam ko patha bhi hai ke uska palla kis se para hai?" Khushi joked, making fun of Anjali's shopping addiction.

Anjali swatted Khushi's arm, making Khushi laugh in response. Khushi was extremely glad that she came. It felt so nice to be with Anjali and just have a good time. It was extra special because Ahaana was with them and Khushi did some shopping herself, buying multiple cute outfits for Ahaana. Sometimes, a girls' day out was just what you needed to uplift your mood.