Khushi's jaw slacked and her eyes widened. Arnav looked at her one last time before leaving. Khushi glanced side to side and shut the door. She leaned against it and slid down the door, confusion clouding her head. Kinjal came back and looked at her daughter. Khushi only looked straight forward and was lost in thought.
He loves me, Khushi wondered.
Kinjal came beside her daughter. "Khushi?"
But Khushi only stood up and went back to her room. She went back to the window and stared out of it. Kinjal had followed her up and sat across from her.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong," Kinjal asked softly.
Khushi bit the inside of her lip. "I can't tell you."
"Why?"
Khushi didn't say anything for moment. Kinjal just looked at her hoping for an answer.
"I don't wanna talk about it," Khushi finally said.
Kinjal sighed and placed her hand on her daughter's knee. "If you keep this up, you'll fall sick."
"It's nothing worse than what I feel now."
Kinjal gasped.
"I'd like to be alone mother."
Pursing her lips, Kinjal got up and left. Khushi continued to stare out of the window, recapping the recent events.
What's he trying to prove, Khushi wondered. He obviously has nothing to make him seem innocent.
Or is there more than what meets the eye, a voice said inside of her.
Khushi took in a sharp breath. I doubt that. It could be that what Lavanya saw was wrong, but I doubt that. He's living above a sex club for crying out loud!
Khushi exhaled heavily. "Forget about it all Kush," she said aloud to herself. "Forget him and forget that you loved him. Forget he even exists! It may not be easy, but you have to try! It's all for your own good."
*~*
After that day, Khushi stopped sulking. Day after day, she worked on building herself mentally stronger. She would distract herself by working out, doing yoga, helping her mother around the house and helping her father with work. She especially helped her father to learn of the company since she would someday own it.
Karan was happy that his daughter was learning about the family business, but he knew that it was only to help the hole within her. She still wasn't the bubbly and cheery girl she once was and he wondered if she'd ever come back.
*~*
T
he spring semester soon began, and Khushi was ready, physically and mentally. She knew that there was no escaping Arnav or Lavanya, so she had built herself up emotionally for that. Remembering how Anisha would smirk at her, she also knew that Anisha would continue to taunt her, so she was ready for any snarky comments if she threw any.
