Posted: July 2017 | Edited: December 3rd, 2019
| . . . C H A P T E R . . . . 3 . 3 . 5 - O N E - R O O F . . . |
I was going to go home with Anjali, when she said she would manage on her own, leaving Armaan with me to decide what to do. "Basketball?"
"This late?" I questioned, and he shrugged his shoulders. I went along, "Oh, what the hell."
And so, we went to the nearest basketball court. We both needed to unwind and being on this court once again with Armaan as the opponent brought back memories of the teenage days.
I commented while dribbling, "You know, I used to think you were so arrogant. Never having to worry about fitting in. Always the popular one. Even today."
He laughed in response, "Hey, being a celebrity is not the best career move."
"Neither is studying to be a doctor at the same time."
He aimed the ball at the hoop with a flick of the wrist and scored. "No... it isn't. But I can't let go of either. I love singing and being famous is that thing I need to change things... never feel powerless again. And wanting to be a doctor... it helps me do something. Something more important with my life."
"Making music is something." I offered when he passed the ball.
He walked backwards. I moved to the center line, aiming for the center when he bounced the question I hadn't anticipated, "What are your intentions with Khushi?"
With my hands still overhead holding the ball in my palms, my eyes flickered over to him. He had his hands on his hips, looking defensive and protective as ever when it comes to Khushi. "What are you getting at?" I questioned his underlying tone.
I tried to not think much into it when I throw the ball but he stuck to his tone, "What I am getting at is what are your intentions? I know you both agreed on getting married just for our parent's sake."
I reminded him in case he's forgotten, "A lot has happened since then, Armaan."
"Which is why I am asking." We were here to play basketball, but that didn't seem to be happening as we sat against the fence that surrounded the court. "She's living with you, Arnav. We are both men. You can't blame me for asking."
I took the ball from his hand and spun it around on the floor. Watching it turning with speed, I answered. "I know the reality, Armaan. You don't have to worry about my intentions." I glanced sideways at him to check if he believed me. He didn't look as defensive as before. I exhaled after picking up the ball and passing it in his direction. "My intentions for her have always been pure."
The tension in his muscles relaxed as he accepted the ball and played with it, passing it over from one hand to the other. "I know... but still, I don't know why I doubt that sometimes."
I honestly didn't take offense to that or hold this against him. "I get it, man. I don't think I could ever trust any guy completely with Anjali either."
We tried not to be the over-protective, alpha male chauvinists who feel the need to protect their females, feel the need to save the day... but at the end of the day, we somewhere turn into that for a few passing seconds when it comes to being brothers who have seen their sisters suffer through hell at the hands of guys looking for mere entertainment. Guys like Vivek and Shyam who aren't scared of the consequences because of the society we live in. Guys who are never reprimanded as kids by parents and instead treated as if they were gem and a blessing on the world for their existence. They start thinking of themselves to be better than others and untouchable. They believe themselves to be entitled and that ideology is just sick.
Clearing my throat, I asked, "Anyway, lighter topics. You and Riddhima?"
He laughed, "Between music, concerts, lectures, and studying, I'm starting to feel like I don't have hours in a day to have a life. Does that answer your question? Cause I think there may not be us for long."
I rolled my eyes, "Oh please, how can you even doubt that? You both have been through everything and you're still there in each other lives. And the biggest thing: she loves you, man. She's not going anywhere."
"She did before."
"Well, not this time."
She might have pulled the plug on their friendship three years ago when she left for Australia, but I know she wouldn't do it ever again. I was there. I had seen her missing Armaan over the years and even if they were against the celebrity status and a very tough career journey of a doctor, they were going to make it through that.
"Do you know what I have learned from knowing her the past three years?" I added, feeling that he needed to know this. "I may not have known her my whole life like you, but... she's Riddhima, you know? I have seen her break the boundaries she had restricted herself in. She went beyond what society might have expected her to be. She chose her own path. To be her own person and not let anything, even her own insecurities, drag her down. So, believe it, Armaan. If you think being such a public figure and putting her in the eye of the world would scare her away or that she won't be able to handle the pressure, then she may just surprise you."
"That's not it... I have messed up with her so many times. I don't want to hurt her again and I don't know... I just feel like it's never the right time for us."
I scoffed calling him out on it. "That's a load of bull, and you know it. You have to make it the right time, Armaan. No one else can dictate that for you. If you want a real shot with her and so does she, who is to stop you?"
"So when is the right time to tell Khushi you love her?"
I laughed, commenting. "I see why Riddhima gets irritated by you. Stop deflecting. Stop letting the fact that you have a busy life keep you from making it real with her. Stop worrying about Khushi this much and focus on yourself for a change. As for when I tell Khushi, soon... I already have it planned."
He raised a brow, waiting for me to share this plan, but I don't confide in him just yet. All he needed to know was that I have a plan in motion.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
Kripa knocked at my door and I sat up on the bed where I had been lying down with my legs hanging off the edge. Khushi was staying the night with Riddhima, and even though it was just one night, I missed her presence. "Hey, what are you doing still up. Don't you have an interview tomorrow?"
Entering the room, she forwarded a box. "Di asked me to give this to you."
"What is it?" I took the box as she sat next to me on the bed. There was a dress inside.
She informed, "Knowing Khushi, she wouldn't have picked out an outfit for the calendar launch."
True that. I commented over the design, "Why does this look familiar?"
"Do you remember your last week in college, you returned a sketch to give to Khushi? She'd drawn it while waiting for you to get back to your dorm room so you can take her back."
"Let me guess. You never gave it to her?"
She cheekily confirmed, "Nope. I gave it to di some years later. She finished the design, saying how it's something she would have designed herself."
"Did I ever thank you for the role you've played in bringing us together?"
"Ah, come on," she lightly brushed if off, "you don't ever need to. It's just good to you see you like this. Happy, you know?"
I nodded, agreeing. "I am. Happy, I mean."
She stood up, smoothing out her dress. "On that note, I'm off to bed. Make sure she gets that."
Once she leaves, I exhaled and laid back in bed. Though happy, I feel emptiness surrounding me tonight. I think I've gotten habituated to having Khushi around. To seeing her image the last before closing my eyes for the night. To falling asleep holding her hand.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
Late afternoon the next day, I removed my headphones hearing a familiar voice. Khushi's laugh carried over through the open door where I imagine she is somewhere downstairs. She is back from hanging out with Armaan and Riddhima. Putting my laptop aside, I stood up from the lounge chair by the pool and made my way downstairs.
Even as I was walking down the stairs, I glanced over at the scene unfolding in the living room. Khushi was on her back along the length of the couch with Aarav sitting on her stomach - both of them engaged in a tickle-war. Kripa was having her fun filming it while Anjali and Lavanya were in the kitchen getting started on dinner with Lavanya calling out to Aarav to not trouble Khushi too much.
But, I rather thought Khushi was enjoying being troubled.
I smiled to myself, seeing everyone I cares for under one roof. One happy roof.
Walking up to them, standing behind the couch. I leaned over to ruffle Aarav's hair. "Hey, Champ."
He grinned back continuing his assault on Khushi's side even as her top rode up, "Hi, daddy."
Sending him another smile, my gaze flickered to Khushi. She was trying to dodge Aarav's tickling fingers while her eyes locked with mine. I greeted her, "Hey, when did you get back?"
"About an hour back." She replied following it with a squeal and directing to Aarav, "Okay, okay, you win."
"Yes!" Aarav's throws a fist in air before shifting off Khushi to let her sit up. The second she did, he plopped down on her lap.
An oomph escaped her lips. Kripa randomly suggested, "Yo, get in the frame." On realizing a second later that she was speaking to me, I shifted to the right to stand behind Khushi. Aarav grabbed my hand and pulled me in, causing me to lean over with his cheeks pressed next to me while my other hand went over to Khushi's shoulder to keep my balance.
I thought she might freeze. That her shoulders might tense up. Neither happened. Instead, she just said to Aarav, "You are very hyper today, kid. What did Lavanya feed you?"
I corrected her, "That's him every day, actually." She wouldn't know given she's only spent so little time with him.
After Kripa snapped a picture, Aarav quickly jumped off the couch and ran over to see how it came out. I blinked away from the aunt-nephew to find Khushi had tilted her head back towards me. Our faces were only inches apart and all I wanted to do was lean over and kiss her - maybe on the cheek or her head - but either way, I just wanted to express my affection, tell her I missed her even though it had been less than a full 24-hour space since I last saw her.
But, I didn't when I caught a slight hitch in her breath before she diverted. "So, work done?"
It would have been done sooner if I had known she had gotten back an hour ago.
Straightening up, I walked around the couch to sit at the other end, body angled in her direction. "It is now. Why didn't you come up and say hi?"
Her forehead pulled together, "Say hi? Arnav, I live here. You would have eventually found out."
Kripa, obviously overhearing our conversation, laughed. "You two are perfect for each other."
I might scowl at her but even I found myself smiling at Khushi. She might have not caught why she should have come to see me, let me know she was back, but she did catch on to Kripa's sarcasm. "Why? What am I missing here?"
Kripa stood up from her spot, directing to me, "Bro, have fun explaining it to her," and took Aarav into the kitchen enticing him with treats that no doubt, Anjali and Lavanya were preparing. Even I could go for Lavanya's Dutch apple pie right now - and that is despite me being a diabetic. Sometimes, risks are worth it. Having a little wouldn't send me straight to the hospital, after all.
Khushi insisted on an answer looking at me, "Explain what?"
Figuring she wouldn't be able to grasp it right now nor would I be able to explain it to her, I steered the topic elsewhere, "Nothing, how was your day? Do anything interesting?"
She was quick to smile, "Oh, yes! It was all just like old times. We annoyed the hell out of Ridzzi when she was trying to make brunch and then ofcourse, those two got into a stupid argument over something - I don't even remember what and I doubt they know it either - but then they went right back to being all flirty like they hadn't just been screaming at each other. Yeah, they're weird like that, but anyway, they are my entertainment so ofcourse I didn't interfere in any of it. Just sat back and took videos I can use for blackmail later."
That's my girl.
I laughed at the devilish streak in her. She wouldn't be this open with just anyone, and I loved that she enjoyed telling me the smallest and silliest of things of her day. Because what she just described sounded very much like a typical day in her life and yet, I imagined that just getting to relive the feeling of things being like their childhood days was the highlight of her day. For years since college, it hadn't been like this. Things happened. Then they went straight into working full-time. Catching up with her oldest friends seemed to work wonders for her mental health.
"Can I see those videos?" Maybe I'd feel like I was there with them.
"Sure, but my phone is in my room charging. Later?"
I was already standing up, "Phone can't come to us, but we can go to it."
She slouched, "But I'm comfy."
"I can always carry you upstairs," I joked knowing that she would be up on her feet faster than anyone could blink.
She surprised me by staying in her position a second longer, almost as if contemplating whether she would mind. That, for me, was news. I remembered a few times in college when all it would take was me threatening to get in her space for her to quit being lazy or difficult.
Then, she wet her lips as if her throat was suddenly parched and pushed herself off the couch cushion to stand up and slip her feet into her slippers. "Alright, let's go."
Quietly, I followed her, lost in my thoughts of how to take this. Is it a signal that things were slowing shifting between us again?
If I had known one day with those two buffoons would bring this change in her, I would have suggested to her long back to hang out with them more... even if that meant cutting down on the time she'd spend with me.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
Just as we reached her doorway, I touched her arm to get her attention, "Wait, I'll be right back."
"Okay," she replied as I quickly darted into my room to grab the box Kripa gave me last night and returned to her room where she was waiting right where I had asked her to wait. Seeing the box and the size of it, she stood taller and her arms uncrossed from across her chest. "You better not have got me something ridiculously expensive."
I smiled holding it out for her to take, "No." She raised a dubious brow and I fessed up, "Alright, fine, I didn't. You can blame di for this."
She sighed as if knowing she won't be able to argue with her. Me and her both. It was pretty impossible to argue with di when she'd look back so sweetly and innocently. Ofcourse, her heart was also in the right place so it almost never made sense to argue with her.
Walking over to the bed, she placed the box on top before opening it and pulling out the long dress. When it unfolded and she held it up in front of her, she gasped. Her neck twisted back, "This is my design. Well, atleast one I started but never finished. I thought I had lost the sketch. I tried resketching it but couldn't get it exactly right again."
I slowly walked into the room to cross the distance between us, "Yeah, she finished it. I'd given it to Kripa to return to you, but she thought it was better to hold on to it. I think she was thinking long-term."
"I actually believe that," she ran a soft hand over the dress as if needing to still convince herself that something in her imagination was a reality in front of her.
I decided to help her out in believing it. "Here." I took it from her, nodded her towards the dresser mirror, and standing behind her, held the dress to her shoulders so she could see it on herself without having to put it on.
Her hands brushed over the bodice around the waist.
"Don't tell me you are going to cry."
She scoffed looking up at me through the reflection in the mirror. "No." But her eyelids were definitely starting to tear up a little. Her voice also started to break a little, "This was my very first design."
"Then you most definitely need to wear it to the calendar launch."
She turned to face me, opened her mouth to say something, but then paused and looked at the dress between us. "Hold it right there." I turned in position, confused as she laid down the dress on the bed carefully, before walking back to me. I waited for her to say something when she paused just a step in front of us. Instead, she simply reached up on her toes and her arms wrapped around my neck, her cheek pressing against mine in a hug.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
| . . . A U T H O R - N O T E . . . |
I hope you enjoyed this addition to Arnav's POV! Do let me know your thoughts.
Shall be updating 2-3 times a week now that I have enough edited that I feel confident in sharing :)