Khushi groaned, "Jesus Christ, Kartik. I'm on the verge of boarding flight to New York and personally murder the life out of you!!" She snapped at Kartik's digital projection on the laptop.
Khushi scowled, Kartik sighed "Okay, kiddo I'm sorry. Quit scowling and give me a smile. This is definitely not the face I want you to have when I'm millions of miles away." Kartik laughed, "It's a guilty pleasure, messing with you and riling you up. You are already getting too much pampering from the Raizadas. Someone needs to make sure you remain grounded." He said, still chuckling softly.
Khushi's lips broke out a small smile. "Is mumma better now? I talked to her earlier, but you know she's mom! You can never tell with her. " She asked
Kartik nodded, "She's getting better. Dad's planning to take her out on a vacation. It'll probably cheer her up." He informed his sister.
Khushi nodded, "Don't hesitate from taking the credit, brother dearest. We both know Dad has lost the ability to surprise mom any longer." She smirked.
Kartik snickered. "I wish I could take credit this time. Dad actually managed to surprise us his time. He made all the arrangements in secret. I literally came to know by accident." He told her.
Khushi's muth formed a cute O, as she stared at the screen mildly surprised.
"Close your mouth kiddo, a fly or worse a mosquito will enter your mouth, then you'll be left gagging and coughing." Kartik quipped.
Khushi closed her mouth and pouted. "Anything else?"
"Not really. Oh, I just renembered.. there is a talk in the office, about promoting me." Kartik informed her.
"That's crazy! Congratulations Kartik." Khushi squealed excitedly.
"Slow down kid, there's a catch." Kartik added, causing Khushi to frown.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I'll be asked to join a different office, in a completely different country." Kartik said, clearly not excited at the prospect.
Khushi nodded, "Have you told Mumma and Dad?" She asked.
"Not yet. I'll talk to them soon, hopefully after the HR guys tell me where they plan to send me off to." Kartik said softly.
"You can refuse the transfer, can't you?"
"I don't want to. It's too good of an opportunity to let go." Kartik told her. "Besides, I don't think I'll have a choice. I'll lose the chance at a promotion, if I don't get transferred."
"I know. But cheer up Kartik, it's AR. They're the best." Khushi said, her voice regaining her old excitement.
Kartik nodded, " Says the apple of the eye of the Raizada siblings, and by extention even the RAIZADA FAMILY." He teased "Are you sure you're not biased? Or worse, in love?"
"Who'd I be in love with?" Khushi asked
"That's for you to know kiddo. Tell me now if there's someone special in the picture." Kartik said mischievously.
Khushi blushed slightly. "There is no one. I am not biased either. They really are the best."
"I'm messing with you kid, AR is indeed the best, that's what made me stick around for four long years." He sighed "I hope I can convince Dad and Mom to move with me."
Khushi rolled her eyes, "Like that's going to happen. Our father loves NYC way too much to leave that place for anywhere else." She said.
"A man's got to try." Kartik shrugged.
"Well, all the best then, I hope you can turn the tides in your favor." Khushi grinned, Kartik grinned back.
***
The inseparable six were sitting in a cafe near their college, chatting about anything and everything in this whole wide world. Khushi was busy recollecting a story from her childhood.
"..but it wasn't true at all." Khushi said innocently, pinching her throat. "I swear."
"I'm not actually going to believe you bambolina." Jane said teasingly.
"I'm not lying Jay, Kartik was.. saving his own skin. While mom was scolding me, Kartik was laughing like a hyena in his room." Khushi made a cute face.
"Stop troubling her Jay!" Aron scolded his sister and smiled reassuringly at Khushi making her smile back.
"I am not going to believe you until and unless I hear the sides of both the parties involved." Jay said stubbornly.
Khushi sighed, "Good for you then, that he's going to land in IGI Airport around three days from now." She said grinning broadly. You could suddenly see the excitement radiating off her face.
"What the?!" Arnav exclaimed surprised, "Your brother Kartik is coming to India?-"
"And you're telling us NOW!!" Jane practically shook Khushi in her seat, earning a gasp and a shriek from her.
"Jane!!" Pragya looked at her disapprovingly.
"I.. got to know, like yesterday." Khushi defended herself. "It.. skipped. I had told you he'll be getting transferred or something soon."
"He got transferred to the AR Main Office, Delhi? Why didn't you tell us!"
"Woh Kartik Greene hai, Kartik Aryan nahi, stop being dramatic about this.(He's Kartik Greene, not Kartik Aryan,)" Arnav said dismissively. "It must have slipped her mind."
Jane made a face at Arnav. "You're the one who's going to work in closest proximity with him."
Arnav grinned.
"I'm so jealous." Aron frowned at him.
Arnav patted his back sympathetically. "It happens brother dear. I'm sure you'll get over it soon enough."
"So he's going to come today?" Alok asked.
Khushi nodded. "Yes, He's landing in a few hours. I wanted to go and receive him, but he denied, for some weird reason. He'll reach home directly."
Alok grinned, "How about we crash his welcome?"
Jane and Pragya's eyes lit up. "Yes khushi.. Can we?" Jane asked
"Can we?" Pragya asked, her eyes shining hopefully.
Khushi chuckled, "Of course Pragya. You all are most welcome to come and 'crash' my brother's welcome party."
Everyone laughed. "Can't let Arnie have all the fun, being the first one in our lot to meet the famed Kartik R. Greene." Alok
"So.. this is about meeting him before me?" Arnav raised his eyebrow at the said boy.
Alok only grinned in response. "It's more like meeting him with you."
Arnav shook his head, amused at the quip.
"So much for brotherly affection!" Arnav said rolling his eyes
They grinned.
***
"Khushi?" Arnav took a cautious step in the direction of the girl standing in the poolside, her hair open and swaying gently to the breeze, reached her lower back.
She turned, her bright hazel eyes dimmed as soon as she turned to face him. "Arnav" her voice was cold, unforgiving. Arnav flinched.
Arnav reached for Khushi's hand, Khushi pulled away, levelling him with a hard glare
"I missed you Khushi" Arnav spoke sincerely. Khushi laughed mirthlessly. "Sure you do."
"Khush.." A tear trickled down his cheeks.
"What are you doing here?" She questioned him coldly, her eyes bore into his, searching him ruthlessly.
Arnav backed away, "I.."
"Have you not had enough?" She asked "Did my death not give you enough satisfaction?"
"I'm so sorry Khush, I didn't.." Arnav made a fragile attempt at an apology.
"Of course you did Arnav Singh Raizada, after all what is the value of the life of Khushi Kumari Gupta in front of Arnav Singh Raizada's dear sister." She asked, as Arnav stood a few steps away, paralyzed with grief and shock.
"I didn't kill you Khushi, I could never even bear the thought of it." Arnav pleaded with her, Khushi looked at him thoughtfully, "Maybe not directly" She whispered "but you did."
"You were the reason I was there in the first place" She spoke as if she had just reached the conclusion "Your love overpowered every other emotion, every other instinct that I could have had."
They looked at each other, terror and helplessness shone in his eyes while hatred and loathing shone in hers.
"Khushi kumari Gupta died for the man she loved, but she also died for the man who couldn't even trust his own wife." She spoke with distaste.
"You tried your best to break me, be it in your office, in your house, in that so called marriage of six months, or anywhere in between but when none of that could do what you had intended,, you killed me." Khushi said sadly.
"No.."
"You killed me Arnav Singh Raizada." Khushi took a step in his direction, her face had suddenly turned pale, eyes hollow, Arnav took a step back.
"You killed me." She took another step towards him, as he backed away.
"I didn't Khushi." Arnav sobbed
"Had you believed me at the airport, things would have been so different. I would have lived." Khushi said regretfully. "We would have lived."
"I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry."
"You killed me, and you killed yourself. This is all your fault."
***
"I don't know, honestly. He's been acting jumpy all morning." Aron said.
Khushi frowned, her eyes met Arnav's and he offered her a hesitant smile.
"Is everything okay Arnie?" She asked him concerned.
Arnav nodded, "Yeah, everything is absolutely fine." He told her.
"You're too quiet." Khushi whispered. "It's not normal."
"I'm always quiet Khushi, it's nothing unusual if you were to ask me." Arnav shrugged.
"Maybe to the rest of the world it isn't anything unusual, but not to us. We know the real you." Pragya said softly. "Something is definitely not right and we know that."
Arnav sighed, smiling. "I'm really okay guys. Trust me."
Everyone gave him a sarcastic look. "It's just a nightmare, really. Everyone has one, every once in a while." Arnav said nonchalantly.
"If you want to talk about it, we're here okay?" Aron and Alok whispered
"I know guys," Arnav smiled "I know I'll always have all of you by my side."
The two boys pulled Arnav into a hug, and gestured for the girls to join in.
"Do I have to formally invite you Khushi?" Pragya rolled her eyes, causing Khushi to bite her lips and smile sheepishly before joining into the group.
A few minutes later, Khushi's phone buzzed with a notification.
"Okay guys, enough with the emotional stuff. You have a welcome to crash" Khushi reminded them.
"Kartik's flight is landing at 6:00 P.M." Arnav told them, causing everyone to look at him surprised.
Arnav held his hands up in mock surrender, "He's working with AR, of course I know when he'll be arriving." He explained.
Jane looked at the time, "In that case, we don't have much time."
***
Finally, I've come back. Its been months since I last updated this story, or probably any story for that matter. It's been a busy year. too much to do, too many things on my plate. I don't know when I'll update again. I will try to be very quick but I'm not sure.
I hope you like this chapter. Please don't hesitate to tell me if there is anything you want me to know about this chapter, or anything in general.
The world is going through a tough time today, Corona Virus has taken a terrifying turn today! I would humbly request you all to keep your guard up, take all the necessary precautions, keep yourself clean, maintain general hygiene, wash your hands. Please practice social distancing, stay in your homes and spend your time with your family.
it's better to be safe than to be sorry. You can protect yourself better than anyone else in the world. please be safe for yourself and for your family.
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