Sangeet ceremony got completed... Khushi was with Lavanya and continued teasing her on the name of Amit because of his special dance performance on the stage which was dedicated to Lavanya...
Khushi: aashiq surrender hua... (she kept singing only to tease Lavanya)
Lavanya: stop teasing me Chamkeli and tell me what is going on between you and ASR...
Khushi was taken aback by that sudden question...
Khushi: what? Nothing...
Lavanya: you expect me to believe that? Come on Chamkeli... I am not blind... I could see the difference in ASR... in you... there is something that has changed in between you... and it is for better if I guess... ASR was totally sad and even refused to speak anything till yesterday... and today... He looked contended... happy... He sat with you during sangeet ceremony and kept admiring you... smiling at you... and you didn't say anything... You think I don't know that...?
When Khushi still didn't speak anything, Lavanya waited for a while before holding Khushi's palm in hers...
Lavanya: I know what ASR did to you Khushi and I know how much he regretted doing that to you... He always blamed himself... He wanted to help you by removing the pain within you... even if it meant separating from you... but that day at the coffee shop, when he saw you... ASR was completely broken... I never thought I would see ASR like that... but it was just one side of story... because as a woman, I could understand what you went through... You were right in your own place... ASR said that he wanted to bring back the original Khushi residing inside you... the Khushi whom he saw before the marriage thing... but I wanted different... I wanted you both get back to yourselves again... with no pain... no bitter memories... the Chamkeli who lived a free-spirited life... and the ASR who didn't give a damn about anything except for his family and his company...
Lavanya chuckled a bit at her own words... She took a deep breathe like she remembered something and continued speaking again...
Lavanya: when ASR said that he should be out of your life completely for bringing you back to your original self, I didn't believe it... but at a point I questioned myself whether ASR had to really move out of your life for you to be happy...
Khushi looked at Lavanya and understood that Lavanya was expecting her to comment on her previous words... When Khushi was still thinking, Lavanya placed her question again...
Lavanya: tell me Chamkeli... Do you also think that ASR should step out of your life for your own good?
Lavanya waited nearly for a minute after which Khushi nodded her head in a no...
Khushi: No Lavanyaji... Though I realized it a little late, I know for a fact that I couldn't forget Arnavji in my entire life... and the pain would never go away...
Khushi stopped for a while thinking whether to tell Lavanya about her recent decision or not... Anyways, it was out in open because of their behaviour today... Lavanya herself told that she observed changes in Arnav today... So, Khushi thought to explain Lavanya...
Khushi: the pain would never fade even if Arnavji go away from my life... So, I thought of a solution... A solution which could help me to lead a happy life ahead instead of walking in pain... The contract marriage was all where it started and I decided to end it...
Lavanya realized it now why Khushi's appearance changed suddenly when she came to coffee shop...
Lavanya: that's why you removed all the signs of marriage... (she said in realization)
Khushi(nodding her head): yes... and I wanted to build the missing trust between us... I wanted to treat my bruises called yesterday with a medicine named tomorrow... To be clear, I wanted to start afresh with Arnavji so that I could forget what went wrong in our love before and look forward to the right things that could define our relationship perfectly in the future...
Lavanya looked happy with the revelation...
Lavanya: I am so happy for both of you, Chamkeli... but are you sure about this whole thing?
Khushi: I am sure, Lavanyaji...
Lavanya's smile brightened...
Lavanya: that explains why you both looked happy today and why ASR was not ready to take his eyes away from you... Wow... I feel so good to hear this... I don't have to see you both unhappy again...
Saying that, Lavanya hugged Khushi and Khushi hugged her back...
Lavanaya: I am so happy for you... (she said again making Khushi smile)
When they pulled back, Lavanya started her blabbering...
Lavanya: this time, give ASR a very hard time Chamkeli... He deserved that... I told him to realize his feelings way back before I left Raizada house... I told him to accept when love comes into his life... but he didn't hear me... He knew that he had feelings for you but he was so stupid to accept it...
Khushi giggled at Lavanya's words and spoke...
Khushi: did I just hear you calling him stupid?
Lavanya bit her tongue but then smiled again...
Lavanya: well, he deserved that...
Khushi: and you knew about his feelings back then? (she questioned confused)
Lavanya was little uncomfortable when she answered that question... but she answered it slowly...
Lavanya: why do you think we broke our engagement?
Khushi's eyes widened with the new information while Lavanya sighed and continued explaining...
Lavanya: ASR never loved me Chamkeli... I knew that but didn't want to realize it, I guess...
Khushi looked at Lavanya who was probably remembering that exact day when they broke their relationship... She couldn't help but feel slightly guilty... It's not her fault but still... She knew how much Lavanya used to like Arnav...
Lavanya(smiling again): but I guess everything happens for good right... I moved on and I am going to get married soon with a person who loves me more than myself... Isn't it great...?
Khushi nodded her head with a smile... It was true... Amit's love for Lavanya would never end... He loved her sincerely... They heard Lavanya's cell phone ringing on her bed... As both of them sat at the other end of the bed, Khushi bent in sleeping position and took the cell in her own hands before Lavanya... She looked at the caller ID and gave a teasing smirk to Lavanya...
Khushi: your 'aashiq for the next seven births' is calling... He left just half an hour before and already started calling? awe... how sweet... (she teased)
Lavanya(trying to hide her blush): Khushi, give me my phone...
Khushi: ok ok... Don't worry... I am not going to interrupt your sweet talk... He is all yours... I am going to my house now...
Saying that, Khushi handed the cell phone to Lavanya and got up...
Lavanya: ok... but don't forget to come early tomorrow...
Khushi: ok Juliet... Now answer the call... Your Romeo is waiting...
Khushi laughed and left the room giving Lavanya enough space to talk with her future husband...
***
When Khushi reached the main door of Lavanya's house, she heard Vikrant's voice stopping her from leaving...
Vikrant: Khushi... wait...
Khushi smiled at him while he ran towards her...
Vikrant: you leaving already?
Khushi: yes... and I forgot to tell you... You guys rocked... You both looked perfect for each other, you know...
Vikrant scratched the back of his head in hesitation and nervousness...
Vikrant: uh thanks...
Khushi could tell he wanted to say something or rather ask her something...
Khushi: what is it Vikrantji?
Vikrant: nothing actually... You know I am going to ask her out right... So... you know...
Before he got more nervous, Khushi giggled and spoke to him...
Khushi(giggling): don't worry... Priya will definitely accept you... She likes you and she is so much into you... That much I know... Now, you just express your feelings to her sincerely and ask her out... I know Priya for ten years now and I guarantee that she will say yes... So, start preparing for your first date ok...
Vikrant exhaled sharply and smiled at Khushi...
Vikrant: thanks Khushi... I was nervous because I didn't want to destroy my fifteen years of friendship with her...
Khushi: you are welcome...
Vikrant: what would I do without your motivation... (He said dramatically and Khushi giggled)
Khushi: you might as well spend your rest of your life just admiring her face...
Vikrant(smiling): true...
Both of them laughed and Khushi spoke again...
Khushi: okay... I need to go now...
Vikrant: I will drop you at your home...
Khushi: no problem... I will manage Vikrantji...
Vikrant: I don't think it's a safer option to let you manage go alone to your home at this hour... I will drop you, come...
"that won't be necessary", they heard a voice and saw Arnav entering the house... Khushi was surprised to see him again...
Arnav: no need for you to take trouble, Vikrant... I will drop Khushi home...
Vikrant: hey, I thought you left...
Arnav: and I am back now... I will drop Khushi to her house...
Khushi was dumbstruck with Arnav's authoritative voice and his pointed gaze towards Vikrant...
Vikrant(shrugging his shoulders): sure... (he then spoke to Khushi) Bye Khushi... and thank you once again...
Khushi just gave a small smile to Vikrant and followed Arnav who was walking towards his car, parked outside the gates... What was with him now? He came just to pick her up and drop her at her home? Khushi watched Arnav opening the door for passenger seat and she sat inside after a while, keeping all her thoughts aside...
***
First few minutes of the drive went silent... Khushi kept glaring at Arnav sometimes but he was only concentrating on the road... He was not angry or anything... He just kept silent... Khushi thought to speak...
Khushi: you came again? What about Naniji?
Arnav: Nani was taking rest... and I want to drive you home... So I came again...
Khushi: You don't have to come all the way just to drop me... I would have managed...
Arnav: it's not just for you... It's for my own sake too...
When Khushi gave him a confused look, Arnav continued...
Arnav: I wanted to see you again...
Khushi went silent after that, though his words made her insides churn... This time, it was Arnav's turn to ask Khushi...
Arnav: why does that Vikrant tail you always like your pet?
Khushi smiled a little at his comparision and explained him...
Khushi: actually, the girl he likes since fifteen years is my friend... Her family lived near our house since many years... Vikrantji and Priya studied in the same school and he liked her since then which I had no idea until I met him two days back... As I know about Priya's feelings as well, I was just encouraging him to take a step forward and propose her...
Arnav: there is someone else too who needs your encouraging words then...
Khushi: who? (she asked confused)
Arnav: Arnav Singh Raizada... that idiot wants to make you love him back... and although he is being confident this time, he needs assurance that this is not a dream but indeed true... that you actually wanted to give him a chance to come back into your life again...
When Khushi kept looking at his face, he turned to face her for a second and concentrated on the road again...
Arnav: answer me Khushi... this isn't a dream right? If it is, I don't want to wake up at all...
Khushi: no Arnavji, this isn't a dream...
Arnav sighed in relief and asked the next question...
Arnav: and do you actually want this Khushi? With all your heart?
He desperately wanted to know her answer for this question and he wanted to assure himself before taking any step to rebuild their relationship...
Khushi: I want this Arnavji... I want this to work between us... I thought so much about it before taking my decision... I definitely would never be happy if I let you go away from my life... That's why I took this decision... I want to give you a chance to build our relationship... to build our trust for each other... without any pain this time...
A contended smile formed on Arnav's lips when he heard her words... His heart no more felt heavy... He was glad that Khushi wanted him in her life and he would make it upto her level... The smile never left his face until he drove to Khushi's place... When he stopped his car, Khushi got down after thanking Arnav... Arnav too got down the car and walked towards her...
Khushi: good night Arnavji...
Arnav: good night Khushi... (he said with the same smile)
When Khushi was about to turn and walk away, she heard Arnav calling her name and faced him again... Soon, she felt two arms wrapping around her tightly and heard Arnav's words...
Arnav: thank you... (he murmured in her ears while hugging her)
Even before Khushi could decide whether to respond to that hug or not, he withdrew himself from the hug and smiled at her...
Arnav: I will see you tomorrow...
Khushi nodded her head and Arnav walked towards his car... He sat inside and giving a final glance to Khushi, he drove away... Khushi exhaled sharply and moved inside her house... She felt happy... Happy about her decision of starting afresh with Arnav... She could feel the burden and the pain in her heart slowly fading away... and she knew, time could heal her now with Arnav Singh Raizada back in her life again...
***