Both the Guptas and the Raizadas were seated in the lounge. Anjali who compared to everyone else drank pretty less Bhaang and was almost in full senses took upon the responsibility of making everyone have lemon pickle to lessen the intoxication.

Obviously she didn't miss to notice the absence of the two persons she was trying to set up. And before before she had been in search of them only. They weren't anywhere outside so she assumed they had be at home.

And passing Payal the plate of pickle, she went upstairs looking around for him with her end destination being his room.

Anjali - Chote?

Time passed quite fast with them. They had no idea for how long they stayed at the poolside, just sitting there holding each other, stealing kisses in between and sharing Rabba Ve moments. It was then Anjali's voice that brought them out of their timeless buble.

Arnav frowned hearing her calling him. And suddenly his senses alerted as everything came back to him. He left Khushi's hand which fell into her lap. She had been sitting there loosely supporting her head on his shoulder. Next she saw him almost run in and then out of his room, leaving a perplexed Khushi behind.

Arnav - Di!

He halted as soon he stepped out to the corridor and saw her walking towards him. He neared her with two big steps and kept his hand on her shoulder. Worry was written on his face.

Arnav - Di, are, you alright?

Anjali knit her brows together at his unexpected concern for her. This behaviour was usually to be seen when something would happen to her only.

Anjali - Yes Chote. I am alright.

She nodded in agreement. He blinked before taking her into an embrace. She hugged him back smiling in confusion though.

Arnav - Di, you're my everything. I won't let anyone ever harm you.

She had been noticing since few days, he was growing extra protective. It was like as if she was in some kind of danger and he feared it. Now as she thought about it, she realized before drinking Bhaang he had been around her all the time, as if bodyguarding her. But she couldn't imagine it. What was he scared of? She had a lovely family, a loving husband and a very protective brother. She concluded she was overthinking. Her Chote has always been worried for her, living in the fear of losing his loved ones.

Anjali - Chote, what happened? I'm completely fine. And where were you?

She decided to divert his attention so he will stop worrying. And it worked as he withdrew the hug and looked at her muddle-headed, trying to remember where he was.

Arnav - I...room.

She had a look of his room behind. It was empty. She wondered where Khushi was. She had followed him. But only Arnav was in front of her now. She sighed as it hit her that plan wasn't successful either. It didn't seem they were together, so they couldn't have talked about their feelings to each other.

Anjali - Come, sit there and have lemon pickle.

She said smiling a bit. To her he resembled a naive child at the moment, completely not in his senses and unaware of his environment. She caressed his cheek affectionately and took him down to the lounge.

In the meanwhile the effect of Bhaang was slowly fading away, getting everyone back to their senses. Looking around both the Gupta ladies then finally noticed their younger daughter missing from there.

Buaji - Payalia, where's Titliya?

Everyone looked up with the intention to search for her but found her entering the lounge just then. She was having her angry eyes on the man sitting just the farthest. In contrary to her, he smiled as soon he saw her coming. She twisted her mouth in response pouting innocently. He had left her alone and then didn't come back. She sat there for a while before getting up to go down. And now she won't talk to him. To this Laad Governor. How dare he leave her alone? They were spending such good time before he decided to run away. And she wasn't happy about it. Not at all.

Buaji - Lo, there she is.

Garima - Khusi, come here and eat some pickle.

Khushi gazed at her mother who gestured towards the empty space next to her. She nodded gullible and occupied the seat beside her Amma. Payal offered her a piece of lemon pickle. She took it with her eyes still on Arnav who himself too was eating it.

The lemon worked a wonder and their blurred minds and memories seemed to sharpen. The mild dizziness was gone as everything became crystal clear again.

And once regaining her consciousness, the first thing Khushi did was look at the ring in her finger with the big fat solitaire clearly visible.

She gulped and threw a look around. To her luck, nobody was looking at her as they were busy talking. So she hastily hid her hand in her dupatta. She ran a finger over the concealed ring and traced its contour. She needed a minute to let it all sink in.

She looked up at him in apprehension. Overwhelmed by the seriousness of the situation, her eyes filled up. All this time she had had just this one particular question in mind. Will he ever marry her? All of her doubts were erased with this one gesture. This relationship was very much serious to him and he wanted to spend his entire life with her for real, tied to her in a legal marriage. And she couldn't be happier than at this moment.

She smiled at him who was observing her with a frown.

Why are you crying?

Her moist eyes bothered him.

I'm absolutely fine.

She blinked, assuring him she's perfectly alright.

I hope so.

He rested back believing her for the time being. He'll ask her later about it. For now he needed to declare something very important to their families.

But before he could speak he got carried away by the view of her her touching her lips. And he didn't need to think twice about what could be possibly going in her mind. He briefly touched his own lips. The sensation was still there. The taste, the feel, it was all still fresh. And the more he remembered, the more he wanted to kiss her again. She was a beginner and he could not wait to teach her the art of kissing.

Khushi could not look up anymore. Her cheeks reddened at the memories of their kiss, rather say kisses. How shamelessly she demanded it and threw herself over him. She felt shy all of a sudden. How will she face him again? She opened up about her feelings more than she should have. He didn't need to know she was curious about locking lips with him.

Hey DM. How could I be so shameless? Why did I do that?

Arnav - I have something to announce.

Her trance was broken at his voice. Though she didn't wish to face him just few seconds ago she raised her lashes up in curiosity. Just like everyone else diverted their attention to him.

Anjali - What?

She asked keeping her hand over his shoulder in a friendly gesture.

His eyes met hers and an electrifying shiver ran through her body. She understood he was going to make their unofficial engagement official and reveal about their secret relationship to everyone.

Oh No. Arnavji, please don't.

She intensively shook her head and hands, trying to stop him from saying anything about them. Her eyes pleading him.

He understood her motions but failed to perceive her motives. Wasn't this what she wanted? To be his fianceé and then his wife asap. Did he by any chance misunderstand her? Or was there something else holding her back?

Whatever be the reason, she didn't wish to tell the family yet and he couldn't ignore that. But now he needed to improvise. Both the families were looking at him, expecting a news.

Arnav - I have tickets for Akash and Payal. High time they go to Honeymoon.

As soon he saw the two of them, the idea just entered his mind. Everyone was happy to hear that.

Akshay - Thanks Bhai.

While Payal blushed, Akash hugged his brother thanking him.

He smiled faintly at his brother before moving out of the lounge to go to his room. Time to call Aman and ask him to book their tickets to some wonderful destination for honeymoon.

Oblivious to them there was this one person in the lounge who had had his eyes on them all the time and was not appeased by them coming closer day by day. He had observed them outside at the venue and here inside. He also noticed the ring on her finger and he was fuming. The matter was more serious than he'd thought. So he'll have to handle it as one too.

I've been sitting and watching this drama for long enough. Now it's time to act. And this time no amateur match making attempt. We just leveled up in the game.

*

Khushi changed into her night dress and then sat on the bed, just looking at her ring. The ring given to her by him. It was a simple design, just the way she preferred it. But the diamond was not as small. Obviously, after all Arnav Singh Raizada had it made for his lady love. Yet it looked so elegant. And she was loving it, to have a ring on her finger which implied she was his. They were engaged now.

She fell back on her bed with a long sigh escaping her mouth.

Her phone rang. Even without looking at the display she knew who it was. It could be her Arnavji only, her fiance. She smiled at that. It sounded so sweet.

My fiancé.

But the person himself did not sound as sweet as the new title given to him.

Arnav - Shoot. Why didn't you let me announce our engagement?

She gulped. How could she explain it all to him? As delicious and tempting this relationship is, she had realized she needed to back off. And it'll be hard to get him to understand that. She could not do to on the call.

Khushi - I want to talk about that in personal Arnavji. Not like this, over the phone.

He groaned in frustration. This girl loved to test his patience. And as much he wanted to improve himself, he was too mad for that right now.

Arnav - Ok, I'll be there in twenty.

He declared it rather in a very harsh tone. She jerked off her bed and got on her feet. As romantic and filmy it would be if her boyfriend/fiance sneaks into her room at night to meet her, it would cause her a big trouble in real life and much more than that. Her life is not a movie and she better not forget that.

Khushi - Ji? No! You can't come over at this time.

Arnav - Why not? You want to talk about it in personal, so I'm coming.

She smacked her forehead.

Khushi - No Arnavji. I, I'll come to your office tomorrow before going to my shift.

He thought about it for a minute. Either he could go over right now or wait for her to come to his office. The latter had an advantage. They could talk about everything without any disturbance. And unlike at Gupta House they won't need to fear that someone might see. Actually, she didn't need to. Because honestly he gave a fuck about it. She was his fianceé and he was going to marry that girl. Well, as soon she allows it at least. And at that moment, it didn't seem so.

Arnav - Fine. Sharp at ten.

She sighed in relief. Breaking his heart was way safer at his office than at her own home, late at night with her family present in the next rooms. But now as she remembered the time he let go of her hand and let her fall down, may be his office wasn't as safe either. But at least she can just run off and escape in case he blows up. This option was not available at home.

Arnav - Why were you crying?

His question brought her out of her thoughts. She knit her brows together recalling which time he was referring to. One look on her hand and she knew it.

Khushi - I was happy.

She held her up in front of her and smiled.

Arnav - You are weird.

There was not a hint of teasing in his voice. It was a genuine statement to which she thinned her lips and sat back on her bed.

Khushi - I'll sleep now. Good night Arnavji.

It was a cue but neither of them cut the call that immediate. She waited for him to wish her back but he didn't. After few seconds she just heard the sound of the call being cut.

She put her phone beside her pillow and laid on her bed with her eyes glued to the ring on her finger. She wanted to admire it the whole night. She just had this one night to spend with the ring. Tomorrow she'll be giving it back to him. And hope for his understanding.

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Just as I said, this update on a wednesday, on 6th june!

Happy anniversary Arshians

Love,

Pari