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It was mehndi time. 

"What letter do you want in your mehndi?" the girl asked Khushi.

"A," she said before thinking and then corrected herself "no no, write Arnav"

"Okay"

Arnav was looking at Khushi from a distance. He saw the mehndi girl asking Khushi a question. As much as he knew about these things, she probably was asking her about the name or letter to be written in the mehndi. He saw Khushi smile while telling her Rahul's name.

How did Rahul get this lucky? - He asked himself.

'Because you are a coward.' - the answer came from within.

Arnav saw Khushi lovingly gaze at the Mehndi pattern on her hand, probably at the name written on it. His focus shifted to her sister who was sat next to the love of his life, laughing along at something Khushi said. He couldn't stand there and feel the pain of losing Khushi. He decided to go for a long drive.

Anjali meanwhile, had her mehndi beautifully done as well. After all, it was her wedding. Finally it was time for the sangeet.

Khushi was in a red and blue gagra choli and Anjali in red and green combination of the same. It was difficult to find who the actual bride was and that was just what the family wanted. 

"Arnav should not recognize whose marriage was taking place." -Rahul had told them.

Arnav was least interested in all these whereas Khushi and Anjali danced to various songs. He saw Khushi pulling Rahul into the dance and totally ignoring him.

'Why should she think of me? I'm just her friend and he, he is her to be husband' Arnav thought and this thought pained him.

Rahul after some time came and pulled Arnav into the dancefloor. He was least interested in that but still he danced for he wanted to dance with Khushi for some time. Now the music changed and everyone was dancing in pairs. Rahul was dancing with Khushi but he saw Anjali ask Rahul for a dance and Khushi left him. That felt so good. Arnav went to Khushi and took her hands for a dance. Probably this was the last time he was dancing with the love of his life. That felt so good to him.

The song that was playing in the background explained his condition well.

Teri Meri Meri Teri Prem Kahaani Hai Mushkil.

It was, wasn't it?

After the function Arnav and Anjali went back to RM. Khushi too joined them.

"Why Khushi why are you here?" Arnav questioned

"Why can't I be here, marriage doesn't mean we friends can't be together does it?"

"No Khushi, come on"

"And Arnav, the bride and groom in the same house doesn't make sense right? We are planning to have the bidaai from RM"

"That would be nice Bha..Khushi"

"What did you call her Anji?"

"What? I said that would be nice bhai, Khushi"

"Oh okay, we should go now."

"Arnav why don't we spend the night like we used to do on our birthdays"

"Really Khushi? Rahul won't have a problem with that?" Arnav asked.

"Shaadi does not mean the girl has to stay away from her friends. The girl still can differentiate between what is okay and what is not. Rahul shouldn't have a problem with that." Khushi said.

Arnav too wanted the sleepover. In fact he wanted to confess to her, but she seemed to be very happy with whatever that was going on so better not to disturb her happiness he thought. There was no romantic feelings in her mind for him. And, in that case, he was content just being in her life. Wasn't he?

They enjoyed that night like the old days and Arnav wanted the time to stop then and there so that they could stay like this forever. They had their cute little pillow fights and Arnav had the best night of his life. His love will marry someone else the next day- he needed to do something.

Arnav woke up to find the bed empty next morning. Both the girls were up early and the haldi function had already begun and he knew he was not at all wanted at that function.

By the time he freshened up and came down he saw Khushi shining after her bathe. The haldi had brightened her skin too much and Anjali his little sister was also not less. She was also shining.

"Arnav finally you woke up."

"Yeah, why didn't you both wake me up?"

"Sorry we had to rush in the morning. Maa called us at 5 in the morning, you know.."

Khushi got a call from Rahul.

"I'll be back soon" Khushi said and went from there attending the call.

"Bhai, it is not too late. Tell her. She will understand and you never know, what if she..."

"But Anji..."

"Haan bhai, I'm sure she will. Maybe she loves you too and is now forced into this marriage. You know she can hide her feelings just like you and so unlike me."

"Why would you say that? Do you know something that I dont?" he asked eagerly.

"Yes. I know my rother is a class one idiot." Arnav's hopes disappeared.

"Should I tell her?"

"Yeah bhai. Go for it"

"I will try Anji, atleast before the baarat arrives"

"I'll be waiting bhai, rooting for the two of you."

"Thanks Anji" he said

"THANKS?" she questioned, hinting at their no thank you policy

"Ok leave it, forget I said that."

"Fine, just because we don't have enough time." Anjali conceded.

Arnav was dressed for the function. Anjali had picked up a dark reddish-brown Kurta for him. Khushi was in Anjali's room getting ready. Arnav knew that was the room Khushi had chosen to get ready. But little did he know that the bride, his sister was in the guest room with the hair and make-up team.

Arnav checked if someone was watching and when he was sure Khushi was alone, he got in and closed the door.

"Arnav?"

Khushi was looking gorgeous in the yellow and red lehenga.

"Khushi you look amazing" he said standing behind her. She blushed at his comment.

Arnav noticed that she wasn't completely ready, she only had her maang teeka, bangles and hip chain. She was yet to wear the necklaces.

"Khushi I need to tell you something"

"What is it Arnav?" Khushi could hear her heartbeats fasten.

"This marriage should not happen." There he said it. Well, he didn't know how else to phrase it.

"What? But why? Don't tell me this is because you still don't like Rahul."

"No no. This has nothing to do with him. It is just that.."

"You are scaring me Arnav. Why can't this marriage happen?"

"Because..."

"Because?"

"I "

"You?" she prompted.

"Because I..I love you Khushi. That is why." There he said it. Khushi was elated. Finally he said it. She knew from Arnav's behaviour the past couple of days that he was not so keen about this wedding. She wasn't sure if it was because he had feelings for her or just because he did not like Rahul. Anyway, she decided to play it cool. After all, she still had to inform him she was already married to him.

"So what Arnav? What has that got to do with this marriage?"

"Khushi, are you kidding me?''

"I'm not Arnav." She said with a straight face.

"The wedding is bound to happen in a couple of hours and I've told you that I LOVE YOU." Arnav stressed at the last part. She did hear him clearly right?

"So what difference does it make Arnav if the bride's bhai and Bhabhi love each other? How does that affect the wedding?"

"Wait what...? Bhai and Bhabhi?" Arnav's eyes widened.

"Arnav, now listen to me carefuly. With a clear head." She made him sit on the bed and sat next to him.

"When in that accident Anji lost her memory and you were traumatized, I had no other option than to get married to you so that I could stay here and take care of you both." She paused for a moment so that he could process the information. When he looked at her for more information, she continued.

"Then you came out of the trauma and you lost your memory and you didn't remember what happened after the accident. The doctor advised us to keep you stress free so we had to hide it. Just look at the sindoor I've on my forehead." She said removing the maang teeka.

"Khushi you are my wife?" He finally asked.

"I believe I just told you that." She said folding her hands in the front.

"I'm so happy Khushi. You won't believe it, I am so so so happy today. I love you I love you Khushi, you know. I love you." saying this he pulled her into a tight hug.

"I love you too you know." She said once he stopped his rant.

There was a knock on the door, but Arnav and Khushi missed it.

That was when it struck Arnav, if Khushi wasn't getting married... he pulled out of the embrace.

"Khushi then, does that mean it is Anji who is getting married?"

"Who even told you I'm getting married?"

Arnav then noticed, no one had ever mentioned Khushi's name in the place of the bride's not even once. It was he who came into the wrong conclusion.

"What Anji is getting married to Rahul?"

"Yeah"

"Arnav do you have a problem with that? It was me who thought Rahul would be the right guy for Anjali and I think I have that right over her." Shashi said coming inside the room along with Garima.

"Uncle no, I mean you have the right. I don't have a problem."

"Good then that is settled." Shashi said.

"And from what we have seen, I believe you should start calling us Maa and Papa, why Arnav bitwa?" Garima suggested and Arnav just nodded.

"Chalo Bacho, the puja is getting started. We should go now." They said turning to the door

"Maa, Papa, you guys go, we will be there soon. I am not completely ready yet." Khushi said from behind him.

"Why what now Khushi?"

"Arnav, I want you to put this on me" She said handing him the mangalsutra.

"Sure Khushi" the smile he had on, Khushi had never seen him so brightened up in her entire life.

He tied the mangalsutra around her neck , this time with full love and respect for his action.

Khushi was really happy. Her eyes welled up. But she knew she had to punish him for hiding his feelings for her and bringing Lavanya- if not for that she could've been alive

"Khush, don't cry"

"These are tears of joy and now I bet you are going to cry at your sisters bidaai"

"I won't cry, because I won't let her go. They can stay here with us after marriage"

"Ok okay ASR, now we should go, else we won't be able to attend the wedding"

Anjali was almost ready in her dulhan's attire. Khushi and Arnav entered her room and the others left the three of them alone.

"Bhai so you said it out?"

"Yeah and you , how could you do that to me? Why did you scare me like that? When Khushi was already married to me?"

"I did that because it was our plan. Khushi Bhabhi deserved it bhai. She has been so selfless her entire life and you did what? Broke her heart? Well, you deserved what you got. You know Rahul is the master-mind behind this plan."

"What the?"

"Now leave it, all in the past. I need to get my nanand ready" Khushi said.

After a while Khushi and Arnav brought Anjali down to the mandap where Rahul was already seated. The wedding went well.

Arnav and Khushi retired to her room after the bidaai. Arnav was looking at old albums.

"Arnav baba" HP was at the door.

Khushi motioned for him to come inside and HP carried her bags to the room. She locked the door once he left and joined Arnav on the bed.

"Arnav, you know I was thinking, first of all we should have our..."

"Suhaag Raat right?" he suggested.

Khushi blushed, that was definitely not what she had in mind, but well... so she let it happen when Arnav bend forward to kiss her.

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And THE END.

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