Part14 

Khushi felt butterflies in her stomach. She was smiling and laughing like an idiot thinking about Arnav's confession. Even her mother sensed that.

"Khushi, are you laughing?"

Khushi bit her tongue.

"No Amma"

"I heard your soft chuck"

"I just thought about a scene Amma" She didn't say MOVIE SCENE as she doesn't like to lie.

"Ohh... Ok. Give me some water"

"Jee"

Khushi gave her water and went inside the room to keep herself in the distance. So Garima couldn't hear her chuckles and giggles. She has to answer Arnav. What will she say? She blushed, biting her lip. How he and NK made her restless... let him wait for two days. She chuckled again. Lying on the bed, she hugged the pillow. She couldn't get sleep that night. She doesn't expect her life would take a turn like this. She thought how they rolled into the pit that day, hugging one another. Shyness was eating her when she remembered how she stood in front of him without a saree. She closed her face with her palms. No doubt, she liked Arnav that day itself. She doesn't know he also feels the same for her. She closed her eyes to get some sleep because she has to prepare breakfast for Arnav tomorrow morning.

Next Morning

Khushi was preparing breakfast in her house. NK came to her house.

"Khushi, give me breakfast. I will take that to them"

"Ok," Khushi said casually.

NK frowned. He thought Khushi will show interest to go to Arnav's room as Arnav would have proposed to her last night. But, it seems, he didn't. Khushi looks so normal. Or does Khushi keep a distance from Arnav, taking his words seriously, that his parents looking for a girl for Arnav?

"Khushi, with whom you sent the dinner, last night?"

"Why?"

"I just am asking"

"Ohh"

"Didn't Arnav talk to you?"

"What's there for him to talk to me?"

"You just go. He will tell you"

"I don't go"

"Why Khushi?"

"Why should I?"

"Just to know what he wants to tell you"

"What's necessary?"

"Khushi...." NK sighed.

Seeing NK's disappointed face,

"He talked to me last night," She said smirking.

"Really? About what?"

"He asked me to find a bride for him," she said suppressing her smile.

"Whaaaat!" he frowned.

She laughed seeing his face. NK understood that she is playing with him.

"He loves you"

Khushi stopped laughing.

"He really does"

"Did he tell you?"

"NO... I heard him speaking to Aman about his feelings. That's why I believed him. He looks genuine Khushi. You will be happy with him. Accept him"

"You always care for me. I know this time also you are telling this to my betterment. He gave me two days to think about it. I will say my answer tomorrow"

NK nodded ok smilingly.

"I will give them breakfast," Khushi said.

NK again nodded Ok.

Khushi came to Arnav's room to provide them breakfast. But to her disappointment, Arnav was not in the room. She didn't know whether she could ask about him or not. Keeping the breakfast on the table she left the room. She headed towards NK's mustered field to do the regular pooja to Devi Maiya.

Khushi got stuck, seeing Arnav sitting beside the statue. He was indeed waiting for her. Her cheek turned into crimson in shyness. Arnav smiled seeing her.

"Why are you here?" She questioned him as if she doesn't know.

"Someone promised me that she will answer me today"

"But I didn't promise you"

"I didn't say it's you," he said with a lopsided smile.

"Then whom you are talking about?"

"She..." He showed Devi Maiya's statue.

"Devi Maiya? Really?

"Won't you believe me?"

"What did she promise you?"

"She said she will make, "my close to heart" girl say YES to my proposal."

"So smart" she flushed.

Arnav chuckled.

Khushi offered a few flowers to Devi Maiya and lit the lamp. Arnav was gazing at her, sitting beside the DM statue which made Khushi embarrass.

"Why are you looking at me?" she asked in a feeble tone, not looking at him.

"I'm admiring the beauty of beauties"

"You should not do that"

"Anyone could admire a beauty"

"I'm not beautiful"

"Yes, you are not..."

She looked at him raising her eyebrows. Arnav smiled at her.

"You are sooooo beautiful" He stressed the word "SO" with half-closed eyes.

Khushi pressed her lips together to hide her shyness but her silky cheeks revealed it by changing its color into RED.

Khushi prayed DM, closing her eyes with joining hands. We know what her prayer would be. She asked DM for the man in front of her. She slowly opened her eyes. To her surprise, Arnav also prayed, standing beside her.

"You too do worship?"

"No"

"But, you prayed?"

"It feels good to be next to you"

Again Khushi blushed. Arnav doesn't need her answer. Her blush and reddened cheeks told him that what she feels for him. But Mother Nature who again brought them to the earth could not be free without making them close. So, she sent her one of the beautiful creations to do its job, RAIN...

It suddenly started raining. Arnav looked at their surroundings for the shelter. But nope. There was nothing other than trees. He knew we should not stand under the tree when it's raining. They drenched completely within a minute as it was heavy rain.

Arnav removed his jacket and covered them with it, getting close to Khushi. Khushi looked up who didn't expect such a shelter. Seeing Arnav doing that, she looked at his face. Arnav smiled at her softly.

Khushi felt a sudden pull towards Arnav. She was staring at his water-dripping face with a constant gaze. She didn't feel embarrassing to do that. She didn't feel he is a stranger. In fact, she was not in the state of thinking anything. She was spell bounded by something unknown. After all, they were "destined souls".

Khushi slowly raised her hand towards his face and wiped the water droplets from his eyebrows. Arnav closed his eyes gulping down. Her soft touch created havoc inside him but he stayed still. She continued wiping...rightfully. In that, she was getting close to him making Arnav's condition worse. There was no inch gap between them. She cupped his face and met his magnetic eyes.

"We are made for each other. No one could separate us." Knowingly or unknowingly she uttered it.

When she uttered it, there was firmness in her tone even though her tone was gauzy.

"I love you so much... don't you know that?"

Arnav smiled as he didn't expect this surprise confession. But more to his surprise, Khushi captured his lips to confirm her confession. Arnav didn't want to stand under the tree as trees attract the thunders easily. He felt like thousands of thunders getting down on his head when she captured his lips. Though it was raining heavily around them they were not affected by the rain but the storm inside them. Arnav could no longer stay stubborn he too took participated in the beautiful moment of his life. The rain stopped as its motive of the arrival got over but our couple didn't stop what they started. Thunder sound brought their sense back. They got apart.

Arnav looked at Khushi who looked confused. She couldn't believe what she just did. She bit her lip and felt wetness on it. She knew it was not because of rain. She couldn't understand how she did this. She ran from there, not carrying about her wet dress which is not letting her run freely.

To be continued...